Happy Halloween

I had no clue exactly how this painting would turn out. When I started this piece in my minds eye I saw a tree surrounding a skull with runes etched into the skull. Next time I do this, and I will draw more skulls, I am going to try to give the runes a look like they have been carved into the skull. I found tons of carved skulls online. I really liked the look.

The Skull Or Skull-Cup In Vajrayana Buddhism

The information I am sharing is taken from "The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs" by Robert Beer.

The skull-cup (Skt. Kapla; Tib. thod phur) - Wrought from the round upper section of the human skull, serves as a cup for many Vajrayana deity, yidam, dakinis, siddhas, and tantric lineage holders. The skull-cup or kapala used in the hands of deities and other beings carries many complicated, interwoven symbolic meanings within the ritual it is being used. The rituals are so complicated even the placement of the kapala in the hands of the deities or humans carries many meanings. One has to be versed in the ritual to understand the underlying meanings or the ritual is meaningless. That is the hidden ritual that one can only learn when taught by a Vajrayana master.

The skull of a murder or execution victim is believed to possess the greatest tantric or spirit power; the skull of one who has died from a violent or accidental death, or from virulent illness, posses a medium magical power; the skull of a person who died peacefully in old age has virtually no occult power. The skull of a child who died during onset of puberty also has great potency, as do the skulls of a child conceived within the social taboos of society, one born of unknown paternity, conceived through the mixing of castes, from an unwed mother, or particularly from incest. The unfortunate skull, "Tib. Nal thod", of a seven or eight-year-old child born from an incestuous relationship is believed to hold the greatest power in certain tantric rituals. The ancient practice carries the belief that the vital force or potential of the skull's previous owner is embodied within the bone as a spirit, rendering it as an effective power-object for the performance of the left-hand tantric rituals.

As the drinking cup of the practitioner in ritual the kapala is likened to the clay pot of the vedic sacrifice, the alms bowl of the Buddhas, the sacred water vase of the bodhisattvas. In it's most peaceful symbolism, the begging bowl or food vessel of an ascetic, the kapala is a constant reminder of death and impermanence, the constant change and flux of life that helps us let go of the three poisons, delusion, attachment, and hatred.

Skeletons, Skulls, and Bones.

16 x 14 inches, watercolor and gouache, and Gel Pens on 190lb cotton watercolor paper

Here is a link to the Cypher for the runes. The runes I used to cover the skull are for defense, victory, honor, wealth, strength of will, prosperity and vitality, growth, work, generosity, trust, faith, companionship, man, the unknown, actualization of potential, the beginning of something, inheritance, heritage, tradition, nobility, hope, happiness, defense of loved ones, strength, and stability.

The Helm of Awe

Ignorance Is The Enemy!

The Helm of Awe

I wore before the sons of men

In defense of my treasure;

Amongst all, I alone was strong,

I thought to myself,

For I found no power a match for my own.

This helm of awe was originally a kind of sphere of magical power to strike fear into the enemy. It was associated with the power of serpents to paralyze their prey before striking (hence, the connection with Fáfnir). … The helm of awe as described in the manuscript [the Galdrabók] is a power, centered in the pineal gland and emanating from it and the eyes. [In Aristotle and Neoplatonism, sources for much medieval magic, the spirit connects to the body via the pineal gland, and the eyes emit rays of spiritual power.] It is symbolized by a cross-like configuration, which in its simplest form is made up of what appear to be either four younger M-runes or older Z-runes. These figures can, however, become very complex.

A link to My Blog