Symbol of Romuva- Fire on top of the World Tree

I like to consider the Lithuanian perspective because even though, I am here in the Southern hemisphere, I believe that certain Lithuanian deities are able to transcend hemispheres and countries because of their global presence. Local Spirits and beings of the land remain in Lithuania but the Nature Gods, Goddesses and spirits of fire,air water and earth,celestial and atmospheric, from the past and the present realms can and do transcend hemispheres and timezones. Spirits of our ancestors echo guidance and the God, Praamzius (God of time who existed before eternity, during eternity and beyond eternity), no matter in which country I live.

Humans too, we are all a part of the present realm of the earth and have our role in the universe, In Lithuanian the word for person is zmogus which has a connection with the word Zeme which means, "Earth", and so, the word for person, "zmogus", can be translated as earthling. I wholeheartedly believe that truly, we are the children of the Mother Earth and have very clear responsibilities to the Earth and her ecosystems that we call nature.

These realms of existence of the Gods, Goddesses, spirits of the past and present, living and dead are represented as the Romuvos ,"World Tree" that is common in the worldview of many indigenous Europeans. In the ancient Lithuanian worldview, the World Tree represents the continual cycle of life and the true connection between all realms. The Tree reveals the true harmony with in the universe. In the depiction of the Lithuanian world Tree, there is a bright flame, high above the branches at the Tree's summit.

The Fire at the top of the World Tree is sacred, eternal and the Goddess Gabija is guardian. This Fire expresses to me, as a Romuvis, many concepts. Firstly, Fire, Gabija, is the gateway/portal through which we can gain access to the other realms of the Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Ancestors. Fire, Gabija, shines bright to light our way in the dark. Fire, Gabija, comforts us with warmth on cold nights. Fire, Gabija, rests in our hearths while waiting to help us cook food and not to mention our daily bread, which is also attributed to Gabija. Fire, Gabija, shines in the essence of each and every living being on this earth and connects us with the universal Fire that burns bright and intensely in all celestial stars.

When a person has an ecstatic epiphany, revelation, people experience this flame being stoked, growing to a brilliant blaze. When people experience this, people commonly remark that they can actually see more clearly and have a better understanding of where their life should be going  to achieve better harmony.

The light from the fire chases away the shadows that often are responsible for the gloom in life and with the shadows gone, we can see everything more clearly. This stoking may only happen once in a lifetime but it's flame will endure a whole lifetime so don't worry if you haven't experienced yours yet. Keep searching and you will find an experience that will stoke your Fire.