The Numatam or Septagram, is the most sacred of symbols. It is the symbol of our faith and of whole we are as a people. Much like the Cross is to Christians, Star of Davis is to Jews, the Pentagram is to Wiccans and the Greek Key is to Pagan Greeks. The Numatam has many stories, philosophies, and applications attached to it. In the Autumn Wood Tradition the earth symbolized the divine, as the interconnectedness of all things was the sacred message throughout their lives. Nothing was separate from the other, each life force bound to the other and explains the importance of the earth being regarded as our mother who provides for us with food, shelter, and holds water for us when we thirst. There was no one symbol that represented all their philosophies. The tree, the mountain, the river, and the animal were all symbolic and connected to the divine. To further this belief and philosophy the Numatam today represents the seven ideals which those of the Bowynn Tradition uphold and strive for in life, each a guide to daily living.
The points refer to the seven virtues prized by all who follow The Autumn Wood tradition – Peace, Charity, Love, Courage, Kindness, Spirituality and Balance.
Secondly the points refer to the seven principles as mentioned above – Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Soul, Spirit and Balance.
The Numatam also represents the 7 aspects of the forest under which we need to survive – Forest, Wind, Rain/Stream, Hearth, Sun, Moon and Balance.
The Numatam also represents the 7 guilds under which our clans come together as, and each member has a part to partake in – Warriors, Mages, Healers, Weavers, Harvesters, Bards and Librarians.
The Numatam represents the Seven Swords of the Wild Wood, Give to the first 7 chiefs of the first 7 tribes. (This will be touched on later on) – Dennon, Eurya, Kell, Ryos, Aevos, Halis and Tenlon.
The Numatam represents the 7 great rites that befalls a member in the course of his/her life (providing that they are born to the clan – Birth, Naming, Adolescence, Adulthood, Marriage, Death and Resurrection.
Each Line of the Numatam represent a sacred pathway that we follow and meditate on
Lastly, we come to the sphere that encases it all. The circle representing the connection of all of these qualities into one. The circle of life. Totality and enclosure. The embrace of arms around you by the gods.
These philosophies provided here are a general guide and each point and line can be expanded on in great lengths. The Numatam is a wonderful meditation meant to be experienced and explored. One can find even greater meanings to the Numatam through meditation and reflection. For us, and some who practice the following philosophies, feel that the points reflect values in which we choose to honor. The journey through the points is like reading a story with hidden wisdom.
A final word about the Numatam. While most other faiths feel that wearing their holy symbol brings them closer to their divine, Bowynn need not do so. While some Bowynn name were the Numatan as a bracelet, necklace, ring or have it tattooed or painted on their skin, it is not required by any divine law. We live withing the confines of the Numatam. It is with us and all about us wherever we travel. So, one need not have to feel you must by a Numatam pendant.
Wooden pog of Unthar with eyes drawn in - created by myself , Made in 1987
Aleglea (Al-leh-glee-ah) Aleglea is the patroness of the Bowynn people. Amongst all the goddesses she is often revered the most. She is the goddess of all the joys and beauties of the world, all the things that makes us happy. She is a goddess of flowers, dance, joy, happiness, adornment, glory and magnificence, mirth and good-cheer, festivities and banquets, dancing and song. Her very name means “Happiness.” Aleglea is the daughter of Brand and Brenda and considered a goddess that is most pleasing. It is said that some mortals cannot look at her without bursting into tears of joy. And others cannot look at her because they feel less than worthy to do so.
Aleglea represents beauty in crafted objects and artistic adornment, of festival dance and song, glory and flowers. No matter where you go the gifts of the goddess is there. Aleglea presides over the pleasures of life, including play and amusement, parties, banquets, floral decorations, rest, happiness, and relaxation. She is the goddess of flowers. So flowery wreaths are worn at festivals and parties just to honor the lady. Aleglea is seen as a woman of simple beauty. Crowned in a wreath of flowers on her honey-colored hair and she has beautiful green eyes, wearing a saffron and ruby colored dress. It is said her hladd is decorated with flowers, birds, butterflies and images of dancing people though many people have said they have seen Aleglea without wearing a hladd. She wears no shoes, instead walking barefoot.
Sacred to Aleglea is the butterfly, a creature which she sometimes takes form in. The most sacred gifts of and to this goddess is in the form of all flowers. During festivals garlands and wreathes of flowers are hung everywhere in her name. Other offerings to her are pots of honey, votive butterfly images and of course incense.
Entenn (Ah-ku-ah) The Entenn are the great tree and forest Kii. [spirits] They are literally “Tree folk” that guard great forests. The Entenn are made up of trees so unlike other Kii, they are not mobile, as they have no legs nor feet. Being of a tree, they are naturally huge in size, but one can assume that there are small Entenn as well. Most Entenn will never reveal themselves to mortal men; instead, they will stand perfectly still and mix in with the normal trees.
Odjett (Ohd-jet) God of the 4th Gate of Daunnat, of balance and one of the gods of Daunnat. He, like the other Gate guardians of Daunnat, are the children of Chumash and Kalma.
As with all the gods of Daunnat, Odjett is not an evil god, nor a god of judgment. His role is that of a guardian of Daunnat. He is the bestower of balance to souls, as no spirit can enter Daunnat without this virtue. However, it is common for the living to call to Odjett who are suffering from the lack of balance in their lives. But sould prayers are more from divinities like Bia and Manaea. This is not to say that Odjett brings ill to souls but to balance out any ill in their lives with goodness and purity. So, if a person was plaque with misfortune in their lives, sickness, bad luck, it is Odjett that balances that out for the soul before reaching the presence of Chumash and Kalma. As god of the Gate of Balance, Odjett is represented as one of the 7 gods of the sacred septagram.
Odjett sustains from visiting Alaway, instead preferring to feast with the souls and other gods in Daunnat.
Odjett has no known totem animal, instead always staying in his godly form; At times he is seen carrying a septagram tile or a staff, entwined with sage leaves or apple leaves.
Sacred to Odjett is the Septagram and sage plant. During funeral services, a bowl of milk and sage leaves is left to him, as customary and a statuette of the departed, so the god will recognize the departed’s soul, which is identical to his body.
(Above) The soul of a young man in front of Odjett
Naddas (Nahd-das) God of the 2nd Gate of Daunnat, of kindness and one of the gods of Daunnat, the land of spirits. Of all the Gate Gods, Naddas is the eldest. He, like the other Gate Guardians of Daunnat, is the son of Chumash and Kalma.
As with all the gods of Daunnat, Naddas is not an evil god, nor a god of judgment. His role is that of a guardian of Daunnat. He is the bestower of Kindness and welcomeness to spirits, as no spirit can enter Daunnat without this virtue. However, it is common for the living to call to Naddas who are suffering from the lack of Kindness in their lives. As the god of the Gate of Kindness, Naddas is one of the 7 gods of the sacred heptagram. Naddas sustains from visiting Alaway, instead preferring to feast with the spirits in Daunnat.
Naddas has no known totem animal, instead always staying in his godly form; an elderly man dressed in a robe of deep purple trimmed in gold. At times he is seen carrying a heptagram tile or a staff, entwined with ivy.
Sacred to Naddas is the Heptagram and ivy plant. During funeral services, a bowl of milk is left to him and the other Guardians of the Gates, as customary and a statuette of the departed, so the god will recognize the departed’s soul, which is identical to his body.
Tora (Tor-ah) Goddess of the night and universal darkness. She is the creation of Bia at the beginning of time, along with her siblings Saul, Shayla and Daeth. She is not seen as a negative goddess but merely a guardian and essence of the element of night and all that night pertains to. She is particularly much a patron to people who are “night owls” or feel more attuned to work nights. Those that find a bond with Tora will often light floating lanterns to her and send their prayers to Tora using these lanterns as a form of a link between them and Tora.
Tora was not born with her godly attribute but like her brothers and sister, had to gain it. She wrestled with a pair of great black celestial panthers that were the guardians of the night. Winning them over, she tamed the two great sky cats and made them her steeds instead of destroying them.
To this days Tora is seen crossing the night sky with two panthers. Tora eventually wed the god Daeth and from them was born the goddess Morrighynn, which took over the control of the moon at night. Tora also gave birth to the dream goddess Naraea.
Tora is seen as a motherly goddess, with long black hair and garments of black with silvery accents. She is often seen with her black panthers or as a black panther or black cat herself, when mortals are close by. Sacred to Tora are votive images of black cats and black panthers, as well as any nocturnal creatures. Also sacred to her is candles and lanterns and black tea.
Wood carved Pog of Sumon - Created by myself 1987
Sumon (Su-mon) Sumon is the ancient and primordial god of all of earth's waters and the water element. "Sumon" means "Water". He is the creation of Bia and one of the creators of mankind. Sumon is the consort of the goddess Phaenix. Through which they produced a lineage of other gods.
In the creation of mankind, Brea, goddess of the earth, had tried to form mankind with earth from the ground. But the earth was dry and would not stay together. It was Sumon that added his gift of water to the dirt and made it moldable and gave mankind blood. It was also Sumon that filled the earth’s canyons and chasms with water, creating oceans, seas and rivers, thus dividing lands into continents.
Sumon is seen as an older man of grandfather years, with a beard and long white wavy hair. His eyes are said to be a deep sea green. In his godly form some have seen Sumon in a simple himation wrapped about his body. Others however have seen him more fully dressed, in royal garments of blues and greens, embroidered in silver and jeweled with abalone and other sea shells. In hand Sumon is often seen holding an ornate staff of silver, laced with pearls, shell and turquoise. Sumon’s totem form is that of a great whale. Sacred to Sumon are sea and fresh water fish, water, sea plants, pond plants and flowers and votive images of fish and sea life.
Exploring the Faith, Sacred Way and Mystical Arts of the Bowynn Tradition
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