The creation stories in Romanian mythology are numerous and varied, from its ancient, Indo-European roots to a Christianization of the tale involving God and His enemy, Satan.
According to R-Oman-ian beliefs, God made the earth with the help of animals, while Satan was trying to thwart His plans. Before the earth existed, a boundless supernatural ocean called 'Apa Sam-Betei was the abode of God and the Devil (Nefar-Tatul), seen as master and servant rather than equals.
Upon deciding to create the earth, God sent Nefar-Tatul, his servant to bring a handful of clay from the ground of the World Ocean in His Holy Name.Nefar-Tatul set forth and tried to bring the clay to the surface in his name instead, but could not succeed until he brought it up in the Name of God.
As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid Himself down to sleep. Nefar-tatul then tried to push Him over the side, but the ever-expanding earth would hinder that. After trying to throw God off the earth in every one of the four cardinal directions, he shied away from the cross he drew in the ground himself.
Other accounts suggest that the Devil and his demons were once angels of God. The Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth.
Fearing that Heaven might be voided, the archangel Micha-El re-sealed it, thus freezing the demons that had not yet fallen to hell in place.
This account relates to the concept of 'soul customs,' where every soul is intercepted on its way to heaven by these demons, who forced it into hell. An old Romanian proverb says: "Do not speak badly of the Devil because you cannot know to whom you will belong."
According to popular Romanian mythology, it is not considered difficult to establish a connection with the Devil. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the soul of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. They use portal / crossroad or unclean places where they invoke his name out loud, in order to obtain his infernal aid.
Each wizard and witch has access to a Black Book which contains all the incantations, chants and magic formulas. Usually before dying, wizards or masters of the same rank pass on this knowledge to an apprentice, but sometimes such books remain without a master. When that happens, whoever finds the book have the choice of open it up or keep it closed. If the Black Book is open by an untrained person, he/she become a slave of the evil power governed by the Book.
When the Book is opened, demons appear immediately in front of it asking for work. Not knowing how to maintain them always busy, the demons end the life of the Book's possessor letting it to be placed in another and more skillful hand, otherwise the cycle continue.
It is said that only wizards and witches know what tasks to give to the devils by making them do things such as making ropes out of water and sand (craftiness along generations of people) or stopping rivers from flowing into the sea (lies that takes the Truth out of its way).
This information is used as a warning to all those who dare to play with evil forces without knowing the price that must be paid for the recklessness of their actions.
The epitome of dark myths and legends dwell deep within the wide forest of Romania, a country that was once brutal and full of mysteries.
These stories appear not only in Romanian mythology, but also in Ar-Oman-ian, Slavic Maced-Onian and Bulg-Ar-Ian mythologies.
God's 7 names are commonly addressed in Romanian's myths as the origin of God, which is explained in a Russian doll-type fashion. Before every God's name there was another God that formed Him.
Rabbinic Judaism describes in a different way the 7 holy names that, once written, should not be erased: YHWH, El (God), El-Ohim (Gods), El-Ohim (Gods), El-Oha (God), El Shadd-Ai, and Tz-Eva-Ot or S-Aba-Oth (Of Hosts).
No comments:
Post a Comment