My Prayer To Daunnat: The Eternal Land

BOWYNN GODS: PHOENIX

Possession of goddesses with Phoenix at the end

Phoenix  (Fee-niks)  In the Bowynn Tradition, Phoenix is the daughter created by Bia. Sister to Brea, Unthar, Summon. She is the very element of Fire and one of the great creatrix. Phoenix is the goddess of fire, volcanoes, earthquakes, flame, warmth of light and smoke. She is not just the destructive side of these attributes but the nurturing side as well. She warms people in the winter and from destruction comes life anew, She is the baker of pottery, melter of sand to make glass and metals, the heat and flame of the hearth.

     When the gods created mankind from earth, it was Phoenix that baked the clay that was used to form mankind, there-by not only giving mankind skin, but gave each one a heart of passion and love. And she assures us that from death, we are reborn again. Not because we are to learn life's lessons but to embrace all that life has to offer that is wonderful. She is one of the great 7 that form the symbolism of the septagram. During the time of the great 7 Sacred Days, Phoenix gave mankind the knowledge of fire, How to make it, contain it, how to avoid and respect it, how to tame it and use it for our advantage.

     Phoenix is seen as a motherly figure of deep red hair and dress. She bears a golden circlet on her head as well. Not a fearful figure but a warm embracing goddess. Other times she is seen as a great red phoenix bird. Sacred to Phoenix is images of phoenix birds and a candle flame. These are the most common gifts given to the goddess but any image of birds or fire is welcome to the goddess.

Aelles Ky'Tarna

Blessinsgs and Abundance to all on this wonderful Ky'Tarna holiday!

Kytarna (July 31-August 2nd) is the Bowynn version of the Wiccan and Keltic holidays Lammas and Lughnassad. It is the celebration of the middle of the Summer. The name Kytarna means “Mid-Summer”, named after the goddess of the summer Tarna. Besides celebrating the mid-summer mark, the holiday celebrates several other aspects: The first harvest, the grain & corn harvest. Its is also The divine wedding of Tarna to Saphon (South Wind) and revering the goddess Io (Home) and god Hyu (Baking) and the gods Deanna (Harvest) and Amaetheon (Abundance). So there is lots of celebrating to be had for these 3 days. As with all the circular holidays of the year, the first day is devoted to preparing and decorating. The second day devoted to prayers and the divine. The third day is devoted to celebration and revelry.

Lammas is a time to enjoy the last rays of Summer, Take in the golden sunlight, to appreciate the harvest and to be grateful for the abundance we have. Wheat, Grains, Honey and Bread are high symbols of abundance in the Bowynn tradition. It's given as gifts at this time of year along with other baked goods. Garlands and ornaments of grass and husks of foods, adorn homes. And iconic woven images of Tarna and Saphon are carried in procession to the ceremonial altar.

The sacred stories to this holiday start with the first harvest of the Bowynn people in their newfound homeland. After coming to Europe on The Great Migration and settling, the gods Deanna and Amaetheon showed the good people what to forage, plant and harvest. This included honey from bee hives and milk from the wild goats and cattle. At the same time the goddess Io showed them how to build their first hearths and tend to them and Hyu taught them how to bake. So grateful were the first tribes, that they declared this day sacred to the gods. At the same time, it was also the same day when the goddess of Summer, Tarna, wed her beloved god of the south, Saphon. All the people of the first 7 tribes were witnessed to the blessed event.

Traditional Foods for the holiday are Corn, Grains, seeds, wheat, Barley, Breads, Pies, Pasta, Milk, Honey, Butter and Berries.  The most common and well-placed herbs and incenses found at Kytarna celebrations are Cedar, Alder, Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Ginger, Poppies, Cornflowers and Sunflowers. The prominent colors for the holiday are Gold, Yellow and, Copper Orange. Green can also be found here and there but not considered one of the sacred colors of the holiday. Sacred symbols found all about during Kytarna are: Corn Dollies (Representing Tarna and Saphon) Baskets and images of Bees, Hedgehog, Cows and/or Goats. Wicker items of all sorts & other straw-woven items, Wheat bundles, Bread, Cakes, Hearth broom, Corn and Corn stalks. There is also the sacred “Tarna Kaeb,” (Summer Board) which is a sacred and decorated breadboard hung on doors. And there is the ever present “Kytarna Draed” (Mid-Summer Bread) which is a special holy traditional offering and meal. Wheat wreathes, Sunflower garlands and wreaths are the norm for homes and town to be decorated in.

Special Activities during the 3-day holiday include families hanging the Tarna Kaeb on their doors, along with other decorations, Baking and making corn dollies. Commonly there is a lot of making of crafts in the theme of wicker, such as fans, hats, dollies, goats and headdresses. Back in the kitchen this is also a time for making butters of all sorts, creams and cheese. This is a famed time to gather and jar honey.

How ever you celebrate the holiday and what ever you may call it, have a great celebration, and may the gods embrace you and keep you safe and happy.

Blessed Solstice

Autumn Blessings

Happiest of Holidays to you

BOWYNN GODS: RHYA

Rhya  (Ry-ah)  Queen of the gods and goddess of women’s rituals and psychics in the Bowynn pantheon. She is the daughter of Phoenix and Sumon and the sister of Kalma and Kauldra. When it comes to all things of feminine arts and persuasion, Rhya is the goddess to look to. She is the goddess that initiates girls into the temples when they are of age.

      In many ways Rhya is much like her Mediterranean counterparts Juno and Minerva, in that she is the queen of the holy family. But that’s where the similarity ends. Rhya is a most loving and devoted wife but also a motherly goddess, not just to her own children but to all of the Akua. Thus, Rhya is a patron of not just queens but mothers.

     The most epic tale of Rhya is that of her being wooed by Anhur. The handsome young go fell in love almost instantly. As did Anhur’s brothers fall for Rhya’s sisters. But Rhya refused to be taken in by fancy talk and demanded that Anhur show how much he loved her. Anhur brought Rhya the most glorious gifts from all over the earth. But each one Rhya turned down. This continued for a long time till the god was exalted and there were no other gifts on earth to bring Rhya. Finally, Anhur simply pledged his love, truly and unconditionally. This what Rhya was waiting to hear the whole time, and she accepted his hand in marriage.

     Rhya is seen in her immortal form as a well-formed woman of a motherly look. She has raven black hair that is crowned and veiled, depicting his queenly statue. Her garments are of pure white and silver. Other times it is of a lavender color and accented in some manner with a votive image of a peacock. During times where her presence is seen at weddings ceremonies, she is accompanied by the god Dhonan. Together they sanctify the couple being wed. Being that her totem is a peacock, she will take this form when in the presence of mortals. Sacred to her is the crown, staff and votive image of a peacock or its feathers.

Bowynn Gods: Kora

Kora  (Kor-rah)  Kora is the Bowynn goddess of Autumn and in some ways, the Goddess of the Beginning of the year, since her epiphany ushers in the first day of Autumn, which is the Bowynn New Year. She is the daughter of Morrighynn and Herne and her sisters are the other 4 seasons.      Kora is the Goddess that appears in the west on the first day of autumn, astride her magnificent horse. Where she treads, everything starts to turn from its summer colors to the colors of autumn. She is normally accompanied with her beloved consort Ryan, god of the western wind. It is said that when Ryan and Kora wed, the ceremony and feast was one of the grandest the immortals even seen; even outshining the ceremony of Anhur and Rhya, king and queen of the gods. The Kii (spirits) of the autumn, the Jakk and the Maukol, do not even awake till Kora makes her appearance in the west.      A most awe-inspiring goddess to behold, Kora is a deep red headed goddess with lips just as red. Her gown is said to be that of saffron, mixed with other autumn colors and designs as well. And on her head is crowned a magnificent wreathe of autumn leaves and flowers. 

When not astride her horse, she can be seen walking through forests and meadows with either a golden staff in hand or a basket from which autumn leaves blow out. When not in her divine mortal form, Kora often takes form of her totem animal the crow. Divine offerings to the goddess are not normally given till autumn; autumn leaves and earthly scented incenses, gourds, harvested fruits, vegetables and flowers. On the first day of the Bowynn New Year, the first of autumn, a candle is blessed and lit in the goddess’ name and burns all through the season.

QUESTION & ANSWER: Curses

QUESTION: Do Bowynn witches [Mysts] cast curses, hexes and binding spells?

ANSWER: The short answer to this is "yes!"

Mysts' cast spells in association with the laws of Bia, [Balance]. But it is not done recklessly. We cast curses when someone threatens someone directly or indirectly. When someone dares to take away, harm or hurt someone maliciously. When they cause Balance to be out of order. When evil is afoot and when injustice runs rampant. This is when curses are cast. And even then, we make sure we are performing the curse to restore balance and avenge those affected by others malicious acts. A typical curse always starts off addressing what has been done

"See here what has been done, undone and unbalance. The accused has been found guilty of the crime/s of _______."

QUESTION & ANSWER: Myst

QUESTION: What exactly is a "Myst"?

ANSWER: "Myst" is the Bowynn word for "Witch" and other names for those that practice the arts. These is not gender difference. Male or Female, they are all Mysts. Crafters and casters of spells and other esoteric talents that fall within the profession.

Bowynn Gods: Lyanna

Lyanna  (Ly-an-nah)  Lyanna is the Bowynn goddess of music, song and the patroness of musicians. In some aspect she may be one of the Abonna or a Kii of music. Be that the case, she would be the only Abonna or Kii ever named. If so, then she would be the creation of Brand. We do know from sacred text that she was trained in the arts of music by Brand.

     Lyanna's role in the pantheon is still in a bit of a clouded mystery. What is known is that she is a companion to the goddess Aleglea and in Alaway she sits with the other bard-like gods and strums on a "Kiltaen" or her flutes and sings sweet soft songs as the other gods feast and tuck in for the night.

      Lyanna is depicted as a youthful goddess with long flowing hair and small braids held together with ribbons. It is assumed she is a goddess that has not hit maturity yet, as she is never seen wearing a hladd. In hand she always is seen carrying her Kiltaen, which is a Bowynn lute or guitar. Sometimes on her hip is strapped a flute case and flying about her are Whippoorwills.  The Whippoorwills are her totem and she will sometimes take their form when around mortals, inspiring song. And they are her Totem animal. Sacred gifts to Lyanna are fetish images or real flutes, kiltaens and other such musical instruments, written music, flowers and of course incense.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Myst's Tools of the Trade

QUESTION: Do Myst's use wands and staves like Witches?

ANSWER: In short the answer is "Yes." However a true Myst learns at the starts of knowing that the roof of all magic is in themselves and that should be enough. In the Bowynn Tradition a Myst may have a wand to amplify their powers. So, a Thavos [wand] Vlest [rod] or a Thald [staff] is commonly used. Usually a Myst will have two: one of projection and one forwarding & drawing out. However, mysts know very well, they have this power in them already. A wand is used in more urgent needs, like healing, injustice, cursing and warding off a malicious person or Tii.