PaganSquare.com - WitchesAndPagans.com

A Matter of Love

“Beautiful pouch,” says my friend.

He's right. The leather is deftly-tanned: supple, golden, fragrant.

My friend has asked me to read the bones for him: the sacred whitetail knucklebones that live in this same pouch in a jar here at Temple of the Moon.

“It's made from a reindeer scrotum,” I tell him, thinking that the fact will interest him, he being an admirer of all things male. The Saami waste no part of a reindeer: a matter both of practicality, and of love.

Instead, he cringes.

“Ow,” he says.

“No need to take it personally,” I assure him. “I think it's pretty cool.”

“Well, how would you feel if it were your scrotum?” he asks.

Point taken, but I think of Hunter's Law, the Word of the Horned that governs the hunt.

Use everything. Waste nothing.

I smile. In the end, it's really a matter of love.

Life is one of the Sacred four pillars of Atheopaganism. And it is often said of Pagans generally that we revere or even “worship” Nature.

You wouldn't believe how long I've been trying to write this post.  I've tried to seperate who Diana is without relying upon the writings about Artemis but most everything that comes up is about Artemis.  I can list facts but do not feel like I can't evoke who she is. 

Gods make elusive prey.

Hunter, be relentless.

First off, know your forest. Learn the terrain, the trees, the watering-places. Look for where to look.

Then stalk. Note patterns. Hunt with every sense. Follow the spoor, read each subtle sign: the print in the mud, the broken fern, the hank of fur in the bramble. Listen for movement. Snuffle for scent. Trust your hunter's instinct: your feet will find the way.

At times, stalk actively.

At times, quietly wait. Choose the right spot, and your prey will come to you.

When it does, aim and shoot true.

When you do, brace for the arrow to your heart.

 This is Hunter's Law,

which the Horned

first taught us long ago:

Kill cleanly.

Use everything.

Take what you need,

Two days now, I have tackled very heavy subjects in general, as well as for me personal. It becomes wearisome to write about such topics, so today, I'm writing about puppies. Well, hunting dog, but they were puppies once, so it counts.

Dogs had a very special and particular place in ancient Greek society. The Greek word for 'dog' is 'kuón' (κύων), and there were a couple of breeds that were favored. First and foremost, the Molossus, a now extinct species of dog related most to the mastiffs of current times, enjoyed great prestige. Another favorite was the Laconian, which was especially popular in Sparta. The Molossus was most often used as a guard dog, while the Laconian was the go-to hunting dog of the time. Also known were the Cretan, a Laconia probably crossed with the Molossian; and the Melitan, a small long-haired, short-legged lap dog.