Druid/Indo-European Zodiac Constellations/Months (Monaths, Tungels)

(January 12, 2025)

1. Hesiod, Theogony 404 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : "Asteria (starry-one) of happy name, whom Perses once led to his great house to be called his dear wife. And she conceived and bore Hekate (Hecate) whom Zeus the son of Kronos (Cronus) honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honour also in starry heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods.

2. Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter 19 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th or 6th B.C.) : "Queenly Deo wandered over the earth with flaming torches in her hands [after the abduction of Persephone] . . . But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hekate, with a torch in her hands, met her . . . [and] sped swiftly with her, holding flaming torches in her hands. So they came to Helios (the Sun), . . . and stood in front of his horses"

3. Sappho or Alcaeus, Fragment 23 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric I) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.) : "[Hekate] the golden-shining attendant of Aphrodite." [N.B. As a goddess of the night Hekate is here associated with Aphrodite, for intercourse is more often than not a nighttime activity.]

4. Bacchylides, Fragment 1B (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) "Torch-bearing Hekate holy daughter of great-bosomed Nyx (Night)."

5. Orphic Hymn 1 to Hecate (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.) : "Hekate . . . pleased with dark ghosts that wander through the shade . . . nightly seen."

6. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3. 840 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : "Propitiating the only-begotten Maiden (Koure mounogeneia) [Hekate] with a midnight offering . . . Brimo [Hekate], nurse of youth (kourotrophos), Brimo, night-wanderer of the underworld (nyktipolis khthonie), Queen of the dead (anassa eneroi)."

7. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3. 1194 ff : "Hekate Brimo . . . hearing his words from the abyss, came up . . . She was garlanded by fearsome snakes that coiled themselves round twigs of oak; the twinkle of a thousand torches lit the scene; and hounds of the underworld barked shrilly all around her."

8. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 55 ff : "[Selene the Moon laments :] ‘How many times . . . have you [the witch Medea ] disorbed me with your incantations, making the night moonless so that you might practice your beloved witchcraft undisturbed.’" [N.B. Hekate gave witches with the power to draw the moon down from the sky.]

9. Ovid, Metamorphoses 7. 162 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "In the deep stillness of the midnight hour . . . she [Medea] stretched her arms to the stars . . . ‘O Nox (Night) [Nyx], Mother of Mysteries, and all ye golden Astra (Stars) who with Luna (the Moon) [Selene] succeed the fires of day, and thou, divine three-formed (triceps) Hecate, who knowest all my enterprises and dost fortify the arts of magic.’"

10. Ovid, Metamorphoses 10. 403 ff : "Out of Erebos and Chaos she [the witch] called Nox (Night) [Nyx] and the Gods of Night (Di Nocti) and poured a prayer with long-drawn wailing cries to Hecate."

11. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 7. 515 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : "Hecate, queen of the night."

12. Nonnus, Dionysiaca 44. 198 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : "Dionysos waited for darksome night, and appealed in these words to circle Mene (Moon) in heaven : ‘O daughter of Helios (the Sun), Mene (Moon) of many turnings, nurse of all! O Selene, driver of the silver car! If thou art Hekate of many names, if in the night thou doest shake thy mystic torch in brand carrying hand, come night wanderer, nurse of puppies because the nightly sound of the hurrying dogs is thy delight with their mournful whimpering.’"

Reference

Thoi.com at: https://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/HekateGoddess.html

(April 6, 2024, Updated January 11, 2025) Zodiac houses, like planetary deities, seem to have been a characteristic of the Indo-European culture. Yet because Druid culture had the concept of astrological fate powers they two ideas seem to have merged prior to Druid literacy.

 "Monath" is an Akkadian phrase M'.N.A.Ṭ meaning "Pushing the revelations resulting from Thu." Thu is the motion/emotion power manifestation deity. Revelations are generally the revelations of fate from the astrological fate powers which Thu would manifest. So a month represents a zodiac house which pushes its own astrological revelation.

References

Bede The Reckoning of Time - translated, with introduction, notes and commentary by FAITH WALLIS (1999).  Online at: https://ia601403.us.archive.org/12/items/bede-the-reckoning-of-time-2012/Bede%20-%20The%20Reckoning%20of%20Time%20%282012%29.pdf

(January 11, 2025)

Chapter 40 Of the Months of the English

1. But the ancient people of the English (for it does not seem appropriate to me to say the annals of other nations, and to withhold mine) reckoned their months according to the course of the moon; whence they take their name from the moon, after the manner of the Hebrews and Greeks. If, indeed, among them the moon is a moon, the month is called monath.
2. And the first of their months, indeed the Latins call January, is called Giuli. Then February Sol-monath, March Rhed-monath, Aprilis Eostur-monath, Maius Thrimylchi, Junius Lida, Julius likewise Lida, Augustus Vueod-monath, September Haleg-monath, Oktober Vuinter-fylleth, November Blod-monath, December Juli, in the same His name is January. And they began the year from the eighth day of the calendar of January, when we now celebrate the birthday of the Lord. And the night itself, which is now sacred to us, was then called by the gentiles by the term Modranicht, that is, the mother night, for the reason that we suspect it. of the ceremonies which the watchmen performed in it.
3. 
   
4. Also, in the main, they divided the whole year into two seasons, namely, winter and summer, assigning those six months in which the nights and days are longer to summer, and the remaining six to winter. Hence the month in which the winter season began was called Vuinter-fylleth, a compound name from winter and the full moon, because it was the full moon of the same month that marked the beginning of the winter.
5. Nor is it out of the question if we take care to interpret the names of the rest of their months as well. The Julian months, from the revolution of the sun to the length of the day, because one of them precedes and another follows, receive names. Sol-month may be called the month of the cakes, which they offered to their gods in it; Rhed-monath is named after their god Rheda, to whom they sacrificed there; Eostur-month, which is now interpreted as the month of Easter, once had a name from their goddess, who was called Eostre, and in whom they celebrated festivals, from whose name they now call the Easter season. calling the joys of the new solemnity by the usual term of the ancient observance.
6. It was called the tri-milchi, because the cattle were milked in it three times a day. For such was once the wealth of Britain, or of Germany, that the nation of the English entered into Britain. Lida is said to be pleasant, or navigable, because in both months the calmness of the winds is pleasant, and the seas are used to sail. Vueod-month of the month of weeds, which are most abundant in that weather. Halegh-monath, the holy month. Vuinter-fylleth may be said to be compounded of the new name of winter-full moon. Blot-Monath, the month of the sacrifices, because in it the cattle that were to be killed were vowed to their gods. Thank you, good Jesus, who, turning us away from these vain things, gave you sacrifices of praise. 

References

(April 6, 2024) With the sun-fixed months of the Julian calendar the quarter festivals were developed to better align with the climate.

 (April 6, 2024) Quote from Andreas Nordberg (Jan 1, 2006) Chapter 1

Tungle is the Akkadian phrase T.UN.G.EL meaning "Astrology-magic's resistance with life-energy. Yet tradition uses it as a word for "month" or for a house in the zodiac, the path which the life giving sun moves through the astrological night sky. "Tungel" most likely meaning is the later.

When was the Pagan Calendar Replaced by the Christian Roman Calendar?

(April 7, 2024, Updated January 10, 2025) This 2006 book by Andreas Nordberg is the most detailed investigation into this Nordic month question to date. A "Disablot" is a ritual festival (blot) aimed at keeping away the powers of fate (death). It is mentioned in Hervarar saga, Víga-Glúms saga, Egils saga and the Heimskringla. This book falls short from the author not knowing the Akkadian connection but it still provides insights.

Like most spiritual nouns in Norse, this phrase is Akkadian. Dísir as D.IŠ.IR means "manifesting confusion in the astrological-fate-powers." Blot as B.L'.T means "Nourishing the layout with astrology-magic." So "Disablot" is like a Trojan horse festival in which confusion is sown within the astrological fate powers.  This sounds similar to Halloween. This is also called "Distings" from D.IŠ.T.IN.G meaning "manifesting confusion with astrology-magic's Moon-Eyed energy" where the "Moon-Eye is the dark new moon and motion source god Su.

The abstract of the book by Andreas Nordberg describes the Nordic Yule ritual-festival as Yule Tungel or the "High-power's astrology-magic resistance by energizing high-life-powers." (T.UN.G.EL means "Astrology-magic's resistance with life-energy). This is a more direct assault on the astrological-fate powers by confronting them with the life powers and explains the feasting tradition of Yule.

 The books introduction is: 

References

(May 17, 2024) This story is about a clan's coming to Iceland after being outlawed by King Harald of Norway. It came to focus on a clan member who, when young, was a spoiled brat with a quick temper named Egil. Because of his rashness he had lots of adventures and went on many raids which were no doubt exaggerated in the retelling. He ended up for a while in the service of King Athelstan of England where he was a successful field commander. His remaining life was full of more adventures and quarrels over property. The quote from this text is:

(Chapter 70) In the winter Egil went southwards to Sogn to collect his land-rents, staying there some time. After that he came north again to the Firths. Arinbjorn held a great Yule-feast, to which he bade his friends and the neighbouring landowners. There was there much company and good cheer. Arinbjorn gave Egil as a Yule-gift a trailing robe made of silk, and richly broidered with gold, studded with gold buttons in front all down to the hem. Arinbjorn had had the robe made to fit Egil's stature. Arinbjorn gave also to Egil at Yule a complete suit newly made; it was cut of English cloth of many colours. Friendly gifts of many kinds gave Arinbjorn at Yule to those who were his guests, for Arinbjorn was beyond all men open-handed and noble.

Reference

https://sacred-texts.com/neu/egil/egil71.htm

(December 13, 2024, Updated January 10, 2025) The top part of the Celtic Ogham on this Swedish runestone lists the Pagan Nature festivals and provides the Viking interpretation of them. 

List of The 4 Norse Festivals (Ogham Text 8)

The top part is a listing of the nature quarter festivals in Druid Akkadian (read from top to bottom). The first half of the year is a time of settling accounts while the second half is a time of feasting.

1. ᚃ ᚇ = ṢaDu = Feasting
2. ᚄ ᚈ = ŠeTu = Time
3. ᚁ ᚈ = ReTu = Settlements. (Spring Equinox, Celtic Ostara, Easter)
4. ᚃ ᚆ = ṢaḪu = Rendering  
5. ᚁ ᚈ = ReTu = Settlements. (Summer Solstice, Mid-Summer, Celtic Litha)
6. ᚅ ᚈ = NaTu = Nature's
7. ᚃ ᚆ = ṢaḪu = Rendering
8. ᚃ ᚇ = ṢaDu = Feast. (Fall Equinox, Thanksgiving, Celtic Mabon,)
9. ᚂ ᚇ = PaDu = Breeding
10. ᚃ ᚇ = ṢaDu = Feast. (Winter Solstice, Celtic Yule, Christmas)

This means the 4 Norse Festivals can be summarized as:

1. Spiritual Settlements - (Ostara): March 21, Spring Equinox
2. Worldly Settlements - (Litha): June 22, Summer Solstice
3. Spiritual Thanksgiving - (Haleg): September 21, Autumn Equinox
4. Worldly Thanksgiving - Yule (Giuli), December 22, Winter Solstice

"Nature's rendering" references the successful growth of plant-life. It is nature giving-up plant food. In contrast "Breeding" reference the successful production of young animals for food.