Blessed Winter Solstice

The Vlenndra

The Vlenndra Devotional is a special act of praise that is done at the start of any religious act.  It is much like a Christian will draw a cross with their finger across their body as they chant "To the father...". The Vlenndra Devotional is a form of attunement with the spiritual. There is no true English word nor term for "Vlenndra." Though some have interrupt it to "devotional" but it is really so much more beyond that.

Before the start of any prayers, rite or magic spell, be it alone or with one's clan, the Vlenndra Devotional is performed. It is an opening to your prayers, a way of preparing oneself, a separation from what you were doing in your mundane time and your spiritual life. The Vlenndra act is sort of a key to unlocking a door to the divine world and a reminder of that which is holy. Many use the Vlenndra devotional by itself as a morning affirmation. The Vlenndra devotional need not be done at one's altar but anywhere: Facing the morning or setting sun, at the rise of the moon, over a meal, at a moment when things go wrong.

The Vlenndra devotional is simple in itself and yet within its simplicity, atones one with our faith. It is started by taking up a simple incense stick of any scent. When the tip glows, blow out the flame and let it smoke. Then in the air draw a septagram with the tip. As you do this, speak the following:

“By Earth, By Air,

By Fire, By Water,

By Soul, By Spirit,

By Bia.”

Finish each septagram off by encircling it. Done as a daily practice, this is repeated 3 times in total. However in some remote cases one may wish to do this as much as 7 and 9 times. A Myst {witch] will use the common 7 times before casting a spell, during a holiday or during a vigil, 9 times is the norm. After which the incense stick is placed in its holder. The Vlenndra Devotional is done. One should never rush through the Vlenndra. You should think about your actions, its words, what each of these elements mean to you, absorbing each element as you speak the Vlenndra and how you plan to incorporate them throughout your day.  At the same time, the devotional need not be done too slow either. The main thing is that when done, with the devotional you should feel spiritually attuned for moment.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Color Magic

QUESTION: Does color and its powers hold any significance in Bowynn Magic?

ANSWER: Very much so. Though many of the meanings differ, color does play a huge role in magic and daily Bowynn life. However, in Bowynn tradition there is a emphasis on duality. Using two colors as opposed to just one. Add to this that what colors one surrounds themselves with plays a huge role as well. Especially colors that people wear daily. There is also a huge focus on the negativity of too much of one color and which one is more dominate over the other. This study is much alike to the study and practice of Aura Soma.

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.

QUESTION & ANSWER: Brooms

QUESTION: Do Bowynn Mysts (I think you called them Mysts, Witches, that is) use brooms like other witches?

ANSWER: No. Mysts do not use brooms unless we spill something.

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.         

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Ethic and moral punishments

QUESTION: Do Bowynns believe in Kharma or the 3-fold law?

ANSWER: No. Not in the way these are commonly believed. Kharma and the 3-fold law come from other cultures and practices. These idealisms and beliefs are not part of our faith. We adhere to the belief of Bia (balance) and that if what you do and say in life is just, true, moral and virtuous, then you are in good standings. If it is not, then the gods and those around you will call you out and tend to you justly. And the more wrong one does, the worse it is going to be. Like a rubberband: the more you pull on it, the worse it is going to hurt when it snaps back. And assuredly, it will snap back.

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.

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.    

Aelles Ky'Kora!

Blessings to all on this first of Ky'Kora. Blessings to all. May the abundance, joy and frivolity of this holiday find you and fill you all with happiness and may you find the child within.

Indeed, today is the first day of the Bowynn holiday of Ky'Kora. That is to say Mid-Autumn. So, legends and holy Books say: Hern, our great god journeyed to the great western mountains and spoke to Bia, the great creator, after seeing mankind's neglect of harvesting the gifts the gods gave them. Saddened, Hern realized what he had to do to help man survive. On the eve 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. This is why we celebrate. We celebrate also this time of year as the second to last harvest; By now 90% of what was planted in spring and late February is gathered.

The first day of Ky'Kora (October 30) is used to clean and cleanse the house, temple, altar, and oneself. It is a mellow day. Soft harvest music is played, soft sad hymns are sung, for we are mourning the loss of Hern. Little food is eaten, in respect for our ancestors, and what is ate this day is bland, abstaining from herbs, spice, salts, sugars and sweets. And no meat is eaten at all this day, not even fish nor poultry. Usually, unsalted soups and slices of bread are the meal of the day.

Homes are purged of all ills and negativity: a procession of candlelight, incense, holy water and sound (drink or chime) is marched along inside the house, room to room banishing all of the ill's that may linger. Then decorations for the holiday are hung and displayed: Garlands, Wreathes, Carved gourds, Draperies of the harvest seasonal colors. On home alters and shrines, an icon of Hern or a deer is placed, in memory of Hern's blessed gift to us.

Some of use will use the day for long walks and self-review as to what we are grateful for, taking in the beauty of what nature looks like right now all around us. absorbing the beauty and color of the day and autumn. And in this time, we also give thanks to the goddess Kora, the goddess of the season and who's name the holiday it is named after, and to her beautiful consort Ryan, the god of the West Wind, who fans the colors of change into the leaves and cools down the earth.

At late night we come together as a family and friends and hold ceremony and private vigils at temple and home altars, often led with an icon of Hern beings carried to the altar. Candles in gourds are lit and the spirits we call Jakk's are invoked to spend the night at home, keeping the home in its family safe. Hymns are hummed and sung to Hern and his beloved Morrighynn this night. For we remember that the goddess of the moon has lost he beautiful and divine husband.

So, as you see, while there may be a few scatterings of similarity to the Wiccan/Keltic Samhain, there is little connection otherwise. It is not a time of honoring our own dead, (we do that another time of the year) it is about the death and the giving of our lord Hern so that humanity survives.

BOWYNN GODS: TAYNON

Taynon (Tay-non)  Kii of the home, hearth and children. These are probably the most reveres of all the kii. They are invoked when a new home is built and over the door of the home is built a small shrine or shelf where images of the Taynon sit. In other cases they are cared in the frame of the door. They are diminutive in size and said to have bird wings. The Taynon protect the home from all that can befall it. They also are guardians of the family and guardians of children.