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praxis

Ancestor Veneration

Ritual maintenance of relationship with the dead as ongoing presences whose favour is cultivated and whose offence is propitiated. Shinto uji-gami and obon, Norse disir and the alfablot, Celtic samhain and the feast for the deceased, Roman lares and parentalia, Chinese ancestor rites, Vedic śrāddha. Practice-coded rather than belief-coded: distinct from soul_migration (cosmological doctrine of soul-transmigration) and theosis_deification (deification trajectory); ancestor_veneration centres the living's ongoing ritual obligation to the dead.

55 passages · 5 traditions
finnic: 28 passagesfinnic28celtic: 14 passagesceltic14mesopotamian: 6 passagesmesopotamian6western_esoteric: 5 passageswestern_esoteric5norse: 2 passagesnorse2
finnic28
◆The Kalevala | Rune IVe
“Weeping Aino, now disrobing, Lays aside with care her garments, Hangs her silk robes on the alders, Drops her gold-cross on the sea-shore, On the aspen hangs her ribbons, On the rocks her silken stockings, On the grass her shoes of deer-ski…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune Vc
“Finally the ancient minstrel, Mind depressed, and heart discouraged, Spake these words, immersed in sorrow: "Fool am I, and great my folly, Having neither wit nor judgment; Surely once I had some knowledge, Had some insight into wisdom, Had…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XIId
“Spake the stout-heart, Lemminkainen: "Rise ye heroes of the broadsword, Ye, the earth's eternal heroes, From the deeps, ye sickle-bearers, From the brooks, ye crossbow-shooters, Come, thou forest, with thine archers, Come, ye thickets, with…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XIIf
“Now the minstrel, Lemminkainen, Changes both his form and stature, Passes through the inner door-ways, Enters he the spacious court-hall, And these words the hero utters: "Fine the singing quickly ending, Good the song that quickly ceases;…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XVIIa
“FINDS THE LOST-WORD. Wainamoinen, old and truthful, Did not learn the words of magic In Tuoni's gloomy regions, In the kingdom of Manala. Thereupon he long debated, Well considered, long reflected, Where to find the magic sayings; When a…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XVIIc
“"Thence arose the violation, Thence arose the first destruction, Thence came all the evil-doings: From the neighborhood of wizards, From the homes of the magicians, From the eaves of vicious spirits, From the haunts of fortune-tellers, From…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XVIIIb
“Sail then farther on thy journey, Point thy prow to other waters." It was not her father's vessel, Not a sail-boat from the distance, 'Twas the ship of Wainamoinen, Bark of the eternal singer; Sails within a hailing distance, Swims still ne…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXIId
“Not to sleep art thou conducted, Not to happiness, nor joyance, Wakefulness, thy night-companion, And thy day-attendant, trouble; Often thou wilt drink of sorrow, Often long for vanished pleasures. "When at home thou hadst no head-gear, Th…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXIIIe
“When the stranger leaves thy threshold, When his farewell has been spoken, Lead him only to the portals, Do not step without the doorway, That thy husband may not fancy, And the mother not imagine, Thou hast interest in strangers. "Shoulds…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXIVb
“Bridegroom, thou beloved hero, Brave descendant of thy fathers, When thou goest on a journey, When thou drivest on the highway, Driving with the Rainbow-daughter, Fairest bride of Sariola, Do not lead her as a titmouse, As a cuckoo of the f…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXIVe
“Now I leave these friends of childhood, Journey southward with my husband, To the arms of Night and Winter, O'er the ice-grown seas of Northland. "Should I once again, returning, Pay a visit to my tribe-folk, Mother would not hear me calli…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXVa
“'S WEDDING-SONGS. At the home of Ilmarinen Long had they been watching, waiting, For the coming of the blacksmith, With his bride from Sariola. Weary were the eyes of watchers, Waiting from the father's portals, Looking from the mother's…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXVb
“"But I know without the asking, See the answer to my question: Comest from the North a victor, On thy journey well contented; Thou hast brought the Northland daughter, Thou hast razed the hostile portals, Thou hast stormed the forts of Louh…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXVIh
“Then the stout-heart, Kaukomieli, Deeply thought and long considered: "It is as my mother told me, This the wall that she predicted, Stretching from the earth to heaven; Downward deep are serpents creeping, Deeper still the rails extending;…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXVIIId
“Thither archers never wander, There thy head cannot be severed; But an oath as strong as heaven, Thou must swear before thy mother; Thou wilt not for sixty summers Join in war or deadly combat, Even though thou wishest silver, Wishest gold…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXIXf
“When the hero's feast had ended, Straightway was a magic vessel Given by the kindly hostess To the weary Kaukomieli, Bark of beauty, new and hardy, Wherewithal to aid the stranger In his journey to his home-land, To the cottage of his mothe…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXf
“These the words my father uttered, These the thoughts his son advances: 'Guard us, thou O great Creator, Shield us, thou O God of mercy, With thine arms of grace protect us, Help us with thy strength and wisdom, Guide the minds of all thy h…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXIIb
“"Summer-daughter, charming maiden, Southern mother of the woodlands, Spread abroad thy robes of safety, Spread thine apron o'er the forest, Let it cover all my cattle, And protect the unprotected, That no evil winds may harm them, May not s…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXIIIa
“AND THE CHEAT-CAKE. Thereupon the lad, Kullervo, Laid his luncheon in his basket, Drove the herd to mountain-pastures, O'er the hills and through the marshes, To their grazings in the woodlands, Speaking as he careless wandered: "Of the yo…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXIVc
“I am hapless Kullerwoinen Whom the heroes of Untamo Carried to their distant country, When my height was but a hand-breadth." Quick the hopeful mother answers: "O my worthy son, beloved, O my precious silver-buckle, Hast thou with thy mind…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXVd
“In the court-yard stood the mother, Thus the wicked son addressed her: "Faithful mother, fond and tender, Hadst thou slain me when an infant, Smoked my life out in the chamber, In a winding-sheet hadst thrown me To the cataract and whirlpoo…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXVIa
“'S VICTORY AND DEATH. Kullerwionen, wicked wizard, In his purple-colored stockings, Now prepares himself for battle; Grinds a long time on his broadsword, Sharpens well his trusty weapon, And his mother speaks as follows: "Do not go, my so…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXVIb
“Wilt thou weep for me departed, Shouldst thou hear that I have perished, Fallen on the field of battle?" This the answer of the brother: "I shall never mourn the downfall Of my brother, Kullerwoinen, Shall not weep when thou hast perished;…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXVIc
“thy brother too has perished, Dead he lies within the forest, Manalainen's trumpet called him; Home return and do him honor, Lay him in the lap of Kalma." Kullerwoinen thus replying: "Has my hero-brother perished, There is home a sable stal…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XXXVId
“Bitterly he wept and murmured, Wept one day, and then a second, On the third day spake as follows: "Faithful mother, fond and tender, Why hast left me here to sorrow In this wilderness of trouble? But thou dost not hear my calling, Though…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XLVIf
“"Now I take the eyes of Otso, Lest he lose the sense of seeing, Lest their former powers shall weaken; Though I take not all his members, Not alone must these be taken. "Now I take the ears of Otso, Lest he lose the sense of hearing, Lest…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune XLVIIIa
“OF THE FIRE-FISH. Wainamoinen, the enchanter, The eternal wisdom-singer, Long reflected, well considered, How to weave the net of flax-yarn, Weave the fish-net of the fathers. Spake the minstrel of Wainola: "Who will plow the field and fa…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune Lg
“Cold and still my golden mother Lies beneath the meadow, sleeping, Hears my ancient songs no longer, Cannot listen to my singing; Only will the forest listen, Sacred birches, sighing pine-trees, Junipers endowed with kindness, Alder-trees t…”
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celtic14
◆The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAINg
“And as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee. When they have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee. And I will await thee…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWENa
“OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and the wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd. And after their union, the people put up prayers that they might have an heir.…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWENd
“Then said Kilhwch, “Greeting be unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be this greeting no less unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be it equally unto thy guests, and thy warriors, and thy chieftains—let all partake of it as…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWENe
“I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and Kynddelig Kyvarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of Baeddan, and Crychwr the son of Nes, and Cubert the s…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWENf
“(They were men of Caerdathal, of Arthur’s kindred on his father’s side.) Dirmyg the son of Kaw, and Justic the son of Kaw, and Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the son of Kaw, and Ovan the son of Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connyn t…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWENg
“During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not beneath his feet, much less did one ever break, so lightly did he tread.) Teithi Hên the son of Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowed up by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped, and he…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWENi
“Uchtryd Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the eight-and-forty rafters which were in Arthur’s Hall). Elidyr Gyvarwydd. Yskyrdav and Yscudydd (two attendants of Gwenhwyvar were they. Their feet were swift as their though…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWENx
“Were he alive, thy death he’d be. And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the Island could scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur. And thenceforth, neither in Arthur’s troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai c…”
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mesopotamian6
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet VI — Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven | Tablet VI, Section 1c
“But if thou’lt [not] make [this Bull], then . . . . I'll smite . . . ., I'll put . . . ., I'll . . . . 100. More than the . . . will be the . . . . . . . ________________________________ Anu [made answer, (thus) spe…”
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet VII — The Death of Enkidu | Tablet VII, Section 1a
“THE SEVENTH TABLET. THE DEATH OF ENKIDU. . "Why, O my friend, do the great gods (now) take counsel together?" . . . 30. "Of want . . . . since me it is that . . .hath . . . . And me the fever [hath laid] on my back." ______…”
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet VIII — The Mourning of Gilgamish | Tablet VIII, Section 1
“THE EIGHTH TABLET. OF THE MOURNING OF GILGAMISH, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. : "Unto me hearken, O Elders, to me, aye, me [shall ye listen], ’Tis that I weep for my [comrade] Enkidu, bitterly crying Like to a wailing woman: my grip is [slack’d] on…”
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet XII — Gilgamish Enquires of the Dead | Tablet XII, Section 1a
“THE TWELFTH TABLET. GILGAMISH, IN DESPAIR, ENQUIRES OF THE DEAD. . (Then), what time that the seine had pass’d through the Architect 's dwelling, (Aye, and) the net [had taken its toll] . . . . [said he]: "Lord, what [is’t I may do]…”
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet XII — Gilgamish Enquires of the Dead | Tablet XII, Section 1b
“Cried(?) [he] (for) Enkidu out of the earth to ascend: "[Not] (the Plague-god), Namtar, hath [seized] him, nor fever, (but only) the earth: nor the Croucher, [Nergal], the ruthless, hath seized him, (but only) the earth: neither fell he The…”
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet XII — Gilgamish Enquires of the Dead | Tablet XII, Section 1c
“"Tell, O my friend, O tell, O my friend, (O) tell (me, I pr’y thee), What thou hast seen of the laws of the Underworld?" "(Nay, then,) O comrade; 90. I will not tell thee, (yea,) I will not tell thee—(for), were I to tell thee, What I have…”
western_esoteric5
◆Transcendental Magic II: The Ritual (Éliphas Lévi) | 11. The Triple Chainb
“Mystification combined with it after wards, and even educated and intelligent persons were so infatuated with the novelty that they hoaxed themselves, and became the dupes of their own absurdity. The oracles of the tables were answers more…”
◆Transcendental Magic II: The Ritual (Éliphas Lévi) | 13. Necromancyc
“There are two kinds of Necromancy, that of light and that of darkness - the evocation by Prayer, Pantacle and Perfumes, and the evocation by blood, imprecations and sacrilege. We have practised only the first, and advise no one to devote t…”
◆Transcendental Magic II: The Ritual (Éliphas Lévi) | 13. Necromancyd
“Every evening at the same hour we must shut ourselves in the chamber consecrated to the memory of the lamented person, using only one small light, such as that of a funeral lamp or taper. This light should be placed behind us, the portrait…”
◆Transcendental Magic II: The Ritual (Éliphas Lévi) | 13. Necromancye
“The chafing-dish containing the sacred fire should be in the centre of the oratory and the altar of perfumes hard by. The operator must turn towards the east to pray, and the west to invoke; he must be either alone or assisted by two perso…”
◆Transcendental Magic II: The Ritual (Éliphas Lévi) | 13. Necromancyf
“Thus, a fatal law drives demons downward when they wish and believe themselves to be ascending. So also those who term themselves chiefs are the most impotent and despised of all. As to the horde of perverse spirits, they tremble before a…”
norse2
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1f
“Fire for men | is the fairest gift, And power to see the sun; Health as well, | if a man may have it, And a life not stained with sin. 69. All wretched is no man, | though never so sick; Some from their sons have joy, Some win it from kin…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1b
“The roving Norsemen of the tenth century, very few of whom had as yet accepted Christianity, were nevertheless in close contact with Celtic races which had already been converted, and in many ways the Celtic influence was strongly felt. It…”