Our friend Alex over at Trova De Lid just put out a new song, also today is Bandcamp Friday so Bandcamp doesn't take a cut from artists today. Don't forget to Support your Pagan artists.

Gargoyle's are well known figures of modern fantasy, stone by day winged beasts by night. Terrifying visages upon ancient buildings staring down from ancient European cities. However, this Gargoyle, the one who fits well within the beasts of the night is a far more modern conception of what in the past were instead decorative water spouts. What people typically consider Gargoyle's are actually known as Grotesques. Though no one really calls them that as the legend of the Gargoyle has long ago subsumed the original term.
The tradition of decorative water spouts or gutters featuring monsters, dragons, humans, and chimeras of various kinds is not uncommon and was practiced across Europe and beyond. Some of them had specific stories or meanings attached to them, with the Lincoln Imp being an example of a grotesque that is tied into its own myth. The origin of the Gargoyle likely has to do with the legend of La Gargouille, a sort of dragon that plagued the town of Rouen until St. Romanus came and using the power of god tamed it, then took it into town where the people burnt it until all that remained was the neck and head which were fireproof. This was then mounted on the wall of the town, becoming the model of the Gargoyle for future generations. Though this may be a Christianized version of a practice from the ancient Celts, where the heads of the prey were possibly used as protective totems. This may be part of how the Gargoyle had its second function in the folklore. With the church including them in the architecture of cathedrals as a way to maintain attendance and acceptance of a foreign faith. The concept of protective totems made these into guardian spirits not dissimilar to the Chinese Stone Lions. These tales all seem to converge into the origin of the modern Gargoyle.
With monsters turned to stone or being the origin of a specific design. It seemed only a matter of time before these decorative demons would become a class of beasts all their own. As films, games, shows, and novels increasingly included the Gargoyle as one of its figures. With some taking a more tame approach while others embraced the demonic side espoused by the Church. The Gargoyle's current form has become a popular and beloved addition to the beasts and legends of European culture, and their status as protective wards and totems, more than deserves to return to the forefront. Whether demon or dragon, spirit or angel; The Gargoyle is a colorful and gothic addition to European culture.

This is a bit of magic in the world, and I do wish we could have far more like this and much less being removed sadly

Sugaar, the serpent in the Lauburu. Also known as Sugaar, Sugar, Sugoi, and Maju is a Basque god one of the most well known and prominent gods of Basque paganism. Sugaar is the husband of Mari and on Fridays he mates with her and produces storms, when they are traveling it is said to hail. He is considered at times to be on fire and when lightening strikes it is the flaming Sugaar streaking across the sky. He is considered to have had a child with a Scottish princess who gave birth to the mythical Basque lord of Biscay. Though this was likely done to try to give divine rights to certain families. Another tale tells of how two Basque brothers found the serpent in a cave and the younger cut off his tail at the cave in Baltzola the older brother disapproved of his brothers actions. Years later an old man approached the older brother who took him to the same cave and gave him gold and a belt to give to his brother, his brother refused to wear the belt and tied it to a tree and the tree caught fire leaving nothing but a hole in the ground. A rather odd version of the thunderer and storm deity in Europe Sugaar is the serpent in the Lauburu (Basque sun wheel) and it seems as if he is one part while his shedded skin is the other. He is usually depicted as a red snake, a red dragon, or a red snake with the body of a young man at the top half. His name may mean “High fire/flame” “Male serpent” or “Old Serpent”. What is your favorite thing about Sugaar?

Our friend Alex of Trova de Lid is having his album released on cassette if you like Dungeon Synth feel free to support this album based on t her 5 classical elements of Europe and the spirits who govern them.

New song from Alex from his project Luces Lejanes

Morena, the mistress of winter and the Slavic goddess of the underworld who is associated with death. She is often considered the daughter of Svarog or of Perun and is the sister and/or former wife of either Jarilo or Dazbog. Symbolized with a sickle and residing in the underworld in a mirror palace from which both spirits and her enemies can be seen and trapped. She is also at times considered the wife of Koschei the Deathless or even Veles. She was originally a sort of nature and hearth goddess but her heart grew stern and cold when she was betrayed by her lover. In another tale Morena is carried away by the winds (Stribogs children) and Vesna is brought to the mortal realm by them. Morena is also the mistress of both the souls of the dead and the mistress of nightmares. She is said to ride a pale horse and cloak the land in snow and death. However her hearth and nature part may not have faded and may have shifted as winter shifted. Winter is harsh yes, but it is also a time of rest and connection, of subtle casual creation and a way to forge stronger bonds with kith and kin. Perhaps as the ways of being during winter the subtle slight hibernation like times and the community around the fire sewing or carving while the children played was lost or faded. Other names for Morena include Mare, More, Marzana, Morana, and more. An effigy is ritually returned to the underworld via fire or water in some parts of the Slavic peoples especially the western half such as in Poland. (This has been a cliff notes version of a script for a video that will be made on Morena in the near future)

Album preview for our friend Alex, for the band he is now a part of