#katalonan

I took magic mushrooms in a meadow filled with daisies and dandelions and met Aphrodite and Zeus and Hera and Hermes and Poseidon and Dionysius and also channeled alligator spirits. And then I converted one of my friends into the cult of Hozier and the cult of Aphrodite. No I will not elaborate further.

Tamauro, elemental guide to Beliza, the main character of the Dark Allies Dark Adversaries (Book 1 - The Katalonan Chronicles).

He is very close to my heart as he reminds me of the same being I dream about now and again. My own gabay.

The concept of having elemental guide or guides is core to the culture and beliefs of Filipinos. They are sentient energies found in nature. As the name suggests, they can provide one guidance. Or in some cases, a lure to perdition.

However, Tamauro is not one of the common ones one mentioned by people. His kind is not known for choosing humans as an alaga, or a ward, because they are a warrior class in Hiwagaan, the ethereal realm.

Tamauro is a sarangay. These noble elementals are attached to the gems they wear. It is connected to their existence. The pair represents passion and reason. And if one is stolen, it results in lethal consequences for the thief, for a sarangay cannot be parted from their gems forever.

His personality was drawn from many of my mentors in life. Although none of them were this muscular, they were all, in essence, mighty warriors in their own field. Tamauro's wit and wisdom, in my opinion, was his best weapon.

He has a very mysterious backstory — one that demands a chapter or two, but that will not be until book 3. (Book 2 is under editing/revision process at the moment).

Our artist, Boyet Abrenica, drew him very well. He got the image, the facial expression of Tamauro very accurately. Impressive feat since his only basis was the books. He gets both Sol and I really well. We are now exploring collaborating on the graphic novels based on the series.

There are at least 9 elemental guides that appeared in this book, each unique and quirky.

And if you are interested in magical creatures, both mainstream and unique, the rich fantasy of the Philippine lore will provide you with so much variety, it is crazy. Read more of them in our book and the succeeding volumes in this series.

(We don't know yet how many books there will be, but we are leaning on 5).

Ito ang unang ritual ng Ifugao na aking personal na na-witness kaya maraming salamat Ka Mamerto sa inyong paanyaya sa amin para dumalo sa sagradong ritual na ito. Hindi ko akalain na may makikilala ako na tao na magiging daan upang ma-invite sa mga sagradong ritual ng katutubo. Isang malaking blessing ang naibigay ng aking pagsama sa ritual ng mumbaki dahil sa nakausap ko ng direct ang mga…

“Karunungang ipinasa ng ating lahing pinagmulan upang magsilbi nating kalasag at baluti sa oras ng ating pangangailangan.” “Wisdom passed down by our ancestors to serve as our shield and armor in our time of need.” Sa gitna ng mabilis at magulong mundo, may mga tinig mula sa nakaraan na nananatiling buhay—mga bulong ng ating mga ninuno na naglalaman ng proteksyon, gabay, at tunay na…

Isa ito sa mahirap gawin subalit isa sa napaka powerful na ways at methods sa totoong buhay. “This is one of the hardest things to do, yet it is one of the most powerful ways and methods in real life.” Ang takot ang siyang nagiging hadlang upang hindi natin malaman ang katotohanan, nagbibigay limitation at nagaalis sa atin ng kapangyarihan at kakayahan sa aspetong pisikal at spiritual. “Fear…

Where Sound Meets Shape Welcome to my creative sanctuary. If you’ve found your way here, you’re likely seeking something beyond the ordinary. The Vowel Sigils of SiAdTala are a unique system of “visual phonetics.” In this practice, vowels—the breath and soul of human language—are transformed into sacred geometries. Each sigil acts as a resonant anchor for specific intentions, frequencies, and…

BREATHE WITH THE MOON: THE RITE OF PAGDIWATA Himabúyan Dayaw Mayari The moon is reaching its peak, and the spirits are listening. We invite you to a sacred gathering to honor Mayari, the Sovereign of the Night, as we celebrate the season of Himabúyan. This is a Donation-Based Ceremony. We believe the ancient wisdom should be accessible to all souls. In the spirit of Dayaw, we welcome an…

Hear the call of the Katalonan.In this sacred passage, the oath is spoken, the spirit awakened, and the chosen rise to walk the path of light.To stand with me in this journey is to honor the ancestors, to kindle the fire of wisdom, and to weave your energy into the circle.By offering a cup of coffee, you do more than sustain me—you become part of the rite, a bearer of blessing, a witness to the…