Slavic gods and goddesses

•Bannik (BAHN-neek)
Bath house spirit. Slavic bathhouses were like saunas with an inner steaming room and an outer room for changing. They were dark and frightening and like many scary places, were considered perfect for divinations.They were also the place most often used for child-bearing. No newborn was left there long, though, lest the fairies whould steal him. No Christian icons were allowed in the bath house, neither, as they may offend the it's true occupant - the Bannik. It was customary in some places to offer every third firing of the sauna, or sometimes the fourth to the Bannik. One did not want to disturb him while bathing, though, or he might just throw hot water on them. Other times he would use his sharp claws to flay his victim alive. Besides a firing of the sauna, he liked offerings of soap, fir branches, and a water. The Bannik usually takes on the appearance of a member or friend of the family; so if you ever see someone you know in the bathroom, and find out later that they weren't there.......

•Bereginy - Bóginki in Polish (boo-GIN-kee)
Traditionally "covens" of old women performed the rituals and sacrifices for these river bank nymphs. Bóginki means "little Goddess". They were said to steal human babies and leave behind changelings called Odmience in Polish, Oborotni in Russian.

These spirits were the original spirits of life and predate the sky deities. They are the forerunners of the Rusalki.

•Bolotnyi - Bagnica in Polish (bahg-NEETS-ah)
from "boloto" or "bagnu" - swamp. Female bog spirit

•Dogoda (doh-GOH-da)
The gentle West wind.

•Domawiczka (Doh-mah-VEETCH-kah)
female Domovoi or wife of the Domovoi. May be the same as the Kikimora. There are very few reports on this spirit, but they usually involve her rewarding anyone who bathes or finds her baby.

•Domovoi - Domowije in Polish (doh-moh-VEE-yeh)
Male house spirits from "domu" -home. The Domovik usually lives in the attic, behind the stove, under the threshhold or in the stables or cattle barn. He is thought to be responsible for all domestic prosperity and tranquility and finish chores when family members forget. He will howl and moan to warn of approaching trouble, and pull hair to warn a woman in danger of abuse from a man. He can be heard laughing if good times are ahead, and if you hear him strumming a comb, there is a wedding in the future. The Domovoi should be fed nightly or he may cause trouble, much like a poltiergeist. Usually, if neglected, he will simply leave. To attract a domovoi, put on your finest clothing, go outside and say "Dedushka Dobrokhot (grandfather well-wisher), come live with us and tend the flocks."

Special care was taken to only obtain pets and farm animals in the Domovoi's favorite color. Each new horse was introduced formally to the Domovoi for the spirit took especially good care of the animals he liked but tormented the ones he didn't.

When a new house was built, the owner would put a piece of bread down before the stove went in, to attract the domovoi. When a person moved, the coals from the stove were taken with them and the formal invitation "Domovoi, Domovoi, don't stay here. Come with our family" was recited to ensure that the Domovoi came along to the new home. Salted bread, wrapped in a white cloth will appease the domovoi as will putting clean white linen in his favorite room - an invitation to eat with the family. You can also hang your old shoes in the yard to brighten the Domovik's mood. The domovik usually resembles a male head of household, living or dead. This supports the belief that the Domovik is a remnant from the times of ancestral worship. He can be seen if you view him through a harrow or horse collar. Otherwise, if he shows himself, it is usually to warn of death. He, like the Banshee, can be heard weeping when death approaches a member of the household.

•Dvorovoi - Russian
Male yard spirits from "dvor" - yard. Like the domovoi, he usually resembles the male head of household and has preferences as to the color of pets and livestock. He is usually malicious and sometimes, but not often, deadly. He is appeased by placing a shiny object, slice of bread and piece of sheep's wool in the stables while saying "Master Dvorovik, I offer you this gift in gratitude. Please look after the cattle and feed them well." If he is completely out of control he is punished in the following way: The head of household wove a three-tailed whip from a corpse's shroud, dipped it in wax, ingnited it and whipped all corners of the cattle shed and manger, hoping to beat the spirit into submission.

• Eretik - (EH-reh-teek), erestun, eretica, eretnik.
"heretic" This later term for the upyr is due to the belief that heretics returned from the dead as evil spirits. This belief was considered responsible for the brutality and hysteria surrounding the medieval Russian campaign against heretics. The eretik usually returns from the grave to devour people, the eretsun is usually a living vampire created when the soul of a sorceror possesses and revives the body of one on the brink of death. The eretica usually causes one to wither by the power of her eye. The eyes of the dead, in Slavic belief, could lure one into the grave. That is why it was so important to close the eyes of the newly deceased.

• Kikimora(kee-kee-MOHR-ah) or Shishimora
female house spirit who usually lives in the cellar or behind the stove. She comes out at night to spin and will look after the housework and the chickens if the home is well tended. If the household is a sloppy one she will wine, whistle and tickle the children at night. She is sometimes married to the domovik. To appease an angry Kikimora, you should wash all your pots and pans in a fern tea. She appears as an average woman with hair down (Slavic women always kept their heads covered) or sometimes with chicken feet. She would occasionally appear, spinning, to one about to die.

•Kurinyi bog(kur-EEN-yee book)
"Chicken God". Usually a round fieldstone with a hole in the middle in the chicken yard. This "deity" was supposed to protect chickens from the domovoi, kikimora and dvorovoi.

•Leszi, Leshii (LESH-ee)
"Forest lord". From "les" - forest. He often appeared as a peasant, either without a belt or with shoes on the wrong feet. Sometimes he was said to have wings and a tail and be covered in black hair. Many assigned him goat's hooves and horns like Pan. He is usually attributed with green eyes. He could change his size from that of a blade of grass to that of the highest tree. Usually he carried a club to show his rulership over the forest creatures. The Leszi could take the shape of a familiar person and lead you astray with the sound of their voice. Once in his domain, he might tickle his victim to death. He could also become a hare, wolf, bear, raven, pig, horse, rooster, flaming fir tree or even a mushroom. The Leshi is fond of trees and is said to be heard weeping when one is cut down. He is the protector of the forest and all it's creatures. His favorite animal is the wolf - the king of the beasts in Slavic folklore. He is also said to be often seen in the company of bears.

Upon entering a forest, one always uttered a protective spell or prayer lest they run into him. If he got hold of a child, he might replace it with one of his own - who would grow up stupid, with a voracious appetite. If the child returned it would ever afterward be a useless tramp. When the Leshii got his hands on an adult, the adult would return sometimes mute and covered with moss, othertimes unable to concentrate and would act oddly for the rest of their lives.

The Leshii likes offerings of kasha, suet, blini, bread & salt. He is also perfectly happy with a cookie or candy left on a stump or log. To protect yourself against the leshii, you can: turn all your clothing backward and also the collar on your horse, chant "Sheep's mug, sheep's wool" or if you encounter him, get him to laugh. When the leshy could be coaxed to befriend a human, the human often had to make a pact, never again wear a cross or take the eucharist. In return, the Leshy would teach the human the secrets of magic. He is, after all, the Green Man.

In myth and art, the Leshy is often associated with the psychotropic mushroom Amanita Muscaria. This may connect him in some way to Shamanic mind-altering techniques.

•Lesovikha - (Leh-soh-VEE-kah)
Female Leszi. Sometimes an ugly woman with large breasts, sometimes a naked young girl - or a woman in white as tall as the trees.

•Lugovik - (loo-GOH-veek)
Spirit of the meadow. "lugo" - meadow. He should not be confused with the spirit of the grain field.

•Musail
The forest tsar, king of the forest spirits. He was associated with the Rowan tree.

•Ovinnik - (Oh-VEEN-neek) Russian
Barn spirit from "Ovin" - threshing barn. The Slavic threshing barn was a 2 story building with a furnace entrenched in earth on the first floor and the second floor for drying the grain. It was ruled by the Ovinnik who appeared as a huge disheveled black cat with burning eyes. You could sometimes hear him laughing or barking like a dog from the corner of the barn in which he lived. Offerings of blini or the last sheaf were left to him.If angered, he was known to burn down the barn, usually with it's owner or owner's children in it.

•Polewik, Polevoi (poh-LEH-veek)
Field spirit from "pole" - field. He appears as a deformed dwarf with grass for hair and two differently colored eyes. He usually wears either all white or all black and appears at noon or sunset. He will lead astray people who wander in the fields, and if they fall asleep there, give them diseases or ride over them with his horse. If a person falls asleep drunk while on the job, the Polewik might kill them. To appease the Polewik you must put two eggs and a rooster too old to crow in a ditch when no one is looking.

•Poludnica - Psezpolnica in Serbian (poh-wood-NEET-sah) Lady Midday, from "Poluden" - noon. She may appear as a 12-yr old girl, a beautiful woman or an old hag but is only seen at the hottest part of a summer's day. She is known to steal children or lead them astray in the fields and Russian mothers threaten their children with "Be good or the Poludnica will get you. She sometimes pulls the hair of farm workers or attacks women who have just given birth and wander out at noontime. She carries a scythe and will stop people in the field to either ask difficult questions or engage them in conversation. If the person fails to answer a question or tries to change the subject of the conversation, the Poludnica will strike them with illness or cut off their head (Poland). The Wends, German Slavs, called her pscipolnitsa and pictured her as carrying shears, a symbol of death. When not in the fields or streets, the Poludnica was said to float on the winds. Marija Gimbutas calls her "sunstroke" personified. It is thought that the Poludnica was the explanation for the dangers of working in the noon heat and remained a part of more recent legend because of her usefulness in scaring children away from valuable crops.

• Polunocnica - (Poh-woo-nok-NEET-sah)
"lady midnight". A "demon" said to torment children in the middle of the night. May have originally been the third Zorya of midnight

• Poluvirica - (Poh-woo-vee-REET-sa)
"female half-believer". This forest spirit probably had an earlier name but was later called poluvirica due to the belief that non-Christians returned after death as various home and forest spirits. She appears naked, with a long face, long hanging breasts and three braids of hair down her back. She is usually seen carrying a child.

• Rarog - (RAH-rook) Polish, Rarich - Ukranian, Rarach - Czech.
This same word for whirlwind may be a late bastardization of the name Swarog. A falcon, hawk or fiery dwarf who turns himself into a whirlwind. From Lusitania to the Urals it was customary to throw a knife into a whirlwind to kill the demon residing within it.

Into this century, Blugarians, Pomeranians and Russians were still being observed casting themselves face down before a whirlwind to ward off illness and misfortune. Russians whould do so shouting "a belt around your neck" in order to strangle the rarog.

• Rusalka (roo-SAHW-kah)
Female water Spirit. These souls of unbabtized babies or drowned maidens became beautiful pale girls with long flowing hair. They wear white or are sometimes naked, usually with poppies in their hair. They lived in the waters during the winter, but moved to the forests and fields during Rusal'naia week (hence the name) where they could often be seen perched in trees.

A danger to humans, the Rusalki may lead cattle astray, steal children, fall upon people from the treetops and tickle them to death or kidnap young lads to take as lovers. They love to come out in the moonlight to sing and dance the khorovod (circle dance). If they find someone bathing near where they dance, often, they will drown them. Tying ribbons to trees in which they were known to perch is one way to appease them. Linens and scarves, as well as eggs were also left as offerings.

Before these nature spirits were associated with the souls of the "unclean" dead, it is believed they were the spirits who brought moisture to forest and field.

•Treasurers
pozemne vile - "earth spirits". I have not seen the Slavic name for these creatures anywhere - but in Polish the word for gnome is "karzelek" (kar-ZEH-lek) which these creatures most resemble. Called pchuvushi by the gypsies, they live in mines and underground workings and are the guardians of precious metals, gems & crystals. They are most often helpful toward miners and will lead them to rich veins of ore, protect them from danger and lead them back when they are lost. To evil persons or those who insult them they can be deadly and have been known to send tunnels crashing down upon them or push them into dark chasms. Whistling, hurling rocks into dark chasms and uncovering one's head are actions considered offensive to the Treasurer. He will, however, warn the offender once before taking action. Small insults warrant a pelting with handfuls of soil. Larger insults are usually repayed with a beating with the Treasurer's cudgel or the forfeit of all the metals mined that day.

They sometimes appear as small naked children, as human miners, as glimmers of light or as salt people. Most often, though, they appear as adults of smaller stature, usually about 2 - 3 feet in height, carrying mining lanterns.

•Wampyr , Upyr
Vampires have featured in the legends of all Eastern Europe. The Kashubian region on the Baltic coast of Poland shows records of an exceptionally high belief in Vampires. As recently as the 20th century,attempts were made in Puck and Kartuzy to exhume vampires and render them harmless. People of high facial colour or an excitable nature were supposed to cool slowly on death,retaining a red complexion and flexible limbs, hence the expression "Czerwony jak wieszczy",red as a vampire. Vampires are the souls of the dead. Their physical body does not usually leave the grave. Their victims are their own family members whom they visit, one at time to drain their life's force. When that family member is dead, they move onto the next. In this manner was evidence of vampire activity discovered. Members of a single family would begin to die, one by one. If the Wampyr had no relatives,they would pull on the church bell,signalling death for all that heard it.

Once a vampire was detected, the first family members to pass on in the string of deaths were exhumed. If one was found to be in extraordinarily good shape, various remedies could be used against them: They might be cut up and their bones re-arranged. A crucifix was often placed under the tongue and sometimes a fishing net or a bag of sand was placed in the coffin. Only one grain of sand could be removed each year,or one knot undone,keeping the vampire away for a very long time.

According to Dion Fortune - a brilliant occultist - the "soul body" lives on for about 3 days after the death of the physical body, then it dies also, forcing the remaining essence of the person to go on. If the person is knowledged in the occult, they may choose to remain on earth by latching onto a human victim who is weak or morally corrupt. Through this victim they absorb the life's energy of others. Taking blood is one method of doing this. They cannot take the life's force of their victim, as he would die, so they possess him and force him to take the blood of others. ...just something to think about.

Upyr were originally spirits of death and predate the sky gods.

(much of the information on Polish vampirism was e-mailed to me, the author was unknown - so no credit could be given)

•Wila, Vily, Vile, Veles in Lithuanian (VEE-lah)
Female fairy-like spirits who live in the wilderness and sometimes clouds. They were believed to be the spirits of women who had been frivolous in their lifetimes and now floated between here and the afterlife. They sometimes appear as the swans, snakes, horses, falcons, or wolves that they can shapeshift into but usually appear as beautiful maidens, naked or dressed in white with long flowing hair. It is said that if even one of these hairs is plucked, the Wila will die, or be forced to change back to her true shape.A human may gain the control of a Wila by stealing feathers from her wings.Once she gets them back, however, she will disappear.

The voices of the Wila are as beautiful as they, and one who hears them loses all thoughts of food, drink or sleep, sometimes for days. Despite their feminine charms, however, the Wila are fierce warriors. The earth is said to shake when they do battle. They have healing and prophetic powers and are sometimes willing to help mankind. Other times they lure young men to dance with them, which according to their mood can be a very good orvery bad thing for the lad. They ride on horses or deer when they hunt with their bows and arrows and will kill any man who defies them or breaks his word. Fairy rings of deep thick grass are left where they have danced which should never be trod upon (bad luck).

Offerings for Wila consist of round cakes, ribbons, fresh fruits and vegetables or flowers left at sacred trees and wells and at fairy caves.

•The Vodonoi - Wódjanoj in Polish (vohd-YAH-noy)
Male water spirits from "Woda" - water. Master shape-shifters, they sometimes appear as old men with long green or white beards, sometimes as creatures with huge toes, claws, horns, a tail and burning eyes in a human face. At times they look like fat old bald men and other times like mossy looking fish or flying tree trunks. If he takes on human form, you will know him by the water oozing from the left side of his coat. Vodonoi are said to live in underwater palaces made from the treasures from sunken ships and often marry Russalki.

They are usually malicious and are believed to lie in wait for human victims and drag them under the water to their death. Dark marks on the bodies' of drowning victims were thought to be bruises from their struggle with the Vodonoi. Retrieving a drowned body was thought to anger the Vodonoi who wanted to keep their spoils. A Vodonik may be appeased by pouring butter into the water or offering him your first fish. To employ the Vodonoi's aid in fishing, throw a pinch of tobacco into the water and say loudly "Here's your tobacco, Lord Vodonik, now give me a fish".

• Zaltys
The world serpent who lay coiled at the roots of the great world tree. He was the arch enemy of Perun, at whom Perun seemed to aim much of his lightening.

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The Greater Pantheon

• Baba Jaga • Bialobóg • Czarnóbog • Dazhdbóg • Dodola • Dzarowit • Dziewona • Jarilo • Jurata • Khors • Koljada • Kupalo • Lada • Lado • Lel • Marzanna • Mata Syra Zjemja • Miésiac • Mokosz • Perun • Porevit • Rod • Rodenica • Ruevit • Rugievit • Simargl • Slava • Stribóg • Swaróg • Swarozhicz • Swiatowid • Triglav • Vesna • Weles • The Zorya

•Baba Jaga - (BAH-bah YAH-gah) Jezi Baba in Polish (YEH-zhee BAH-bah)

"Grandmother Bony-shanks". A terrifying Witch who flew through the air in a mortar using the pestle as a rudder and sweeping away her tracks with a broom. She lived in a revolving house which stood on chicken legs. Her fence was made of human bones and was topped with skulls. The keyhole was a mouth filled with sharp teeth. She would aid those who were strong and pure of heart and eat those who were not. I see her as a Goddess of death and initiation.

•Bialobóg (byah-WOH-book)

White God from "bialy" - white. God of the waxing year. He would defeat his brother, Czarnobog in battle every Koliada to take his place as ruler of the waxing year. At Kupalo, they would battle again, but Czarnobog would win to rule the waning half. He was said to appear as an old man with a long white beard, dressed in white and carrying a staff. He was said to appear only by day and often assisted travellers in finding their way out of dark forests or reapers in the fields.

•Czarnobóg (char-NOH-book)

Black God from "czarne" - black. God of the waning year.

•Dazhdbóg (DAHZHd-book)

Giver God from "dati" - to give.The sun personified - may be the same as Khors. This son of Swiantowid emerged from his Eastern palace every morning in a two wheeled, diamond chariot, pulled by twelve fire-breathing horses with manes of gold. He would travel across the heavens each day through his twelve kingdoms (zodiac signs?). Some believed that he emerged each day as a beautiful infant and would age until his death as an old man in the West. Dazhdbóg was also a god of justice who sat seated on a purple throne surrounded by his seven judges (the planets?) The morning and evening stars, seven messengers who fly across the heavens with fiery tails(comets) and sometimes, Mjestjas, his bald uncle - the moon. In some legends, Mjesyas is his wife. He has many children who, according to legend, live among the stars and the Russian people, who call themselves "Dazhdbog's grandchildren."

•Dzarowit (jahr-OH-veet) or Jarovit (yar-OH-veet)

God of war. Same root name as Jarilo - youth and springtime. The historian, Herbord, equated him with Mars. His sacred symbol seems to have been the shield. When his temple at Wolgast was destroyed in 1128, those entering it in search of idols found only a gigantic shield. Afraid of the crowds gathering outside, Bishop Otto's men took the shield to hide behind as they exited. On sight of moving shield the people threw themselves upon the ground thinking that it was the god himself.

Dzarowit is thought to be one of four seasonal aspects of Swiantowid, the aspect ruling Springtime and looking toward the West. He may be related to Jarilo; In Dzarowit's name his priests proclaimed "I am your god who covers the plains with grass and the forests with leaves. The produce of the fields and woods, the young of the cattle and all things that serve man's needs are in my power."

from Gimbutas - "The Slavs" p160

•Dodola from "doit" - to give milk. A South Slavic cloud/rain goddess. Rain was thought to be a form of divine milk, sometimes thought to be from Dodola, sometimes the milk of Mokosh. Often, the clouds were perceived to be heavenly women or even cows. In Serbia, the rites of Dodola were kept up until quite recently: During a drought a girl, called Dodola, clad only in greenery and flowers was led through the village while her companions sang "Dodola" songs:

We pass through the village, and the clouds across the sky. We go quicker, and the clouds go quicker, But the clouds have overtaken us and have bedewed the fields. We go through the village, and the clouds across the sky, and see, a ring drops from the clouds.

- W.R.Ralston p.227-229 Afterwards, the girl dances and spins while the woman douse her with water. This practice is thought to convince the heavenly women, clouds, to rain upon the earth, represented by the greenery.

•Dziewona (jeh-VOH-nah)

This huntress was said to run throughout the Carpathian forests. A version of Diana whose legend is probably due to contact with the Romanians.

•Jarilo (yah-REE-loh)

The Young Lord - from "jaru" - young, ardent, Springtime, bright, rash. He is a beautiful, barefoot youth wearing a long white robe. His head is crowned with a wreath of flowers and he rides a white horse. He is seen holding a bunch of wheat ears in his left hand.

He is a god of youth and sexuality whose symbol may have been the phallus. He is a dying and resurrected God whose funeral was celebrated during the rites of Kupalo.

•Jurata (yoo-RAH-tah)

A Baltic Sea Goddess who took the form of a mermaid. She was said to live in an underwater palace made of amber polished to look like gold. The mighty Perun fell in love with her beauty, but Jurata had eyes only for a human fisherman. The jealous God of Thunder send down a bolt of lightning which killed both Jurata and her fisherman. When pieces of amber wash ashore, they are said to be pieces of Jurata's ruined palace.

Another version of this myth has her palace and lover destroyed by her own sea father who disapproved of her romance with a mere mortal. Durning storms it is said one may still here her lamenting over the loss of her lover.(Poland)

•Khors

A name of the sun, personified, from the Iranian word "khursid". The same as Dazhdbog, as a matter of fact, he is sometimes referred to as "Khors Dazhdbog". The name of the circle dances, xorovods, comes from his name.

•Koljada (koh-LYAH-da)

a seasonal deity of the winter solstice. See Kupalo below.

•Kupalo (koo-PAH-woh)

Although many references are made to this diety either being a water Goddess or another version of the sacrificial god, Jarilo, as best as I can acertain, Kupalo is a "seasonal" deity of the Summer Solstice. It was customary in Slavic culture to create an effigy named after the holiday which they were welcoming in. At the end of the holiday, the effigy was torn apart and tossed into the fields.

•Lada (LAH-dah, WAH-dah)

Lada is the Slavic goddess of love and beauty. In Russia, when a couple is happily married, it is said they "live in lada", in love. Lad is also a word meaning "peace, union, harmony" as in the proverb "When a husband and wife have lad, they don't require klad (Treasure)" - Ralston, p.105. She is said to reside in the underworld, vrij, until the Vernal Equinox, Maslenica, when she returns, bringing the lark and springtime with her. Like Jarilo, Lada is often portrayed as a goddess who is born and dies yearly. Her sacred tree is the lime/linden, supposedly because its leaves are shaped like hearts. As a Slavonian love song goes:

"As the bee is drawn by the linden-bloom (or lime-perfume),
My heart is drawn by thee." - Leland, p.138

One story has her married to Swarog who without her could not have created the world. Other sources give her a brother/lover named Lado which would make them divine twins such as Freya and Frey. There is also some mention of her two sons, Lel & Polel, and occasionally that of a daughter, Liuli.

•Lado (LAH-doh, WAH-doh)

"I fear thee not, O wolf! The god with the sunny curls will not let thee apporach. Lado, O Sun-Lado." - W.R.Ralston, p.105

Partner of Lada, Lado is compared to Frey and considered a solar deity by some. In one old chronicle, Lado is called "The God of marriage, of mirth, of pleasure and of general happiness" to who those about to marry offered sacrifice to ensure a good union.

•Lel
Son of Lada who, according to Pushkin, is the Slavic version of the Greek Hymen - god of marriage.

•Marzanna (mahr-ZAH-nah), Marena

Death and winter personified. the Marzanna appeared as an old woman dressed in white. Annually, an effigy of her was made, escorted to the edge of the village and thrown out. In Poland ist was burned then "drowned". This was customary as both the fire of the sun, and the rainwaters were needed for the fertility of the crops.

•Matka or Mata Syra Zjemlja

(MAHT-kah SIHR-ah ZHYEM-yah)

"...Matushka Zemlia, Mother Earth, giving suck from bountiful breasts to countless children. When the peasants spoke of Matushka Zemlia, their eyes, usually dull and expressionless, were flooded with love, like the eyes of children who see their mother at a distance." - Shmarya Levin

Moist Mother Earth, seems to have never been personified as other Earth Goddesses were (given human form), but worshipped in her natural form. She may, however, be the same Goddess as Mokosh. Along with the ancestral worship shown in the belief in household spirits, Earth worship was most adamantly clung to despite the Christianizing of the Slavic world. She had absolute sanctity and no one was allowed to strike her or begin farming until her birthgiving time at Maslenica. Memorial day and Assumption day (sorry - I have no dates as of yet) were her name days so no plowing or digging could be done then. Anyone spitting on the Earth had to beg her forgiveness.

Property disputes were settled by calling her to witness the justice of the claims. Oaths and marriages were confirmed by swallowing a clump of earth or holding it on the head. Boundaries were measured while walking them with a clump of earth on the head. Villages were protected from cattle plague & epidemic by plowing a furrow around them to release Mother Earth's power. If no priest was present, sins were confessed to the earth and into the 20th century survived the custom of begging the Earth's forgiveness prior to death.

Earth worship was transferred to the cult of Mary and is why she is such a central part of Slavic Christianity. Unlike other nature deities, Mata Syra Zemlja was never personified as a Goddess with human features.

In the early 1900's to save their village from plague of cholera the older women circled the village at midnight quietly getting the younger women to come out. Without the men's knowledge, they chose nine maidens and three widows who were led out of the village and undressed down to their shifts. The maidens let their hair down, white shawls covered the heads of the widows. They armed themselves with ploughs and items of frightening appearance such as animal skulls.The maidens took up scythes and the entire procession marched around the village, howling and shrieking, while ploughing a deep furrow to release the spirits of the Earth. Any man who came upon the procession was felled by the maidens "without mercy".

•Mjésjac (MYEH-syahnts)

The Moon Deity- Sometimes seen as "The Sun's old bald uncle", sometimes his wife who grows older every winter as she moves away from her husband across the sky. In the summer, her youth returns and they are once again re-united and remarried.

•Mokosz (MOH-kosh)

Her name means "moisture" and she may be the personified version of Mati Syra Ziemlja (Moist Mother Earth). Images of her survive to this day in Russianembroidery with arms raised, flanked by two horsemen. She is usually describedas having a large head & long arms. In Onolets, she was believed to walk abroad or spin wool at night and if a sheep mysteriously lost it's hair, it meant that Mokosh had sheared them.

Mokosh is associated with weaving, spinning, and perhaps that is why she is seen as the Goddess of fate. She is also seen as a Goddess of fertility and bounty. Some sources say she rules over occult knowledge and divination. She is also sometimes referred to as wife of Swarog which would then create a marriage of "heaven" and "earth". Rybakov called her the Great Mother Goddess of the Slavs.

16th century church chronicles contain a question posed to women parishoners "Did you not go to Mokosz?" It was believed that if Mokosz were pleased with the women's offerings, she would help the women with their laundry. This helps to support some people's theory that Mokosz was actually a water Goddess. As a wandering goddess, she is thought to be tied into the fertility of the earth and rain is sometimes called "Mokosz milk."

Mokosz has survived in the legends of Mokosha - minor female spirits who punish women for spinning on Friday, Mokosh sacred day. Her worship was transfered to that of St. Paraskeva-Friday.

Mokosh' Feast Day - Mokosh was honored on the Friday between Oct 25 and Nov 1. She was given offerings of vegetables and vegetables seem to have been the focal point of the day. One reference fixes this date on Oct 28.

•Perun - Piórun in Polish (PYOO-run)

God of thunder from "per, perk or perg" - to strike. He is described as a rugged man with a copper beard. He rides in a chariot pulled by a he-goat and carries a mighty axe, or strely, sometimes a hammer. This axe is hurled at evil people and spirits and will always return to his hand., and of oak. The word strela can mean either axe or arrow, i.e. bolt and strela are hung on hourses to protect them from storms, restore milk to cows, ease labor and grant good luck to newborns and newlyweds.

His lighting bolts were believed to pass through the earth to a certain depth and return gradually to the surface in a specific period of time - usually 7 yrs 40days. People, rocks and trees struck by lightening are considered to be sacred for the heavenly fire remains inside them. In 1652 a Lithuanian man was recorded to have eaten the ashes of a leather saddle burned by lightening. He believed his action would save him from illness and give him oracular powers and the ability to conjur fire.

All big trees were sacred to Perun, but he especially loved the oak. There are records of oaks being fenced in as sacred to him. Sacrifices to him usually consisted of a rooster, but on special occasions, bear, bull or he-goat might be killed. The sacrificed animal was then communally eaten as they were seen to be imbued with the power of their patron God. Eating the god's animal to absorb the god's essence is similar to and predates the ritual of Holy Communion.

Perun's arch enemy was the zaltys, a great serpent curled at the base of the world tree. Somehow, this also put him on Weles' blacklist and worship of these two gods had to be kept separate.

Temples to Perun tended to be octagonal and on high ground. An idol of him set outside the castle of Vladmir was said to have a silver head and gold moustache - in some accounts, gold mouth. When Vladmir tore down the idol, it was tied to a horses tail and dragged to the Dnieper. Amid much weeping it was then tossed in as men with poles made sure that he was not washed ashore or pulled out. It eventually floated down river and was blown onto a sandbank still known as Perun's bank. Perun's holy day is Thursday, his feast day is the 20th of July.

• Porevit

from the root "pora" which means midsummer. This God, who was worshiped at Rugen, is thought to be one of the four seasonal aspects of Swiantovid facing South and ruling over summer. A temple of his in Garz was destroyed in the 12th century by Danish King Waldemar.

• Rod and Rodenica, Rozhenica

Literally creator and creatrix from the root verb, "dati" - to give birth. They seem to be the original "Lord and Lady" who created the universe. Swarog gained control later on, seemingly, with Rod's permission. Ceremonial meals in their honor were denounced by the church. These meatless meals usually consisted of cottage cheese, mead, bread and porridge.

Rod survived as a sort of Slavic penate, household god. His worship was at the center of the older ancestor cults. Rodenica survived as a mother-daughter team of glowing white fairies who visited children at their birth and determined each baby's fate.

• Ruevit

From the root "Ruenu" which was the Slavonic autumnal month named for the mating calls of the newly matured animals. Worshipped on the Island of Rugen, this God is thought to be one of the four seasonal aspects of Swiantowid ruling Autumn and facing East.

• Rugievit

God of Rugen, may be the same as Ruevit. His temple at Garz consisted of a large wooden structure with an inner room which had four posts and a roof and was decorated with purple hangings. His oak statue had seven heads (faces, probably) and seven swords in his girdle, an eighth in his hand.

•Simargl

A winged griffin or dog that probably came to the Slavs through their Sarmatian overlords. In Sarmatian myth, Simourg (Simargl) guarded the tree which produced the seed to every species of plant. He also was responsible for the dispursement of these seeds and thus is connected with vegetative fertility. According to some, Simargl is a fiery bird and may be the orignal firebird of Russian myth.

•Slava

A beautiful bird - a messenger of God Perun, every feather of which was said to shine a different color. This beautiful bird was called MATEPb CBA (Mater Sva) which can be translated either as Mater Slava (Mother Glory), Mater svex (Mother of everyone) or Mater Sova (Mother Owl - which may be why much of Russian Folk art depicts an owl). This flame colored bird usually appeared in the critical moment and pointed with its wing the direction in which an army should go. Everyone knew that either glory or a glorious death awaited the warriors and the prince had no choice but to follow the bird's lead. (from Taras at Adventure World E-zine)

•Stribóg (SHTREE-book)

From "srei"-to flow or from the Iranian "srira" beautiful, a common epithet for the wind. Grandfather of the winds. According to E.G.Kagarov, Stribog was a deity of wind, storms and dissension. He was supposed to bring the frost.

•Swaróg (SHVAR-ook)

From "svargas" - radiant sky, "svarati" - gleams. His name survives in the Romanian word for sunburnt or hot - sfarog. A smith god, identified with Hephaestis, he was associated with fire & with it's generative power, particularly sexual. He is the father of Dazhbog (the sun) and Swarowicz - or Ogon, the celestial and hearth fires, respectively. A master craftsman, he could shapeshift into the wind, a golden-horned aurochs (ox), boar, horse, or the falcon, Varagna which was his main incarnation.

Swarog was concerned only with heavenly affairs and left the earthly ones to his son. Unfortunately for his children, Perun was a much stronger war god and took over the role as chief deity of the warrior classes.

Swarog may be the "divine light" of God which in turn produced both the Celestial & Terrestrial fires.

•Swarozhicz/Swarowicz (shvar-OH-zheech/veech)

God of fire personified. As the name literally means "Swarog's son", all of Swarog's children would be called Swarozhich i.e. "Dazhdbog Swarozhich", therefore, Swarowicz may not originally have been a god but all of Swarog's children. Some sources mention Dazhbog's brother as Ogon, meaning "fire". Other sources believe that the God of fire's name could not be spoken aloud. People would refer to him by his title as Swarog's son. Jehovah was originally a fire god who's name could not be spoken aloud. hmmm....makes you wonder.

•Swiatowid (shvyan-TOH-veed), Sventovit

From "svent" - strong, or perhaps "sventu" - Iranian for holy. God of war and protector of fields. His gender is not fixed as male, though, for his statue in Galica, Poland had 2 male sides and 2 female sides. Swiantowid had his own white horse only ridden by the high priest. He was believed to accompany anyone who went to war seated upon it. Before a war, the horse was led down a row of crossed spears. If he walked the row without catching a hoof on a spear it was a good omen.

His temple at Arkona was described thus: One door, a red roof and strong walls ornamented in relief with all kinds of roughly painted carvings. The outer walls were made of vertical wooden posts enclosing an area more than 20m square. Inside was decorated with ornaments, purple items and animal horns. An inner room consisting of a roof supported by four columns and hung with purple rugs contained a sunken base for a huge idol of the god. The idol held a drinking horn in his right hand. Mead was poured into it at harvest, the higher the level reached, the better next year's crop was purported to be. Swiatowid may be an aspect of or Western Slavonic version of Swarog.

•Triglav (TREE-glahv)

Triglav was a three-faced deity, symbolizing the dominion over the three realms - sky, earth, and the underworld. Triglav was shown blindfolded, supposedly because the god was too sacred to view the evils of the earth, and his temple at Stettin was richly sculpted both inside and out and decorated with war booty on the inside.

•Vesna
"Spring". A Vernal Goddess, possible Serbian in origin.

•Weles, Volos (VEH-less, VOH-lohs)

The Slavic Horned lord, ruled horned animals, wealth and the underworld. He is believed to have survived from the time of a common Indo-European pantheon. He was also a god of trade and oaths were sworn in his name. Weles is also the God of poets and bards and is often associated with magick. He was later associated with St. Blas, guardian of cattle.

At Kiev, his statue was not among those on the hill outside the palace but was instead, erected in the marketplace. This is supposedly because he and Perun are great enemies and couldn't be worshipped together.

•The Zorya - (ZOR-yah)

These daughters of Dazhdbog are the Auroras of dawn and dusk, and sometimes have a third sister, midnight (perhaps, Polunocnica). They are the Guardians of the God or hound, which is chained to the constellation, Ursa Major. Like the Fenris wolf of the Norse mythos, this creature will destroy the world if it ever breaks free.

Each morning, Zorya Utrenyaya opens the gates of Dazhdbog's Eastern palace so he may ride across the sky. In the evening, Zorya Vechernyaya closes the gates after her father's daily ride is finished. Their other two sisters, Zezhda Dennitsa and Vechernyaya Zezhda, the morning star and evening star are the caretakers of their father's horses and are sometimes considered to be the same two goddesses. These Goddesses, associated with Venus, are sometimes merged into one warrior Goddess, Zorya, who hides and protects warriors with her veil (see her prayer on the Slavic Magick page.)

Sumerian Gods & Goddesses
An - God of the Heavens
Enki - Lord of Water and Wisdom
Enlil - God of Air and Storms
Ereshkigal - Goddess of Darkness, Gloom and Death
Inanna - Goddess of Love and War
Ki - Goddess of the Earth
Nammu - Goddess of the Sea
Ninhursag - Goddess of the Earth, Fertility
Utu - Sun God, God of Justice