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Even the waterfalls are frozen

Icelandic geyser

Reykjavik mornings

Cernunnos and Nodens

The duality of man

Two ancient Celtic gods who, thanks to the aural tradition of the Druids and the stabbing tradition of the Romans, we know very little about. But I've been thinking about what we do know about them and I have some speculation that has zero evidence but I'd like to share anyway.

To me they seem to be gods of different aspects of the same things. To quote Terry Pratchett, to be human is "To be the place where the Fallen Angel meets the Rising Ape," we aren't quite animals but nor are we divine. We have one foot in each camp.

Cernunnos represents our beastial side while Nodens represents our civilised side. Here's my reasoning:

Cernunnos is god of wildlife. Nodens is the god of dogs, our first domesticated animal.

Cernunnos is a god of fertility, or at least male virility. Nodens is a god of healing. One is the base lust that creates new life, the other is practiced learning that preserves existing life.

Nodens is a hunting/fishing god, as in the practical activities we do to sustain ourselves. Cernunnos is god of THE HUNT, as in the actual bloody thrill of the chase.

Another way to look at this last one would be; Cernunnos is a hunting god whereas Nodens is a war god. The two forms of violence man partakes in, one is arguably natural while the other man made. However, I feel the need to point out that Nodens isn't exactly a war god, he's a healer god, but the Roman soldiers in Britain associated him with Mars, a war god who from the perspective of a soldier had healer aspects.

To my Life,

Do you hear the hunters howling?

Clad in the skins they ripped in my name?

Do not blame me.

I gave them the furs, but you gave them the cold.

I gave them the flame, but you gave them the fear.

I am the hunt, but you are the hunger!

They love me not and sing your praises,

But I put the spear where you gave no claws,

I put the arrow where you gave no speed,

And I offered an axe where you denied shelter.

An axe is an axe, an invitation only. Fell the tree or the elements fell you...

they love me not and sing your praises but all ends lead to me.

Yours, Death x

Getting there

This is where I saw the ghost rabbit

Lost in't wood, 'neath moon and under

Branches crooked, creaked and twisted

Hooves upon my ears did thunder

And paths ahead dimmed and misted.

When from the fog that woods did shroud

A phantom host with horse and hound

Through dark trees they swiftly ploughed

In thrilling chase their quarry bound.

At their head in knightly guise

With mighty spear in wintery grasp

And antlered crown and hollow eyes

A hunter dread who's words did rasp;

"Oh, mortal soul, do not dare gaze

Lest by our curse you'll be beguiled

To join our eerie eternal craze

In company of the Hunters Wild."

Shielded by strong walls

Guarding against the tempest

Safety in their keep

The Morbitorium Museum in Pontywaun is perfect for a little Halloween day trip.

Serendipity, the happy accident, is such a strange but rewarding occurrence.

I bet that split second delay felt like an eternity to Muraki. But that slightest of pauses is so much more impactful than if it was instant.

I bet Nakadai was fully concentrating on staying composed and on his feet, the result is a look of bewildered disbelief that is so satisfying.

This gif is outrageous

I wrote a poem. I don't write poetry so it isn't good. It's about the Autumn Equinox.

Happy Autumn Equinox, Blessed Be.