Showing posts with label mythology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mythology. Show all posts

Sunday, May 19, 2013

A Troll Poem

Just something I was thinking about lately... I remember it from childhood, and had no idea that Tolkien wrote it until today!

~~~

Troll sat alone on his seat of stone,
And munched and munched a bare old bone;
For many a year he had gnawed it near,
For meat was hard to come by.
Done by!  Gum by!
In a cave in the hills he dwelt alone,
And meat was hard to come by.

Up came Tom with his big boots on.
Said he to Troll, "Pray, what is yon?
For it looks like the shin o' my nuncle Tim,
As should be lyin' in graveyard.
Caveyard!  Paveyard!
This many a year has Tim been gone,
And I thought he were lyin' in graveyard!"

"For a couple o' pins," says Troll, and grins,
"I'll eat thee too, and gnaw thy shins.
A bit o' fresh meat will go down sweet!
I'll try my teeth on thee now.
Hee now!  See now!
I'm tired of gnawing old bones and skins.
I've a mind to dine on thee now."

"My lad," said Troll, "this bone I stole.
But what be bones that lie in a hole?
Thy nuncle was dead as a lump o' lead,
Afore I found his shinbone.
Tinbone!  Thinbone!
He can spare a share for a poor old Troll;
For he don't need his shinbone."

Said Tom:  "I don't see what the likes o' thee
Without axin' leave should go makin' free
With the shank or the shin o' my father's kin;
So hand the old bone over!
Rover!  Trover!
Though dead he be, it belongs to he;
So hand the old bone over!"

But just as he thought his dinner was caught,
He found his hands had hold of naught.
Before he could mind, Tom slipped behind
And gave him the boot to larn him.
Warn him!  Darn him!
A bump o' the boot on the seat, Tom thought,
Would be the way to larn him.

But harder than stone is the flesh and bone
Of a troll that sits in the hills alone.
As well set your boot to the mountain's root,
For the seat of a troll don't feel it.
Peel it!  Heal it!
Old Troll laughed, when he heard Tom groan,
And he knew his toes could feel it.

Tom's leg is game, since home he came,
And his bootless foot is lasting lame;
But Troll don't care, and he's still there
With the bone he boned from its owner.
Doner!  Boner!
Troll's old seat is still the same,
And the bone he boned from its owner.

-- J. R. R. Tolkien





Thursday, January 31, 2013

Moon Phases for Spiritual Work


The best spiritual works tend to ebb and flow with the changes in nature.  One of the easiest ways to set your spiritual clock is to wait for nightfall, and look up -- let the moon be your guide!

Here are a few clues as to how to use those moon phases to your advantage:

New Moon (also known as "Dark of the Moon")
When the sky is void of a moon, it is like having a do-over.  This is the perfect clean slate; spellcasters can use this phase to help remove unwanted elements in his or her life.  It is perfect for cleansing and banishing negative energies.  Remember, though, that when there's an empty space in your life, it must be filled.  Try to do so with positive, healing energies and thoughts.

Waxing Crescent
This is when the moon begins to grow.  It's the perfect time to do spiritual work involving nurturing, growing, and creating.  This phase is particularly useful for spells of personal power, protection, monetary abundance, and the improving of friendships and other relationships.  Constructive and positive work will be enhanced during this time.

First Quarter
Between the new and full moon comes the First Quarter.  This is the middle of the waxing phase, when the moon is "half cooked."  As the moon continues to grow in size, you may find the best time for attracting and pulling positivity toward your life.  Love spells and personal power spells flourish during this time.

Waxing Gibbous
The moon is getting bigger and approaching full-moon status.  If you have any loose ends (such as unfinished spells or other spiritual work), this is the appropriate time to bring those to a natural conclusion.  You may also wish to use this phase to plan ahead in what you'd like your future spellwork to include.  Some also say that either Gibbous phase is an excellent time for divination and for doing protective spells or prayers.

Full Moon
A full moon is famous (or perhaps infamous?) for its mystical power.  This is a perfect time for meditation and to gain strength.  It's a wonderful time for practices that require the most powerful and potent magicks.  If you're looking to use the power of the full moon in your spells, check the moon phase information for your area online and try not to wait until the full moon begins waning.  (NOTE:  Sometimes, a Blue Moon will occur; this is when a month has two full moons instead of just one.  Use that extra full moon well.  It can add a special power boost to your favorite full-moon spells!)

Waning Gibbous
For those negative or annoying influences in your life, you will do best to banish them during the waning parts of the moon's phases.  The waning gibbous, being the largest waning phase, can help with the really troublesome issues that you need to conquer.  Just as with the waxing gibbous, it is always a good time for divination, as well.

Last Quarter
As the moon begins to finish its cycle, you can use this time to seek balance.  Focusing on eliminating negativity, while restoring positivity, and replacing the bad with the good, can be especially effective at this time of the month.

Waning Crescent
As you're waiting for the new moon to arrive, you can use this waning crescent for banishment of illness, depression, and to prevent harm against others.  It is a cleansing and reflective time.  You may also want to use this phase as inspiration to tie up loose ends and finish anything that you've been procrastinating.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Beauty & Mystery of Carmen

The name "Carmen" is an ancient and beautiful one.  In Hebrew, it means "garden" or "orchard," and in ancient Latin it is the word for "song."

Carmen is actually an age-old spell or incantation which was often sung by priests in ancient Rome.  It is one of the oldest known prayers in world history.  Some libraries have preserved books containing this old incantation, which is also known as the Carmen Arvale or Carmen Saliare.

The words to the Carmen Arvale are as such:

enos Lases iuvate
enos Lases iuvate
enos Lases iuvate

neve lue rue Marmar sins incurrere in pleoris
neve lue rue Marmar sins incurrere in pleoris
neve lue rue Marmar sins incurrere in pleoris

satur fu, fere Mars, limen sali, sta berber
satur fu, fere Mars, limen sali, sta berber
satur fu, fere Mars, limen sali, sta berber

semunis alterni advocapit conctos
semunis alterni advocapit conctos
semunis alterni advocapit conctos

enos Marmor iuvato
enos Marmor iuvato
enos Marmor iuvato

triumpe triumpe triumpe triumpe triumpe

The traditional interpretation of this chant is that it is a prayer to Mars, the ancient god of war and agriculture.  The incantation also asks for help from the Lares, who are ancient guardians of the home and the fields, as well as the sacred harvesters, "Semones," which were like ancient patron saints.  The chant wards against plague and other natural disasters, asking Mars to be happy and satisfied with the farmers' work, and to help the Semones protect the people as they tend their fields.

Meanwhile, the Carmen Saliare goes like this:

divum  empta cante, divum deo supplicate
cume tonas, Leucesie,    prae tet tremonti
quot ibet etinei de is cum tonarem
cozeulodorieso. omnia vero adpatula coemisse.
ian cusianes duonus ceruses dunus Ianusve
vet pom melios eum recumcarmen Saliare
divum empta cante,    divum deo supplicate
cume tonas, Leucesie,    prae tet tremonti
quot ibet etinei de is cum tonarem
cozeulodorieso. omnia vero adpatula coemisse.
ian cusianes duonus ceruses dunus Ianusve
vet pom melios eum recum

Not all of the words are able to be translated.  However, the words which scholars recognize involve thunder, god Janus and goddess Ceres.  It is thought that this song is a hymn of praise to these gods and their might.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Full Moons and Their Names


Each moon throughout the year has a specific name which is associated with it through myths and legends.  There are all sorts of different names, but these are the most common:

January:  Cold Moon, Wolf Moon, Chaste Moon
February:  Snow Moon, Hunger Moon
March:  Worm Moon, Sap Moon
April:  Rabbit Moon, Pink Moon, Lenten Moon
May:  Flower Moon, Milk Moon
June:  Mead Moon, Strawberry Moon
July:  Hay Moon, Thunder Moon
August:  Corn Moon, Grain Moon
September:  Harvest Moon, Corn Moon
October:  Blood Moon, Falling Leaf Moon, Hunter's Moon
November:  Mourning Moon, Beaver Moon, Frosty Moon
December:  Long Nights Moon, Moon Before Yule, Winter Moon

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