Bowynn Gods: Io

My Personal Prayer to Aetenn

O Aetenn, Ram-Crowned God, protector of arms and armor, I invoke your sacred presence as I stand before you with a humble heart. In the woodlands of Alaway, where the echoes of drums resonate, I seek your divine vigilance over that which I hold dear. Hear me, O Aetenn, son of Anhur and Rhya, guardian of warriors who tread the path of honor. I call upon your spirit, adorned with ram horns and the protective thorns of the black berry wreath. May your strength shield me as I navigate the challenges that lie ahead, that I may face them with the courage you impart. I lay before you the symbols of my devotion—swords and shields, crafted by the hands of mortals, and drums that carry the rhythm of my heart. Accept these offerings, O great Aetenn, as I seek your blessing upon my arms and the gear that I cherish. Let the resounding beat of your drums echo my intent to honor and protect all that I prize.

Grant me, Aetenn, your vigilance over my possessions, especially those that are most precious to me. As you guard the soldiers before battle, let your protection extend to my heart’s desires, ensuring they remain safe from harm. May your watchful eye preserve the integrity of what I cherish, standing steadfast through trials and tribulations. In gratitude, I celebrate your spirit, O Aetenn, the drumming god whose rhythms unite our souls. As your drums once communicated across campfires, may my prayers rise like the beat of your sacred drums, melding into the whispers of the forest, proclaiming my trust in your divine care. O Ram-Crowned God, I honor you with these words, pledging my loyalty and reverence. May your spirit protect me as I venture forth and may the arms and armor I wield bear the strength of your guardianship. Let my path be illuminated by your wisdom, as I carry your essence in my heart and in my actions. So shall it be, as the echoes of your drums resound throughout the realms of the living.

Syember!

Bowynn Gods: Deanna

Deanna dressed in red with 2 Kii accompanying her

Deaunna (Dee-awn-nah)  Deaunna (Dee-ahn-nah) is the Bowynn goddess of the harvest, gardens, vegetation and in general all foods that are grown. She is also the goddess if growth of new from old. She is the divine daughter of Anhur and Rhya and one of the most important of the Bowynn gods. Deaunna is the seed planter, the gardener, the farmer and the harvester all in one. She can also, if need be, wither or destroy crops to those that have abused her gifts.

     Deaunna has many sacred stories spoken about. But of all of then there are two that are the most prominent standing; the first being her 7-day visit with the first mortal clans-folk. It was during her stay with them, that Deaunna taught mortal man all the arts of farming and growing food, as well as storing and preserving food for winter. Without this important first lesson, mankind would surely have perished. The other blessed sacred tale of Deaunna is her courtship and eventual marriage to the god Amaetheon, lord of the grove, and orchard. United, the divine pair and their talents and lesson, assured mankind's place on earth. Deaunna’s and Amaetheon’s son is Hyu, the divine baker of the gods and their daughter being Io, goddess of the hearth and kitchen. Together, the four-some make a most divine and sacred pantheon all their own.

     When not tending to mortal needs and the earth in general (which is almost always), Deaunna is tending the great gardens and fields that surround Alaway. Here only the most divine of food grow and are tended to by Deaunna. Very few mortals are allowed to eat from this garden but all the seed and foods we eat stem from the gardens and fields of Alaway. Only the hero Allon was allowed to eat from the garden, in doing so, Allon was made immortal.

     Deaunna is seen as a most lovely young woman. Simple yet elegantly dressed. Her clothes bare the colors of her divine gifts, mostly earth times. It is said here hair is a golden color and she wears a wreath of woven wheat on her head. Others have seen her crowned with herbs or fruits. it may all depend on the time of year. On her hip she carries a gardening boline to cut harvested food and herbs. In here hand she is often seen carting either a basket of harvested food, staff and/or winnowing fan.

Embroidery of goddesses including Deaunna (3rd from the right)

Bowynn Gods: Mystara

Mystara  (Mis-tar-ah)  Mystara is the Bowynn goddess of all forms of magickal, mystical and esoteric arts. This includes Divination, Healing, Dream Work and all arts that can be filed in the term of being esoteric. Mystara is also the patroness to Mysts [witches,] diviners and oracles. All those that deals with the arts of mysticism falls in the realm of the goddess Mystara. She is the daughter of Ehrlik and a mortal woman, [supposedly] whose name is unknown.

     Most of Mystara’s life is spent working with witches and other mystics, be it in temples, covens, circles, groves or solely in their homes. It is said that the goddess travels from town to town looking for the "wise ones" in the form of a cat. Accompanying her are sometimes the Hii, fae folk of the mystical and magical arts. Hii are also said to attend her in any workings she may labor over. Mystara has no sacred tales spoken about her or known. But she is spoken more than often in the here and now, attending Mysts [witches]in their own work, granting spells to manifest and making sure the spells cast are justified. Yet despite all this, she is a most important goddess in the Bowynn pantheon. She is revered by women and men equally, not just as a goddess of magick but also a goddess that protects Mysts and blesses new Mysts in rites of initiation and empowerment. For it is Mystara that raises young Myst's minds and bodies, to that of being a learned and powerful. Despite all this, Mystara is NOT a dark goddess. She is not clad in all black, she does not harbor wicked and evilness. There is nothing dark nor mysterious about Mystara. She will however attend to those who use the arts of magic in a malicious manner justly. Casting curses, hexes and binding spells will catch Mystara's attention quickly and she will make sure it is not done recklessly nor unjustly. Calling on Mystara before casting a spell is beyond common practice, so she may witness all goings-on. Mystara will punish those that cast spells wrongfully and vengefully.

     Mystara is seen as a mother figure in appearance, with black hair that is veiled. Her clothing is said to be is purple and autumn-like colors, with gold or copper embroidery and jewelry. Encircling her brow is a crown that bares the runes that make up the Bowynn alphabet, which is also used for divination. When not in her godly form, she is seen as an elegant black cat with glowing blue eyes; the cat being her totem.

     Sacred to Mystara are all the symbols of magic, divination and other such arts, as well as votive images of cats. Though the most gifted offering one can give to her is bundles of incense. Traditionally on certain holidays of the year, Incense sticks in the multiples of 100 are burned to Mystara as offerings. the numbers 100 and 7 are a most sacred number to her, so any offering given in amounts of 100 and 7 appeases Mystara a great deal. And 7 is the most scared number in the Bowynn faith.

Bowynn Gods: Morrqua

Morrqua  (Mor-kwa)  The Morrqua are nocturnal Kii (spirits) that are rarely seen. They only come out where the moon is visible. They will do not emerge on the night of the dark moon nor the two surrounding days this moon phase. The Morrquaa and diminutive spirits that have a natural glow and can be liked to the Will-O-Wisps of other cultures. The difference being that the Morrquaa are helpful spirits, making sure those traveling by night are safe. It is claimed that if one catches a Morrquaa, they will grant their capture a wish. But in turn they cannot be kept. But to date it is very rare that one has ever caught one. And those granted a wish by the Morrqua often regret it. Not that the Morrqua are malicious, but they take what mortals ask for very literally. At the same extent, a Morrqua can only be held till the first rays of the sun or daylight beam over the horizon. After that the pact is broken and the Morrqua disappear.

Blessed Winter Solstice

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Language

QUESTION: I have seen you using various words in your posts that you address as being Bowynn. Is there an actual language?

ANSWER: Yes we have a language we have been using since the formation of the tradition. the Bowynn dictionary is around 25,000 (I stopped counting decades ago) words. It's has come to the point where it is a first language for some of use and a second language for others. Some words in the dictionary have no English counterpart.

Bowynn Gods: The Hlenn

Hlenn  (Hlen)  The Hlenn are one of the most popular of the Kii. They are much like their American/European Elven cousins and Nymphs. They are human in size and look most like mortal folk in all respects, but they are thin in nature and have long-ish ears and doe-like facial features, particularly the eyes. These Hlenn are said to be the champions and guardians of all woodlands. The know instantly when a leaf falls and withers and when a fern stalk breaks through the ground. They are very untrusting and cautious of mortal man. But there are tales of some Hlenn, male and female, that have fallen for mortals as well. However, it must be remembered that while the Hlenn looks like mortals in many ways and live like them, they are spirits and need to be respected as so. Bowynn folk will not enter a woodland nor leave it without leaving a respectable gift to the Hlenn,

QUESTION & ANSWER: NEW YEARS

QUESTION: Is The first day of November, (All Saint's Day) also New Years in the Bowynn Tradition?

ANSWER: No. Thats a Wiccan ideology. For us, New Years day is September 1st, called "Then Ohenn."

QUESTION & ANSWER: LGBT

QUESTION: Is The Bowynn Faith and Tradition all inclusive? I mean would they embrace someone who is Gay?

ANSWER: Yes. We do not judge anyone by their life or love. And the gods we worship are also all embracing. We have conducted same-sex weddings in the past and we have never had any sort of incident or even a whisper of negativity. Who one loves is none of our business. We gather together as friends and family. And in our family all are welcome. So long as their actions and words are positive.

BOWYNN GODS: TAYNON

Taynon (Tay-non)  Kii of the home, hearth and children. These are probably the most reveres of all the kii. They are invoked when a new home is built and over the door of the home is built a small shrine or shelf where images of the Taynon sit. In other cases they are cared in the frame of the door. They are diminutive in size and said to have bird wings. The Taynon protect the home from all that can befall it. They also are guardians of the family and guardians of children.