Bowynn Gods: Ortsall

Blessed Solstice

Bowynn Gods: Kauldra

Kauldra (Kol-drah)  Queen of the sea and goddess of all fresh waters. Her name in English translates to the world "Cauldron." Be it raging ocean or trickling brook, she is in charge of it. And though she is queen of the sea, her watery aspect seems to be more confined to fresh waters, while her husband Tane, is more opt to salt water. She is the daughter of Sumon and Phoenix.      Sacred stories of Kauldra are not too many. She was to wed Tane, the king of the seas but like her two sisters, she challenged Tane to prove he was a worthy husband first. Tane built Kauldra a grand sea-bound castle of beauty and grace. But she did not accept. Kauldra's postponement of the wedding went on and on till at last Tane had nothing more to offer the goddess but his everlasting love. And it was that which Kauldra accepted and agreed to marry the sea king.

Another tale says when Kauldra was born, the god Gondor fashioned a cauldron as a gift, which she could look in and see the world at her wish. the cauldron is said to hold a drop of water from every river, stream, pond, ocean, sea, fountain and waterway in the world. Kauldra was also said to have given all the animals of the sea color. Before that, they were colorless.      Kauldra is said to resemble a lady of dignified grace, tall and slender. Her robes and garments are long and flowing and the colors of blues and greens. Kauldra’s skin is said to be a bit pale, bares raven colored hair and azure eyes. Her crown is designed of silver with sea horses and shells. Sacred gifts to Kauldra are cooked fish, water, coral, shells, sachets of sand and any plants of the sea or plants like water reeds or water lilies. And of course incense.

Bowynn Gods: Kyrra

Kyrra (Keer-Rah)  Kyrra (sometimes Jyrra) are bird-like Kii and Tii that resemble the Greek Harpies. Unlike Harpies, they can be good as well. Said to have a humanoid head and torso but from the hips down the lower half of a bird. Originally, the Kyrra were all good natured and were messengers of Brand and the other gods but the god Mano corrupted some and turned them to be as malicious as himself. Bad Kyrra are often responsible for missing items and malfunctions in the home and life.  Good or bad, they are seen in small bird size. Someone who is having a bad swing of misfortune us referred to as "Being scratched by a Kyrra." Waking up with a scratch is an ill omen that one has been scratched by a Kyrra and bad times are coming. At the same time finding a random feather in your home is a sign of great fortune. "Kyrra Blessed."

BOWYNN GODS: SHELI

Sheli  (Shel-Lee)  Sheli is the Mammont [Mammoth] goddess of the plains, bravery, long courageous trips and expeditions and she is the patroness of hunters and bravery. Sheli is very much one of the more revered gods during the celebration of the Great Migration.

     Sheli did not play much of a role in the pantheon for a long time. For the most part she was looked at as the matriarch of the wandering tribes of mammoths, protecting them from dangers of hunters and predators. But it came to pass that the 13 great tribes crossed the Bosphorus into Europe utterly starved. While they had the protection and lead of the goddess Briathenaea, the people’s food stock was all but depleted. Brianthenaea asked Sheli for help. The goddess directed random herds of mammoths towards the tribes to be hunted. Thus, the tribes were saved again by divine intervention. It was at that point that the people revered Sheli as a goddess of travel and the guardians of plains and valleys where mammoths dwelt. In turn Sheli devoted herself a goddess of the hunt and protectors of hunters. 

     One of the great scared tales speak of the time when Sheli had issued a great warning to all the hunters of the tribes never to kill more than they needed. Especially when it came to the mammoths, for they were the guardians of the plains. Sadly, there came a point where her warning was forgotten and sure enough the mammoths were all but hunted off by greedy hunters. That’s when the great starvation of the tribes came. Sheli shunned the hunters and set them to survive on their own. It was the god Herne who prevented the starvation of mortals by sacrificing himself. Sheli saw that the people were grateful, and they brought her great gifts to repent. Sheli broke down and forgave the mortals and vowed to continue to guard and guide their hunts.

     Sheli is seen in tow forms. The first being a mammoth and the second in her immortal true form; that is a woman of years, with reddish and grey hair, clad in travelling clothes lined in fur and a fir cap. Scared to Sheli are votive images of mammoths and elephants, hunting weapons and all sorts of foods. Bundles of grain are offered to her in autumn as a special tribute.

Aelles Then Ohenn

Happy New Year everyone!!! And may your autumn be joyous!

Bowynn Gods: Chumash

"Akua Naedarren" 2000 - left to right: Chumash, Tane and Anhur.

Chumash (Chu-mosh)  Chumash is the Bowynn guardian of passed Spirits and the Lord King of the next world, Daunnat. He is the son of Brea and Unthar and the brother of Sumon and Anhur.

     Unlike other mythologies and sacred stories of gods of the dead from around the world, Chumash is not a god to be fear. And depicting his as such is sacrilegious. He has no hatred, vengeance nor ill thoughts about him. He is a very kind soul for one that bears a crown on his head. In Daunnat he is the guardian of the souls and spirits that have passed, as well as Lord King of the other gods that dwell in Daunnat. Next to him sits his wife and most beloved queen, the goddess Kalma. Being the king of Daunnat is not just a status position but a lot of work. During the day, Chumash makes sure that souls and spirits are rightfully separated from their mortal husk; He makes sure that souls and spirits do not leave Duannat and living mortals do not enter Daunnat. In some cases, he is the judge of the dead, in that he may return souls and spirit back to the mortal world to be born again if they did not attain the lessons given to them at birth. In some cases, Chumash reunites family members that may not be able to find their past loved ones. At night Chumash leads the great feasts with the souls, making sure all have plenty of food to eat and drink and that music lasts throughout the night. Daunnat is very much the Architect of Daunnat and the creator of rites of the dead.

     Chumash should never be considered as a god of the cause nor effect of death itself. He does not bring death to mortals, nor does he send out agents of death to slay mortals on a whim. He has no dark side at all to him. Nor do any of the gods of Daunnat, in fact. Prior to Chumash taking the throne of Daunnat, there was no keeper or watcher of souls, and they would wander in and out freely, sometimes haunting mortals. Then one day Chumash and his brothers held contest as to who would be king of what realm: Earth, Sea and Daunnat. Each man drew an arrow and shot it. Wherever their arrow landed was the realm they would rule over. Chumash's flew the furthest and into an endless chasm; Thus, winning the kingdom of Daunnat. His other brothers laughed at Chumash, judging him as the winner of the worst prize. But he swore that he would make the kingdom of Daunnat more beautiful than any other kingdom of the living. And through hard work and the help of other gods, this became so. After this task was complete, Chumash asked the goddess Kalma to be his wife. However, she turned up the request several times. He bathed her with gifts of gold and jewelry, but she still turned his marriage proposal down. Finally, she accepted his hand when he offered her a single flower, an iris. It is now that flower that grows in abundance in Daunnat and by laying iris flowers on a grave, we honor the Chumash

     Chumash may be a light-hearted god, but he has a dark physical profile. His hair is said to be black and curly, as is his beard and moustache. His skin is tanned dark, and his eyes are chocolate brown and deep. Still, he is hardly a divinity to be feared. Sacred to Chumash are the gifts of votive dogs, Iris and Poppy flowers as well as all 7 sacred offerings of the Bowynn Tradition.

Chumash and Anhur Anhur, Tane and Chumash

Felt & Embroidery ribbon trim of Chumash and the gods of Daunnat

Bowynn Gods: Io

Io  (Eye-oh)  Goddess of the hearth, domesticated fire, cooking and kitchens, the home, warmth and family. She is the daughter of Phoenix but her father is unknown.  She is an all-around domestic goddess but mostly dealing with areas around the kitchen. And Io is one of the most revered of the Bowynn Gods. She is the goddess that blesses all food as it’s cooked. She cleanses and cleans cooking supplies and wards pests from the kitchen and home. When she is rarely not in the home, Io often wanders markets to see that picked produce and food is fresh and healthy. Back in the home, when not cooking, Io labors to keep the home clean. Io’s name means “Soot” and she is sometimes called Soot Girl or Soot Woman. As her fire attribute, Io makes sure all home fires (lamps, hearths and candles) burn safe and without mishaps., She also tends to the family needs, to make sure beds are made and clean, tables are clear and floors are swept, laundry is clean and purified.

      There are not too many sacred stories of the goddess Io, as she is often contained to the homes of Bowynn folk. The most important stories tell of her spending the seven sacred days with the first tribes of people and taught the fine arts of cooking. This included baking till the god Hyu took over that attribute. At first Io was apprehensible about handing over such a duty to Hyu, being a man. But Hyu proved himself most worthy. What’s more, Hyu charmed Io and eventually wed her. For their wedding feast Hyu made Io the most tremendous beautiful cake ever.

      The goddess Io is almost seen as a mother figure; your hair pulled back and wrapped in a ribbon. Her clothing is most plain and grey in color. Not too many times is she seen wearing a Bowynn Hlad, instead an apron. Unlike other gods, she has no totem animal, so if Io is seen outside a home, often in the market square, she is wrapped with a grey stola, so not to draw her immortality to others. Instead of a staff, Io bears a broom to clean out hearths. Sacred offerings to Io consist of food, incense and votive candles.

QUESTION & ANSWER: Myst

QUESTION: What exactly is a "Myst"?

ANSWER: "Myst" is the Bowynn word for "Witch" and other names for those that practice the arts. These is not gender difference. Male or Female, they are all Mysts. Crafters and casters of spells and other esoteric talents that fall within the profession.

Blessed Solstice

Blessed Solstice