Rain
Raining Cats and Dogs
Where does the expression “Raining Cats and Dogs” come from?
Some authorities tie the idea to Norse mythology. Odin, the Viking god of storms, was often pictured with dogs and wolves, symbols of wind. Witches, who supposedly rode their brooms during storms, had black cats, which became signs of heavy rain. Therefore, “raining cats and dogs” referred to a storm with wind (dogs) and heavy rain (cats).
While the story sounds good, the expression didn’t become popular until the 1700s, when Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels) used it in a satire. He pictured snobby upper class aristocrats solemnly fretting that it would “rain cats and dogs”. Suddenly the saying caught on. Apparently, the English spent a lot of time chatting about rain and it was the latest hit phrase.
More recently, this bit of contemporary “folklore” distributed in a hoax email put forth the following idea, which has since been disproved:
In the 1500’s, houses had thatched roofs – thick straw, piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the pets… dogs, cats and other small animals, mice, rats, bugs lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Source: Almanac.com
Agilma
From the Fifty Names of Marduk in the Necronomicon Spellbook.
The Thirty-Second Name is AGILMA or ARILMA
Bringer of Rain. Maketh the gentle Rains to come, or causeth great Storms and Thunders, the like may destroy armies and cities and crops. His Word is MASHSHAYEGURRA.
The supply of potable water is becoming an increasing problem in many countries. Many magicians have made their fortunes simply on the ability to provide rain to parched towns and farmland. Another Spirit whose usefulness will become more and more apparent as the next few years go by.
Important note:
“The Signs and Powers may be summoned after the Priest has ascended to that step on the Ladder of Lights and gained entrance to that Sacred City. The Signs should be engraved on parchment or sealed in clay and placed upon the altar at the Calling. And in the perfumes should be of cedar, and strong, sweet-smelling resins. And the Calling be to the North.”
More information:
According to Sumerian mythology, Marduk was the God who defeated the Ancient Ones long before the creation of matter as we know it.
Against him in battle were the fierce TIAMAT, KINGU, and AZAG-THOTH. Once he had destroyed these demons, he created the universe from the flesh of TIAMAT, and humanity from the blood of KINGU mixed with his own breath.
You will come across these names in the description of the Fifty Names, which were titles given to Marduk by the Elder Gods after he had helped them to defeat the Ancient Ones.
Related links:
- Pagan Calendar – Marduk’s Feast Day
- The Powers That Be – Marduk The God
- Widdershins – Marduk Legends and Stories, the original translation of the Enûma Eliš, and the Fifty Names of Marduk as originally given in the ancient tablets.
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