The Mythology of Supernatural: Reader Question Response #1

My first reader question comes from Scott (no last name given), and he asks:
"In Season 3, episode 12, Jus In Bello, Sam and Dean reveal tattoos on the left side of their chests as a way of protection from being possessed. Did you decide to research the symbol? Can you give any information about it?"


Yes, Scott. I did research the origins of this symbol. Due to certain writing constraints regarding the use of images, however, it was not included in the book. However, I am more than happy to share that research here on the blog.

I looked for weeks before I found this (which, for me, is a really long time to look for something) in an excellent reference source, The Dictonary of Symbols by Carl G. Liungman (I've had this on my shelves for years, and it comes in handy far more often than one might expect).

The book offers a very similar (though, admittedly, not identical) symbol to the protection tattoo Sam and Dean have. Here is an image of that symbol:

This emblem is commonly found on clothing in regions of Ghana, and is meant to symbolize the Eastern Star (represented by the 5-pointed star), planet Venus (symbolized by the circle within the star), and the solar cycle/beginning of a new day (symbolized by the sun that surrounds the star, which is meant to represent rotation).

Linguistically, the symbol is supposed to mean Sesa woruban, which generally translates as "Change in life" or, more personally, "I change/transform my own life."

Now, please understand that there is no way to prove that the creators of Supernatural had this symbol in mind when they created the design of the protective tattoo used on the show. And I want to make it clear that I am making no such claim here. This is simply the most similar symbol that I was able to track down in my research.

Well, that's one response down. I will continue to do these once a week until I run out of questions. So, if you have a question related to The Mythology of Supernatural, send it to me in the comments here on the blog.

I'll also accept questions on the discussion board of my Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Robert-Brown/e/B002OIHVIK/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Lastly, feel free to Tweet questions to me on my Twitter account: NatRBrown

Thanks for the question, Scott.

And thanks to all the Supernatural fans and readers who have helped to make The Mythology of Supernatural a success.

All my best,
Nathan

'The Mythology of Supernatural' Question Responses ARE coming!

Hey Folks,

Please accept my apologies for being unable to start posting my responses to questions this week, as I had originally intended. My life has been uber-nuts the last two weeks, as you can probably imagine, between my daily work and all the additional craziness that comes with having a new book come out. Please know that your questions are certainly NOT forgotten. And I fully intend to start posting responses on Monday (8/22).

My most sincere thanks, as always, to everyone in the Supernatural Family/Fandom for your interest and support!

Nathan Robert Brown

Hey Supernatural Fans! Let's talk.

Hey Folks,

So I realized the other day that I should probably give everyone time to actually READ the Mythology of Supernatural book before I expect to you all to start sending me questions.

However, I also realized that now would probably be a good time to send out some prompts.

I want your questions, folks!

If you read the book and are wondering why I did or did not cover a particular topic, I want to hear about it.

Perhaps you have NOT bought/read the book because you are worried that it will just be more of the same? Or maybe you are thinking that it won't tell you anything you don't already know. Well ... ASK me about it, and I will let you know (I should say, I will let you know what topics are at least COVERED in the book, but I have to draw the line at spoilers).

So ... ask away, Supernatural fans! Misha Minions! J2 Disciples! a.k.a. whatever it is you choose to call yourself! I want to hear your questions!

Questions may be submitted here in the comments, or in the "Discussion" sections of my Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Robert-Brown/e/B002OIHVIK/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

And, as always, I would like to extend my love, thanks, and gratitude to everyone in the SPN fandom!

Without you, this book would not exist.

And I'm out like a Jefferson Starship,
Nathan

Anders Behring Breivik is NOT a Crusader

A crusader.

Anders Behring Breivik, the admitted shooter in the recent Oslo massacre, fancies himself a “crusader.”

He believes himself to be a modern-day Knight Templar (as he claims in a disturbing video he posted online sometime before the attacks), on a holy mission to liberate Europe from “Islamic Colonization” ... which he views as the hidden agenda of some sort of "Marxist" and “Multi-culturalist” conspiracy.

In his video he claims people like him need not fear death, as they are protected by the “armor of faith.”

And in the name of his so-called “crusade,” he detonated a bomb in an Oslo government office building … right next to Norwegian parliament. He wasn’t even on the premises.

With his bomb … a coward’s weapon of choice … he killed 8 people.

In addition to his “armor of faith,” Breivik wore a police officer’s uniform when, shortly after the bombing, he opened fire on a crowd of 700 teens at a Labor Party youth camp. Some of the panicked teens, at seeing his police uniform, apparently even ran to him for help … only to be gunned down by him.

Armed to the teeth … against what amounts to a crowd of unarmed children … and hiding behind a police officer's uniform … he killed 68 young people.

He surrendered to authorities, likely to avoid being shot/killed by them, and has even admitted to everything ... and yet he refuses to plead guilty in court, obviously planning to use a public trial as a forum with which to further promote his irrational psuedo-nationalist ideology.

Ander Behring Breivik fancies himself a crusader, a modern-day Knight Templar of European Christendom.

Let’s make this clear: This man is not a crusader. He is not a knight, Templar or otherwise. He is neither a liberator nor a soldier. He is not even worthy of being called a terrorist, in my opinion.

Ander Behring Breivik is a delusional, narcissistic coward … nothing more than a mass murderer hiding behind his bullshit manifesto and claim to divine authority, the same way he hid behind an officer’s uniform as he gunned down 68 unarmed teenagers.

What a sad and pathetic little man you are, Breivik. May justice be swift, and your punishment severe.

The Mythology of Supernatural - new updates/posts begin August 2nd

Hello All,

Not much time to post lately. However, I wanted to let everyone know that I will begin posting updates and comments related to the new book, The Mythology of Supernatural, beginning on the release date (August 2nd 2011).

In addition to my own comments and updates, I will also be answering questions from readers. For those who would like to pose a question (related to the book, please) that they'd like me to answer in a post, you may either present them to me in the blog comments, the discussion board on my Amazon Page (http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002OIHVIK). You can also tweet questions to me using Twitter (NatRBrown) or leave a comment on my Facebook fanpage (http://www.facebook.com/?sk=pages&ap=1#!/pages/Nathan-Robert-Brown/285309961036?sk=wall).

Submitting a question does not guarantee that I will choose it for a post. I have no idea how many questions I will end up with, so I don't want to make any promises.

I would like to extend my most sincere thanks, once again, to all those in the Supernatural fandom who have helped to make this book a success.

All My Best!
Nathan Robert Brown

A Big Thank You! (The Mythology of Supernatural)

I just want to say "Thanks!" to all of those Supernatural fans and mythology readers who have helped to keep The Mythology of Supernatural in the Amazon top 50,000 for the last 20 days (though the book has actually spent most of that time among the TOP 20,000). And for a majority of this month, the book has been ranked among the top 100 in the Television book category!

What is blowing my mind is that the book does not even come out for 2 more weeks! I have never seen any of my previously published books have this much popularity before they even hit the shelves. The Supernatural fandom rocks! And I am thankful for every last one of you.

My most sincere thanks to all of you who have preordered the book, and even to those of you who are waiting until after the release date to buy it.

Typo of the Day (7/15/11)

Hey Folks,

It is time for yet another typo of the day.

This one comes to us from the folks at KGUN in Arizona:
"The Pima County Sheriff's Air Unit on patrol on Tuesday, July 12th 2011, received word that a green laser was illuminating the cockpit's of commercial jetliners on approach to Tucson International Airport."

Somebody want to tell me what that freaking apostrophe is for?
LEARN YOUR PUNCTUATION, PEOPLE!

Link to original story: http://www.kgun9.com/125604938.html?hpt=ju_bn6