Witches Of New York

Everything about witches and witchcraft in New York City from modern pagan perspective

March 31, 2017

Places, Rituals

Zolines – Lithuanian Lughanasadh at Naisiai, LT

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Zoline is very similar to Anglo-Saxon Lammas or Lughnasadh – the celebration of first harvest and marking the end of summer. In Baltic pagan wheel of the year it is usually celebrated in mid-August, when Wiccan Lammas is in the beginning of August. Probably because of colder climate, hence later harvest, and partially because the beginning of August marks Perkunas day – the Thor-like male deity of Thunder.

In Ancient Baltic pagan practice August 15th rituals were dedicated to the mother goddess Lada (in some regions less affected by Slavic influence – Laima) by giving her the first crops of the new harvest, mostly plants, flowers and grains. It was the time to stop and assess the fruits of your labor and ask for favorable conditions to remove and store upcoming harvest.   Later, in Christian era, this practice was absorbed by Catholic church as Assumption of Virgin Mary, where wild flower bouquets were brought to the church to be blessed. But the practice to bring the first crop items to the church together with the flowers was still alive for ages. Farmers would not touch the first crop until after the “sacrifice” has been blessed. Mothers of dead children, would not eat the new apples until mid-August because consuming the first crop that belonged to the goddess would prevent her from sharing all the offerings with their children’s souls. That’s how the cult of pagan goddess got entwined with Christian Mary warship.

The late morning on August 15th my father drove me to Naisiai, about 20min drive from my hometown. The ritual has already started, but I managed to document all the key elements: cake and ales and offering of the first crop of apples, grain and even piece of freshly smocked lard to the goddess. Funny, that most people participating came from surrounding bigger towns and were not farmers, and even with avid revival of pagan ritual they brought flower bouquets, as they used to bring them to church. Wouldn’t be a surprise that the same bouquets were blessed at the church that very morning!

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The day started nice and sunny, but in the middle of the ritual the clouds started gathering around the altar hill painting the sky dirty blue at first and finally pouring out as it is common after a hot day in the end of the summer. It is believed that this particular day determines the most common weather for upcoming fall.DSCF5721 DSCF5729 DSCF5733 DSCF5738 DSCF5749People scattered downhill seeking shelter form the rain under the surrounding trees. But the fire was tendered all the way through the rain even the ritual was kind of over.DSCF5753 DSCF5755By the time we got to the car the sun was out again. I decide that it was some kind of the sign and decide to be on my way:) DSCF5711

February 16, 2017

Places, Rituals

Romuva Summer Camp 2016, Dvarciskiai village, Lithuania

Despite the fact that I only lasted couple nights at the camp (due to extremely low temperatures at nigh, really old camping gear that I managed to get on short notice) I still managed to experience the rituals and festivities of the one of European indigenous traditions – Romuva.

The name “Romuva” was chosen in honor of the famous Baltic-Prussian sanctuary Romuva,  Sources from the 14th century state that in the center of Baltic lands (today Kaliningrad region), there existed Romuva sanctuary, which was revered by all Baltic nations, the eternal fire burning there spread her light and peace throughout the entire Baltic coast and even further.

This year’s summer camp was about the Lithuanian multipart songs – Sutartinės. It’s a special type of singing, that it’s not only beautiful to listen to, but also were used in various rituals as a tool of raising and directing the energy/vibration. Recognizing their uniqueness and value, UNESCO inscribed sutartinės into the representative list of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

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Every day would start and finish with the ritual at the stone circle. And the eternal fire altar had to be tended at all time, even at night. DSCF5478DSCF5491 DSCF5559 DSCF5499 DSCF5500The dinner was cooked commonly in the big cauldron over the fire.DSCF5562 DSCF5589DSCF5483And during the day various speakers would present their research on Lithuanian folk traditions.DSCF5458 DSCF5595

One night while being unable to sleep because of the cold, I volunteered to tend to the fire. DSCF5526 DSCF5536 DSCF5505 The early morning, as pretty much every year at late summer in Lithuania, was spectacular: with the fog rolling over the lake and fields.DSCF5556 DSCF5549 DSCF5544 DSCF5540 DSCF5563 DSCF5579 DSCF5593That week of August 10-16th usually leads to one of the staples of the Wheel of the Year – Zolines. According to ancient Baltic beliefs, it’s the day when you honor The Goddess of creation – Lada, by sacrificing the first mature crop of the year, mostly grain/plants. Nobody were to touch the new harvest until that day.  I find a lot of similarities with Lammas or Lughnassadh first harvest rites here. So one day was dedicated to making Baltic pagan symbols out of hay and decorating the surroundings. DSCF5462 DSCF5460 DSCF5456I also had a great plasure of meeting Prudence Priest  – The lady from California, original Golden Dawn initiate and high priestess,  that now owns some of the houses in Dvarciškiai village and actively participates in Romuva movement. DSCF5601

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This is a journal of my personal observations and discoveries of Wicca and Witchcraft in New York City.

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