This evening, we made a basic Panchamrut for the ritual offerings (Naivedya - the 'consumable/edible' Upachara (form of offering)). "Ancient Aryan Milkshakes", indeed. Panchamrut is Pancha ('Five' - like 'Penta') Amrit ('Mrit' like 'Mort', 'A-' here as a negation .. so 'Immortality'); and effectively functions as a ritual substitute for the rather more .. esoteric … Continue reading Panchamrut Preparation – ‘Ancient Aryan Milkshakes’ For Ritual Offering
Sacrifice
The Upasads – Sieges, Homage, Spiritual Warfare, And The Necessary Restoration Of Western Indo-European Religious Ritual Reconstruction
Something that is going to be absolutely essential when it comes to reconstructing the 'high religious' rites for western Indo-European spheres - is working out where, in the depths of the mythology, ritual understandings are to be deliberately inferred. Why? Because so much of Indo-European ritual is comprised of what Eliade eloquently termed the 'Eternal … Continue reading The Upasads – Sieges, Homage, Spiritual Warfare, And The Necessary Restoration Of Western Indo-European Religious Ritual Reconstruction
Sirius In Central Asia – Soma, Tisya, Tishtrya, Rudra
It is Wednesday - Odin's Day - and so therefore, as has become our custom, some fine devotional (a)art-i. Except this exquisite piece is not from the Northlands of Scandinavia - rather, its provenance is that most mysterious of Indo-European lands … far-flung Central Asia. Khotan, amidst the deserts and mountains fringing China's western edge in … Continue reading Sirius In Central Asia – Soma, Tisya, Tishtrya, Rudra
Midhvan for Monday – Lord Rudra’s Day
It is Monday - Lord Shiva's Day. And therefore - fine Roudran (A)Art-i. In this case - potentially - as Midhvan, and we shall explicate that term momentarily. Now, when one thinks of a figure of rather … apocalyptic significance turning up riding a white horse, it is perhaps rare that one's mind would immediately … Continue reading Midhvan for Monday – Lord Rudra’s Day
On Bowing To Gods – AND Drinking With Them !
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 !
Towards An Indo-European Theory Of Demonology – Chaos, Devourers, Outsiders, Messengers and Monsters
Something I have long meant to pen is a sort of explanatory typology for 'Demons' in Indo-European understanding. There's almost certainly an entire book which could be written upon the subject - and it is undeniably significantly intriguing. After all, many a great and epic myth requires a suitably monstrous foe in order for the Hero … Continue reading Towards An Indo-European Theory Of Demonology – Chaos, Devourers, Outsiders, Messengers and Monsters
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
Ritual Demonstration Of The Living Indo-European Faith
Rendered offerings of Dakshina to the Priests this afternoon, for six years looking after me. There is another Bandh upon my forearm, tied with a warding; and Tilaka upon my brow. Now, to elucidate what is going on here - this is a resonancy to quite ancient, fundamental Indo-European ritual. The cornerstones of which are … Continue reading Ritual Demonstration Of The Living Indo-European Faith
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
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