Bowynn Gods: Kora

The Bowynn Gods: The Entenn

Entenn  (Ah-ku-ah)  The Entenn are the great tree and forest Kii. [spirits] They are literally “Tree folk” that guard great forests. The Entenn are made up of trees so unlike other Kii, they are not mobile, as they have no legs nor feet. Being of a tree, they are naturally huge in size, but one can assume that there are small Entenn as well. Most Entenn will never reveal themselves to mortal men; instead, they will stand perfectly still and mix in with the normal trees.         

Blessed Solstice

Bowynn Gods: Nae

Nae (Nay)  Nae is one of the three Ano Taya goddesses. Her attribute is that of the past and she is the goddess that prepares the threads that shall be woven into the tapestry of Life, woven by her sisters. She and her sisters are the daughters of Bia.

Nae represents, Beginnings, Childhood, The past, Memories.

     Nae is a goddess seen as a young girl, still not clad in her hladd yet, as she symbolizes girls before having their first menstruation and still not fully trained in all of life’s lessons and skills Her clothes are also white in color, representing virginity. As with her sisters, Nae has no totem animals.

QUESTION & ANSWERS: Goddess Worship

QUESTION: In your Bowynn belief system, is the worship of goddesses more prevalent?

ANSWER: No. All the gods, male and female are worshipped and honored equally. This topic takes us back to the Great Creator, Bia. Who is neither and both male and female. Bia is balance and dictates balance. And we, as Bowynn, are keen on maintaining balance. To honor only the female divinities makes one miss out on so many grand and beautiful attributes that male gods have to offer. And vice versa.

My Personal Prayer to Aetenn

O Aetenn, Ram-Crowned God, protector of arms and armor, I invoke your sacred presence as I stand before you with a humble heart. In the woodlands of Alaway, where the echoes of drums resonate, I seek your divine vigilance over that which I hold dear. Hear me, O Aetenn, son of Anhur and Rhya, guardian of warriors who tread the path of honor. I call upon your spirit, adorned with ram horns and the protective thorns of the black berry wreath. May your strength shield me as I navigate the challenges that lie ahead, that I may face them with the courage you impart. I lay before you the symbols of my devotion—swords and shields, crafted by the hands of mortals, and drums that carry the rhythm of my heart. Accept these offerings, O great Aetenn, as I seek your blessing upon my arms and the gear that I cherish. Let the resounding beat of your drums echo my intent to honor and protect all that I prize.

Grant me, Aetenn, your vigilance over my possessions, especially those that are most precious to me. As you guard the soldiers before battle, let your protection extend to my heart’s desires, ensuring they remain safe from harm. May your watchful eye preserve the integrity of what I cherish, standing steadfast through trials and tribulations. In gratitude, I celebrate your spirit, O Aetenn, the drumming god whose rhythms unite our souls. As your drums once communicated across campfires, may my prayers rise like the beat of your sacred drums, melding into the whispers of the forest, proclaiming my trust in your divine care. O Ram-Crowned God, I honor you with these words, pledging my loyalty and reverence. May your spirit protect me as I venture forth and may the arms and armor I wield bear the strength of your guardianship. Let my path be illuminated by your wisdom, as I carry your essence in my heart and in my actions. So shall it be, as the echoes of your drums resound throughout the realms of the living.

Syember!

QUESTION & ANSWER: Drugs

QUESTION: How do Bowynn practitioners feel about those that take recreational drugs?

ANSWER: What one does in one's home is not our business. HOWEVER...in general we frown on the use of drugs unless it is something that is prescribed by a doctor. Luckily for us, we are all close friends so we all know that we all abhor the idea of use of drugs, as a means of "escape."

I will say this also applies to the smoking of tobacco products and excessive alcohol drinking. All of these addictive articles are banned from celebratory gatherings, save for wine, which is heavily monitored. We come together is clear and clean body, mind, soul and spirit. We find that we do not need such things in our lives and celebrations. We find there is nothing spiritual nor fun to someone that needs to pollute the air with the smell of narcotics and the abused stench of alcohol.

The Elements / Tau Retammas

Water / Sumon ---- The Rain / Tau Reye

(Sometimes "Rain" can be substituted with "The Stream" {Tau Fold} )

The next point represents all the aspects of Water (Imagination, Forgiveness, Sensitivity, Easy-going, Blood, Tears, Emotions, Cleansing, Creativity, Healing), but concentrates specifically on waters elements of the forest. Water flows and ebbs within our oceans and weaves its way through various terrains. We use it every day from drinking to cooking, we swim in it on hot days. It gives our bodies comfort from aches and pains, as steam rises from the hot water soothing the stresses of the day. From the forest's waters we see the waters within the womb and the blood that flows through our veins. The rain nurtures the forest and us, quenching our thirst, and within the rain we also find our emotions- specifically tears of sorrow, pain and joy. The mist and dew cleanse the forest and us each morning, so we can start the day anew. In water we can scry into the depths and see what needs to be seen. The waters of the forest cool us down when we get too hot, both physically and emotionally. It is an element which supports all life, not just sea creatures and freshwater fish. One of the great forces on earth encompasses the earth with its wondrous colors and covers the vast, virtually unexplored, deep terrain below the water's surface. With water we are given the chance to create - inks, paints, clay, thus bringing out our creativity. It is the element associated with Faith – immutable and ever present, our emotions and beliefs change even if ever so slightly following what we feel to be right and true for ourselves and the world around us. From the rapids of the stream, we learn how to navigate our ways towards stillness. Faith, like water, fills us with peace and serenity if we let it wash away all our troubles and pains. We constantly seek peace in the faith that life will continue onward and that the Gods (or whatever we choose to believe in) are out there watching over us and protecting us from harm while guiding us on our life's journey. Water flows where others disdain, where it is in harmony with all things. The path of water is shaded in the hue of blue. The lesson of ecology was important to our Ancestors and should instill sacredness for our planet today. All life - every being, should strive to co-exist and live in harmony as nature intended, as the earth does. The virtue associated with the earth is Peace, because water gives us a chance to calm and relax. The earth path is one that is richly green.

Bowynn Gods: Aleglea

Aleglea  (Al-leh-glee-ah) Aleglea is the patroness of the Bowynn people. Amongst all the goddesses she is often revered the most. She is the goddess of all the joys and beauties of the world, all the things that makes us happy. She is a goddess of flowers, dance, joy, happiness, adornment, glory and magnificence, mirth and good-cheer, festivities and banquets, dancing and song. Her very name means “Happiness.”      Aleglea is the daughter of Brand and Brenda and considered a goddess that is most pleasing. It is said that some mortals cannot look at her without bursting into tears of joy. And others cannot look at her because they feel less than worthy to do so.

Aleglea represents beauty in crafted objects and artistic adornment, of festival dance and song, glory and flowers. No matter where you go the gifts of the goddess is there. Aleglea presides over the pleasures of life, including play and amusement, parties, banquets, floral decorations, rest, happiness, and relaxation. She is the goddess of flowers. So flowery wreaths are worn at festivals and parties just to honor the lady.      Aleglea is seen as a woman of simple beauty. Crowned in a wreath of flowers on her honey-colored hair and she has beautiful green eyes, wearing a saffron and ruby colored dress. It is said her hladd is decorated with flowers, birds, butterflies and images of dancing people though many people have said they have seen Aleglea without wearing a hladd. She wears no shoes, instead walking barefoot.

Sacred to Aleglea is the butterfly, a creature which she sometimes takes form in. The most sacred gifts of and to this goddess is in the form of all flowers. During festivals garlands and wreathes of flowers are hung everywhere in her name. Other offerings to her are pots of honey, votive butterfly images and of course incense.

BOWYNN GODS: SHELI

Sheli  (Shel-Lee)  Sheli is the Mammont [Mammoth] goddess of the plains, bravery, long courageous trips and expeditions and she is the patroness of hunters and bravery. Sheli is very much one of the more revered gods during the celebration of the Great Migration.

     Sheli did not play much of a role in the pantheon for a long time. For the most part she was looked at as the matriarch of the wandering tribes of mammoths, protecting them from dangers of hunters and predators. But it came to pass that the 13 great tribes crossed the Bosphorus into Europe utterly starved. While they had the protection and lead of the goddess Briathenaea, the people’s food stock was all but depleted. Brianthenaea asked Sheli for help. The goddess directed random herds of mammoths towards the tribes to be hunted. Thus, the tribes were saved again by divine intervention. It was at that point that the people revered Sheli as a goddess of travel and the guardians of plains and valleys where mammoths dwelt. In turn Sheli devoted herself a goddess of the hunt and protectors of hunters. 

     One of the great scared tales speak of the time when Sheli had issued a great warning to all the hunters of the tribes never to kill more than they needed. Especially when it came to the mammoths, for they were the guardians of the plains. Sadly, there came a point where her warning was forgotten and sure enough the mammoths were all but hunted off by greedy hunters. That’s when the great starvation of the tribes came. Sheli shunned the hunters and set them to survive on their own. It was the god Herne who prevented the starvation of mortals by sacrificing himself. Sheli saw that the people were grateful, and they brought her great gifts to repent. Sheli broke down and forgave the mortals and vowed to continue to guard and guide their hunts.

     Sheli is seen in tow forms. The first being a mammoth and the second in her immortal true form; that is a woman of years, with reddish and grey hair, clad in travelling clothes lined in fur and a fir cap. Scared to Sheli are votive images of mammoths and elephants, hunting weapons and all sorts of foods. Bundles of grain are offered to her in autumn as a special tribute.

The Bowynn Year and Holidays:

The Bowynn calendar is different from most Pagan calendars and certainly bears no resemblance to the Gregorian calendar. The start of the Bowynn year falls on September 1st and the last day of the year falls on August 31st.

During all 12 of the larger months there is one sacred holiday, though there may be a few secondary holdays. Despite this, Bowynn view every single day of their lives as sacred and celebrated not just verbally but spiritually. So its common for an individual to celebrate the worship of a deity on any and all days of the year. Holidays are celebrated for 3 days. The first day of a holiday is reserved for decorating, cooking, cleaning, cleansing and evening worship.

September ( Maeano )

1 Then Ohenn - New Years Day. The first day of the new year. Dedicated to Ohenn and the Nauidd. Also to Tymora. Fig cake, bundles of summer seed are offered to the gods

20-22 Tsa'kora - Holiday of the month of September, it celebrates the first day of Autumn. The Epiphany of the goddess Kora and Ryan. Also honoring Brea, Amaetheon, Deanna. The holiday celebrates the wedding of Deanna to Amaetheon. A time of great feasts and celebrations.

October ( Tombra )

29-31 Ky'kora - Holiday for the month of October. Mournful celebration to honor the death of Herne, to save all of humanity.

November ( Haedmor )

15-17 Emberfest - The great feast day honoring the gods Kane, Io, Hyu, Amaetheon and Deanna. A holiday for thanks of abundance, health, home. Hearths, homes and ovens are cleaned, and special meals are left just for the gods.

December ( Ellesmor )

20-22 Tsa'myliea - holiday of the month of December. The first day of winter. Devoted to Morrighynn, Arn and Myliea. On this day the goddess Morrighynn weeps for her lost love Herne and promised by Bia that her love will be back soon enough. Lanterns lit in Herne’s and Morrighynn’s honor.

January ( Banu )

14-16 Lenaea - Holiday of the month. Celebration of abundance for making it this far into winter. Devoted to Io, Amaetheon, Hyu, Deanna, Tymora and Daekk. Homes, people and animals are blessed with the seeds gathered from the year before. Great costumed parades are held to bring prosperity to all.

February ( Paola )

1-3 Ky'myliea - Holiday of the Month of February. Devoted to Myliea, Arn, Herne, Brea and to the wind god Arn, A winter festival. Celebration of the conception of Herne to Brea and making it halfway through winter.

March ( Aeven )

20-22 Tsa'quilla - Holiday of the month. The first day of spring. Devoted to Herne, Brea, Quilla and Lyan. On this day Quilla appears on the east and Herne is born to the world. Kii are also honored this day.

April ( Prana )

15-17 Tau Mystaraa - The Great Mysteries. Holiday for the month of April. Devoted to Mystara, Mauro and Ehlrik. Though really, it is devoted to ALL the gods. Celebrated as the great cleanings and initiation of new mages into the groves. 3 nights of great Magic, Spiritual and divination practices and a day for new practitioners to start.

May ( Auma )

1-3 Ky'quilla - Mid-Spring holiday and Sabbat of the month of May. Devoted to the reunion of Herne and Morrighynn. Also celebrated are all the Kii, Lyan and Quilla. Lovers holiday as well as the second blessing of gardens.

June ( Dellet )

12 Founder’s Day - Holiday celebrating the conseption of the Bowynn Tradition. Summer celebration. Dedicated to Anhur, Rhya, Briathenaea and Aleglea. Celebrating a time of joy of summer. Fun, food, games and frolic. Part of the Migration celebrations. Also a day for introspection of ones self, who they are.

20-22 Tsa'tarna - First day of Summer and the holiday of the month of June. Dedicated to epiphany of Tarna, Saphon and the wedding of Herne and Morrighynn. No meat is eaten during the first two days of the holiday.

July ( Iona )

14-16 Briathenaet - Holiday of the month of July Great celebration to the goddess Briathenaea and Aleglea as our patronesses and saviors. Celebrated with the cleansing and blessing of her icons and temples. followed with great games and contests that last for 3 days.

August ( Olten )

1-3 Kytarna Mid-Summer holiday of the month of August. Dedicated to Io, Amaetheon, Hyu and Deanna. Celebrating the sacred wedding of Tarna to Saphon. It also celebrates the first harvest.

31 Anj Ohenn - New Years Eve. The last day of August and the year. Dedicated to Ohenn and the Nauidd. Great pots and bundles of tall grass and cattails are offered, laid about the icon of Ohenn. Images of the 12 Nauidd are made, gifted and hung about.