Five Stories

[Your scheduled series on prayer will return this Thursday, January 24th.]

As part of my work with the Four Gods, I write new stories (myths) for Them and the various spirits associated and connected to Them. Sometimes these stories come to me in dreams; other times, I simply have the seed of an idea and spiral it forth. As part of my writing for the Pagan Blog Project I am writing a new story about the Gods and spirits each week as well, which so far has been fruitful in producing new ideas and stories. Some stories are closer to my heart than others, as some I wrote down simply to get them out of my head (though, as many a writer will say, a story may not leave you alone even when you write it completely).

5. on the Orchard-Picker and Her creatures [link]

This was a meditative/reflective piece on symbols I had seen popping up whenever I prayed to and called to the Orchard-Picker, one of the Four Gods most associated with stability and material happiness.

the Lion was so beloved that the singer took from the very heart of the Orchard a shard of jet and hung it from his neck for all to see. It shone with her love and her power, and all who gazed in its surface were confronted with all their failings. and the Lion guarded the Orchard from twilight to twilight with his great paws and his mirror of black stone, but in the brief moments of pure sun or moon he would run throughout the world and collect the souls of the weak in his mirror.

4. three deifications [link]

Apotheosis features very prominently in the mythology of the Four Gods and in the mystical work I do, and I enjoy exploring the various ways the Gods I worship became the Gods that They are today. As I consider what transpired ‘before divinity’ to be vital and important when we approach the Gods – since it radically changes how and who we are approaching in that moment – these stories and variations are one I turn to often.

When she breathes for the first time, the air is knives in her bleeding chest. When she opens her eyes for the first time, a star from the earth touches her pale open cheeks and sews her body closed, and the air no longer stings and the world no longer hurts and she is no longer raw.

3. the Thunder [link]

Though this story focuses more on the divine youth and the most ‘beloved’ of the Four Gods, the real focus is intended to be the Thunderhorse, a spirit that accompanies each of the Gods. The horse is especially fond of the divine youth, and the story is meant to display both ker commitment to the young God and illustrate the animosity between the semi-divine spirit and aspen forests.

The spirit was as pale as the aspens with eyes as dark as theirs, hair as green as their trembling leaves, limbs as wily and shaking as their branches. The Boy had never seen such a creature and gazed in awe, and he was so taken in by the sight of it that the horse bucked and thundered and threw him from its back. But the Boy continued to stare, captivated, at the spirit of the aspens. The spirit turned and walked deeper, and there was no hesitation as the Boy followed it in.

2. the Dragongirl [link]

Though I’ve still yet to unravel my symbolism concerning dragons, the story of the Dragongirl places her as inheritor to earthy strength and obligation – in exchange for divine love. The theme of obligation and duty opposing or altering love and wishes (and vice versa) is something I hope to continue in future stories and myths, as it features largely in at least one of the Gods mythos.

You step into the hill and go down, down, down past the light paths and glittering chasms. Past dripping water and the most precious of gems, past cold earth and molten fire. There is no door. There is no entrance. You step and you are with her – the dragon turns her great head towards you and exhales smoke at you, but you breathe and the cold air of your lungs cuts the smoke. The dragon turns her great body towards you, but you are unafraid. Slowly, slowly, like time that is timeless, she moves forward and embraces you.

1. the Book Hoarder [link]

Another story written for the Pagan Blog Project, this is currently my favorite – though I have an obvious bias due to my affection for the written word. The unnamed main character in the story is the Orchard-Picker (once again), an obvious choice due to Her dominion over stable homes, small pleasures, and constant learning.

She lost herself in the shelves, in the covers, in the pages, in the ink and scawl and each word. She lost herself for an eternity and more. There were always more books to read. There was always more knowledge to gain. There would never be enough time or enough space or enough air for all of it, but the library did not end. It sprawled forth endlessly, outward and upward and in every direction, books in every corner.