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14 Oct 2022 02:06

We continue our video series by exploring the Celtic Pushan, retriever of the sacred liquid, the god I have called the prototype of Merlin.

Gwydion and Cian are Pushan: Celtic Mythology Explained

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih-kHhUCNOc

- O’Gravy, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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12 May 2022 23:51

Midir, The Mead-King

While reading through Mark Williams’ book Ireland’s Immortals today I came upon this footnote on the name of the Irish god Midir, confirming my original claim that he is the Irish Dionysus, the mead or “soma” god:

“the name [Midir] looks like it should be connected with the verb for ‘judging’ (midithir). But it may be a borrowing from British and have originally meant ‘Mead-King’, for which see the comments of J. Uhlich, ‘Einige britannische Lehnnamen im Irischen: Brénainn (Brenden), Cathaír/Catháer und Midir’, ZCP 49/50 (1997), 893–5.” - Ireland’s Immortals, p. 84, footnote 44

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25 Apr 2022 16:36

Ritualistic saunas for warrior initiation.

The sauna entrance decorated with a triskele is from Briteiros, Portugal. The other is from the Castro of Ulaca in the southwestern Castillian province of Ávila, once inhabited with Pre-Celtic speakers of Vetones culture. These steam saunas may have been utilized for the formation of warrior bands.

A young man enters the ofrice, imitating a serpent from the underworld as he crawls. Inside, the steam, he drinks Caelia (Celtic wheat beer) or hydromiel (union with the goddess from intoxication). Or he breathes vaporized herbs. His state of conscious is altered when he comes back out, transformed by visions and vinculated into a bird or wolf. Rendering them prepared to join the band of warriors.
In the Pátera de Petorito, a libations bowl from Iberian culture in south Spain, we can see this same process where a human head comes out of a wolf after transcending from a nest of serpents.

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

17 Apr 2022 16:24

Spring

In proto-West Germanic, the spring season was referred to as *langatin, which essentially translates to “long day”, and refers to the lengthening of days. In old English this eventually became Lencten, which is the source of the modern English Lent. In German the cognate word is Lenz.

As a result, it is completely heathen to refer to this time of year as Lent.

In English, we also refer to the season as Spring, which likely comes from the idea that plants begin to spring forth from the Earth. Life comes back, animals “spring” forth from their dens and long winter slumbers. This time of year is under the domain of the Dawn Goddess, known as Eōstre to the English, Ostara to the Germans, Ausrinė to the Balts, and Uṣás to the Vedic Aryans many millennia ago, among other names.

She is a goddess of fertility, rebirth, and a herald of the Sun. If you haven’t already, say a prayer and pour a libation to this Goddess.

-Hariwulfaz, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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13 Apr 2022 10:42

The Oseberg Bucket Buddha

The "Bucket Buddha" was found in a complex burial mound containing a fully built ship with two sets of human remains belonging to women, most likely of high social status, along with the remains of many animals. The figure above bears a strong resemblence to Iconography of the Buddha, it is sitting in a meditative posture very similar to Lotus Position, which the Buddha is typically shown to be in and is adorned in swastikas. The artifact is thought to come from Ireland or England based on the art style, but the question of Buddhist influence still remains.

- Kalin, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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10 Apr 2022 10:34

‘Mountains are often looked on as the place where sky and earth meet, a “central point” therefore, the point through which the Axis Mundi goes, a region impregnated with the sacred, a spot where one can pass from one cosmic zone to another.’

– Mircea Eliade: Patterns in Comparative Religion

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06 Apr 2022 16:44

The Importance of Repetition

Repetition in art and speech are both widely attested in Indo-European art and literature. This is most plainly seen in practices such as Mantra which is meditated on through repetition in the practice of Japa Meditation. However, the magic or importance of repetition is most felt through song and poetry, providing a structure and a way to solidify certain melodies. It is also found in visual art with certain motifs and symbols repeating with a potentially esoteric meaning behind them, like the Swastika or the common motifs found in ancient Germanic, Near Eastern, Indus and Celtic art, The Master of Animals. Repetition also has a direct tie to memory, while not being the sole foundation of memory, is still relevant. Memory is also an important overlooked part of ritual practice and study. Repetition in general seems to be a practice of projecting oneself inward, through concentration, achieving a transcendent or spiritual state of mind. This is similar to Shamans chanting and achieving similar results.

- Kalin, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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02 Apr 2022 14:32

An Exercise in Expanding Our Knowledge of the Gods

A better understanding of the lore makes for better practice surrounding it. Inspired by Owen's post last Wednesday, I invite all of our readers to participate in getting to better know the Gods and Goddesses that we worship in their respective branches. Each month, select a deity that you wish to know more about. Consume and digest whatever source material there may be, or that you can find, as well as direct your prayers and meditation towards them. At the end of the month, begin anew with another deity. Discussion and collaboration is highly encouraged! Any thoughts, revelations and so on is welcome in our chats/discussion groups.

- Cormac Cás, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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27 Mar 2022 18:46

As our Mars Challenge is coming to an end, I would like to check in with you all and hear about how this month may have affected you physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Have you experienced an increase in strength, endurance, vitality, piety?
Did you discover new passions, or free yourself of dependencies?

Did you enjoy this challenge, and would you like to participate in more events of this sort?

I’m always excited to read everyone’s feedback and learn about your battles and victories!
But it’s also important to acknowledge where you may have fallen short, given up, or overestimated yourself. All of those things are opportunities to evaluate and improve, to come back stronger and more determined the next time.

Please share your experiences with us in the comments!

☀️ PGM
@solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

16 Mar 2022 23:29

Hardcover copies have been showing up on doorsteps lately, with many others still on their way.

Check your local Amazon site for availability and spread the knowledge around. Makes quite an esoteric St. Paddy’s Day gift (although the day is now upon us), and the March Equinox time period around Paddy’s Day coincides very closely with the Indo-European “Creation” myth that is found at the climax of the book.

Teach your Celtic relatives and friends their primordial March mythos. Reclaim the holiday.

U.S. link: https://tinyurl.com/66zbhzz2
U.K. Amazon currently only does paperbacks. link: https://tinyurl.com/y485dc9n

- O’Gravy, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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10 Mar 2022 19:42

Spiritual Practice: Libation to Ancestors

Part of our Mars Challenge is spiritual practice, and one of the most widespread and easy practices is libation, or a simple offering of wine, water or food to your ancestors or the Gods. Libation and offerings are attested in various cultures such as Germanic, Greek, Roman and Hindu (here called Abhisheka), possibly stemming from a Vedic practice. In the Greco-Roman world, librations to the dead and to chthonic Gods were done at night and these would be poured into the ground accompanied by a prayer. Germanic and Hindu practice consisted of bathing idols in the form of God poles, murtis and lingams (pillars) in blood, wine, milk, honey, or ghee. Preferably this would be done outside, on a full moon and with a prayer such as this, taken from Socrates in Plato's Phaedrus:

“Beloved [God], and all ye other Gods who haunt this place, give me beauty in the inward soul; and may the outward and inward man be at one. May I reckon the wise to be the wealthy, and may I have such a quantity of gold as a temperate man and he only can bear and carry.“

Visualize the deity or ancestors you are offering to and confidently believe that you are in their presence. We suggest you also contemplate the sacrifices of your ancestors, actions of the Gods and the great amount of compassion they have for you; most of all, be joyful when preforming any spiritual practice.

- Kalin, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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10 Mar 2022 06:01

“Do not worship the Lord during the day, do not worship the Lord during the night; the Lord must be worshipped at the point of the meeting of day and night.”

------Abhinavagupta-Tantraloka

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27 Feb 2022 11:52

THE SUN RIDERS OFFICIAL MONTH OF MARS CHALLENGE II

Are you ready to come out of hibernation?
Like last year, we encourage you to join us in challenging ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually; getting ready for another season of action, productivity, building, and growing.

Here are our major goals for this March:

Goal I - Physical Fitness
Strengthen your body with regular exercise.
Set new goals for weight, reps, frequency etc, and achieve them. Don‘t slack!

Goal II - Reading and Studying
Read for at least 30 minutes every day and tackle those books you‘ve been meaning to get to.
Take notes, be present with the material.

Goal III - Spiritual Practice
Perform daily ritual, for example libation, prayer, meditation, and honor your gods and ancestors.

Goal IV - Abstinence/Fasting
Cease giving in to your vices. Cut out unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, sugar, late night snacking, mindless scrolling etc.

Push yourself and tackle as many goals as possible.
Honor your commitment!

@solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

22 Feb 2022 15:36

Sacred Animals in Paganism: The Woodpecker in Roman Tradition

It is no secret that many animals have associations with many Gods, as well as heroes, in European tradition. Wolves, ravens, eagles, bears, and more. They have unique traits that reflect the Gods that they are tied with. It speaks to the inherent connection that we have with nature and how it reflects the divine. The woodpecker, though overlooked, also has a divine connection and deserves the veneration it once held.

https://telegra.ph/The-Woodpecker-in-Roman-Tradition-02-20

- Grief, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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21 Feb 2022 10:49

"Since the West has long lost contact with its past traditional forms of which, apart from the religious world understood in an extremely restricted sense, almost nothing remains ... the contact between the elites of the West and the representatives of the traditional spirit of the East is a point of essential importance to ensure a return, to "galvanize", as it were, the latent forces. It is not a question of being unfaithful to ourselves by orientalizing us, but of receiving from the East what can be used to rediscover our own tradition, in order to go beyond the merely human, individualistic and rationalistic civilization of recent times, to gradually form an atmosphere favorable to the re-flourishing of the traditional West."

- Julius Evola, East and West

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12 May 2022 23:53

Note also, in relation to Midir, the existence of the Gaulish theonym Toutatis Medurinis (Meduris, Medru, etc.), possibly from *medu-renos, glossed as “flood of drunkenness or mead,” though Garrett Olmstead translates it as “Who Renders Judgment” (compare the aforementioned midithir). This could also mark a double meaning. One ancient Gaulish inscription (CIL XIII 6017, Brumath, Alsace) bearing the name Medru includes a relief of a figure wearing a bull’s head, while a bull form is prominent in the myths of the Vedic Soma and his Greek parallel, Dionysus.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned word midithir, meaning “judging,” itself derives ultimately from a proposed Proto-Indo-European root, *med-, meaning “to measure.” That is, this word itself comes from a perfect synonym of the root of the the Sanskrit word for “moon,” Proto-Indo-European *méh₁n̥ss, which is probably from *meh₁-, likewise meaning “to measure” (PIE *med- vs. PIE *meh₁-). The PIE moon was considered "the measurer," likely for the way it measures out the days of the month. The "soma" god, likewise, is the god of the lunar waters -- a moon god.

As I have shown, this Midir is then the same as the Welsh Lord of Annwn, Arawn, the Greek Dionysus, the legendary Grail King, and most surprisingly for many, the Norse NJORD.

Read more about Midir and his Lunar Cycle on my blog or in my book, Taliesin’s Map (pinned above).

Hail Midir, the Mead King.

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

09 May 2022 20:07

Lokstene Shrine of Dievturi (Latvian: Lokstenes dievturu svētnīca) the pagan island in Latvia for the Dievturi religion. It has been around since 2017.

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

17 Apr 2022 21:12

Dawn, now brought forth by the shining goddess,
Daughter of the sky, who we adore,
We stand up here, atop the moor again,
Gazing at the Sun, who you guide each day,

When the rosy fingers of Dawn take shape,
We know the wheel has turned, Easter is here,
Earth is now no longer in winter’s grasp,
She has returned, Easter has now returned,

We see Her in the bright flame of the hearth,
We hear Her inside the crackling bonfire,
We think of Her when the bluebells flower,
We smell Her in the refreshing morning dew,

Hail to Easter! The glistening Goddess,
Hail to Easter! The exalted Goddess,
Hail to Easter! On her sacred full moon,
Hail to Easter! We say at every Dawn.

An original poem of mine that I recited at dawn this morning during a ritual with my group.

Photo taken by a member of our group after the ritual.

- Owen, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

13 Apr 2022 10:44

The Helgö Buddha

An example of direct Buddhist contact is this depiction of the Buddha that was found in an Archaeological dig of a Viking Age trading post in Helgö, Sweden. Its origin is speculated to be from somewhere Eurasia, more detailed guesses say it came from the Kashmir region, it has been dated to the 6th century. It could provide evidence for the theories positing that the Oseberg Bucket "Buddha" found in a Viking burial on a bucket handle is actually inspired by Buddhist iconography, though it is thought to have come from Ireland or England. The Helgö statue is still held in the Swedish History Museum and where these photos were taken.

- Kalin, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

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10 Apr 2022 17:58

The Stages of Life in Greco-Roman Thought: An Extract from 'Life Cycle' by Tim Parkin

How we perceive the stages of life directly affects how we view others and ourselves. This work highlights how some European schools of thought viewed the stages of a person's life, with a focus on the Greco-Roman view.

The attached infographic contrasts the various views highlighted in the source.

- Owen, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

07 Apr 2022 21:06

Pagans represent a small but growing force within the diverse religious landscape of the UK and Europe at large. Despite this, the philosophical and political foundations of British, and Western institutions in general, presume common values predicated on thought systems which exclude pagans. How can the integrity of our tradition be upheld going forward?

-The theme of this conference is- 'Preserving European spiritual traditions in a globalised future'.
-The purpose of this conference is to bring together polytheist thought leaders to consider building a philosophical framework for preserving the integrity of our traditions within an emerging new world order
-Tom Rowsell 'Survive the Jive' shall be the keynote speaker.
-Dr.Borja Vilallonga, Ph.D. is a scholar of history and religion @modernplatonist
-Live music from @fyrgen aka Wolcensmen
-Advancements in technology pose challenges to those who uphold pagan systems of ethics
-Let us address these issues and more, together!

Tickets at eventbrite

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

05 Apr 2022 23:57

Hymn to Woden by William Lisle Bowles (24 September 1762 – 7 April 1850).

God of the battle, hear our prayer!
By the lifted falchion's glare;
By the uncouth fane sublime,
Marked with many a Runic rhyme;
By the 'weird sisters' dread,
That, posting through the battle red,
Choose the slain, and with them go
To Valhalla's halls below,
Where the phantom-chiefs prolong
Their echoing feast, a giant throng,
And their dreadful beverage drain
From the skulls of warriors slain:
God of the battle, hear our prayer;
And may we thy banquet share!
Save us, god, from slow disease;
From pains that the brave spirit freeze;
From the burning fever's rage;
From wailings of unhonoured age,
Drawing painful his last breath;
Give us in the battle death!
Let us lift our glittering shield,
And perish, perish in the field!
Now o'er Cumri's hills of snow
To death, or victory, we go;
Hark! the chiefs their cars prepare;
See! they bind their yellow hair;
Frenzy flashes from their eye,
They fly--our foes before them fly!
Woden, in thy empire drear,
Thou the groans of death dost hear,
And welcome to thy dusky hall
Those that for their country fall!
Hail, all hail the godlike train,
That with thee the goblet drain;
Or with many a huge compeer,
Lift, as erst, the shadowy spear!
Whilst Hela's inmost caverns dread
Echo to their giant tread,
And ten thousand thousand shields
Flash lightning o'er the glimmering fields!
Hark! the battle-shouts begin--
Louder sounds the glorious din:
Louder than the ice's roar,
Bursting on the thawing shore;
Or crashing pines that strew the plain,
When the whirlwinds hurl the main!
Riding through the death-field red,
And singling fast the destined dead,
See the fatal sisters fly!
Now my throbbing breast beats high--
Now I urge my panting steed,
Where the foemen thickest bleed.
Soon exulting I shall go,
Woden, to thy halls below;
Or o'er the victims, as they die,
Chaunt the song of Victory!

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

30 Mar 2022 06:00

Join Me in Daily Practice for the Month of April

Following the Mars challenge, one personal goal I'm setting myself for April is simple. 30 days of worship and meditation. I would like to invite any of our subscribers who are interested to take part as well. Even if it's as simple as integrating meditation or a small prayer into your daily routine.

See how your perception changes, any questions feel free to ask in the comments section as usual.

- Owen, The Sun Riders
@Solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

17 Mar 2022 19:25

🍀 St. Patrick’s Day and the Creation of the World

St. Patrick’s Day is said to mark the death of St. Patrick and to commemorate the bringing of Christianity to Ireland. However, it occurs right around the time of the March Equinox (March 21) and near the Hindu equinox-related celebration of Holi (March 18). These mark the beginning of Spring.

As I’ve shown, the time around the March Equinox (perhaps connected to a nearby moon-event) would have marked the IE commemoration of the Creation of the world (which mythos Holi is also derived from).

As this is the beginning of Spring within the world, so it is the springing forth of the life of the cosmos from the primordial cosmic winter on a higher level, the creation of the world.

As St. Patrick’s Day is said to mark the bringing of Christianity to Ireland and the death of Patrick, the Irish Creation myth tells of the bringing of the Sons of Mil, the first ancestors of the Irish, to Ireland, and the death of Mac Greine (see: Ymir/Dyaus) and finally of Eber Finn (see: Odinn/Rudra). As such St. Patrick’s Day could be argued to be overlaid over this earlier mythos to some extent.

So today or in the next few days leading to the Equinox, pour a toast to your ancestors, the high gods, who came as the Sons of Mil to bring the Irish and their ancient ways to Ireland, and think of the primordial sacrifice of Father Sky, Mac Greine, and the subsequent death of Eber Finn, which in truth was the creation of a bridge back to divinity for those who followed, if its meaning is interpreted correctly.

The Celtic Creation Myth: https://taliesinsmap.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-celtic-creation-myth-branwen_21.html?m=1

- O’Gravy, The Sun Riders
@solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

14 Mar 2022 10:13

Are you crushing Goals in our Mars Challenge?

Let’s assess our progress as the first half of the month now lies behind us.

- Did you find new ways to push yourself physically?
- What have you been reading?
- Did you strengthen your spiritual practice?
- Which bad habits did you kick?

Tell us in the comments which goals you have committed to and what you have accomplished thus far, we’d love to hear from you.

@solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

10 Mar 2022 10:17

This post really resonated with me. My most profound spiritual experiences so far have always been at dawn or dusk. Get practicing if you’re not already. Also, I would suggest you get planning for a ritual on the dawn closest to the mid-April full moon. The group I’m a part of does this ritual each year after camping out, and it’s always fantastic.

I give a basic outline to a ritual you can try here.

- Owen, The Sun Riders
@Solarcult

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

09 Mar 2022 16:35

Poem to the Unknown God

"Once more, before I move on
and set my sights ahead,
in loneliness I lift my hands up to you,
you to whom I flee,
to whom I, in the deepmost depth of my heart,
solemnly consecrated altars
so that ever
your voice may summon me again.

Deeply graved into those altars
glows the phrase: To The Unknown God.
I am his, although I have, until now,
also lingered amid the unholy mob;
I am his—and I feel the snares
that pull me down in the struggle and,
if I would flee,
compel me yet into his service.

I want to know you, Unknown One,
Who reaches deep into my soul,
Who roams through my life like a storm—
You Unfathomable One, akin to me!
I want to know you, even serve you."

- Friedrich Nietzsche, 1864

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

23 Feb 2022 20:53

A few years ago I whittled this maple serving spoon for feasts. It features knotwork and a swastika at the top of the handle and, out of the carvings I've done, it's probably my favourite so far (you can also see my Thunor idol in the background).

🜨

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

21 Feb 2022 13:03

Julius Evola quotes on the subject of Buddhism
https://youtu.be/pbOgXfMcLoQ

☀️The Sun Riders☀️

20 Feb 2022 14:56

The Head of a Celtic(?) Buddhist

This stucco head of an "Enlightened" potentially Celtic Buddhist was found among 15,000 Greco-Buddhist era artifacts by French Archaeologists in Hadda, Afghanistan. This head is believed to be held at the Musee Guimet or The National Museum of Asian Arts in France. One of multiple possible depictions of Celts in Buddhist art.

- Kalin, The Sun Riders
@solarcult