Yawkyawk and the Water Lilies

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Culture

The yawkyawk are guardians of fresh waters. They have the upper part of a young woman and the lower part of a fish. They are worshiped by the Aboriginal people of the Western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia where water lilies thrive. Discovering the importance of cross-cultural ecology Darwin was puzzled by the appearance of […]

Mielikki and the Mythical Otso – More Than Just a Bear Story!

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Culture

Spinning A Celestial Tale: The Birth of Otso Mielikki, the Finnish forest goddess, has always shared an enchanting connection with all forest creatures, but none more so than with Otso, the first bear ever created. The intriguing tale of Otso’s birth comes from the 19th-century epic poem, Kalevala. According to the Kalevala, Otso was born […]