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Translucent sparkling zircon is the oldest of all gemstones. Only earthly stardust is more ancient. This brilliant gem comes in a variety of colors including clear, blue, gold, pink, red, green and brown. Born of chaos and creation, zircon is found in igneous rocks such as granite, and some metamorphic rocks which have been altered by pressure and heat. See also: Earth Mother - Goddess of Life Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Bronze Age Europe - The Amber Road Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Zircons are formed in metamorphic rocks or by crystallization from magma. True survivors, these miraculous gemstones are hardy and durable through entire geologic periods and events such as cataclysmic volcanic action. Crystals form protective rings of zircon around themselves like tree rings, and can resist chemicals designed to break down organic matter. While this stone seems almost invincible, zircon can be destroyed with hydrochloric acid. See also: Silver - Queen of Precious Metals Sprites: Ethereal Creatures of Faerie Divine Twins: Germanic & Greek Mythology It takes hundreds of millions of years to create a zircon naturally. Zircons change color with heating. Pink, red or purple stones need heat of about 400 °C (752 °F) . Colorless and blue zircons require temperatures of up to 1,000 °C (1,830 °F). Cubic zirconia is a synthetic gem and not a real zircon. Blue zircon is the birthstone for December and one of the most popular colors, especially during Victorian times. Zircon of any color, depending on desire, is lucky for Taurus, Cancer and Libra. This stone creates a protective aura and could attract a romance or flirtation. Brown zircon relates to treasures of the earth, and grounding. See also: Mythical Pagan German Gods & Spirits German Myth - Father Rhine River God Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Also in the Victorian era, smoky zircon was worn with mourning attire. The Victorians had an entire social protocol of mourning since Queen Victoria mourned her beloved husband Albert. Victoria also popularized the wearing of black for mourning. Zircon Color Meanings: All zircon is connected to Fire with a baseline of Earth. Color meanings include: clear - divine connection, clarity of mind, inspiration, Air yellow - joy, optimism, self-confidence, solar power, Air gold hue - Sun or Fire, wealth, self-connection red - Fire, passion, warrior pink - romantic love, sensuality purple - balance, success, confidence light blue - imagination, daydreams, Water dark blue - depth, intuition or dreams, Water green - creativity, nurturing, female warrior light brown - Earth, home, grounding dark brown - Earth, fertility, roots smoky - mourning black - second sight, prosperity Because zircon is the oldest gemstone, it brings a connection to the primal self, inner awakening and the collective subconscious. It can help understand dreams by cleansing channels of ancient knowledge. See also: Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Bronze Age Culture - Rise of Heavy Metals Earth Mother - Goddess of Life Zircon relates to the element Fire and can stimulate the mind. It can also cause impulse actions, boasting or needless drama. Blue or brown zircon help balance one's perspective. Zircon has the entire history of the earth's creation inside itself, with whole of humanity barely an atom therein. Understanding and working with this stone helps one establish a link to primeval knowledge and spiritual expansion. Zircon is a stone of long life and adapting to change. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Ancient Deities: Proto Indo European Gods In folk medicine beliefs of the Middle Ages, zircon gemstones could cure insomnia, ward off evil, protect against the evil eye, collect wisdom and attract prosperity. By the 1920s, heat treatment developed for use in coloring the gemstones, saving a wait of several hundred million years. Heat causing change in natural objects is a type of alchemy or transmutation nature lore. Zircon relates to the solar plexus and root chakras. The spiritual meaning of zircon includes wisdom, mental clarity, cleansing of negative energies, psychic intuition. In trance work clear zircon can open channels to the divine. See also: Spagyria - Botanical Science of Alchemy Women of Alchemy - Mary the Jewess Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek Zircons are commonly found in the igneous rock granite. Granite also abounds with natural minerals zinc, molybdenum and copper, all of which are necessary in the human body for health. Chewing on granite isn't recommended but this reminds us we're all part of the body of the Earth. Granite is one of the most populous rocks on Earth, along with basalt, and carries numerous goodies within its multi-grained mass, including the crystals hornblende, tourmaline, beryl, topaz and apatite. See also: Steam & Style - Agrippina of the Rhine Nibelung - Of Worms & Heroes Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Back to Top

Although the European tribes establish various pantheons from the early days of history, agreement is clear about the Goddess of Life. She is the Earth Mother or Mother Goddess, whose creative power and abundant gifts keep humans alive throughout the ages. See also: Baltic Amber - Gold of the North Bronze Age: Ancient Tribes, Metal & Myth Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle She has various names including Gaia, ancestral mother of the Greeks; the Egyptian Isis with powers of resurrection; Cybele, who received sacrificial bulls in Anatolia; Nerthe (Erde) German Earth Goddess and the Roman Magna Mater (Great Mother). Many of the modern Earth Goddess myths derive from the Proto-Indo-European tradition, adapted for local tastes or existing deities. A Sky Father was also widely worshipped. While the concept of the Earth Mother began among the mists of time, it's ubiquitous in the mythology and cultures of people from prehistory to modern day. See also: Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Nature Spirits of German Mythology In Hinduism the divine mother goddess manifests herself in various aspects. She becomes Mother Nature (Mula Prakriti), who gives birth to all life forms and nourishes them through her body. Ultimately she re-absorbs or takes all forms of life back into herself. Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, festivals dedicated to the Earth Mother celebrate the seasons - winter, when all is dark and cold; spring, when days lengthen and hope returns; summer, clad in lush greenery; autumn, the abundance of the land. See also: Reiker For Hire Victorian Crime Trilogy German Nature Spirits: Evolution German House Spirits: Beer Donkey (Bieresel) Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle People depend on the land, farming, herding, agriculture, hunting and warfare to exist. Wealth is many sheep. Gold is pretty, but has little commercial value until c. 1500 BCE, when the empire of Egypt made gold the first official exchange medium for international trade. The fertile Earth brings forth food, material for clothing and building, wild plants and animals, gems such as obsidian and metals such as copper. About 4500 - 2500 BCE early people live on the Pontic-Caspian steppe between the north Caspian and Black seas. See also: Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Song of the Loreley Wild Women and Winter Tales The pantheon of these Proto-Indo-European people, who speak the ancestor of countless languages, is based on evidence and similarities across cultures. In the creation myth of early people the mother goddess (Dʰéǵʰōm Méh₂tēr) is considered the origin of life and final dwelling place of humans. With her guidance Manu creates the physical Earth from the flesh of his sacrificed brother, Yemo, and the first people. Plants and animals arise from the sacrifice of the primordial cow. During the early Bronze Age the Steppe cultures undertook a massive migration. They went in all directions, east to Russia, west to England, to the North Sea and down to Turkey. This causes crowded conditions and a rise in warfare, as a technology of metals solidify. See also: Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock German Myth - Harvest Spirits Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Mother Goddess is sometimes a trio with the Sky Father and the Sun God(ess). Usually Earth and Sky are the primordial procreators. In the Proto-Indonesian creation mythology they pre-date the physical Earth and help Manu form it. In some cultures the Mother Goddess is also associated with the Underworld. As she gives birth, so she takes life back into herself for nourishment. The Earth Mother is naturally aligned with death as part of the wholeness of life. This doesn't, however, stop people from trying to find the secret of eternal life. See also: German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root Bronze Age Europe - The Amber Road Harvest Spirits: Katzenmann (Cat Man)

During the Bronze Age (c. 3300 - 1200 BCE) the land is a wild and savage place, but jewels of civilization glimmer throughout the known world. People such as the Egyptians and Eurasians make strong advances in medicine, science and spirit cosmology. The Proto-Indo-European migrations influence language and culture throughout the land. See also: Ancient Deities: Proto Indo European Gods Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Before the Viking Age - Gods of the Sámi Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Proto-Indo-European domain is south of the Danube River, bordering the Caspian and Black Seas. From there, early settlements such as the Yamnaya of the Pontic-Caspian Steppes migrate west toward Greece, into Anatolia, Ukraine and lower Russia, and up to the Baltic. Culture of the people is defined through territory, stories and developments in weaponry and tools. Some nomadic tribes were raiders, grabbing booty, booze and babes in fast concise attacks, and some sedentary tribes also took to the occupation in times of need. Prisoners were enslaved, sold or sacrificed to the Gods. See also: Bronze Age Culture - Rise of Heavy Metals Arsenic: Murderous Metal & Miracle Cure Divine Twins: Germanic & Greek Mythology The PIE mythologic culture begins with a blood sacrifice in the story of the twins Manu and Yemo, and this sets the standard for future offerings. Qualities consistent to Proto-Indo-European Bronze Age cultures include: pastoralism, including domesticated cattle, horses, and dogs agriculture and cereal cultivation, including technology commonly ascribed to late-Neolithic farming communities, e.g., the plow transportation by or across water the solid wheel, used for wagons, but not yet chariots with spoked wheels worship of a sky god *Dyḗus Ph2tḗr (lit. "sky father") oral heroic poetry or song lyrics that used stock phrases such as imperishable fame (*ḱléwos ń̥dʰgʷʰitom) and the wheel of the sun (*sh₂uens kʷekʷlos). a patrilineal kinship-system based on relationships between men Before the PIE tribes came to the region it was occupied by a matriarchal people who lived from crops and animal keeping. It's possible the invading Proto-Indo-Europeans absorbed some of the influences into their own society. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Myth & Metallurgy - Metals of Antiquity Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files A folk story called 'The Smith and the Devil' dates back to the time of the Proto-Indo-Europeans. It's considered one of the oldest European folk tales. The Smith is a blacksmith or metallurgist. Blacksmiths didn't arrive on the scene until the late Bronze Age about 1500 BCE. The Devil is a demon or evil spirit, since the Christian Devil isn't even a concept yet. The Smith sells his soul to the evil spirit. The idea of the soul is pre-Christian, defined in ancient Greece as the incorporeal or spiritual "breath" which animates. The Smith receives the power to weld anything in exchange for his soul. Once he gets the power he welds the devil to a chair and gets out of the bargain. See also: Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek Happy Wednesday! Tidbits & Trivia Winter Tales - 4 Novellas Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Folk tales help define a culture. This one associates the Smith with fire, magic and trickery, a person with deific connections and eldritch abilities. The story's an indication of specialists in metal work among the PIE and the significance of their powers and trade. The PIE lived in small village or clan groups. The Yamnaya chiefdoms had standardized differences in prestige and power, and society was organized along the lines of reciprocity, a mutual exchange of gifts and favors between their patrons or gods, and humans. See also: Apis - Sacred Sacrificial Bull of Egypt German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Life expectancy among the PIE was 50 - 60 years, a high average, which bespeaks periods of peace and abundance. Horses were domesticated during the early Metal Ages and wagons increased mobility as the wheel came into use in the 3000s BCE. Travel, migration and trade routes evolved rapidly. The Proto-Indo-European pantheon centers on a Sky Father and Earth Mother. Other divinities include the Dawn Goddess, the Sun Goddess and the Divine Twins. The culture has a definitive structure, social classes and differentiates between freemen and slaves. The free part of society includes an elite class of priests, kings and warriors, along with the commoners. See also: Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Mythic Fire Gods - Vulkan of Germania German Nature Folklore - Fruit Trees Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Each tribe follows a chief (*wiḱpots) who sponsors feasts and ceremonies. The chief is immortalized in odes of praise. There also exists a hierarchy of wealth and poverty evident in burial practices. Prestigious funerals were not always given to the wealthiest person. Smiths and metallurgists in particular were given sumptuous graves, possibly due to the association with magic during the early Bronze Age. See also: Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Spagyria - Botanical Science of Alchemy Cleopatra the Alchemist of Greece Back to Top

Based on the ancient mythology and folklore of Germany, the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction series is set in the German Empire of the late 1890s, a time of progress and peril. In the series, Lora is a half-nixie half-human orphan who discovers her true nature and grows from a rebellious schoolgirl to a true warrior woman. Jump to: Primordial Gods & Goddesses Elemental Air Spirits Elemental Earth Spirits Elemental Water Spirits Elemental Fire Spirits The Lora Ley novels revolve around folklore, magic, the Germanic primordial gods and elemental nature spirits of Germany. While records of German mythology are scarce, inland Deutschland gives glimpses of a dynamic mythological culture from the times of prehistory. See also: Cleopatra the Alchemist of Greece Intro Alchemy: Science, Philosophy, Magic Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies Primeval mythologies and belief systems of Germania are based on earlier Proto-Indo-European cosmology of about 3000 BCE. It's preceded by an agricultural, matriarchal culture up to 7500 BCE. The Proto-Indo-Europeans were nomads, hunters and cattle raiders, migrating north in the Neolithic Period. German mythology is a complex blend of ancient Germanic myth with influences of Rome, the Arab world, seafarers of the North, Celts and various inland neighbors, traders and marauders. See also: Sacrificial Creation Myths: Early People Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Links Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Primordial Gods & Goddesses Back to Top Erde, Nerthe, Nerthus, Herthe, Erda - Earth Goddess - fertility, abundance, wisdom - personified in the earth and the natural environment. She relates to the plants and animals, creation energy and elemental harmony. Ziu - Sky God - virility, proliferation, warrior related to Norse Tyr - his name (pronounced Ts-ee-ew is given to Tuesday) - personified in storms, lightning and general weather. With the Earth he creates primordial fire. Sonne - Sun Goddess and personification of the Sun - nurturing warmth causes blindness to those who look her in the eye. Various festivals are held in her honor, such as the return of light marked by the Winter Solstice. Moon God - Moon God, personification of the Moon. In German the moon is der Mond. His name is given to Monday. Vulkan - Fire God - a later addition to the pantheon, the God of Fire and blacksmiths is a direct influence from Rome and the god Vulcan. His cult began before the 7th century BCE in Rome. In the first century BCE Julius Caesar mentioned Vulkan as a Germanic god. Vulkan means volcano in German. Before an established God of Fire, the burning realm was the domain of elemental Fire spirits. Elemental Spirits Back to Top Elemental Spirits interact with each other. They may flow in harmonious ways or explode into conflict. As they grow and multiply they shape and create their environment on an Earth long before humans came into the mix. See also: German Myth - White Ladies & Changelings Nature Spirits of German Mythology Women of Alchemy - Mary the Jewess Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Elemental Air Spirits Back to Top Rising forces create clouds, fog, breezes, thoughts of travel and creative ideas. Air spirits include the sprites and fairies, air dragons; they rule creatures of the air and sky, birds, insects, even floating plant seeds like dandelion. Air is an intellectual energy of positive forward motion. Air Spirits relate to Sky Father Ziu. Spirits of the Air came before those of Fire, for without air there is no fire. Air is a substance surrounding all things and a primal necessity of life. Air spirits freshen the air and share the fragrance of flowers and herbs. See also: Sprites: Ethereal Creatures of Faerie Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Spiritual Magic - Numbers Three & Nine Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Elemental Earth Spirits Back to Top Grounding forces rule structure and fertility of soil, breakdown of rocks and dispersal of nutrients. As elementals, Earth spirits are born of lava. They can mold and reshape the natural environment. Earth spirits include house and harvest spirits, tree spirits, earth dragons, elves and dwarfs. They relate to Earth Mother Erde. In German Erde simply means "Earth". Earth Spirits proliferate rapidly in the early days before humankind. They and their descendants occupy plants, soil, rocks, moss and trees. They create jewels and are patrons of the Dwarfs and gemologists. They can also create massive cracks in the earth to swallow whole cities. See also: Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) German Nature Spirits: Evolution German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Elemental Water Spirits Back to Top Water spirits form from gaseous vapor as the Earth cools. With Erde and other entities they create the flowing waters, underground springs, marshes, rivers, lakes and wells. They can nurture green growing things or cause destructive floods. In the beginning, the Earth is an unstable place. Flowing forces harmonize industry and intuition. The God of the Waters is Rhine River God Rēnos or Rhenos (Roman: Rhenus Pater). His name in history goes back the Celts who lived in Germania around 600 BCE. He's the protector and patron of all fresh water. Rhenus is also associated with grapes, as vineyards are prolific along regions of the Rhine. See also: German Myth - Father Rhine River God Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Victorian Health: Sea Water Hydrotherapy Elemental Fire Spirits Back To Top Fire Spirits help shape and create the Earth with forceful power. They're born of the primordial fire, the first flames created by the Earth Goddess and Sky God. The primordial fire appears as lightning strikes the earth. With combined creative power the Fire Spirits give rise to the Sun Goddess. The moon is created to reflect her light when she rests at night. Some of the Fire Spirits join her as Solar Spirits, some become Lunar Spirits, like those found in moonbeams. The secrets of making fire belong to the Gods. By the Late Bronze Age the Roman Vulcan, god of the forge and fire, is known as Vulkan of the Germans. In mythology his forge is on the island Vulcano, off the north coast of Sicily, a funnel into the Earth sending up plumes of smoke and sparks. See also: Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Der Türst: Dread Huntsman & the Wild Hunt Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle From Fire also come demons of destruction. As the Earth and cosmos take form through creative and chaotic elemental energies, water condenses from clouds of gas and steam, and other entities begin to appear. Nyx or nixies are born of water and thrive in their habitat, using their specialized magic to create underwater worlds with their own ecology and mythology. See also: Blood Sacrifice, Twin Brothers & Creation Cleopatra the Alchemist of Greece Sprites: Ethereal Creatures of Faerie Back to Top

Primordial gods of ancient German nature cultures include Earth Goddess Erde, Nerthe, Nerthus; and Sky God Ziu. Many of the myths of Germania are lost to the fogs of time. Sonne the Sun Goddess took her place in the sky, created by fires of the Earth and cosmic forces. Her brilliance is so intense a person can go blind looking her in the eye. Jump to: Sun Worship - Cult of the Sun Gods of Earth & Sky Blood Sacrifice New Mythologies Earth and Sky Gods are common to the mythology of many cultures. The Cult of the Sun in Egypt is the first evidence of solar worship. See also: Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Der Türst: Dread Huntsman & the Wild Hunt Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Sun Worship - Cult of the Sun Back to Top Evidence of agriculture goes as far back as 4700 - 4600 BCE to Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany. With the Sun a central figure in the abundance of the land and progression of seasons, she achieves recognition as a major deity. Among the tribes of early history the Sun is almost always female. The people invoke her warmth and nurturing nature, and try to minimize her powers of destruction. In the Bronze Age, about 3300 BCE, the vast forests and snowy slopes are home to Proto-Indo-European tribes south of the Danube and a matriarchal agriculture-based people. By 500 BCE the Celts had arrived. Eventually some tribes would scatter throughout continental Europe while others head for Britain or North Africa. See also: Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Song of the Loreley Wild Women and Winter Tales During the Bronze Age the first signs of trade appear in the Mediterranean. Early Greek myths came into being. Advances in civilization grew in Denmark, Sweden and Norway and the science and lore of metallurgy flourished. The primary being of worship across cultures was the Sun Goddess. She's depicted by herself or as a couple with moon or sky. The earliest evidence of Sun worship, veneration of the sun or the sun as deity, is 14th century BCE Egypt with the Cult of Aten. A Sun God, Aten is represented by a solar disc. Some historians suggest he's an aspect of Ra. Although his cult didn't last through the centuries, he's responsible for the earliest of Sun myths and dedicated worship of the Sun. See also: A Viking Christmas Yule Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg German Deities: Sonne the Sun Goddess Gods of Earth and Sky Back to Top The first indication of Germanic people occupying the region of future Deutschland was evidence of the Jastorf culture of the late Iron Age. The Jastorf inhabited Denmark, the southern Scandinavian peninsula and north Germany from the 6th to 1st centuries BCE. They expanded to the border of the Celtic tribes to the south. Around 400 BCE the Celtic tribes vacated in search of greener pastures, and the Germans filled the vacuum left by their departure. From that time, a common culture grew around the Germanic animist perspective. Everything has a spirit or life essence, and the spirits can communicate with humans. The Earth Mother is a common element in mythology across tribes and cultures. See also: Cult of the Bull: Divine Sacrifice German Nature Spirits: Evolution German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Her name is die Erde (Earth) in German, as the elemental power of the the Earth. The pronoun 'die' (pr. dee), is female. A Mother Goddess, she's also called Nerthe, Erthe or Nerthus. The Mother Goddess relates to fertility, nurturing, abundance of the earth, good fortune and health. Blood Sacrifice Back to Top In the mystic forests of Germania, the Celts paid homage to Protector God Toutatis and Earth Mother, Matrona. Each family or tribe had its own version but the elemental gods were common to general myth. Blood sacrifice was given these gods for good weather, protection and fertility of the Earth. The Sky God of the Celts, Taranus, first appears in 48 BCE. Evidence of his culture exists in Britain, Gaul, Hispania and parts of the Danube and Rhineland regions in Germania. According to the poet Lucan sacrificial offerings were made to both Taranus and Toutatis. Lucan was the grandson of Seneca the Elder, nephew of Seneca the Younger. In Rome he was a friend of the Emperor Nero, receiving properties and admiration. Later they became bitter enemies. See also: Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Art, Power and the Calamitous Crusade The Many Faces of Frau Holle Blood sacrifice was indeed practiced by pagan tribes including the Celts and Germans and widely discussed in Imperial Rome. It made great dinner conversation. One purpose of blood sacrifice for fertility was to increase the fecundity of the Earth by dousing it with blood, the essence of life itself. In Northern Scandinavia live the Sámi people. Reference to the Sámi arises in the Germanica of Taticus 98 CE although their ancestors first arrived in the area in 8100 BCE. They paid homage to Beaivi, goddess of the Sun, spring, and sanity. She relates to fertility of plants and animals, particularly reindeer. Beaivi made plants grow so reindeer flourished and reproduced, and brought prosperity to the people. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology German Traditions - the Linden Tree Great Women Artists - Käthe Kollwitz Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle On the Winter Solstice, the people sacrifice a white female reindeer or other animals to honor Beaivi. For her festival the meat of the sacrificed animals was tied to sticks, and the sticks were bent into a circle or wreath. Other reasons for blood sacrifice include good fortune and appeasement of the Gods. Sacrifices range from chicken to human. Blood sacrifice of humans is first described in ancient China and had equivalents in North America, Africa, Europe and most other parts of the world. In Japan, maidens were once buried alive beneath pillars for spiritual fortification of buildings. See also: Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore Sacrifice of the Male: Temple at Uppsala Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun New Mythologies Back to Top With the advent of Classical Antiquity (8th century BCE - 5th century CE) blood sacrifice began to fall out of favor. Christianity starts to spread in 47 CE with Apostle Paul preaching in Rome. Civilized Romans abhorred the idea of barbaric blood sacrifice, although entertainment to the death at arenas such as the Colosseum (built 1st century CE) falls under the definition. In the 1st to 3rd century CE the Suebi people migrated from northern climes to southern Germany, where they're known today as Swabian. With the Alemanni tribes they settled in the area of the Upper Rhine and upper Danube. See also: Fertility Rituals - the Sacrificial God Bear Worship: Sacrifice of the Gods Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe In the Thuringian Forest of central Germania, a decisive battle of 9 CE prevented the Romans from conquering the lands. In 410, Alaric, king of the Visigoths, sacked Rome in a three-day looting and pillaging spree. By 476 CE Rome had fallen to barbarian hordes. Christianity marched through the rubble to explore and convert un-Romanized regions. Another culture was spreading from the shores of the Baltic and North Sea, from Denmark and the Netherlands up into southern Scandinavia. By the end of Classical Antiquity a distinctive Norse mythology was under way, with the first mention of the God Odin in 5th century CE. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Imps Bird Woman Elwetritsch: German Folklore Pagan Christmas Yule Fests: Frau Holle Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle About three hundred years later, the Age of Vikings began. The first written account of a Viking raid comes from an abbey in the north of England in 793 CE. The Norsemen honored the female Sun Goddess Sól, and brought with them a distinct mythology. By the end of the eighth century, the Old Gods of Germania had been through a grinder of multiple influences. Nonetheless those we find remain true to their nature. Back to Top

Destroying Angel (Amanita bisporigera et al) is among the most lethal of all mushrooms. Related to the Death Cap mushroom (A. phalloides), which brings a painful death, the Destroying Angel also has powerful poison. See also: Herbology & Lore: Caraway German Harvest Spirits: Roggenhund (Rye Dog) Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Both species contain amatoxins, compounds of nine toxins. Half a cap is enough to kill a person. Mushroom poisoning was one of the primary methods of assassination, especially in Imperial Rome. All Amanita species form symbiotic relationships with certain trees, attaching to the roots with tiny filaments. Destroying angels grow near edges of woodlands, or on lawns or grassy meadows near trees or shrubs. See also: Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms Famous Women Inventors - Anna Connelly Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The shroom occurs all over the world. Amanita bisporigera is especially associated with oaks and conifers. These 'tethered' mushrooms might appear alone, or in the form of fairy rings. When young, the Destroying Angel can resemble non-toxic mushrooms such as puffballs and edible button mushrooms. It's not long before it begins to open its brilliant white to milky white cap, and reveal its telltale skirt on the stalk. The Death Cap and Destroying Angel are the most common causes of mushroom poisoning. See also: Ancient Marsh Muse - Rough Horsetail Sprites: Ethereal Creatures of Faerie Sacrificial Creation Myths: Early People Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Symptoms of Destroying Angel mushroom poisoning begin 5 - 24 hours after ingestion. By that time the toxins are already working through the nervous system and organs. Symptoms include: vomiting cramps delirium convulsions diarrhea Medical science has discovered a treatment for amatoxin poisoning using anti-hepatotoxic (curative for the liver) compounds from the milk thistle, Silybum marianum. See also: Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun German Myth & Folklore: Imps Back to Top

Cats are the second most common pet in the world, after goldfish. When I helped Mama Cat raise four kittens, even the darkest of moods erupted into laughter as the curious fluffballs boldly explored, tasted new food and ambushed each other. A warm purring cat is comfort personified on a rainy day or sleepy night, much like favorite music. "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." - Albert Schweitzer. See also: Amazing Legacy of Alexander von Humboldt Happy Friday! Tidbits & Trivia Animal Spirits - Frog, Cat, Bull Albert Schweitzer was a polymath from Alsace, a region now in France. At the time of his birth in 1875, it was part of the German Empire. When he died in 1965 it was in France. Schweitzer had both German and French citizenship. His major fields included medicine, musicology, philosophy and theology. He had two cats, Sizi and Piccolo. They liked to sleep on his desk. Anyone needing papers had to wait until the cats awoke. Sylvia Rose Books Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Schweitzer won many awards including the Goethe Prize and the Nobel Peace Prize. The fundament of his personal philosophy was the idea of Reverence for Life ("Ehrfurcht vor dem Leben"). He thought Western civilization was in decay because it abandoned the affirmation of life as its ethical foundation. Like cats, music has a special magic, a deep connection to the soul. Music and rhythm existed in nature before humans were even a glint in the eye of the universe. Songs of the wind and trees, melodies of birds and the hum of bees, rumble of the earth and the beat of a heart, the motion of walking, catching the vibe. Music is an expressive, entertainment and spiritual medium in every culture. Singing and playing music has plenty of health benefits too, such as better breathing and relaxation. See also: Monday's Muse - Demons of Doubt Like All Dreamers ... Jean-Paul Sartre Beautiful Music Original Art For instance a singer will sound strained if the neck, face or shoulder muscles are tight. We often ignore tension in this area but singing makes us pay attention. The vibrations of music can also soothe mind and body, or drive vocal and physical expression. Music purges bad feelings and heightens pleasure and awareness of being in the moment. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle

Der Bieresel loves beer and other fermented beverages, such as apple cider, mead or wine. In German folklore the beer donkey lives in wine or beer cellars, public houses, breweries and farmhouse basements. He's known to visit pubs or Kneipen. In certain ways he relates to the Eight Immortals of Chinese lore, who in some stories are happily addicted to wine as the Eight Drunken Immortals. They may appear on Earth dressed as peasants with donkey companions. See also: House Spirits of Germanic Mythology Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Beer Donkey uses the German pronoun 'der', masculine. He guards the drink and sometimes assumes the duties of a house Kobold in the cellar, bestowing protective magic, keeping things tidy for a reward of beer or other fermented beverage. The spirit may be related to the Harvest Donkeys of Yule, who fertilize the fruit trees. As one of the domestic animal spirits the Donkey can be helpful, or kick up a fuss if denied a share of beer. Like the kitchen Kobolds this spirit can cause significant damage in his habitat. He breaks barrels and bottles, turns alcoholic beverages to vinegar and infests hops with powdery mildew. See also: German Myth - Harvest Spirits 3 German Myth & Folklore: Elves Wiedergänger - the Undead Walk Again Even in a good mood Bieresel has a mischievous streak and might play tricks on brewers and landlords, hiding tools or causing the equipment malfunctions attributed to gremlins in the early 20th century. A kick or head-butt from the Beer Donkey can cause a person to stumble and fall. More vigorous spirit attacks can result in broken bones. Regional variations apply. In central Germany the beast may be an Aufhocker. It leaps on a person's back, and increases its weight until the person either dies or finds a way to dislodge it. Der Bieresel often attacks drunkards. See also: Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Aufhöcker - Cursed Undead of German Myth Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Donkey's a good protector of the cellar. If an owner goes down it's best to bring a dish of beer or cider to acknowledge the Donkey. A dish or glass of alcoholic drink each night is also acceptable to der Bieresel as tribute for continued good fortune. This animal may play trickster cards. If given permission to indulge, the Donkey can drain a barrel of beer in minutes. Like the Roggenhund or Rye Dog, this spirit is never satisfied. Sometimes der Bieresel comes into a drinking establishment and drinks it all dry. See also: Before the Viking Age - Gods of the Sámi Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies Herbology & Lore - Chamomile The sight of the Donkey might signal the approach of the Moss Mother, a mythical entity who brews her own beer. Moss Mother appears in the Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction series of novels. In autumn Moss Mother travels to Harvest Festivals and homes throughout the land as an aspect of Nerthe (Nerthus, Hertha, Erde) the Earth Goddess. Where the people celebrate veneration of the Earth, in public halls or under the stars, Moss Mother leaves a blessing. See also: Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools Spiritual Magic - Numbers Three & Nine Create a Goddess Wish Tree for Equinox or Yule Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In Bohemia, Bieresel is a type of Poltergeist, a dissatisfied spirit of medium to strong power who makes a mess and a lot of noise. His appearance is not as Donkey but an Ox, hideous and hostile, with swollen red face, horns and other demonic traits. The sight of this spirit is said to make one sick unto death. See also: Rise of Pan: Fertility Goat God Péh₂usōn Copper - Ruddy Metal of Mystic Magic Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Back to Top

Spiritually, both three and nine have powerful meaning and potent magic. They are ubiquitous in pagan nature magic, divination and traditions of earth or nature-based cultures going back to early humankind, and have potent meaning in later religions. 3 and 9 work well together and produce strong vibrations. They're both positive numbers of spirituality, divinity and enlightenment. See also: Before the Viking Age - Gods of the Sámi Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Mythical Gods of Ancient Germania Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Three and nine resonate in Christianity, pagan, natural and organized religions. In shamanism or spirit work, these magic numbers can be to transcend the mortal realms, communicate with the spirit word, heal, balance and promote wisdom and knowledge. Both numbers relate to the spiral shape, representing cycles of progress. Spirals are plentiful in nature, from curling tendrils of vines to snails' shells, rams' horns and great spiral galaxies such as one in which Earth moves. See also: Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians A Viking Christmas Yule Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good The spiral has an ancient connection to earth and sky. Visually a spiral can seem to move inward or outward. It can represent life force or energy filling the person, or the person as a conduit transmitting force of life, as a god. It can turn a whisper into a shout. Not surprisingly the spiral shape is associated with divinity. Gods and goddesses of lore often form triads, such as the Roman goddess Diana , huntress and moon goddess, who's sometimes seen as a trinity herself. See also: Hags in German Myth & Folklore Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock House Spirits of Germanic Mythology In neolithic art, spirals often appear in groups of three. The meaning includes three forces joining together, or the positive forward motion of the triskelion, a three-legged symbol of progress and luck; the representation of an Old God trinity, a power sign of divinity. In new age healing it can relate to the mind-body-spirit balance. Three corresponds to triads, triptychs, triangles, tripods, trilogies and spans of time, such as past, present, future. An upward pointing triangle represents male properties or qualities, downward pointing female. Overall the triangle is a feminine energy, corresponding to wisdom, empathy and intuition. See also: Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Al-Mi'raj: Unicorn Hare of Arab Myth Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The color of number three is green , relating to the female warrior, creativity, nourishment or nurturing, and fertility. Add nine and three to get 12, then 1 + 2 returns to 3. Three is a number of cycles, and 9 relates to cycles within or cycles of cycles. Both numbers 3 and 9 resonate with expansive energy. In European alchemy, the three primes (Latin: tria prima ) were salt, sulfur and mercury. Most religions use power groups of three including Hindu Trimurti - trinity of Supreme Divinity: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the destroyer. Hindu Tridevi - three goddesses Saraswati (music, art, wisdom) Lakshmi (wealth, beauty, fertility), and Parvati (nourishment, harmony, love) Triglav (lit. "Three-headed one"), chief god of the Slavs Three Jewels of Buddhism - Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Three Pure Ones of Taoism - heavenly chi, human chi, and earth chi. Christian Holy Trinity - Father, Son & Holy spirit Triple Goddess of Wicca - Gaia, or Maiden, Mother, Crone In Judaism, Shabbat ends with the appearance of three stars. In magic, a spell or incantation spoken thrice has increased power. In some beliefs uttering the name of a spirit three times can cause that spirit to appear. See also: Ancient Marsh Muse - Rough Horsetail Brunhilde: Tragic Germanic Warrior Queen Create a Goddess Wish Tree for Equinox or Yule The number 9 is three threes , taking the strength of 3 thrice. Nine is a powerful number. In Eastern lore it can magnify the aspects around it, whether positive or negative. Overall it's considered a lucky number. The written 9 arrived into this world as part of the Brahmi numeral system, around 300 BCE. Nine is the highest single digit number, representing attainment of a goal or enlightenment of the mind and spirit. The Vaisheshika branch of Hinduism recognizes nine universal substances or elements: Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Ether, Time, Space, Soul, and Mind. In Chinese lore 9 is the dragon, a fortunate symbol of power and magic. There are nine types of dragons, who each have nine children. The name Kowloon, an area in Hong Kong means nine dragons. See also: German Harvest Spirits - Dragons Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Links Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In ancient Egypt the Ennead is a group of nine Egyptian deities including and descending from the Sun God Atum and his children, children's children and children's children Osiris, Isis, Set and Nephtys. In Norse mythology, the universe is made of nine worlds. Nine is the number of days Odin hung on the tree before he achieved enlightenment, or learned the runes. In Greek mythology the nine Muses are Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (erotic poetry), Euterpe (lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (song), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy). See also: Monday's Muse - Demons of Doubt Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies Song of the Loreley In Pythagorean numerology the number 9 symbolizes the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. In the Baháʼí Faith, nine symbolizes completeness. Ramadan, the month of fasting and prayer, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In the Christian angelic hierarchy there are 9 choirs of angels. In Christianity there are nine 'Fruit of the Holy Spirit' expected from followers: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. See also: Speyer, Lorelei & Murder on the Rhine The Anxious Victorian - Mental Health Victorian Trends - Stripes to Taxidermy Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Nine is a number of divinity in world-wide religions. In numerology nine represents completion (of a cycle or process), enlightenment, compassion and ascendance. In alchemy 9 has transformative properties. A masculine force, it corresponds to the god / planet Mars and color red to balance or harmonize with the power of the feminine 3. In Greek mythology, the river Styx is said to have nine turns or twists. In other mythologies there are nine steps to the underworld. In ancient Egypt, nine gods rule the Underworld. Nine corresponds to duality, the light and dark, good side and bad side, up or down, in or out, and the harmony between or among them. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore Wild Women and Winter Tales Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle In mathematics, 9 is called a magic number because the sum of the digits of the multiples of 9 is always 9. For example 18 =1 + 8 = 9; or 288 = 2 + 8 + 8 = 18 = 1 + 8 = 9. The Viking Code of Nine are the nine behaviors or qualities expected of a good Viking. They are Honor, Knowledge, Protect, Flourish, Change, Fairness, Conflict, Balance, Control. In Germanic paganism numbers three, nine, and other multiples of three are significant. At the Temple at Uppsula in Sweden, nine males of every species, including humans, were ritually sacrificed. Three, nine and their multiples appear through folklore, often associated with witches and fairies. Along with number 27, both numbers also figured prominently in the lunar calendar. See also: Pagan Solstice Fests: Saturnalia Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Back to Top

The Ancient Pantheon of Gods goes back to 4500 - 2500 BCE. Proto-Indo-European language and culture are common ancestors of a large group including German, Anatolian, Celtic, Greek and English. The Proto-Indo-Europeans first appear in the area of the Black Sea. Jump to: Sky God Earth Mother Goddess of the Dawn The Divine Twins Goddess of the Sun God of the Moon Weather God God of Herds and Roads From there, they spread East to India and China and west into Europe. Before the age was over they had developed distinct cultural differences. Records are sparse but the core mythology of Proto-Indo-Europeans survives as descendants appear and evolve in later cultures. See also: Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Before the Viking Age - Gods of the Sámi Mythical Gods of Ancient Germania Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Sky God Back to Top Dyḗus or Dyḗus Ph₂tḗr, is the daylight-sky god, understood as a vast divine entity. His name means 'daylight sky' or 'brightness of the day'. He rules the daytime and rain. He provides gentle rain to enhance the nurturing force of the Earth Mother. He's considered to be the divine seat of all gods. See also: Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Wild Women and Winter Tales A Viking Christmas Yule Earth Mother Back to Top Dʰéǵʰōm, the earth or Mother Goddess, is his consort. The Earth Mother (Dʰéǵʰōm Méh₂tēr) is the vast dark domain of mortals. She bears all things and creatures. She's often together with Dyēus, the daylight sky. In Indo-European traditions Dʰéǵʰōm is often associated with fertility, growth and death. She's the origin and final dwelling of human beings. See also: Myth & Metallurgy - Metals of Antiquity House Spirits of Germanic Mythology Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Goddess of the Dawn Back to Top H₂éwsōs, the dawn goddess, is the daughter of Dyḗus. Eternally young, she is a symbol of rebirth as she arrives anew each day. In the Ancient Iliad Homer describes her as ἠριγένεια (early-born, born in the morning), an epithet of Eos, the sister of Greek sun god Helios. See also: Al-Mi'raj: Unicorn Hare of Arab Myth Nature Spirits of German Mythology German Deities: Sonne the Sun Goddess The Divine Twins Back to Top The Divine Twins are sons of Dyḗus and brothers of H₂éwsōs. Depicted as handsome young men rescuing mortals from peril in battle or at sea, the Divine Twins ride the steeds who pull the sun across the sky, and sometimes are the horses themselves. They're associated with helping and healing. One is strong and impulsive, a warrior, while the other is mild and thoughtful, a healer. See also: Animal Spirits - Horse, Otter, Goose Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Visigoths, King Alaric & the Ruin of Rome Goddess of the Sun Back to Top Seh₂ul is the sun goddess. Her daily journey across the sky on a horse-driven chariot is a common motif among Indo-European myths and descendants. In some regions the people saw her as the Eye of Dyḗus, eternally watchful. She's related to the Baltic sun goddess Saulė, whose name in Lithuanian means 'sun'. See also: Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun Cult of the Bull: Divine Sacrifice God of the Moon Back to Top Meh₁not is the moon god. Little is known about him. He may be a sibling of the Sun, as in Norse myth. He's compared to the Zoroastrian (Iranian) moon god Mångha or Mah, where his crescent is a symbol of royalty. The Moon is considered to possess the cithra (seed) of the primeval bull. See also: Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic German Nature Spirits: Evolution Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Weather God Back to Top Perkʷunos is a weather god capable of creating thunderstorms and lightning as well as fructifying rains. In an epic battle he fights a multi-headed serpent to release a huge cascade of water previously dammed up. The name of his weapon, ml̥dʰnis, means both "lightning" and "hammer". See also: Song of the Loreley How to Summon Animal Spirit Guides German Myth - Father Rhine River God Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle God of Herds & Roads Back to Top Péh₂usōn is a pastoral god of herds and roads, associated with Greek Pan and Vedic Pūshān, to whom goats were sometimes sacrificed. Péh₂usōn has a bushy beard and keen eyesight, and may have goat legs or hindquarters. He's closely linked to goats or bucks and is seen as a guide, protector and watcher. See also: Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß Animal Spirits - Goat, Hare, Falcon Der Türst: Dread Huntsman & the Wild Hunt From these roots many great deities sprang. The core divinities Earth Mother and Sky God, as well as solar and lunar deities, appear in worldwide culture and mythology. Perkʷunos the weather god and Péh₂usōn the pastoral god are thought to be later additions, and we easily see their equivalents in successive mythologies. Back to Top

German nature spirits include elves, imps, fairies, dwarfs, nixies, tree spirits, solar and lunar spirits and countless other creatures who inhabit the natural world. Ancient Germanic people believed in animism, and had a strong spiritual association the environment. Jump to: Spirits of Creation Written Mythology Evolution of Nature Spirits Harvest Spirits & Kinderschrecken Rise of Evil Spirits Every living thing and even rocks and clouds were imbued with essential life force manifesting as an entity or perceived as elemental or spirit energy. Spirits could manifest as animals, people of all sizes, demons, hybrids and elements of nature such as fire or a whirlwind. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology German Myth & Folklore: Imps Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Spirits of Creation Back to Top Nature spirits were born when the Earth was young. The Earth Mother Nerthe (Nerthus, Erthe, Erde) is one of the ancient deities, a creator and elemental goddess. She appears in Lora Ley - Book One - Secrets of the Nyx. In German, the noun Erde is feminine and means earth. German creation myths are sparse. Mythology, folklore and history were oral traditions passed down through countless generations. The Germanic tribes had no written language. In the North, the Norse evolved their own belief system from the time they settled in Scandinavia, including the familiar written fragments. The earliest runic inscriptions of the Norse appear in the 2nd century. See also: Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Elves & the Shoemaker - A Fairy Tale Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Written Mythology Back to Top Most information about German history, culture, belief systems, traditions and mythology comes from the Roman writer Tacitus and his Germania of 98 CE, in Latin with plenty of second-hand information. Tacitus never went to the German lands and apparently got most of his information from first-hand accounts which are now lost. The earliest German texts date back to the late 8th century. They include translation assistance for those learning to read Latin, and translations of Latin Christian texts (prayers, creeds, confessions) for use in missionary or pastoral work. See also: Wild Women and Winter Tales Nibelung - Of Heroes and Worms The Maiden and The Lindwyrm As time went by some of the Christian beliefs found their way into the Old High German works of ~ 750 - 1050. Nibelungenlied, tales of the Germanic hero Siegfried, hit the medieval shelves in 1200, the Middle High German period. The recognition of Nerthe as a primordial Earth Goddess spread across tribal and geographical boundaries. Was it she alone who created the lands, rivers, seas and skies? There's evidence of the Sky God Ziu, an older German version of Norse god Tyr. Entymology points to the same root meaning "God". See also: Aufhöcker - Cursed Undead of German Myth Add Photo: Postcards, Pillows, Gift Boxes Magic of Music & Cats Evolution of Nature Spirits Back to Top Of tumultuous Earth and cosmic skies the Sun was born. She regulated the cycles of nature and seasons. The spirits of nature appear as their elements emerged from the clutches of chaos - nixies, river and sea spirits arise with elemental water, solar spirits with fire, tree spirits, moss people, imps, elves and dwarfs came forth from the earth. Metallurgists and gemologists, the Dwarfs were among the first nature spirits and helped forge the earth from fire. Demons are also born of fire and many, such as Harvest Demons, function as elemental nature spirits. Nature spirits have powers of creation as well as destruction, never in equal balance. The Sun is a female deity Sonne, who drives her golden chariot across the sky accompanied by a wolf. In Norse lore the Wolf chases the Sun Goddess Sol, trying to catch her, and will do so at the end of the world. In Lora Ley - Book 3 - the Swan Maidens, the wolf is the companion of Sonne. See also: Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Song of the Loreley How to Summon Animal Spirit Guides The Moon is a male deity who reflects the light of Sonne when she disappears at day's end. He also rules tides. Nature spirits continued to evolve with the lands and seas. Some faded away and some became stronger. By the time humans started scuttling around, the Nature spirits had created much of the known world. The Rhine River was called Renos by the Celts, who were just emerging as a people. They inhabited a large part of Germania in the Bronze Age, about 3000 BCE. The Later Latin translation is Rhenus, Rhenus Pater or Father Rhine. He's the god of all fresh water: lakes, rivers, streams, ponds. The name of the Neckar River in Heidelberg also comes from the Celtic Nek or Nekk, meaning 'wild one', Nyx or nixie. See also: German Myth - Father Rhine River God Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Sugar Beets, Altbier & First Newspaper Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle From there the tradition of nature worship and animism continue to develop as life gets more complex and new knowledge comes to light. Everything has a spirit. You can't take a step backward without stepping on an imp. And they bite! Solar spirits dance on the water to make it sparkle, or touch the trees and flowers with their light. Nixies play in the rivers like fish and Dwarfs celebrate the bounty of fire and earth. Animals tiny as ants or fearsome as Bear have essential wisdom to share. The people of Germania lived very much in the present. They didn't believe in an afterlife, but destiny was predetermined. This made them ferocious fighters because they knew if it was their time to die they would. In the warrior mentality it's better to go out in a blaze of glory than cowering behind a bush hoping the arrows miss. See more: Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Spirits live in the breeze and morning fog. They are part of the magic of nature and have taught many secrets to humans. Even today in Saxony, the little Wood Women will come out of the forest to help heal the sick. Harvest Spirits & Kinderschrecken Back to Top As time went by, humans formed agrarian societies, replacing a previous nomadic lifestyle decreed by availability of food and other natural resources. Agriculture spirits were just as real as the earth and sky, and a whole new category cropped up in the spirit anthology. In the North, Thor was the agriculture and weather god. In the South, harvest spirits prevailed. Spirits weren't always nice to humans. Some preferred to avoid contact with mortals entirely, while others carried trickster elements and some are just plain deadly. Kinderschrecken developed in folk tales to make children behave, and keep them away from dangerous places such as wells, marshes and the deep thick forests. German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Wiedergänger - One Who Walks Again The mythology of nature spirits changed as tales were told. Nixies became evil, snatching children into wells or swamps. Witches evolved as malevolent beings and many lived in the woods, as did malicious elves, not to mention sinister flora and fauna such as Irrwurz plant, the voracious Lindwyrm or the bad-tempered Eschenfrau who inhabits ash trees. Monsters sprang from natural phenomena, propaganda and vivid imaginations. Elves and imps could befuddle one's senses and the danger is more terrifying if a person is out after dark. Butzemann lurks in the shadows to grab children. The dread Hafermann hunts at night. And so, humans and nature spirits kept a wary distance. Some spirits became synonymous with fear and evil. Some ruled the harvest or weather. Some started fires. Elves and imps were considered the tools of death-dealing witches. At one time, nature spirits were responsible for much of the beauty of the Earth and skies and breathtaking natural marvels. The hierarchy of the natural order fell into place. As the human population grew and with it distrust, the world became a more dangerous place for spirits and mortals. See also: Reiker For Hire Victorian Crime Trilogy The Mystic Victorian - Fortune Telling Harvest Spirits: Katzenmann (Cat Man) As agriculture planted people in one place, building their habitations from available resources, it was even more important to appease the spirits. In Sweden the Temple of Uppsala was dedicated to sacrifice in hopes of appeasing nature spirits. Only the male of each species, including human, was sacrificed. Soon, the mentality shifted and the need to appease the spirits was replaced by the desire to oppress and control them. Rise of Evil Spirits Back to Top In harvest tradition the demonic Roggenmuhme is the essential anti-mother with toxic teats. In the forest, the Lindwyrm and its dragon kin become targets for knights and sword-wielding slayers. By the Rhine, the beautiful Lorelei (Loreley) sings men to their doom, her romantic legend based on the old tales of nixies and dwarfs. Celebrations such as Carnival (Karnival, Karnivale) with riotous revelry go back to pagan times when people wore animal costumes to channel the power of the beast, and made noise to scare evil spirits away in the dark, cold months when the Undead roam. While the Germans initially had no belief in an afterlife, the Undead were alive and well in folk mythology. Creatures such as werewolves, Nachzehrer (vampires) and Headless Horsemen could spread disease, curses and death. See also: Pagan Solstice Fests: Saturnalia Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore With the rise of Christianity, Germania underwent a slow but steady transformation. All nature spirits became evil, even those who hadn't been before. Ancient goddesses became hag-like witches cavorting with the Devil and using supernatural powers to harm people. For every pagan day of celebration, religious authorities paraded a Christian saint instead. Religion became God-centric instead of nature-centric, esoteric instead of relating to the common person, future oriented instead of gratification in the moment. However it did promise an afterlife and protection from evil spirits. Baptismal robes became a barbarian fashion fad. According to records, "converts" would get baptized several times just to stock up the wardrobe. For a while, many people worshipped the pagan entities and those of Christianity. A Christianized Norse king decreed Yule should be held at the same time as Christmas. Haakon the Good was a devout Christian and hoped to spread the religion in Norway. In the end, he went back to the Old Ways. See also: A Viking Christmas Yule Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Folk Magic: Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) As civilization flourished many nature spirits preferred to avoid contact with humans. They were tired of being offended by zealous nature deniers, and exorcism attempts were just plain annoying. The human ideology no longer offered respect and homage to the spirits of nature. Many of the old spirits went into the earth and water, deep into the forests or their immortal realms. Some, such as the Kobold and other house spirits, were comfortable in human company and found their niches in domestic life. Malevolent creatures like the Mare attacked humans in their sleep, and rode horses to exhaustion. The concept of afterlife also created such fearsome entities as ghosts, the spirits of the dead. Demons and imps now worked for the Christian Devil, and mythology incorporated new realms of belief. Evil real or imagined lurks in the forests and hills and places people once found comfort. The people needed to exert control over forces of nature and ancient mythologies they no longer understood. Old spirits became subservient to those of the conquerors. And yet, they wait. See also: Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Back to Top

The Sun Goddess or Sun Woman is a creator, mother goddess, fertility deity or solar divinity in myths and lore of Indigenous Australia. She can be a benign creative entity or a nasty flesh-roasting cannibal. Here are five Sun Goddesses in Indigenous Australian mythology. Jump to: Gnowee - Seeking Mother Wala - Sun Keeper Wuriupranili - Sun Bearer Bila - Cannibal Goddess Yhi - Goddess of Creation & Light The Sun Goddess also appears in mythology of the Celts, Berbers, Sami, Finnish, Germans and other cultural groups. She's associated with Spring, the Summer and Winter Solstice, health, happiness, fertility, sowing crops, harvest, nurturing and growth. See also: Happy Saturday! Tidbits & Trivia Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) A Viking Christmas Yule Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Gnowee - Seeking Mother Back to Top In Wotjobaluk mythology, in the area now known as the State of Victoria in South Australia, Gnowee is a female personification of the Sun. Once she was a woman who lived on Earth when it was eternally dark. People lit bark torches to see. One day, she left her little son sleeping while she went out to dig for yams. See also: German Deities: Sonne the Sun Goddess Cult of the Bull: Divine Sacrifice Little Elder Tree Mother: A Fairy Tale As food was scarce, Gnowee wandered far. She came to the end of the Earth, passed underneath and emerged on the other side. She knew not where she was and she couldn't find her son so she climbed into the sky, holding high her bark torch so she could see. To this day she still wanders the sky, lighting the world with her torch as she searches for her son. Wala or Walo - Sun Keeper Back to Top Wala is also named as a solar goddess in some Aboriginal lore, specifically from Anhem Land in north Australia. Little is known about her. She traveled across the sky every day, accompanied by her sister (or daughter) Bara. This made the Sun too hot, and she asked Bara to stop. In one telling Wala journeys to the southern mountains to catch the Sun, and puts it in a bag until the moon is gone. See also: How to Summon Animal Spirit Guides German Traditions - the Linden Tree Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Wuriupranili - Sun Bearer Back to Top Another torch bearer comes from North Australian myth. Sun Goddess or Sun Woman Wuriupranili is a solar goddess of the Tiwi people. Her bark torch is the Sun. When she wakes she lights a small fire in the east, which humans see as the glow of dawn. She decorates her face and body with red ochre. When the pigment blows into the air it stains the clouds red at sunrise. See also: Folk Magic: Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good German Myth & Folklore: Imps As Wuriupranili prepares for her sky journey, the birds break into song, waking the people. Finally, she lights her stringybark torch from the campfire, then travels across the sky to her evening camp in the west. When she disappears below the western horizon, she puts out her torch and redecorates her body with ochre, causing bright vivid sunsets. As night descends, she goes back to her eastern morning camp through a tunnel. Bila - Cannibal Goddess Back to Top In south Australia, Bila or Belah of the Adnyamathanha exacted a terrible toll for her light. A cannibal sun goddess, she roasted people over a fire, causing the light of the sun in the sky. Her red and black dogs would descend upon villages and drag countless victims away to her heinous fire. See also: Sacrifice of the Male: Temple at Uppsala Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Fertility Rituals - the Sacrificial God Lizard men called Goanna and Gecko who witnessed these deeds were appalled. They attacked and she fled, throwing the world into darkness. One of the Lizard Men hurled his boomerang to bring her back, making a slow arc across the sky, and ever after she retained this trait. Thus lizards such as goannas and geckos are held in high regard by the Adnyamathanha. Yhi - Goddess of Creation & Light Back to Top In Gamilaraay mythology, Yhi, (Yarai/Yaay) is Goddess of the Sun, Light and Creation. The Gamilaraay are among the largest Australian Aboriginal native ethnic groups. Yhi is a creator spirit. Woken by a whistle, she opened her eyes and light fell upon the Earth. Plants grew where she walked. She wanted to make something which could dance. Searching, she found evil spirits beneath the earth who tried to sing her to death. Her warmth chased away the darkness, which became insects. See also: Harvest Spirits: Katzenmann (Cat Man) Bear Worship: Sacrifice of the Gods Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe She brought them to Earth. Discovering an ice cave, she shone her light on the being at rest inside, and out came fish, lizards and all kinds of birds, amphibians and mammals. Yhi blessed her creations with the change of the seasons. She promised when they died, they would join her in the sky. When she left, darkness returned to cover the Earth. The creatures she made were frightened - but then came the first sunrise, and Goddess Yhi returned with her light. See also: Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun Herbology & Lore - Chamomile Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine She granted abilities to the animals, such as flight for the bat and legs for the lizard. Then she realized the Man was lonely. While the Man slept she put all her godly power into a flower. Every creature of the world came to gaze upon this blossom. When the Man awoke and looked on it, the flower turned into a woman. Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle See also: Pagan Solstice Fests: Saturnalia Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools Nature Spirits of German Mythology Back to Top