streganonalearns

[streganonalearns]

Nazis will never be welcome in paganism. They have no space in our communities, we will have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to nazis. You have no right to the cultures, gods and religions you hijack to spread your disgusting ideologies. You will find no refuge or comraderie amongst pagans.

Reblog to let nazis know they’re not welcome here.

[streganonalearns]

Hello my dear! I'm that blog that requested resources on Slavic Witchcraft, so I hope it's alright if I come to you with a small question.

Can you please tell me about Mokosh (or Mokosz)? I'm a seamstress, and have been wanting to make more female friends for a very long time now, so I figured Mokosh may be a wonderful deity to work with. What are her sacred animals, colors and symbols? What should I place on her altar? What is she like, if you happen to know, and what kinds of offerings should I give her?

Sorry for taking up your time, but thank you so so much for it. I hope you're doing very well honey

Hello!

Firstly I’d like to wholeheartedly thank you - as it turns out your ask was exactly what I needed to finish my long overdue translation of book fragments about Mokosh. You can find the translation here and I hope it will provide you with some context for the things that I’ll list below.

I don’t think it’d be a stretch to consider Mokosh a patron of seamstresses or the textile industry. Your very work sounds like a wonderful activity to dedicate to her, and any physical manifestations of it would make for great votive offerings. I believe Mokosh would enjoy all beautiful or artfully adorned fabrics.

That said if you strive for a more traditional approach wool and flax seem to be the two materials closest associated with her. Other appropriate and historically supported offerings would be eggs (especially pisanki), chickens, bread and salt, groats or porridge, milk, honey, herbs, fruits and vegetables. I’m of the belief that locally sourced, seasonal crops make for an universally appropriate offering, that boasts millenia of frequent use.

Any activities undertaken to protect nature and show reverence to it, explore and express your sexuality or take care of your household would likely fall within her sphere of patronage.

Although this isn’t directly supported by any sources, the frequent mentions of free-flawing hair and lack of headdress in traditions related to Mokosh lead me to believe that a lock of your hair would also be accepted as an offering.

When it comes to animals most commonly associated with Mokosh the obvious answer is sheep. From what I have seen modern followers tend to also connect het with cats. Her sacred day is no doubt Friday. As for her symbol, modern pagans tend to use this one:

It’s worth remembering that while this particular symbol has been featuring in traditional Slavic embroidery for centuries it only became associated with Mokosh recently. Another pattern frequently seen as symbolic of Mokosh is this kind of female figure:

Since my own experience with Mokosh is quite limited I will finish off by recommending a few links:

A freely available publication about Slavic gods and demons through Slovenian lenses - with an intriguing chapter on Mokosh, to help further flesh her out.

A short publication on mythical beings who punish taboos on spinning.

A post by Żmija describing her experiences with Mokosz.

A post by Red describing Saint Paraskeva and her sacred days

A short post on Slavic textiles as a form of worship and expression of spirituality.

I hope you have a great day!

[streganonalearns]

Adventures of prophet Ilya and saint Nicholas (aka Perun and Veles)

Today I bring you a hilarious sample russian folk christianity with this brilliant story about prophet Ilya and Saint Nicholas. I hope it will be of interest to all slavic pagans since prophet Ilya and saint Nicholas are also widely considered to be Eastern Orthodox and Catholic counterparts to Perun and Veles and, in slavic culture, influenced by the personality and sphere of patronage of the aforementioned gods. I explain the amalgamation of slavic gods and saints more in-depth here.

Elijah the Prophet and Saint Nicholas

A long time ago there lived a peasant. He always observed Saint Nicholas’s Day, but not that of Elijah, and he even went out to work. He attended a service for Saint Nicholas and lit a candle, but he forgot to think about Elijah the Prophet.

And so one time Elijah the Prophet was walking with Nicholas over the field of this very peasant. They were walking, and they looked: the heads on the grain were so wonderful that one couldn’t help but rejoice. “There will be quite a harvest, quite a harvest,” said Nicholas. “Of course, it’s true that this peasant is good, kind, and God-fearing; he remembers God and he knows the saints. Into his hands good will fall …” Elijah answered, “And we’ll just see about that; a lot more may fall his way. How I’ll scorch his field with lightning! How I’ll beat down his entire field with hail! Then your peasant will know the truth and will observe Elijah’s Day.”

They argued and argued and departed in different directions. Saint Nicholas at once appeared to the peasant. He said, “Go quickly and sell your grain as it stands in the field to the priest at Saint Elijah’s Church; otherwise nothing will remain, everything will be cut down by hail.” The peasant went to the priest, “Father, wouldn’t you like to buy some grain in the field? I’ll sell you the whole fieldful. I have such great need of money that I must have it here and now! Buy it, Father. I’ll give it to you cheap.” They bargained and bargained and struck a bargain. The peasant took his money and went home.

Some time passed, not a lot and not a little. A storm cloud gathered and was near and it burst forth onto the peasant’s grain with a terrible downpour and hail, and it cut the entire crop like a knifeit didn’t leave even one blade. Next day Elijah the Prophet walked by with Saint Nicholas, and Elijah said, “Look how I ruined the peasant’s field.” “The peasant’s? No, brother! You did a good job of ruining it, but it’s the field of the priest of Saint Elijah’s and not the peasant’s.” “What do you mean ‘the priest’s’?” “Just so. The peasant, it’s been a week now, sold it to the priest of Saint Elijah’s and received all the money. Now, I dare say, the priest will be crying over the money.” “Just wait,” said Elijah the Prophet, “I’ll fix the grain again: it’ll be twice as good as before.” They talked a bit and then each went his own way.

Nicholas again appeared to the peasant. He said, “Go to the priest, buy back the field: you won’t take a loss.” The peasant went to the priest, bowed, and said, “I see, Father, that the Lord God has sent a misfortune upon you; the entire field has been beaten down by hail, as if you rolled a ball over it. So it is to be. Let’s divide the sin in two: I’ll take back my field; and for you in your poverty, here’s half your money.” The priest was glad, and they immediately clasped hands on it.

In the meantime who would have expected it? The peasant’s field began to improve. From old roots came fresh new shoots. Now and then rain clouds drifted over the grain and watered the earth; marvelous grain sprouted forth, high and thick, you couldn’t see weeds at all. And so high and thick, you couldn’t see weeds at all. And the ears came out full, full, and bent toward the earth. The sun warmed it, and the rye ripened: it stood in the fields as if made of gold. The peasant reaped many sheaves; he piled up many shocks, and he was preparing to cart it and place it in stacks.

At this time once again Elijah the Prophet walked by with Saint Nicholas. He cheerfully surveyed the entire field and said, “Look, Nicholas! What a blessing! Here’s how I rewarded the priest. He won’t forget it for his entire lifetime … ” “The priest? No, brother! It’s a great blessing, but in fact this field is the peasant’s; the priest was left in the cold here.” “What are you saying?” “Word of honor! After the grain was beaten down by hail, the peasant went to the priest at St. Elijah’s and bought it back for half the price.” “Stop!” said Elijah the Prophet. “I will take all the spurs from the grain. No matter how many sheaves the peasant stacks up, he won’t thresh more than a tiny bit at one time.” “It’s a bad business,” thought Saint Nicholas, and he set out immediately for the peasant. “Look,” he said, “as soon as you begin to thresh the grain, don’t place more that one sheaf on the threshing floor at a time.”

The peasant began to thresh. For every sheafa little grain. He stuffed all his feedbins and all his storerooms with rye, and still he had a lot left over. He put up new sheds and filled them to the hilt. And now as Elijah the Prophet was walking by his yard with Saint Nicholas, he looked here and there and said, “My, what sheds he’s raised! Does he have anything left to put in them?” “They’re already good and full,” „Saint Nicholas answered. ’'And where did the peasant get so much grain?” “Well! Every sheaf yielded a little grain; when he began to thresh, he placed one sheaf at a time on the threshing floor.” “Oh, brother Nicholas!” guessed Elijah the Prophet, “you’re the one who told everything to the peasant.” “Eh, you’ve figured it out. I told him.” “As you wish. After all, it’s your business. But the peasant will remember me!” “What will you do to him?” “I won’t tell you what I’ll do.” “Well, when trouble comes, it really comes,” thought Saint Nicholas. And again he went to the peasant. He said, “Buy two candles, a large one and a small one, and do such and such.”

So, on the next day Elijah the Prophet and Saint Nicholas were walking along the road as pilgrims, and the peasant happened to meet them. He was carrying two wax candles, one large ruble candle, and another small, kopeck-sized one. “Where is your path taking you, peasant?” Saint Nicholas asked him. “Well, I’m going to place a ruble candle to Elijah the Prophet: he was so merciful to me. When hail beat down the field, then the saintly father did his best to make the harvest twice as good as before.” “And what’s the kopeck candle for?” “Well, this one’s for Nicholas,” said the peasant, and he went on his way. “There you are, Elijah. You say that I tell this peasant everything; so now you see for yourself how true this is.”

And on this note the matter ended. Elijah the Prophet was pacified and he ceased to threaten the peasant with disaster. So the peasant lived in clover, and from that time he began to observe Elijah’s Day and Nicholas’s Day equally.

Russian folk belief by Linda Ivanits

Abe Toshiyuki "Autumn"

[streganonalearns]

Love charm invoking the Zaryas

From Trzy zorze dziewicze by Stanisław Czernik

Zorze, zorzeczeńki! Wszystkieśta moje siostruczeńki! Siadajta na konia wronego, i jedźta po towarzysza mojego. Żeby on nie mógł beze mnie, ni spać, ni jeść, ni siadać, ni gadać. Żeby ja mu się spodobała, we stanie, w robocie, w ochocie. Żeby ja była wdzięczna i przyjemna, Bogu, i ludziom, i temu towarzyszowi mojemu. Nie moją myślą, nie moją mową, nie moją mocą, ino Pana Jezusa i Najświętszej Panny dopomocą. Abyż mi ta Najświętsza dopomogła, pobłogosławiła i dobrymi ludźmi opatrzyła.

***

Zaryas, zaryanitsas! You’re all my sisters! Get on a black horse, and go get my companion. So that, without me he may not sleep, he may not eat, he may not sit, he may not speak. So that he may find me attractive, in rest, in work, in desire. So that I may be graceful and pleasant, to God, to the people, and to him my companion. Not by my thought, not by my speech, not by my power, but through the aid of Lord Jesus and most Holy Lady. May the most Holy Lady help me, bless me, and surround me with good people.

[streganonalearns]

Happy Saint Barbara’s Day!

[streganonalearns]

is slavic paganism closed to those who are not slavic themselves? I've seen different takes on this and wanted to know your perspective, if you'd be willing to share.

I share my opninion on the subject quite frequently - furthermore I made sure it’s permanently pinned at the very top of my blog, for everyone to see.

But fine, let’s say it again.

In my reconstruction/revival of pre-Christian Slavic beliefs I strive to remain as faithful to their original spirit as circumstances allow (the circumstances in question being both limited amount of information and the reality of living in XXIst century Poland). In claiming that this faith is closed to outsiders I would then simultaneously be claiming that pre-Christian Slavic culture and religion were similarly closed — which is simply untrue and very easy to disprove on the basis of the information that we do in fact posess (you can take a quick look here or here). 

Of course both pre-Christian Slavic religion and culture are a thing of the past, that has not been passed down in continuous, ubroken line. Nonetheless modern Slavic paganism is heavily reliant on the living Slavic culture and language, and later Slavic folklore. To give you an example let’s look at the goddess Morana. There are no pre-Christian records of Morana. All we know about her comes from our living culture, from the centuries of ritual drowning and burning of her effigy, countless songs and superstitions that accompany it. From careful analysis of the various versions of her name and her nicknames appearing in multiple different Slavic languages. For this reason I would say diving deeper into Slavic paganism requires also diving deeper into Slavic culture, art, history and linguistics. Slavic paganism is not something you can separate from Slavic peoples, which doesn’t mean everyone who practices it has to be ethnically Slavic. (Also there are big differences between the many different Slavic peoples. It’s key to remember Slavs as an ethnolinguistic group are a construct and not one unified civilization.)

I hope this does an okay job of explaining why some Slavs feel very protective of Slavic paganism and worry about it being misrepresented and appropriated. Especially since Western media have a long record of depicting Slavs in very unfavorable light and not doing their homework where Slavic culture is concerned. I can definitely understand people worrying that their ancestral culture will be turned into a shallow aesthetic (and let’s get this straight in all likelihood they won’t even be the ones benefitting from that), while they are still treated as second class citizens by the broader Western society.

The thing is, in my opinion at least, that it would be completely erroneous to only direct your protective feelings outwards. Because there are scores of ethnic Slavs who are already misrepresenting Slavic culture and Slavic paganism as a convenient new aesthetic for their bigotry, racism and nationalism. There are countless Slavs spreading misinformation about Slavic paganism either because they were too lazy to genuinely try to learn about it or because they were never interested in learning to begin with and just wanted a space to be a nazi with their friends. You know?

So no, in my opinion closing Slavic paganism wouldn’t do much to protect it at all. It would probably just encourage the nationalists to be bolder in Slavic pagan spaces and that’s the last thing that I want. I think judging people on their individual behavior and individual treatment of Slavic paganism and culture makes much more sense. 

[streganonalearns]

(Not the same anon) I’m really curious in learning more about how Christianity didn’t actually steal from Pagans, and how ‘Pagan’ traditions aren’t actually Pagan, but I’m not sure how to word my question specifically. If you could point me to a resource or two that would tell me about that stuff, I’d love it! (I will be looking up the definition of syncretism as well as checking out the podcast you linked the other anon). Sorry if I worded anything incorrectly or got a concept wrong, I’m very new and wanting to learn. (Also I know I can probably find resources for myself, but I’m not sure where to even begin, which is why I asked you, sorry if I’m being a bother).

So syncretism is when cultural or religious traditions get merged into another religion, usually by customs getting carried over post conversion or colonization.

Like imagine a religion like Christianity comes into an area and mass converts people. And the people say "Oh yeah, we're Christian now -- for sure" but keep doing all of their cultural traditions. What happens over time is that those traditions get recontextualized into the new religion's framework.

It's not Christianity "stealing" them -- it's the cultures that were converted holding onto their traditions in spite of Christianity. The church wasn't deliberately trying to take them -- they just kind of got stuck with them. You get that with a bunch of Yule stuff with Norse and Germanic areas and Christmas.

So that's part of it.

The rest is that a lot of things modern folks claim are "Pagan" just... aren't? Like take the Christmas tree. Like we have clear documentation of its origin going back to German Protestants. Like we know when it started. Yet you'll see countless folks online (and badly written witchcraft books) claiming it's some ancient tradition to decorate a tree in your house. It just... isn't tho?

What you need to do is go to academic sources on these topics, and just kinda take anything in a witchcraft book with a grain of salt.

[streganonalearns]

(Not the same anon) I’m really curious in learning more about how Christianity didn’t actually steal from Pagans, and how ‘Pagan’ traditions aren’t actually Pagan, but I’m not sure how to word my question specifically. If you could point me to a resource or two that would tell me about that stuff, I’d love it! (I will be looking up the definition of syncretism as well as checking out the podcast you linked the other anon). Sorry if I worded anything incorrectly or got a concept wrong, I’m very new and wanting to learn. (Also I know I can probably find resources for myself, but I’m not sure where to even begin, which is why I asked you, sorry if I’m being a bother).

So syncretism is when cultural or religious traditions get merged into another religion, usually by customs getting carried over post conversion or colonization.

Like imagine a religion like Christianity comes into an area and mass converts people. And the people say "Oh yeah, we're Christian now -- for sure" but keep doing all of their cultural traditions. What happens over time is that those traditions get recontextualized into the new religion's framework.

It's not Christianity "stealing" them -- it's the cultures that were converted holding onto their traditions in spite of Christianity. The church wasn't deliberately trying to take them -- they just kind of got stuck with them. You get that with a bunch of Yule stuff with Norse and Germanic areas and Christmas.

So that's part of it.

The rest is that a lot of things modern folks claim are "Pagan" just... aren't? Like take the Christmas tree. Like we have clear documentation of its origin going back to German Protestants. Like we know when it started. Yet you'll see countless folks online (and badly written witchcraft books) claiming it's some ancient tradition to decorate a tree in your house. It just... isn't tho?

What you need to do is go to academic sources on these topics, and just kinda take anything in a witchcraft book with a grain of salt.

[streganonalearns]

(Not the same anon) I’m really curious in learning more about how Christianity didn’t actually steal from Pagans, and how ‘Pagan’ traditions aren’t actually Pagan, but I’m not sure how to word my question specifically. If you could point me to a resource or two that would tell me about that stuff, I’d love it! (I will be looking up the definition of syncretism as well as checking out the podcast you linked the other anon). Sorry if I worded anything incorrectly or got a concept wrong, I’m very new and wanting to learn. (Also I know I can probably find resources for myself, but I’m not sure where to even begin, which is why I asked you, sorry if I’m being a bother).

So syncretism is when cultural or religious traditions get merged into another religion, usually by customs getting carried over post conversion or colonization.

Like imagine a religion like Christianity comes into an area and mass converts people. And the people say "Oh yeah, we're Christian now -- for sure" but keep doing all of their cultural traditions. What happens over time is that those traditions get recontextualized into the new religion's framework.

It's not Christianity "stealing" them -- it's the cultures that were converted holding onto their traditions in spite of Christianity. The church wasn't deliberately trying to take them -- they just kind of got stuck with them. You get that with a bunch of Yule stuff with Norse and Germanic areas and Christmas.

So that's part of it.

The rest is that a lot of things modern folks claim are "Pagan" just... aren't? Like take the Christmas tree. Like we have clear documentation of its origin going back to German Protestants. Like we know when it started. Yet you'll see countless folks online (and badly written witchcraft books) claiming it's some ancient tradition to decorate a tree in your house. It just... isn't tho?

What you need to do is go to academic sources on these topics, and just kinda take anything in a witchcraft book with a grain of salt.

[streganonalearns]

(Not the same anon) I’m really curious in learning more about how Christianity didn’t actually steal from Pagans, and how ‘Pagan’ traditions aren’t actually Pagan, but I’m not sure how to word my question specifically. If you could point me to a resource or two that would tell me about that stuff, I’d love it! (I will be looking up the definition of syncretism as well as checking out the podcast you linked the other anon). Sorry if I worded anything incorrectly or got a concept wrong, I’m very new and wanting to learn. (Also I know I can probably find resources for myself, but I’m not sure where to even begin, which is why I asked you, sorry if I’m being a bother).

So syncretism is when cultural or religious traditions get merged into another religion, usually by customs getting carried over post conversion or colonization.

Like imagine a religion like Christianity comes into an area and mass converts people. And the people say "Oh yeah, we're Christian now -- for sure" but keep doing all of their cultural traditions. What happens over time is that those traditions get recontextualized into the new religion's framework.

It's not Christianity "stealing" them -- it's the cultures that were converted holding onto their traditions in spite of Christianity. The church wasn't deliberately trying to take them -- they just kind of got stuck with them. You get that with a bunch of Yule stuff with Norse and Germanic areas and Christmas.

So that's part of it.

The rest is that a lot of things modern folks claim are "Pagan" just... aren't? Like take the Christmas tree. Like we have clear documentation of its origin going back to German Protestants. Like we know when it started. Yet you'll see countless folks online (and badly written witchcraft books) claiming it's some ancient tradition to decorate a tree in your house. It just... isn't tho?

What you need to do is go to academic sources on these topics, and just kinda take anything in a witchcraft book with a grain of salt.

[streganonalearns]

Cultural Appropriation in Pop Paganism: What Not To Do

In modern media—and in modern witch craft—there are various circumstances of cultural appropriation. Sometimes by choosing to try something new you might be immensely appropriating something and never realize. So, it's important to keep a sharp mind and research, especially if you're a pop witch.

Most forms of media have something based on another culture. For example, Genshin Impact and Avatar the Last Airbender based each Nation on one or more cultures, even if it's not immediately obvious. When something takes root in another culture, you need to stop and think: "Is it okay if I work with this?"

Some things, like figures based on Arabic deities and historical figures, are generally okay to work with. Other things, like figures based on closed cultures, such as Lilith or Native deities, are not.

When picking up work with a pop figure, you are expected to research it just as well as you would research something in traditional witchcraft, and keep in mind all effects of you working with something.

Some questions to ask yourself, might be: Does this stir discourse in the cultures it's based on?

If it stirs discourse, am I part of the culture it's based on?

Is this character misrepresenting/whitewashed/negatively representing their original figure?

Is this based on a real world practice? If so, does it belong to a closed culture?

What are this culture's rules for outsiders partaking?

Does the source material forbid outsiders from partaking?

At the end of the day, a culture might just simply have rules for you to use something.

Like with white sage—as a native, native tribes don't actually forbid you from using it, we just ask that you obtain it from a culturally appropriate source, such as a native seller or home grown. Some tribes might ask you to smudge properly, and if a local tribe does, then please research how to do so. We also, in general, ask you not to kill the flame, as you would be killing a spirit.

It might just be simple as that. But for some things, it might be outright forbidden for you to do something.

Don't abuse pop culture to get around that.

[streganonalearns]

St. Nicholas’ Eve in the Czech Republic

[streganonalearns]

Books are expensive, Hermes thinks learning about your religion should be free.

They're just the basics and only a few, but feel free to ask me to add anything and I'll try my best!

[streganonalearns]

I wanted to publicly thank Freyja for answering my prayers

Our new kitten was showing signs of illness Saturday night and we rushed her to a 24 hour clinic first thing Sunday morning, but that night I asked Freyja to look after her and make sure she’d be alright. The little one has pink eye but the medicine is already working really well and she’s got all her energy. I’m just so grateful it wasn’t anything life threatening and she’s okay.

Thank you Freyja for looking out for my little love and for keeping her in your care

[streganonalearns]

Absolutely begging internet pagans and polytheists not to be rancid antisemites and islamophobes with this "abrahamics/abrahamic faith followers dni!!!!" TikTok trend ass bullshit. You are actively excluding people from pagan/polytheist spaces and making Jews and Muslims feel UNWANTED, UNWELCOME, AND BELOW YOU ALL. Are you fucking proud of yourselves????

Whenever you all say "abrahamics" to refer to a DIVERSE GROUP OF RELIGIONS (WHOSE COLLECTIVE GROUPING AS "ABRAHAMIC" IS HIGHLY DEBATABLE IN ACADEMIA + WITHIN JUDAISM ITSELF- where Abraham originates!!!!!), I'm literally just going to assume you're an ignorant, bigoted racist who has an unresolved superiority complex to anonymously flex on tumblr dot com of all places.

To give my own personal example, Judaism is a living and thriving ethnicity, culture, and religion that I am proud to be part of alongside being a Hellenic Polytheist of Romaniote and MENA ancestry. Would you speak over any other minority in the same way you have spoken over us? Oh wait. I already know the answer- you already have and continue to. You all appropriate closed practices with no consequences, you steal our g-d and angels and demons and paint them as purely Christian or Pagan inventions you can rewrite to be goddamn OC inserts, you talk over people of faiths differing from yours and of course your fucking online yes men support your effortless endeavor in xenophobia, racism, and unadulterated hatred.

Instead of speaking over Jews and Muslims like you claim you're not doing, actually listen to us??? What a novel idea! Just because you were raised with Christianity gives you NO RIGHT to school others about our religions or just blatantly spread Jew hatred and Muslim hatred in a community that ALREADY paints us as bloodthirsty, patriarchal, "primitive" zealots who are lesser than you fucking Holier Than Thous.

Do better. This has become an absolutely ridiculous issue that needs to be heard and fucking resolved.

[streganonalearns]

Altars vs Shrines

Altar — Where the household builds a relationship and interacts with the gods; a place for general worship.

For Hellenic pagans, where the oikos (household, home, family) builds kharis (grace, relationship with the divine) with the Theoi (the Gods).

Shrine — A place for personal worship dedicated to a favoured deity.

For example, I have an altar for the household gods and shrines for each of the gods I personally worship. (I have been using those two terms the wrong way around for ages!)

Two sources that explained this concept well:

https://ofthespiae.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/whats-that-altars-and-shrines/

https://lykeiaofapollon.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/of-altars-and-shrines/

[streganonalearns]

Before January 2025:

If you are a USAmerican in a relationship that might be affected by legislation that dissolves same-sex marriages, who may no longer be recognized as next-of-kin, especially if you have children, get your rights in writing!

Your marriage certificate may not be enough to prove you have rights to make medical decisions for non-biological children or for a same-sex spouse or partner.

Go to a lawyer, get it spelled out as clearly as possible that you have a voice in emergency medical and legal situations.