January 21 - The Mask of the Horned God

Inside the night there's a firelight
Between the worlds, at the edge of dark.

Inside the fire there's a blinding light,
The flame that burns between the worlds.
At the edge of the dark.

When a shadow is forced into the light
It rips through your chest and burns like a fire.

~ Swallow The Sun
   When a Shadow is Forced Into the Light

The Mask of the Horned God bestows upon its wearer both virility and fertility, but is cursed and once worn can never be removed.  In the days approaching Yule, the bearer will grow weak as his life force is withdrawn and used to rekindle the Horned God, leaving the mask to where it fell.  Yet even with this sacrifice there are those who willingly seek it out.  Children born of those who wear the Mask of the Horned God are exclusively female and likely to be powerful witches.

The Horned God in traditional Wicca is the "Divine Male Principle", considered opposite and equal to the Goddess.  He is born in winter, impregnates Her in spring and then dies in early winter to be reborn by the Goddess at Yule and start the cycle anew.

The inspiration for this balloon is the band Swallow the Sun and their emotional album When a Shadow is Forced Into the Light.  I have already talked about them in an earlier post, so I will leave it to you if you want to read more about the band - the cover of the album has a grim figure wearing a deer antler mask.

I do like the way the robe works .. but I am not satisfied with how the arms attach to this style of body and won't do anything but *sproing!* up without tying them down.