This is the last completely free newsletter for The Crossroads! This past month has been so enlightening and rewarding for me to be able to explore different facets of Slavic culture and healing practices with you.
Wow, that carol is so lovely. I wonder if we could also see the pigeons as symbols of the Goddess Siva (or whoever the bird goddess would be called in that region of the Carpathians)? Or I've heard the birds on the tree of life also ascribed to Mokosh or Berehinya? It's also quite beautiful to think of them as non-divine pigeons and somehow more magical in a way!
I love the idea of the pigeons representing Siva/Ziva/Zhiva. As a fertility goddess, I can absolutely see her having a hand in bringing life on earth to fruition. As far as them representing Mokosh, it would explain a lot about the second illustration in the newsletter as she stands in front of the oak. I think I would love that even more to know these deities were depicted as common birds! The melding of the magical and the mundane. Thanks for the insight!
I find it so fascinating the ways that, even compared to the old Gods, the Goddesses seem to be much more hidden sometimes. Or maybe I just make it up and see them everywhere! But I wonder if it’s also an extension of patriarchy, Judeo-Christian values, the witch wound, that they seem often more hinted than shown, or kinda one dimensional and anodyne when they are actually depicted.
Thank you so much for these beautiful, thought-provoking articles <3
I think you've hit the nail on the head! Really the only goddesses that survived the spread of religion were any of those that were able to be attached to Mary (Mokosh in particular). They survived through her and now we can peel back some of the layers to see who they really are without the mask.
I really enjoyed reading this article. I have always loved Oak trees. Specially the Scottish Oak. I have 3 babies which I will plant out soon. They just seem so magical. .
Thank you for spreading the oaks!! No one plants large trees anymore, just the dainty ornamentals it seems. The planting of trees is such a noble thing to do, and Scottish oak will be such a support to you.
Wow, that carol is so lovely. I wonder if we could also see the pigeons as symbols of the Goddess Siva (or whoever the bird goddess would be called in that region of the Carpathians)? Or I've heard the birds on the tree of life also ascribed to Mokosh or Berehinya? It's also quite beautiful to think of them as non-divine pigeons and somehow more magical in a way!
I love the idea of the pigeons representing Siva/Ziva/Zhiva. As a fertility goddess, I can absolutely see her having a hand in bringing life on earth to fruition. As far as them representing Mokosh, it would explain a lot about the second illustration in the newsletter as she stands in front of the oak. I think I would love that even more to know these deities were depicted as common birds! The melding of the magical and the mundane. Thanks for the insight!
I find it so fascinating the ways that, even compared to the old Gods, the Goddesses seem to be much more hidden sometimes. Or maybe I just make it up and see them everywhere! But I wonder if it’s also an extension of patriarchy, Judeo-Christian values, the witch wound, that they seem often more hinted than shown, or kinda one dimensional and anodyne when they are actually depicted.
Thank you so much for these beautiful, thought-provoking articles <3
I think you've hit the nail on the head! Really the only goddesses that survived the spread of religion were any of those that were able to be attached to Mary (Mokosh in particular). They survived through her and now we can peel back some of the layers to see who they really are without the mask.
So glad to have you here!
I really enjoyed reading this article. I have always loved Oak trees. Specially the Scottish Oak. I have 3 babies which I will plant out soon. They just seem so magical. .
Thank you for spreading the oaks!! No one plants large trees anymore, just the dainty ornamentals it seems. The planting of trees is such a noble thing to do, and Scottish oak will be such a support to you.
.yes, It will be lovely to watch them grow. I'm planting one at my Dads and the other 2 here at our home. So they will be here for ever more.