The centuries old Persian poem 'Mar Nameh' describes in verse a method of augury; what seeing a snake on every one of the 30 days of a month will mean and what omen it will portend. The thirty-two couplets in Persian informative rhyme are shown here in beautifully handwritten Persian calligraphy. The poem is both translated and transliterated into English. The symbolic connection of the snake to Time is discussed and a modern approach to use the 'Mar Nameh' is described using the Zoroastrian Calendars. The Old Iranian calendar describes in detail the foundation of Persian calendar system and its ancient festivals, such as the New Year celebration of Nawruz, the Tiragan festival, and the feast of Mithra. The connection of the Persian calendar to the Egyptian and Babylonian calendars is also examined in depth. This book provides a detailed analysis of a text which has been dormant for several hundred years. It is an essential read for all who are interested in the art of divination.
Payam Nabarz is author of 'The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World' (Inner Traditions, 2005), 'The Persian Mar Nameh: The Zoroastrian Book of the Snake Omens & Calendar' (Twin Serpents, 2006), and Divine Comedy of Neophyte Corax and Goddess Morrigan (Web of Wyrd, 2008). He is editor of 'Mithras Reader An academic and religious journal of Greek, Roman, and Persian Studies': Volume 1(2006), Volume 2 (2008), Volume 3 (2010). He is also the author of 'Stellar Magic: a Practical Guide to Rites of the Moon, Planets, Stars and Constellations' (Avalonia, 2009), and 'Seething Cauldron: Essays on Zoroastrianism, Sufism, Freemasonry, Wicca, Druidry, and Thelema' (Web of Wyrd Press, 2010).
Dr Nabarz's writings have also appeared in numerous esoteric magazines including Touchstone (the Journal of Order of Bards, Ovates, Druids), Pagan Dawn (the Journal of the Pagan Federation), Stone Circle, The Little Red Book, Pentacle, White Dragon, Silver Star, Cauldron, Fezana (Zoroastrian Journal), and the Sufi Magazine.
