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Summer Solstice & the Magical Fern Flower of Kupala Night
by Teachings of the Mythic Past Kupala’s Night or Kupalnocka is a Slavic celebration of the Summer Solstice. This celebration is similar to other Summer Solstice celebrations like Midsommar in Scandinavian countries or Litha of the Celts, or one of my favorites, Sanziene (Fairy Festival) in Romania. There is no coincidence that these charming festivals all take place during the week of the Summer Solstice. Many rituals are associated with this Solstice celebration and include natural elements such as fire and water. The significance of fire and water to the Slavic people corresponds directly to their connection with the Earth and also to Solar deities, water spirits, and many more…
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Interview – Patricia Robin Woodruff, Author of “Roots of Slavic Magic Book 1: Deities and Their Worship”
An Exclusive Interview with Patricia Robin Woodruff With the release of a new book and years of research, I figured it was time to sit down and get some answers from one of the most knowledgeable women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing: Patricia Robin Woodruff. Her newest book was released this year in March and she is not stopping there. She’s currently working on a very large series with multiple volumes, each one with its own unique place on the shelf of any library. But for those who are not yet familiar with the author or her work and multitude of ideas, I decided it was time to…
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Book Review – Bogowie: A Study of Eastern Europe’s Ancient Gods by T.D. Kokoszka
Teachings of the Mythic Past – Book Review on Bogowie: A Study of Eastern Europe’s Ancient Gods by T.D. Kokoszka If you’re looking for an easy read or beginner’s book on Slavic myth, folklore, and Paganism you might want to look elsewhere. This book features tons of advanced information on traditional Slavic Pagan beliefs. Chapter 6 of Bogowie is called Advanced Concepts in Indo-European Mythology, but I think this would not have been such a bad way to describe the book itself! T.D. Kokoszka focuses greatly on Slavic mythology and folklore in this very in-depth study. But with that being said, the book is certainly not for beginners who are…
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Teachings of the Mythic Past
Fairies and Plants in Slavic Folklore and Spirituality The ancient Slavs worshiped and believed in a broad range of magical creatures found in nature, and various perspectives on the male and feminine facets of divinity. Folktales from all across the world contain fantastical beings that sometimes resemble people and animals, and sometimes both simultaneously. Folklore holds the key to the numerous stories of giants, people, fairies, animals, and so on. We have referred to these stories as “fairy tales” for generations due to the relevance of these widely known and popular creatures. These beings are sometimes referred to as fairies, faeries, fey, or fae in modern English. In Slavic folklore,…
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Teachings of the Mythic Past
The Snake, The Goddess, The Underworld & Their Connections to Samhain – How To Connect with the Ancient & Mythic Past When you generally think of Samhain, snakes, and the underworld – you would not usually think of them as being interconnected. Not at first at least. However, in this fantastic universe that we live in, somehow all things are indeed connected. Snakes are some of the most misunderstood yet feared creatures on Earth. They embody mystery. They are symbols of life, death, and regeneration; some are even poisonous and venomous. What these sleek and slithery creatures all have in common is their ability to stay low to the ground…
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Teachings of the Mythic Past
Animals in Slavic Spirituality, Part I: Heroic Hedgehog, The Practical & Prickly Protector “If wits were pins, the man would be a veritable hedgehog. – Frances Hardinge “The Fox knows many things-the hedgehog, one big one.” – Archilochus Animals often make an appearance in folklore as symbols of the traits they are thought to embody. People have had a strong relationship with animals since the dawn of time. Among the many critters found in stories of yesterday, the hedgehog is more relevant than you may initially have thought – especially in Slavic spirituality and folklore. One tale tells the story of a hedgehog poking holes in the black of…
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Exclusive Interview with Author Madame Pamita
Madame Pamita Talks About Slavic Magic and Baba Yaga, the Slavic Witch of the Woods “If you follow the guidance within you, you get led to do the right things,” said Madame Pamita, author of “Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft: Slavic Magic from the Witch of the Woods,” which was reviewed here last month. She has, and amazing things have happened. “My mom bought me a tarot deck when I was ten years old. She grew up in a magical household. We lived in a magical household. Albeit, it was Catholic magic. You go to church and you light a candle and you’d make a wish or a prayer.…
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Book Review – Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft: Slavic Magic from the Witch of the Woods by Madame Pamita
Book Review Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft: Slavic Magic from the Witch of the Woods by Madame Pamita Publisher: Llewellyn Publications 336 Pages Publication Date: April 8, 2022 Every Slavic country had its own name for a witch in the woods. Hundreds of names were in the folk tales told to Russian author Alexander Afanasyev. The book he published in the mid-1800s used only one: Baba Yaga. Because her stories are traditional across traditions and countries, “cultural anthropologists and folklorists believe that Baba Yaga was originally a spirit or deity who was revered and honored as the Mistress of the Woods,” Madame Pamita wrote in the introduction. The…
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Book Review – Slavic Witchcraft: Old World Conjuring Spells & Folklore by Natasha Helvin
Book Review Slavic Witchcraft Old World Conjuring Spells & Folklore by Natasha Helvin 224 Pages I was asked by the Editor of PaganPagesOrg if I would be interested in reviewing this book because my background/experience does involve some Slavic practices and traditions, and she wanted to see if I would mind giving an honest opinion based on what I’ve learned already. I most certainly agreed to it as I was curious how it might compare to what I learned while living in Croatia and what I’ve studied in the USA. Let me explain briefly a little about my perspective and experiences: My father’s family is originally from today’s…
