Showing posts with label folklore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label folklore. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Goddess of Travel



Western Hemisphere 



Trivia, a Roman diety, is said to be the goddess of commerce and travel.  She is an aspect of Artemis/Diana with three heads to represent the place where three roads meet or the triune goddess of  earth, heaven and the underworld. During a life cycle, we travel through those worlds.  Her Latin name is  Taurian Artemis.  Another form of the name is Termemina which protects the life and death cycle.


Ayizan, in the Haitian symbolic tradition, is the first ‘mat’ laid on original water represented by a palm leaf.  She takes the form of serpent, protects the marketplace, roads, doorways and gates.  Her alternate name is Ayizan Velequete.









Eastern Hemisphere

Inari of Japan is a Shinto goddess described as a vixen associated with commerce and travel, life and death cycle, sexuality, wealth, hunting and wild animals.  These are also attributes of Artemis/Diana in the Greco-Roman tradition.  And like Artemis, this icon protects prosperity bringing long life.  She is affiliated with rice and fertility.  

Poi-Soya-Un-Mat, from the Ainu province of Japan, is the woman of Poi Soya who raised herself above the gods, dressed like a man to go hunting and sailing like a trader.

Tian-Fei  is the sailor’s goddess of navigation and safe passage.  The Celestial Spouse originates in Chinese tradition to protect travel and commerce.

Doumou, or Toumo is the goddess of the Northstar, and she also originates in China. Buddhists and Daoists invoke her while traveling and for protection from disease and war. It’s possible that she is affiliated with Marichi from India and also Buddhist goddesses Guan yin and Maritchi the Queen of heaven, a Buddhist dawn goddess of three faces, who is not known to offer travel protection. 

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Sacred Sites

So you believe there are places that shelter spiritual energy.  Are these locations protected?



Executive Order concerning Sacred Sites, May 24 1996

Sacred Sites, Contested Rites/Rights, Journal of Material Culture, V.9: N. 3, 237-261 (2004)




Monday, June 25, 2012

Cowboy Poets


Mythmakers of the west and cowboy poets still roll their own and tie a shake a mean lariat.
Join the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering in August, 2012.

Keep in mind the next cowboy poets festival in Arizona February 2013.

And what about those cowgirl poets? Don't forget them!  Cowgirl poets wowed the crowd at the Alpine, Texas show reports the  live.work.dream blog.   Go get 'em Billy Jean.


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Nature and Spiritual Practice

Spirituality in nature is implied, but not directly addressed. Nature has replaced the craving for a spirit presence greater than the self. Nature envelops and includes, while a named almighty being (God, Jesus, Zeus, Allah) is defined and apart from humans.

Nature is personal yet all inclusive. Could the perception of a god be valid? Because of the centuries of oppressive definition and lack of sensual participation, that god entity lacks impact. Nature, though, is always, everywhere and constantly tangible. In Nature we trust.

Find god in the details.  Write from the heart and soul-mind.


Monday, February 6, 2012

Websites on Nature

Selected Opportunities and Resources for Nature Writers

Nature in Legend and Story (NILAS) is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, devoted to exploration of relationships between human beings and the natural world, reflected in folklore, literature and other cultural activities with spiritual focus.

The Nature Web from Nature Magazine.

EPA Grants - public environmental education.


Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE) 
promotes the exchange of ideas and information about literature that considers human relationships with the natural world.


Forums on nature and birdwatching topics

For freelance writers:  Links to writer’s guidelines for nature related periodicals.