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Cernunnos’ Path (Mythology Blog Paganism Blog)

Mythology and Paganism

The Green Man

5 Comments | August 29, 2007 at 12:32 pm by mahud
Filed under Pagan Art Gallery

Image requested by Anti-thesisofreason

Photos

self portrait
Ivy
Tree

The Proto-European Cosmogonic Battle Theme

2 Comments | August 28, 2007 at 12:37 pm by mahud
Filed under Roman Mythology, Norse Mythology, Celtic Mythology

In deos Shadow’s latest podcast The Celtic Creation Story, Brendan Myers explains why he believes that the battle between the Fomorians and Tuatha De Danann at the The Second Battle of Mag Tuired, was originally a Celtic creation myth.

I’d like to expand upon this idea with a theory of my own concerning the duel roles of Lugh Lamhfhada and Nuadu Airgetlam, in comparison with other European myths that seem to be derived from a common Proto-European theme.

The Second Battle of Mag Tuired (Moytura)

Initially, the Tuatha De Danann allied with the Fomorians, and the Fomorian champion Balor married his daughter Ethne to Cian the son of the divine physician Dian Cecht, and she gave birth to the champion Lugh (Footnote: Another myth retelling of Lugh’s birth).

It is during the first battle of Mag Tuired that Nuadu, the King of the Tuatha De Danann, lost his hand against the Fir Bolg, later replaced by a hand of silver, fashioned by the physician Dian Cecht. However, the Tuatha De Danann successfully defeated the Fir Bolg, and so began their rule of Ireland.

Because a King must be without blemish, Bres was appointed their new leader. Under his leadership the people of Ireland were forced to pay tribute to the Fomorians, and the Tuatha De Danann became their slaves. Bres brought hardship and affliction to his people, and after ruling for seven years he was deposed.

Nuadu regains kingship, but the Fomorian armies (which had been gathering for the last seven years), threatened to take Ireland by force. It was during Ireland’s most vulnerable period that the mysterious Lugh appeared to lead the Tuatha De Danann in battle against the Fomorians. Through a combination of Lugh’s skill (a totality of the divine powers), and imitative magic, the Fomorians are finally overcome.

The Encounter of Ludd and Llefelys

Nuadu and Lugh are the central figures in a Welsh myth (a minor tale in the Mabinogion) called Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys (The Encounter of Ludd and Llefelys), that first appeared in a thirteenth century translation of Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the British Kings) by Geoffrey of Monmouth.

Ludd (Nuadu) Llaw Eraint (of the silver hand), King of Briton, seeks the aid of the king of France, his brother Llefelys (Lugh), to rid his kingdom of three gormesoedd (variously translated as oppressions, plagues, afflictions, etc). The theme mirrors the oppression of the Tuatha De Danann by the Fomorians. Llefelys uncovers the cause of each affliction and emancipates Ludd’s kingdom from his enemies, much like Lugh in ‘Mag Tuired.

Temporal and Eternal Champions

It is my belief that the two figures Nuadu and Lugh represent two mythological aspects of the divine. Nuadu represents the temporal and imminent aspect, that is often related to the cycle of the moon, and upon which the mythological cosmic cycle (aeon) is based. This is further symbolized by the loss of Nuadu’s hand, a wound motif, representing the waning/dying/wounded moon, while the replacement hand of silver symbolizes the waxing moon of cosmic rebirth.

“Nuadu represents the temporal and imminent aspect, that is often related to the cycle of the moon. Lugh represents the eternal and transcendent aspect of the divine, that is often related to the undying power of the sun.”

Lugh represents the eternal and transcendent aspect of the divine, that is often related to the undying power of the sun. The sun is the indestructible emblem of the unseen force within the threshold of the old cosmic-lunar cycle and the new, symbolized both by the Cyclopean eye of Balor and Lugh, a trait also inherited by Lugh’s son Cuchulain.

A basic reconstruction of the myth is that of a god who according to his cosmic-lunar nature dies, while according to his indestructible solar nature simultaneously penetrates the gateway of the sun (the eternal reality that the solar god embodies), thereby obtaining the power to reanimate his cosmic self, who is also an embodiment of the entire cosmic order of things.

Scaevola and Cocles

There is also another euhemerized version of the cosmic battle of destruction and recreation in the Roman tradition, that again centres on two heroes that are largely responsible for defeating an oppressive enemy. Livy (History of Rome), and Dionysius of Halicarnassus (Roman Antiquities) both acknowledge Publius Horatius and Gaius Mucius for their exceptional heroics, during the Roman Etruscan war in the 5th century B.C.

Horatius was named Cocles, ‘one-eyed’ (the solar champion), due to losing an eye in battle (Roman Antiquities 5.23), while Mucius (the lunar champion), after plunging his arm into the fire in defiance of the Etruscan King Lars Porsenna (who Mucius had failed to assassinate), was afterwards named Scaevola ‘left-handed’ (History of Rome 2.12).

Tyr and Odin

In Norse mythology the cosmic battle of destruction and recreation appears at the end of the current cosmic cycle, rather than the beginning. However the mythological representation of cosmic reality as a great wheel binds together the beginning and the end of time-bound reality within the lunar-cosmic threshold (waxing and waning moons), beyond time into solar-eternal reality. The beginning and end, creation and destruction, life and death, and all the mythological oppocites are combined in a single transcending totality, and ruled over, in the Norse tradition, by Odin, who is (much like Lugh) the divine totality of all things, both of the sun and the moon.

The myth of Odin’s sacrifice upon the Cosmic tree, and of his ‘lunar’ eye (that is the mythical equivalent of Lugh encircling his army hopping on one leg with one eye closed), derives from a much older and widespread mythological theme of a primordial being (who in Nordic tradition is, of course, Ymir), who gives birth to the cosmic order through physical injury or death.

Alone, Odin embodies both solar-eternal and lunar-temporal realities. When paired with a twin, these lunar-solar attributes are divided into two personalities. It is possible that in the Nordic mythological tradition, the temporal twin of the one-eyed Odin, became the god Tyr, who sacrificed his hand to the wolf Fenrir (Footnote: Jamshid). Fenrir (like the Fomorian army) embodies the principle of chaos that threatens to dissolve the universal order of things. Through Tyr’s sacrifice (like Odin’s) the cosmic order is maintained.

Conclusion

The battle between the Fomorians and Tuatha De Danann most likely evolved from a Proto-European cosmogonic battle theme, representing the destructive-chaotic forces that gave birth to creative power that generates cosmic order. The fate of the cosmic order was bound up in the nature of a divine being, who was mythologically symbolized as two separate personalities representing both the cosmic and trans-cosmic realities.

The Goddess Epona of the Sacred Way

9 Comments | August 26, 2007 at 10:41 am by mahud
Filed under Pagan Art Gallery, Celtic Mythology

The goddess Epona would be wonderful for me. She is often seen in her equine form as a white mare.

Image requested by R.E (The Sacred Space)

Photos

White Horse
Reflection

Invocation

Making Talismans: Living Entitles of Power By Nick Farrell

Digital Art Requests

Calling out to other mythology or Pagan bloggers out there! Does anyone have any requests for some divine digital art?

If you would like me to create a piece of digital art (for use on your blog) of a particular god, goddess, religious symbol, etc, let me know in the comments.

To Aphrodite

9 Comments | August 24, 2007 at 7:04 am by mahud
Filed under Pagan Art Gallery, Greek (Classical) Mythology

Calling out to other mythology (there’s not nearly enough of you!) or Pagan bloggers out there! Does anyone have any requests for some divine digital art?

If you would like me to create a piece of digital art (for use on your blog) of a particular god, goddess, religious symbol, etc, let me know in the comments.

I made this last year some time. I thought it had a kind of oceany look about it, and reminded me of Sadako from the Japanese horror movie Ringo (Ring), who was born, miraculously (If I remember correctly), by an ocean spirit/Kami, and also the ‘foam-born’ goddess Aphrodite.

I found the picture of the goddess’ statue at Stock.XCHNG, and it seemed to fit quite well, and then added the verse from a Homeric Hymn.

The Death of Medusa and the birth of Pegasus

0 Comments | August 22, 2007 at 7:49 am by mahud
Filed under Pagan Art Gallery, Greek (Classical) Mythology

When Perseus had cut off the head of Medousa there sprang from her blood great Khrysaor and the horse Pegasos so named from the springs (pegai) of Okeanos, where she was born.
Hesiod, Theogony 270 (Theoi)

Joys and Trials of Religion meme

6 Comments | August 18, 2007 at 9:55 pm by mahud
Filed under Sprituality

eirsinitiate from Birch Grove has memed me.

Rules

1. You have to use your own belief system for the meme. No fair using someone else’s to make a joke or satire. Being humorous about your own religion is encouraged!
2. You have to have at least one joy and one trial. More are encouraged. And no, they don’t have to be equal in length, but please be honest.
3. You have to tag at least one other person. More are appreciated!
4. Please post these rules!

Joys

For a long time I believed knowledge was the key to my Christian beliefs. I’m sure many Christian would dispute that, but it was the way it looked to me. The need to have a correct understanding of godhead and the plan of salvation to avoid eternal damnation.

My belief that doctrinal knowledge is no longer key to my spirituality, it has enabled me to except that all religious paths are valid, and has been a great help to me in leaving the faith of Christianity (a rather slow process that has taken me around 5 or so years).

I believe that we all are all unique individuals at different stages of spirituality, that can change with and beyond our current life time, probably through reincarnation in this reality or a possible limitless of realities.

This helps me to understand people (whether actively spiritual or not, or ignorant or in denial of spirituality). I respect everyone regardless of where they are at in their current life cycle.

This belief stems from my study of Buddhism, that we are all have different needs that need to be met (through many lifetimes) before Nirvana can be attained, except I don’t believe that the extinction of the no-self. I believe that the self is an important and valid part of our existence. Everyone is where they are at for a reason, and It helps me understand my fellow human beings, without judging them. Including outspoken Christian Fundamentalists.

Since coming to terms with everything about it takes the dark paranoiac edge of reality. No longer am I living with a lost world destined to hell, just people at different stages of their life/s.

Trials

I like the Arthurian legend concerning the knights of the round table who separately begin their quest for the grail by entering a forest were the is no path and the trees are thickest. This is where I am at the moment. I’m following an unknown series paths, with no idea where they are going to lead me. But this really is part of life that all go through. There are no right and wrong paths, exactly, but without some kind of guide we must brave the journey alone.

Currently I’m looking for a guide to help me through the forest of life journeys. I’m practicing meditation that’s kind of hard for me. My mind is constantly serging with thoughts, problems, anxieties, and it’s not easy to relax and direct my meditations into a place of peace. Meditation is something that I feel will benefit me a great deal (also help with my SA), and so I’m just going the have to work at it.

Ok, I tag these wonderful people…

1. Terri @ Aquila ka Hecate
2. R.E. @ The Sacred Space
3. Kay @ In the Spirit of Chaos
4. Cat @ Quaker Pagan Reflections
5. Jeff @ Druid Journal
6. Danielle @ Modern Musings

My Interest in Mythology

2 Comments | August 17, 2007 at 10:27 am by mahud
Filed under Mythology Journal

The Two Babylons

My studies into mythology began in 1996 (or 7) with The Two Babylons, a strange incomprehensible volume for me back then, being ignorant of all things ancient. I pulled the book from my dad’s shelf one night trying to follow it, but it was rough going, but after obtaining a copy of my own I attempted to decipher it, and came across something that amazed me at that time, that there were other gods, who like Jesus, died and rose again.

I came across references to Bakkus (dionysus), Osiris, Mercury (Hermes), and a Great Goddess, who according to Hislop was none other than, the Prostitute that rode upon the back of a dragon with a cup of abomination in her hand. Was also also introduced to classical writers called Herodotus, Pausanias Livy, Homer, Apollodorus, etc, which opened up a whole new world for me.

Although the book was supposed to prove that Papal Worship was an imitation of the worship of Nimrod and his wife Semiramis, that spread throughout the World, destroying the pure faith preserved by Noah and his sons after the flood.

Problems I have with the book are its crazy etymologies, that interprets all gods of classical tradition using the Chaldean (Which I think is Aramaic but I’m not sure) language. Also Hislop euhemerized the myth (and other myths) of the conspiracy against Osiris (who Hislop believed to be the Nimrod), instigated by the god Set (who was the Biblical Seth, one of the sons of Noah).

Getting deeper into Mythology

World Mythology: The Illustrated Guide, that introduced me to all the major mythologies from around the world, complete with tons of images. The book was published (I think) through the Joseph Campbell trust or foundation, and had a really useful introduction to universally comparative mythological themes. I also book a similar book, called The Encyclopedia of World Mythology. The books gave me my first real taste of world mythology.

Robert Graves

My dad was taking classes on Roman history and mythology, and had picked up a book by Robert Graves Greek Myths: Volume one. As I started reading the book I became excited by the idea of a prehistoric worship of a Goddess and her King-lover who was yearly murdered by his tanist, to become the the new Moon Goddess’ King. At the time I thought this must be historical fact, but after further research, I learned that it was a reconstruction invented by Graves himself, influenced by authors such as Johann Jakob Bachofen (Mutterrecht), James Frazer (The Golden Bough) and I think Jane Ellen Harrison (Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion).

I bought a copy of Greek Myths: The Complete Edition, and it is an invaluable reference, although there is a bit of unorthodox reconstruction going on in the so called ‘Pelasgian Creation Myth‘, and the commentary is rather idiosyncratic, but fun to read. Also each paraphrased myth comes with a list of classical sources (although some of them are a bit obscure and difficult to get your hands on).

Three more great Greek mythology reference books

1. The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology
2. Cassell’s Dictionary of Classical Mythology
3. Who’s Who in Classical Mythology

Gathering Material

At this point I began taking notes of certain mythological themes that I felt were related to The Bible, such as the Tree of Life (Axis Mundi), The Sacred Marriage (Hieros Gamos), androgynous gods, the cardinal directions and elements, myths surrounding the sun and moon (I was fixated on the creation account that place the creation of the sun and moon on the fourth day), God’s from whose dismembered limbs form the universe, which I understood to be a parallel to the reference in Revelation of Christ (as the lamb), who was slain from the foundation of the world. I also filled the book with iconic images, that also seemed to fit these mythical patterns.

I began buying any books on mythology I could find, and soon I had a pretty large collection of books on most of the worlds mythologies. I also began buying books on the histories of ancient civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, Egyptians, Hittites, Greeks, Celts, and so on, including a lot of original translations.

James Frazer

Robert Graves led me to the Golden Bough, were Frazer tries to prove that dying and rising gods (Such as Osiris, Adonis, Attis), evolved from a primitive belief in a Corn-Spirit. He also provided tons of evidence supporting the belief in the widespread custom of slaying a King after an alloted term, or had outlived his magical effectiveness. While I don’t accept Frazer’s idea of a corn-spirit, I think that the ritual slaying of a king was a Primitive practice that somehow played it’s part in the mythologies of dying and rising gods.

Joseph Campbell

I’d heard about Joseph Campbell, from my World Mythology: The Illustrated Guide, but didn’t really know what his work was about, until I chanced upon a copy of Occidental Mythology: Masks of God Vol 1. Here, I found, for the first time, a book that dealt with all the mythological subjects that interested me, plus much more. I was instantly hooked and eventually managed to buy the complete Masks of God series. I was deeply saddened after learning a few years layer that he died back in 1987.

Basically the Masks of God is Campbell’s attempt to write a historical account of the origins of religion and myth and their universal diffusion (as apposed to The Hero with a Thousand Faces where Campbell focuses primarily on the psychology of myth), and the modification of mythical themes according to each different culture’s cosmological outlook.

Much of my own studies have been both influenced and supported by Joseph Campbell’s work, and I am totally in his debt, for the world of the ancient religious past, that he opened up for me.

One thing that amazes me about Campbell was that he took time out and read solidly over a period of 5 years. Man, I’d love to do that. Joseph Campbell is without doubt my greatest Hero of mythological studies.

The White Goddess

Returning to Robert Graves, another book, that had a profound effect on me. The White Goddess. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in mythology and paganism, but be warned, its not the easiest book to follow. I’d say I’ve only been able understand about 5% of the arguments of his book. At the same time I find it compelling reading, and it was a book I’d constantly take down from the shelf and dip into.

Mythology on the Internet

In the beginning of 2004 I finally had access to the internet. It was also at this time, that I started to write my book on the ‘pagan godman.’ I found the internet kind of useful, but hard word and time consuming trying to find credible and well attested The Internet. Finally I decided to create a website rather than write a book, that over the past three years has become Between Old and New Moons. I’ve written and learned so much since I began blogging last year, and now I’m finally in the position to actually write my book.