Namazu is a gigantic mythological giant catfish, or a deity in the shape of a catfish, thought to reside in the mud beneath the Japanese islands. According to Japanese mythology and folk belief, Namazu is the monster responsible for causing the devastating earthquakes that shaped Japanese history and culture. Physical descriptions almost always depict Namazu …
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What is a dervish? In Islamic tradition, the term “dervish” refers to a member of a Sufi order who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. Sufism is the mystical dimension of Islam, focused on the inward search for God and seeking to experience divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of the divine. …
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What are Marebito? The term ‘Marebito’ can be translated as ‘rare person’ or ‘unusual visitor’. In Japanese mythology and Shinto belief, Marebito are spirits or gods that come from afar, from a different world or realm. They are considered to be ephemeral visitors, coming to our world for a short period of time. According to …
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Who are Miach and Airmid? Miach and Airmid are gods of healing from Irish Celtic mythology, known for their roles in tales involving curing, herbalism, and medicine. Miach performs his feats of healing through the use of magic, while Airmid performs her art through the use of herbs, and as such, she can be considered …
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What are Vodniks / Vodyanoy Vodníks (or Vodyanoy in Russian and Ukrainian) are water spirits from Slavic folklore and mythology that inhabit lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. They have pre-Christian pagan origins and are, in many ways, similar to Greek nymphs or English fairies. The physical appearance of Vodníks varies between Slavic cultures, …
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Who is Benzaiten? Benzaiten (often spelled Benten) is a goddess in Japanese Buddhism who originated from the Indian goddess Saraswati. She was adopted into the Japanese pantheon through Chinese translations of Buddhist texts and was eventually integrated into the native Shinto religion as well. She is known as the goddess of everything that flows—ranging from …
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Who is Kuebiko? Kuebiko is the Japanese god of knowledge, agriculture, and wisdom, in particular that of the earth used for agriculture. He is typically depicted as a scarecrow, and in this capacity Kuebiko he watched over farmer’s fields, and protected them from hungry birds or the ravages of weather. Over time, Kuebiko came to …
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Who are the Vanir gods? The Vanir gods are a subgroup within the Norse pantheon that represent wealth, fertility, peace, and the natural world. By contrast, the Aesir gods, such as Odin or Thor, are more militaristic in nature and embody concepts such as justice, victory in war, strength, etc. The domain of the Vanir …
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Who is Njord in Norse mythology? Njord is the god of the sea, seafaring, commerce, and wealth in Norse mythology. Because of his extensive powers and vital importance of the sea navigation for the Norse, Njord is one of the most important gods in the Norse pantheon. Njord is a Vanir god. Njord is a …
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Who are Aegir and Ran from Norse mythology? In Norse mythology, Ægir and Rán are two jötunns (giants), husband and wife, believed to personify different aspects of the sea and with powers that are almost as strong as those of the gods themselves. The Norse saw the sea as a mighty being, and not as …
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