godyssey - Network

Ash trees are for protection in Gaelic lore, with the wood used to ward off fairies in Manx folklore, while in Scotland an astringent sap...

Ash trees are for protection in Gaelic lore, with the wood used to ward off fairies in Manx folklore, while in Scotland an astringent sap made from ash trees is used to protect against the power of witchcraft; even Irish ogham features a letter named for ash. #FolkyFriday

Baobab trees are sacred, because within them is the spirits of death in Madagascar lore. Among these trees is also the deity Rakapila, for...

Baobab trees are sacred, because within them is the spirits of death in Madagascar lore. Among these trees is also the deity Rakapila, for whom a mountain on Venus is named. #FolkyFriday

Humans are as diverse as trees and made of them, too: the gods made the first humans, Ask and Embla, from an ash and an elm that survived...

Humans are as diverse as trees and made of them, too: the gods made the first humans, Ask and Embla, from an ash and an elm that survived the desolation of Ymir's death. #FolkyFriday

Yew trees are commonly found in churchyards as protection, for living and for dead. In Asturian tradition, a branch of yew is brought to the...

Yew trees are commonly found in churchyards as protection, for living and for dead. In Asturian tradition, a branch of yew is brought to the grave of newly deceased souls to guarantee they find a peaceful rest after All Souls' Day and not linger to grow bitter. #FolkyFriday

The messenger of the gods is the morepork, an owl of Aotearoa, flying spiritual highways and whose path is an act of divine messaging....

The messenger of the gods is the morepork, an owl of Aotearoa, flying spiritual highways and whose path is an act of divine messaging. Follow the path of the morepork, and you will know the will of the gods. #LegendaryWednesday

🖼️: J. I. Duque

In ancient times past, Lugh of the Long Arm created the Tailteann Games in honor of his foster mother Tailtiu; these Irish games culminated...

In ancient times past, Lugh of the Long Arm created the Tailteann Games in honor of his foster mother Tailtiu; these Irish games culminated at Lunasa, where winners were celebrated alongside the fallen and new laws proclaimed; they were reborn in modern times. #WyrdWednesday

Margaret Mattson was accused of witchcraft in early Pennsylvania in 1683, and when the facts were presented, William Penn himself supposedly...

Margaret Mattson was accused of witchcraft in early Pennsylvania in 1683, and when the facts were presented, William Penn himself supposedly said of her flying, "Well, I know of no law against it." She was clear of witchcraft, but not of her reputation. #LegendaryWednesday

Snow snake is a game played among Haudenosaunee nations and other groups in winter, a tonic for sad sports and wintertime malaise. Teams...

Snow snake is a game played among Haudenosaunee nations and other groups in winter, a tonic for sad sports and wintertime malaise. Teams toss a "snow snake" to create clear lines in the snow at great distances. #WyrdWednesday

Red Riding Hood can be found all over the world: in Taiwan, Aunt Tiger is a version where the tiger must eat three children to gain...

Red Riding Hood can be found all over the world: in Taiwan, Aunt Tiger is a version where the tiger must eat three children to gain shape-shifting powers and hopes to do so by pretending to be their aunt. A clever girl sees through his disguise. #FairyTaleTuesday

🖼 HodariNundu

Some folklorists have suggested Snow White may find her origins in the Greek Khione from Ovid's Metamorphoses, who draws the attention...

Some folklorists have suggested Snow White may find her origins in the Greek Khione from Ovid's Metamorphoses, who draws the attention of both Apollo and Mercury and later the ire of Diana by claiming she was more beautiful than the Moon goddess. #FairyTaleTuesday

One of the earliest Cinderella stories is an Egyptian one, recorded by Strabo: Rhodopis, a Greek slave living in Egypt whose prized red...

One of the earliest Cinderella stories is an Egyptian one, recorded by Strabo: Rhodopis, a Greek slave living in Egypt whose prized red slipper is stolen by a falcon. Fortunately for her, it falls in the lap of the Pharaoh, who vows to marry its owner. #FairytaleTuesday

To heal, great heroes sleep. Arthur was whisked away to the shores of Avalon where he will recover from death, will return triumphant from...

To heal, great heroes sleep. Arthur was whisked away to the shores of Avalon where he will recover from death, will return triumphant from those shores, and defend Britain in its hour of greatest need. The only question is, when? #MythologyMonday

🖼️: E. Burne-Jones

To sleep is to come close to death, a truth acknowledged as far back as the Greeks: Hypnos is the brother of Thanatos, making Sleep and...

To sleep is to come close to death, a truth acknowledged as far back as the Greeks: Hypnos is the brother of Thanatos, making Sleep and Death twins. Both dwell in the Underworld in dark, lightless locales, though Hypnos also has an island up top. #mythologymonday

🖼️: J.E.Larson

Sleep was never kind to Enkidu after he was domesticated, his godly creators gifting him with fear, warnings, and visions of the dead, all...

Sleep was never kind to Enkidu after he was domesticated, his godly creators gifting him with fear, warnings, and visions of the dead, all of which came true even after his own death. #MythologyMonday

In his sleep, Aengus was haunted by visions of the most beautiful woman in Ireland, to the point his waking life was ruined by it. His...

In his sleep, Aengus was haunted by visions of the most beautiful woman in Ireland, to the point his waking life was ruined by it. His parents, the Dagda and Boann, eased his pain by each searching for a full year: but each night, he dreamed. #MythologyMonday

🖼️: T. Nasmith

Few American cemeteries can claim the gothic scenery and majesty of New Orleans' plethora of above ground mausoleums and family crypts....

Few American cemeteries can claim the gothic scenery and majesty of New Orleans' plethora of above ground mausoleums and family crypts. Dating back to before it was American, these are popular tourist attractions and old greats like Marie Laveau. #FolkloreSunday

For two years the people of Sweden sacrificed first bulls then men to end the famine that devastated the land. On the third year, they...

For two years the people of Sweden sacrificed first bulls then men to end the famine that devastated the land. On the third year, they seized their King, Domalde, and sacrificed him to the gods. The next year was prosperous. #FolkyFriday

🖼️: E. Werenskiold

Hoenir was an early leader among the Aesir, and was there when humanity was crafted: it was he who gave humanity reason and logic. He was...

Hoenir was an early leader among the Aesir, and was there when humanity was crafted: it was he who gave humanity reason and logic. He was sent to lead the Vanir after the war but was a poor leader without Mimir; so the Vanir slew Mimir, thinking Hoenir his puppet. #FolkyFriday

Leader of the Sikh cavalry of Kanhaiya, Rani Sada Kaur (1762 – 1832), she rose to the ranks of leader of Kanhaiya and defended her people,...

Leader of the Sikh cavalry of Kanhaiya, Rani Sada Kaur (1762 – 1832), she rose to the ranks of leader of Kanhaiya and defended her people, indeed uniting more people and helping to consolidate and centralize power in Punjab by blade and diplomacy. #FolkyFriday

Zhuazhou (抓週) is an ancient Chinese ritual, where parents place their 1-year old on their birthday before objects: objects that...

Zhuazhou (抓週) is an ancient Chinese ritual, where parents place their 1-year old on their birthday before objects: objects that symbolize the future like job choices. Essentially the infant is picking their future, in theory. #LegendaryWednesday