With Naga Panchami - the Celebration of Serpents - just concluded, it seemed an admirable time to return to something we have oft mentioned in passing in the past. That being the most implacable figures of the Erinyes … and the perhaps lesser-known deific that is at Their Head. And, because this is an Arya … Continue reading Upon The Erinyes As ‘Sentinel Serpents’ – And Athena As ‘Dragon Queen’
Mountains
In Search Of Scythian Ares – Part Two : The Swords Of The Sky Father
As we'd noted towards the outset of Part One, the Scythian religion is endlessly, fascinatingly frustrating. We know so little - and yet we can seemingly 'piece together' a few elements from the scant textual (and usually virtually third hand) viewpoints of their faith that have come down to us from Antiquity. One figure in … Continue reading In Search Of Scythian Ares – Part Two : The Swords Of The Sky Father
No, Fjörgyn Does Not Descend From Perkwunos – It’s Literally The Other Way Around
In the wake of discussion spurred up by that … curious assertion from a popular (neo-)pagan youtuber about two Nordic deifics allegedly having 'swapped genders' and this being demonstrable via linguistics - we encountered a comment asking if Fjörgyn might be something like this, predicated upon the often-encountered notion of Fjorgyn being somehow linguistically descended from … Continue reading No, Fjörgyn Does Not Descend From Perkwunos – It’s Literally The Other Way Around
On Brigid And Brhati – Some Preliminary Observation
Recently, we were asked a question pertaining to the figure of St Brigid - and, of course, the Celtic deific of the similar name (which may have further bearing for the somewhat distinct Brigantia … although we aren't going to get into that herein). Part of the question concerned the potential for Brigid to be an … Continue reading On Brigid And Brhati – Some Preliminary Observation
On The Etymology Of Bacchus – The Roarer
[illustration appears to be by a Jim Tierney] When it comes to Dionysus, there are various elements which are … challenging to make sense of. This is as it should be. One of these concerns the likely etymology - and therefore meaning - of one of His most prominent theonymics: Bacchus (or Bakkhos, Βάκχος, etc.). Usually … Continue reading On The Etymology Of Bacchus – The Roarer
Brahmacharini for Chaitra Navratri – Seeker of the Absolute
The Second Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Brahmacharini - the Seeker of the Absolute. Now as we will recall - 'Brahman' is from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ-. This term in PIE refers to something that is 'high', 'exalted' - and also produces, unsurprisingly, terms for 'mountain' (like the Germanic 'Berg'). It would perhaps be improper … Continue reading Brahmacharini for Chaitra Navratri – Seeker of the Absolute
Shailaputri for Chaitra Navratri – Daughter of the Mountain
The First Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to Ma as Shailaputri - the Daughter of the Mountain. In English, 'Daughter of the Mountain' would be quite a frequent hailing for Devi - 'Girija' [i.e. Giri - Mountain, plus Ja - 'born from'], and even 'Parvati' may be translated in such a manner ['Parvata' - Mountain; … Continue reading Shailaputri for Chaitra Navratri – Daughter of the Mountain
RudraGanika – A Study In Eternal Return As Manifested Through The Sky Father’s Female Retinue Across The Indo-European World
[Author's Note: This work brings together several (my)themes close and dear to my heart. It had been intended to be published upon MahaShivRatri - the 1st of March in 2022 - however, Time waits for no man (other than Her Husband); and my continuing to find further elements which cried out to be included resulted … Continue reading RudraGanika – A Study In Eternal Return As Manifested Through The Sky Father’s Female Retinue Across The Indo-European World
Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
Many are aware of the broad outlines of the Classical instance of Artemis having Actaeon put to death. Roughly speaking - Actaeon commits an outrage against the Goddess's modesty, and so is turned into a deer and torn to pieces by his own hunting dogs. What few realize is that this particular story is also … Continue reading Of Artemis And Actaeon, The Wolf As Defender Of The Goddess – A Forensic Theology Examination Of A Classical Myth In The Vedas And In The Stars
On The Tocharian-Sourced Indo-European Toponymy For The Qilian Shan – And Associated Mytho-Linguistic Elements Running Right The Way Up To Kailash
For the past few days, I have been looking once more at Indo-Europeans in Central Asia - and even proximate to China. It is quite remarkable what there is out there, even if much of it has been forgotten or elsewise obscurated via the ravages of time. Now, these days the Qilian Shan refer to … Continue reading On The Tocharian-Sourced Indo-European Toponymy For The Qilian Shan – And Associated Mytho-Linguistic Elements Running Right The Way Up To Kailash
arya-akasha 