mythology – Iniya Writes

The Creation of the Cherokee World

For my “World Mythology” class in school, we studied creation myths from all over the world. I chose to focus on the Cherokee myth, and wrote diary entries from the perspective of one of the participants. Hope you enjoy!

Many many years ago in the Southeast US

Dear diary,
Wow! Creating a world sure is cool! I mean, I never imagined that I’d have the honor of getting to do such a thing, but the rest of the animals picked me and who was I to say no? So, I dove from the top of Galunlati all the way to the bottom of the ocean. My job was to find a safe place to land, so we, me and all the animals, wouldn’t have to be all crowded up top anymore. Anyways, there was like no land in the ocean, it was all just water! Which was so sad, and I was about to give up, but I remembered what my Grandpa had always told me and I kept going. Eventually, I decided to just dive under the water and guess what! I found…mud. That’s right, real mud! I was celebrating so much, but I knew I had to prove myself first. So, I scooped up as much mud as I could and brought it up with me to the surface. Then, all I had to do was fly back up and let it expand! Everyone called me a hero when I reached Galunlati again, which was so cool. I mean, I know I’m just a small beetle, but I really felt like a superstar at that moment. Ah…I know I’m letting it go to my head, but still! It was pretty awesome.
I heard that someone’s tying up the mud with ropes so that it floats above the ocean, which is great! Grandpa’s worried about the ropes snapping, but I’m sure it’ll be fine! For now, at least.
Ok, goodbye for now Diary! I’ll see you once we’ve all moved onto our new home.

Dear Diary,
Well, what can I say…it’s been a lot of waiting. But it’s interesting. A lot of people who were super excited to move at first are now worried. They feel like they’re being forced to a new place, like all us animals are losing our rightful land. I get where they’re all coming from, but it’s so crowded up here above the Sky Arch that I think the best thing to do is live with it! It’ll be really weird at first and everything, but we have to, so we may as well make the best of it! We can create a new life, no matter where we are. It’s for the betterment of us and our society, after all.
Anyways…we’ve been stuck up here. I know, I know, I said we’d be down on this new “Earth” in no time, but the mud hasn’t dried yet. And I know it’s not my fault, but…I can’t help but feel like I could’ve done better. If I had just gotten less soft mud, or searched further…All the other animals have been very kind to me. I think they can see just how much I’m beating myself up. Grandpa, especially, has been helping me a lot. He’s been telling me stories- he’s super wise and all.
He told me all about the Greeks, the Japanese and the Norse. Yeah, the Norse like the Vikings! Really cool, I know. He told me about how they created their worlds, in different universes, ages ago. The Norse are also afraid of the destruction of their world, just like Grandpa is! Just like us, this destruction is prophesied to happen wayyy in the future, but I get why everyone’s scared. Death is…creepy and we’re all worried about it. Anyways, onto happier things! Like…my job in creating the Earth! By doing that, I separated the sky and what became our Earth, which is exactly what happened in Japanese and Greek mythology as well! So basically, I’ve made history. It’s super important, I guess, since we took something that was once whole, and split it. Since being whole is so important to us, I guess the fact that we were able to separate the sky and earth is a huge deal. So yeah, I felt a little better after that.
Oh! Great Buzzard is back! He was sent out to survey the Earth, to check if its suitable for living yet. See you soon, diary!

Dear Diary,
We have officially moved! When Buzzard created the Earth, he added a bunch of mountains, which makes moving around awkward for some animals, but I think it just gives us character! We also didn’t have a sun for a while, then we got one, but it was super close to us and we were all so hot, so the conjurers, or magic-doers, moved it up to where it is now!
Anyways, Grandpa told me more stories, but this time I found some differences between their worlds and ours…like us animals. In all the other creation stories, it was a god who made the world. But, here, I did that! With the help of the other animals. I guess it shows just how important creatures and the ecosystem are to all of us. Also, the Earth being held up by rope is something that only exists in our world, which is more proof of the previous thing, I guess. And the mountains in our story reflect our land, another thing that makes us unique. Our story is so wide and covers so many animals, and it really shows our diversity and strengths.
Anyways, diary, I went exploring yesterday and…I found another world! I followed the streams of water and found the pathway into this dimension that was the exact same as ours, just colder. I asked the other animals about it and they called it the “Underworld”. Owl thinks that it’ll be warmer sometimes, and colder at others. It reminded me of Norse mythology, if you don’t mind me bringing it up again. Their Underworld is also colder, but unlike them, our Underworld isn’t necessarily evil, or bad. I guess the temperature difference is because we see the Underworld as a completely different and unique place. And as for why it’s not all that bad…well, I know me and all the animals agree that while death is scary, it’s a natural part of living.
Anyways. I’m really excited to live out my new life on our new Earth! See you later, diary <3.

The Water Beetle

Selkies and Summer

I wrote this story based off the prompt “Set your story at a party, festival, or local celebration”. I hope you enjoy it!

The party was in full swing. Kids were running around the boardwalk, ice cream cones in hand, dripping over to create sticky fingers. Everywhere you looked were classic carnival games, stocked with balloons and plushies of all shapes and sizes. The sun was shining, bright, and the water was a glistening shade of aquamarine. By all means, it was a perfect day. Ana really did feel content as she strolled through the streets of the idyllic town, clutching a plush of a bunny close to her chest, the other hand holding a camera. The streets were empty, everyone attending the summer festival. Albatross, the city which she had grown up in, faced a major spike in tourism every summer, visitors loving the sunshine-y energy of the town. Ana didn’t mind. Sure, sometimes the tourists were annoying, but it meant more people to photograph, more experiences to capture.
She crouched down at the cove she’d discovered a few yards away from the beach, setting the plush bunny down at the edge of the water cautiously. A few minutes passed, then a seal flopped up onto the shore, nudging the bunny curiously, to which Ana offered an enthusiastic nod. She turned away, and when she’d turned back around, the seal had turned into a human- a human Ana had come to know and care for. Naida’s smile was small, “Hey. Cute plush. You won it?”
Ana nodded, “Mm. Summer festival. Did the hammer bell game-thingy. You like it?”
Naida nodded. She was a selkie, her seal skin now wrapped protectively around her body. Ana studied her, then grinned, slipping a hand inside her bag to grab a big tub of cotton candy.
“Here. You mentioned you wanted to try more sweets last time. I love cotton candy. It just…melts in your mouth.”
Naida furrowed her brow but obediently pulled a small chunk of the pink sweet away from the tub, touching it to the tip of her tongue carefully. Ana’s camera was there to capture the moment her expression lit up, delighted at the rush of sugar. Naida glanced at Ana, eyes sparkling. “It’s…wow.”
Ana grinned, dimples flashing, “Good, right? You can get some year-round, but I think it’s the best during summer. It’s like…infused with joy. Or something.”

A distant shout rang out, in the direction of the cove. Ana glanced out, “Shoot. I should go. Take care. I’ll…I’ll let you know when I can meet again, ok? Take the plush. Think of it as…a replacement me.” Her smile was easy, not betraying the upset roiling underneath. Naida nodded, slipping the seal-skin back on, diving into the waters below. Ana resurfaced, cotton candy back in the bag, a sunny smile on her face, just a girl who was exploring.
But later, around the bonfire, Ana couldn’t help but smile as she admired the photo she’d taken- of Naida, her eyes bright, her cheeks flushed, the cotton candy melting into sugar. She’d see the selkie again soon. It wasn’t goodbye, it never was.

Being in a Production

Recently, I was part of a production of Kannagi, a classic Indian myth. I was part of the ensemble, playing small roles here and there, such as Kannagi’s friends in one section, or personifying bad luck in another. The entire production was around 18 minutes long, therefore being a shortened version of the story.

In the story, Kannagi meets Kovalan, a merchant, and the two fall in love and get married. However, when out on a trip, Kovalan meets the dancer Madhavi and spends all his money on her. Kannagi forgives Kovalan and gives him her anklet to trade and get money for. However, when he tries to get it sold, the jeweler charges him with the theft of the queen’s anklet, which had been missing and looked like Kannagi’s anklet. The king, normally just, orders the execution of Kovalan. When Kannagi hears of this, she is furious, opening up her anklet to prove that, unlike the queen’s, hers has rubies inside. She curses the city of Madurai to burn and becomes a goddess.

In our production, we played the role of Kannagi’s friends, dancing with her when she was joyous and celebrating the wedding, the role of bad luck, chasing Kovalan when he goes to sell the anklet, the role of soldiers, killing Kovalan, and the role of fire, showing the city burning down.

We learned this entire item in a week and I had class most days- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday- leading up to the performance (Sunday the 8th). We learned the item in the first 4 days, using the last 2 as days to review and clean up the dance. Often, classes were 2 hours long including time to choreograph and practice.

The dance itself was a mix of styles from Southern India as the story originated from there. This included Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu), Mohiniyattam (Kerala), and Kathakali influences (Kerala).

During this time, I had the misfortune of injuring both my knee and my ankle. We made sure to order braces as soon as possible, hoping to alleviate the pain. Luckily, the braces did help, providing support for both areas and allowing me to continue to dance while still “resting” my leg. I wasn’t able to properly rest it with all the classes, but over time, as I continued to use the braces, the pain faded, though still there. For the final performance, I did end up wearing the knee brace.

While the performance wasn’t perfect, I was proud of what we’d learned and performed, especially at how emotional and powerful it was. It was an amazing item and I really enjoyed it and hope to learn something like it again.

My Top Books of March ’23

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
This was such an amazing book! I’d heard about it for a really long time and so when I was able to get it, I was really excited! This book is about Queen Clytemnestra, one of the most infamous characters in Greek mythology, as she murdered her own husband after watching him kill their daughter as a sacrifice. I loved the way Clytemnestra was portrayed in the book, especially as we got to see her early years and how that led up to who she is. It’s a great story!
Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
I really enjoyed this book! It creates an intriguing world where the gods have died and humans and otherborns alike are left to fend for themselves. The otherborns are descendants of magical creatures, like the Fates, the Furies, the Graces and many others. Each otherborn has a special ability that they can use to change the world around them. I loved the worldbuilding that happened in this book and the way that they story evolved. This is a great read!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This was such a good book! Starr knows grief. She’s witnessed it with Natasha, and now, she witnesses it with Khalil. Now, she’s the only one left out of their friend group. Starr has to figure out where her loyalties lie as she struggles through family and school life. I really enjoyed this book and the way that the story was created. It was powerful and held strength in each sentence. I totally recommend it to you!
Brighter Than the Moon by David Valdes
Jonas and Shani met online. Ash and Shani are childhood friends. When Shani suspects something isn’t right, she asks Ash to investigate. But soon, they all find themselves stressed out and dealing with all their problems. Not to mention, that their feelings are confused and they don’t know what to do with their lives. I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters and the different perspectives, so you could see how each character reacts to what. It’s such an amazing book and I love how it ends!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here

My Favorite Greek Mythology Books

Here are some of my favorite books that are based on Greek mythology!

Circe by Madeline Miller
This is probably one of my favorite books, both Greek mythology based and in general! The first glimpse I got of Circe was from the 2nd Percy Jackson book, where she is written as a minor antagonistic character. This was backed up by other Greek mythology books, but this book put it in a totally new perspective.
Circe has never been pretty or melodious, like her siblings, but when she meets a fisherman and falls in love, then everything else falls away. She realizes he doesn’t reciprocate those feelings, instead loving Scylla. Seized by jealousy, she uses her knowledge of the plants that grow by her home to transform her, then steals away to live her own life. I loved this book and how it was beautifully written. I totally recommend this book to you!
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This was another great novel written by Madeline Miller! Patroclus’ name means “glory of the father” which is ironic, since he’s anything but. When he accidentally kills a child of noble birth, his father exiles him to Phthia, where he meets Peleus and his son, Achilles. Achilles and Patroclus instantly form a bond when they’re kids, and become lovers when they’re older. Achilles, one day, receives a prophecy that he will kill Hector, but then die himself. Achilles doesn’t believe this, but prophecies always come true… This was such a great book and I totally recommend it to you!
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
This was such an interesting book! Unlike the 2 previous books, this one is less of a retelling and more of what was actually done, but this time, through Ariadne’s perspective. Ariadne’s life has been stifling, to say the least. So when a handsome man shows up and promises to take her away, she believes him and helps him do whatever it takes. But when he abandons her, she has to learn how to live by herself and create her own life. I really enjoyed this book and how, even though it stuck more to the original myth, it was just as enthralling! I totally recommend it to you!
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
This was such an interesting take on The Odyssey. In this retelling though, we get Penelope’s perspective, using choruses from the maids and a unique form of storytelling. In The Odyssey, there’s always been one unanswered question- What led to the hanging of the maids? This book answers that question in such a refreshing way and I loved how the book continued to flow. This is such a great book and I totally recommend it to you!
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
This was a Hunger Games- like story, with Greek Mythology based characters. Every year, 9 of the Greek Gods are forced to wander the Earth, danger at every step, since they could easily be killed and their immortality taken by the killer. Lore left that life many years ago when her family was killed. But when a childhood friend and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, come to her, looking for help, she decides to get revenge. I really enjoyed this book and the way that the story was written. I totally recommend this book to you!

What are some of your favorite books based on mythology?

22 Things I Look Forward to in 2022

Here are 22 things I’m looking forward to in this new year!

The School For Good and Evil movie
This is a movie that is going to be coming to Netflix based on the popular School for Good and Evil book series. I’m really excited to watch it!
Traveling more
Trying a new theme on my Instagram
Performing more Bharatanatyam
Learning more Mohiniattam items
Attending more book events
Improving my writing skills
Attending my school’s dance event
Expanding my Ninja Foodi cooking skills
Discovering new authors
(Hopefully) being a leader in 8th grade
In our school, leaders lead lessons in homeroom 2 times a week. I’ve heard that leadership class and leadership camp (which you take to become a leader) is really fun.
Creating a project in my MUN class with my friends
Discovering more mythological tales
Visiting the library more frequently
Solve a New York Times crossword by myself
Spending more time with family (fingers crossed)
Trying more crafts
Fun projects in my Texas History class
Playing around with online designing
Start biking more
Trying new cuisines
Discover/Play new board games

NaNoWriMo 2021

If you remember, last year, I participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). This year, I’ll be doing it again! I’m very excited with the plot/characters that I have created and I’m so excited to have this opportunity. Before starting, I have already created a plot, a sense of how much to write in a day/week, and some of my major character that will be involved.

Because of this, I am not planning on publishing many blog posts, only one more at the end of the month (The Top Reads of November). I am so excited to go on this journey again!

Have you ever considered doing anything like NaNoWriMo before?

February’s Top Books

Here are my top book of February!

February’s Best Books

Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment by Chris Grabenstein and James Patterson
This book is about Max Einstein, a twelve year old orphan. She’s homeless, but still works out ways to get an education. One day, she’s recruited by an organization to participate in a competition. Max would love to win, but she disagrees with the tests and what is considered important. All the time, there is an evil company trying to get her…….What happens is so fun and I got taken on an amazing ride with this book. I loved it!
The Last Bear by Hannah Gold
April is a young girl who lives with her dad. She tries to have a normal life, but it’s hard when her dad has changed a lot. Then, one day, her dad gets a notice, saying that he has a new job on Bear Island. April is thrilled, hoping that she’ll get to have fun with her dad. But, nothing has changed. April is bored again, until she meets a polar bear which isn’t supposed to be there. I loved this book and what it talks about so much. It’s an amazing book!
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi
Rea is a twelve year old girl whose brother has just been kidnapped. Her mother and grandmother seem to take it that he’s gone, but Rea knows she can save him. So she visits Mishti Daadi, an old fortune teller with her sort-of friend, Leela. Mishti Daadi gives her riddles and with these riddles and her dreams, she realizes that it is possible to save her brother. As the story progresses, there are twists and turns around every corner. I loved this book so, so much and I totally recommend it to you!
Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi
This is the second book in the Aru Shah series. Aru is a pandava. She’s been accused of stealing the god of love’s (Kamadeva) bow and arrow, but she knows it wasn’t her. Now she has until the next full moon to go on a quest with her two “soul-sisters” Mini and Brynne and her other friend, Aiden. I love the Indian mythology in this book and how everything is so descriptive. I loved this book!
The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao
Faryn Liu is a twelve year old girl who has dreams of defeating monsters and honoring her family and the gods, but how can she do that when her family is shunned by almost everyone else? One day, she helps to kill a nian, a mythical beast. From then on, she is proclaimed the Heaven Breaker and has to get on several tasks to prove it. I loved this book so much and all the twists and turns that came with it. It’s so amazing!
The Mysterious Benedict Society: The Prisoner’s Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
In the third book of the Mr. Benedict series, the stakes are higher than ever. Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are in big trouble when one day, a blackout engulfs Stontown. Constance is missing and they almost find her and are safe, but of course the enemies are one step ahead of them. I loved the thrilling twists and turns and all the puzzles in the book. It’s so fun and I enjoyed it so much!

Top books of January: click here