From the Oak: Let’s hear it for the God!
Many are those that focus on female divinities, leaving male divinities in the shadows if they get mentioned at all. This is a shame. Here I will share my thoughts, stories and prayers on male divinities. Currently focusing on divinities placed in an atheist "graveyard".
A tale of Japan
On the floating bridge of heaven
stirring the ocean with a wondrous spear
whipping up a batch of primordial goo
the Inviters raised the spear watching
drops fall and not disappear but coalesce
together they formed the first bit of land
out of their play, the island Onogoro.
Izanagi and Izanami explored this new land
finding joy in the island they created together
here they settled their home and joined as one
soon, a child came, tragically deformed
relatives blamed the lack of perfection
on an improperly performed wedding rite
she spoke first, such horrors!
The marriage rite repeated with the bride in her place
led to the birth of eight lovely children
now known as the islands of Japan
yet the couple didn’t stop reproducing
birthing gods of all nature’s aspects
such joy until the fire god, Kagutsuchi, was born
causing many severe burns to his poor mother.
Even in pain and failing health, Izanami birthed more
while other divinities emerged from the tears of Izanagi
when she went to the land of death, Yomi-tsu Kuni
Izanagi determined he would bring his beloved back
greeted by his wife from the shadows as he approached
surprised and gratified, she had one request of him
“Do not look on me and I will arrange my release.”
Full of desire for his lovely bride, Izanagi ignored her wish
removing his hair comb, he impatiently broke one of its teeth
only to lit it as a torch to dispel the shadows of Yomi
horrified to find that his bride was a rotting corpse
down went the torch and away he fled for the light of above
Izanami, wanted no longer, beyond anger, beyond hurt
wishes ignored, cruelly rejected, revenge was her intent.
Spirits she sent after her husband, hideous in sight and sound
spirits of those rejected by loved ones and Thunder gods
barely did the fleeing husband escape due to a dislodged boulder
the passage between living and dead now blocked ever more
to punish him she shouted she would strangle 1000 people daily
he replied 1500 people would be reborn in their place
ever since 1000 people die a day and 1500 are born.
Separated they were between states of life
by a living, breathing body and rotting shell
by a boulder between the realms
by anger and horror, despair and relief
the marriage was agreeably ended by both sides.
alone, Izanagi returned to their island
to mourn and purify from his journey to the land of the dead.
Many beings came of this bath, good and bad
from his discarded clothing came that which had hidden
the sun goddess, Amaterasu, was washed from his left eye
the moon god, Tsukiyomi, from his right
Susanoo from his nose with much bluster
such noble children from such hard experiences
to these he divided his kingdom, for them to rule in honor.
Izanagi is the next divinity from the atheists' "god graveyard". May he be honored and remembered. (my apologies for the spacing, fixing it proved too difficult for me today)
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