Journey to the Center of the Universe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMxdayVkRMc&feature=related

SUMMARY: All cultures around the world have had some form of physical representation of the world. For instance, the Norse had the Great Tree, Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil came from before the universe, and connected the 9 realms. It is said that at the end of the world, or Ragnarok, Yggdrasil will fall, and a great dragon will rise from its roots and consume the son. However, when looking into the myths of Yggdrasil, you will find whisperings of 3 hag sisters, capable of altering destiny, called the Norns. sound familiar?
                      The Greek Moirai, better known as the Fates, are the very same omnipotent sisters, capable of warping reality, being the physical representations of the past, the present, and the future. Like the Norns, the Moirai lived in an ancient cave, and the cave for both sets of sisters was created by the waters of fate (whether from Yggdrasil's roots or the river Styx).
                     
ANALYSIS: The Norse people believed in a Great Tree that held the Universe together. With this tree were the 3 Norns, much like the Greek Fates. All of these symbolize the very structure of the universe.

REFLECTION QUESTION: The Great Tree and these sisters share a very common root. They represent the core of the universe, the very basis of destiny and fate. How do you feel that destiny not only affects your life, but how the concept of destiny has made others change their view on life?

CITATION: Elfabros (2010, October 4). Norse Mythology 6 Yggdrasil & Norns. Retrieved April 27, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMxdayVkRMc&feature=related

Revenge is Sweet

SUMMARY: Many cultures have a creation myth in which a group of younger, more civilized gods conquer and/or struggle against a group of older gods who represent the forces of chaos. In the Greek myth of the Titanomachy, the Olympian gods defeat the Titans, an older and more primitive divine race, and establish cosmic order. The Titanomachy was a war between Zeus and the Titans. This war lasted for 10 years. Zeus had the Cyclopes, Hecatonchires, Themis, Prometheus, and the Olympian pantheon an his side. The Titans were defeated and placed in Tartarus. There to be guarded for eternity by the Hecatonchires, cousins of Cyclopses with one hundred hands. They were said to be always watching...

A Hecatonchires, drawn by Rachael Mayo; http://rachaelm5.deviantart.com/art/Tremorworks-Hecatonchires-bw-15889871

 In Hindu mythology, the devas (gods) battle the asuras (demons). And the Celtic gods of life and light struggle against the Fomorians, ancient gods of death and darkness.

This myth of the gods conquering demons - and order conquering chaos - is especially common in Indo-European mythologies. Some scholars suggest that the myth reflects the ancient Indo-Europeans' conquest of native peoples during their expansion over Europe and India.

However, non-Indo-European cultures also have such myths. For example, many Near Eastern mythologies include a "combat myth" in which a good god battles an evil or chaotic demon. An example of this is the Babylonian Enuma Elish.

ANALYSIS: A prominent feature in many myths is a major battle between the gods and some other, normally equally powerful, dark force. However, the myths differ in the aspect that the gods aren't always defending their position. On occasion, such as the Greek Titanomachy, the gods are actually the ones challenging the opposing forces.

REFLECTION QUESTION: Why might there be a need for war and feuding sactions in mythology?

CITATION: Camfield, C. (2012). about.com. Retrieved from http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/grecoromanmyth1/a/titanomachy_2.htm

A Bleeding Sky

SUMMARY: The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is the most puzzling and myth-inspiring of all celestial phenomena. These majestic lights, often called "nature's most beautiful display," reveal processes in the upper atmosphere that humans have feared and admired for thousands of years. The northern lights present a continuing intellectual challenge, and their scientific study has promoted international cooperation. The story is all the more fascinating because it punctuates historical records. Classical Greek and ancient Chinese literature, and even several passages in the Old World Testament  contain references to what can only be auroral phenomena.
                       In the documents of Viking legend, auroras were Bifrost, the heavenly bridge between earth and Asgard, the seat of the gods. Bifrost, it was believed, would collapse at Ragnarock at the end of the world. The trembling, sparkling colors of auroral arcs were a reminder of this mighty bridge. Today many Norwegians experience the aurora borealis as part of their cultural heritage and as a source of philosophical and artistic inspiration. For myself, it also forms a bridge between science and the humanities.
                       In most folk traditions, the aurora has been regarded with fear. Eskimos took children inside when it appeared, believing it wanted their heads for use as balls. In Finnmarks-Vidda it was believed that the northern lights would oscillate rapidly if a child mocked them and would finally descend and take his life. Children were taught to fear that the lights might sweep and tear their eyes out. People were admonished not to cut their hair beneath the flames of the northern lights. Icelanders believed that if a pregnant woman gazed at the aurora, the child she carried would be cross-eyed.
                       Many Scandinavians felt that the northern lights would crackle and sparkle even more brightly if someone waved a white sheet or piece of clothing. People in the Nordic countries have childhood memories of waving pieces of white cloth at the play of lights. Some remember thinking that the aurora's movements increased vigorously as they waved. Chanting was also believed to induce auroral sound, and many people claimed that whistling could agitate or increase auroral movements. It was said that if one heard a rustling noise--which is sometimes reported--then contact with the auroral deity had been made. The common Lapp name for the northern lights is "guovsahas," which means "audible light," and the aurora was used as a symbol on the Lapps' magic drums.

ANALYSIS: The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is the most puzzling and myth-inspiring of all celestial phenomena. These majestic lights, often called 'nature's most beautiful display,' reveal processes in the upper atmosphere that humans have feared and admired for thousands of years. The northern lights present a continuing intellectual challenge, and their scientific study has promoted international cooperation. The story is all the more fascinating because it punctuates historical records. Classical Greek and ancient Chinese literature, and even several passages in the Old World Testament (e.g., Ezekiel 1, Jeremiah 1:13), contain references to what can only be auroral phenomena. The story of the aurora also illustrates science's evolving role in civilization and daily life....Diverse interpretations of the northern lights have been offered over the centuries. In many respects, such beliefs reflect the culture of the observing group. This article summarizes some cultural responses to the phenomenon."

REFLECTION QUESTION: If you were to see the northern lights and not know what they were, how would you react?

CITATION:

Egeland, Alv. "Northern Dawn: Auroras Inspire Folk Mythology." World & I. Nov. 2000: 167-173. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 15 Apr 2012.

Dust to Dust

SUMMARY: The clock is ticking. Slowly calculating a predetermined date that holds the demise of all on Earth. When the universe itself decides to eliminate humankind. All cultures have it. Apocalyptic myths have been around just as long as Creation myths, always a reminder that we are mere pawns. But why the constant despair? Why does every culture need to talk about an “End of Days”? And trust me, they do.

The Aztecs had an extremely complex calendar system based on the stars. They used this calendar not only to create holy days and times, but also to determine the course of human life on earth. The Aztecs believed in the Legend of the Five Suns, the times of which coincide with periods in their history. Each sun is a period of time wherein there is peace and life. Once a sun dies, however, the world is absorbed in chaos as the gods destroy the world and renew it. There are only five suns, and we are presently on the fifth. The first sun was the Sun of Precious Stones, destroyed by Tezcatlipoca in its entirety with jaguars. The second sun was the Sun of Darkness, where life was destroyed by a large hurricane sent by Quetzalcoatl. The third sun was the Sun of Fire. Life was destroyed by a rain of fire created by Tezcatlipoca. The fourth sun was the Sun of Water, destroyed by a large flood of Tlaloc. The final sun that now exists is the Sun of Movement, Tonatiuh the Rising Eagle. It is said that the destruction of the current age will come through earthquakes, to make room for the sixth sun if mankind proves not to be worthy of this world. And I bet you can guess when THAT’S supposed to happen… through earthquakes,

Indian myths agree that the Universe ends in cycles, cycles that mirror those of birth and death in human life. The world ends through fire and flood, but is reborn, similar to resurrection in other Hindu beliefs.  The story of the avatars in Hindu mythology provides more depth to the resurrection pattern. Vishnu, the second member of the Indian Trimurti, or trinity, is the Preserver of Order. When universal chaos descends upon the world, Vishnu saves mankind by appearing in a certain form, known as an avatar. Out of the ten avatars that Vishnu will fulfill before the Universe ends, he has taken the form of only nine: a fish, a turtle, a boar, a lion-man, a dwarf, a Brahmin, the epic hero Rama, the famed god Krishna, and Buddha. The tenth form is known as Kalki, the man riding upon a horse. Vishnu will come to Earth as this form in order to destroy it and recreate it.

Norse myths state that before the end of the world (called Ragnarok), three winters without summers in between will happen in Midgard, and order will be lost in the human world. Fathers will fight their sons, siblings will commit incest, mothers will seduce their children, and brothers will tear at each other's hearts. Midgard will be consumed with war. The wolves Skoll and Hati will swallow the sun and moon, and the great wolf Fenris, son of Loki the trickster god, will run loose and kill Odin the All-Father, who steps forth to fight him. Odin's son Vidar will avenge Odin by tearing Fenris apart. Thor will battle the Midgard serpent and slay him but be slain himself by the serpent's venomous fumes. Many gods as well as all men and women save two, Lif and Lifthrasir, who seek shelter under the branches of Yggdrasil, will die. The sky will fall into a pit of flames and the earth will sink into the sea. After the end of the world, the earth will rise renewed out of the sea and flourish. Grain will grow where no grain was sown; Lif and Lifthrasir will repeople the new world with their offspring and descendants. Odin's sons as well as his brothers Vili and Vé will reconvene with the other surviving gods on the plain of Ida, where Asgard used to be, and hold council. They will reign over the new world as the ruling gods. So the earth was begun, and so it shall end.

ANALYSIS: As you can tell, all Apocalyptic Myths tend to be about regeneration. The reason for this might be because of the way the Earth is TODAY. It is constantly dying and being reborn. Every 365.24 days, to be exact. Those are the SEASONS. When all hope seems lost, when there is death and starvation everywhere, when the very sun refuses to shine, what happens? A single flower bud breaks through the icy crust, and blooms. Spring has begun, and with it, a new planet.

REFLECTION QUESTION: Why are humans fixated on the end of the world? Should they just focus on the present?

CITATION: Min, S. (n.d.). The Dawn and Dusk of Man - End of the World Myths  [Apocalypse Mythology]. Retrieved 

     from http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00875/text/Apocalypse.htm