The Elements / Tau Retammas

Bowynn Gods: Brea

Part of an altar cloth depicting Brea - embroidery and paint - Created by Sheree Tsarnek 2021

Brea (Bree-ah)  Goddess of the earth and earth element. Brea is the great earth goddess born/created from Bia.  By the union of her to her "brother" Unthar,  she gave birth to the great household of gods.  Brea ultimately is the earth goddess and element. And she is part of the great creatrix of all things; for she was the one that gave the other gods the idea to create all that resides on the earth. She is the goddess of fertility, life, death, growth and represents the element of earth. She is also the goddess of evolution and creation on the planet.

Brea is often seen and depicted as a grandmother type image, with an aged caring face.

     The ancient story speaks that as a child Brea would often come down to one of the dead rocky planets and play on them. Bia warned the child to stay away from the planets but she would not listen. Finally one day Brea found that when it was time to leave one of the dead planets, she could not and was bound to it. Even with the help of all her brothers and sisters, Brea could not remove herself from the land. Bia stated that she was now that planet’s permanent resident and was free to do with the planet as she please. Working her divine will, Brea gave life to the planet with trees, flowers and grass. In time with her siblings helped mold and sculpt the landscape; Brea would create all the animal life and then mortal mankind. Eventually Brea became the very essence of the planet and gave it her name, Brea, “Earth”  

     Brea is the goddess that fashioned out of earth, the mold for all living creatures, including mortal people. But it was not with-out the help of her siblings, that these creations took life and populated the earth. This was done because Brea saw that despite trees, seas and sky, the world was silent and empty. Seeing the world was so lonely and quiet, Brea took dirt into her hand and sculpted the first beings from it. But the sculptures of dirt were nothing more than dirt, with no life and just fell apart. With the help of her brothers and sister, all beings came to be on Earth. Brea is called the ‘mother of the gods.’

     Brea is always depicted as a mother figure, a lot like Mother Nature. She often is seen wearing a crown or circlet to show her majesty and other times seen wearing a wreath of bounty of all sorts. Over these adornments she wears a veil. Her gown is green more than often and her bosoms are large, which represents fertility. Being that she is the supreme lady of life, all beings and things are sacred to her; flora and fauna and mankind. However, the most prominent gift that can be offered to her is incense; a gift she gave to mortal folk during her 7 Sacred Days of visitation.  

(Other like gods comparable to Brea are Gaea, Mama Pacha, Maka Akan, Akka, Papa, Terra, )

Bowynn Gods: The Aetennii

Small wood carving made for a pet burial area - made by Myself - 1999

Aetennii  (Ae-ten-ni)  The Aetennii are guardian Kii (spirits) of Bowynn cemeteries and protectors of tombs and cemetaries. These Kii are bird size and are much like the typical Kii with bird wings. They do not accompany the deliverer of the dead, Heron but will often signal to Heron that a loved one was just laid to rest, and its soul and spirit require his assistance. The Aetennii do not serve the soul, spirit or body but instead the cemetery itself and the tombs within. Making sure they do not suffer damage, be it natural or manmade.

Typically, images of the Aetennii are placed on the entrance way of the cemetery but also on the tombs themselves. In the Bowynn tradition, any bird seen in a cemetery is an Aetennii in disguise, particularly if a heron is with them.

Flowers and libation are gifted to the Aetennii my grounds keepers monthly and their images are cleaned and polished up.

Bowynn Gods: Hern

Hern  (Hurn)  Hern is the Bowynn god of the sun and the hunt. He is the protector of woodland, the creatures that live there and Hunters. Despite his name and spelling, the Bowynn god Hern bares little to no semblance to the English ghost spirit Herne. Hern is the son of the earth goddess Brea and the sky god Unthar. 

     As a god of the hunt, Hern makes sure the hunt is justified, that hunters do not take more than what they need and at the same time protect them from vicious attacks and other woodland dangers. At the same time Hern protects the wildlife. He is also the one that blesses tools and implements used for hunting and initiates professional hunters. Contrary-wise, Hern will punish those that abuse the hunt and who treat animals maliciously.

As a sun god, Herne tamed the great sun mares once belonged to the deities Saul and Shayla, steadying their course across the heavens. Taming them to allow the sun to rise and set just once in a 24 hour period.

     Hern is one of the great epic gods that is most prominent in the Bowynn tradition. It is his birth, life and death that is worshipped throughout the year. The great sacred story explains that he was conceived in the dead of winter by the sky and earth on the holiday Kymyliea (Imbolc) and was born on the spring Equinox, Tsaquilla. It was when Hern was a young teen that he met the moon goddess Morrighynn and pledge his love to her on the day of Kyquilla. (Beltane) Their love we sanctified and united on Tsatarna. (Summer Solstice) Their honeymoon lasted all summer long, climaxing on Kytarna (Lammas). By Tsakora (the Autumn Equinox) Hern had noticed that humanity had become so lazy over the summer that they did not harvest enough food and wood to survive the winter. He journeyed to the great western mountains and spoke to Bia, the great creator force and realized what he had to do to help man survive. On the holiday of Kykora (Samhain), Hern proclaimed one finally great hunt to the mortal hunters. During the hunt, Hern turned himself into a mighty stag and gave himself to humanity so they may survive. Morrighynn grieved endlessly for the loss of her love Hern till at last, on Tsameliea (Yule) word came to Morrighynn that Hern will be born again and return to her. In turn Hern is reborn to the earth again each year.

Hern and his loved Morrighynn. With wolf cub and elk fawn at their feet.

As the god of the sun, his gloriousness and strength waxes stronger from Winter to Summer and then wanes weaker after the Summer Solstice into winter. It not shocking to find Bowynn praying to Hern throughout summer in force to ensure a gentle winter.

There are endless other legends of Hern but the Great Circle Saga is the grandest and also marks out the 8 celestial holidays of the year.  It is said that when Hern was first born to Brea, there was no cradle to hold the babe, so the Goddess Briathenaea made a swing-like hammock cradle made of elf antler and hide for the Mother Goddess to hold the babe.

     Hern is one of the horned gods of the Bowynn Pantheon. His head is crowned with elk/deer antlers, as his very totem is the elk. Some time he is seen also with elk or deer ears, giving him a softened and my friendlier appearance. other depictions have him without antlers. All cervidae animals are sacred to Herne and he often appeared to mortals as a might buck elk. Hern is also the creator of the Sunflower, a divine symbol of his love to Morrighynn on their wedding day, as well as a source of food. Wheat and corn is also a symbol of Hern, as a symbol of his devotion to Morrighynn, turning it from green to gold in color. during summer wheat and corn husks are woven and firmed into sun images to Hern and hung everywhere. Especially on and over doors and windows. The sword and the bow and arrow are also symbols of the god.

BOWYNN GODS: REYE

Reye  (Ray)  Reye is the Bowynn goddess of the hunt, the patron and guardian of wild animals and sacred groves. The name Reye is Bowynn for "rain" and thus she is also the goddess of gentle, life-giving, rain. She is the daughter of Amaetheon and Deanna and her consort is the bear god, Lomaun.

     The sacred stories of Reye are numerous, starting with her birth. Deanna gave birth to Reye while in the deep forest, which she was trying to convert to fertile farmland. But soon after the babe was born a fox dashed out and snatched baby Reye away. For months and years the gods hunted for the child and the fox. Eventually the immortal brothers Kord and Brand came to a small village in a forest and amongst the mortal villagers lived the, now child, Reye who was happily tending and talking to the domesticated farm animals and the fox that originally swiped her away. With a lot of persuasion, the brothers brought Reye back to the gardens of Alaway, where she was reunited with her parents. Her abilities and devotion to the wild and domestic animals granted her attributes to be their patron and protector. She was gifted a bow of yew by the god Herne and a mantle of fox hide by Myliea, the goddess of winter.

     Another sacred story describes Reye’s unconditional love for wild animals when she witnessed mortal hunters that struck down a cougar. Reye tried to comfort the animal, but the hunters drew close. She turned herself into a cougar to lead the hunters away. Once the slayers were lost deep in the woods, Reye returned to the dying cat and with her weeping tears saved the cougar from dying. (Artemis)

     One of the most beautiful of Reye’s scared tales is told in her creation of gentle rains. That’s she was so upset to see forests dying and sleeping each time it got too hot in summer. Lifting her face to the canopy of the forest she let out in song. The song lifted to the canopy and turned into rain. A rain that was able to nurture the forest and keep it from dying.

     While Reye is primarily a goddess that protects animals, she is also a protector of hunters as well; making sure they do not fall in traps or attacked by bears, cats and boars. She also makes sure a hunter hunts only enough to support his himself and his family. Reye condones sport hunters.

     Reye is seen as young woman or late in her teen years with traditional short blond hair and light-blue eyes. She is clad with a simple clothing of buckskin. In hand is often a bow and on her back a quiver of arrows. She is always seen with a fox at her side. Scared to Reye are reeds and cattails, hunting dogs, foxes and hooves animals such as the deer. In temples devoted to Reye, small trees are arranged in barrels about the floor to simulate the forest. A special offering to Reye is bowls and libations of rainwater, as well as life size votive images of foxes and deer.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Language

QUESTION: I have seen you using various words in your posts that you address as being Bowynn. Is there an actual language?

ANSWER: Yes we have a language we have been using since the formation of the tradition. the Bowynn dictionary is around 25,000 (I stopped counting decades ago) words. It's has come to the point where it is a first language for some of use and a second language for others. Some words in the dictionary have no English counterpart.

BOWYNN GODS: TARM

Tarm  (Tarm)  Tarm is the Mammont [Mammoth] god of invention. Tarm and the other mammoth gods were created by Brea and her siblings, along with all animals and humans.

     In the early days when the Giants ruled the world, Tarm was the giant of the winds and winter season. He brought on this season to let the earth rest and fertilize itself. This he did with Brea, his mother. But when the younger gods took over and the brothers of the winds were born, Tarm stepped down from this role, even though Tarm will accompany the god Arn in the winter. Tarm however remained with the Akua because he was a most wise god and would create inventions for the gods and later, he spent the Seven Sacred days with the first tribes and creating items they would need to survive. These inventions were items like brooms, rakes, hand mills and many other items needed to get by every day. Tarm is also the bestower of wisdom to create and discover, so Tarm’s role as a god is still vital.

     Tarm is seen as an older god, grandfatherly, with wild long grey hair. His clothes are simple, earthly colored traveling robes and a wood staff in hand. In his totem form he is seen as a burly mammoth. All items are sacred and offered to Tarm.  Also gifted to Tarm is bowls of milk and woven fans, as well as votive images of mammoths.

Aelles Tsa'Myliea

Blessings and good fortune come to you this Tsa'Myliea.

Indeed today is the first day of the Bowynn holiday of Tsa'Myliea, the celebration of the Winter Solstice. It is the epiphany of the goddess Myliea, the goddess of Winter and her consort Arn, the god of the north and north wind. The first day, like with all holidays is the cleaning and cleansing of homes and temples. It is a day of fasting and purging of all ills and artifacts left over from Autumn. In place of rich and sweet foods, rice bowls and soups are traditionally served. At night a candlelight procession is held with icons of the two deities carried to the temple, symbolizing their rise.

On the second day, The Calling Horn is blown at the crack of dawn, indicating that Myliea and Arn have emerged from they northern relm and come to bless the land, allowing Winter to begin. Bringing with them cold winds, snow, frost, joy, harmony and all the fun and frolic of the winter season. While some will start late night feasting this day, its more common to wait till the 3rd day of the holiday. The day is however filling with glorious ceremonies and small feasting. A time to take account of the strength of the home to stand up to winter winds, the abundance of foods stocked away and the amount of wood gathered year long, to last till the warm days of spring. During the evening, tradition has that the officiating priest/priestess will come to the homes and bless it with song and a sacred incense blend. Some would rather spend the evening in quiet vigil at home or temple. A time to be deep in prayer, thanks and gratitude. Sacred storied hold that Arn and Myliea come at night and go door by door, to inspect one's home is well. They will knock on the door with their staves if it will well stocked and safe. In turn a basic of goods will be left at the door. The basket is said to be filled with fruits, 7 candles, a cut of wood, books, tools, recipes and warm cloths. Sometimes sweets, cakes and wine as well. Though these last three are normally reserved to be given from friends and loves ones.

Day three of Tsa'Myliea starts with an early morning ceremony. After which colorful parades are held, foods galore, contests and games and fun all around. The cord of wood and candle are lit just before dusk with a Bowynn hymn to Arn and Myliea. While it is often hard to find the sacredness and divine reason for the holiday on the 3rd day, it is still a holy day and there are ceremonies held in temple and in the home, giving thanks. One should remember it is still a time of sacredness. A time that allows snows and rain to decompose autumn leaves and all left to wither in gardens, turning them into composite, to feed the ground. A time to remind us all to take stock in whatever bounty and abundance we have in the home, cleaning the home and making it strong, safe and warm. People often will take walks on this day to explore and remind themselves of the beauty, holiness and necessity of the holiday

Bowynn Gods: Hemwey

Hemwey  (Hem-way)  Hemwey is the Bowynn goddess of Compassion and care for those that are often down-trodden. Most particular, Hemwey tends to the poor, the ill and those that are suffering through life. She is the lifter of heads and hope. Her parents are Rhya and Anhur and she is the sister of Daekk and Tymora.

     Hemwey is a caring and nurturing goddess, spending little time in Alaway but preferring to walk the night streets to bring help to those that need to sleep there. She is sister to the goddess of fortune, Tymora. Together they help the destitute. Even as a child, before taking her position in the great pantheon she loved to walk the villages where mortals live and play with the children of the poor; Bringing a smile to their face and bringing food and medicine to families in need. often such gifts were left in a small bundle by their feet. These offerings and gifts of hope please Hemwey so much that the goddess eventually chose to fore-go marriage and the pleasantries of Alaway and live among peasants. However, Hemwey is not a goddess that tends to those that do not try to better themselves or the lazy. One story speaks of her running into a man that was barely wearing a cloth to cover home and covered in filth. The goddess took him to her simple home, bathed, clothed and fed him. The next day the man appeared again the same way. This happened 7 times in total. Finally, the goddess discovered the man was merely using her and other people’s generosity. It was from this that the goddess learned for the first time that some people can be cruel and lazy. However instead of ignoring him, Hemwey gave the man the richest of garments and a huge cash pile. She did this every day and everyday people saw him. Thinking the man was a rich merchant, the poor started to beg him constantly for assistance. By the end of each day, he had no money left.

     Hemwey is a motherly looking goddess with very simple garments. Her hair free of make-up, her hair long and her feet bear. If she does not appear as a peasant woman herself to others she comes in the form of a cat or a cool autumn breeze. Seen in her true form she bears a basket or bag in her arm with bundles of gifts: food, drink, shoes and coins.

     Sacred gifts and offering to Hemwey are food of any type but bread is her choice. Libation is milk or water. And of course, incense. Coins of generosity are also a prized offering to the goddess.

Blessed Solstice

BOWYNN GODS: Tii Gorro

Tii Gorro  (Ty Gor-roe)  Evil spirits created by Mano during his war with his cousins Kord and Brand. These creatures were even more war-like than their diminutive Tii, in that they were human sized and fed on blood and raw flesh. They were described by Adjedd to look as like a gorilla or ape but even more clever.

      In the war with Kord the Tii Gorro (or Gorro Tii) Kord was able to vanquish a good many till the rest tried to flee. Some were said to have tried to run for the sea and drowned. Others were said to take off for caves, which Anhur himself were said to seal. The Gorro Tii appeared in the sagas of Allon, Quinn, Maul and many other epics. 

      One should never, EVER, invoke Gorro Tii, as they will turn on the one that calls to them. They may listen to you at first but when the deed is done, they will not return from where they came.