Symbology by Chipka

2D • (none) • posted on Nov 20, 2008

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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.

Description

The Stones of Agara—sometimes portrayed as precious jewels—are said to possess distinct, alchemical qualities; possession of such stones reportedly endows any rightful owner with extreme longevity and wealth. According to popular Agaran legends, the stones are physical manifestations of the brother-gods. Older legends refer to such stones as the God-Seeds, and they are likened to the seeds of the Catalpa Tree, hidden and protected in their bean-like pods. Planting these seeds will bring about the literal/physical rebirth of the brother-gods, thus bringing “The Age of Humanity” to a close. Crusaders in the 12th century introduced Christianity to Agara, and thus, many of the old legends fell from favor. It was not until the neo-pagan revival, begun in the 1990s, that an interest in the indigenous religion of the country began to flourish, though a number of English and American students of the occult took an interest in Agara during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Perhaps the most famous story concerning the quest for the Stones of Agara can be found in the journals of Demetrius Wallbridge (1831 – 1899). Though thought to be forgeries, the journals were conclusively authenticated in 1997. The journals outline Wallbridge's interest in the pagan myths of Agara, and give detailed information on the methods of his ethnographic and mythological research. More intriguingly, the journals also map his descent into insanity, following what he termed “exposure to the accursed realm of Na.” Though there is no familiar analogy to what Na represents, it is seen in Agaran cosmology as a raw and untamed place, and the Stones of Agara are said to possess some essence of this chaotic realm in the form of the immense progenetory energies that allowed the twin-brother gods of Agaran antiquity, to create themselves from nothing. --Markus VanderHoff/Reflections and Projections: A Brief History of Agara University of Chicago Press **** I had no idea that the whole "story" of Agara was going in this direction; I'd invented it only as an unreal nation in need of a flag...and well...it's taken off from there. As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting, and hopefully you've enjoyed this as much as I've enjoyed making it.

Comments (17)

beachzz

1:44AM | Thu, 20 November 2008

Pretty powerful stuff here, I'd love some of that longevity and wealth, but I think the price is way too high. The image is glorious in its in its richness and color--you've outdone yourself here, Chip!!

claude19

1:46AM | Thu, 20 November 2008

SUPERB CREATIVITY !!! BRAVO dear Artfriend !!!

Heathcroft

3:37AM | Thu, 20 November 2008

Heavy stuff Chip- well realised. Dave

anahata.c

5:03AM | Thu, 20 November 2008

(You know, I wrote my comments last night, and fell asleep & wound up dreaming about Agara: Now you're gonna have to do a book on this, you've invaded my subconscious...) Scholarship on top of everything else: You're a real creator, sir C! (I was in grad school at U. of C., and for a minute I racked my brain thinking, did I know a M VdHoff??? You've invaded your readers' lives!) Since I've missed a lot of your work, I don't know how far you've gone with Agara, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to find out...but I love how each entry is a world unto itself but still melds into a larger literary whole which I assume you'll assemble into a book at some point. It would almost be an encyclopedia...The visual has more of your intersecting circles that I liked from the 'map' post, and the stones look like jewels or jewel-entrenched cases of some kind: They make us want to know what luminous energies lurk inside their surfaces. I like that you have those catalpa leaves again; and that wonderful script/font you have for 'agara': It looks like you made it from symbols as much as letters (again, a real respect for ancient things, even using those dots...) As for the literary entry, you're so natural at giving glimpses into vast bodies of research & literature, it makes us feel you're giving us the fruits of a lifetime of research & study. This is terrifically creative stuff, Chip. Lotta worlds woven into each piece...a fav.