The Crows of Juno

Latin materials speak of 'Divine Crows' [Corniscae Divae - Allen has this as "Crow-Goddesses", even] which are of Juno; Festus' Epitome [56L] relates: "Corniscarum Divarum locus erat trans Tiberim cornicibus dicatus, quod in Junonis tutela esse putabatur", with this being often cited in accompaniment of an engimatic inscriptional "DEVAS CoRNISCAS SACRVM". This, whilst lesser-known today, … Continue reading The Crows of Juno

TRI-LOKA : The Three Worlds Of Indo-European Cosmology – Part Four: Amidst The Glorious & Ancestral Dead

Now as something of a 'check and confirm' upon all of this (Parts III, II, & I), it should prove useful to return towards the Nordic cosmological schema. Wherein, as applies the destination(s) of the Glorious and Ancestral Dead - we once again observe what should decidedly seem to be 'Uppland' situations: Valhalla should certainly … Continue reading TRI-LOKA : The Three Worlds Of Indo-European Cosmology – Part Four: Amidst The Glorious & Ancestral Dead

TRI-LOKA : The Three Worlds Of Indo-European Cosmology – Part Three: The Dead Among The Stars

Now speaking of the Night's Sky - this brings us to what's probably the most 'divergent' area for our trifold TriPlanar schema. And I mean that in two senses - first, in terms of just how 'different' one of the Hellenic (and later Classical) conceptions for this Layer is as compared to 'Everybody Else' on … Continue reading TRI-LOKA : The Three Worlds Of Indo-European Cosmology – Part Three: The Dead Among The Stars

The Fetters Of Fire And The Direction of the Dead – Agni-Rudra (And Ambika) Anchoring At The Cross-Paths[Of Goddesses, Gods, and Ghosts at the Crossroads – A Comparative Indo-European Exploration – Extract 4]

Let's take a look at some relevant scripture. Which, handily, we've already quoted above. But, to refresh our (collective) (unconscious or) memory: "7 Having removed all (the cakes from the potsherds) into one dish, and taken a fire-brand from the Dakshina-fire, he walks aside towards the North—for that is the region of that God—and offers. … Continue reading The Fetters Of Fire And The Direction of the Dead – Agni-Rudra (And Ambika) Anchoring At The Cross-Paths[Of Goddesses, Gods, and Ghosts at the Crossroads – A Comparative Indo-European Exploration – Extract 4]

A People Of Ash And Fury – On The Divinely Arboreal Genesis Of The Indo-Europeans

In recent days, our attention had been drawn to a most remarkable occurrence within the Þorleifs þáttr jarlaskálds wherein, as our learned associate, Gottfried Yann Karlssohn (who had drawn our attention to it in the first place) had phrased it - we find "a Norse king using incantations to animate a trémaðr (treeman), giving him a … Continue reading A People Of Ash And Fury – On The Divinely Arboreal Genesis Of The Indo-Europeans

On The Display Of The Ancestral Dead In Contemporary Museums – A Few Thoughts

We had encountered this twitter thought from an occasional correspondent of Anglo-Saxon extraction, and had a few thoughts in its relation, that I shall transcribe here: "Interesting question. I would perhaps take a look at how this is thought about in the Maori world here in NZ - because yeah, similar concerns around 'these are … Continue reading On The Display Of The Ancestral Dead In Contemporary Museums – A Few Thoughts

Somavati Amavasya – Worship of Shiva and the Ancestors on the Monday of the Dark Moon

Today is Monday - Lord Shiva's Day; however it is also Amavasya - a day with special significance and potential for observances for the Dead (as we have covered in some of our previous pieces looking at the Libations to the Ancestors). What Amavasya means is the 'Dark' point of the Moon's 28-day cycle - … Continue reading Somavati Amavasya – Worship of Shiva and the Ancestors on the Monday of the Dark Moon

Excerpt From A Letter Unsent – On The Manifestation Of The Animal Forms Of Fylgja And Vahana

[Author's Note: The following is an extract from a rather personal letter I'd written some years ago. It attempts to establish a unified metaphysics for the presentations of the animal forms of the Fylgia of humans, the Vahanas of the Gods, etc. Its 'core idea' is that the essence-tial spark of the nature at the … Continue reading Excerpt From A Letter Unsent – On The Manifestation Of The Animal Forms Of Fylgja And Vahana

The Indo-European Queen of the Dead – A Bridging-Place Between Pitru Paksha And NavRatri

Pitru Paksha - the Fortnight of the Ancestors - is nearly at a close ; and immediately after it comes NavRatri - the Nine Nights of the Mother Goddess. The former, is when the veils between the worlds are thinner, and one's ancestors (Pitrs - etymologically cognate with 'Fathers') are able to come and visit, to receive … Continue reading The Indo-European Queen of the Dead – A Bridging-Place Between Pitru Paksha And NavRatri