Rodnovery or Ancient Slavic Paganism

The Cycle of the Seasons in Rodnovery.

We’re going to start with the Spring Equinox, Xhors Dazhbog, the Sun, finally gains enough power to defeat Boginya Marzanna and she dies. As Bog Yarilo, Xhors Dazhbog brings fertility to the world and unlocks Spring. Flowers begin to bloom as Xhors Dazhbog grows in power.

On the Summer Solstice, Xhors Dazhbog is the strongest that he will ever be for the rest of the year and Boginya Kupala joins her strength to Xhors Dazhbog. Boginya Marzanna is reborn as well and will continue to grow in power as Xhors Dazhbog decreases in power, the decreasing power of Xhors Dazhbog causes the harvest.

On the Autumn Equinox, Boginya Marzanna kills Xhors Dazhbog, the power of Boginya Marzanna increases in power. Things die the trees fall, snow comes. Only Bog Veles travels at this time, protecting the people from Boginya Marzanna.

On the Winter Solstice, Boginya Marzanna is as strong as she will ever will be. But, Xhors Dazhbog is reborn and grows in power as Boginya Marzanna decreases in power. Bog Veles is still our only protecter from Boginya Marzanna.

On the Spring Equinox, Xhors Dazhbog kills Boginya Marzanna and he grows in power. As Bog Jarilo, he unlocks Spring and causes flowers to bloom and life to return. The cycle continues, uninterrupted, unceasing and unyielding.

Slava Bogum!

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On Ancestor Worship in Rodnovery

Rodnovery can be easily described by four words: Orthopraxic (doing right actions leads to favorable outcomes); Polytheistic (there are multiple Gods who exist in various relationships to one another); Animistic (everything possesses a spirit that may be communicated with); and Progenitolatry (a word I invented that refers to the practice of ancestor worship).

In Slavic culture, the veneration of ancestral spirits, known as Dziady, is celebrated four times a year with the feast of Dziady. Each Dziady is found in a different season. And while the Catholic Church tried to suppress Dziadys, the Orthodox Church accepted them, so our dates for the four Dziadys are all based around the Orthodox Church Calendar.

The Winter Dziady is the Saturday before Septuagesima Sunday. The Spring Dziady is Tuesday of Holy Week. The Summer Dziady is the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday. And the Autumn Dziady is the Saturday before St. Demetrius’ Feast.

On the day prior to the Dziadys, the house would undergo a deep cleaning, as it is thought that a cleaner space was more inviting for the Dziadys. On the day of the celebration, a large meal was prepared (between 9-15 dishes).

In the evening, the entire family will bathe and then drawing one last bath for the Dziadys to bathe themselves before they arrive. Everyone is seated in formal wear at the table. The Head of the House lights a candle and after invoking the “holy Dziadya” to partake of the meal, extinguishes it. Then, the Head of the House firsts fills his cup with water until it overflows and everyone does likewise. And before beginning to eat, the Head of the House puts a little bit of everything on a plate and puts it by the window, and everything someone finishes eating they leave their spoon on the table so that the Dziadys may help themselves. Any changes in the wind, any rustling of the leaves, any appearances of moths are seen as a sign that the Dziadys are present. The uneaten food is left on the table as they are bidden farewell.

Slava Bogum.

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The Mythology of Sleep in Rodnovery (Updated Jan. 22, 2019)

Sleep is one of the coolest things about Slavic mythology. Purportedly, when an individual falls asleep, their spirit (zduhać) leaves their body.

For most this is where things end. Dreams are just your spirit floating around somewhere. Vedogons are spirits (sjenovik) who protect your sleeping body and if your zduhać gets lost it helps to guide you back to your body. Nightmares are believed to be caused by Kikimora (bad house sjenoviki), the counterpart to Domovoy (good house sjenoviki), sitting on the chest of someone who is sleeping and of course, like all other spirits, Kikimora can shapeshift.

But, there are some people who have an inborn talent to become Zduhaći. A Zduhać is someone who, while they’re asleep, has the ability to use their spirits to combat other entities from harming their village with hailstorms that could prove devastating to their villages economy. Zduhaći usually waged combat against other Zduhaći, or Sjenoviki known as Ala. This combat usually consisted of shapeshifting, and wielding sacred weapons. It is very similar to shamanic practices.

So, how would you know if you were a Zduhać? Simple, were you born with a white or red caul? Congratulations! If not, sorry. However, it was said that with the help of demons, you would also be able to become a Zduhać.

Slava Bogum!

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I look forward to following your journal and learning more about this emerging aspect of magick.

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The Bogi and Sjenoviki of Fate in Rodnovery.

In the oldest traditions the fate of children were decided when they were born by Bog Rod and the Boginya Rodjenice, literally translated they were Generation and Generatrix. In the South, where Bog Rod has the name Bog Sud, then his feminine counterpart is Boginya Sudjenice.

But, with time, poor Bog Rod/Sud was left out of the group and multiple Bogini Rodjenici/Sudjenici. They are seen as beautiful young or old women who are robed in white with veils, jewels, and a “wreath of sylvan flowers”, to accent her look.

It is said that they would enchant the woman with a deep sleep, bring the child to the table and decide her fate. While often it’s three, there has been one, four, five, seven, and nine in various retellings, each time they are ruled by a queen Boginya Rodjenice. And they speak the childs fate from youngest to the eldest, each proclamation thwarts the last, but the Boginya Rodjenice that gets the final say, whatever she says will be done.

It is thought that one can placate the Bogini Rodjenici through offerings. They place lit candles, bread, cheese, salt, and honey on the table for them.

The manifestation of this fate was a sjenovik known as the Dolya, she lived under the stove (it must get really crowded under there because Domovoy and Kikimora also live under stoves). She was responsible for manifesting your fate. If you had a fortunate fate, then everything in your life will turn out well. However, if you had an unfortunate fate, her name became Nedolya and everything in your life turned to crap. It is also impossible to get rid of your Dolya.

There is another similar sjenovik known as Sreča, which also had a wicked twin known as Nesreča, but this one it was possible to kick it out.

But, the Ancient Slavs weren’t blind fatalists either, it was reported that anytime they faced death or came down with an illness, they would petition the bogi with offerings to help them. This would only be the case if the bogi listened and responded.

Slava Bogum

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Slav paganism is like normal paganism, but with more Adidas.

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Ritual to Request the Help of the Bogi.

You will need:
two candles (it’s best if they’re encased in something, like tea lights).
A bowl.
Any amount of the following for offering: bread, cheese, dry oatmeal, butter, vodka, and salt.

There are two main parts for this: the initial stage of requesting the help, and the secondary stage of rewarding for your success.

First, light the candle and say, “Xhors Dazhbog, may this small flame be another dwelling for you and an addition for your larger flame. May you make this space as sacred as you make Prav.”

Then the next part has four parts: invocation of the God, so some examples would be, “Bog Veles who is known to cure disease and illness.” Or, “Boginya Mokosh, Bride of Perun and mother of the home.” It requires at least a tangential knowledge of the Bog you want to invoke, if you’re having trouble with this part you can PM me and I can give you a suggestion.

Next step: the description of the issue at hand. This is the easiest, it’s telling the Bog about the current situation.

Next step: the offering. At this stage, you officially offer your offering to the Bog.

Last step is the request, this is where you hope that the Bog can help you in your current situation.

At this point it’s done, let the candle burn all the way, and when the candle goes out you can dispose of your offerings in any way you see fit. Originally, I thought that the only way to have a successful offering was to offer it by fire, but my UPG from Bog Veles is that you can do whatever you wish, even throw it out. Nothing is off the table.

At any rate, the second ritual for after the success is similar to the first. Light a candle and do the same prayer to Xhors Dazhbog: “Xhors Dazhbog, may this small flame be another dwelling for you and an addition for your larger flame. May you make this space as sacred as you make Prav.”

This last part has only three stages: the invocation, same as last time; the acknowledgement of what the Bog did; and the giving of the offering.

Slava Bogum

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Boginya Marzanna and Boginya Vesna: A Slavic Myth.

Legend tells of two sisters, though they both loved each other very much, it was impossible for them to be together. One loved for her warmth, beauty, and bounty; the other hated for her frosty chill, sickness, and death. Boginya Marzanna is the Boginya of Winter and Death. Whereas her sister, Boginya Vesna, is the Boginya of Spring and Life.

Boginya Marzanna fell in love with Xhors Dazbog, but when he moved on to another lover, Boginya Marzanna became inflamed with jealousy and poisoned him, killing him. But, then Xhors Dazhbog set Boginya Marzanna on fire, sending her to Nav.

This myth, like many Slavic myths, is cyclical, recurring annually.

During the time of winter, Xhors Dazhbog is in Nav with Boginya Marzanna, but during the Vernal Equinox, Xhors Dazhbog is restored to life and sets Boginya Marzanna on fire, ending her reign and allowing for Boginya Vesna to be reborn as she and he become lovers in Prav. Then, when the Autumnal Equinox comes, the scorned Boginya Marzanna poisons Xhors Dazhbog as he descends to Nav again to be with his lover Boginya Marzanna.

On the Vernal Equinox, there is a ritual burning of an effigy of Boginya Marzanna, to bring in the Spring.

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Sylvan Sjenoviki of Rodnovery.

There is tale of a type of creature in Slavic folklore who rules the forests. His name is Leshy, he also has a wife, Leshachikha, and children, Leshonki. The forests are their homes and they take great pride in their work. They are often associated with bears and wolves (like the Volkhvi) and they can be more or less friendly depending on various factors, such as your communities relationships with the forest. A good offering to give to your local Leshy and his family, is some salted bread on a naturally occurring tree stump.

They tend to behave like mishevious faries and those who enter their forests without an offering of respect will find themselves hopelessly lost.

If you see them, which is rare, they will be as tall as the tallest tree in their forests. But otherwise, Leshy are transformed into animals, usually bears and wolves.

It is said that if you bring a leaf with you, you will fall under the same supernatural protection as the rest of the forest. Cover it in wax so that the protective powers of your token from the forest won’t fade with time.

Slava Bogum

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A Ritual for Personal Change in Two Parts: Taught to me by Bog Veles.

The First Part:

At Sunset, face West, light a candle while invoking Xhors Dazhbog into the space. “Xhors Dazhbog, may this small flame be another dwelling for you, and may you make this space holy and sacred as you’re much larger flame does in Prav.”

Have an offering prepared consisting of some of the following: bread, cheese, salt, dry oatmeal, honey, and vodka (my common offering is bread, cheese, and vodka).

Invoke Boginya Zorya Vechernjaja, Boginya of the Evening Star. “Boginya Zorya Vechernjaja, who put to death the elderly Xhors Dazhbog, my life is filled with [insert attribute you wish to change], I offer to you this gift, that you might put to death this part of me as you put to death Xhors Dazhbog every evening.”

Let the candle burn out and dispose of the offering sometime after that.

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A Ritual for Personal Change in Two Parts: Taught to me by Bog Veles:

The Second Part:

At Sunrise, face East, and light a candle while invoking Xhors Dazhbog. “Xhors Dazhbog, as I light this candle may you dwell within it as you dwell within your greater flame in the sky. In the same way that you make Prav holy and sacred may you make this space holy and sacred.”

Have an offering prepared, bread, cheese, salt, dry oatmeal, honey, butter, and vodka are all good choices. I usually offer bread, cheese, and vodka.

Invoke Boginya Zorya Utrennjaja, Boginya of the Morning Star. “Boginya Zorya Utrennjaja, Boginya of the Morning Star. Within my heart, I lack [attribute that you wish to gain]. I give you this offering so that you would birth this within me in the same way that you give birth to Xhors Dazhbog each morning.”

Let the candle burn out on its own and dispose of the offering after that.

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İSława Bogu!
I really appreciate the work you’ve done here. Thank you very much and many many blessings to you as well as the lives you touch while on your path in life!
:pray:

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Domovoy, the Sjenovik of the House in Rodnovery.

The earliest tradition of the Domovoy has it processing the form of a snake, specifically a white snake with a crown. In the same way that a snake gets rid of mice and increases the health and wealth of a house, so too does the Domovoy protect his house. Later on, he came to the become humanoid, commonly a man, but sometimes a woman, and resembled the master, or the mistress, of the house. Domovoy are invisible, to see one is a bad omen, it means that the head of the family is going to die soon.

Like the Dolya, Nedolya, and Kikimora; the Domovoy lives underneath the stove. It was common to give your leftovers to the Domovoy. A happy Domovoy is a good Domovoy, they’ll help out with chores, put wood into the fire during the night and look after your herds. An unhappy Domovoy is a bad Domovoy, it’s activities are very similar to a poltergeist. Families that fight all the time anger the Domovoy most and if it continues on, he will leave entirely, leaving the family and house completely unprotected.

If you want a Domovoy there’s an Ancient Slavic ritual to do so. Dress up in your finest clothes and walk around a local park while saying, “Deduska (Grandfather) Domovoy, come and live with us and tend our home.” This ritual may need to be repeated multiple times. But when it works, make sure to run a bath at least once a week and put his food by the stove every night.

Slava Bogum!

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Bog Veles: A Character Study.

Bog Veles is the result of the union of Bog Rod and the primordial cow named Zemun. He is married to Boginya Devana. When Bog Veles first pursued her, she rebuffed his attempts at a relationship, it wasn’t until Bog Veles transformed himself into a basil flower that he soothed her wild heart and she accepted his marriage proposal. Bog Veles also sired a son with Boginya Devana, his name is Bog Yarilo.

He is the god of cattle, and because cattle was the form of wealth that they had in the ancient times, he is also a god of wealth.

He is the god of healing.

He is the god of Nav, the underworld, which he rules with his queen, Boginya Devana.

He is the god of bears, in the North, and the god of wolves, in the South. Each is the “king of the animals” in its respective area, which connects with him being a king of forests, with his queen, Boginya Devana.

He is the god of magic, and with that, those that practice magic, the volkvi. This also connects him as god of poetry, music, and wisdom, because these were all traits associated with magic at the time.

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Moon Water: Koldovstvo Revealed by Bog Veles

A ritual method to acquire a powerful tool for Koldovstvo (witchcraft).

First, you must harvest living water. Go to the nearest river and fill up a container with water from the river.

Then, on a full moon when the moon is closest to the earth (known as a supermoon), put the container outside in the light of the full moon for three nights, then night before, the night of, and the night itself.

Note: the next time the full moon will be closest to the earth will be February 19, 2019.

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Koledari: A Forgotten Slavic Snow Sjenovik (Non-human spirits) Revealed to me by Bog Veles

Koledari are a Slavic tradition of the Festival Koliada, it celebrates the new year, but with the advent of Christianity got syncreted with Christmas. The tradition of the Koledari has long lost its ancient meaning, a group of men dress up as various animals and other creatures they wear a mask and go from house to house singing songs and receiving gifts from the inhabitants, they are said to bring blessing as well as chase away evil sjenoviki.

But, Bog Veles taught me the true history of this timeless practice. Koledari are a group of male sjenoviki who in exchange for offerings of foodstuff will give you a blessing and protection. Bog Veles also said that they’re good for curses and other baneful koldovstvo, as they are the grandsons of Boginya Marzanna, Goddess of Winter and Death.

One can summon their attention by holding a piece of snow.

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Two months later, my idols of Bog Rod and Bog Veles finally arrive!

This is Bog Rod

And this is Bog Veles!

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Interesting.

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Beautiful

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Beautiful!!!

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