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Towards a Western Zoroastrian Mithraism
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Some Ideas for RunesRUNESRunes are the ‘secrets of existence’. They are mental pegs which help us make sense of the world. Often runes come in sets . Pantheons of deities are a kind of runeset. SOME PAGAN RUNES WIGHTS The word ‘wight’ just means a ‘being’. The concept of a wight is based on the perception that there are movements in the world which conform to a regular or meaningful pattern. A wight is a mental construct for whatever is the cause of that pattern. Some Examples of Types of Wights: soulwight – a living creature manwight – a person (from Old English Man – a person) placewight – keeps a particular place being the kind of place it is soccerwight – causes people to associate with each other (or bandwight) makerwight - causes things to be produced from raw materials breakerwight – cause things to break up – undermines their internal dynamic steererwight – what influences or governs multiple beings so that their different activities fit together to achieve some purpose tellerwight – what causes understandings of the world to travel from person to person goldwight – orders people’s perceptions of how much gold or money they have and other people have and how money is created and destroyed and transferred from one to another (or moneywight) garthwight – controls the building, placement and destruction of walls which are barriers of communication and influence between people. Garthwights build garths or enclosures within which holistic (i.e. self-contained and complete) activity can happen. Giants are wights which are large in size compared to us. These include the giant processes or activities of the natural world which continue regardless of their effect on humans. Similarly the movements of the human world which happen on such a large scale that they are not responsive to individual needs are also giants. The Demiurge is a kind of giant that is responsible for shaping the nature of people (and by extension other creatures also). A Natural Demiurge refers to anything that shapes the world, while otherwise a Manic Demiurge (manic=with a mind) is a conscious seat of activity which shapes the growth and nature of people. A Demiurge can be more or less good or bad. MORE PAGAN RUNES A band is an association of people. A sibband is an especially strong band whose members (siblings) have loyalties to each other sufficient to enable them to live together. A Sib-Band is a Sibling-Association - a group of people who have made a covenant of peace with each other and have agreed to treat each other like brothers and sisters. A soccerwight is the imagined being which brings individual people together into association with each other and shapes the nature of their interaction. Frith is the peace or harmony of the band. A frithweaver works to keep the good frith. A Meet is a meeting . This is where people come into each others awareness – so that they are open to receiving mental influence from each other. A Beatmeet is a meeting that happens on a regular basis so that it forms part of the ongoing expectation of its participants. A Moot is a meeting for discussion An Openmoot is a meeting for discussion without a pre-arranged agenda so that participants are able to bring issues of concern to them to the attention of the rest. THE SEVEN SHINGS The Seven Shings are seven things beginning with the 'Sh' sound in the Persian language which Persian Zoroastrians traditionally prepare for their New Year ceremony at the Spring Equinox. European Zoroastrians have their big annual celebration at Yuletide in December instead, but celebrate Zoroaster's birthday along with most other Zoroastrians worldwide on March the 26th. Zoromithrites are encouraged to prepare the Seven Shings as gifts for Zarathustra on his Birthday. Maybe they could be prepared on a special table along with a picture of Zoroaster and a copy of the Gathas. Ideally the gifts should be made by the family involved or by somebody they know. 1. SHARAB (Wine) for celebration Any alcoholic drink such as homemade wine, mead, cider or beer. 2. SHIR (Milk) for nourishment From an animal which lives nearby or is owned by somebody you know. 3. SHARBAT (Sherbet) for enjoyment Any sugary confection. 4. SHAMSHIR (Sword) for security Could be a ceremonial sword or knife, or other kind of defensive weapon. 5. SHEMSHAD (Box) for wealth A box to store wealth for the future e.g. in the form of silver coins. Perhaps a silver coin could be included. 6. SHAM (Candle) for illumination A candle will light the way in the dark. Maybe include some matches. If you were able to manufacture it yourself then a modern equivalent such as an electric torch would be acceptable. 7. SHAHDANEH (Hemp Seeds) for enlightenment Not all modern varieties of hemp seed will be of help for enlightenment, but they can still be used to grow the hemp crop to be made into clothing and other items. Thus they will be a very useful gift. |