A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- XIÈ ZHÌ

You know he is guilty.  You see it as clear a the purest water.

You care not for the speech of the humans.  Your instincts call for you to punish the man before you.

You cannot resist any longer.  You stand and stalk over to the sweating man.

He knows you know.  He stinks of terror.  His eyes are wide as you get even closer.  You raise a paw and strike.



Xiè Zhì or Xièzhì is also known as Xiè Cai or Xiè Chai.  It is described as having one horn, but its body shape has many forms akin to a dog, goat, or (as in the case of the Korean version) a lion.

One scholar called it a "righteous beast" since it has the ability to see right and wrong, good and evil.  In some stories, they were used in courts of law.  The wrongdoer would either be bitten, clawed up, or rammed by the creature as a sign of guilt.

The Korean version is called a Haetae.  It had a bell around its neck and scales on its body.  Statues of it were used to protect Hanyang (Seoul).  

Mention of the it goes back to the Han Dynasty (around 206 BCE).  

In modern times, the Xièzhì is used as a symbol for law and justice in China as well as the Haichi as the official symbol of Seoul.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- UKTENA

Yes! Come warrior, you think as the lithe man appears.  He has traveled far to face you.

He has no idea how easy it will be to destroy him.  He will die trying to take your life, to claim the stone you possess.

He won't succeed. You will dazzle him and the warrior shall perish.



The Uktena, in one legend, was a man who was transformed by the Little Men (maybe it was the Yunwi Tsunsdi' aka Little People).  As this creature he was sent to kill the Sun.  She has sent down a sickness because man angered her.  He failed and was angry and jealous that Rattlesnake was sent instead.

Pronounced ook-tay-nah, this creature is the one of the deadliest among the creatures of the Cherokee.  It has a body of a snake and has rings or spots of color going down its body.  One description also has it having buzzard wings and deer horns.

They are hunted for the crystal on their forhead.  As an object of great power, the Ulunsuti or Ulun'suti stone has great magic for good and evil.

It dazzles the person and even asleep it can render death.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- TENOME

Your friend was supposed to meet you here.  He is late.  You didn't even want to come out here.

You call out his name, hoping he's playing a trick on you.

Going against your better judgment, you enter the graveyard.  Your so going to beat the crap out your friend when you find him.

A strange sound reaches you.  You jump but ignore it as you get closer to the grave you guys wanted to see.

Closer now, the sound reaches you and you swear it's an inhalation like that of a scenting dog.  Strange.

There's something on the ground before the grave.  His jacket?  You shuffle closer.  And then you see it.  It's not just his jacket.

Pained terror stabs your chest as your heart accelerates when you see it's him.  His skin puddled on the ground.

You back up to run away.  As you turn, you see the eyeless face.



This creature is found in the first book of Toriyama Sekien's series, Gazu Hyakki Yakō, which translates to basically Night Parade of A Hundred Demons.  He did not write a single thing about this creature, but his inspiration may have come from older stories of a creature that fits this description.

One version of the origin story says that a blind man was murdered.  His lasts words stated he wished he saw the one/ones who did it even if his eyes were in his hands.  

Well, he got his wish. Tenome literally translates to eyes on hands.  They hang out in graveyards and open fields and they like to eat fresh from the body bones.  

The creature looks like a blind zato, a type of guildman.  They are quick but not powerful, blind as a bat, but with a vicious sense of smell.  

One story has a priest locking a victim in a chest to protect him, but the creature somehow sucked his bones out leaving the skin in the chest.

Yes, this nasty monster did inspire that blipping freaking s.o.b. in Pan's Labyrinth.  

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- SUIKO (UTTERLY GROSS AND SICK AND TWISTED! BE WARNED)

You look over at the small hut in the field and shudder.  The villagers hated the idea, but it was the one sure way of destroying the monster.

They had forbidden anyone from entering the field except for the one who must check the area around the hut.

The stench permeated the air even this far away, which makes your stomach churn. Why anyone would go near is beyond you.

You exit your house and find the elder waiting.  You are to check the hut.

When you near the field, you cover your nose and mouth with cloth.  It will keep out the stench -- barely.  Approaching, you gag at the smell of rotting flesh.  Then you it.  Footprints circling the hut.

You rush around to the other side, and stop.  There on the ground the monster lay dead.


This is how to kill a Suiko.  They are not Kappa, but they are related to them.  Suiko translates to water tiger.

They are more aggressive and have control of kappas, sort of like a mid level boss of mafia thugs, which means they have a hierarchy as do the kappa.  They report to Ryū-ō, the dragon king.

They have growths on their knees that resemble tiger paws.

These water goblins don't go after the shirikodama, aka the human's small anus ball. (No joke. Kappa may find it in the way of getting to the liver or something.  They may even want it. Plus, waterlogged dead bodies sometimes have pooched out bumoly holes.)  Nope, these bad boys like to suck the blood out of a human and eat the  reikon (soul).

They only way known to kill them is to put the dead body on a plank and in a hut of grass and straw and let the corpse rot.  The Suiko has no choice but to be drawn to their victim and will race around the hut until the corpse rots enough that the creature dies.  It is said that it is can become invisible until it dies.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- QANDISA

You smirk as you watch the fool stumble away. He cannot put two words together after what you did to him.

He was too easy to lure like all the others.  They want nothing but a beautiful face and body.  His lust will be his doom.

He will crave you until his is mad with it.

You melt back into the water as you wait for your next victim.

The Qandisa is a Jinn (or djinn, heh heh heh).  One story had her as a woman shaman who broke laws and was turned into a Jinn.  She is also associated with the goddess of love, Astarte, in which she maybe an updated or older version.

She is a demon of lust of Morocco.  She lures young men to seduce them and steals their sanity.  She can be found in rivers and springs.

Also called Aisa Qandisa or Quadias.  Her appearance is of a beautiful woman, but in one version I found, she may have mare or mule feet.

One region was said to sacrifice to her to prevent her from attacking.  It took place on the summer solstice.

gh

My second choice of the day isn't a monster.  I was having trouble finding a blood and guts killer like the rest of my posts. So I was going to settle with something less creepy.

 Q'wati is the Quileute creation being.  Well, he didn't just create them.  The story I found had him creating other tribes like the Hoh.  You can go HERE to read a version of the story.

What is truly fascinating is that when Q'wati came upon two wolves he turned them into humans.  He named them the Quileute.  Although they are not the werewolves of the Stephenie Meyers' books.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- NUKEKUBI

Blood! Blood! 

The cry rips through your mind as you hunger for it.  Your craving must be fulfilled.  You need it.

A lone man walks down the street.  You grin as you chase him down.

He turns, cries out in fright, and raises his arms to fight you off.  Only, you are faster and more agile than him.  You have the upper hand.

You pierce his neck with your teeth, drinking the hot, coppery liquid in ravenous gulps.

Your craving has been met.



This, my friends, is a Nukekubi.  Nukekubi (removable neck, missing neck) is a creature that does not know that she is a creature.  She is a vampiric version of the Rokurokubi. , which translates roughly to pulley neck.

By day she is a normal woman.  It's at night that her head detaches and and goes flying about looking for victims.

The woman can pass this to their daughter.

Some say that there are lines or wrinkles around the neck where the head comes off the body.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- KEE-WAKW

The stew fills the air with its delicious odor.  You dish some into an eating vessel. 

Your eyes flick the person far across the clearing. Sadness and pity are in the eyes as he watches you partake your meal.

He is weak from starvation.  Barely alive.  A smirk turns your lips cruel as he looks to what's left of his wife.  Horror fills his gaze in realization as you continue to eat the stew.

You watch as the the breaths become shallower.  The eyes grow dim as the spirit leaves the body.

You laugh.  The frigid coldness grows in your chest as you contemplate your next meal.


This is one of the ways that a Kee-wakw are created.  They are creatures that were once human that have committed some terrible crime, especially of the taboo act of cannibalism or allowing a person to starve.  Another way to turn into these horrible creatures is to have been possessed.

Their hearts turn to ice and they become cannabilistic ice giants.  These creatures are from the North Eastern tribes like  Abenaki, Penobscot, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy

They have many names including Giwakwa. Its pronounced gee-wock-wah (in Abenaki-Penobscot) and keh-wah-kwoo (in Maliseet-Passamaquoddy.)

They are related to these others creatures Chenoos (Micmac), Windigos (Anishinabe), Witikos (Cree), Stonecoats (Iroquois) because of their similar characteristics.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- FURUTSUBAKI NO REI

The woman standing under the shade of the camellia is beautiful.  She draws you in with  saying a word.  it's as if you are pulled toward her with a string.

Slowly you approach; your heart thumping in your ears.  You know something is not human about her, but you can't stop yourself.

Her hand rises ever so slowly.  You watch with sick facination, wanting to run, but you can't move.  Then, she touches you and you know nothing more.

The Furutsubaki no Rei is a Japanese yokai that is created from a the tsubaki tree, which is also called the rose of winter and Camellia japonica.  The yokai is the spirit of the tree that has reached a certain age and can manifest itself as a beatuiful woman outside the host tree.

One legend has her transforming a merchant into a bee and killing him.
Another legend has the spirit as a Yonaki Tsubaki (night-crying tsubaki) that foretells misfortune. At a shrine in Akita prefecture, the temple Kanman-ji has such a tsubaki, which supposedly has stood for 700 years.

This evergree is known for an unusual ability.  Instead of having petals fall off individually, the flower will fall off all at once. Thus associating them with death and taboo to give to sick people.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- EKEK (WARNING THIS ONE IS REALLY GROSS)

"Ek. Ek. Ek."

This strange sound wakes you.  Blinking, you turn to check on your wife.

"Ek. Ek. Ek."

A horrified cry lodges in your throat.  You're paralyzed by the gruesome sight.

The humanoid creature has invaded your wife's body.

"Ek. Ek. Ek."

It has taken the most precious from you as she sleeps.  It has killed your unborn child.

This dark, vampiric creature comes from the Philippines.  It has it's origins from the Visayan culture, which is located on the southern end of the archipelago.  The Ekek is similar to the Wak Wak and the Manananggal.  They all crave flesh and blood especially from pregnant women.

The Ekek is described as being a bird like human. They have wings and a long proboscis into the woman and to the womb to drain the blood from the fetus. (think something like elephant nose or butterfly's nectar sucker!  le ick!)

They are shape shifters and have the ability to transform into bat or bird at night to prowl for prey.

Their name comes from the sound they make as they suck the blood.  Ek Ek Ek.

Wak Waks are said not to have a beak like Ekeks,  and manananggals are said to have the ability to split themselves.

In any case, they are all vampiric ghoulish creatures that have similarities to European vampires, which could come from when the Phillipines was colonized.

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- DULLAHAN, DRY HANDS

Your stomach ties into knots as you rush down the deserted road.  The midnight hour is nigh. Galloping hooves approach. A cold breeze sweeps over you.  A rider in black draws near enough to see his cloak dancing behind him.

You want to run, but your body betrays you.  The rider has no head. Staring helplessly, your heart stops as the last thing you see is the flash of his whip.

The Dullahan is considered to be an Unseelie fairy.  He rides with his head (full of razor like teeth and complete with creepy grin) under his arm and a whip made of a spinal column.  His is sent to collect souls of the dead (and/or to kidnap them and bring them into the realm of the fey.)

This dark creature will only stop to kill.  He does not like to be witnessed and will blind a person (whiplash . . . heh heh heh) or splash them with blood as punishment.  Some believe those marked will be the next to die.  And if he calls out a name --BAM! History. Gone. Dead. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

No locked door or bar across the road can stop a Dullahan.  He only has one weakness.  Gold.  Gold frightens him. Toss a bit of gold at him and run like the devil is after you . . .  because he is.

At one time, it was believed that he was under the command of the queen of the fairies.  She would send him to wither a limb or blind a person who betrayed the secrets of the fey court (aka those lucky few that escaped back to the human realm).

His severed head is described as to be like moldy cheese and sometimes glows like phosphorous.  Hie eyes are supposed to dart like flies.

Also called Gan Ceann, Durahan, Dark Man.  He is associated with the Celtic god Crom Dubh.  This god wanted human sacrifice each year.  When his worship dwindled it is believed he became the Dullahan to continue receiving souls.

The Dullahan is also said to be the driver of the Cóiste Bodhar. A great example is the Disney movie Darby O'Gill and the Little People.

gh

"I never liked him," your friend says as she works a ripe corn cob from the stalk. "He wanted to marry me, but I did not want him.  His hands were cold and clammy.  They made my skin crawl."

Your gaze does not move from your own plant. "You should not speak ill of the dead.  It will bring trouble."

Something flashes into your view.

Her scoffing noise turns into a frightened squeal.   You look to her. Your scream echoes through the field.

A disembodied hand grips your friend withering face.

Dry Hands or Fingers is a legend from the Seneca, Cayuga, and Iroquois. Oniate (oh-nee-ah-ten) is a mummified hand that will come to punish a person who behaves badly, which includes speaking ill of the dead, is a busy body that can't stay out of people's business, or tries to sow discord within the tribe.

It is an appartion that can fly.  It's withered finger can blind, give illness, or kill a person.

Maybe Oniate is Thing's zombified cousin?

A TO Z CHALLENGE 2016 -- CÓISTE BODHAR

The night is still.  An inhuman wail echoes over the land, sending a chill through your body.  A second wail freezes your muscles as if plunged into ice.

A low vibration sounds. It's almost as if hearing the rattling of bones. What is it?

You recognize the sound.  Wheels.  Not wheels from a car.  No.  This sound is too hollow and higher pitched.  Coach wheels. Their rumble grows louder, more menacing.  The wailing intensifies.  Your name echoes across the land.

And then you see your demise.

The Cóiste Bodhar (Koe-shta bower) also called Coach-Abower, Silent (Deaf) Coach is an Irish folk legend. The black coach is said to be draw by six black horses (sometimes headless).  The name that is called is the name of the soul the coach has come to collect.

It is believed that when the coach appears and drives across the land it cannot leave again until it has a soul.

There are links to other creatures of Irish lore associated with the coach.  One is the bean sidhe (banshee).  Banshees wail out warnings to the families they are attached as they fly alongside the coach.

The other will make its appearance tommorrow.  Heh, heh heh.

gh

These were my other choices for today.  The Churel and the Chindi.

The Churel is a vengeful ghost from India. This spirit is created by the death of pregnant or during childbirth.  She wants revenge for her unborn child's death. Her feet, flipped 180 degrees, allows her to walk backward.  Her eyes mesmerize.  and she will drain a victim of their blood.

The Chindi (chʼį́įdii) from Navajo legend.  It's a spirit that is made from all the bad from a person.  They can be called down by a family with a curse. They are associated with dust devils.  And have the ability to cause illness, which is called 'ghost sickness'.  They can be connected to objects owned by them.  

READING CHALLENGE 2015 #11 -- A BOOK WITH NONHUMAN CHARACTERS

Chronicles of Nick book 4

Okay, I've come back to this series because in this book 99% of the characters ARE NOT HUMAN! Most of the characters are demons, gods, and various other entities.  If I'm not mistaken there are six true humans in the entire book:  Nick's mom, Bubba, Mark, Casey, Alan, and Tyree. Alan and Tyree only show up for maybe two chapters, and Casey shouldn't count because she's possessed.

Anyway, Nick has more fun, fun, fun adventures trying not to get killed or drained or kidnapped by beings that want his powers.  Also, he's on the outs with Kody because Death (aka Grim) has to screw with him. How else can he bring about the Apocalypse, I ask.

All in all, it was a good book, but it took me longer to finish because I was not enjoying the Casey moments.  It was one of those things where I wanted to bash her head in because she made my skin crawl, which happened to be about a third of the book in the middle.

Once that was over, the rest of the book was awesome because the action happened and the shiznit hit the fan in a major way.  AND THEN THE ENDING!

Omg! That ending was a WTF if ever I read one! 

A to Z Challenge -- Z -- PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND STARS. OH MY!

ZODIAC -- There are many different zodiacs out there.  The Western one we are familiar with.  Gemini, Capricorn, Virgo, etc. There are also the Chinese, Celtic, and others.

The origins of Western Astrology come from the ancient Babylonian and Mesopotamian as well as Sumerian and Egyptian, but here are the mythological origins from the Greek.  Aries -- Ram of the Golden Fleece, Taurus -- Europa's ravishment by Zeus, Gemini -- the twins Castor and Pollux, Cancer -- Hera's giant crab sent to attack Hercules during the battle with the Hydra, Leo -- the Nemean Lion, Virgo -- goddess of purity and innocence, Astraea.  Last to return to the heavens when Pandora opened the box and is associated with Dike goddess of justice, Libra -- scales of Themis, goddess of divine justice, Scorpio -- the scorpion that killed Orion, Sagittarius -- Chiron the centaur, Capricorn -- goat Amalthea who fed the infant Zeus or Pan, Aquarius -- Ganymede, Pisces -- Aphrodite and Eros escaping Typhon.

There are different versions of why the Chinese Zodiac (sheng xiao) animals are in the order that they are.  Most have the a competition that a heavenly being (be it the Jade Emperor, Yellow Emperor, etc.) has ordered. The race would decide the order.  The cat and the rat were friends, and it ends up somehow the cat was left out of the race by some means by the rat, albeit on purpose or not.  So once good friends are eternal enemies.  You can go HERE or HERE or even Wikipedia even to read.  Also the animals change with the different countries.  In different Asian countries, some of the animals are altered slightly, but on the whole they are similar.

The Celtic one is fairly new.  The ancient Celtic calender was more fluid, using the lunar cycle as a guide. It is also probable they were not named for trees or animals.  Most likely they were named for the quadrants.  Samhain, "Summer's End", would be an example.

So here is a brief rundown of signs and their months/years.

Western 

Capricorn  -- The Goat - Dec. 22–Jan. 19                             

Aquarius -- The Water Bearer - Jan. 20–Feb. 18

Pisces -- The Fishes - Feb. 19–Mar. 20

Aries -- The Ram - Mar. 21–Apr. 19

Taurus -- The Bull - Apr. 20–May 20

Gemini -- The Twins -May 21–June 21

Cancer -- The Crab - June 22–July 22

 Leo -- The Lion - July 23–Aug. 22

Virgo -- The Virgin -Aug. 23–Sept. 22

Libra -- The Balance - Sept. 23–Oct. 23

Scorpio -- The Scorpion - Oct. 24–Nov. 21

Sagittarius -- The Archer - Nov. 22–Dec. 21

Chinese

Zi – Rat – 1936, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 2008, 20

Chou – Ox – 1937, 49, 61, 73, 85, 97, 2009, 21

Yin – Tiger -- 1938, 50, 62, 74, 86, 98, 2010, 22

Mao-- Rabbit -- 1939, 51, 63, 75, 87, 99, 2011, 23

Chen – Dragon -- 1940, 52, 64, 76, 88, 2000, 12, 24

Si – Snake -- 1941, 53, 65, 77, 89, 2001, 13, 25

Wu -- Horse -- 1942, 54, 66, 78, 90, 2002, 14, 26

Wei – Sheep -- 1943, 55, 67, 79, 91, 2003, 15, 27

Shen – Monkey -- 1944, 56, 68, 80, 92, 2004, 16, 28

You – Rooster -- 1945, 57, 69, 81, 93, 2005, 17, 29

Xu – Dog -- 1946, 58, 70, 82, 94, 2006, 18, 30

Hai – Pig -- 1947, 59, 71, 83, 95, 2007, 19, 31

Celtic

Beth – Birch – Dec. 24 to Jan. 20

Luis -- Rowan – Jan. 21 to Feb. 17

Nion -- Ash – Feb. 18 to Mar. 17 

Fearn -- Alder - Mar. 18 to Apr. 14 

Saille – Willow – Apr. 15 to May 12

Uath -- Hawthorn - May 13 to June 9 

Duir – Oak - June 10 to July 7

Tinne – Holly - July 8 to Aug.4

Coll – Hazel – Aug. 5 to Sept. 1

Muin – Vine- Sept. 2 to Sept. 29

Gort --Ivy - Sept. 30 to Oct. 27

Ngetal -- Reed – Oct.28 to Nov. 24

Ruis -- Elder –Nov. 25 to Dec. 22


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- X -- FLOWERS, PEACHES, AND IMMORTALITY

XERANTHEMUM ANNUUM -- A plant used to make besoms/brooms around Bulgaria and the Balkan regions of Eastern Europe.

 Also called the Immortelle or the Everlasting. In the language of flowers, it means Cheerfulness Under Adversity or Unfading Remembrance.

In Turkey, it was used as an analgesic burn remedy.

XI WANG-MU -- (Also called Hsi Wang Mu)  This is a goddess from the Chinese Taoist pantheon.  She lives in the Kulun mountains and guards the Tree, which grew the Táo Zi, the Peaches of Immortality.  (The ones Monkey stole.  The ones that only grew every 3,000 years.  Yep, those peaches.)

She is called the "Queen Mother of the West".  Her powers were almost infinite.  Her ferocious beginnings as a humanoid goddess with tiger features and tail began thirty-three centuries ago with the first recorded record of her. She was a wild goddess that brought plagues and death to the people before organized Taoism morphed her to the most powerful goddess in their pantheon, who had her own throne and controlled life and the afterlife.

XOCHIQUETZAL --  (pronouced Sho-chi-ket-sal) She is the the Aztec goddess of beauty, prostitutes, household crafts, artists (sculptors, painters, etc.), lovers.  She is also the goddess of feminine sexual power.  She was associated with flowers, but he marigold is sacred to her.

She created humans and was the intermediate between them and the gods.

Her festival was celebrated every eight years at the  end of autumn.


I was really grasping at straws with this one, but I managed to find some awesome things.



Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- W -- AQUA, SPOKES, AND NORSE

WHEEL OF THE YEAR -- The Wheel of the Year encompasses the eight Sabbats celebrated: Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnashadh (or Lammas), and Mabon.

The Wheel usually begins with Samhain and the death of the God.  It follows with rebirth of the God.  He grows in power with it culminating at Litha, the Summer Solstice.  Then his power wanes as the darkness of winter grows.

Both the Celts and Anglo-Saxon/Norse have influenced this wheel. Agricultural rites from both ancient cultures are celebrated.


WIDDERSHINS -- To move counterclockwise.  Also called withershins.  Many practitioners do not use this since it is against the sun's direction, but there are some that use it as banishment and destructive use like releasing a circle.

A Symbol for Water

WATER --  Water is one of the four Elements.  It is feminine in nature and is connected to the Goddess.  It's used for psychic workings like scrying, purification, and healing spells.  It's receptive in nature.

The cauldron and cup are associated with this element along with the color blue.

Mercury

WEDNESDAY -- Wednesday is named after the Norse god, Odin, Or if you prefer one of his other names, Wodan.  Translated, his name means master of ecstasy.  He was both a war god and loved to incite war.  He was also a poet god.  He stole the mead of poetry from a giant, which was made from the blood of a human created by Aesir and Vanir spit to cement the truce at the end of the war. (Uh, totally gross.)

His favorite peeps were berserkers and outlaws (for whatever reason) and held favor for a few amazing warriors.

What is more interesting is that in some texts it is said he was a practitioner of seidr, which is a shamanistic practice that rewove destiny.  It was considered a woman's magic and for a man to practice seidr, he was considered unmanly and was looked down upon.  So . . . yeah, interesting contradictions.

The Roman god, Mercury, or Greek Hermes, is also the name for this day.  Dies Mercurii is the root word for the Spanish miércoles.  As god of commerce, messages, luck, thieves, boundaries, roads, travelers, and eloquence, he had his work cut out for him.  What's even more cool is that he also guided departed souls to the underworld.  He was one of the few that could come and go as he pleased.



Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- T -- THUNDER, WOLF, AND THREE

TALISMAN -- Talismans are objects charged with personal power.  They are used to attract a specific energy or force.

THREEFOLD LAW -- The Threefold Law is not technically a law per se.  It is more of a defining principle that governs many pagans and wiccans.  It is similar to karma.  Basically what it means is that whatever you send out be it magic workings or whatever will come back on you three times as powerful.

When or how it comes back to the person depends on which variation is believed.  There are several different thoughts on this from cosmic to the more mundane.

Not all use magic practitioners use this principle.  Just like with any religion, there are differences in beliefs in Paganism and Wicca.

TRIPLE GODDESS --  There are many triple goddesses in ancient pantheons.  The Moirai, the Morrígna, and the Norns are a few of them.  These are three individuals that form a group function.  Then there are those with three heads like Hecate at the three-way crossroads.

The Wiccan Triple Goddess is represented by the phases of the moon and are visualized as three different stages of life: Maiden, Mother, and Crone.

There is debate as to whether She is a reincarnation of an older goddess/es or a creation of the Neopagan revival.

Mjollnir Pendant

THURSDAY --  Thursday is named after the Norse god, Thor.  He was the God of thunder and lightning.  The Romans honored their god Jupiter on this day.  Dies Jovis/Iovis (Jove's day) honors their god of sky and light.  The Greek equivalent is Zeus.

Thor was the protector of humans and gods against evil.  He carried the hammer Mjollnir.  He was one of the most popular of that pantheon.  When the church started to take over, the people began to wear Thor's hammer in defiance.

Jupiter governed over the distribution of laws and used oracles to give the people his will.

TUESDAY --  Tuesday is named for the Norse god Tyr, which relates to the Germanic god, Tiu (Twia).  The Romans called it dies Martis, which translates to Mars day.

Both Tiu and Mars were gods of war, while Tyr is a defender god.

Tyr, in Norse mythology, was shown to bear only one hand.  The other was sacrificed in the jaws of Fenrir when the gods tricked the wolf son of Loki into chains.



Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- M -- HUNTER, CRESCENT, AND FULL

MABON -- This Sabbat falls on the Autumn Equinox.  It is the second harvest.  The God grows old and is preparing for his death at Samhain.

The stories of Mabon ap Modron, the Welsh God, and of Demeter and Persephone are associated with this time.

Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, is also a fertility god and of the the harvest.  One myth about him, tells how he was destroyed by the Titans, except his heart, and was resurrected when Zeus gave the heart to Semele to eat, whereupon she gave birth to him anew.  This reflects the same cycle seen in the Wheel of the Year.


MAIDEN --  The first aspect of the Triple Goddess in Wicca.  She is represented by the waxing crescent moon.  She is fresh and youthful and in the first blush of womanhood.  Associated with Spring, the Maiden is beginnings and ideas, potential, and newness.

MALLEUS MALEFICARUM -- Translated it means the The Witches' Hammer.  Written in 1484 by Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger, two Inquisitors.  Under the Bull of Pope Innocent VIII, this document was a guide to questioning, when torturing was necessary, trying, and sentencing those accused of witchcraft.  It also included how to spot signs of witchcraft and demon possession, how to cure those inflicted with spells, how to protect themselves from spells, and a host of other information for the professional witch hunter, Inquisitor, or magistrate.  It was in use for three centuries or so in the persecution of those falling within their grasp.


MARCH -- March began the Roman year.  It was when military campaigns renewed after the break in winter.  Martius translates to (month of) Mars.  Mars being the Roman god of war.


MAY -- Named after the Roman goddess Maia, who is the goddess of spring growth.

MOTHER --  She is the second aspect of the Triple Goddess.  She is in her prime in all things: fertility, ripeness, sexually, and power.  Most times, She is pictured pregnant to symbolize this richness.  The full moon represents Her.

Diana

MOON --  The moon has been studied, worshiped, and used as a means of time telling for just about every ancient culture. Many used/still use the lunar calender, including Ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Greeks to name a few.  Others used or changed to a lunisolar calender.

The varying gods and goddess for the moon run across all the mythological pantheons: the Egyptian Thoth, the Roman Diana, the Greek Selene, and the Japanese/Shinto Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.

Many modern day Wiccans have the Triple Goddess or the Maiden, Mother, and Crone.  The Maiden is the waxing moon, the Mother is the full moon, and the Crone is the waning moon.


MONDAY --  The name of this day comes from the Old English monandaeg from the Latin dies Lunae,which translates to day of the moon.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- J -- NEW YEAR, MARRIAGE, AND MONEY

JANUARY --  Named after Janus, the god of doors, gates, transitions, beginnings and endings.  He is a god with two faces; one looked back while the other looks forward.

He was the beginning and end of conflict for the Romans.  His major temple in Rome was a key indicator if they were at war or peace.  At war, the doors of the temple were open, while the doors would be closed when they were at peace.  Let's just say that those doors didn't close very often.

His image came in different ways.  Sometimes one face would have a beard while the other did not, or they could both be bearded.  In some places he had four faces.  Plus, his image is on coins because in some stories, he introduced money.


JUMPING THE BROOM -- This tradition has been carried out for many centuries.  It may have been before even handfasting.  The Welsh tradition of priodas coes ysgub (broomstick wedding) might have come from the Romany (gypies) of Wales before it spread to a country-wide tradition.  The broomstick would be set in the doorway at an angle.  The couple would jump over the broom together, but if the broomstick was touched the marriage was considered invalid.

The besom is used for the modern tradition.  It's a way to star a marriage with a clean slate.  In other words, to jump the broom is a meaningful way of starting life together with the past swept away.  Usually it takes place after the wedding ceremony.

Historically, in Antebellum America, plantation slaves used this as a way to marry since they had no legal means of taking their vows.  Whether it came from their white masters or from their own countries of origin is still debated.

JUNE -- Named for the goddess, Juno (aka Hera).  She was the wife/sister of Jupiter (aka Zeus).  She was the patron goddess of marriage and women.  She is one of the principle goddesses of the Roman pantheon.

The protecting guardian spirit of females was called a juno, which was a genius (aka family ancestor from the underworld originally). There were different ones for virgins, married women, marriage, and brides.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- D -- SUN, SIGHT, AND DEMONIZED

DAYS OF POWER --  Are the days of Sabbats and personal days.  Many practitioners will choose specific days and times to preform their spells.  It all depends on what type of spell it is as well as what planetary influence is on that day.  For example, Sunday is ruled by the Sun so spells that relate to success or ambition would be cast on this day.  Just like psychic spells would fall on a Monday since it is influenced by the Moon.

DESOIL --  It clockwise or the direction of the sun across the sky.

Cernunnos

DEVIL -- There is no devil in Wicca.

The Horned God, like Cernunnos from Celtic mythology, was morphed into the devil by the influence of the Christian religion.  It was then that witches were portrayed to kiss the Devi's behind.  It was called the Kiss of Shame.

One of the many types of pendulum.

DIVINATION --  Definitions from Dictionary.com 
Noun
1.the practice of attempting to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means.
2.augury; prophecy:  The divination of the high priest was fulfilled.
3.perception by intuition; instinctive foresight.

There are so many ways to divine something.  Scrying is one method.  These are some of the few objects/elements used: mirrors, water, crystal balls or shards, and flames.  Tarot is another form.  Runes are yet another.  There is also the pendulum, the I Ching, and a host of others I have not mentioned.

This isn't fortune telling.  It is more of a guideline for a given situation.

Some use more than one method and others use whichever they find the best results with.  It depends entirely on the practitioner.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

NANO UPDATE 2014

And so the end of NaNo is near.  One more week of writing madness to go through.

For those of you who do not know what NaNo stands for; it's NaNoWriMo or in long version, National Novel Writing Month.  It is where writers strive and most succeed to write 50,000 words in one month.

That's the goal anyway.  I do not do that.  I would hurt myself badly if I tried.  My inner editor is an evil witch and will not shut up no matter what I do to her.  Chains.  Whips.  Torture.  Drowning.  You name it I've done it, and she laughs in the face and comes back with a vengance.

Ahem.

So, instead I strive for the lofty goal of 15k or there about, which is somewhere where four short stories for Reuts Publications.

I have already expounded on their theme of Mythology this year.

As to the update itself.

I did not finish the Egyptian short story on time.  It did not get sent to them.
Sent in the Celtic and the Asian one.
Waiting for the parameters for the Eastern European one
Did a flash fiction for a site.
And have been plucking away at my own Mythological creation.

So far that brings my word total to 13.7k plus some change.  

And that my friends puts me right on my personal target.

YAY!!!!