BALEEN WHALE FAMILY: Travel the World

The largest Animals that have ever lived on earth, Baleen Whales depend on tiny organisms (Krill) for food. They strain the Krill (Norwegian for ‘whale food’) through bristly baleen plates in their mouths. Since Baleen Whales have no teeth, They swallow or gulp their food whole.

Each Baleen Whale has their own type of baleen and style of feeding. Bowhead Whale, who has the largest baleen, feeds yearlong in the Arctic. Meanwhile, Right Whale cruises with her mouth (which is full of finely fringed baleen plates) open. Swimming on his side, Gray Whale stirs up sediment in the shallow waters with his head. Using his tongue, Gray Whale pumps the sediment into his mouth, strains out the dirt, and eats his prey.

“Songs of the Whales” made Baleen Whales famous in the 1970s. Unlike Toothed Whales, who communicate their alphabets with clicks, Baleen Whales use vocal sounds. Forming a language, these complex songs, which can last for 15 minutes, travel long distances through the ocean depths. Blue Whale uses the lowest sound on the bass register. Fin Whale also emits bass-frequency grunts, but not as low as Blue Whale. Among the Whales, Humpback Whale sings his famous songs during mating season.

Besides their songs, Baleen Whales are also known for their long migrations. Many spend summers in the food-rich polar waters, and move to warmer waters in the winter for breeding. Baleen Whales in the Southern Hemisphere migrate from the Antarctic to New Caledonia. Meanwhile, in the Northern Hemisphere, They go from Greenland to the West Indies. As They go on their epic migrations, Baleen Whales live on the energy stored in their bodies. Although Many Baleen Whales are not sociable, as a rule, They will travel in small groups to their winter and summer grounds.

Baleen Whales are great travelers. On their annual migrations, Some Whales cover a distance almost equal to half the earth’s circumference. Long journeys do not seem to faze Them. “Come see the world,” the Baleen Whales call to you.

WHALE: Nexus of Heaven and Earth

For thousands of years, Whales have captured people’s imagination. People have regarded Whales to be gods, guardians, sea monsters, sources of food, and living islands. From classical Greek mythology to modern day movies, the Family of Whales (Cetaceans) has played a major part in many stories. According to Christians, God sent a Whale to swallow Jonah. Narwhal and his long tusk became the basis of Unicorn legends of the Middle Ages. In the Amazon River basin, people speak of River Dolphins disguising Themselves as men to woo the local girls. Meanwhile, Herman Melville’s novel, “Moby Dick” describes Sperm Whale as the Lord of Demons and Chaos. In the modern era, people see Whales as friends like Flipper (a Bottlenose Dolphin) of movie and TV fame. And, other people regard Cetaceans as mystical representatives from earth’s ancient days or from distant star systems.

Alien yet familiar Animals, Whales are Mammals who have totally adapted to the ocean, which is a hostile environment to air breathers. Scientists believe that the ancestor for Whales was a fish-eating land Mammal, related to modern hoofed Mammals. Further DNA tests show that Whales are actually related to Cows and Camels.

Although people regard Whales as one generic creature, They are divided into two groups, that are not closely related to each other – Baleen (Mysticeti) (Note 1) and Toothed (Odontoceti). To grasp the difference between the two Groups of Living Whales, think of how closely Cows are related to Camels. Baleen Whales, the largest animals on earth, filter food through their baleen. Famous for their singing, Baleen Whales’ songs have been popular as music recordings. More social than Baleen Whales, Toothed Whales live in larger groups called Pods. Unlike Baleen Whales, Toothed Whales use echolocation to find their prey. (Note 2)

Individual Whale Species differ greatly from each other as well. Among Baleen Whales, Right Whales resemble big boats, while Fin Whales are shaped like cruisers. With their square heads, Sperm Whales (who are Toothed Whales) look like submarines. Baleen Whales have two blowholes, while Toothed Whales only have one. Right Whales produce a distinctive V Shape blow, and Sperm Whales’ blows slant forward and to the left.

Living in the ocean, which is both fatal and vital to people, Whales have become intermediaries between people and other worlds. With their forceful leaps to the sky and dives to the ocean’s depths, Whales become the nexus between heaven and earth. If you want to go between worlds, let Whales be your guide.

“Oh! the whale is free of the boundless sea;
He lives for a thousand years;
He sinks to rest in the billow’s breast,
Nor the roughest tempest fears.
The howling blast, as it hurries past,
Is music to lull him to sleep;
And he scatters the spray in his boisterous play,
As he dashes—the king of the deep.

Oh! the rare old whale, 'mid storm and gale,
In his ocean home will be,
A giant in might, where might is right,
And king of the boundless sea!”– 
“King of the Southern Sea,” Joseph Edwards Carpenter

“With a frigate’s anchors for my bridle-bitts and fasces of harpoons for spurs, would I could mount that whale and leap the topmost skies, to see whether the fabled heavens with all their countless tents really lie encamped beyond my mortal sight!” – “Moby Dick”, Herman Melville

“But now those days are gone for good
Along with men on ships of wood
There’s no return for ships with sails
But maybe we’ll again see whales.” – “Whale Song,” Robert Longley

Toothed Whale Family Members (Odontoceti):
Beaked Whales
Dwarf and Pigmy Sperm Whales
Ocean Dolphins and Orcas
Porpoises
River Dolphins
Sperm Whale
White Whales (Beluga, Narwhal)

Families of Baleen Whales (Mysticeti):
Rorquals (Blue, Fin, Humpback, Minke, and Sei)
Right Whale
Pigmy Right Whale
Gray Whale
Bowhead Whale

Notes:

Note 1: Baleens are thin, long, triangular plates of keratin (same material that human hair and nails are made from). These plates grow down from Baleen Whale’s gums, covering the upper jaw.

Note 2: Echolocation is the sending out sound signals and interpreting the echoes. In their foreheads, Toothed Whales possess an organ called a melon, which acts as a sonar lens to focus sound.

Babylonian Month of May/June

In the Standard Mesopotamian Calendar, the month starting from the new moon of May is called Simanu (“Month of the Brick Gods”). The King would lay the first brick in the brick mold. Then brickmaking and construction could begin in earnest. The Gods of Bricks and Building were honored in eight rituals that centered on the brick kilns.

The erecting of a building was re-enacting a moment of creation. It meant digging into the ground which marks the Earth. This foundation now retains a memory of the wild land. Therefore, before anything was done, divination (usually astrology) was done to find the particular time to build at a place. The rituals are done to link the place with that time. In “Creating Places of Power,” Nigel Pennick wrote “This link between this world and the other world preserved the holy moment within a limited, circumscribed area separated from the profane outerworld.”

For modern people, this can be the time to celebrate masonry and other aspects of building. Think of how bricks provide for safe and snug homes. The beginnings of civilization could be said to be represented by bricks and mortar.

The Gods of Bricks and Building are:
Arazu: The God of Completed Construction
Girra: The God of Fire. The God of Kilns
Kabta: God of Pickaxes, Construction and Bricks
Kulla: The God of Building.
Musdama: The God of Foundations. The God of Architects
Nuska: The God of Fire. The God of Civilization.

Note: In Sumer, the time of the inundations of the fields began at the new moon of May. The month of May-June is known as Sig-ga.

Roman Gods of the Month: May

For Romans, May (Maius) is sacred to Maia, the Goddess of the Growth of Living Things. As the Mother of Mercury, She is also honored with Him at the Mercuralia on May 15. On May 1st, Maia’s festival day and on the 15th, a priest of Vulcan (God of Fire) will sacrifice a pregnant sow to Her. Maia is his consort since Vulcan (Volcanus) is also the God who ripens the earth with his inner warmth. Modern Roman Polytheists will offer burnt pork to Maia.

May is also a gloomy month since the Dead roam freely at this time. The Lemuria is to ensure that the Dead are placated and do not trouble the living. Meanwhile, the Rosalia focused on placing roses and violets on graves.

The Days of the Dead
The major focus of this month is the Lemuria, the Roman Days of the Dead (May 9, 11, and 13). On these days, the Lemures (Larvae) seek out the living to have them give the Larvae proper burials. The Lemures also want people to make offerings in their memory to the Gods of the Dead. Meanwhile, the living do certain rites to ensure that Larvae not harm them or their families. (The Larvae could be considered the “Undead.”)

Until the 8th Century, May 13 was All Saints’ Day for Christians. During the 730s, Pope Gregory III changed the feast date to November 1. He wanted to accommodate the Celtic Christians, who had grown in numbers. Meanwhile, Roman Lemuria can be considered the Roman equivalent of Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.

Mercury (Mercurius)
For Romans, Mercury is the God of Commerce, Merchants, and Thieves. On May 15, merchants would bless themselves and their wares from his sacred well, which was located outside of the Sacred Boundary (Pomerium) of Rome. Modern Roman Polytheists will use water from local streams to bless their local banks and stores.

Julius Caesar noted that Mercury was the most popular God in the Celtic and Germanic regions closest to Roman territories. These peoples regarded Mercury to be the inventor of the arts. In Celtic areas, He was frequently accompanied by Rosmerta, Celtic Goddess of Abundance and Prosperity.

Flora
On May 23, the Rosalia (dies rosationis (the day of the rose adornment)) is held. This was originally a military rite to honor the fallen. It later became a ritual to honor all the dead, with roses placed on graves. For the Rosalia, I would suggest going to a battlefield or military cemetery, if possible.

The Ambarvalia
At the end of May, people would walk the perimeters of their fields bringing offerings of milk, honey and wine. Ancient Romans herded a boar, ram, and a bull around the boundaries, and then sacrificed them. Modern Roman Polytheists offer meats from the store and ask for the blessings of Mars and Ceres on the crops.

Fulla: Abundance and Service, Frigga Handmaid

At her hall of Fensalir, Frigga, the Norse All-Mother, has twelve Handmaidens (Note 1) or ladies-in-waiting to attend to Her. Not much is known about who these Handmaidens were since the Lore is scanty about Norse Goddesses in general. Much of what is known today is by Group Verified Gnosis.

Fulla (in brief)
Because She looks after Frigga’s shoes, Fulla can be considered the Goddess of Footwear. Her other duty is guarding Frigga’s treasures, which are kept in a casket. She is also a close confidant of the All-Mother. Diane Paxson, Heathen elder, says that Fulla is the “Keeper of Women’s Mysteries.”

Snorri Sturluson wrote in the Prose Edda, “Fulla, who is also a maid, she wears her hair flowing and has a golden ribbon about her head; she carries Frigg’s chest, takes care of her shoes and knows her secrets.” This Goddess could be thought of as “Frigga’s Lady.” Fulla attends to the All-Mother’s needs in all aspects. She is entrusted with Frigga’s well-being.

Fulla may be a major Goddess, beyond what the scanty lore indicates. She is mentioned often in Snorri’s Skaldskaparmal. Fulla is listed among the foremost Goddesses of the Aesir along with Frigga and Freya in the Prose Edda.

A hint of Fulla’s power is the Second Merseburg Charm (Note 2) where she cures a lame horse.
The Second Merseburg Charm:
“Phol and Wodan were riding to the woods,
and the foot of Balder’s foal was sprained
So Sinthgunt, Sunna’s sister, conjured it;
and Frija, Volla’s sister, conjured it;
and Wodan conjured it, as well he could:
Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain,
so joint-sprain:
Bone to bone, blood to blood,
joints to joints, so may they be glued.”

(Phol is Balder, Wodan – Odin, Frija – Frigga, and Volla – Fulla. Sinthgunt is an unknown Goddess.)

The Charm lists Fulla as the Sister of Frigga, hinting at a close relationship that goes beyond being a “Lady’s Maid.” Moreover, Fulla is thought of as a major healer of horses. The Charm acknowledges her power as a major Germanic Goddess.

The Golden Ribbon, referred to by Snorri, indicates Fulla’s divinity. The Ribbon could be thought of as a crown. This is the description of Fulla’s “Snood” in the Edda.
“One may hear how gold is metaphorically called Fulla’s Snood, in this verse which Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler wrought:
Fulla’s shining Fillet,
The forehead’s sun at rising,
Shone on the swelling shield-hill
For skalds all Hakon’s life-days.”

Fulla’s “Snood” and “Chest” hint at Her being a Goddess of Abundance. One of her attributes is “Fulla the Bountiful.” In fact, her name translates to “fullness” or “bountiful” in Old Norse. Fulla is believed to ensure bountiful harvests.

My experience with Fulla is in meditating on Her Role as the Keeper of Frigga’s Shoes. Why is that assigned to a Goddess? I realized how important shoes are when my husband had custom shoes made for his deformed feet. The proper shoes assist in walking and mobility. They are considered their weight in gold. Therefore the keeping of shoes is something that I ask of Fulla.

My second experience was in finding a box. I had needed a place to put all my prayer beads. While I was considering what, a vision of a wooden box came to me. I was led to the box on sale and had the funds to buy it. Later I realized that Fulla presented the vision and the money to buy the box.

My third experience with Fulla has been in the care and keeping of my husband’s feet. She has helped to guide me and him through his toe amputation and later operations. My UPG is that Fulla does concern Herself with feet as well as shoes.

Notes:
Note 1. Saga (seer), Eir (healer), Gefjun (unmarried girls), Fulla (plenty), Sjofn (love), Lofn (forbidden love), Var (oaths), Vor (wisdom), Syn (truth), Hlin (protector), Snorta (diplomacy), Gna (travelers).

Note 2. The Second Merseburg Charm is one of two Medieval charms written in Old High German. They are the only known examples of written charms of German Polytheists.