A Guide To Asphodel Heraldry

The official heraldry system of the Pagan Kingdom of Asphodel differs from standard medieval heraldry in two major ways. First, after a great deal of discussion and agonizing, the King and the Herald have decided to allow more hues than the traditional five colors, two metals, and three tinctures. We are allowing a variety of shades, because it became clear to us that the original restrictions were just too limiting for our subjects. It was also important to us that each of the Brigantian orders would have its own shade, and that the Guild of the Wheel would have a main color of brown, for labor. Therefore, things can be any color.

Second, some of the items randomly used in heraldry have special symbolic meanings. For instance, no one can have crows or ravens as part of their heraldry unless they are actively practicing underworld magic and ritual, and have one of the Dark God/desses as their patron. To have a helm, one must be a Knight. To have a crown, one must be a member of the Royal Family (or, possibly, married to one of them). To have a gold key, one must be a ranking chatelaine or professor of the College of Brigantia. To have crossed weapons, one must be a member of the Order of Masters of Arms. To have the color purple as a background or main color, you must have a patent of nobility.

Other symbols that are entirely off limits due to being used for official Kingdom-organization arms are: The caduceus. Three birds of different types. Any deity, unless that’s your official patron. Anything that too closely resembles official kingdom arms.

The actual arms of the Kingdom of Asphodel consist of a green chevron with nine white asphodels arcing across a field that is golden above and black below. The chevron symbolizes the green earth that we walk upon, scattered with the asphodels that are the flower of the Underworld, growing in the Elysian Fields. The black lower half of the arms represents the Underworld itself; the deep unconscious from which comes our instincts, dreams, and deeper wisdom. The golden wings represent the flight of imagination rising from this deep place. The upper half is the golden color of dawn and sunlight, with two green hands growing from the earth, symbolizing our ability to create from a space that is inspired by that deep imagination. The hands hold a green gem: the jewel of manifestation that we bring up to the light to enrich our lives.

Other Kingdom Arms

The arms of the Knightly Order of Blutwasser consist of a shield divided diagonally with a wide, wavy red line symbolizing the river of blood that ancient warriors have spilled. (For more symbolic information on the river of blood, see the files under that Order.) The area below the “bend wavy” is white with a helmeted skull, symbolizing the warrior’s Death Force, the one that says No, and No More, and No Further. The area above is the golden of glory, with a fiery androgynous face that is the warrior’s Life Force, the ability to Act and to Do, with courage and decisiveness.

The arms of the Order of Masters of Arms have three crossed weapons - polearm, sword, and axe - on a background of bronze, symbolizing the mastery of all forms of martial art.

The College of Brigantia has a blue background on their arms, symbolizing intellectual learning and higher thought. The eight golden keys in a circle symbolize the eight Orders whose knowledge unlocks the Mysteries, and the red flame at the bottom is the ever-burning flame of Brigid, the patron deity of the College.

The Order of the Caduceus has Hermes’ healing wand encircled by snakes on a background of rose, for the healing power of rose quartz.

The Order of Drachenleier has, on a background of lavender, a silver lyre shaped like a sea dragon, set with three stars. This reflects the fact that on the astrological chart of the Kingdom of Asphodel (calculated to Sept. 5, the first Royal Coronation and official founding) the constellations of the Lyre (the three stars, including Vega) and the Sea Serpent are prominently placed.

The Order of the Pathfinders has the face of a Green Man on it, symbolizing the path of natural magic and harmony with the Earth.

The Order of Gramarye has a silver-grey background on which is shown an open book - the “gramarye” or grimoire - and a red seven-pointed star.

The Order of the Dark Moon Rising has a black background, symbolizing night, the underworld, and all that is dark and mysterious. On it, limned in the orange of passion, is a dark robed figure with black wings, and a face that is the moon with a single huge all-seeing Eye. This is symbolic of the Dark Goddess in all her forms, the Order’s patron.

The Order of the Reynard Rampant has a fencing fox on a background of noble gold, with an embattled border of purple. These are the colors of nobility, which is the standard this Order strives for.

The Order of Taliesin’s Flock has a background of sky blue, for the singing voice. On it are three birds: the nightingale, the crow, and the magpie. The nightingale represents the singing voice, the crow the speaking voice, and the magpie the imitating (and thus memorizing) voice.

The Department of Magical Technology has a background of safety orange, on which is a mysterious implement that only the Queen can identify. Its actual meaning seems to be an Order secret.

The Guild of the Wheel has a background of brown, the color of Labor, as do the badges of all its subguilds. It shows an eight-spoked wheel whose spokes end in hands holding some element representative of their guild. Each of the eight diamond-shaped (for the element of Earth) badges show a single one of the hands with their implement. They are as follows:

For the Ancestor Thread Guild, a spindle. Guild cord is brown and undyed wool.
For the Treeheart Guild, a green branch. Guild cord is brown and green.
For the Torch Guild, a blue flaming torch. Guild cord is brown and blue.
For the Hephaestus Guild, a smith’s hammer. Guild cord is brown and red.
For the Earthbone Guild, a clay cup. Guild cord is brown and terra-cotta.
For the Hestia Guild, a broom. Guild cord is brown and yellow.
For the Illumination Guild, a quill. Guild cord is brown and white.
For the Ghost Trainer Guild, a light bulb. Guild cord is brown and grey.