Huginn and Muninn

The Two Raven Society

In old Norse myth Odin is the King of the Gods. Known for his knowledge and wisdom Odin is often refered to as the Raven God.  This is because he is always accompanied by two Ravens.  It is said that Odin bestowed on these Ravens the gift of speech. Each dawn Odin sends his two birds out to fly around the world gathering information and then returning to him at dinner time.  It is in this way that Odin is kept informed of the happenings around his world.  The Ravens were named Huginn and Muninn which translate to english as Thought and Memory.



In the story of Noah he is told to build an ark filled with two of all the animals in the world to repopulate the Earth after the Great Flood covers all land.  After 40 days he chooses the Raven to go out and search for dry land.  In some versions the Raven is white.  The Raven leaves the ship and never returns stopping to feast. In response the Raven is cursed to eat carrion and is turned to Black.  Noah's second choice, the Dove, returns with evidence of land in the form of an Olive branch.


In native American folklore the Raven is credited as the creator of light and earth.  The gifts of the earth were selfishly protected by grey Eagle.  When he had his chance Raven flew into eagles smokelodge and stole these gifts  He raised the sun into the sky of darkness filling the world with light.  When night came Raven lifted the moon to the sky to bring a bright light to the night.  Raven was originally pure white but because of the fire of the smokelodge and the heat of the sun his feathers became forever black.

Grip - The Raven

In London it is said that as long as Ravens live at the Tower of London the English Empire with survive.  When they leave the Tower the Empire will crumble.  Bombings during the second world war scared away all the Tower Ravens except two. Mable and Grip.  Grip became famous for his part in a Charles Dickens story Barnaby Rudge.  It was this story and the Raven named Grip that inspired  American author Edgar Allen Poes most famous work The Raven.    The Actual bird can still be found in the Free Library of Philadelphia .              

                                                  

When Baltimore, long time home of Edgar Allen Poe, needed a mascot for their new football team named the Ravens they held a contest.  The winning submission was to name the Raven's mascot Poe after the famous writer.

Baltimore ravens Team Logo NFL

                      Team Mascot "Poe"                       

What is it all About ?

Food for thought

What is it all about?  Well here is one perspective on what we are trying to do here on this Earth and why.  Its Maslow's Heirarchy Of Human Needs.  He based his levels on our most basic needs rising up the pyramid in an order of possible achievement.  The theory is that the most base needs must be met before a human is able to move up to the next level of achievement.  Where do we as individuals and as a society fit into this model right now?
 Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who published his most famous work the Heirachey of Needs in 1943   He based the model on the top 1 percent of the population ie Albert Einstien etc because he was interested in the forces behind these peoples quest for continual human growth ,which he called Metamotavation.  People wanting to advance or who did advance the human race to new levels.  Interesting concept.

Dec 21

Ok  Its Official.
 Its going to be a Black Winter.  Black came up and we won so that is nice too!

Enjoy the winter..embrace the days.

Winter Red and Black Day

Sententia et Memoria

Red - Symbolizes the passage from the profane world to a sacred place. Associated with Wisdom Fortune and Dignity in the East.  In the western world it is tied to passion, attention and sacrifice.

Black - Symbolizes Nobility Age Experience and Honour.  Change and the Unknown are closely associated with black as is an emptiness such as mourning or a lack of the presence of god.

Dec 21 2012

Mayan Calendar end date.  A date predicted to have many meanings the most commonly believed in the West as the End of the World.  A date that has great astrological importance as the begining of a new Astrological Age, the Age of Aquarius.  Mayan Long Calendar, or B ak tun ,supposedly ends on Dec 21 2012 signifying either the apocalypse or an enormously positive physical and spiritual transformation.



Red/ Black Day

So in honour of Winter and the potential end of days we spin the Wheel of Fate.  Does it choose either Thought (Red) or Memory (Black).  Will it be a season of Passion Wisdom and Dignity or will it be a season of  Experience and Transformation.  Lets find out.  My bet this season is on Memory.