This week’s initial tentative super rough/literal translations under the cut.
1
その娼婦は一年程前から病に罹っていた
そのしょうふはいちねんほどまえからやまいにかかっていた
sono shoufu wa ichinen hodo mae kara yamai ni kakatte ita
That prostitute had been ill since about a year prior.
2
硬質の疣贅が左腕に生えていた
こうしつのいぼがひだりうでにはえていた
koushitsu no ibo ga hidari ude ni haete ita
A hard wart had been growing on her left arm.
tagline 1
"個性"が起こるよりも昔…
"こせい"がおこるよりもむかし…
"kosei" ga okoru yori mo mukashi...
Long before quirks arose...
3
彼女が自身の懐妊に八か���もの間気付かなかったのは
かのじょがじしんのかいにんにはちかげつものあいだきづかなかったのは
kanojo ga jishin no kainin ni hachikagetsu mono aida kidzukanakatta no wa
The reason she didn't realize she was pregnant for eight months
4
浮浪生活だけが原因ではなかった
ふろうせいかつだけがげんいんではなかった
furou seikatsu dake ga gen'in de wa nakatta
was not only because of her vagrant lifestyle.
5
全く身に覚えがなかったからだ
まったくみにおぼえがなかったからだ
mattaku mi ni oboe ga nakatta kara da
It was because she didn't remember it at all.
6
ソレらはいつの間にか彼女の胎に住みつき
ソレらはいつのまにかかのじょのはらにすみつき
SOREra wa itsu no ma ni ka kanojo no hara ni sumitsuki
Before she knew it, they settled in her womb
7
彼女の生きる力を吸い取っていた
かのじょのいきるちからをすいとっていた
kanojo no ikiru chikara wo suitotte ita
and were draining away her life force.
1
川のほとりで双子を産み落とした女性は
かわのほとりでふたごをうみおとしたじょせいは
kawa no hotori de futago wo umiotoshita josei wa
The woman, who gave birth to twins by the river,
2
そのまま死亡した
そのまましぼうした
sono mama shibou shita
died just like that.
3
彼女の疣贅はなぜか
かのじょのいぼはなぜか
kanojo no ibo wa naze ka
For some reason, her wart
4
きれいさっぱりなくなっていた
kirei sappari nakunatte ita
disappeared without a trace.
5
赤児達は
あかごたちは
akago-tachi wa
As for the babies,
6
二人きりだった
ふたりきりだった
futarikiri datta
they were alone, [just the two of them].
7
ねずみがやって来て遺体と赤児をかじり始めた頃
ねずみがやってきていたいとあかごをかじりはじめたころ
nezumi ga yatte kite itai to akago wo kajiri hajimeta koro
Just as the rats came and started to gnaw on the corpse and the babies,
8
増水した川が
ぞうすいしたかわが
zousui shita kawa ga
the rising river
9
双子をさらっていった
ふたごをさらっていった
futago wo saratte itta
swept the twins away.
1
一年後
いちねんご
ichinengo
One year later,
2
"発光する赤児"を皮切りに世界各国で"異能"の報告が相次ぐ
"はっこうするあかご"をかわきりにせかいかっこくで"いのう"のほうこくがあいつぐ
"hakkou suru akago" wo kawakiri ni sekai kakkoku de "inou" no houkoku ga aitsugu
starting with "the luminous baby," reports of "meta abilities" emerged one after the other from all over the world.
3
"異能"は先天性のもうだけではなく
"いのう"はせんてんせいのもうだけではなく
"inou" wa sentensei no mou dake de wa naku
Meta abilities were not just congenital.
4
二次性徴前後の青少年にも後天的に発現した
にじせいちょうぜんごのせいしょうねんにもこうてんてきにはつげんした
nijiseichou zengo no seishounen ni mo koutenteki ni hatsugen shita
Around when they developed secondary sex characteristics, adolescents also expressed them as acquired [traits].
(Note: "Secondary sex characteristics" means puberty basically.)
5
未知の病として調べていた研究グループは
みちのやまいとしてしらべていたけんきゅうグループは
michi no yamai to shite shirabete ita kenkyuu GURUUPU wa
A research group investigating them as an unknown disease
6-7
"異能"を「ヒトから枝わかれした新たなる遺伝子」と発表した
"いのう"を「ヒトからえだわかれしたあらたなるいでんし」とはっぴょうした
"inou" wo 「HITO kara edawakareshita aratanaru idenshi」 to happyou shita
announced that meta abilities were "a new gene branched off from humans."
1
それはあまりに無神経で早計だった
それはあまりにむしんけいでそうけいだった
sore wa amari ni mushinkei de soukei datta
That was too callous and rash.
2
群生性命を隔つその発表は
ぐんせいせいめいをへだつそのはっぴょうは
gunseisei mei wo hedatsu sono happyou wa
That announcement that subdivided gregarious life*
(*Note: "Gregarious life" may be a bit too literal to be comprehensible. I think the best way to think of this phrase would be something like "social species.")
3
混沌を加速させた
こんとんをかそくさせた
konton wo kasoku saseta
accelerated the chaos.
4
コンビナート方面で"異能"の連中が結集し始めたそうだ
コンビナートほうめんで"いのう"のれんちゅうがけっしゅうしはじめたそうだ
KONBINAATO houmen de "inou" no renchuu ga kesshuu shi hajimeta sou da
"It seems that the meta abilities gangs have begun to gather around the industrial complex."
5
昨夜デモ隊が衝突した奴等だな……
さくやデモたいがしょうとつしたやつらだな……
sakuya DEMO tai ga shoutotsu shita yatsura da na......
"They're the ones the demonstrators clashed with last night......"
6
連中が決起する前に叩くぞ
れんちゅうがけっきするまえにたたくぞ
renchuu ga kekki suru mae ni tataku zo
"Let's hit them before they rise up."
7
なんだ?
nanda?
"What's that?"
1
超常遺児か
ちょうじょういじか
choujou iji ka
"A paranormal orphan, huh?"
2
可哀想だが放っとけ!遺児は保菌者の可能性が高い
かわいそうだがほっとけ!いじはキャリアのかのうせいがたかい
kawaisou da ga hottoke! iji wa KYARIA (kanji hokinsha) no kanousei ga takai
"I feel bad for him, but leave him be! The possibility for an orphan to be a carrier is high."
3
ん
n
"Right."
4
何の音だ
なんのおとだ
nan no oto da
"What's that sound?"
5
ん?
n?
"Hm?"
6
え
e
"Huh?"
1
それは母親から「奪った」異能
それはははおやから「うばった」いのう
sore wa hahaoya kara 「ubatta」 inou
That was the meta ability he "stole" from his mother.
2
その赤児は生まれながらに不遜だった
そのあかごはうまれながらにふそんだった
sono akago wa umare nagara ni fuson datta
That baby was born conceited.
3
身の回り全てが自身の所有物であり
みのまわりすべてがじしんのしょゆうぶつであり
mi no mawari subete ga jishin no shoyuubutsu de ari
Everything around him was his own property.
1
泣けど喚けど自身を見ない
なけどわめけどじしんをみない
nakedo wamekedo jishin wo minai
He cried and screamed, but he didn't see himself.
2
何も与えない者が
なにもあたえないものが
nani mo ataenai mono ga
Those who gave him nothing
3
ただただ
tada tada
were simply
4
疑問だった
ぎもんだった
gimon datta
problems*.
(*Note: The word here means "problem, doubt, question." I think the description is saying that the baby would look at others and see them as the same as everything else in the world: something that existed as his property. Therefore those that gave him nothing were confusing, were question marks, and he harbored doubts and suspicions about them as a result.)
1
ダメ
DAME
"Don't."
2
イタイの
ITAI no
"That hurts [them]."
3
母親から与えられる筈の栄養を
ははおやからあたえられるはずのえいようを
hahaoya kara ataerareru hazu no eiyou wo
The nutrition his mother should have given to him
4
ダメ
DAME
"Don't."
5
ほとんど兄に奪われたので
ほとんどあににうばわれたので
hotondo ani ni ubawareta node
was largely stolen by his older brother, so
6
弟はとても小さく脆弱だった
おとうとはとてもちいさくぜいじゃくだった
otouto wa totemo chiisaku zeijaku datta
the younger brother was very small and frail.
7
自身に何も与えない存在だったが手に持っていた所有物なので
じしんになにもあたえないそんざいだったがてにもっていたものなので
jishin ni nani mo ataenai sonzai datta ga te ni motte ita mono nanode
[The younger brother's] existence gave nothing to [the older brother], but [the younger brother's existence] was a possession [the older brother] held in his hands, so
8
兄は弟を決して手放そうとしなかった
あにはおとうとをけっしててばなそうとしなかった
ani wa otouto wo kesshite tebanasou to shinakatta
the older brother tried to never let go of the younger brother.
1
ーー溝が深まる一方で"発光する赤児"が自ら先頭に立ち
ーーみぞがふかまるいっぽうで"はっこうするあかご"がみずからせんとうにたち
--mizo ga fukamaru ippou de "hakkou suru akago" ga mizukara sentou ni tachi
"--While the gap* intensified, the "luminous baby" has taken the lead"
(*Note: The "gap" is referring to the rift between humans with meta abilities versus those without.)
2
平和と安全を訴えています賛同者は日増しに増加しておりーー
へいわとあんぜんをうったえていますさんどうしゃはひましにぞうかしておりーー
heiwa to anzen wo uttaete imasu sandousha wa hima shi ni zouka shite ori--
"to call for peace and security, with the number of supporters increasing day by day--"
3
僕に黙って何を読んでる?
ぼくにだまってなにをよんでる?
boku ni damatte nani wo yonderu?
"What are you reading without telling me?"
4
まだ文字の勉強中で難しい本は読めないんだけど…
まだもじのべんきょうちゅうでむずかしいほんはよめないんだけど…
mada moji no benkyouchuu de muzukashii hon wa yomenainda kedo...
"I'm still learning letters so I can't read difficult books, but..."
5
すごいよこのコミックって本
すごいよこのコミックってほん
sugoi yo KOMIKKU tte hon
"this comic book is amazing!"
6
絵で読めるんだ
えでよめるんだ
e de yomerunda
"I can read it by the pictures."
7
描いた人の願いが絵で伝わってくる
かいたひとのねがいがえでつたわってくる
kaita hito no negai ga e de tsutawatte kuru
"The wishes of the person who drew it are conveyed through the pictures."
8
ヒーロー…
HIIROO...
"Hero..."
9-10
僕もいつかこんな風になりたいな…
ぼくもいつかこんなふうになりたいな…
boku mo itsu ka konna fuu ni naritai na...
"I want to be like this someday too..."
11
弟はまだ兄を諦めきれなかった
おとうとはまだあにをあきらめきれなかった
otouto wa mada ani wo akirame kirenakatta
The younger brother couldn't give up on the older brother yet.
1-2
かすかに憶えているあの手を兄の優しさだと信じたかった
かすかにおぼえているあのてをあにのやさしさだとしんじたかった
kasuka ni oboete iru ano te wo ani no yasashisa da to shinjitakatta
He wanted to believe that hand he faintly remembers was his older brother's kindness.
3
三年後
さんねんご
sannengo
Three years later
4
例の"発光する赤児"さぁ…あいつのシンパがとうとう1000万人を超えたんだってさ
れいの"はっこうするあかご"さぁ…あいつのシンパがとうとう1000まんにんをこえたんだってさ
rei no "hakkou suru akago" saa...aitsu no SHINPA ga toutou 1000mannin wo koetanda tte sa
"Well, for example, that 'luminous baby'...they say that guy's sympathizers finally surpassed 10 million people."
5
兄さん…
にいさん…
niisan...
"Brother..."
6
おかしいよなだってあれは戸籍登録が一番早かったってだけで
おかしいよなだってあれはこせきとうろくがいちばんはやかったってだけで
okashii yo na datte are wa koseki touroku ga ichiban hayakatta tte dake de
"That's strange, isn't it? Since it's just because his family registration was the fastest."
7-8
インドなんかじゃその二周間前には50人は異能が産まれてたって話だぜ
インドなんかじゃそのにしゅうかんまえには50にんはいのうがうまれてたってはなしだぜ
INDO nanka ja sono nishuukan mae ni wa 50nin wa inou ga umareteta tte hanashi da ze
"They say that, in India, 50 people with meta abilities were born two weeks before that."
9
その姿は
そのすがたは
sono sugata wa
"That appearance..."
(Note: Yoichi is reacting with surprise at how AFO looks like he's been in a fight or something.)
10
おかしな話だよそんなので人を集められるなんてさ
おかしなはなしだよそんなのでひとをあつめられるなんてさ
okashina hanashi da yo sonna node hito wo atsumerareru nante sa
"It's such a strange story, that he could gather people together like that."
1
だから殺して「奪って」やった
だからころして「うばって」やった
dakara koroshite 「ubatte」 yatta
"That's why I killed him and 'stole' [his meta ability.]"
2
……なんで…
......nande...
"......Why..."
3
だって
datte
"Because"
4
あのコミックに描かれていたろ
あのコミックにかかれていたろ
ano KOMIKKU ni kakarete ita ro
"it was depicted in that comic."
5
ONE FOR ALL…
ワン フォー オール…
WAN FOO OORU...
"One For All..."
6
ALL FOR ONE良い言葉だよな
オール フォー ワンいいことばだよな
OORU FOO WAN ii kotoba da yo na
"All For One, they're excellent words."
1
ヒーローは正体を隠して孤独に戦っていたけれど
ヒーローはしょうたいをかくしてこどくにたたかっていたけれど
HIIROO wa shoutai wo kakushite kodoku ni tatakatte ita keredo
"The hero was hiding his true identity as he fought alone, but"
2
悪の魔王は皆が恐怖して全てを差し出すんだ
あくのまおうはみんながきょうふしてすべてをさしだすんだ
aku no maou wa minna ga kyoufu shite subete wo sashidasunda
"everyone feared and offered up everything to the evil Demon King."
3
おまえがそうであるように…皆が僕の為だけに存在する世界
おまえがそうであるように…みんながぼくのためだけにそんざいするせかい
omae ga sou de aru you ni...minna ga boku no tame dake ni sonzai suru sekai
"A world where everyone exists just for my sake...just like you do."
4
僕にも夢ができた!
ぼくにもゆめができた!
boku ni mo yume ga dekita!
"I was also able [to come up with] a dream!"
1
待て何故行ってしまうんだ
まてなぜいってしまうんだ
mate naze itte shimaunda
Wait, why are you leaving?
2
"力"を与えてやったじゃないか!
"ちから"をあたえてやったじゃないか!
"chikara" wo ataete yatta ja nai ka!
Didn't I give you power?!
3
なんだおまえは!離れろ!
なんだおまえは!はなれろ!
nanda omae wa! hanarero!
What are you? Get away [from him]!
4
僕のだ僕を見ていろ!
ぼくのだぼくをみていろ!
boku no da boku wo mite iro!
[That's] mine, look at me!
5-6
僕のものにならないなら
ぼくのものにならないなら
boku no mono ni naranai nara
If you won't become mine,
7
もうーー
mou--
then--
tagline
その手はー…
そのてはー…
sono te wa-...
That hand is-...
Wuxing – the connections between the Five Dragon Kings (Ref) and the Five Elements philosophy
To better understand the origins of the Five Dragon Kings and the ancient Chinese legend, it is worth mentioning the wuxing of natural philosophy, which states that all things are composed of five elements: fire, water, wood, metal and earth.
The underlying idea is that the five elements 'influence each other, and that through their birth and death, heaven and earth change and circulate'.
The five elements are described as followed:
Wood/Spring: a period of growth, which generates abundant vitality, movement and wind.
Fire/Summer: a period of swelling, flowering, expanding with heat.
Earth is associated with ripening of grains in the yellow fields of late summer.
Metal/Autumn: a period of harvesting, collecting and dryness.
Water/Winter: a period of retreat, stillness, contracting and coolness.
The wuxing system, in use since the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE), appears in many seemingly disparate fields of early Chinese thought, including music, feng shui, alchemy, astrology, martial arts, military strategy, I Ching divination, and traditional medicine, serving as a metaphysics based on cosmic analogy.
The wuxing originally referred to the five major planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars and Venus), which were thought of as the five forces that create life on earth. Wu Xing litterally means moving star and describes the five types of Qi (all the vital substances) cycles through various stages of transformation. As yin and yang continuously adjust to one another and transform into one another in a never-ending dance of harmony, they tend to do so in a predictable pattern.
The lists of correlations for the five elements are diverse, but there are two cycles explaining the major interaction. The yin-yang interaction, which by increasing or decreasing the qualities and functions associated with a particular phase, it may either nourish a phase that is in deficiency or drain a phase that is in excess or restrain a phase that is exerting too much influence (see below):
The Creation Cycle (Yang)
Wood feeds Fire
Fire creates Earth (ash)
Earth bears Metal
Metal collects Water
Water nourishes Wood
The Destruction Cycle (Yin)
Wood parts Earth
Earth dams (or absorbs) Water
Water extinguishes Fire
Fire melts Metal
Metal chops Wood
The Huainanzi (2nd BCE) describes the five colored dragons (azure/green, red, white, black, yellow) and their associations (Chapter 4: Terrestrial Forms), as well as the placement of sacred beasts in the five directions (the Four Symbols beasts, dragon, tiger, bird, tortoise in the four cardinal directions and the yellow dragon.
Before and while Tristamp was airing, Kenji Muto made some amazing Twitter posts giving us lore and production tidbits along the way. And while I don't speak Japanese (so I'm going to have to use Google Translate for this, so take everything you read here with a grain of salt because it may be skewed by mistranslation), there was some fantastic art and really cool concepts shared, and I want to archive anything Trigun-related. If I miss anything, let me know!) It starts a little slow with stuff we already know, but there are some interesting tidbits! If anyone who knows Japanese wants to correct anything, please feel free! Now, without further ado...
If dialect is a metaphor for a southern accent,
Wouldn't it be nice to have other dialect metaphors?
So, a variety of local characters appear.
Of course, their background stories have also been constructed.
God is in the details.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
11:29 PM · Feb 5, 2023
現代社会にラディカルに切り込む、第五話。
誰の中にも憎悪は生まれる。
親や国籍は選べない。
WE ARE MONEV.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
The fifth episode radically cuts into modern society.
Hatred is born within everyone.
You can't choose your parents or nationality.
WE ARE MONEV.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
In addition to wind power generation, high-quality Wams silk is also traded at high prices.
On this planet,
Everything you can get is valuable.
To survive.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
As a matter of course,
There are many other villages that cannot have plants.
Wind-power generation,
In addition to Wamsilk,
There is a village where people live by fishing for worms.
The example trio,
It is highly likely that they came from "fishermen's villages" scattered throughout the country.
The ones that are traded at particularly high prices are
Grandworms.
#TRIGUN
Considering the time series,
At this time, he was still a young man.
Why is my hair “blue”?
I sincerely hope that Takehiko Okishi's ``background science fiction research'' will be released into the world.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
On the planet No Man's Land,
There are a total of seven "Humpback class" giant sand steamships.
Each of the seven cities devised and built one valuable "biological power reactor plant."
It uses a primitive steam engine that runs by boiling water.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
BAD and RAD guys.
What's with the hellish planetary environment?
You can live a positive life depending on how you view everything.
The second squad of the Bad Lads Gang has arrived.
The main force...?
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Names are strange things,
The modified human Nicholas has two faces.
Nicholas D. Wolfwood
Nicholas the Punisher
Who will he choose in the end?
This may be the reason why his name was written as ``Nicholas'' in the script.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Earth-born animals cannot adapt to the planetary environment.
A system for replicating plants and animals from the countless embryos and gene stocks of plants and animals that were on board to be grown on-site when the SEEDS fleet arrived at its destination.
"Cloning device"
Toma was then genetically improved and born.
Toma are amazing.
#TRIGUN
It looks like a scarf and a mask,
It's actually a type of Wams.
Extremely toxic,
It is a larval worm of a sand centipede.
Why not keep one in the cold winter?
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Sinners' gun, also known as the prototype (before modification) Peace Bringer.
There is also a hint in the ``Phantom Sketch''.
Why, by whom, and when was it remodeled?
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Discommunication and the appearance of struggling in a hellish environment,
Very human and beautiful.
Above all, I think of it as a ``positive story'' when I create it.
An FM radio recording of a frank talk. When will it be OA?
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
As she grows up, she will become stronger.
To the extent that “The Punisher” can’t compete with it.
A body modified by military body modification nanomachines.
Lost number.
This time, it's just a preliminary battle. When will there be a rematch?
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
The power of the plant is entirely derived from the countless holes (gates) that open in space.
There are two types of gates: ``Power to bring'' and ``Power to bring.''
A place other than this world, It seems that it is connected to another universe, a different phase, or a different dimension (?)...
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Adding a tid-bit from @pancake-breakfast here:
So, my Japanese isn't great, but I wanted to try to clarify something on here that Google Translate isn't capturing, namely from this part:
Saying that there are two types of gates and then defining them both as "Power to bring" doesn't make sense in English. Why make a distinction between the two if you're gonna define them the same way? But in the Japanese, it's not quite the same words used for both: "持ってくる力" (motte kuru chikara) vs. "持っていく力" (motte iku chikara.
力 (chikara) just means "power," so we'll set that aside for now since that part is actually consistent across both items.
持って (motte) is also consistent across both items. This means "carrying" or "holding," like you'd hold a bag or a purse or a backpack or something that you're taking around with you.
The big difference is between くる (kuru) and いく (iku). These are actually the kana (phonetic) versions of two kanji characters:
来る (kuru) - to come
行く (iku) - to go
That provides us with a nice little pair of opposites, and changes our literal definitions as follows:
持ってくる力 (motte kuru chikara) - Power to come carrying
持っていく力 (motte iku chikara) - Power to go carrying
So... they're both kinda "power to bring" but it would be more accurate to say one brings and one removes. Or, if you're feeling dramatic, one giveth and one taketh away.
The guns circulating in No Man's Land are:
Most of the designs were salvaged from databases of crashed immigrant ships and were made into replicas.
Even if the design of a space-age gun is known, it is difficult to recreate it.
Because there are many dry and dusty lands,
There is a tendency to prefer those with simple structures that are less likely to break down.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Captain, I actually love udon.
Very popular with military police,
100-year-old long-established food stall “Yulai Noodle”
This alley in the old town is home to many food stalls that started as a black market after the Big Fall.
It is one of the tourist spots that you should definitely check out when you visit.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Regardless of whether it is a normal species or an independent species, Inside the plant's body,
A countless number of "supply gates" are moving, supplying energy to each cell,
It seems that he is keeping his imperfect body, which normally would not be able to survive as a living thing, healthy.
What is a "plant"?
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
The "memory world" is made of memories, impression values, and fragments from the "younger brother's side."
Therefore, the way of drawing is limited.
The ``Tesla Incident'' seen from the ``older brother'''s perspective and emotions would be even more gruesome.
If you have a chance to draw...
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
That's just the doctor's hypothesis.
By strongly opening the “gate” in the body,
It seems that the body is transformed by phase transitioning it into matter.
This mystery will probably be solved scientifically in the future.
Why is only the “younger brother” gate “black”?
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Like hell,
It was a scene similar to the planet No Man's Land,
This work was supported by many people, including the main staff who survived until the end, the producers, production team, sound team, advertising team, etc.
Above all, I am grateful to Naito-sensei for his support.
Thank you very much for your hard work!
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
Mr. Ikeda's name is "blood" and Mr. Matsuoka's name is "sand."
"Bunyuu" or "Sarasara"
Full of onomatopoeic and highly abstract talk,
Includes Blu-ray disc and audio commentary.
Like the main story, you can't understand it just by listening to it once or twice.
The content is similar to STAMPEDE.
#TRIGUN
#トライガン
The jacket design for Hiro Ogawa's new autumn album ``Lyric Suite'' has been submitted. This is a fountain at Tsurumai Park in Nagoya, and I edited it into the jacket photo. It's still in its preliminary state, so I'm looking forward to seeing how far the designer will go with it. As for the progress of the new album, it seems that the first mastering proof has been listened to and is currently being revised by engineers. Waiting for revised version.
E for Eadha (Aspen) - September 21st Autumn Equinox
“Whispering tree, also known as Trembling tree - Autumn Equinox of the Celtic Tree Calendar (Ref), when moving into darkness”
Star: Pluto, Mercury, Saturn: Gemstone: black opal,; Gender: female; Patron deity: Persephone, Hades; Symbol: listening, overcoming fear + courage, shield, light in the darkness
Aspen trees are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the northern hemisphere, extending south at high-altitude areas such as mountains or high plains.
The aspen is referred to as quaking aspen or trembling aspen because the leaves "quake" or tremble in the wind. This is due to their flattened petioles which reduce aerodynamic drag on the trunk and branches, so that they catch any slight breeze, making the leaves tremble, flutter and make a soft, rustling sound each time they do so. In autumn, the leaves turn bright yellow and sometimes red, and when they fade further and turn black, they fall off.
The ancient Celts believed that the wind was a messenger of the word of the gods and therefore considered anything that was in tune with the wind sacred. The same is true of the aspen tree. The aspen, which has the best ears of all trees, always rustled its leaves in response to the voice of the gods.
However, the aspen, with its close connection to death and the underworld, came to be regarded as a tree of misfortune. In earlier times, corpses and graves were counted with a cane made of aspen named fé, and people were terribly afraid of the calamities that would befall them if they were struck with this cane. The connection with the seasons, rest and rebirth was often overlooked, and many people, cowering in fear, heard only the abominable sound of aspen leaves rustling in the wind. However, the teachings of the aspen are about overcoming the fear of death, the fear of the unknown and fear itself. The aspen was called the 'shield tree' by the Irish Celts, and is said to have been their favourite tree for making shields. This was not only because aspens provided a reassuring shield, but also because they protected us from flinching in the face of the unknown, once we had taken their teachings to heart.
Incense made from aspens is burned continuously during Halloween (Celtic festival of Samhain). Halloween is the time of year when the distance between this world and the underworld is at its closest, and the period that ushers in the new year. Samhain is also the festival of the New Year, which takes place on November the 1st, the beginning of the year, but it is also the festival of the dead. It is believed that during nights between the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, the border with the other world disappears, the souls of the dead visit their relatives, and demons and evil spirits cause damage to crops and livestock.
Ancient Celtic cultures were known to carve turnips or potatoes and place embers inside to ward off evil spirits. That's because Ireland didn't have pumpkins. In England, large beets were used. When immigrants brought over their carving tradition, Americans began carving jack-o'-lanterns from pumpkins.