The Indo-European Propitiation Of Persephone-Kali [Part One: The Return]

Ours is a glorious path. One which has set forth for the pious engagement with the ancient, the archaic, the ancestral … yet which has also undertaken to exist not merely within museums, but out amidst the modern world. Which does not, of course, mean that it ought be confused for something fundamentally "modern". And … Continue reading The Indo-European Propitiation Of Persephone-Kali [Part One: The Return]

On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part Two: When In Rome…]

Practicing an Indo-European religion amidst the Modern Age is no easy thing. One seems endlessly caught between the twin considerations of 'Authenticity' contrasted with 'Accessibility'. The former correlates to the quite righteous desire to 'do things properly' (and so they actually work) - customarily by seeking to follow reasonably closely within the foot-tracks of one's … Continue reading On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part Two: When In Rome…]

Of Goddesses, Gods, and Ghosts at the Crossroads – A Comparative Indo-European Exploration

It fascinates me how our various Indo-European religions 'interlock'. Both in terms of the way that the same (or highly similar) elements co-occur in recognizable format across various of these, even separated by millennia or many thousands of kilometers; yet also in the way that a fulsome understanding of one can help to 'unlock' the … Continue reading Of Goddesses, Gods, and Ghosts at the Crossroads – A Comparative Indo-European Exploration

Kali is Hindu, and Glorious – Opposition To Her In Depiction And Practice, Not So Much

Earlier this week I was reading through some academic articles of a few decades ago speaking about particular forms of Devi - and Tantrik ritual elements. Now, here's the thing … these articles, one in particular, were rather … heavily negative. Saying the most choler-raising things about how these spheres were barbaric and savage, and … Continue reading Kali is Hindu, and Glorious – Opposition To Her In Depiction And Practice, Not So Much

The Sovereign-Sires Of The Sky – Lord Shiva And Devi As The Ultimate Rulers Of The Grahas

We had earlier had our attention drawn to this verse (and its backdrop) by several associates. It is a work of one of the great Tamil Shaivite saints, Sambandar (also anglicized, as here, as Campantar) - and, as one can immediately see, it is a verse for the simultaneous praising of Lord Shiva, as well … Continue reading The Sovereign-Sires Of The Sky – Lord Shiva And Devi As The Ultimate Rulers Of The Grahas

On Becoming Rudra – The Indo-European Investiture Of The Divine Essence In Ritual And Beyond

It is Wednesday ! Odin's Day ! And so therefore, some absolutely excellent (A)Art-i and accompanying commentary upon the relevant Indo-European theological precept, in His Name - quite literally, as it should happen.  The art is by HC - and was initially destined to evocatively illustrate a section of my ongoing RUDRAGANIKA series.Yet it … … Continue reading On Becoming Rudra – The Indo-European Investiture Of The Divine Essence In Ritual And Beyond

Extraordinary Rendition – Specifically, Limb From Limb : Sambhunjati – A RUDRAGANIKA Excerpt

We present a further excerpt from our RUDRAGANIKA work - this time, looking at a most intriguing co-expression in the Vedic, Hellenic, and Nordic spheres. That of figures drawn from this female retinue of the Sky Father 'playing with Their food', and tearing apart wrongdoers. Whilst also weaving webs of fate using the entrails. This … Continue reading Extraordinary Rendition – Specifically, Limb From Limb : Sambhunjati – A RUDRAGANIKA Excerpt

The Vitality of the Universe Entire – On MahaGauri, SiddhiDhatri, and Demeter

The Eighth Night of #NavRatri is dedicated to MahaGauri - The Great Beauty, The 'Great White One' ; The Ninth Night of NavRatri, to Siddhidhatri - the Bestower of Boons, The Giver of Empowerment. Both because I am rather late in my finishing of this piece - but also due to a certain underlying thematic unity ...  … Continue reading The Vitality of the Universe Entire – On MahaGauri, SiddhiDhatri, and Demeter