My Prayer To Dhonan, The Lover

Bowynn Gods: Issen

The giant Issen with farmers and animals working the land

Issen (Eye-sen)  Ancient giant god of the old age created by Brea and her siblings. Issen was the older god who ruled over the warmth of summer. One of the older gods, he traveled the world, with his family. His home was in the south and he would appear in the summer as a mammoth of golden fur, bringing with him the summer weather.

      Even though Issen’s attributes were diminished but the coming of the Akua, He is still a most respected god. He is said to now work with the goddess Tarna, the summer goddess, following before her in mammoth form, clearing a path for the goddess to travel. Bowynn folk will often lay blame on Issen if the summer becomes too hot. Issen’s home is the summer-lands of the south. There he has is own lodge that he built himself. Later the lodge was given to Tarna and the god Saphon. It is said that the lodge is massive in size, made of brown wood and logs, sitting on a green hill, overlooking the forested lands. Despite his diminished attributes, Issen is still widely prayed too, in hopes that the summer season is not harsh, and he will ward off forest fires.

      In his immortal form, Issen is seen as an older god, fully bearded and long hair flowing down his back. His hair itself is brownish tainted with white. Issenn is known to always be wearing a heavy brown hide on his back and his clothing is of brown and golden leathers. In his hands are seen a staff and horn. It is with this horn that he blows on, issuing in the summer season. When not in this form, he is a magnificent golden mammoth. Sacred gifts to Issen are incense and votive mammoth images. Like all of the old giants, his totem was the mammoth.

Bowynn Gods: Hyu

Hyu  (Hi-you)  Hyu is the God of baking, ovens and bread. He is the “Baker of the Gods.” He is also the god of bread making, mills, harvesting wheat, the grinding of flour, acorn gathering and the patron of bakers. He is the son of Amaetheon and Deanna. His man means “Flour.” Hyu is a master bread maker. He has his own room and kitchen at Alaway, where he makes all the feasts for the divine Akua family each morning and night, particularly the daily first loaf, which is divided up among the gods. He taught the first mortal tribes how to harvest and prepare acorns for bread making. The bread he makes for the holy family is the most sacred. Hyu is also the guardian of mills. His image was always depicted on mill doors and all mills had a small shrine to Hyu. Hand mills are blessed in Hyu’s name.

     The 7 days Hyu spent with the first tribes to teach them the arts of bread making. This was one of the key elements that brought on man’s survival. So grateful were the tribes, that they build a special temple to Hyu in the shape a mill, instead of the typical shape. The altar as well was designed in the shape of a millstone.

     Hyu is depicted as a man of full age, His hair longish and brown, often seen in workman’s clothes of earth tones and a bakers tan tunic. He carries a broom-staff to which is bound his bread-board with red fillets, a color sacred to him. Offerings to Hyu are in the realm of bread, wheat, flour, acorns, and other grains that are made into flour. Special gifts also consist of elaborated carved spoons, brooms, bread-boards, honey and herb cakes. Hyu’s totem is the mouse, the symbol of abundant wealth.

Happy Halloween

Aelles Tsa'Kora

May the light of the Equinox fill your soul and body. May you be blessed with the harvest of abundance and have no need of want. May the epiphany of Autumn come into your life with joyous glee. May the colors of the season radiate all about you, bring you happiness.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Prayers

QUESTION: Are there any set prayers to each god in the Bowynn faith that all read and follow

ANSWER: This is tricky to answer. In general, no. We find it best to speak from the heart and at the moment. However, we to have a standard order of how prayers are spoken:

We speak the gods name and attach to it their general attribute. "O' Anhur, King of kings."

We mention the god's parentage. "Son of Brea and Unthar."

We mention many of the god's attributes "Sovreign, Father, Judge and lord of law and order."

Next, we speak out who we are. Sometimes we will add our own parents. "It is I ________, daughter/son of ________, daughter/son of ___________."

Then we go on to thank them or speak on about why we call them.

The last lines pay homage to the god in some way. "For all you have done and do for me and _________, I am forever grateful."

Prayers and rite and sacred lines are always ended with the word "SYEMBER". It is a Bowynn word with no English meaning. It can be VERY LOOSELY associated with "amen" but it is far beyond that. Syember is a word that has many meanings all in one. A word that binds us to the divine. A word that means "It is done." "Hear me." "These are my words." "Immortal." A divine "Thankyou." "Blessings." "We are one." And so much more.

This is the general outline for a prayer in the Bowynn tradition. One can make it as long or short as one wants.

Bowynn Gods: Boquinn

Boquinn (Bow-kwin)  (also Soquinn) The Boquinn are the Bowynn are Kii giants of the forests and mountains and the protectors of them. Boquinn are hairy ape-like spirits, they are often solitary wanderers of the unlike other Kii that often work together. They were created by Brand to keep the woodlands safe from Mano’s wrath and pranks and the destructiveness of the Tii. Unlike other Kii, they do not speak like humans but more like animals. Legends say that for a person to see a Boquinn, will bring the person great blessings. The Boquinn are in general, peaceful, unless people get too close. When a Boquinn does present itself as vicious, it is normally a warning that some great change is about to take place that will disrupt their homeland.

BOWYNN GODS: YORMELL

Yormell  (Yor-mel)  Mammoth god of the weather, wind, air and rain. He is the creation of Brea and the other gods of creation. In the time of the giants, before the Akua ruled the world, Yormell ruled over the winds and the weather. When the Akua took over the world and the wind gods took over. The 4 brothers of the winds felt sorry for old Yormell and so he became their eyes of the world and instructor as to where the winds should blow. And at time Yorell would help them out, stirring up the clouds to induce rain and storms. In the winter Yormell will assist the gods of winter Arn and Myliea in their travels across the world, making sure it's cold and snow is falling, creating winter wonderlands for the gods and mankind alike.

     Yormall is seen most of the time in his divine storm; that of an old man in white winter robes. In his hand he carries a staff that’s topped with a deer antler or a long mammoth tusk that is said to help provide snow. In his totem form Yormell appears as a white mammoth of great size. Sacred to Yormell is a milk libation, bowls of water, incense and wicker fans.

Bowynn Gods: The Maukol

Maukol  (Maw-khol)  The Maukol are the diminutive Kii (spirits) of the autumn harvest. Small in size, they will travel with the goddesses Kora and Deanna and bring the fruits of the land to ripen and the leaves to change their color. The Maukoll are said to have autumn-colored wings that are in the shape of tree leaves. These Kii hold a great importance and in the autumn images of them are made and hung from wreaths and garlands and about the home. It is a hope that these images will draw the Maukol to their homes and grant abundance of harvest and a gentle autumn.

BOWYNN GODS: TARM

Tarm  (Tarm)  Tarm is the Mammont [Mammoth] god of invention. Tarm and the other mammoth gods were created by Brea and her siblings, along with all animals and humans.

     In the early days when the Giants ruled the world, Tarm was the giant of the winds and winter season. He brought on this season to let the earth rest and fertilize itself. This he did with Brea, his mother. But when the younger gods took over and the brothers of the winds were born, Tarm stepped down from this role, even though Tarm will accompany the god Arn in the winter. Tarm however remained with the Akua because he was a most wise god and would create inventions for the gods and later, he spent the Seven Sacred days with the first tribes and creating items they would need to survive. These inventions were items like brooms, rakes, hand mills and many other items needed to get by every day. Tarm is also the bestower of wisdom to create and discover, so Tarm’s role as a god is still vital.

     Tarm is seen as an older god, grandfatherly, with wild long grey hair. His clothes are simple, earthly colored traveling robes and a wood staff in hand. In his totem form he is seen as a burly mammoth. All items are sacred and offered to Tarm.  Also gifted to Tarm is bowls of milk and woven fans, as well as votive images of mammoths.

Bowynn Gods: Hawynn

Hawynn  (Haw-winn)  Hawynn is the Bowynn God king of all the rivers in the world. But more-more-so the great river Muet, which flows under Alaway (Great Hall of the Gods) and ends up in Duannat (Home of those that have passed) He is also a god of fishing and protector of dams and bridges, and patron to those that depend on rivers for their lively-hoods. He is the son of Sumon and Phoenix.

     Prior to Hawynn's birth and taking of position, Alaway had Kii as water bearers bringing water from a well that was guarded by a serpent. Only the Kii could fetch waters. If any of the Kii drew near, the serpent would attack them into submission.  The fetching of water grew weary on the Kii, who would have to fetch water several times a day. Young Hawynn was fond of the servant Kii and hated to see them toil so. He took the great spear of his father, Tane, and the scrying bauble of his mother, Kalma, and went to subdue the serpent. Using the bauble Hawynn was able to predict the moves of the serpent as they battled. With the spear, Hawynn was able to finally say the beast. Then, using one of the ribs of the creature, Hawynn dug a massive trench to the well and released its waters. Thus, the great river was created and set to flow under Alaway. At the same time the servant Kii were released from their duties. In gratitude, Anhur gave Hawynn his blessing and made lord of all rivers and commander of the great river Muet. The Kii that were the water bearers before-hand were each given a river in the world to bless and sanctify, as all Rivers spiritually branch off of Muet.

     As for Hawynn himself, he took a bride, a Kii named Naea, whose status was raised to that of Goddess because she feasted on immortal foods and therefore, was given the blessing of Bia. When not feasting at night with the gods, Hawynn is busy marking the course of rivers and controlling their floods. Also making sure water is always clean and pure. He is a patron of those that depend on rivers for a livelihood, including mills, dams, power-plants, fishing and miners in some cases.  

     Despite his younger brash and reckless self, Hawynn is a most fun and pleasing god. He more often would hold banquets and riparian events on the banks of Muet than feast in the halls of Alaway and is a wonderful swimmer and fisherman. He is said to bear the face of a young thin man. Hawynn is often seen in a green cloak, with a goat-skin mantle and staff, which he uses to help control the waters. He also is said to always carry with him a drinking horn made from the serpent his slew. The horn is said to magickally hold enough water to drink from for a week. His totem is the otter which he often takes the form of, if not the otter, then he may take the form of a beaver.