#lusitanian paganism

[corvidnestwitchery]

This is a Sign

After sifting through bad advice and doing my own research, I decided to try deity work. Trying to find a deity to work with was a challenge. Knowing I wanted to work with a spirit that is deeply connected with nature I began to make offerings to nature as a way of reaching out, taking care of my plants, picking up garbage, yard work, etc.. Part of me was waiting for a sign, the other part was highly skeptical of anything resembling a sign.

When my research brought me to her it felt like the perfect fit. I lit a candle and pulled out my tarot deck and attempted to introduce myself. It was a clunky conversation on my part. In hindsight I could've practiced tarot more or found an additional way to communicate but my excitement got the better of me. I ended up offering to build a garden for her.

I left the conversation unsure of how it went. I wrote down my interpretations of what she told me but I worried I only heard what I wanted to hear.

The next day I started clearing the gravel in the spot I picked to start her garden.

in my digging i found a stone

placed by some gardener before me

the size of both fists

it shone,

volcanic glass

freckled with snow

i wanted a sign

she gave me a stone

A bigass snowflake obsidian telling me, 'yes, it went well'

[lunaiinn]

Happy Autumn Solestice!

I'm not much of a celebrator, but I had the rare wish to draw something for it.

Say hi to Ataegina! Lusitanian Goddess of life, death, and spring.

"The spring in the Underworld"

Fertility Goddesses are the ones usually celebrated from what I've been told.

I mostly referenced her likeness through @rosasininho drawings of the Gods.

[harpagornis]

Tried to repost on tumblr but the damn site wouldn't allow me.

[aviationmoniker]

New pagan e-book!

[jasminewalkerauthor]

Deep dives into folklore: Portuguese folklore

Portuguese folklore, a mesmerizing mosaic of myths and legends, serves as a profound testament to the cultural heritage of the nation. Woven over centuries, this intricate tapestry reflects the dynamic interplay of historical influences, blending the legacies of Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Celts, and Christians. Rooted in a diverse historical landscape, Portuguese folklore encapsulates the essence of the country's identity, encapsulating the collective imagination of its people. As we embark on a deep dive into this mystical realm, we unveil the stories, characters, and cultural significance that have endured through the ages, illuminating the captivating spirit of Portugal's folklore.

Portuguese folklore has deep roots in the country's history, blending influences from various civilizations that have shaped the region over millennia. Phoenician, Roman, Moorish, and Celtic influences, among others, have contributed to the diverse range of myths and legends that make up Portugal's folklore.

One of the earliest influences on Portuguese folklore is the Roman presence in Lusitania. The Romans introduced their own deities and myths, blending with the existing indigenous beliefs. As Christianity took root in the region, a symbiotic relationship developed between pagan and Christian elements, resulting in a unique blend of folklore that reflects Portugal's cultural identity.

The Lusitanian Mythical Heritage:

Before Roman rule, the Lusitanians, an ancient Celtic people, had their own pantheon of deities and mythical beings. The god Bandua, associated with war and protection, and the goddess Ataegina, linked to fertility, are examples of Lusitanian figures that persisted in local folklore.

The Moura Encantada:

The Moura Encantada, or the Enchanted Moorish Maiden, is a prominent figure in Portuguese folklore. These mythical beings are often beautiful women with magical powers, dwelling in hidden places or trapped in enchantments. Stories of love, loss, and magical intervention surround the Moura Encantada, emphasizing themes of fate and destiny.

The Lobo Ibérico (Iberian Wolf):

Wolves hold a significant place in Portuguese folklore, symbolizing both danger and wisdom. The Lobo Ibérico is a recurring motif, representing the untamed wilderness and the struggle for survival. Folk tales often feature wolves as shape-shifters or mystical guardians, embodying the complex relationship between humans and nature.

The Barco da Roda (Wheelbarrow Boat):

Coastal regions of Portugal have tales of the Barco da Roda, a phantom boat that appears during storms. Believed to be a harbinger of doom, this spectral vessel is associated with the souls of the deceased. The folklore surrounding the Barco da Roda reflects the maritime culture and the inherent connection between the Portuguese people and the sea.

Portuguese folklore serves as a mirror reflecting the collective consciousness of the nation. It embodies the struggles, triumphs, and enduring spirit of the Portuguese people. The fusion of pagan and Christian elements in folklore illustrates the adaptive nature of Portugal's cultural identity.

Festivals and celebrations often incorporate folklore, with traditional dances, music, and costumes bringing mythical characters to life. The Feast of São João, celebrated across Portugal, features rituals and customs that trace their roots to ancient solstice celebrations, merging pre-Christian traditions with Christian elements.

In conclusion, Portuguese folklore is a captivating journey through the cultural tapestry of a nation. Its origins in diverse historical influences, the presence of mythical figures like the Moura Encantada and the Lobo Ibérico, and its cultural significance in festivals and celebrations all contribute to the richness of Portugal's folklore. Through the ages, these stories have been passed down, evolving and adapting while preserving the essence of Portugal's enchanting heritage.

Taglist (reply or reblog to be added): @axl-ul @crow-flower @thoughts-fromthevoid @alderwoodbooks @harleyacoincidence @tuberosumtater @sonic-spade @theonlygardenia @holymzogynybatman @nulliel-tres @w0rkah0licz @sylvanthorn @tigertaurus22 @profiterole-reads @mathias-musings @1899adgg1997tbmd @grimmparanormalinvestigations

[undeadmagick]

i wanted to ask generally, as someone who is brazilian, i find it difficult to find pagan/witchcraft related to my culture? With researching it in Brazil, a lot of it is for and made by afro-latinos. (As someone who’s white, I obviously won’t take to practicing it.) When looking in Portugal, Lusitanian mythology is the most I can find outside of Catholic content but even then, it’s not well-recorded from what I’ve seen? Most people suggest looking into just Roman and Celtic mythos instead since they had great influence in western Iberia. kinda need advice lol. anything from research in regards to the culture or advice from those who are also brazilian :)

[innerchorus]

Who are the gods of the parsian worship?

I looked at the main page on the fandom wiki, but under culture, there is not really anything about it?

As I'm currently writing and planning for my AU, I wanted to have some similarities between Maaren and Parsian gods.

Rather than the wiki, I'd recommend checking the website of the first fan translation for this sort of thing! There's a Religion/Mythology section on the Glossary page that you'll definitely find useful. The attributes listed there for these deities are how they are presented in the series, but if you wish to expand on them or are looking for further insight it's worth doing some research into what Tanaka was drawing on when he named them. Conveniently, the relevant Wikipedia pages are linked as a good starting point.

If you scroll down the the bottom part of this post of mine, too, there's an image of the statues of Parsian deities from the manga and a bit of discussion of religion in Pars that may be of interest.

And also, since I saw some discussion of Maryam and their religion in the comments of your OC post...

Maryam is based on the Eastern Roman Empire at the time of its decline, so basically Greek culture. The Lusitanian invasion and the ruin it brought to Maryam, a country that also followed the faith of Yaldaboath, is similar to the Fourth Crusade sacking Constantinople.

Lusitania follows the hard-line Western Church while Maryam was a follower of the more moderate Eastern Church, which led to conflict between the two (this is mentioned in manga Chapter 62)

Maryam was also very religiously tolerant; pagans were permitted to settle there and various religions were able to coexist

Presumably the country was polytheistic prior to adopting the faith of Yaldaboath

There's even a reference in the novels to the Maryamian warship that carries Princess Irina to safety having a bow decorated with a statue of the god of the sea that they worship!

Here it is in the manga. Based on Poseidon, I assume.

And one of the knights with Irina has this owl cloak clasp (see 'owl of Athena')

So perhaps even those who worship Yaldaboath also keep faith with other gods or goddesses? (Something that the Lusitanians would not tolerate)

[me-amora]

HELP me in my espiritual journey

Hi!

Recently I've been looking into beliefs and practices that don't strictly follow any major religion.

I've fallen into a rabbit hole looking into the basis of modern paganism, wicca, druidism, witchcraft, pantheism etc... and deconstructing my views (Yes, guess it, I was raised christian but I've distanced myself so much). And also looking at Portuguese/ Celtic/Lusitanian mythology since in Portugal we don't learn anything about the beliefs that we had before Christianization. I'm exploring basically because I feel the need for something and I never turned atheist, more like agnostic if anything.

I usually tend to believe more in energy, in a sense that there is a balance, an interconnectedness across the universe that is all that there is, part of everyone and everything. And I do love the aspects of being one with nature and femininity. I don't necessarily negate gods, I just look at them as humanized representations of the earth, the universe or human nature, and not necessarily as higher conscious beings looking down on us.

I find it hard to put it into words so I did what any girlie does, I used Pinterest. For those of you who are more knowledgeable about different religions, beliefs and practices, could you help me understand my direction, what seems to resonate more with me?

[alliseaisfandom]

Same here, if anyone has any information

Hey! I’m looking for information/books on Iberian/Lusitanian mythology; I’ve been searching on my own but aside from a few websites and the wikipedia page I’ve been coming up short. If anyone can help me out it would be much appreciated! 

[farmacopeiadogmatica]

Bust of Endovelicus - National Museum of Archaeology, Lisboa - Portugal Endovelicus (Endovélico in Portuguese), was an Iron Age god of public health and safety, worshipped in pre-Roman and Roman Lusitania. After the Roman invasion, his cult spread to most of the Roman Empire, but was always most popular in the Roman provinces of Lusitania (covering most of what is now Portugal) and Betica (located in Southern Spain). The cult of Endovelicus prevailed until the 5th century, just when Christianity was spreading in the region.

[diaryofamelungeon]

Don’t come reblogging the stuff we post talmbout “proud melungeon” if you’re going to turn around and admin a group that demonizes Machisaba, Sabianism, Lusitanian Mythology, Iberian paganism, or any other non-baptist Melungeon practices or religions and promotes the problematic belief that just because we were oppressed, displaced, and isolated, that we were unable to keep our traditions and practices alive, orally.  This blog respects all Melungeon descendants family and oral traditions and you will be blocked for colonizer behavior and acting like a Plecker.  the Facebook group “Melungeon and Proud of it” is problematic with big colonizer energy.  -Fayth

[taran71]

Equinoccio de Otoño y Ataegina For the Autumnal Equinox, I once again paid honor to the Goddess Ataegina, just as I had at the Vernal Equinox. Ataegina was a popular goddess among the Lusitanians, Iberians and the Celtiberians.   The name Ataegina is most commonly derived from a Celtic source: the two roots *atte- and *geno- to mean "Reborn" or from *ad-akwī- (Irish adaig) meaning "night". But her presence in decidedly non-Indo-European Iberian regions suggest that she may have an older, indigenous origin, in which case her name's etymology is more likely Iberian or Tartessian. Epigraphs from the Badajoz region associate the goddess with the Roman Proserpina or Persephone which would make her a goddess presiding over Spring and seasonality, echoing the "reborn" derivation of the name. Ataegina, as a Goddess of Spring, is reborn every year (presumably, at the Spring Equinox). This would make Ataegina similar to Greek Persephone or Roman Proserpina. Epigraphs from the Badajoz region of Spain equates the goddess with the Roman Goddess Proserpina, which would make her a goddess presiding over Spring and seasonality, echoing the “reborn” derivation of her name. When she symbolically comes back to life, there is a renewal of life, warmth, the dawn, flowers, health and fertility of the soil. But, Ataegina had a darker aspect. Her chthonic side is associated with the ruling of the Underworld, the coming of winter, funerals and death. With this, Ataegina seems to have the aspect of other Proto-Indo-European Goddesses, Underworld deities like Persephone or Proserpina. Persephone and Proserpina are the Queens of the Underworld of Greek and Roman mythology, respectively. The abduction myth of these Goddesses symbolizes the change of seasons and how they are tied to Spring and the fertility of the earth. The mother of Persephone is Demeter, while the mother of Proserpina is Ceres. Both are the Goddesses of agriculture, growth and fertility of the earth. Therefore, Ataegina is, like Proserpina, a Goddess who spends the Spring and Summer months in the world of the living, bringing warmth and field fertility. At the start of Autumn, she symbolically dies, returning to the Underworld, only to be reborn later, bringing Spring again, in an infinite cycle. This further corroborates the meaning of her name. If life cycles are about birth, life, death and rebirth, as seen in varied vegetation and other natural cycles of life, then it would seem that the cycle of Ataegina would mimic the same. Whereas she is “reborn” in the Spring, in the autumn, she must decline. She was worshipped as a goddess of the underworld, where, in celtic tradition, the dead resided. This would make her the Goddess of Death, akin to Proserpina. To conclude, we can see in Ataegina a very important Iberian Goddess. It makes sense she was a widely revered deity in ancient times, as the season cycles and, thus, the harvests depended on her. Historian and writer Francisco Acedo from Cáceres, Spain, explains in an essay that he believes Ataegina was considered the Virgin of the Mountain in the time before Christianity. At a told presentation in 2007, at El Santuario de Ataegina in Malpartida de Cáceres he stated that the people referred to this deity as the dea (goddess) or sancta (saint). "The importance of Adaegina was such that her name was not said, just as the people of Cáceres now simply call their patron the Virgin," he said.   Ataegina is to be celebrated at the Spring Equinox, which symbolizes her rebirth or return to the world of the living, and at the Autumn Equinox, which symbolizes her death or temporary descent into the Underworld. This is also a nod to the natural cycle of life/death/rebirth of humans and the seasonal cycles in European Paganism and thus, the harvests depended on her. As for festive dates, I’d suggest sometime between early Late September into October and late February into March. - https://herminiusmons.wordpress.com/2018/06/24/ataegina/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataegina - https://second.wiki/wiki/ataecina - https://mullerornis.medium.com/on-the-lusitanian-pantheon-88d768ab34d5

[magical-dancer]

List of Open Religions / Practices

Since I can’t access my side tumblr page that had the list (since both Safari and Chrome say the connection’s insecure for some reason), here ya go. Don’t ask for the sources on where I got these because hell if I know anymore.

DM me if any of these are actually closed.

Magic / Practices:

Altars

Ancestor connection/communication

Astral projection/travel

Astrology

Blood magic

Bone magic

Charms

Crystal healing/magic

Curses

Divination

Dream magic

Elements

Energy work/manipulation

Familiar work

Grimoire/Book of Shadows/Magic Journal

Herbal magic/herbology

Hexes

Knot magic (there’s so many options besides dream catchers)

Meditation

Nature magic

Numerology

Oils/Essential oils

Poppets (NOT voodoo dolls)

Potions

Sabbats

Scrying

Shrines

Sigils

Smoke cleansing (NOT smudging)

Spirit work (Be aware of cultural boundaries)

Wards & Shielding

Religions:

Paganism

Hellenic

Etruscan

Minoan

Roman

Mesopotamian (including Babylonian)

Celtic polytheism (including Gaulish, Irish, Scottish, German, Iberian, and Lusitanian)

Slavic polytheism

Finnish polytheism

Heathenism

Asatruar

Vanatruar

Rokkatruar

Lokean

Reconstructionist

Northern Tradition

Norse Tradition

The Elder Troth

Folkish

Universalist

Neo-Druidism

Neo-Wicca

[harpagornis]

Here's a short book I wrote. Enjoy!

[i-want-it-all-or-nothing-at-all]

A lot of people here on Tumblr have been talking about paganism in the context of worshiping the gods your ancestors worshiped before the arrival of Christianity. that’s kind of an interesting idea, and I’ve been thinking about this, but I’m unsure what that would really be as an Uruguayan. I’m not aware of any native Charrúa in my family, and even if there were, historians, archeologists, etc. don’t know much about them due to the genocide.

So go back to Spain and Portugal, then. Other than ancient Roman religion, which gods were worshiped there? Where would one find info on that? I looked it up and wikipedia gave an overwhelming list: “Galician mythology, Asturian mythology, Cantabrian mythology, Catalan mythology, Lusitanian mythology and Basque mythology. They also include the myths and religions of the Celts, Celtiberians, Iberians, Milesians, Carthaginians, Suebi, Visigoths, Spaniards and Roman and Greek mythology.” And yes, I know the community does not generally like the word mythology. I am just quoting the website.

Also, I don’t know which parts of Spain or Portugal my family is from.

[velhovinho]

hc + zodiac, snapchat, filter, dogs, myth

a headcanon meme

tw for animal deaths under dogs and myth i guess

zodiac

Gabriel is a Libra! October 5th \o/. He doesn’t really care about astrological signs and horoscopes and all that however. Some Libra traits he has are carrying grudges forever, social, loves the outdoors, diplomatic. Gabriel was more interested in the Chinese Zodiac when he learned about it than the Western Zodiac, although he’s not quite sure how he would fit into it as he can’t even remember his birth year and it’d be a lot of calculating to figure out which animal that was even if he did. He’d likely use 1905 as his ‘birth year’, which would make him a Snake (fitting, with the Ophiussa myth and the serpent imagery on the coat of arms). Also I’m laughing that it says for unlucky colors: white, gold, brown. Half his clothes are white or brown and he wears gold earrings half the time. Some fitting Snake traits for him being passionate, smart, sympathetic, humorous, nonchalant (VERY), and jealous. However his interest in the Chinese Zodiac faded due to his complicated relationships with China and the fact he’s just not interested in astrology in general. 

snapchat + filter

Thank you to @stadslichten for the adorable idea of Gabriel struggling to learn Snapchat because I LOVE IT. Bear with the old man as he tries to overcome his tech incompetence. His favorite filter is the cat filter! He has a picture of it saved away because he thinks he looks pretty good in it. He prefers his photographer’s black-and-white camera over his phone’s camera, he did however learn how to use the phone camera even before Snapchat for the purpose of sending nudes. 

dogs

Gabriel is more of a cat person than a dog person, but! He once had a dog as pet during his lifetime. This was as Lusitania, little Marinus adopted a stray dog he found trying to steal bread in the marketplace. As a stray who also had a habit of stealing bread, he felt an instant connection to the poor dog and named him...Canis. Latin for dog. He named the dog Dog. Little Marinus wasn’t too good at coming up with names yet, forgive the poor boy. But he loved little Canis with all his heart, and fed him scraps even when he was hungry. He did his best to keep Canis far away from any fighting he got into as well, and spending time with the dog was a welcome reprieve from the rigors of rebellion. However little Canis was a smart dog (probably nation magic affecting him) and soon figured out his owner leaving often meant his owner coming back hurt all over, so one day he followed Marinus, who got into a scuffle with a Roman legionnaire who’d caught him stealing bread, and the legionnaire accidentally killed Canis when the dog got in between him and Marinus growling. This broke poor little Marinus’ heart, and he wouldn’t have another dog again.

myth

THERE IS...a lot to say here. To start with, Gabriel, or Lugus at the time, cared absolutely zero about the gods of his people. Not the one he was named for, not the head god, not even the god of war. Sometimes he’d participate in the goat sacrifices, or say a prayer with the warriors to Cariocecus (a Lusitanian god of war) before battle. He knew the legends of the horse goddess Epona very well because of his sister Luisa’s (at the time Ebora) insistence on the story of having been born by the goddess. He does admire the myth of Ophiussa (where Greek mariners discovered Port’s coast and gave it the name meaning ‘Land of the Serpents’ because of the peoples’ worship of a snake goddess) and the serpent imagery it inspired in his coat of arms. He learned basically nothing about the Punic religion from his father, and cared even less about it than his own gods. 

As Lusitania he played along with the pagan festivals but refused to worship the Roman gods because of how he hated the Roman rule. And then came Christianity, and woo boy. It wasn’t until the Visigoths came in and set up their little kingdoms that Gabriel (Alaric at the time) first started to be faithful, as he had finally gotten away from the Romans, with Rome getting sacked as the cherry on top. So he became a casual Christian up until the Caliphate came in. 

Under the Islamic rule, Christians were allowed to still practice their religion but were basically treated as second-class citizens and encouraged to convert. And, well, Gabriel (now Malak) at the time had a tendency to do the exact opposite of what any authority figure wanted him to do. So here he went from a casual to a fervent Christian, and by the time of the Reconquista was a full on Christian knight and threw himself headfirst into his faith. 

Here is when he took up the name Gabriel, in part because of his love for the story of the Virgin Mary (also because he’s vain and secretly liked being called angel so Gabriel was a sort of continuation of that). It’s a very powerful story to him and throughout his life he’s venerated Mary as a sort of mother from above. He didn’t really have many mother figures in his life, his mother is a cliff, so that’s how he connected to Mary. Also as a sailor, he was quite superstitious and believed many of the tales of sea monsters and witches and such. Gabriel will also always claim that The Lusiads happened just as written, especially the part where Vasco da Gama’s crew (which he joined with) had an orgy with all the Nereids.

As for today, Gabriel is still a faithful Catholic but has had a few crises of faith over the years and doesn’t go to mass regularly anymore. He got a bachelor’s in classical studies as a way to connect with his roots since as a child he didn’t really pay attention to what was going on outside of fighting Rome. He’s learned all he can about the Celtiberian gods, particularly Lugus where he got his first name, and the Roman god Lusus (who was sometimes conflated with Lugus) where he got ‘Lusitania’ which became an important legacy for him and his people.