BOWYNN GODS: TYR

Bowynn Gods: Hyseer

Hyseer  (Hy-Seer)  These kii are the spirits of the season of Winter and the followers of the Gods Myliea and Arn. They are diminutive in size and the Kii of the frost, snow and winter chills. They are no bigger than the size of snowflakes. Some have wings insect like wings, some have wings like snowflakes and some are wingless. Despite that some people depict the Hyseer as sweet innocent kii, they can be extremely vicious and creating frostbite and other serious skin and health issues that snow can cause. Some will project themselves as ice and damage farmland and homes. During winter, bowls of milk are offered to them most generously to make sure winter is gentle.

Blessed Winter Solstice

Bowynn Gods: Phaenixx

Wood carved Pog of Phaenixx w/ penciles in eyes (now lost) - Created by myself - 1984

Phaenixx  (Fay-niks)  In the Bowynn Tradition, Phaenixx is the daughter created by Bia. Sister to Brea, Unthar, Summon. She is the very element of Fire and one of the great creatrix. Phoenix is the goddess of fire, volcanoes, earthquakes, flame, warmth and smoke. She is not just the destructive side of these attributes but the nurturing side as well. She warms people in the winter and from destruction comes life anew. She brings people together and gave humanity the ability to express love and desire at the start of humanity.      When the gods created mankind from earth, it was Phaenixx that baked the clay that was used to form mankind, there-by not only keeping our form together but also giving mankind skin. At the same time it gave each and one a heart filled with burning passion and love. Phaenixx is one of the great 7 that form the symbolism of the septagram. During the time of the great 7 Sacred Days, Phoenix gave mankind the knowledge of fire, how to make it, contain it, how to avoid and respect it, how to tame it and use it for our advantage.      Phaenixx is seen as a full-fledged motherly figure with deep red hair and dress. She bears a golden circlet on her head as well is sometimes a veil of scarlet red. Phaenixx is not, nor should she be seen as, a fearful figure but instead as a warm embracing goddess. A protectress, giving us light to see and stay warm. She is safety in the darkness. Other times Phaenixx is seen as a great red phoenix-like bird. Sacred to Phaenixx are images of phoenix birds, candle, and all symbols of fire. These are the most common gifts given to the goddess, but any image of birds or fire is welcome to the goddess.

Phaenixx on a altar cloth - created by Ksandra Weldess - 2019 (Goddesses Paut and Tya can also be seen)

Bowynn Gods: Daeth

Daeth Coddling the Earth (2) Daeth with the defeated Bull of Night (3) Neo Classical Daeth (4) Daeth over-looking the Earth

Daeth (Dayth)  Daeth is the Bowynn God of darkness, shadows and the night. He is not a fearsome god by any means, just the god that attributes darkness to the universe and the night. He is a primordial god, one of the first gods to emerge from the will of Bia, along with his twin sister Tora and other brothers and sisters. He is the god one calls to during the dark of the moon, looking at one’s shadow self and looks at when practicing shadow magic. Again, Daeth is not an evil god by any extent nor has he any ill intentions. Even when there is light, Daeth is the creator and pinner of shadows. He is also a god of balance, where-in there is darkness, light exists as well.

     Daeth, like all gods when they are born, had no attributes or realms to tend to. And Darkness was an element that was guarded by a massive black bull in the heavens. When Daeth was old enough, Daeth had challenged the bull. Such a competition it was across the universe. Their tracks created the streaked sky called the "Milky Way" which in Bowynn is called "Ikarro." Eventually Daeth got on the bulls back and tamed the huge black bull till it was exhausted. Daeth then was able to unleash the darkness into the universe. Not as a feared element but as a separation of light, keeping the law of Bia "Balance" in check. For where there is Light, there must be darkness. As for the bull itself, Daeth kept the creature as his own steed and to give it honor, he arranged a constellation to match him, known as Taurus.

     Eventually Daeth and his twin sister Tora wed and bore and host of other gods. However, being actually created from Bia instead of born, the ill laws of incest never cursed Bia's children. Together Tora and Daeth rule the realm of night on earth. It is Daeth that gave Naraea, the goddess of sleep and dreams, a home high in the celestial heavens among the stars. And also, from Tora and Daeth was born the magnificent Goddess of the moon, Morrighynn. Unlike many of the gods of Alaway, Daeth does not often join the gods in the Great Hall at night for feasting and fun, as his realm needs to be tended to in those hours. Instead, he and Tora feast together and they tend to the night and darkness

     Despite his primordial appearance Daeth is not an old looking god. He is a well-developed young man, said to have curly hair and black as darkness. Some who have had divine contact with him say his eyes are just as black. Other say that his eyes are like a shining star. And his clothing of choice is also as black as his realm. Often, he is seen carrying the bridle of the great black bull or simply wearing a black cloak. Despite his dark attributes, Daeth is said to be rather handsome.

QUESTION & ANSWER: Drugs

QUESTION: How do Bowynn practitioners feel about those that take recreational drugs?

ANSWER: What one does in one's home is not our business. HOWEVER...in general we frown on the use of drugs unless it is something that is prescribed by a doctor. Luckily for us, we are all close friends so we all know that we all abhor the idea of use of drugs, as a means of "escape."

I will say this also applies to the smoking of tobacco products and excessive alcohol drinking. All of these addictive articles are banned from celebratory gatherings, save for wine, which is heavily monitored. We come together is clear and clean body, mind, soul and spirit. We find that we do not need such things in our lives and celebrations. We find there is nothing spiritual nor fun to someone that needs to pollute the air with the smell of narcotics and the abused stench of alcohol.

Bowynn Gods: Dylan

Dylan  (Dil-lan)  Dylann is the God of harbors, shores, ports and beaches. A sea god he is the protector of boaters and fishermen and anyone that depends on the sea for livelihood or entertainment.

     Son of Tane and Kauldra, Dylan is seen in one of three forms; either a bash handsome young man; A horse; or what is known as a Hippo-Ichthiocampus (The torso and head of a man, lower part of a dolphin and the front legs of a horse.) Dylan is the supplier of fish for those that are fishermen and shells for those that use them as craft. He is also the controller of tides and waves. One sacred tale speaks of a witch that stole Dylan’s powers to metamorph into his sea forms and he was kidnapped as a boat hand to row and maintain the large vessel. However, he fell into favor with the ship's captain, and they sailed to the island where the witch lived to steal his powers back. This they accomplished but at the cost of the mortal fishermen’s lives. Once he had his immortality back, Dylan changed all his friends into Dolphins and thus populated the sea. Dylan is also the herdsman of Lord Tane's sacred steeds, which are horses of the sea.

     Sacred to Dylan are all the abundances of the ocean; fish, shells, coral, sea mammals, sea birds, sea plants and these all make wonderful offerings to him, as well as incense, of course. Often Dylan is seen enjoying his days on the beach, fishing, swimming and running about, either in human or horse form. At evening Dylan sometimes can be seen camped on the beach by a bonfire, feasting and watching the boats and sunset.

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."

Question & Answer: Winter Solstice

Question: Are there any traditional Bowynn foods served on Tsa'Myliea?

Answer: Fish is the main traditional meal. Salmon or trout. Prawns are also common. Pecan Pie and Orange spice cake is also most common. But by in large there is no ONE staple traditional meal.

BOWYNN GODS: PAUT

Paut  (Pawt)  Goddess of the element of Soul. She is one of the first creations of Bia and the brother of Brea and the other gods of the creatrix.

     At the beginning of time when the gods gathered together and formed mankind, the discovered that mankind walked about the earth aimlessly and all were exactly alike. Paut then instilled each person with a soul, which house and protected the spirit and gave each person a voice and personality, making them different and their own individuality. This was Paut’s great gift to mankind. Later, during the 7 Sacred Days, Paut stayed with the tribes and taught them how to understand their individual souls and how souls make up a part of ones being. Also, she taught mortals how to keep our souls and healthy and clean. When it comes to the Bowynn, we recognize the soul as a physical part of human anatomy. This is due to Paut’s teachings.

      Paut is one of the few of the Akua who spend little time with Mankind. She is too busy imbuing each human that is born with a soul in his private chamber in Alaway. But every once in a long while it is said he ventures out and checks on folks and making sure people souls are clean and being used wisely. He also takes time on Full-Moon ceremonies to help the goddess Morrighynn cleanse everyones soul.

     Paut is seen as a wise woman, with a long white hair. Her eyes are said to be so ice blue, to see past folks mortal husks to their soul. Paut is dressed in long robe and cloak. Over her robe he wears three large disks that represent the three elements the soul controls: Self, Mind and Action. Paut does not have a known totem animal; atleast not one that is known to us. Sacred to Paut is glass baubles and bull votive images. These as well as Incense are the customary gifts to Paut.

Embroideries featuring Paut in the center surrounded by other gods, Kii and worshippers

Bowynn Gods: Hern

Hern  (Hurn)  Hern is the Bowynn god of the sun and the hunt. He is the protector of woodland, the creatures that live there and Hunters. Despite his name and spelling, the Bowynn god Hern bares little to no semblance to the English ghost spirit Herne. Hern is the son of the earth goddess Brea and the sky god Unthar. 

     As a god of the hunt, Hern makes sure the hunt is justified, that hunters do not take more than what they need and at the same time protect them from vicious attacks and other woodland dangers. At the same time Hern protects the wildlife. He is also the one that blesses tools and implements used for hunting and initiates professional hunters. Contrary-wise, Hern will punish those that abuse the hunt and who treat animals maliciously.

As a sun god, Herne tamed the great sun mares once belonged to the deities Saul and Shayla, steadying their course across the heavens. Taming them to allow the sun to rise and set just once in a 24 hour period.

     Hern is one of the great epic gods that is most prominent in the Bowynn tradition. It is his birth, life and death that is worshipped throughout the year. The great sacred story explains that he was conceived in the dead of winter by the sky and earth on the holiday Kymyliea (Imbolc) and was born on the spring Equinox, Tsaquilla. It was when Hern was a young teen that he met the moon goddess Morrighynn and pledge his love to her on the day of Kyquilla. (Beltane) Their love we sanctified and united on Tsatarna. (Summer Solstice) Their honeymoon lasted all summer long, climaxing on Kytarna (Lammas). By Tsakora (the Autumn Equinox) Hern had noticed that humanity had become so lazy over the summer that they did not harvest enough food and wood to survive the winter. He journeyed to the great western mountains and spoke to Bia, the great creator force and realized what he had to do to help man survive. On the holiday of Kykora (Samhain), Hern proclaimed one finally great hunt to the mortal hunters. During the hunt, Hern turned himself into a mighty stag and gave himself to humanity so they may survive. Morrighynn grieved endlessly for the loss of her love Hern till at last, on Tsameliea (Yule) word came to Morrighynn that Hern will be born again and return to her. In turn Hern is reborn to the earth again each year.

Hern and his loved Morrighynn. With wolf cub and elk fawn at their feet.

As the god of the sun, his gloriousness and strength waxes stronger from Winter to Summer and then wanes weaker after the Summer Solstice into winter. It not shocking to find Bowynn praying to Hern throughout summer in force to ensure a gentle winter.

There are endless other legends of Hern but the Great Circle Saga is the grandest and also marks out the 8 celestial holidays of the year.  It is said that when Hern was first born to Brea, there was no cradle to hold the babe, so the Goddess Briathenaea made a swing-like hammock cradle made of elf antler and hide for the Mother Goddess to hold the babe.

     Hern is one of the horned gods of the Bowynn Pantheon. His head is crowned with elk/deer antlers, as his very totem is the elk. Some time he is seen also with elk or deer ears, giving him a softened and my friendlier appearance. other depictions have him without antlers. All cervidae animals are sacred to Herne and he often appeared to mortals as a might buck elk. Hern is also the creator of the Sunflower, a divine symbol of his love to Morrighynn on their wedding day, as well as a source of food. Wheat and corn is also a symbol of Hern, as a symbol of his devotion to Morrighynn, turning it from green to gold in color. during summer wheat and corn husks are woven and firmed into sun images to Hern and hung everywhere. Especially on and over doors and windows. The sword and the bow and arrow are also symbols of the god.