#templethursday — Public Fediverse posts

Superstition, omens, and the spirits of the dead stain The Red Palace by June Hur, a stand-alone historical mystery novel set in 1758 Korea, where a palace nurse becomes intwined with not just court intrigue but with a brutal mass murder which may claim her life. #TempleThursday

Superstition, omens, and the spirits of the dead stain The Red Palace by June Hur, a stand-alone historical mystery novel set in 1758 Korea, where a palace nurse becomes intwined with not just court intrigue but with a brutal mass murder which may claim her life. #TempleThursday

Having spent the first four decades of his life in the world as a Crusader and warrior, Brother Cadfael became a monk at Shrewsberry Abbey as its herbalist; his unique background make him ideal to solve obscure and obscene crimes at the height of England's Anarchy #TempleThursday

Having spent the first four decades of his life in the world as a Crusader and warrior, Brother Cadfael became a monk at Shrewsberry Abbey as its herbalist; his unique background make him ideal to solve obscure and obscene crimes at the height of England's Anarchy #TempleThursday

The year is 664 and the religious of Britain and Ireland gather in Whitby to determine whether the rule of Rome or Columba will reign: and it is here Irish Sister Fidelma finds she must put her skills as an Irish dalaigh (law advocate) to solve her mentor's murder #TempleThursday

The year is 664 and the religious of Britain and Ireland gather in Whitby to determine whether the rule of Rome or Columba will reign: and it is here Irish Sister Fidelma finds she must put her skills as an Irish dalaigh (law advocate) to solve her mentor's murder #TempleThursday

In 1419 a Ming treasure voyage returned to China with a qilin (or Kirin), a symbol of prosperity and Heaven's blessings. The Yongle Emperor downplayed this for two reasons: he did not want an excess of gifts, and because he likely knew it was a giraffe. #TempleThursday

🖼️ S. Du

In 1419 a Ming treasure voyage returned to China with a qilin (or Kirin), a symbol of prosperity and Heaven's blessings. The Yongle Emperor downplayed this for two reasons: he did not want an excess of gifts, and because he likely knew it was a giraffe. #TempleThursday

🖼️ S. Du

A solar eclipse on February 12, 1831 turned into a vision for Nat Turner, who saw it as a black man's hand overtaking the sun, reaching for freedom. Inspired by this holy vision, on August 21 of that year he launched a spiritually-inspired rebellion. #TempleThursday

🖼️ BB Shahn

A solar eclipse on February 12, 1831 turned into a vision for Nat Turner, who saw it as a black man's hand overtaking the sun, reaching for freedom. Inspired by this holy vision, on August 21 of that year he launched a spiritually-inspired rebellion. #TempleThursday

🖼️ BB Shahn

Revered by both the Shinto and Buddhist religions, Inari is the Japanese goddess of agriculture and fertility. According to myth, she first arrived in Japan riding on the back of a white fox, and benevolent foxes known as zenko continue to be her messengers. #TempleThursday

📷: Levi Meir Clancy

#Mythology #Inari #Fox #Kitsune #Zenko #Kami #Shrine #Shinto #Buddhism #Japan

Revered by both the Shinto and Buddhist religions, Inari is the Japanese goddess of agriculture and fertility. According to myth, she first arrived in Japan riding on the back of a white fox, and benevolent foxes known as zenko continue to be her messengers. #TempleThursday

📷: Levi Meir Clancy

#Mythology #Inari #Fox #Kitsune #Zenko #Kami #Shrine #Shinto #Buddhism #Japan

Revered by both the Shinto and Buddhist religions, Inari is the Japanese goddess of agriculture and fertility. According to myth, she first arrived in Japan riding on the back of a white fox, and benevolent foxes known as zenko continue to be her messengers. #TempleThursday

📷: Levi Meir Clancy

#Mythology #Inari #Fox #Kitsune #Zenko #Kami #Shrine #Shinto #Buddhism #Japan

Revered by both the Shinto and Buddhist religions, Inari is the Japanese goddess of agriculture and fertility. According to myth, she first arrived in Japan riding on the back of a white fox, and benevolent foxes known as zenko continue to be her messengers. #TempleThursday

📷: Levi Meir Clancy

#Mythology #Inari #Fox #Kitsune #Zenko #Kami #Shrine #Shinto #Buddhism #Japan

According to legend, St. Theodore was said to have slayed a dragon that was terrorizing Amasea. A statue depicting this tale can be seen on top of one of the pillar in Venice's Piazzetta San Marco (although this photo is one I took of a replica at EPCOT's Italy Pavilion). #TempleThursday

#Folklore #Legend #SaintTheodore #Dragon #Statue #Venice #Epcot #WaltDisneyWorld

#Celtic #TempleThursday: #Connacht`s nativity occurred annually at the start of harvest at this conical mountain, tipped with white quartz, called `The Reek`/#CroaghPatrick.
`In the pre-Christian cycle #CroaghPatrick was the supreme expression of the White Goddess-in-harvest, the western peak of the year, after which a rapid decline to the northwest, and winter, was inevitable`
Source: Michael Dames „#Ireland – a sacred journey“
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G3X-AqxZiY

#Celtic #TempleThursday: #Connacht`s nativity occurred annually at the start of harvest at this conical mountain, tipped with white quartz, called `The Reek`/#CroaghPatrick.
`In the pre-Christian cycle #CroaghPatrick was the supreme expression of the White Goddess-in-harvest, the western peak of the year, after which a rapid decline to the northwest, and winter, was inevitable`
Source: Michael Dames „#Ireland – a sacred journey“
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G3X-AqxZiY

Lyfjaberg is the home of the Norse surgeon-goddess Eir, handmaiden of Frigg and keeper of the healing arts. This mountain, protected by a fortress, a place free of peril against the outside world. #TempleThursday

Lyfjaberg is the home of the Norse surgeon-goddess Eir, handmaiden of Frigg and keeper of the healing arts. This mountain, protected by a fortress, a place free of peril against the outside world. #TempleThursday

#Celtic #TempleThursday: Cruachán Aigle (aige: „act of celebrating or holding festivals“ and cruachu/cruach" ((earth) hill) is the ancient name of #CroaghPatrick, which rises from sea level 2500ft.
The #Connacht prince and hero #Aigle died up there after carrying rocks in his pockets up its slopes.
There was a "chariot road" to Cruachán Aigle from #Rathcrogan, the Tochar.
Source: Michael Dames „#Ireland – a sacred journey“

#Celtic #TempleThursday: Cruachán Aigle (aige: „act of celebrating or holding festivals“ and cruachu/cruach" ((earth) hill) is the ancient name of #CroaghPatrick, which rises from sea level 2500ft.
The #Connacht prince and hero #Aigle died up there after carrying rocks in his pockets up its slopes.
There was a "chariot road" to Cruachán Aigle from #Rathcrogan, the Tochar.
Source: Michael Dames „#Ireland – a sacred journey“

#Celtic #TempleThursday: The #Pictish #druid #Drostan recommended pouring the milk of 3x50 white cows without horns (`bo mael fin`) into a hole in the middle of the battlefield to cure the soldiers from the poisoned arrows of the British.
Source: Guyonvarc'h/Le Roux `Die #Druiden`

#Celtic #TempleThursday: `Throughout the British Isles it is #Brighid who revives the “dead” landscape in #spring from its winter slumber with her white wand of birch wood.`
Source: Wade MacMorrighan „Rekindling the Rites of Imbolg“

#Celtic #TempleThursday: The Book of Lecan relates that milk could antidote any injury caused by a poisoned dart and that milk was also poured in the battlefield furrows of Eremon presumably to cleanse them; even the pan-Celtic goddess-turned-Saint Brighid was notorious for her inability to consume any impure food, as a result she was entrusted to the care of an Otherworldly red-eared white heifer whose milk nourished her.
Source: Wade MacMorrighan „Rekindling the Rites of Imbolg“

#Celtic #TempleThursday: `The red-eared white #cow is a magical creature which features in many Irish stories, and up until 1935, still roamed the #Irish countryside. Lisa Lawrence claims it may have been the preferred animal sacrifice to appease the Gods in pre-Christian times when bad events occurred, such as when crops failed.
The Goddess #Brigid is associated with cattle, and so is the Saint Brigid; as an infant, she was fed solely on the milk of a white, red-eared #cow, as she was too pure to consume regular food sources. Here, as in Corc's story, the cow is tended by a woman, but not just any woman, a pure and virtuous virgin. As Lawrence describes it, 'the white red-eared cow has ceased to nourish sacrificially devotion to the goddess Brigid, and begun to nourish symbolically devotion to Saint Brigid'.`
Source: https://aliisaac.substack.com/

#Celtic #TempleThursday: "In the belly" is one of the (popular) interpretations for #Imbolc. Spring grows in the "belly of winter", like the lambs that are born from #Imbolc onwards. This was significant for the diet of the rural population, because from now on sheep's milk was available again.

#Celtic #TempleThursday: "In the belly" is one of the (popular) interpretations for #Imbolc. Spring grows in the "belly of winter", like the lambs that are born from #Imbolc onwards. This was significant for the diet of the rural population, because from now on sheep's milk was available again.

#Celtic #TempleThursday: In Ireland, where the most evidence of #Imbolc comes from, the festival marks the first emergence of #spring vegetation.

#Celtic #TempleThursday: In Ireland, where the most evidence of #Imbolc comes from, the festival marks the first emergence of #spring vegetation.

#Celtic #TempleThursday: Beira, the queen of winter, had Bride imprisoned at Ben Nevis. When Angus Og, the God of Summer, found her, winter had to give way to #spring. The painting ´The Coming of Bride` by John Duncan is full of spring flowers: primroses, azaleas, laburnum, lilac, tulips and grape hyacinth. #Imbolc
Source: Angus and Bride - Folklore Scotland

#Celtic #TempleThursday: Beira, the queen of winter, had Bride imprisoned at Ben Nevis. When Angus Og, the God of Summer, found her, winter had to give way to #spring. The painting ´The Coming of Bride` by John Duncan is full of spring flowers: primroses, azaleas, laburnum, lilac, tulips and grape hyacinth. #Imbolc
Source: Angus and Bride - Folklore Scotland

#Celtic #TempleThursday: „On Brighid’s Eve, the elder women of the home—clearly intimating the role of midwives—fashioned the leaba Bríde (“Brighid’s bed”) in the shape of an oblong basket after the form of a cradle and adorned it with early-blooming flowers such as snowdrops, daisies or primroses. Brighid was called in. The customary brídeóg and a white wand, made from sacred wood like birch, broom, blackberry or white willow that had been carefully stripped of its bark were placed in the bed. Carefully the ashes of the hearth were raked evenly before bed, and the next morning, the ashes were checked for signs of Brighid’s presence. A sign of Brighid’s wand or her footprint (lorge Bríde) signified blessings for the year. If no sign was found, it was believed Brighid may have been offended, leading to offerings and prayers.“ #Imbolc
Source: Wade MacMorrighan „Rekindling the Rites of #Imbolg“

#Celtic #TempleThursday: „On Brighid’s Eve, the elder women of the home—clearly intimating the role of midwives—fashioned the leaba Bríde (“Brighid’s bed”) in the shape of an oblong basket after the form of a cradle and adorned it with early-blooming flowers such as snowdrops, daisies or primroses. Brighid was called in. The customary brídeóg and a white wand, made from sacred wood like birch, broom, blackberry or white willow that had been carefully stripped of its bark were placed in the bed. Carefully the ashes of the hearth were raked evenly before bed, and the next morning, the ashes were checked for signs of Brighid’s presence. A sign of Brighid’s wand or her footprint (lorge Bríde) signified blessings for the year. If no sign was found, it was believed Brighid may have been offended, leading to offerings and prayers.“ #Imbolc
Source: Wade MacMorrighan „Rekindling the Rites of #Imbolg“

#TempleThursday: The #Celtic feast of #Imbolc is a liminal time. Winter is still here, but spring is already making an appearance. The seeds are still resting in Mother Earth's womb, but the first harbingers of spring are already tentatively appearing in our latitudes. And yet the seeds have been sown to allow nature to blossom in the warm season and provide all living creatures with an abundance of food.

#TempleThursday: The #Celtic feast of #Imbolc is a liminal time. Winter is still here, but spring is already making an appearance. The seeds are still resting in Mother Earth's womb, but the first harbingers of spring are already tentatively appearing in our latitudes. And yet the seeds have been sown to allow nature to blossom in the warm season and provide all living creatures with an abundance of food.

#Celtic #TempleThursday: CúChulainn was weakened when he violated his geis or sacred vow never to eat dog meat, this made him defeatable and was his doom.

#Celtic #TempleThursday: `In their combat, Pwyll mortally wounded Havgan with a single blow and although Havgan beged Pwyll to finish him off, Pwyll would not because he had vowed to Arawn not to do so. Pwyll's faithfulness to Arawn's request might be seen as an effort not to entirely destroy Havgan as he is a representation of summer. Pwyll's fate was to merge the two kingdoms and not destroy the one.`
Source: Helen Benigni/Barbara Carter/Eadhmonn Ua Cuinn „The Myth of the Year“

#TempleThursday: When #Conaire arrived at Da Derga’s hostel on the magical feast of #Samhain after breaking a series of sacred vows, he faced his doom within it. A hag came to him demanding entrance. When the king of Tara denied it, she stood on one leg like a crane and cursed him. Immediately, Conaire developed an all-consuming thirst, which no water from any source in #Ireland could quench, and died of it.
Source: P. Monaghan `Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore`

#Celtic #TempleThursday: One of the Dagda’s many children was Áed Minbhrec, who was killed in a jealous rage by a man named Corgenn. Despite his power, the Dagda could not revive his beloved son, but he put a sacred vow on Corgenn, forcing him to carry his victim’s body on his back until he found a stone the exact size and weight of the deceased. Only then could Corgenn rest. Thus the man hauled the body around #Ireland until he found a place for it: the ancient #hillfort of #GrianánAileach.

#Celtic #TempleThursday: #Conchobar lured #Deirdre and Noísiu back to #Ireland by vowing that he had lost interest in his bride. Noísiu, homesick, agreed to return. Despite premonitions of doom, Deirdre reluctantly agreed. Under an ominous blood-red cloud she sailed for Ireland with the three sons of Uisneach.
„Immediately upon landing, Noísiu and his brothers were set upon by Conchobar’s warriors, who killed them."
Source: P. Monaghan `Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore`

#Celtic #TempleThursday: `Princess Lí Ban survived a flood that resulted from someone’s failing to cover a sacred well. She and her little lapdog were caught within an underwater bubble. After one year Lí Ban was turned into a mermaid. At the end of three centuries, the mermaid Lí Ban let herself be caught. She was baptised Murgen, “sea-born.” Dying immediately, she became a saint and was regarded as a holy virgin.`
Source: P. Monaghan `Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore`

#Celtic #TempleThursday: “With the coming of Christianity, the winter solstice became especially important, for it was the date on which Jesus Christ was said to have been born. This alleged birthday of the savior was, in fact, adopted by the Christian church as a way of adapting the preexisting winter solstice festivals that the new converts were loath to abandon.”
Source: P. Monaghan `Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore`

#Celtic #TempleThursday #FolkloreThursday: `Carol singing originated with the ancient pagans, and these songs were sung in celebration of the winter solstice. The word ‘carol’ derives from either the French carole, or the Latin carula. It means ‘circular dance’. These songs were probably sung as communities joined in dance around their huge celebratory bonfire, or sacred monuments.
Believe it or not, caroling was actually denounced by the church for hundreds of years for being a sinful remnant of heathen practice.`
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack

#TempleThursday: #Corra, a`female fiend`, had the role of the Great Swallower. `The Devil‘s Mother` was the chieftainness of the demon birds and the pagan energy of the air.
Source: Michael Dames `#Ireland – A Sacred Journey`
https://twitter.com/judithshaw/status/1239929535933616132