QUESTION & ANSWER: Money

Bowynn Gods: Owenn

Owenn  (Oh-when)  Owenn is the Bowynn god of healing, good health, surgery, recovery, medicine and herbalism and all other skills and attributes of mortal health. He is the patron god of Doctors, nurses, surgeons and those of the healing and health care professions. This includes shamans, druids, witch doctors and medicine men.

     Owenn was raised amongst the first tribes in childhood where he learned why people got sick and died. He was not a god but very much mortal. Owenn was one of those of the Great migration. And upon reaching Europe and settling in, he taught the first tribes of people the arts of medicine and healing and was beloved by all for his gifts. Sadly, on his travels, Owenn encountered a great snake, he was bit by the poisonous vermin and it was that which killed him. His body was found and cared for where he had fallen and a shrine was built in his honor. And yet, instead of the custom of cremating the body, the people found they could not carry out the task. Instead, the people wrapped his body in the most glorious of clothes and placed his body in the inner shrine. For 7 long months everyone from every tribe came to mourn Owenn’s tomb. Moved by this, the gods held a special council and answered everyone’s prayers. By Chumash and Kalma, with their grace and blessings, Owenn was resurrected as a god on the 7th day of the seventh month after his fall. He emerged from the shrine as a god and one of the Akua. In this form he has continued to bless mortals with his talents and divine gifts of healings.

Owenn and his 3 daughters of healing and health    

As a god and in time with the Akua, Owenn fell in love with a garden Kii and the couple had wed soon after. From their union, came forth three daughters who together were named "The Sisters." It is they who work with their father, Owenn, in his arts of healing. Not just for humans and the gods as well.

     As a god, Owenn is seen as a fully mature man, a father figure, with long teaming hair and thick beard. His head crowned with a copper circlet in the shape of a snake, symbolizing change from illness to health. Owenn’s demeanor is always gentle, never baring an ill word or hand to neither man nor animal. He is seen wearing a wayfarer’s robe of crimson and robes under that of various greens, representing the herbs he uses. His staff is wrapped with vines of herbs he uses in his healing brews. Often seen in his hand is a wood bowl which he makes medicine. In his totem form Owenn often appears in the form of a snake or frog, which is most sacred to him. Bowynn homes with altars and shrines to Owenn sometimes bare an image of a frog or snake with a coin in the mouth. Coins and herbs are the most divine of offers gifted to Owenn. Bowl bowls of herbs, clean water and incense are also the most common of gifts.

BOWYNN GODS: TSELLET

Tsellet  (T-sel-let)  Goddess of Duannat who purifies the soul of those that have passed away. She is the daughter of Chumash and Kalma and the sister of the keepers of the gates of Duannat.

     She is considered in some way a Handmaiden of Daunnat but her role is so much bigger than that. Her role is to make sure that each and every soul that enters Daunnat is purged of all its worldly sins and ills. No soul can enter Daunnat otherwise. It is done there a series of chants and the four sacred cleansings by earth, air, fire and water.  Once the soul is cleansed of all impurities, only then will Tsellet allow a soul to pass on.

     It is said that Tsellet’s home is not in Daunnat itself by on the far beach of Evermore, just before one reaches the first gate to Daunnat. Sadly Tsellet is a lone body where her home is.

     Tsellet is described and depicted as a young goddess with her hair pulled back and simple clothing in the colors of browns and lavender. It has been said that she is always seen with a basket in hand, which contains all the implements used to purge souls of sin and illness. Other times she is said to just hold a lavender wand in her hand. Sacred to Tsellet is Lavender itself and well as all scents that are used to purge away ills. These scents are often gifted to her in 7 bowls and often during a funeral rite, as Tsellet is rarely prayed to else someone has passed on.    

Bowynn Gods: Paut

Wood carved pog of Paut - Made my myself - 1987

Paut  (Pawt)  Goddess of the element of Soul. One of the first children/creations of Bia and the brother of Brea and the other gods of the creatrix.

     At the beginning of time when the gods gathered together and formed mankind, they discovered that mankind walked about the earth aimlessly and all were exactly alike. So Paut instilled into each person a soul, which gave each person a voice and personality, making them different and their own individual, both physically and mentally. This was Paut’s great gift to mankind. Later, during the 7 Sacred Days, Paut stayed with the tribes and taught them how to understand their individuality and how they make up a part of ones being. Also, she taught mortals how to keep our souls and bodies healthy and clean. When it comes to the Bowynn belief system, we recognize the soul as a physical part of human anatomy. This is due to Paut’s teachings.

     Paut is seen as a young woman, with a long golden hair. her eyes are said to be amber in color, to see past folk's mortal husks to their soul. Paut is dressed in long robe and cloak. Over her robe she wears three large round pins that represent the three elements the soul controls: Self, Mind and Action. Often, she is seen with a staff in her hand which is topped with a bull head. Despite the bull head on his staff, this is not known to be Paut’s totem. In fact, Paut does not have a totem animal; at least not one that is known to us.

     Sacred to Paut is glass baubles and votive bull images. These as well as Incense are the customary gifts to Paut.

Embroidry & Paint representing the Gods of creation: Tya, Paut and Phaenixx - Created by Sheree Tsarnek - 2017 (With the god Aetenn on the far left)

Happy Halloween

Bowynn Gods: Ion

Ion  (Eye-on)  Ion is the God patron of knights and god of knighthood virtues. The son of Anhur and Rhya, Ion is the right hand of Anhur, the god king’s eyes, ears and messenger. But foremost, Ion is the god that keeps the sacred virtues in check and sees that people are adhering to the virtues set down by Bia and Anhur. While these days Ion can also be seen as a god patron of all soldiers, he would he would be more leaning towards those that whom serve high and special ranks. Especial those like the Guard of Unknown Soldiers, Guards of Kings, Queens and Presidents and other prestigious positions.

      Many sacred tales of Ion and his exploits are told. The most famous being the days when Ion spent his seven days with the first mortals to teach them might and right and to honor the virtues set done by his father. Another tale speaks of a troop of 10 soldiers that fought for ten days straight without food, water or rest against invaders. After the long battle was at-last won, their deeds were caught by Ion. In turn he knighted them with special titles and blessed them. This was mortal man’s first knighthood. Another tale speaks of a time many years later; a knight that was blessed by Ion had grown to see over 100 years. And in all those years, he had ever held vigil over the god’s temple and fought to protect his hometown. On his death bed Ion came to the old man. He asked who would watch over his town. Ion gave the knight his greatest blessing, that of immortal sight, turning the old man into a star and naming him Arnmor, The North Star. That way, even though dead, he could always watch the good people, year round.

     Ion is often seen and depicted as a young man, a warrior. And he is dressed as such, partially armored with a long sur-coat over his armor. In one hand Ion bears a shield, in the other a sword. But he is not to be feared and is not a god to wage war. In Alaway his position is next to his father Anhur. When not in his godly form, Ion takes the form of a greyhound. Sacred offerings to Ion is incense and votive images of dogs

Bowynn Gods and Intervention

One thing that is clear when it comes to the Bowynn gods of faith, they play little role in the daily affairs of humankind. Unlike some pagan faiths where the gods are always testing, challenging and dismantling human affairs, Bowynn gods do no such thing. We 9us humans) are not their play toys. We are not given tests every hour of the day to prove we love them and are always righteous.

Where as in some faiths, it is so quick to blame a deity for anything and everything that goes wrong, the Bowynn gods are not blamed for such things. Humans make our mistakes enough without the Gods help. We make our own mistakes to learn from them. And from that the Gods themselves watch and learn from us and about us. Bowynn NEVER blame the gods.

HOWEVER, The Gods have been known to step in on occasion to give humans a boost up-n-at-em. They may step in to give advice, or to warn us. Very rarely is it a face-to-face encounter, though I will say I have had 2 direct interventions; One being when I was at the lowest point of my life.

Just as well, the gods MAY intercede when necessity is needed or asked for by mortals. Often when balance is off kilter or severe criminal action is at hand. They do answer prayers and beseeches for help. But again, they will rarely appear right out. Asking the divine for help in a spell, helping for last minute study help, finding a job or healing, are common. And yes the gods will often come to the aid of those that need it.

The main thing to remember is what befalls you 99% of the time is due to human error, not the Bowynn Gods. Ask for their help but do not demand. Accept whatever help the gods give with love and respect. But never expect the Gods to do all the work.

And lastly, know that the Gods are always all about you. THEY KNOW.

QUESTION & ANSWER: Thanksgiving

QUESTION: Do Bowynn celebrate Thankksgiving (Canadian or American)

Answer: No. That for two reasons. The first being out of respect for the people's whose land North and South America belonged to.

The second reason is because we have a sacred holy festival day on the days of November 14-16th, Emberfest. It is the most holy of Feast and the celebration/preparation of Winter. Sacred candles are lit in the home praying that its warmth light and glow will never fad throughout winter, protecting house and home. Stoves, hearths, ovens and fireplaces are cleaned. Then the officiating priest and priestesses come to the home singing hymns to the Goddess Phoenix, the goddess of primeval and element of fire. The officiants then gift a single blessed charcoal to the home owners. It is lit and there is a roar of joy and love, hoping that abundance and protection lasts the home and family the winter through.

During the festival homes are decorated with autumn leaves, candles, lantern, gourds carved into bird houses and images of Phoenix birds are everywhere. Small and large. The gourds houses are invites for Phoenix's children to come stay in the house and protect it. While it seems this holiday is a feast day, it is more than that. It is a time to give praise and thanks to the goddess Phoenix for bestowing on mankind the gift to domesticate fire for light, warmth, cooking food and casting spells.

QUESTION AND ANSWER: Folkish

QUESTION: Just wondering, how do you feel about people who claim to be "folkish Pagan?"

ANSWER: I had to do some research on this term "folkish" to answer it. I was disgruntled and disgusted to learn what the term means. But at the same time, I am not shocked, as I have heard of some demented Pagans with his sort of dark mind set.

Aside from it being racist, evil and a dark cult ideology, it is not even based on anything history to the Norse people of old. Just using a bunch of Neo Pagan wanna-bes that never studied their own culture and ancient gods, to dictate and control other people. Gee, where have I seen that kind of faith before?? Hmmmm.

I think that should sums up my answer.

Bowynn Gods: Luanna

Luanna  (Lu-Ahn-Nah)  Luanna is the Bowynn goddess of gardens, flowers, meadows and fields and guardian of flowers. She is also the patron of florists and nursery owners. She is the daughter of Brea and Unthar.

     She is also something of a weather goddess, making sure that destructive storms do not fall and destroy her beautiful gifts. Herbs and flowers are used not only magickally but medically, so in essence she is also considered a healing goddess. The flowers she brings to bloom are used to fragrant clothing washes as well as dye cloth. Little is said or spoke about when it comes to Luanna. Like all deities of the Bowynn faith, she is just accepted as "being there." She is often seen wandering gardens and meadows, bringing forth blooms and flowers. She is a goddess of frivolity, much like the great patron Aleglea. However, Luana's realm is strictly reserved for bringing forth colorful life in the garden. Sometimes she is seen with Aleglea and/or Jayleen Jarra, goddess of herbalism. It is said that Luanna's job in Alaway is to decorate the great halls with her gifts, thus giving the great hall of the gods a wondrous bouquet-like smell. On the Spring Equinox and (which in the Bowynn Tradition is called "Tsaquilla") Luanna is given high praise, as she is the grower of the scared flowers that symbolizes the holiday. Tsaquilla is a 3-day holiday and it is on the 3rd of the holiday, Luanna is given the most praise with great blessings of gardens and her statue or shrine in home gardens is cleansed and tended to. On Tsaquilla, small gardens are arranged just for the goddess.

     Luanna is said to be a most beautiful goddess of simple beauty. Her garments as soft and flowing but simple as well; often a simple green gown/dress and over it a brown hladd or shorter tunic. Sometimes she is seen crowned with a simple braiding of flowers but nothing too bold. In her hands she carries a basket and sometimes a garden shear or boline in her hand. Other times she is seen carrying a bowl of seeds. When not seen in this form she will take the form of a bee, which is her totem animal. Naturally sacred gifts to Luanna consist of flowers bulbs and seeds.

My prayer to the Dorro, the guardians

O Dorro, beloved protectors of hearth and home, I call upon your presence to bless this dwelling with your vigilant spirit. From your humble eggs, you emerge as guardians, small yet mighty, soaring like the swiftest wings to safeguard all that resides within. Embrace us, O Dorro, with your gentle watch, ensuring peace dwells in every corner.O noble Dorro, keepers of our abodes, I honor your tireless labor as you guard our homes against darkness and discord. As you flit between the rafters and rest upon the shelf above the door, may your presence imbue our spaces with warmth and love, protecting each inhabitant with unwavering dedication. Gentle Dorro, assist us as we strive to maintain our sanctuaries. With your swift wings and keen sight, guide our hands to keep our homes clean and our hearts in harmony. O guardians of order, help us nurture a spirit of cleanliness within, as you join with Io and Hyu to foster peace and joy in our gathering spaces.

With reverence, I place offerings before you, O Dorro, carving images of your likeness that adorn the shelf by the door. May these tokens serve as a reminder of your sacred role in our lives and as an invitation for your divine presence to dwell among us, a symbol of gratitude for your unfailing loyalty. O Dorro, unify the hearts of all who dwell beneath this roof. Fill our spaces with laughter and love, weaving strong bonds among us. Let your gentle spirit foster acceptance and understanding, binding us in a tapestry of kinship that reflects your unwavering vigilance. As day fades into night, I seek your blessing, O Dorro, to guard our rest and watch over our dreams. May your wings fan the air around us, creating a shield of serenity that keeps us safe from harm. In your watchful gaze, may we find solace and strength, knowing we are cherished under your divine protection. So shall it be, in respect and reverence for Dorro, the cherished Guardians of Home and Stable, forever safeguarding our hearts and hearths.

Syember!