My flag of Romuva Down Under

This is my personal flag of Romuva Down Under and features the pentacle as a hieroglyph of self. I will now explain the symbolism of the heirogylph and the other details in this flag so the reader may glean a deeper insight to the concept of this flag.

The five points of the star represent Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Spirit which is who we are really. We are a Star who has all the elements and Spirit. Symbols of some of my personal Lithuanian Gods adorn each of the five rays. Starting from the top one of the symbols for Perkunas, the Thunder God, next the snake cross, and to me, represents the Underworld Gods. Next is the crest of the Moon God Menulis, my shining prince of the heavens on the next ray is a symbol for Saule, my beautiful Sun Goddess, and on the last, a symbol of the eternal Fire that burns within.  In this hieroglyph of Self , within the Pentagram exists the hexagram which represents the Universe and all her power. Two equilateral triangles interlocked in harmony and balance. One triangle points down to the Earth and the other points up to the heavens. On the green, downward pointing triangle, the Romuvos symbol of the World Tree that connects us to all realms of the Gods and Goddesses of Earth and Sky, with the worlds of the living and the dead. The white upward pointing triangle indicates the infinite white light that emanates from before eternity, during eternity and beyond eternity, (Praamzius).

Within the surrounding circle of the pentacle, top left, is the ancient symbol of the Triqetra or Celtic knot which reminds me that lie is eternal, love never ends and the Spirit constantly grows. Past, Present and Future, Creator, Destroyer, Sustainer, Maiden, Mother and Crone, are all threefold aspects of this symbol.
Top right, within the circle, is another ancient symbol representing the infinity of the threefold forces in this universe. The next symbol on the right is an old Lithuanian symbol for Wind, Air and all the Beings of the atmospheric realm. The eight pointed star is a Baltic symbol for Auseklas, Star Goddesses who shine the light from their eternal, celestial fires. Last but not least is a ancient Lithuanian symbol for Land, Earth and all the Beings who dwell on and within Her. 

The circle enclosing these glyphs represents never ending eternity of unity and harmony.

The 3 flags represent the nation of Aboriginal heritage in the context of Australians and Lithuanians. The coat of arms of NSW where I live and the coat of arms of Lithuania, from where my ancestors come. The Bee is symbol of Goddess Austeja and everything she represents which are qualities such as friendship, community, industriousness and altruism to name a few.

The Cuckoo Bird represents the Goddess Laima. She is the Goddess of fate who weaves for us our destiny with many colorful strands, twists and curves into a beautiful sash. 

I hope you found this post interesting. Feel free to leave comments.

Wheel of the year of Romuva in Australia

The following is a description of the Lithuanian Sventes included with the dates that they are celebrated here in Australia. The conversion to the Australian Romuvos calendar was fairly straight forward because the dates for the Sventes are determined by seasonal, agricultural or astronomical observances which are clearly opposite here in Australia. For example, when Lithuanians celebrate the Summer Solstice in December, Australian Lithuanians are celebrating Winter Solstice at the same time. When Lithuanians honour the dead in the dying season of Autumn, Australian Lithuanians are celebrating the flourishing of nature in Spring and when Lithuanians are escorting Winter with song and dance, Australian Lithuanians are celebrating the harvest.

The fact that climate and seasons greatly vary in Australia and by no means comparable to the climate in Lithuania where they get down to -45 degrees Celsius in Winter. In much of Australia, there are no real seasons as the Europeans know it. In the Northern Territory, for example, Aboriginal people mark their year by food availability and the cyclic weather events. The season of Emu egg collecting is known when looking at the Milky Way, the shape of an Emu laying down can be seen. Knock em down storm season wouldn’t be easy to ignore. There are many more seasons recognised by the Indigenous Aboriginal people than Europeans and the clear difference in calendars can be understood when you realise that Aboriginal people were not agriculturalists. The European seasonal calendar doesn’t apply in much of this country, however, where I live is fairly temperate in weather and growing my veges brings me much joy so the seasonally adjusted European and Lithuanian Pagan agricultural calendar does work for me, in the place where I live, here in Australia.

From the diagram it can be clearly seen that the Sventes of Lithuania are astronomically and seasonally opposed so when celebrating them at the correct time of year brings a certain harmony within yourself, your community and the Gods and Goddesses of nature and the universe.

  

 Lithuanian Ethnic Religion Calendar Holidays

 Holiday

 Date in Lithuania-LT

 Date in Australia-AU

 Brief Description

 Prieskaledis

 (Pre-Solstice preparations)

 9-20/12-24 December LT

 9-20/12-24 June AU

 Preparation for the Winter solstice Eve

 Preparation for the Kucios meal

  

   

 Kūčios

 (Winter Solstice Eve)

 20/24 December LT

 20-24 June AU

 Union between the living and the dead. The last day of the Lithuanian year. Family holiday. After reconciliation and forgiveness, everyone sits together at the holiday table. Some of the 13 dishes,(representing the 13 Lunar months), must be eaten by all if a prosperous year is to be had. Many divinations and prognostications are performed.

Kaledos

 (Winter Solstice and New Year's Day)

 21/25 December LT

 21-25 June AU

 People pay homage to the Sun and blessings for the new solar year.

Tarpukaledis

 (Intra-Solstice)

 21 December-2 January/25 December-6 January LT

 21 June-6 July AU

 Days of rest. Traditional women's and men's work is forbidden

Pusiaužiemis

 (Mid-winter)

 25 January (in older practice: the first new moon, called the foal, after the Winter Solstice) LT

 25 July AU

Synonymous with lunar new year. Krikstas and new year celebration. Badgers, porcupines, and bears leave their caves or turn on their sides. This determines how long Winter will last.

+Perkūno diena

 (Perkunas Day)

 2 Feb LT

 2 August AU

 Blessing of candles(death candles), linen and ever green trees. Songs and prayers to Perkunas,the mighty Thunderer for strength and courage.

 We await the first sound of Springtime thunder, wakes nature from Winters slumber.

 +Gabijos diena

 (Goddess Gabija day)

 5 Feb LT

 5 August AU

 People bless of bread and people. Songs and prayers to Gabija, Thanks given to her for her Fire that cooks our food and gave us light, warmth and comfort through the cold Winter months.

Goddess of the home hearth, Guardian of Fire and grains.

+ These festivals combined are similar in some ways to the Celtic festival called Inbolc.

Užgavėnės

 (Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday, Shrove)

 Varies in February LT

 Varies in August AU

 Rite to usher out winter. A mock battle between the Bacon God and the Hemp God takes place where the later always wins. Burning of the More(Hag of Winter). Costumed people sing and dance as they go visiting.

 Vieversio diena/Kazimerines

 (Skylark day, St Kazimeras)

 24 February LT 

 25 August AU

  Craft markets and parades to celebrate the official beginning of Spring remembering the traditional tale from Lithuanian mythology that recalls when the Blacksmith God forged the Sun and threw her into the sky.

 Verba

 (Flower and herb lance)

 Varies in March LT

 Varies in September AU

 Preparation for Spring

Pavasario lyge

 (Spring Equinox)

 20-21 March LT

 23 September AU

 Welcomes Spring. Blessing renewal of life.

  

 Velykos (Easter) aka velykiu velines 

(Easter, Easter for the Souls,The Great Day)

 Varies in April LT

 Varies in Sept 2010 AU

Spring time to honour given to the Ancestors. People exchange coloured and decorated eggs. Egg games played. Swings made and people swung to help nature by bringing energy from the sky to the Earth and vice versa by performing the swinging action. People blessed certain foods to ensure that you have food all year. People whipped with Verbos (green branch) and sprinkled with blessed water. The green branch is believed to be magical and can bestow health and good fortune.

 _____________________________________________

Jore; now known as Jurgines

(St George day)

 23 April LT

 30 Sept AU

 Celebrates new growth of Spring. Animals are herded for the first time. The earth cannot be moved on this day. Rituals of bread making performed. Bread was buried in the fields and gardens. After placing a bread roll on the ground a farmer would put one ear to the ground, farmers would listen to the Rye to find out if it will be a good harvest. The God of the Spring Thunder was called Jore or Joris. He evoked the forces of Life. Jore owned the key to the Land, which when Earth is unlocked Jore sends rain and resurrects all vegetation. Flowers and Herbs were offered to Zemyna Goddess Earth Goddess, Pergubis God of all plants along with 15 other vegetation Gods were honored.

 Sekmines

 Varies in June LT

 Varies in December AU

End of sowing and commence of Summer work. People revelled in the abundance of nature. Houses and cattle adorned with flowers wreaths and Birch. Cattle incensed (smudged) Certain Divinations and Charms made. People performed similar blessings of grasses in churches, as at Zolines. Fire and Water was also blessed.  Wedding games played by youth express Pagan beliefs that peoples sexual love and fertility stimulate Earths productivity.

 Pre Solstice Days. Preparation for the Solstice.

 9-20/12-24 June LT

9-20 December

 Rasa a.k. a. Kupoline

 (Dew, Herb Pole Day, Eve of Summer Solstice)

 21-24 June LT

 21-21 December AU

Homage to the sun and medicinal herbs. Celebrated by many young people. Bon fires are kept during the night and until the dear Sun reappears. Wreaths are woven and set adrift, fortunes told, divinations performed, the fern blossom is sought at midnight. The hay harvest begins after this holiday.

 "Tarpukaledis"

(intra-solstice day).

Young people celebrate. The old year is burned. A sub-set of the Kaledos traditions are celebrated. The skies and the heavens predict the future weather and harvest.

 *Rugiu Svente

 (Rye holiday)

 25 July LT

 25 January, Australia Day AU

Blessing of rye and other grain crops at the harvest.

 *Prinokimo Svente

 (Ripe holiday)

 26 July LT

 26 January AU

 End of the rye harvest. The first new bread is baked.

Berries are ripe.

_________________

*These festivals are often combined.*

_________________

  Žolinės

 (Meadow Grass celebration)

 15 August LT

 15 February AU

Coming of autumn. People gathered grass from their fields and gardens and brought it to churches to be blessed. Rye, wheat and oat ears were tucked into these grass bundles. In the spring, these ears were crushed and sprinkled on the seeds to be planted. Other bundles of blessed grasses were used as medicine, as protection from lightning strikes and to be sewn into coffin pillows. Families always tried to gather together on this day to ensure the coming year would be a productive one. The spring crop harvest begins

 Dagotuves, Rudens Lyge

 (Autumnal Equinox)

 20-21 September LT

 21 March AU

 Harvest celebration

  

 Ilges a.k.a. Velines

 (Lengthening, Day of the Shades)

 21 September-2 November LT

 21 March-2 May(Main memorial on ANZAC Day) AU

Remembrance of the Dead. Reconciliation is sought between the Living and Dead. Donations are given to elgetos. Old and ill people, who cannot make enough to eat, become elgetos.

Over many years of research, I have learnt many of the traditional customs contained in literary material collected by numerous academic and ethnographic researchers of my Lithuanian ancestors. Trinkunas, Balys, Velius and Gimbutas just to name a few. I visited Lithuania and participated in most of these Sventes first hand to learn the practical side of these celebrations. I realised that it would be impossible to replicate here in Australia, the national joy, enthusiasm, customs, songs and dances that erupt everywhere in Lithuania, when celebrating the Solstices and Equinoxes. I have formulated my own Australian Lithuanian calendar as the relevant Sventes are expressed in my life, here Down Under. There are actually many more Sventes, birthdays, funerals and namesgiving but I am trying to keep this article brief.

 Sources: JonasTrinkunas,ed.Of Gods and Holidays.[ Vilnius ]:Tverme,1999.110-111.Jonas Trinkunas.Baltu tikejimas: Lietuviu pasaulejauta,paprociai, apeigos, Zenklai. Vilnius : Diemedzio leidykla, 2000. 45.Prane Dunduliene.Lietuvui Sventes: Tradicijos, paprociai, apeigos. Vilnius: Mintis,1981.

 Australian references by Steven Kryžius

Death of a friend, death of a great man and death of my dear Mociute (Nana)

The Goddess of death, Giltine, has come into my life and touched my heart three times already this year. First, a lady who I supported for the last 4 years passed the thresh hold on the 31st of December. She was a miracle that she was born and fought to live 33 years on this earth. She was born massively deformed and at 33 only stood to 4 foot tall but she is the oldest person on record with her condition. Most people with her genetic condition die within the first few years of their life. She had been ill most of her life, suffering pneumonia, aspiration, epilepsy, disfaghia,(inability to swallow solid food), and general respiratory distress often, but she was the most self determined person with a disability, who I have ever met. Unable to verbally communicate, she would often self harm and scream the most blood curdling scream you ever heard, in order to get her needs met, which confused staff because we were always at her "beck and call". I guess in the past, that maybe what she needed to do? No one will ever know the workings of her mind. At times she would laugh hysterically for hours while looking at her thumb touching her index finger making a ring! Many times her best comforter friend was a toy that staff affectionately called, "Wilson", after Tom Hanks only friend in the movie "Cast away". Alot of the time it was only Wilson who could calm her and stop her from hurting herself. Other times she would scream and harm herself and not be able to be comforted. It was a constant guessing game. Is she hot/cold/uncomfortable/hungry/in pain/scared/bored etc. All the staff were burnt out, at times with frustration, as we constantly tried to interact and redirect her, sometimes, without any effect for hours at a time. I always said that she had an infectious laugh that made you laugh, and an infectious scream that made you scream. (Scream on the inside of course! but sometimes, in desperate frustration, it did slip out audibly!)

I describe JS life as it touched me. I thank JS for the lessons that she taught me. She taught me a level of patience beyond the patience that I never thought I could achieve), she taught me selflessness as her needs were so much greater than mine, that my own needs were insignificant in comparison, she taught me courage and determination to fight for life every time she bounced back from illness even when the doctors weren't hopeful!She constantly reminded me to be so grateful for my own allotment and life. JS was a friend whose gratitude could not be expressed but I knew that she valued my efforts to make her quality of her life better or as best as we could.

The next time Giltine touched my life was on the 20th of January this year when my beloved High Priest, Krivis Jonas Trinkunas, crossed the thresh hold. He was only 75 years old but had accomplished much in his short life. The following is an extract from Wikipedia that sums up the accomplishments of Krivis Trinkunas.

Trinkūnas was born in 1939 in Klaipėda. He finished primary school in Kaunas in 1957 and in 1965 he earned a degree in philology at the Faculty of Lithuanian Language and Literature of Vilnius University. While still a student, he founded the Society of Friends of India (Lithuanian: Indijos bičulių draugija). TheVedic traditions of India were what pushed him to search for the roots of Lithuanian culture and its spiritual meaning.

In 1967, Trinkūnas and his friends organised the first Rasos (Summer Solstice) celebration in Kernavė, which was met with disapproval by the Soviet authorities. Despite pressure from the KGB, Lithuanians organized folklore and ethnographic ensembles, lit the bonfires on Rasos and candles on Vėlinės (All Saints' Day)—symbols important to the cultural vitality of the nation. Trinkūnas was one of the founders of the Ethnographic Ramuva Society of Vilnius University. He studied folklore, traveled to Lithuanian villages for the purpose of writing down Lithuania's living culture, songs and traditions. His students and followers continue to call themselves ramuviai and žygeiviai (“travellers”).

From 1969 to 1973, Trinkūnas worked at the Faculty of Philology at Vilnius University as a post-graduate and lecturer. In 1973, for his folklore studies which were considered to be dissident activities, Trinkūnas was forced to leave the University. Until 1988 he was forbidden from engaging in any scientific research work and activities in his profession. Therefore, for more than two decades, Trinkūnas dedicated his life to studying the living traditions of Lithuania. Travelling from village to village, he listened to and learned their songs, stories, customs and beliefs. These experiences turned the Ramuva folklorist into a true believer of Romuva.

In an independent Lithuania.

With the beginning of Sąjūdis (the Reform Movement of Lithuania), Trinkūnas was able to return to the University and worked as an assistant at the Ethics division of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology. From 1990 until 1993, he was the head of the Ethnic Culture division of the Ministry of Culture. From 1994 he worked as a researcher at the Ethics and Ethno-Sociology division of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology; he lectured on ethnic culture at Vilnius Pedagogical University, participated in numerous international conferences and events related to old pagan faiths, authored many articles in both the Lithuanian and foreign presses and penned several books. He was a member of the ritual folklore ensemble Kūlgrinda, Etninės kultūros draugija (Ethnic Culture Society), Tautos namai (Home of the Nation), Mažosios Lietuvos reikalų taryba (Board of the Affairs of lithuania Minor), Prūsa club and other organisations.

Trinkūnas’ scientific and ethno-cultural activities bloomed during the post-Soviet period in Lithuania. When Trinkūnas was head of the Ethnic Culture division of the Ministry of Education and Culture, this division cared not only for ethnographic and folklore ensembles, issues of Lithuanian education and culture in Lithuania Minor and Kaliningrad Oblast, but also extensive publishing activities. As Head of the Ethnic Culture division, Trinkūnas demanded that a special Jonas Basanavičius Award be founded, which would stimulate folklore research and activities. This was also the same time when the idea was raised to found the Council for the Protection of Ethnic Culture, accountable to the Seimas, which even now continues to implement the Law on National Protection of Ethnic Culture. In 1992, together with his followers, Trinkūnas registered the Romuva religious community, which later included all of the communities throughout Lithuania and became the community of the ancient Baltic religion. In 1998, at the World Congress of Ethnic Religions (WCER, now the ECER) in Vilnius, Trinkūnas was chosen as this organisation's Chairman. Later, as Chairman of this Congress and spiritual leader of the Lithuanian Romuva, he was invited to different events in India, Australia and the USA. In 2002, Trinkūnas was ordained as Krivis (High Priest) of Romuva and was given the name Jaunius (from jaunas meaning “young”), symbolising the rebirth of the ancestors' faith.

In 1997, along with Venantas Mačiekus, for the organisation of the Ramuva cultural reform movement, Jonas Trinkūnas was awarded the State Jonas Basanavičius Award.

In 2013, on the occasion of the Statehood Day, for active anti-Soviet dissident activities, organising of ethnographic activities as well as underground distribution of religious and nationalistic literature, Jonas Trinkūnas was awarded by the President of Lithuania the Order of Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas.

This article doesn't mention that he is also author of numerous books and papers written in Lithuanian, German and English. Many of which, helped me find the journey of Romuva in my own life here in Australia.He was the catalyst for the revival of one of the oldest spiritual traditions in the world. Jonas Trinkunas reminded us of the Baltic customs of our ancestors that teach us how to strive for Harmony within ourselves, with our community, our Gods and Goddesses and with with our ancestors. 

Krivis Trinkunas revived Baltic customs initiation, marriage, funeral.

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Glossary

Giltine- Lithuanian Goddess of Death

Seimas- Government

Mociute- Dear Little old Mother (Grandmother)

Kugelis- Lithuanian potato dish

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The third time the Giltine touched my life was in February this year when I visited Mociute for her 90th bEarthday in Torquay, Victoria. Mociutes physical state had deteriorated in the last 4 months. She had lost weight, not speaking and wasn't weight bearing so Mociute needed to be cared for in a nursing home, my Aunt could not physically care for hber at home. I felt a strong urge to see Mociute for her milestone 90th bEarthday. I knew deep down, that it maybe her last and just needed to be with Mociute.

On Mociutes Bearthday, my Aunt and I made a Kugelis and took some with sour cream out to her in the nursing home. Kugelus was always Mociutes favourite and she appeared to enjoy it. Mociute never spoke a word but her eyes gleamed a dull and vague recognition of me. Over the days that I visited Mociute, I fed her custard, drinks and brushed her teeth. I held her hands and gently massaged moisturising cream into them. I felt that we connected and I was glad to be with her.

It was 3 days after her bEarthday that we were called by the nursing home and asked to come in for Mociute because she was leaving us soon. My Aunt and I rushed to the nursing home and found Mociute panting in her bed. We both sat on each side, holding her hands and telling her that we were here for her and that it was ok to go and be with God. My Aunt spoke some Catholic prayers and I spoke some Lithuanian Pagan prayers for Mociute. I remember that I said in Lithuanian, Strength of Perkunas to you, Gabija bless you, may your journey along the Milky Way to Dausos, Paradise where your ancestors are waiting. It was over 45 minutes that Mociute breathing slowed and with a couple of gulps, her breathing stopped. I felt lucky to be there for Mociute, her passing was peaceful and with family.

Eulogy for Mociute:

My childhood memories of Mociute were always happy ones. I remember every visit we made with my brother and sister, we always begged Mociute to make Kugelis or Blynai. Mociute would always ask, “potato or flour?”, which we would usually reply with, “potato”. She would sometimes spend a lot of time in the kitchen grating the potatoes by hand.

As a child I always felt different from other kids my age. I loved walking in the bush, watching animals, trees, clouds and stars. I could never understand why other kids weren't the same. Most other kids my age, here in Australia seemed to prefer to play with tonka trucks and match box cars. My parents divorced when I was 10 years old and, when asked, I chose to live with my mother. It was hard for my father’s parents, being catholic, to accept the divorce and for some reason, I didn't see them again until I was 16 years old. Mociute explained that we were Lithuanians and proudly stated that we were the last of the pagans in Europe. Mociute proudly declared that as Lithuanians, we have always had a love and deep respect for nature. It was like a light bulb turned on and I realized why I was different from other kids. It was from this time, that I realized that I wasn't who I thought I was and eager to learn more which started a lifelong journey of self discovery as an Australian Lithuanian.

I always felt loved and accepted by Mociute and she will always be alive in my memories and in the plants and veges that she loved so much. Mociute made me who I am today and I will be eternally grateful to her.