Explain the monomyth (aka “hero cycle”) and show how it applies to a single hero from the IE culture of your choice. (150 words min.) A monomyth, put simply, is the “Hero’s Journey”. The development of the hero from the plane mundane world into an epic adventure that builds him up to become the hero […]
Indo European Myth 2: #5
Show two examples in one IE culture of a deity engaging in actions that are unethical or unvirtuous, and speculate on why the deities sometimes engage in this type of behavior. (min. 100 words per example) Joseph McKinnel has an entire chapter on Odin and his various sundries he has participated in within Norse lore […]
Indo European Myth 2: #4
Describe instances of “freeing” or “winning” the waters in two different IE cultures. How can this theme be used to reinforce our current practices and cosmology? (300 words min.) In Celtic lore, the story of Nechtan of the Tuatha De Danann and the secret well that only he and his cupbearers could approach is fairly […]
Indo European Myth 2: Application #2
Using your answer to question 4 above (winning the waters), create a piece for use in ritual that describes the winning of the waters. (no min. word count) For our Imbolc High Rite in 2014, I invoked Boann for our bardic inspiration, focusing on the story of her betrayl of Nechtan to approach the secret […]
Indo European Myth 2: #3
Describe the raiding of cattle by warriors (or divine reflexes of this action) in two cultures. How does this theme reflect the culture of the ancient Indo-European peoples, and is this theme relevant to modern Pagans? (300 words min.) Lincoln discusses an example of a cattle-raiding story between Cacus and Hercules in Roman mythology, where […]
Indo European Myth 2: #2
Describe the image of the Otherworld and/or afterlife in three different IE cultures. How may these images impact your understanding of your own afterlife beliefs and those of Neo-Pagans in general? (400 words min.) The Norse image of the afterlife is one of the most interesting concepts to me. They have a very strong theme […]
Indo European Myth 2: #1
Describe and compare how the cosmos is created through sacrifice in two different IE cultures. (150 words min. each culture) In Norse culture, which is what I am most accustomed to these days, there is the creation story of Ymir the giant. The story starts with fire and ice from Niflheim and Muspellheim. The cataclysmic […]
Bardic Studies for Liturgists
Congratulations! Your Bardic Studies for Liturgists submission passes.Blessings, Rev. Michael Dangler I’ll be honest, I liked this. No issues with the substance of what you wrote, though I see why you had some trepidation about this one. I liked your poems, and I think that you did a good job on the comparison pieces. Honestly, […]
General Bardic Studies for Liturgists, #3
Compare and contrast examples from the work of two poets of the same historical era from two different cultural traditions. (minimum 300 words of the student’s original essay material beyond the verses provided at least two poems per poet) Gnaeus Naevius was a notable Roman epic poet from 270-201 B.C., who had a very good […]
General Bardic Studies for Liturgists, Citations
“Cú Chulainn.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Oct. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. Jones, Mary. “The Death of Cu Chulainn.” The Death of Cu Chulainn. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. “Beowulf.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Oct. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. “Ulster Cycle.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. Hall, Lesslie. […]
