I've had this image - and its underlying sentiment - on my mind for a few days now. It's something that often comes up in Western (neo-)pagan circles, and represents multiple layers of fundamental misapprehension about Indo-European religion. Indeed, it is very much a modern take - reflective of modern prejudices, (mis-)perceptions, and hangups - masquerading … Continue reading On Bowing To Gods – AND Drinking With Them !
Indo-European Religion
Brief Overview Of Some Empowering Elixir Comparanda – Soma, Kvasir, Mead of Poetry, Ambrosia, etc.
As promised, short-form not-articles of broader interest. This is from an interaction about Soma / Kvasir / Mead of Poetry / Ambrosia, etc. etc.Begins:--We can tell that Soma & Kvasir *should* be the same substance based around the unmistakably coterminous elements contained in the Skaldskaparmal & Havamal mythology for the obtaining of the latter ... … Continue reading Brief Overview Of Some Empowering Elixir Comparanda – Soma, Kvasir, Mead of Poetry, Ambrosia, etc.
On The Archaic Notion Of The Indo-European Demigod
Recently, in the course of a discussion elsewhere, an occasional correspondant - 'Indian History' on twitter - made mention of a most intriguing Sanskrit term he'd observed in a Hymnal of the RigVeda. We were discussing 'Demigods', and whether these were a more exclusively Greek / Classical phenomenon or something of a broader Indo-European provenance. … Continue reading On The Archaic Notion Of The Indo-European Demigod
On Triptolemus And Demeter, Soma And The Sacral Rites Of Life And Land
A foundational principle of Indo-European ritual is succinctly expressed in the Latin maxim - 'Do Ut Des' : "I Give So That You Might Give". The Tale of Triptolemus might be thought to similarly simply express the truth of this utterance - although upon closer examination, its resonancies are anything but "simple", especially when considered in … Continue reading On Triptolemus And Demeter, Soma And The Sacral Rites Of Life And Land
Arktos, Ursa, Rksa SaptaRsi – The Seven Bear-Seers Amidst The Stars And The Foundational Act Of Piety Of The Maidens Of Milk And Fate
Encoded within the Stars - and more specifically, the Constellations, the manner in which we project out up, upon them - is a wealth of archaic mythic meaning. We have earlier looked at some of these manifestations as applies Orion and the Pleiades (Krittikas) - now we shall turn our attentions briefly to an intricately … Continue reading Arktos, Ursa, Rksa SaptaRsi – The Seven Bear-Seers Amidst The Stars And The Foundational Act Of Piety Of The Maidens Of Milk And Fate
On Persephone As “Iron Queen”
I've been meaning to post this for some time - because it's an interesting perspective which I think is a useful part of countering the Victorian-era 're-characterization' of Persephone. But, as is my proclivity, I felt I had to check out some of the claims made herein … to make sure that things hadn't gone … Continue reading On Persephone As “Iron Queen”
Fire, Walk With Me – A Verse Of The Durga Suktam
"Bravery will take you into the most dangerous of places. Overwhelming firepower will see you safely through them." " पृतनाजितँसहमानमुग्रमग्निँ हुवेम परमात्सधस्थात् ।स नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा क्षामद्देवो अति दुरितात्यग्निः ॥ " "We Invoke From The Highest Place The Ugran Agni [Powerful/Furious Fire], The SahaMana ['Conquering/Overpowering/Powerful Spirit/Anger/Sentience'] Unvanquishable In Battle ; May She Greatly Protect … Continue reading Fire, Walk With Me – A Verse Of The Durga Suktam
Goddess Worship At Devi Kothi – An Expansion From William Simpson’s Painting And Journalistic Portrayal
Something I often find remarkable when looking at images and textual accounts of religious elements across the Indo-European sphere is just how … familiar they are when we actually gaze into them closely. This does not mean that they are all identically the same, of course - far from it! But it does tend to … Continue reading Goddess Worship At Devi Kothi – An Expansion From William Simpson’s Painting And Journalistic Portrayal
The Golden Radiancy Of Somnath Jyotirlinga [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part V]
Apt for a Monday - the ShivLing at Somnath , one of the Twelve (although by some counts thirteen) Jyotirlingam ['Starlight Lingam'] sites; 'Somnath' meaning 'Lord of the Soma' - a prominent Shaivite epithet, theonym, and role. Which it would be interesting to connect to Odin's role in the bringing of the Mead of Poetry. … Continue reading The Golden Radiancy Of Somnath Jyotirlinga [Incredible Indo-European Holy Sites Series Part V]
Hanuman Jayanti : The Indo-European Situation Of The Striker/Thunderer Deific In Apelike Form
Today marks Hanuman Jayanti - and, as has become our custom, we present an (A)Arti-cle in His Honour. A 'Jayanti', in case you were wondering, is one of those wonderful Sanskrit terms with several mutually reinforcing meanings - it is, at once, a 'Victory', but also can mean a 'Birthday'. So is therefore eminently appropriate … Continue reading Hanuman Jayanti : The Indo-European Situation Of The Striker/Thunderer Deific In Apelike Form
