Gnostic Seeker
Spiritual
How do you approach Germanic mythology, and are you in the camp who thinks Thor may have once been a human hero they deified?
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- Thread starter Saint Frankenstein
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I view the Gods as the Divine Powers of Nature and the Cosmos. So, no - the Gods aren't deified humans. The Heroes fall into that category.
Also, I have a ton of reading to do. I'm not all that familiar with Norse Lore. I'm most familiar with Greek Lore. So bear with me.
Gnostic Seeker
Spiritual
Fair enough friend. I wish you good travels on your path.
One of my most favorite places is Mount Diablo in California. It means Devil Mountain. I go hiking there a couple times a year, and have camped there many times.
Most every time I camped there the most crazy of weather and things would happen. These things actually attact folks and adventurers to camp there. The place is famous for the yearly tarantula migrations which I like to go to, waves of tarantulas crawl across the ground and rocks (lots of rock formations).
I could set up camp and it is a beautiful day. Suddenly, only on the peak - bizaare weather might break out! Odd rain coming down only on the peak and camp grounds. Freak wind storms circle the peak and (funny!) pull down the tents and drag them for those not aware this happens. The first time it happened to me the tent was literally lifting off the ground, a tent window riped open and white ashes from a fireplace about 12 feet away were blowing straight into the window gassing us! My teeth were full of it. I had to go out and tie the tent down to the picnic table then huddle in the car. Outside all sorts of creatures were moving about.
Rattle snakes in the morning.
Voices in the night.
Meteors hitting.
The "very large bird".
They say a Catholic priest wrestled with the Devil on this mountain. And there is a rock formation called "the Satan's or Devil's Knee". They say a secret Ohlone tribe witch doctor sect had rituals near a rock formation called "Elephant Rock". Once a VERY strange "animal sound" totally freaked me and my daughter out by that area about 10 years ago on a odd hook like part of the trail that had lots of rock walls and stuff. Sounded like an old rusty door opening and very loud.
Once WAY out on one of the trails, near water and more rocks, and thick low lying tree like brush, I spotted Mountain Lion tracks. I turned around and gou out there, kept looking back, praying to Hindu God the entire time, they come up from behind.
So it is called Devil Mountain for a reason. But yet ... it calls folks back, again and again.
AND folks actually pray MORE and become more relugious there. I remember running into some business man type cat, he is still in his business suit (must have left work and came to the mountain), just standing there on top of one of those big rocks they have there, both arms stretched out to the side and sort of up, like on a cross, and he is just looking, not straight up but just a bit up and out to the horizon - with this loon smile.
Smiley in a suit in some hypno or other state.
I got the hell out of there, actually.
Many a woodpecker would suddenly want to "hang out with you".
so... could it be, the devil also might not be the exact devil but wanting folks to come and ... hmmmm ... get spooky and religious BOTH?
Does any of this relate to you? Like, the devil there doesn't want anyone to get a good night's sleep there, that's for sure.
Most every time I camped there the most crazy of weather and things would happen. These things actually attact folks and adventurers to camp there. The place is famous for the yearly tarantula migrations which I like to go to, waves of tarantulas crawl across the ground and rocks (lots of rock formations).
I could set up camp and it is a beautiful day. Suddenly, only on the peak - bizaare weather might break out! Odd rain coming down only on the peak and camp grounds. Freak wind storms circle the peak and (funny!) pull down the tents and drag them for those not aware this happens. The first time it happened to me the tent was literally lifting off the ground, a tent window riped open and white ashes from a fireplace about 12 feet away were blowing straight into the window gassing us! My teeth were full of it. I had to go out and tie the tent down to the picnic table then huddle in the car. Outside all sorts of creatures were moving about.
Rattle snakes in the morning.
Voices in the night.
Meteors hitting.
The "very large bird".
They say a Catholic priest wrestled with the Devil on this mountain. And there is a rock formation called "the Satan's or Devil's Knee". They say a secret Ohlone tribe witch doctor sect had rituals near a rock formation called "Elephant Rock". Once a VERY strange "animal sound" totally freaked me and my daughter out by that area about 10 years ago on a odd hook like part of the trail that had lots of rock walls and stuff. Sounded like an old rusty door opening and very loud.
Once WAY out on one of the trails, near water and more rocks, and thick low lying tree like brush, I spotted Mountain Lion tracks. I turned around and gou out there, kept looking back, praying to Hindu God the entire time, they come up from behind.
So it is called Devil Mountain for a reason. But yet ... it calls folks back, again and again.
AND folks actually pray MORE and become more relugious there. I remember running into some business man type cat, he is still in his business suit (must have left work and came to the mountain), just standing there on top of one of those big rocks they have there, both arms stretched out to the side and sort of up, like on a cross, and he is just looking, not straight up but just a bit up and out to the horizon - with this loon smile.
Smiley in a suit in some hypno or other state.
I got the hell out of there, actually.
Many a woodpecker would suddenly want to "hang out with you".
so... could it be, the devil also might not be the exact devil but wanting folks to come and ... hmmmm ... get spooky and religious BOTH?
Does any of this relate to you? Like, the devil there doesn't want anyone to get a good night's sleep there, that's for sure.
Covellite
Active Member
I think she is the Whore of Babylon (in the movie, of courseAlso, Huey:
The unnamed blonde woman ("The Girl") from the movie, the Ninth Gate, is pretty much Satan. She "nudges" Johnny Depp's character along the path to crossing the threshold of the Ninth Gate (i.e. attaining Godhood). I always thought that was a brilliant portrayal of Satan in film, too.
Infernal goodness:
. BTW Emmanuelle Seigner says she's not religious, but I feel that she's deeply involved in some kind of spiritual practice and organization. Very good looking and interesting woman. Married to Roman Polanski, hm... my guess
It's just the Grim Reaper, to me. I don't know what a Dark Wraith is. Lol. Is it from a video game?
Indeed, from Dark Souls. Dark Wraiths spawned from the abyss and steal humanity from the living, haha.
Well, I won't ruin it for you. It can be that to you.
vaguelyhumanoid
Active Member
What inspired you to become Hellenic?
There's a number of reasons.
- The Greco-Roman religions are the pre-Christian Western religions that have the most surviving primary sources so it is much easier to attune yourself to that civilization, since they left us such a grand heritage, especially of the many writings which came directly from them. There's not as much guesswork or missing pieces.
- The immense grandeur of the civilization. Its art, philosophy and sheer brilliance of human endeavor. It hasn't been matched, imo.
- The love for aesthetic beauty, including that of the human body.
- I loved it ever since I was a child.
- The familiarity with it, since the lore is so profuse throughout our culture, with many movies and books still being released based on the stories each year. (The Hellenic Gods are pretty much the main pantheon of Western civilization.)
- I have a strong emotional connection to it, including dreaming about the Gods.
- That pretty much all of my religious beliefs were Greco-Roman in origin in the first place.
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Thanks. Yes, I wanted to be a published author at one point, but life circumstances and severe depression are preventing me from doing what I wish to do.Have you ever thought of writing a book? Truly, you write VERY well, you should consider it.
Just something to think about, many people these days are 'self publishing,' and then of course they have to find ways to 'sell' their books. But, you have an audience here, and it's easy these days to get a website up and running. I think you have an intriguing story to tell, from the standpoint not only of your own life story, but from a faith perspective. Many people would like to read it. Sometimes I think we go through so much stress in life so we can help others who might be struggling, too. Anyways, don't let go of the dream...because that's how dreams come true.
In the Greek tradition of the Gods, the Form or "idol" of the Deity (Daiva) would be placed Inside the temple in the "sanctum" - BUT the altar was placed OUTSIDE the temple, where the offerings were made.
Now why do you think that would be the case?
I think I might know, but curious as to what your "communion with the Gods" might tell you? No, I do not think there was a "line not to be crossed" between the Gods and their admirers - indeed their admirers would enter the "halls" and cast eyes... and in numbers. But the altar for giving offerings was outside, not inside the temple. Any answer to that?
Now why do you think that would be the case?
I think I might know, but curious as to what your "communion with the Gods" might tell you? No, I do not think there was a "line not to be crossed" between the Gods and their admirers - indeed their admirers would enter the "halls" and cast eyes... and in numbers. But the altar for giving offerings was outside, not inside the temple. Any answer to that?
I don't know. I didn't even realize that the temples were set up that way.
It has to do with the Roc. The Giant Bird.
The Temple was typically located where there was a sacred spring, a holy tree or even a cave, sometimes simply a significant rock where perhaps a sacrifice was performed in the past by even a Deity (Himself, Herself, Itself). Long ago, there were not great masters of marble, though stone would do to make the Idol, even wood, perhaps of the very sacred tree, but a Master in the chisel or stone would demand the price only a Royal could afford. But early on, there may have been a Holy Tree though the Tree may be associated with the pastimes or history of the God, Divine Visitor, Angel or Demon.
The Greek Isles were not too far from the visitation of the Roc which came from The East. By those times the Roc was in Arab lands but the homeland was an Island of savages in the Indian ocean.
When the Greeks built the majestic temples to the Pantheon, the actual throne platform, the inner sanctum where the Deity resided was only for the "priests", this was often a hereditary position to tend to the Idol. The devotees were not allowed on the sanctum platform, only the priests. But the devotees could eye the Idol(s) or give offerings - but in the Greek tradition the altar for an offering was outside. There is a reason.
The Egyptians told the story, parts which still are remembered today, of the Travels of the Shipwrecked Sailor who encountered the Roc. By those times the Roc would come to Greece, the way in those times was to sacrifice an animal on a Holy Rock as the "offering" with the blood let running down the rock. This might be a horse even if sponsored by a Royal. But the most expensive offering, bringing much prestige for the devotee, was a miniture goat found in the lands of Jews who protected this rare miniture goat.
The Roc loves goat. Especially this miniture one. In fact, that is why this goat was rare. Because of the Roc who ate so many. The Garud loved a certain snake, but the Roc, a distant cousin, loved the goat.
13th century Arab mariners who dare venture into the areas of the savage islands in the Indian Ocean where there were cannibals, spoke of the Roc who no longer visited the Greek Islands as the population of the Roc had by those times reduced dramatically and may have something to do with the goat population, though they would take a human baby.
But turning the clock backwards, by the times when the Greeks were building their Temples, they kept a tradition of having the "sacrificial altar", by then a place where devotees could give all sorts of gifts and offerings and not just an animal sacrifice but even gold or birds or cloth and such things, OUTSIDE the sanctum.
This was in remembrance of the Roc who would sweep down from the sky and grasp the bloody animal in it's claws and fly away. The priests certainly did not want the Roc to fly into the sanctum of the Honored Heavenly Residence.
So they kept it outside, "just in case".
Some Idols acquired "powers". But before many were melted down and such by invaders, some of the Gods were already dust of Themselves. Devotees had not been very regular in giving attention to Them.
Literally dust. Even today, Gods, Divine Visitors, Angels and Demons are still there but "hidden" as dust.
From time to time, when a "wind" turns this dust, faster, the dust spirals and then "ignites". It becomes once again a God or Form of Force. Some dust is more easy to ignite. The wings of a great bird might be enough to raise the dust and ignite the God. It is said some easily ignited dust rides on the back of a Great Bird. Or that many of a famed God will come from dust when it is time for a great War. The enemy will think they have defeated the conquered, that the olden Gods are no where to be found.
But They are there, unseen, under the feet of the ignorant. They never left, but only changed form. And will Change again upon the Wind.
This might be known as the time of The Dust of the Gods. Actually, I have a Chapter about The Dust of the Gods in my New World Ramayana.
So that is my suspicion of the Altar outside. IMHO.
Athena holds an Owl. Not just any. Not just Her.
The Temple was typically located where there was a sacred spring, a holy tree or even a cave, sometimes simply a significant rock where perhaps a sacrifice was performed in the past by even a Deity (Himself, Herself, Itself). Long ago, there were not great masters of marble, though stone would do to make the Idol, even wood, perhaps of the very sacred tree, but a Master in the chisel or stone would demand the price only a Royal could afford. But early on, there may have been a Holy Tree though the Tree may be associated with the pastimes or history of the God, Divine Visitor, Angel or Demon.
The Greek Isles were not too far from the visitation of the Roc which came from The East. By those times the Roc was in Arab lands but the homeland was an Island of savages in the Indian ocean.
When the Greeks built the majestic temples to the Pantheon, the actual throne platform, the inner sanctum where the Deity resided was only for the "priests", this was often a hereditary position to tend to the Idol. The devotees were not allowed on the sanctum platform, only the priests. But the devotees could eye the Idol(s) or give offerings - but in the Greek tradition the altar for an offering was outside. There is a reason.
The Egyptians told the story, parts which still are remembered today, of the Travels of the Shipwrecked Sailor who encountered the Roc. By those times the Roc would come to Greece, the way in those times was to sacrifice an animal on a Holy Rock as the "offering" with the blood let running down the rock. This might be a horse even if sponsored by a Royal. But the most expensive offering, bringing much prestige for the devotee, was a miniture goat found in the lands of Jews who protected this rare miniture goat.
The Roc loves goat. Especially this miniture one. In fact, that is why this goat was rare. Because of the Roc who ate so many. The Garud loved a certain snake, but the Roc, a distant cousin, loved the goat.
13th century Arab mariners who dare venture into the areas of the savage islands in the Indian Ocean where there were cannibals, spoke of the Roc who no longer visited the Greek Islands as the population of the Roc had by those times reduced dramatically and may have something to do with the goat population, though they would take a human baby.
But turning the clock backwards, by the times when the Greeks were building their Temples, they kept a tradition of having the "sacrificial altar", by then a place where devotees could give all sorts of gifts and offerings and not just an animal sacrifice but even gold or birds or cloth and such things, OUTSIDE the sanctum.
This was in remembrance of the Roc who would sweep down from the sky and grasp the bloody animal in it's claws and fly away. The priests certainly did not want the Roc to fly into the sanctum of the Honored Heavenly Residence.
So they kept it outside, "just in case".
Some Idols acquired "powers". But before many were melted down and such by invaders, some of the Gods were already dust of Themselves. Devotees had not been very regular in giving attention to Them.
Literally dust. Even today, Gods, Divine Visitors, Angels and Demons are still there but "hidden" as dust.
From time to time, when a "wind" turns this dust, faster, the dust spirals and then "ignites". It becomes once again a God or Form of Force. Some dust is more easy to ignite. The wings of a great bird might be enough to raise the dust and ignite the God. It is said some easily ignited dust rides on the back of a Great Bird. Or that many of a famed God will come from dust when it is time for a great War. The enemy will think they have defeated the conquered, that the olden Gods are no where to be found.
But They are there, unseen, under the feet of the ignorant. They never left, but only changed form. And will Change again upon the Wind.
This might be known as the time of The Dust of the Gods. Actually, I have a Chapter about The Dust of the Gods in my New World Ramayana.
So that is my suspicion of the Altar outside. IMHO.
Athena holds an Owl. Not just any. Not just Her.
-Peacemaker-
.45 Cal
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