HESTENES KLAN: Clan of the Horses/Hestenes klan

- VELKOMMEN -

Bestselgeren Hestenes klan ble utgitt av Cappelen Damm i 2010 og er regnet som en crossover, det vil si en ungdomsbok som har potensial for å nå et voksent publikum.

Hestenes klan er ikke en hesteroman i tradisjonell forstand, men en roman som blant annet tematiserer møtepunktet mellom hest og menneske. Et møtepunkt som lett kan overføres til menneskets møte med naturen - både den ytre naturen og vår indre. Når det er sagt vil nok mange hestefolk finne en ekstra dimensjon i romanen fordi den presenterer en filosofi knyttet til hestehåndtering som er ukjent for de fleste. Dette er nok også grunnen til at romanen har fått særlig stor oppmerksomhet i hestemiljøet og svært god mottakelse i nisjeredaksjoner både i Norge og i Sverige (se omtale/blogger).

Live Bonnevie ble nominert til Debutantprisen 2010 av Kulturdepartementet. Juryens begunnelse:
"Bonnevie skriver medrivende og underholdende om de store spørsmålene i livet. Dette er et dyktig oppbygd drama som holder leseren fanget fra første til siste side. De intense skildringene av mennesker, dyr og natur bidrar også til at dette har blitt en svært fengende romandebut."

Hestenes klan er ute i 5. opplag og er også utgitt på tysk under tittelen Zwischen Himmel und Erde.

søndag 16. mai 2010

Clan of the Horses/Hestenes klan - the Symbol

After the novel Clan of the Horses/Hestenes klan was published I have received many questions about the clan symbol; what it means and why it consists of a circle and a wavy line. As stated in the novel the circle represents the moon and the wavy line the serpent (snake). There are no written records about the symbol as such, so I can merely refer to what I have been told and what I have gathered from other sources.

The Moon
The moon is, apart from the sun, the most significant celestial body. It is also a well-known symbol for femininity. The moon is closely linked to women for many reasons, but most importantly for the parallelism between the astronomical month and the menstrual cycle. I believe this is why the moon is one of the two symbols used in a horse clan where all the members traditionally have been women.
There are many examples in art and mythology that closely link femininity to the moon. The enigmatic goddess Hekate Trioditis for one, was depicted with three faces, one for each moon phase, new moon, crescent and full moon (virgin, mother and old woman). In Christian iconography Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, is often depicted with a moon in the background, or even standing on a crescent. It is also said that the Amazons (ancient, female warriors) used double axes, where each blade was shaped like a crescent. The Incas had a moon cult along side the dominant sun cult. They referred to the moon as the wife of the sun. The moon was called Mamaquilla, “Mother Moon”, but they never made sacrifices to her, only to the sun, which also gives the symbol a very different energy. The metal that corresponds with the moon is silver. In China, the moon is yin.The moon rarely represents masculinity, although there are exceptions, like Máni (the brother of Sól in Norse Mythology).

The serpent (the snake)
The serpent is one of the oldest and most widespread mythological symbols in the world, and it has various interpretations. One important reason for the serpent’s strong position in many cultures is its ability to cast its skin and thus being symbolically "reborn".
In old, mythological records the serpent often represents a secretive, positive aspect because it was believed to have strong connections to the underworld. Serpents also play an important role in healing- and reincarnation rites in many parts of the world. In many cultures the serpent symbolizes the subconscious.
You will often find serpents represented as potent guardians of temples and other sacred places. The reasons might be that snakes frequently hold and defend their ground, rather than retreat.
A serpent that bites its own tale is a symbol for eternity and is used in many cultures, like in Norse mythology where the serpent known as Midgardsormen surrounds the whole world, the whole of Midgard. But when a serpent is crawling on the ground, like the one used in the clan symbol, it speaks of grounding and a strong connection with Mother Nature.
The serpent is also closely connected to knowledge and wisdom. It was a serpent that persuaded Eve to taste the fruit from of the tree of Knowledge and the result is well known: Adam and Eve gained knowledge, but lost Eden. It is an interesting metaphor. All knowledge comes at a price and insight can sometimes be painful. Yet, once you have it, it can also be a great gift that gives your life and relationships a deeper meaning.