Chthonia

This episode looks at the Babylonian goddess Lamashtu, who may be one of the earliest examples of a vampiric goddess who hunts humans and feeds on flesh, particularly that of unborn children. While we may expect such a goddess to be classed as a demon, Lamashtu is the daughter of the sky god Anu, and has celestial origins. Her ill effects on pregnant mothers and others cannot be exorcised, only appeased. We look at the iconography of Lamashtu, her role, and how she topples ideas about female deities and about masculine/feminine categories in general.

This week's episode is about the Valkyries, the "choosers of the slain" who bring warriors to Odin's Valhalla, to fight at the "twilight of the gods," Ragnarok. We look at the original role of the Valkyries as "demonic" feasters on the dead flesh of fallen warriors, and their transformation into beautiful shieldmaidens serving warriors in Valhalla. In particular we look at the theme of "domestication" of terrifying feminine forces, and how much that comes into play with complex female warrior/lover figures from the Otherworld.

This episode explores the Latawica, female spirits of the aborted or stillborn in Slavic mythology. The term Latawica is also used in connection with "loose" women, as these spirits that appear as half bird and half human can also shapeshift into seductive forms. As we see in many of these stories, the original version takes on a very different tone once the myth is Christianized, and this is no exception. We discuss beliefs about children who die before they are born, and the implications of connecting these spirits to a kind of succubi, and then to promiscuous women.

This week's podcast is a long one--I talk about the Murrain Maiden, also called the Plague Maiden, or Morowa Dziewica. When she enters a town waving her red handkerchief, the residents are doomed. This podcast gets into the imagery of the Murrain Maiden folktale, and the way in which the idea of plague and illness connects to demon lore and to the dark Feminine.

This month's conversation is with esoteric artist Orryelle Defenestrate Bascule. Our discussion centers around Orryelle's art, music, and ritual theatre performance, including his film "Solve et Coagula." We talk about the idea of embodiment, including the embodiment of sound in language, the kundalini force, and quite a bit about the goddess Hekate.This conversation includes a reading from Orryelle's new book entitled "Esezezus," and some tracks from the album that accompanies the book. The video version of this conversation on YouTube (Chthonia channel) also includes the trailer and some clips from the film Solve et Coagula. You can order Orryelle's new book here: https://www.miskatonicbooks.com/product/esezezus-by-orryelle-defenestrate-bascule-limited-edition-hardcover-with-cd-and-map-of-hermes/Take a look at Orryelle's art and film projects at his website:http://www.esoterotica.art/Information about the Solve et Coagula film:http://www.crossroads.wild.net.au/solveetcoagula.htmIf you are in Europe or the UK, here are the links to Orryelle's book launch events next month (via Facebook):https://www.facebook.com/events/214572107891817 (London, 12 May 2023)https://www.facebook.com/events/3415048145384534 (Brussels, 25 May 2023)All images and clips used with permission.

This week we look at the Rusalka, an elemental spirit from Slavic folklore. She is described either as spirit of forest and field or as a water spirit, though in both roles she is a "fertility wight," a being that brings water to the crops and fields. However, by the 19th century the Rusalka became the spirit of women who died unbaptized or as virgins, a kind of vengeful damned spirit. They also became associated with mermaids at this time, and a Rusalka-type spirit is the inspiration for Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Mermaid", which bears a resemblance in plot to Dvořák's opera entitled "Rusalka". I discuss all these associations, as well as reasons for the shift from benevolent but tricky nature spirit to malevolent spirit leading men to their deaths.

This week we take a foray back into Slavic folklore, with a look at the female demonic figure known as the Strzyga (or Striga, or Strega). These are creatures with a gray or bluish appearance that feed on the flesh and blood of humans, and are connected to the Roman "Strix", a bird of ill omen usually associated with the owl. They have two souls, two hearts, and often two sets of teeth, and have characteristics in common with the vampire, though they are associated more with witchcraft. We discuss the origins of the Strzyga, including ideas about the dead and the underworld. We also look at similarities to Roman ancestral belief, as well as the associations of the Strix and the significance of having "two" beings within one.

Welcome to Chthonia's 100th regular episode! We look at the Pisacha this week--flesh eating demons of Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Lord Shiva is frequently attended by bhuta (ghosts) and pisacha; whatever else may be different about the conception of these beings, it is agreed that they have to do with anger. Whether they are viewed as angry ghosts seeking revenge, the dead souls of those who committed violent crime, or a race of malevolent flesh eaters and vampires, they have a connection to Krodha (anger), and also to the Dark Feminine, due to their association with the cremation grounds and with the devouring of flesh. We will specifically explore themes of vampirism, cannibalism, revenge, and their role as obstructors of sadhaks.

This week we look at one of the "horrors of Hecate," the Empusa. Empusa is a shapeshifting daimon or ghost that is sometimes likened to a succubus, and sometimes a grotesque spirit that attacks men; she also attacks mystery cult initiates in an attempt to distract them from completing their initiation. She is sometimes portrayed with the leg of a donkey, giving her a relationship to the Testament of Solomon demon Onoskelis. What is very likely is that Empusa (or the Empusai) serve a function quite similar to that of the Furies--maintaining boundaries, though they challenge you to surpass those boundaries.

This month's conversation features two guests: Alexandros Matsangos, a translator, Psychology Ph.D., and author of "The Male Lesbian Manifesto"; Geoffreyjen Edwards is a former scientist, a fashion designer, and author of the science fiction novel "Plenum: the First Book of Deo," part of a 15-volume space opera. Both Alexandros and Geoffreyjen explore gender themes and gender fluidity in their works, and this conversation is a fascinating look at what it means to be "gender fluid," the way in which gender defines identity and spirituality, and the projection of the masculine/phallic centric view of gender on society. I learned a lot in this conversation, and hope listeners will as well.Note: Alexandros' last two comments did not make it to audio for some unknown reason, so unfortunately that is missing near the end. Geoffreyjen Edwards's "Plenum: First Book of Deo" is available from Untimely Books, and can be ordered on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Plenum-First-Book-Deo-Chronicles/dp/0971663564/Alexandros Matsango's "Male Lesbian Manifesto" is available in Greek (hopefully published in English this year), though not currently available in the U.S.; you can watch a short film discussing the theory of the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh7MlFeLHUU