The following is a basic run-through of the fundaments of an Indo-European act of piety. Ostensibly, it is explication of how Vedic ritual processes work - but as Witzel (excellently) points out, it is also very much how our current-day Hindu ritual understandings work as well. I say that it presents an "Indo-European act of … Continue reading Fundaments Of Indo-European Ritual
Applied Piety
A Brief Metaphysics of Soma , Vak , Vajra
Earlier today, I was asked a question about the nature of Soma and Amrit . I've written quite extensively about these topics elsewhere - but instead of just posting an onslaught of links, I thought it would be helpful to provide a brief overview of what's going on with these and the true nature of … Continue reading A Brief Metaphysics of Soma , Vak , Vajra
Gandalf Brihaspati – For Tolkien Jayanti
Yes, we know it's not Thursday … but it IS J.R.R. Tolkien's Birthday ! So, upon this occasion of Tolkien-Jayanti , here's something we prepared earlier looking at a rather … surprising underpinning Indo-European characterization to the figure of Gandalf : IT IS THURSDAY - JUPITER'S DAY - THEREFORE, BRIHASPATI Now, some among ye are … Continue reading Gandalf Brihaspati – For Tolkien Jayanti
A Brief Introduction To The Concept Of Combat Theology
Recently, we were asked what we meant by "Combat Theology". This is a brief (partial) explanation. A more in-depth exposition may be forthcoming. There's two elements to it - how we view what we do, and what it is that we actually do. The former part of it, I suppose, is a matter of perspective: … Continue reading A Brief Introduction To The Concept Of Combat Theology
The Shooting Goddess Of Order And Growth – The War-Effort Of The Natural World [An Extract from ‘The Queen of Serpents – The Serpentine Figure Of The Indo-European Earth Mother’]
The term - and, indeed, theonym - in question is 'Hora', best known in its plural formulation - 'Horae' (from the same root as modern English 'Hour', 'Year', etc.). In Greek usage, this refers to a set of Goddesses Who both regulate the passing of the seasons and various elements of righteous conduct - in … Continue reading The Shooting Goddess Of Order And Growth – The War-Effort Of The Natural World [An Extract from ‘The Queen of Serpents – The Serpentine Figure Of The Indo-European Earth Mother’]
On Odin Brihaspati As Song-Smith – The Sung Seizing Of The Wealth Of Cows
The Nordic textual corpus is a frustrating, glinting thing. So often we glance across a passage therein which evidently speaks to something that is evidently far deeper in meaning than what is written there upon the page … and yet which the ravages of time and obscurity mean that we now cannot feasibly interpret except … Continue reading On Odin Brihaspati As Song-Smith – The Sung Seizing Of The Wealth Of Cows
The Place Of Worship – The Temple – The Home And Healing Whole Of The Community
Something I love about the Indo-European etymology - is that manner in which the roots of terms resonate with their descendants. And, in so doing, significantly broaden our understanding of just what they actually are - how we are to relate to them. A good example of this is the Ancient Greek ναός - 'Naos' … Continue reading The Place Of Worship – The Temple – The Home And Healing Whole Of The Community
ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Five – Trita Triumphant , The Restoration of the Rightful Status of Iolaus
Thus, we see the situation wherein Trita , a priestly figure (albeit with a demonstrable martial competency afforded in no small part via ... weaponized theology) closely affiliated with Indra as companion (in a manner perhaps also resemblent of Indra and Brihaspati in various other dragon-slaying hymns - or Indra and Agni in RV V … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part Five – Trita Triumphant , The Restoration of the Rightful Status of Iolaus
ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part One – Indra And Iolaos : Hydras, Helpers, Heroes, Hercules
If you were to ask somebody the question "Who slayed Vritra", you would be presented with quite a simple answer. "I don't know, who's Vritra", probably. But for those even cursorily aware of the Indo-European mythology - more specifically its Vedic formulation - the reply would almost certainly come "Indra". And that is not (necessarily) … Continue reading ON THE INDO-EUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF IOLAUS – THIRD DRAGONSLAYER Part One – Indra And Iolaos : Hydras, Helpers, Heroes, Hercules
Foe-Slayer Claims Our Eulogy – Understanding RigVeda VIII 100: Indra, Vak
Every so often, we come across a Hymnal that really really deserves a broader audience. In this case, RV VIII 100 - which details a rather lesser-known element to the Slaying of Vritra by Indra. Namely, the salient role of Vak Devi (Saraswati) in this conflict. It therefore seemed most appropriate to prepare a brief … Continue reading Foe-Slayer Claims Our Eulogy – Understanding RigVeda VIII 100: Indra, Vak
arya-akasha 