Kalendorinės Šventės: Kūčios, Kalėdos, Kupolės (Lithuanian Christmas Tra...

The place between land and water-The shore

The shore is a magical place,it is a transitional space between the worlds. The world of myth, the realm of the dead, the living and the life giving. Most people can relate to the sense of calm and peace sitting on the shore on a fine sunny day. Then there are times when I see Bangputis, the God of the Sea, angry creating a storm where massive crashing waves pound the hard rock of the shoreline, I am often filled with awe at the sight and experience a sense of clarity where all my concerns somehow seem to become clear.

The sea is a source of life for all beings on earth. The massive colonies of algae in the oceans of the world produce oxygen and the bounty of the oceans give us fish and crustaceans to eat. The never ending gift from the oceans to humankind is the air that we breathe and food in our bellies. Humankind would not even exist without the ocean and so since the dawn of time, from the deep,darkness of the ocean, humankind has created many stories and myths. These stories and myths live on today in various cultures and one such, is the Lithuanian culture where the shoreline features in several well known folk stories.

 Paraphrasing ancient folk tales can be tricky but I will attempt with some accuracy. The first tale is that of a handsome young fisherman name Kestytis. Fishing was so poor that ,against the protest of his dear wife, he went fishing at night. While Kestytis was fishing, he caught the attention of Jurate, the mermaid Goddess of the ocean. Jurate lived in a beautiful amber palace at the bottom of the sea and went to investigate who was disturbing her kingdom at night. Jurate watched Kestyis from a distance and fell in love with him. Jurate enticed Kestytis to join her in her amber palace and had some happy times together. Meanwhile Kestytis' wife waited on the shore for his return. Day after day, she waited and waited on that shore and cried many tears. The immense grief of Kestytis' wife caught the attention of the Sky God, Dievas and he felt sorry for her. Dievas was angry and in sensed that an immortal Goddess could possibly be with a mortal married man!! Dievas sent Perkunas, the Thunderer, to punish the wrong doing. Perkunas struck Jurates' amber palace with his lightning and shattered it into a million pieces. Jurate was chained to the ruins of her palace and Kestytis was killed and lay before Jurrate. Jurate cries tears of amber and her cries can be heard on the wind in storms. Even today,  pieces of Jurates' palace and her tears still wash up on the beaches today!!

The second tale is more complex and takes place on the shore of a lake. The tale of Egle(Fir) is one of the most well known folk tale in Lithuania which I will again paraphrase in an effort to relay it in this short article. Egle, (Fir) was the youngest of three sisters and 12 brothers and one day, after swimming in the lake, the three sisters returned to where their clothes lay. There was a snake curled up on the blouse of the youngest daughter. The snake spoke to her and said that he wouldn't move until the girl promised to marry him. All attempts to move the snake and it didn't move until the girl promised to marry him. Three days later, hundreds of snakes filled their yard and the match maker snakes came into the house to speak to Egles' parents but they couldn't believe that their youngest, most beautiful and beloved daughter could marry a snake so three times they tried to trick the matchmaker snakes into taking a white goose,then a white sheep and then a white cow. Each time, on returning to the lake, the matchmaker snakes were told that they'd been trick by a Cuckoo. After three times, the matchmaker snakes were quite angry and demanded that Egle be handed to them lest they'd burn their homestead down. Egles' parents conceded and with a heavy heart, let the matchmaker snakes take Egle to be wed. The snakes took Egle to the lake and was greeted by a handsome young man emerging from the waters. The young man said that he was the serpent king and was the same snake that Egle had promised to wed. Under the dark waters and deep into the earth, Egle was taken to the serpent kings' palace which was full of amber and all sorts of treasures. Egle and the serpent king were married and had a happy life together. They had 3 sons and one daughter named Oak,Ash,Birch and Poplar respectively. After many years Egle asks her husband if she can take their kids to visit her family. Egle missed them all so much but her husband, the serpent king didn't want her to go and set three impossible tasks before he would give his permission but with the help of an old wise woman, Egle managed to complete them and was finally given permission to visit for 9 days only and instructed how to call him when they returned. Egle returned and friends, family and neighbors came from near and far to see Egle. During her visit, Egles' brothers took out Oak, Ash and Birch. They didn't want Egle to leave them again and interrogated and even threatened the three brothers, Oak, Ash and Birch, to find out how to call the serpent king so they could kill him but they kept the secret safe. Egles' brothers went out with Poplar and once again interrogated and threatened her to find out the secret. Poplar was scared and told her uncles how to call the serpent king. The brothers then went to the lake and called the serpent king. When the serpent king emerged from the lake, the brothers fell upon him with their scythes and killed him. Egle went to the lake shore and realised that her husband had been killed because young Poplar divulged the secret. Oak, Ash and Birch were changed into strong trees because they were strong enough to keep the secret. Poplar was changed into the trembling Poplar tree that shakes and shimmers at the lightest breeze. Egle became a Fir tree but in Lithuania, Oak, Ash and Birch are the strongest trees.

I hope I have done justice to these archaic folk tales. My main aim is to reveal to the reader the importance the shore in the past through Lithuanian folktales and how it has helped to shape the worldview of Baltic peoples and I encourage all people today to also find harmony and balance on the shore through meditation, rite or just contemplation. The energy of the shore is a special place that we all can tap into if we allow it.

Working and celebrating under the Sun and Moon in the Fields

 In many of the traditional folk tales and songs of Lithuania, The Sun Goddess and the Moon God are referred to as the eyes of God (Sky God called Dievas). Legend tells that if Dievas is displeased that he will send Perkunas, the Thunderer, to punish the wrong doer. Because the fields of rye or other cereal crops, are open places and in clear view of the Sun Goddess, people appear to be constantly conscious of their state of presence and aware not to displease the Gods. Lithuanians working in the fields often sing traditional folk songs. Lithuanian people would sing in the fields for many practical,spiritual and mental reasons apart from a simple love of singing. Singing, often sutartines*, people felt good and a great way to pass time, Singing is known to be good for the lungs and good for the soul. Singing also reinforces harmony within the community because everyone must sing their part to make the song and harmony with the universe. I do believe that creation exists as a song and our uni-verse is just "one verse" in a greater song. I believe that singing is a way to harmonise with our universe and please our deities.

There are many customs that farmers would perform to ensure a good harvest from the fields. One such custom is when a piece of white bread would be buried in a field destined to grow flax, to ensure that the flax produces the whitest linen.When the field of rye was almost fully harvested,the harvesters also would be careful to ensure that the last sheath remained un cut because this is where Boba (spirit of the fields/Old Hag) will live until the next crop next year. A place for Boba is kept to ensure a bountiful harvest next year. When the harvest is complete, a wreath of rye is presented to the best harvester and everyone celebrates at the field owners home..

In preparation for the Summer solstice celebration (Rasa), people visit the open meadows to pick the various wildflowers to make head wreaths. Prognostications would later be made by certain wise women based on the flowers picked for the wreath. The celebration of Rasa, along with Springtime festivals such as Jore, are also held outside, preferably in a field near water a being close to a medieval castlemount is a bonus! At Rasa, people sing and dance all night long playing lots of games to predict your future including jumping the fire, trying to throw your flower wreath so that it hooks on one of the 3 branches on the Kupala pole*

In Lithuania, the fields and meadows are special places for both the agriculturalist and community and a place where old customs are still performed to this day. As an Australian Lithuanian Romuvis, I am aware that many of the Lithuanian customs may not be relevent here in Australia but many of the concepts and ideas of my ancestors still affect my own personal world view, attitudes and practice. I don't have a field or acreage myself but still grow various crops in my vegetable patches. I believe doing this also helps me to be in harmony with the seasonal cycles of nature. I believe that my songs sung as I work with my crops are pleasing to my deities, if not to anyone else. When I organise celebrations, they are always in nature but I am sensitive to local Aboriginal "Spirits of place", so I prefer to celebrate at my own sacred places in my garden out of respect. Gatherings are usually small enough and a field or meadow is not required.
 
*Sutartines are poly phonic, multipart songs that are archaic in style and interpretation. If you follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wij_cgVGOxw, you may learn more about Sutartines.

*Kupala pole is a pole decorated with flowers and greenery which may also be seen as a representation of the World Tree. The Kupala pole traditionally has 3 branches representing light from the Sun, Moon and Stars.

*Jore is a Springtime celebration of the blossoming and adundance of nature and crops. Re enactments of medieval battles between the invading crusaders and the indigenous pagans are often performed at this celebration. Naturally the pagans win every battle!!

In the Forests for a Romuvis

 

There was a time, a time when beauteous calm the forest breathed,

our hearts to soothe and charm.

For Lithuanians relish calm and ease 

as lush grass relishes a gentle breeze 

that stirs dark ripples as it passes by:

We often weep in woods, not knowing why,

for it is there we feel pain is eased,

the heart soothed and anxiety appeased;

Warm tears born of a sentiment unique,

come rolling then like pearl dew down the cheek.

 

Long afterwards our lungs breathe forest air,

our breast as gently stirs as pines do there.

Such deep tranquility pervades the soul;

it bows as wheat ears do when ripe and whole.

This is the source from which our tears and sighs,

our solace and our poetry arise.

Where are they now, those hallowed groves of yore,

long since destroyed, though no one knows wherefore?

 

Perhaps Jageillo, just baptised, cut them,

so the homeland would no longer serve the beloved Gods.

From Puntukas to leave many Oaks,

the people revered as a great sanctuary,

living in unity, with faith in the beloved Gods, 

many monuments they've left throughout the forests.

 

Such was the forest Lithuania knew;

Expanses green and shaded met the view,

the trees all merging in one vista grand,

as Lithuanian hearts in one homeland.

 

Antanas Baranausksas-1856

 

This poem expresses a little of how ingrained this love of the bush and rainforest is for me, being an Australian Lithuanian. I was 16 years old when I learnt from my grand mother, that I was, in fact, Lithuanian and that Lithuania was the last pagan European country Christianised. Močiute told me, that this is why, as a nation, Lithuanians have a deep love and respect for nature. It was at this time, something inside just went click, like a light was turned on! I realised why I loved to be in nature as a child and spend so much time watching clouds, Stars and animals as a child and also as a young man! It was then that I first realised why I was different from other kids. I was intrigued, wanted to learn more and this revelation started me on a journey towards and into the Baltic traditional faith, learning the worldview and world feeling of my ancestors. The result of living Baltic Faith has taught me to constantly strive to live harmoniously in the human communities, in the Earths ecosystems and to connect with the spirits and deities of my ancestors. 

 

I have always been drawn to nature, not knowing why, and I now have a deeper understanding of the reasons why I have always been drawn. Nature, rock and water have their own individual power and life force. A person meditating or praying at these places can feel their palpable energy that will add peace, stillness and power to any energy workings.  However, when in a place where nature, rock and water exist together, a vortex of power exists that enable attuned people, to commune with the Gods, Goddesses, Totems, Guides and Spirits of nature. Yeola in Kangaroo Valley is one such place and I now understand why I am drawn to this place. I will attempt to share a few examples of what I have learned over the years, although words are a faded comparison to real life experience of nature.

 

Over 27 years, between the ages of 16 and 43, I would regularly return to a place called Yeola (meaning,"flat rock"), which is a little pocket of rainforest in Kangaroo Valley, N.S.W. When ever I was about to pass a milestone and when I achieved a milestone, I would return. Before and after H.S.C exams, moving house, at the beginning and end of relationships, etc. This place became my second home and it was here that I received many a lesson, instruction, guidance, condolence, confirmation and encouragement that have greatly contributed in making me the person who I am today. I have done a vision quest here, many rituals, meditations, incantations, star gazing and soul searching. I have always found what I need in that pocket of rainforest. All I have ever done is wait and watch for sights and signs after meditating. It's hard to explain. I see, hear or experience something, encounter some animal and the message is clear. Somehow my inner voice interprets what I need to hear. I will try to explain with a few examples: 

 

*Sitting in the warm rock pool as a storm rolls into the valley. I was grappling with a personal issue and come here for guidance. I hear distant screeching and look up to see 2 Eagles circling far above me.Thunder rumbles and I just know what I need to do. 

*Another time, I was blessed by Fire Flies which elated me and confirmed that I was on the right path. 

*Crawling on all fours through the rainforest reminds me that I am an unequipped visitor to this world and I am the one who must adapt. 

*I was going through some issues with venomous people at my work so I returned to Yeola. While I was camped in among the trees, I hear the most beautiful bird song coming from the deep canopy. I could hear my inner voice tell me that I need to be like this bird and sing my song, hidden in the safety of the canopy or plain view. I understood the message and thanked the Gods. Later, I was down by the river and I saw a beautiful little red breasted bird fly from the safety of the canopy, into the open, across the river and then into the safety of the canopy once again. I was confused considering my first message but soon understood that it was ok to fly the gauntlet and show my colours, so to speak, but not stay too long to become a target for unkind people who chose to be predators. 

 

I hope you enjoyed discovering what the forest/bush/rainforest means to me and I could write much more! I moved to Surf Coast in Victoria last year and have yet to find my next sacred place in the bush and I will know when I find it. My wish is for all my readers to find yours in 2016 (or whenever you read this) and reap the rewards of being better connected to the nature of our Earth.