Faces of Death V: Death of the People

Each culture upon this planet is sacred and unique in the eyes of Deity as all people are. To say that death must be seen as X and never as Y is to limit the endless possibilities and hamper the human spirit. Many if not all the gods and goddesses are still worshiped, and it would be a comfort to their children to see them upon death.

Others fear or look forward to an angel, a robed skeleton, or a demon. Others still hope for a member of the fairy race or a loa. It would do us good to remember that most spirits were gods long ago, none the less sacred or important than ours.

He has taken on his own personality outside of the church and is known as a separate entity from any of the known angels of death. Here, he is Death himself always on call for duty at God's holy will. But he has also taken on a more universal flavor and is often a being unto himself, obeying no one.

Sometimes he appears almost cuddly as on Touched by an Angel. In the horror genre? Not so much. But many people claim real life encounters with this angel in forms like an old woman, a child, or a man. Sometimes they knew this was an angel, sometimes not.

He is the element and god of fire. He protects mankind from the darkness and is largely seen as a good force. It is he who carries burnt offerings to the other gods in heaven. But he also has a destructive side. When born he turned both parents into ashes. He also eats or cremates the body on the pyre. It is Angi who helps dead souls by purifying them after death.

Once a widely respected and beloved crone goddess our Baba loved to hunt down evil folk. She'd fly in her magical cauldron scooping up evil people who had nowhere to hide from her powerful magic. She was a loving mother and goddess help you if you hurt a woman or child.

Besides her other duties she could create storms, or produce food for her people. Feasts days in her honor showed all the good things she gave us humans, as well as reminding folk that everything must die but would be reborn or go back to nature in her cauldron.

Decent folk had nothing to fear from her and as a kindness she often took them quickly when severe illness set in. People looked forward to meeting her because she had an afterworld stocked better than your grandmother's candy drawer. She could also grant good health and often did so.

But as people began to fear death and renounce the dead they came to fear this sweet old crone who wanted nothing more than to help them move on.

I blush to admit it, but Baphomet may not exist. The most logical explanation we have is that he is one image made from many symbols. Those in the Knights Templar would know what these symbols meant, and respond with the proper gestures or words.

Unfortunately, the Church decided it wanted the richer and stronger Templars dead, so he became a devil of sorts. Thankfully of all people Crowley rescued his rep, turning him back into the fertility god he was, if he really was at all.

Today he is seen as life, love and all things good. Heck, they make cuddly stuffed animals out of him. Just keep in mind every fertility god has a reaping side as well.

Guess what color these poor folks turned? Feared because he could outpace medical knowledge at the time. Like his brothers the black death may always come to mankind again, with no warning.

Some say he was shown as a knight to remind people of the swiftness of his travel, and his final right to all living things.

Other world god and warrior, he is a fearsome fighter. He also owns a cauldron which can bring the dead back to life. From later tales we know that a beheaded Bran was still powerful. His head still led his army into battle. This very head is thought to still be on our plane of existence and can be used for good or ill.

Modern pagans hold that it is Bran's cauldron that helps rejuvenate the soul for a new life. Many a fine witch has put out in spellbooks and online how to work wwith him.

This wonderful face of death hails from Scotland. She's a crone in appearance, tall and lean white a mane of white hair to die for. Her face and possibly all her skin is blue She is the bringer of snow and some say disease. One legend says she is reborn every Samhain, but this may be a more recent legend.

She is the protector of crones, so for goodness sake tolerate old people. She also works with modern pagans and can bring closure. You'll notice she carries stones in her apron, a staff which brings death or winter, and somtimes is called one-legged.

More seen as skeletal in the art of the period, he seemed much more inviting as his appearance ended the suffering. Also for good Catholics death taking them in grace was a welcome gift. Some art shows him as a lover, which can go back to several Gods of old.

Even today he is with us, as everything from a mascot, artwork, online persona and more. Yes, I bet he does like death metal.

He is winter itself in Russia. While his snows bring rest and renewal he can also bring death to humans. As a matter of fact brining death to humans who dare enter his wintery realm is his favorite pastime.

But he seems to be mellowing out. He is now equated with Santa Claus, hardly the fearsome destroyer of mankind he once was.

Seen in many forms, death here becomes a godfather, after both God and the devil are refused. He offers no riches until after the bond is made, which stands out from both God and Satan offering things first. Incidentally, how wise is the man if he can't tell God, Satan or Death by looking at them?

Well death becomes a very doting and loving godfather. He shows his godson a herb that he can say will cure anything. The real trick is whether or not death is at the sick person's feet. If death is there his godson must say the person will die and not apply the herb.

The godson ends up tricking his godfather twice, one time too many. He is taken by death himself to see his guttering candle. Despite his godson's pleas, death only pretends to give him a new candle, using it to snuff out the old one.

He rose to prominence during the plagues that killed most of the European population. Which only happened after the humans burned witches and cats I might add. He usually appears as a robed skeleton carrying a scythe, sickle or hourglass. He often wears robes, most usually black. However as different plagues would spread different versions almost brothers or servants of the grim reaper would appear.

It was thought he was both a symbolic warning on the shortness of life, and an actual being. Although the church was not fond of the idea, many artists would make some sort of painting or art in an effort to appease death. Many dances, folk tales, and offerings would grow around him to win his favor.

Is she a fairy, hag, vengeful ghost, or something even worse? Nobody seems to know, though legend has it is drowned long ago. Now the very dead and skeletal Jenny hides in ponds. She is covered with moss and water weeds so children, and no doubt some adults never see her lurking at the water's edge.

When her prey is within reach two mossy green skeletal arms shoot out and drag her victim under. They say Jenny does this because she loves children and wants them with her. Her water-logged brain doesn't seem to understand that drowning is horrifying to the victim. Once in her steely grasp none have escaped.

She is the face of death that is very real in weed-chocked or other dangerous ponds. The victim ensnared in the muck or weeds has no chance of getting out if he or she panics. Which is a given if a green mossy skeleton with putrid green hair is smiling at them. Jenny is usually silent preferring to wait for her prey.

Ruler of the underworld and feared by many, this Goddess is the Crone of many a trinity. Although not evil she has a fierce temper and will happily mow down those who oppose her holy will. The owl is her symbol, and thus feared by many as a sign of eminent death.

Hecate can and will help modern witches. Needless to say she adores croning rituals.

This is one fire god to never cross. When he was born his flames were so strong he burned his mother, the first human woman to death. She may even have been a goddess in a sense so that makes him even more potent. Although his father decapitated him in a blind rage, the fire baby lived. He can easily get out of control just like his element and bring death to both requests and humans. Despite this he is essential as the death brought by fire makes way for new life to grow.

She was born on the battlefield, to kill an unstoppable foe the gods dreaded. Not only did Kali enjoy drinking his blood, she destroyed him and all other demons present. Her ecstatic dancing can get out of hand, and she even trampled her future husband.

Although connected to some dark groups such as the Thugees, she is most often seen as a loving and protective mother. Anyone can appeal to Kali for help and she will listen. Keep in mind though that if she sees a request as evil she will act against you.

That pretty necklace she always wears is made out of demon heads. But as you can see, she likes pretty flowers too. In the future her dancing is said to be set to destroy the physical world and make way for a spiritual one.

Death is often seen as a lover in art. His skeletal embrace is often welcomed and to women subjects highly erotic. Although this may be the dance of life and death it can be something far more. Women may often feel a pull towards death simply because he is portrayed in the Western world as tall dark and handsome. Well, that may be the modern cause.

But the sad truth is to all to many women from the middle ages, heck from the start of time itself, he is a welcome lover. Far too many women under go abuse, sickness, and mistreatment from society. Death does not care for what the human world thinks and hence we know he will take us in his time.

Inviting or invoking him as a lover can be an understanding of this, or a call for help to the one being whose mercy is swift and endless. He is the dark knight that comes to rescue womankind and mankind as well who have been abused and forgotten by society.

Needless to say it has always been a bone of contention whether we humans may or may not choose to die, whatever the reason. Invoking death and having him appear shows that he the ultimate judge agrees our time is now.

This also poses the question if death will take you on as a lover, surely it must be for an eternity?
Of course the curious could try the astral realms, but be careful what you wish for.

That said hon, there are help lines for a reason. Ain't nothing worth dying over, trust me. Which is what death himself will always try to tell you. Life can be sweet, but we ourselves must make it so.

Irish goddess of death on the battlefield, she would swoop in crow or raven form after battles to claim her prizes. She was both feared and revered, and today still is. Not accepting her love is not a good idea. When one such man, a hero, did so, he then went so far as to wound her in anger. Needless to say Morrigan cawed happily on his dead shoulder whence he was slain in battle.

Today newagers, pagans and witches alike seek her help in many venues. She is a skilled warrior and can help win in battles. So many enlisted pagans now serving our country feel safe with her protection. She seems very fond of witches or anyone who researches funerary arts.

Remember the people of Ireland would be related however distant to Germans and French (all three bloodlines were at one time part of a larger single entity) so she may very well be an ancestral goddess for you.

She has been linked as the crone goddess of Samhain. Scottish, she has strong magical powers He followers enjoy her protection from evil, and she may collect them herself upon death. One of her titles is Daughter of Bones. She is also the Queen of Elphame. Needless to say she is not of the Tinkerbell variety.

Nothing like death coming for you on horseback. With his brothers (pestilence, famine, and war) he will charge out near the end of Christian time to lay waste to the world. The scary part is, he is a holy servant under God's orders.

To give it to you chapeter and verse: Revelation 6:7 - 6:8 - "And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a pale green horse; and he that sat on him was called Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, and that they (the four horsemen) should kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."

You thought death was scary? Now you get to see Death and all of Hell is coming with him. Good to see God back in His Old Testament mood. Oh, by Hades they also may simply mean all the dead will rise from the grave to devour you. And you thought the Bible was boring.

I'd make a joke about Pazuzu's petals, but you young'uns would probably miss it. Make sure you watch A Wonderful Life to get it. Anyhow long before he became famous in The Exorcist this dude really existed. His statues tended to be a bit more fierce though.

He is the god, some say demon of the southwest wind. He brings famine or locusts as it pleases him, to destroy crops. Oddly enough even though he is seen as evil, he will attack any evil entity that harms a person under his care.

Which helps us dig up his real story. He really was and is a god who loved and loves humans. He so despises the demonessLamashtu, who steals babies that he pressed her back into the underworld. So yes, he'd be a super child protector as he loves kids. That his fierce winds can destroy crops is true, but then most gods have a darker side that favors destruction. Plus, blaming nature on the gods and not thinking ahead seems to be the norm for humans.

In appearance he is partly human with double wings, a dog's head, and taloned eagle's feet, all finished off with a scorpion's tail. He also has scales and in place of a real member, a snake-headed one. Many ancient women wore his amulet to protect their unborn babies and hung charms of him around the house so the children would be safe.

For a supposedly made up creature thousands of children have feared him and still do. Said to be as tall as a two story building, he is a terror to behold. His raw head is flayed open and often looks more like a boar's head than a human one. Or sometimes you can see the bloody veins with no skin at all.

His bloody bones are thick and massive. They need covering just like his head you see. And it needs to be very young and tender flesh to cover him. Otherwise he is sore and in a worse temper than usual. Bad children can expect a raw bloody hand to smash through a window. Or perhaps from underneath the bed. He is so very clever. And magical. He'll always find a way in.

There's no escape from him and adults somehow always know about children who went missing. Of course he serves a useful purpose. Scared children do not wander outside at night where very real danger exists. They are also wary of strangers as Rawhead is not above appearing as a human. He is the more acceptable face of death that masks the real horrors of the world.

At the risk of dating myself, he reminds me a lot of Rawhead Rex.

He is the least popular of all angels, but an angel he is in many spiritual paths. He does God's will by brining misfortune and disaster to mankind. He himself points out in Job that it is easy to love a God who gives only good things.

So there too we get to see his role in testing man even up to death. He can be very subtle tempting man to do evil, but again much of humankind's own rotten inclinations have fell on his head.

The holier and more devout the person, the more ceaseless Satan's attempts to test them will be. He can overstep his limits and tested God himself by testing Jesus. But a simple utterance of the name of Jesus will send him fleeing. For to lean on God is the ultimate act of trust and self-denial.

He or a flunky will quite happily show up at the moment of death to snatch evil souls. His torments can be everlasting or for a repentance period, but are aimed at purging the soul of evil. Remember even in Hell it is God not the devil who reigns.

Just to make things confusing there are other views of him. Some Christians see him as the father of all evil, and death himself. Those who take a strong disliking to God and his church turn rebel and become Satanists. They truly believe in Satan, and obey the laws of their dark covens seriously.

The Church of Satan, on the other hand, believes in nothing at all, not even Satan. They just use him as an excuse to be anti-establishment.

Modern witches and pagans tend not to believe in him at all, as he looks strangely like Pan. Well, they had to demonize the old gods some way, didn't they?

As both the destroyer and the corpse, he is death. His dance of life follows Kali's but so too his dance of death. In one creation myth there love making wrought the world. Guess what happens if they do it again? Poof Shiva can be both gentle and fierce depending on the soul he is claiming.

As the corpse he lies beneath Kali as she tramples him in her holy ecstacy. As the destroyer and Howler he shatters evil, both in men and demons. These last two faces of death take only the most wicked to a just and horrendous afterlife where suffering erases sin.

This African goddess was connected closely to Baal. As his consort she ruled over fertility. But she was also a hot-blooded goddess of war, fighting to protect her people. Tanit seems to enjoy eating humans on occasion and may devour those she defeats in battle. She also brings large harvests and good fortune to her followers and had a widespread influence in several lands. Oh, Tanit came before Baal as a mother goddess, which makes her also the mother of his brother Yhwh. It is she who rules the sun and moon.

Seen as both good and evil by turn, this spirits ride in the storms of the Wild Hunt. They collect souls, and can slay mortals on the battlefield. In earliest times the collected men were doomed, but with the passage of time these fearsome warrioresses have come to be seen as angels of death. Unlike most angels they will happily get the dead quite drunk and cavort with them.