The song/chant "Rimo rimo tūta"

This is a beautiful song or chant that I sang often in a Romuva Vilnius group in 2013.

"Rimo, Rimo, Tūta, Tūta" and is usually sung as a round.

I will never forget the look of elation, Joy and happiness on the faces of other participants after singing this song. It was like meditating the"Aum" for 8 hours for all of us.

This song is usually sung at the conclusion of a Rite or gathering and it was explained to me the song is roughly translated as follows:

Rimo, Rimo

(En: "Peace, Peace" which is also a feminine word)

Tūta, Tūta,

(En: Strength, Strength which is also a masculine word)

Sutarjella, Sutarjella.

(En: in agreement, in harmony and balance)

So the song/chant can be translated in 2 different ways.

Peace, Peace,

Strength, Strength,

In agreement, in agreement

Or

Feminine, Feminine,

Masculine, Masculine,

In agreement, in agreement.

Try practicing this song/chant yourself, lift up your voice or just close your eyes and listen to the sound track from Kulgrinda! The experience is quite moving!

Velnias, the Lithuanian Devil is not to be confused with the Christian Devil or Satan

 It's a bit of a taboo subject but I'd like to introduce an important Baltic Lithuanian deity named "Velnias" or "Velinas" who is the Lithuanian Devil but not to be confused with the the Christian Devil or Satan.

Lithuanians and other earth centred/Indigenous cultures of the world have been long accused by the Christian church as "Devil worshippers" and this assumption is partly correct.

The Lithuanian Devil was never worshipped. I don't believe that any Lithuanian Deity was traditionally worshipped" in the Christian sense of the word but veneration through sacrifice, honour in celebrations and respect was a general attitude towards the deities amongst Lithuanian peoples of the past. It is true though that the Devil God does feature in Lithuanian mythology and worldview as he does with other Earth centred/Indigenous cultures of the world so the Christian belief of the Devil does exist in the Indigenous cultures of the world but is not perceived as in the Christian mythology.

So let me introduce you to the Lithuanian Velnias (Devil)!

As VELnias name suggests, he is believed to be the caretaker and guardian of the "Vėlės"(Souls of the dead). Velnias is believed to protect the living from the dead.

Velnias is depicted in Lithuanian folklore aš

*A co creator of the world alongside Dievas the Sky God.

*a shapeshifter (could appear as a bird, animal or even a man)

*Clever but not too bright. Easily fooled.

* Adversary of Perkūnas the thunder God. Easy to escape him by saying, "look! There's Perkūnas!" and run away when he's not looking!

*Velnias is a Cthonic (earthly) Deity but loves swamps and bogs.

*Velnias is depicted as appearing as a horned giant with a tale and cloven feet which is the same image of the Devil character in the Christian mythology but not the same.

*Can be a helper or a hindrance to people.

*Sexually promiscuous and loves fornicating with women

*Loves music and loves to dance.

So you see the character of the Lithuanian Devil God is very different from the image portrayed by the Christian church and made even scarier by Holywood. Velnias is a God who is very important in the Lithuanian Pantheon and todays post only gives a brief glimpse into his character.

There is so much more to explore about Velnias and his connection with the necrocult in Lithuania!

New sanctuary for adherents of Romuva!

 Breaking news from Romuva in Lithuania:

Romuva established a sanctuary to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Jonas Gediminas Beržanskis - Klausutis in an area of Lithuania known as Beržytė.

The following is a translation of the event:

This year we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Jonas Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis (JGBK), the successor of the Old Lithuanian Faith. In the spring, on this occasion, a Remembrance Grove was planted in the Seredžius precinct in the village of Ramovė, near Berzytė's homestead . Asta and Arvydas Sviderskis, the owners of Berzytė's single-family home, actively took up the activities of planting a grove and setting up a sanctuary in Berzytė. The helpers came from Kaunas, Kaunas district, Seredžias, Veliuona and Jurbarkas. Gintaras Gediminas, JGBK's grandson by right of trust, handed over the historical JGBK altar to Kaunas Romuva. This is how the altar came to Berzytė's homestead. Berzytė's shrine was established here with the efforts of the enthusiasts of the Nemunas Roman Catholic Church, the presentation of which took place on September 25.

I think that it's bizarre that the Catholic church would be involved at all but perhaps I shouldn't be surprised!

I didn't know anything about this man so I did some research. Here's a bio of Jonas Gediminas Beržanskis!

I was curious to know who he is and was! Very interesting man! I never knew about him! He is not taught about in Australian schools but I'm sure he is in Lithuanian schools!

Sit back with a cuppa because it's a long read and translated from an "Alkas" article published on the 25th of August, 2022.

August 25 it is 160 years since Jonas Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis was born in Pluogai homestead, Viekšniai village (Mažeikių district) - Lithuanian historian, journalist, public figure, confessor and restorer of the old Baltic faith.

J. Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis has revealed his princely origin in the genealogy of Garbė's Pomian family and is characterized by a firm and unyielding attitude to consider himself a follower of the ancient Lithuanian faith.

"After publishing (the tsar's) highest manifesto (17.X.1905) about "given to people in the Russian Empire various new rights, liberties and freedom of conscience... Finding it necessary to use the freedom of conscience marked in the manifesto, I... 22.X.1905 from Dvinsk, I sent my request to the Prime Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers in Petrapilis to recognize and read me as a follower of the ancient Lithuanian faith , as I really have been since my childhood", wrote JG Beržanskis-Klausutis.

For almost 10 years there was a persistent correspondence with the officials of the Russian tsarist government and only in 1915. June 14 In Dvinsk, Jonas Gediminas-Beržanskis-Klausutis received the answer that there are no obstacles from the Russian Empire Government to consider him a person of the ancient Lithuanian faith.

After publishing (the tsar's) highest manifesto (17.X.1905) about "given to people in the Russian Empire various new rights, liberties and freedom of conscience... Finding it necessary to use the freedom of conscience marked in the manifesto, I... 22.X.1905 from Dvinsk, I sent my request to the Prime Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers in Petrapilis to recognize and read me as a follower of the ancient Lithuanian faith , as I really have been since my childhood", wrote JG Beržanskis-Klausutis.

For almost 10 years there was a persistent correspondence with the officials of the Russian tsarist government and only in 1915. June 14 In Dvinsk, Jonas Gediminas-Beržanskis-Klausutis received the answer that there are no obstacles from the Russian Empire Government to consider him a person of the ancient Lithuanian faith.

The Romuvians, the successors of the old Baltic faith, consider this day as a testimony of the continuity and rebirth of the ancient Lithuanian faith.

The Romuvians, the successors of the old Baltic faith, consider this day as a testimony of the continuity and rebirth of the ancient Lithuanian

J.Gediminas-Beržanskis-Klausutis was born in Žemaitia, in Viekšnii village, in Pluogai, in the family of free farmers - Jonas and Barbora Šiuipaitė-Beržanskiu. The Beržanskis did not know serfdom, and their family kept stories that they were descended from those noble Beržanskis who descended from Gedimin's son Klausutis.

From his young days, J. Gediminas-Beržanskis - Klausutis became interested in the genealogy of his family and decided to research it. After 40 years of persistent work, we managed to compile a long family genealogy, in which it is concluded that the Beržanski family really originates from Gedimin's son Klausutis.

For almost 30 years, J. Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis not only worked in government services, but also actively participated in the national movement of the 19th century. the end of the 20th century in the opening movement. Even in his youth, he saw how his mother accepted and hid the Lithuanian press, how she sorted it and handed it over to the booksellers.

While studying at the Šiauliai Gymnasium, he was the leader of the secret gymnasium students' library. The library, which contained about 3,000 books, was hidden in the house of Count Vladimir Zubov's parents. While studying at St. Petersburg University, 1884-1885. together with his brother Ludviks Beržanskis (1864.I.10 – 1888.V.23) published the hectographed newspaper Žiniai nešės (Messenger). While studying in Warsaw together with V. Kudirka, he worked in the Lithuanian Students' Association, and contributed a lot to the establishment

"Varpos" and "Ūkininkas". He supported the secret transportation of the press, was its distributor and bookseller.

Maintained close relations with J. Basanavičius. Collaborated with Varpa, Aušra, Žemaičiai and Lithuanian Review, Žinyčia, Ūkininke, Lietuvių Laikrashtis, Vilnius News , etc. He used the pseudonyms Dagis, JK., J. Kadagios, Klausutis, Vapsva, Keleivis.

in 1905 participated in the work of the Great Vilnius Seimas. One of the first members of the Lithuanian Science Society. in 1906 together with other intellectuals signed a memorandum to Pope Pius X in which Lithuanian churches were asked to use the Lithuanian language. As the 250th anniversary of the death of historian A. Vijukas-Kojelavicius was approaching, Jonas Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausučius came up with the idea of ​​commemorating it on a national scale. Coming from rich nobles, A. Vijukas-Kojelavičius was born in 1606. Kaunas, died in 1677. in Warsaw. The main commemoration took place in 1927. December 27 of officers in Ramovė, which was also

The event, which was very successful and aroused the interest of the highest representatives of the government, science, art and the public, was a great impulse to create the Society of Lithuanian Nobles (in 1928), whose chairman was elected Jonas Gediminas-Beržanskis-Klausutis

Through his efforts in 1930 the 500th anniversary of the death of Vytautas the Great was celebrated throughout Lithuania.

For special merits, the President of the State in 1933 Jonas Gediminas-Beržanskis-Klausutis was awarded the Order of Gediminas by the DLK with the rank of father.

Jonas Gediminas-Beržanskis-Klausutis constantly published the attitudes and thoughts of his natural faith in the press. He published three publications - "ANSWER to critics of the image. 25.I.1929", "BOW to the Board of the Bank of Lithuania and all its employees. 8.Xii. 8.XII.1928", "Ancient Lithuanian faith. What does the word "Criwe" mean? 1928".

As can be seen from the versatile, albeit incomplete, characterization of Jonas Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis' activities, he was indeed an extraordinary and colorful personality who did not belong to any political party. Unfortunately, little is known to the general public then and now.

Despite the incessant disturbances due to the recognition of princely origin, due to natural faith, it can reasonably be said that it was only thanks to his education, perseverance and perseverance and indomitability that he achieved his honorably. Now Romuva , the community of the Old White faith, which professes the faith of its ancestors, but for 30 years has not been recognized by the tsarist government, but by its own independent Lithuanian government, is also striving for this.

J. Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis, as a follower of the ancient Lithuanian faith, wished that after his death his body would be burned according to the faith of his ancestors. His will was fulfilled on 12.07.1936. He was buried in Kaunas Romuvos cemetery.

April 9 of this year. in the village of Ramovė near Serežius, in the Berzytė homestead, the people of Romuva planted a sacred oak grove dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the birth of J. Gediminas Beržanskiis-Klausučiis .

About 50 like-minded helpers from 5 regions of Lithuania participated in the talk.

Also Gintaras Gediminas, grandson of J. Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis, with his family. After that, a ceremony was held at the established sanctuary of Berzytė Romuva.

Here, too, the construction of the Romuvii grotto žinycia (museum) has begun, where the altar of J. Gediminas Beržanskis-Klausutis will be kept. His grandson Gintaras Gediminas handed it over to Kaunas Romuva by right of trust.

Baltic Lithuanian views of the journey and life of the Soul in the afterlife

This a collection of posts that is no where near complete in explaining the Baltic view of the sfterlife and I will be adding to this post as details become enlightened to me so stay tuned. The problem of this study is that there are many regional differences and these views was never static and changed over time. All we can ascertain is what was earlier and what was later so the various views that turn into a web. The first belief is in the soul migration into nature and new born people.

This is an interesting depiction of the Lithuanian deities and fairly accurate for one stage of Lithuanian idea of the afterlife!

The souls in Dausos (paradise), which was believed to be located beyond the waters, where Velnias (the Devil) was understood to be the steward or shepherd of the souls! The souls were represented as sheep and those, in life, who were happy with little, grazed in barren lands but were plump and healthy but those who, in life, always wanted more, grazed in lush pastures but appeared to be emancipated and unhealthy.

I believe that the moral of this tale is to always be satisfied with what you have and not to spend your life constantly striving for more!

The Goddess Laima Dalia (Goddess of your allotted fate) does not change, as much as you want it to change or increase!

Like my kids have been taught, "be happy with what you get and don't be upset!"

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The underworld of the Lithuanians is often described as a dark and gloomy place which defies the logic of why Lithuanian peoples historically chose suicide to go there.

"Hints about the Lithuanian belief in the afterlife can be found in the testimonies of Vygandos Marburgietis, where he mentions the Lithuanian belief in the afterlife, which helps to meet death stoically in Pilėnai

(Mannhardt, 1936, 120)(Beresnevicius, Dausos),

and according to the testimony of Henrikos Latvis, widows even kill themselves enthusiastically after the death of their husbands, hoping to live in the next world with to meet them" (Mannhardt, 1936, 30))

It appears that in the Lithuanian case the whole world of the dead moved to the sky at some stage and is still believed to remain there to this day. There are a few corroborating facts to support this theory.

Lithuanian mythology is Velnias (the ruler of the Lithuanian Underworld) carrying a soul to the sky (Beresnevičius, 1990, p. 118). Although it is pointed out that he carries the soul not to the Heavens (“dangus” in Lithuanian), but to some place under the Heavens (the Lithuanian word used is “padangė”). Another detail showing the sky as the realm of the dead can be found in Lithuanian folk songs, providing the image of the World tree, such as this:

"Ant kalnelio jovaras žydėjo,

Slaunasai žolyne, rugeli,

Pašaknėlėj dūzgiančios bitelės,

Slaunasai...

Ant šakelių skambantys kankleliai,...

Viršūnėlėj sakalo vaikeliai,..."

(quoted in Laurinkienė, 1990, p. 57)

English translation:

On a hill a sycamore bloomed,

Slender lea, rye,

Under the roots buzzing bees,

Slender...

On the branches ringing kanklės,...

At the top falcon‘s children,

Note that the, "ringing kanklės" refers to the sound of the Souls.

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As I mentioned in a previous post that the "Aušros medis" (World Tree) can have parallels with a hill and can also be symbolically connected the Baltic mythic view of the afterlife. The journey of the deceased person must climb a hill known as Anafiel that is made of glass or crystal.

No one has died and come back to tell us what it's like but the epic journey of the deceased person is contained in

Baltic myth is unique and comparable to legends of the same journey in other ancient civilizations.

I read in Gintaras Beresnevičius book titled "Dausos" (Pg 20,21), and according to Norbertas Vėlius

The ascent is perilous and a Deity (some say Vėjas, Wind) blows a gale at an unworthy Soul to blow them off the steep, slippery hill and into the upper winds to reincarnate into a new born person to do better and earn the right to reach the summit where the "Souls bench" is located.

It's a very interesting mythology and well worth looking into!

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I've been reading a very interesting book called "Dausos" (paradise) by Gintaras Beresnevičius. It's a pity that his books have not been translated into English because his research would reach a larger audience. The following is my book review:

Gintaras Beresnevičius used a very scientific method using archeological finds, folklore texts, the findings of other researchers and historical accounts found in various chronicles to unfold the historical change in beliefs and mythologies of the numerous Baltic tribes.

Even though, the Baltic peoples were a collection of tribes who had different mythologies about the afterlife, there was a common belief that death was not the end to life! This belief was demonstrated throughout history.

eg The, possibly hundreds of people who stoically killed themselves in the castle of Pilėnai, Jotvingiai people who fought to the death,

It was said that the wives of killed men in battles would "enthusiastically" hang themselves,

These accounts from various chronicles really depicts the Lithuanian belief that death was never an end to life and wasn't to be feared.

Another interesting belief was that there were some tribes, in the development of their own tribal culture, who believed in the transmigration of souls/spirits into various forms of nature and then into new born people. It was believed that some souls/spirits remain ethereal to act as guides.

All over Lithuanian lands burial customs changed from an earth burial to a sky burial (burnt) indicating a shift from European to Indo beliefs and myths, creating the beautiful blend of Indo European culture which can still be seen in Lithuanias customs and beliefs.

There are many things that I have learnt from this book and I would highly recommend reading it to learn about what our Prussian and Lithuanian ancestors believed about the afterlife. I just "feel" that the assertions presented in this book, "make sense" and I am comforted by the fact that, after my own death, that I also will also continue, like the dawn of a new day.

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I believe that the tale,"Eglė, queen of the serpents", (which can be found on this page), is a good example of metamorphosis of people into objects of nature in the creation of the world.

This belief comes from archaic times and is very similar to the beliefs of the Australian Aboriginal peoples who believed that when the world was created, there were many people transformed into trees, animals and stars.

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Understanding that Traditional Lithuanian peoples are a collection of tribes that have a different culture, cosmology, mythology, dress style and beliefs in the afterlife which changed over time and was eventually influenced by the Christian mythology, all tribes in all locations had a common belief in the transmigration of the spirit into plants, trees and animals for an allotted time before reincarnating in to a new person in order to continue evolving into a spirit worthy of eternal life.

Wives suicide with enthusiasm, men women and children who stoically killed themselves in Pilėnai castle, people and nobility burned in a funeral pire with their horse,dogs, food drink and jewellery are all examples of how Lithuanian people believed so strongly in the continuation of life after death of the physical body. The beliefs in how life is to be continued are varied. No one knows for any certainty what happens in the afterlife but traditional Lithuanians and Žemaičiai believed that the dead souls were active and able to disclose details of the afterlife and warn of hindering ghosts/spirits. Whether it be on the eastern side of the high glass or crystal mountain which the soul must climb or in nature and then back to a person. It is believed that the people who fall from the mountain,fall into the upper winds before falling back to earth, reborn as a baby.It is believed that if a soul makes the climb then they will live forever in Paradise with the Gods sharing beer which is located at the north end of the Milky way, beyond the sunset, as the sky was considered to be a lagoon or body of water, water is the veil to Dausos (paradise)

* Lithuanian peoples never believed that ghosts/spirits live in perpetual darkness in the underworld. That was a Christian idea. Ghosts/spirits act in the daytime too and even live among us.*There are four steps in Lithuanian necrocult customs.

1) calling

2) Feeding

3) sacrifices

and

4) bidding farewell

* It is believed that the returning spirits have a perilous journey from the afterlife real because on the way, there are many angry/malevolent ghosts who have become trapped because of their misdeeds and may cause them harm.

* More research needed on the concept of 2 spirits?

Sacred places of Lithuania and your in own home abroad

 Another fascinating place in Lithuania is a hill on the right bank of the Neman River in Rambynas Regional Park, Pagėgiai Municipality, western Lithuania.

The hill is also located right on the border with Prussia and was even in Prussia at one stage so even Prussians held this place sacred too.

Rambynas hill is only 46 metres above sea level and is the remnant Hill of a much larger hill but unfortunately, because of erosion in the form of landslides, we are left with a much smaller Hill.

It was believed that to the East of the hill grew an ancient grove and in 1838, Eduard Gisevius published "Scenes from Lithuanian People's Lives" (Szenen aus dem Volksleben der Litauer).

He also described a 600-year-old three-trunk linden tree that grew near the hill and was worshiped as goddess of fate Laima's tree.

The locals always knew that Ramybas hill was sacred and tended by a priest until the Teutonic Knights drove him away.

Summer Solstice celebrations are popular on Ramybas hill and enjoyed by Lithuanian and Lithuanian Prussian peoples and have been recorded as late as happening up until the mid 19th century. There are also many pre Christian customs still practiced on Ramybas hill such as on the wedding day, the newly weds in the area had had to walk to the top of the hill and give offerings for a blessed marriage.

Pagėgiai area has a long history dating back to at least the bronze Age. Two bronze axes were found in the area which shows that settlements existed in this area 1100-850 BCE. The inhabitants of this Baltic tribe known as Skalvians who succumbed to the Teutonic Order and the Skalvians are now extinct.

There are many legends of the hill and some say that the Altar stone was put there by the Thunder God and also buried gold and silver under it or somewhere on the hill.

Legend says that fairies had blessed the stone and it is believed that while the stone still stands, the area would prosper. But in 1811, the Altar stone was destroyed by a Miller wanting stone to make a milestone. Reports say that the Miller died shortly after that.

The Altar stone was rebuilt several times after that and was rebuilt in 1928 where the architect Martynas Jankus also started off the "eternal book". It was a kind of sign in book for visitors to the Altar stone and the very first sign in was well known Lithuanian philosopher, Vydūnas. The last entry was made on the 16 th of March, 1939, and was taken, kept safe and from 1963 until now is kept as a rare book in the Martynas Mažvydas National library of Lithuania.

A replica has been made and can still be signed at the Martynas Jankus Museum in Bitėnai.

Another belief of the myth of the hill has inspired many treasure hunting quests that was always fruitless. Unfortunately, these quests have caused damage to the hill.

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Another sacred place in Lithuania is called Birutės Hill in Palanga on the coast of the Baltic sea.

The Hill has a long history and much of it has been documented to have occurred in the early to mid 14 th century. Birutė Hill is one of the most well-known and most widely studied Lithuanian seaside archaeological monuments of the 9th/10th-15th century.

There has also been fragments of ceramics found at the base of the hill dating back to the first millenium suggesting that a settlement probably existed there.

The legend about Birutė and her Hill are intriguing and Birutė herself has become a type of Goddess or Pagan saint which continues hundreds of years after her death. As late as 550 years after the death of Birutė, in 1965, a sculpture was placed at the base of the hill. The inscription on the the sculpture reads,

"už tau Birutė".

(For you Birutė).

The text is interesting in that the familiar "you" was used instead of the formal "you". In Lithuanian, the familiar tense is only used for friends and family!

Birutė was Couronian or Žemaitian and born into a magnate family and in her youth decided to dedicate her life to serving the old Deities. This also meant that she chose to remain a virgin.

Birutė moved to the Hill and tended the sacred fire,day and night. There was an altar and a temple on the summit of Birutės Hill and it appears that only after the death of Birutė was the paleoastronomical observatory was placed there.

Birutė was a very beautiful woman and word of this beautiful priestess from Palanga spread near and far until it reached the ears of Kęstutis, the Grand Duke of Lithuania.

Here's where the story gets ugly because it's totally against the woman's rights fought for and enjoyed in todays era, in most westernised countries, but I acknowledge that it was a different time. Being judgemental of what happened in a by gone era doesn't change anything. For some reason, the story has been romanticised in lithuanian culture and it is the theme in many musicals, ballads and ballets.

Grand Duke Kęstutis went to Palanga and sought out Birutė and instantly fell in love. He asked for her hand in marriage but she refused because of her vow to dedicate herself to the Deities!

Kęstutis couldn't take "no" for an answer and kidnapped Birutė and took her to his castle where they later wed.

Birutė gave birth to 4 sons and 4 daughters. One of her boys grew up to become known as Vytautas "the great ". That's another story.

There is speculation over the death of Birutė. Some say that she returned to the hill and continued her priestess duties until she died while others tell of her drowning in Belarus. Either way her influence has become legendary.

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One holy place in Lithuania that fascinates me is called Alkakalnis which literally means hill of the Alka.

An "Alka" is a pre Christian term for a holy or sacred place where prayers and offerings are given to the Deities. Here is only a little of what I have learnt about this amazing place.

Located in Žemaitija National park with over 1000 visitors a year.

Mikytų Alkakalnis was an attractive archaic holy place. And makes up part of an Alka complex of sacred natural places. There is a dried up Spring, a living Spring called Jonikė and the holy Oak tree nearby.

There many legends and myths about the Hill and how it got its name. One such tale and common belief that I found interesting was that the word "Mykta" apparently refers to a word that means goat in Žemaičių language. This possibly relates to a legend of the "ghost goat" who distracts and misleads people with the sound of his bleating!

There is a mysterious mist that comes from Alkakalnis. No one knows from where it comes! There's a belief that weather predictions can be made when the fog is seen.

Lithuania.Some of Mikytai places are associated with the name of the devil and is confirmed by local legends which indicates the pre Christian history of the area.

Alkakalnis is the most striking element of the Mikytai landscape. On the side of the hill, there is a 1.4 kilometre educational trail where in 2012, 38 wooden carved statues of Baltic Deities and Spirits were placed there.

There was some gravel mining on the south side of the hill in WW1 but was immediately stopped when various old items, including a human skull, were uncovered. A roof top pole was placed there and digging never resumed.

Devils stone sits at the top of the north eastern side of Alkakalnis. On the top of the rock there's a foot print left by the Devil as he ran away scared because he heard the rooster crow.

There is an Aukuras on the summit of Alkakalnis where wooden sculptures of Velnias, Perkūnas and Praamžius face towards it.

An eternal flame burned on Alkakalnis and was the very last to be extinguished in Žemaitija which occurred in 1413. It is believed to have been cared for by the ghosts of the hill, faires and a priest who lived in a wooden house nestled in an Oak Grove on mount Gaudis.

In the area people believed that a temple stood at a fire altar under a large oak tree. Snakes were kept there and worshipped as representatives of the snake God.

This is an amazing place and I can fully relate to the sanctity of this Alko complex to my ancestors as I have found many places throughout my life that would also be considered to be holy.

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Žemaičių Alka (The sacred place/shrine of Žemaitija Provence of Lithuania)

This shrine/holy place is located on a dune in the Šventoji district and is an astronomically correct reproduction of the same paleo-astronomic bservatory that once stood on Birutės Hill in Palanga. The site was rebuilt on the dune in 1998 and has regularly restored due to the moist sea breezes decaying the poles.

An integral part of the shrine are the 12 wooden poles that were carved by local folk artists to represent various Baltic Deities.

There were:

*Perkūnas

*Austėja

*Lada

*Saulė

*Mėnulis

*Patrimpas

*Patula

*Velnias

*Anadievas

*Aušrinė

*Žemyna

When the sun is setting, the shadows cast by the poles determine the time for the various traditional feasts (šventės) such as Rasa, Jorė Užgavėnės and Vėlinės.

Another integral element to this site is the "Aukuras"(altar) where ritual sacrifices and prayers are offered to the Deities and ancestors. When it existed on Birutės Hill, there was an eternal flame that never went out and was tended to by a Vaidilutė by the name of Birutė but that's another story!

Large numbers of people gather at the Alka to celebrate various festivals including to Goddess Milda, Springtime Jorė and Midsummer (Rasa).

Žemaičių Alka iš definitely a special place!

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A large part of being an adherent of Romuva is stewarding, reinstating and reusing the sacred places of your ancestors.

Many of the sacred places that I share here, in this group, are in Lithuania which are far from Australia, and I can't physically be there but I CAN inform others in this group about these amazing places! I still have a connection to these sacred places of my ancestors and can only recollect them via Facebook but I really enjoy doing it!

Considering that I, like many others not living in Lithuania cannot steward the sacred sites in Lithuania, can we steward our own sacred places in our local natural world?Short answer, "yes and NO".

Throughout my life, I, myself have been moved, inspired, healed, encouraged and rejuvenated by the local Spirits (Genus Locii) in the rainforest nature of Yeola, Kangaroo Valley, NSW.

The Spirits of that place chose me as opposed to someone setting up Altar in a location of their choosing. I see that doing this is not only rude and insulting but also culturally inappropriate.

The tenet of Romuva demanding respect applies to all living, dead and otherworldly. So when we are on someone else's ancestral lands and living with age old Spirits of place, whether you live in Australia, America, Japan or wherever, as a Romuvis, you are guided to be always respectful and may be invited to visit and use a sacred place on foreign land.

I'm sure that I'd be welcome at any sacred place in Lithuania but when I am not on that land, I am still called to be respectful as an adherent of Romuva.

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The Hill of Šatrija is located in the Žemaitiją Provence of Lithuania and stands 228 metres tall. From the top you can see Medvegalis mound which is the largest mound in Žemaitija. You can also see the mounds of Girzdute, Moteraitis and Sprude. The Hill of Šatrija has been of great interest to researchers and archeological digs have confirmed that people lived here about 2100 years ago. It was also found that in the 14th century, there stood a wooden castle on the summit of the Hill. The castle was easily defendable against enemies because of the steep western and eastern sides of the Hill. The Hill has long been considered to have been a centre of pagan Faith before the introduction of Christianity and since 1994 the eternal flame was relit by the honourable Krivius of Žemaitija, Adolf Gedvilas. The fire continues to this day and is constantly tended by volunteers who promise to tend the fire for at least 24 hours at a time. On the 3rd Saturday of July, in the Fire festival or the festival of the Goddess Gabija, the Fire is taken to the Summit of Šatrija mound and rites are conducted. Everyone are welcome to take some of the fire home with them. Hot coals is all that is needed! A few legends accompany the creation of the hill and although we know the scientific explanation of mounds, I believe that legends and myths add colour and imagination to stale reality and also give us a peak into the worldview of our Lithuanian and even European ancestors. Here's a few local legends of hill of Šatrija: a Long time ago, before, in the distant past, there were some people who thought of building a church where the hill of Šatrija stands today.Those people worked all day but on returning the next day, they found everything covered in earth. They worked to build the church a second time and worked until nightfall but again, the next day, everything was covered in earth. Then on the third attempt, a large group of people were organised and they built the church in one day. The Devils were angry about this and rushed to cover the church with their big sacks of earth. This is how the hill was formed. According to the legend, one of the Devils had a rock in his sack which fell as the earth was being poured out of the large bag. The rock cracked the roof of the church and made an dent in the Hill. The Devils felt sorry for their work, saying that building could've been used for something else so they dug a cave into the hill, to the church building and hid their treasures inside. Another legend about the hill is that the Swedes once had a church on the place of the hill of Šatrija. The locals called them Giants because of their height. Once in the church, the priest told his congregation that one day, in the future giants will no longer be tall anymore. The Giants became angry at such a prophesy and covered the church in earth and that was how the hill formed. It is believed that over the years the church has rotted and collapsed underground which is why the hill is said to be hollow. Popular and different I have uncovered another legend of the hill of Šatrija which is about all the Witches of Žemaitiją who used to like to gather on the hill every night. They had fun and danced until the first crow of the Rooster. This is the time when it is believed that all Devils and Witches flee to their own abode. Anyway, one night, the Witches got so frenzied with their dancing that they didn't hear the Roosters crowing. The Sun came up and they got very scared. They covered their eyes and flew away but one Witch was left with nothing to fly with. She ran around frantically running and shouting,"where's my Shatra?" A local person overheard the Witch and since then the hill has become known as Šatrija hill and as the capital of Witches. No one knows what happened to that stranded Witch but her legend continues.