Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess Gallery Presents
Samovila
By
~
Dedication ~
I dedicate
my project to the Slavic Goddess Samovila, whose name sang out to me, through
Sandra M. Stanton’s beautiful and deeply moving paintings, most especially, Samovila
With The Spirits Of The Forest. At that precise moment, Samovila
took my hand and led me in my earliest steps towards discovering the Great Goddess.
Here then is my quest to learn her song and to share it with you.
Samovila With The Spirits Of The
Copyright Sandra M. Stanton
Misty
mountains cloaked in dew
Lichen,
fungi, moss and rue,
Sacred
forests of hoof and horn
Let all
who enter be forewarned.
Samovila,
protector of all that be
Fur and
feather, herb and tree,
By
falcon’s eye, swift claw of bear
Raise the
cry, let all beware!
Tread
softly with intent for good
Harm none
within my sacred wood,
Seek
knowledge, healing, and a place of rest
Respect
the vows that I profess.
For if you
trespass against my will
With
weapons drawn to maim and kill,
My
vengeance upon you, swift and dire
Condemned
you’ll dance till you expire.
The forest
claims you as its own
Your fate
reduced to ash and bone,
With each
captive step, each delirious stance,
Time has
no end, accursed you dance.
Through
incantation, charm and spell
My song
you’ve heard, now heed it well,
By swan
and serpent, horse and hare,
Choose now
your blessing or final prayer.
By
Samovila
Copyright Sandra M. Stanton
Introduction
and Background
Samovila is the ancient Eastern
European Goddess of forests, woodlands, herbs and healing. Her domain includes
all bodies of water, certain aspects of weather and the wildlife of the forests,
mountains and woodlands. She resides deep within the woods where she fiercely
protects and defends the creatures of the wildwood. As the immortal keeper of
holy nature, Samovila requires from us respect and reverence towards all plant
and animal life. She commands the elements of wind, rain, floods and avalanches
and may use these forces in retaliation against those who destroy or harm her
beloved land and her creatures residing within.
Much
of what is known of the Goddess Samovila comes from the traditions and myths
found in the oral traditions of the Slavic people. They were not a “race” but
rather a people united by culture, beliefs and the areas in which they resided.
With the Christian war against Paganism, invaders commonly practiced aggressive
acts of cultural destruction. Those attempting to “Christianize” destroyed
Slavic documents containing runes or Pagan references. Owning such heretical
documents resulted in the penalty of death. It is ironic that the very people
who came to destroy Slavic ancient beliefs and religious practices recorded any
written accounts. There is no indication that an early written language
existed, therefore we must look to oral history, folk songs and Pagan
traditions carried over into modern times for clues as to who Samovila was and
how she was worshiped. References of Samovila are found in runic songs and in
the epic poetry of the Eastern European people. Ancient Slavic shrines and
archaeological excavations have produced many Goddess images, some of which may
include Samovila in her many animal forms. Research shows that what we know of
Samovila may have come from her origins in ancient Thracian mysteries. The
cultures and mythologies of the Thracian, Slavic and the Proto-Bulgarian people
intertwined over time, transforming into a rich body of mythologies, beliefs
and customs. Among these elements, we find a landscape so lush, enchanting and
magickal with ancient roots deeply embedded in its spellbinding beauty.
Fortunately, Slavic Pagans did not fully embrace Christianity, but rather
living on in their folklore and traditions, lightly masked by Christian beliefs
forced upon them.
The
most extensive records concerning Slavic Paganism were found in accounts recorded
by German missionaries and priests in the 12th Century when they
forcefully Christianized the Slavic people. These Priests left extensive
written records on Slavic mythological systems. Included among their documents
were gross misinterpretations of Slavic beliefs, spiritual practices and
traditions. Even with this massive, forced conversion, the rural people
maintained the old beliefs that remained strong and flourished over time.
Through their strong oral traditions, we are able to speculate about that which
was not written down for posterity by the Slavic people themselves.
The
ancient Slavic people believed in the cyclical movement of life within the
lunar year. Ancient Slavic tribes closely followed the changing of the seasons
and worshiped nature through tribal festivities and their traditions. Slavic
Pagans celebrated spring, the summer solstice, harvest festivals and the winter
solstice. They worshiped a wide range of deities which varied from tribe to
tribe.
Villa
Of The
Copyright Sandra M. Stanton
Meet
The Goddess Samovila
Samovila, Goddess and warrior is a
powerful shape shifter, taking on the many animal forms of those she guards so
devotedly. Samovila may be seen as a falcon, swan, deer, horse or bear. When
not in animal form, the Goddess is often described as a lovely woman dressed in
a diaphanous white dress made from moonlight. Her long, flowing hair is said to
hang freely. The dress she wears is magickal and gives Samovila added
protection and power. She has the great wings of a falcon and some say she is
adorned with feathers on her body, which enable her to take flight.
Tradition
tells us that Samovila mounts a wild stag, holding onto reins of writhing green
vipers as she gallops wildly throughout her forest domain. She searches for
plants to mend and revive as well as seeking out her animal companions who need
her healing touch. Oral accounts tell of
encountering Samovila as she rides amidst the forests, woodlands and mountains.
One is cautioned to never focus on her beauty for her image may cause the
observer to become hopelessly enchanted and overcome with unquenchable desire.
Men who catch a glimpse of Samovila may be driven to seek her out for their own
gain. If they are successful in intruding upon her domain, they soon discover
there is no escape from her captivating powers.
Copyright Sandra Jovanovic
From
The Slavic Tarot
~Samovila’s
Correspondences and Gifts ~
Offerings
to Samovila include flowers, especially Bulgarian Roses still used in modern perfumery,
herbs and wildflowers, Bulgarian Rose Essential Oil, besoms,
colorful ribbons, cherry tree branches, willow garlands, Sphalerite stones
mined in Bulgaria, round sweet cakes and fresh vegetables and ripe fruits. She
welcomes gifts of music and dance in her honor. Offerings to Samovila were
often placed in sacred groves, at wells and streams and in magickal caves
dedicated to her.
Samovila is the Goddess of all
wildlife. She’s especially connected to those animals whose
forms she takes when shape shifting. Falcon, swan, horse, bear and deer are animal forms she is said to assume. Her
love and devotion is great for all her animal charges that she protects and
cares for as her own children.
Samovila loves music, singing and
dancing wildly in green meadows and forests within her magick circle. The
melody of the Shepard’s pipes and ethereal, harmonic women’s voices often accompany
her rites. One popular legend tells of Samovila’s deadly scream, which she can
inflict upon wrongdoers. It is said to bring instant death to the perpetrators
of evil acts.
She has great powers to control the weather;
particularly rain, intense storms and powerful whirlwinds, another form she
assumes when shape shifting. Samovila may bring on a drought if human actions
displease her. Legends tell of Samovila’s transformation into clouds or dense
fog at will. Weary travelers are cautioned to never find themselves lost in her
forests least they suddenly become engulfed in great floods and severe natural
disasters.
Samovila is a wise woman herbalist, using
local plants and herbs to heal and mend her animal charges when humankind has
brought injury upon those she loves. She has profound knowledge of medicinal
healing and at times she has been known to heal mortal beings if they come to
the forest with pure hearts. Seekers must sleep near her sacred waters beneath
the full moon. If Samovila acknowledges your sincerity, she may heal you or
provide you with the knowledge you need to heal yourself. In modern times, a
special Holy Day to Samovila still exists in the Balkans. This event occurs in
the summer when those who are ill seek out one of Samovila’s sacred places. The
ill one sleeps the entire night in this sacred place while holding flowers
dedicated to the Goddess. This demonstration of faith shows Samovila that
humans are aspects of sacred nature. She may then come to the seeker with
empathy and healing power.
Samovila
may agree to share her healing skills with those who earnestly desire to learn
her ways. Sincere women with purity of heart have at times forged a true blood
Sisterhood with Samovila. Seeking teaching, the woman enters the enchanted
forest before dawn on the Sunday prior to the full moon. The female seeker
draws a sacred circle with her besom and places horse hair, a hoof and fresh
manure inside it. To seek apprenticeship,
she places her right foot on the hoof and cries out her intent to Samovila. If
the Goddess manifests, the applicant is considered to be a sister. A wish may
be granted along with Samovila’s commitment to share her sacred knowledge.
~The Dance
Of Samovila~
Never inflict harm on Samovila’s creatures or you will deal with her swift and final retribution. She has been known to cause death to those who willfully bring destruction upon her charges or sow devastation upon Mother Earth. She may cause a massive landslide of swift judgment or perhaps a torrential storm, a great whirlwind, a raging flash flood or her most well known act of punishment, a dance of death within her sacred circle.
The dance of death was reserved for
those who harmed or killed Samovila’s creatures. The offending party was lured
into the forest by enchanted music, song or perhaps a glimpse of the lovely
Goddess herself. Unable to resist her great beauty, the perpetrator entered
Samovila’s sacred circle and danced relentlessly until he dropped exhausted and
near death. One does not recover from this ordeal and inevitably expires as the
heart stops beating.
~Spells~
Seek Samovila when you sincerely
need her nurturing and caring. Invoke her for insight into your problems,
asking for assistance when banishment is required or if you have need for
empowerment to face a situation. You may request her gift of keen insight into
people or situations that threaten or harm you. She may come in the form of
protector or fair judge. For those whose hearts desire safety, justice or
accountability, Samovila is a Goddess who embodies these qualities. She asks in
return for our respect towards all living creatures and for our active
contributions towards Mother Earth’s health and welfare. If we graciously give
of our time and act with awareness, Samovilla may share her vast knowledge with
us. Her gifts include unwavering courage, piercing insight into situations and
the ability to work intimately with animal guides.
Samovila’s gifts of herbal knowledge
and healing are aspects of the Goddess you may want to address in your spell
workings. Come to her for healing purposes, to request knowledge of herbal
wisdom or for guidance in gardening, particularly with herbs and flowers.
If your passions include singing, music
or dance, call on Samovila for heightened experiences in the arts and inspired
creation. Join her in sacred dance and raise energy by connecting with this
aspect of Samovila. As Divine Mother, the Goddess longs to nurture, cherish and
protect her loving children. We are those to whom she reaches out for. I have
heard her song. She sings it now for you. Can you hear it?
Ritual In
Honor Of The Goddess Samovila
By
Altar
For Samovila By
This
ritual is created to honor the Slavic Goddess Samovila. She will come to us as
shape shifter, taking on the animal form(s) needed to carry her relevant
messages and guidance to us. If we listen closely and receive her wisdom and
direction, Samovila will provide us with the tools needed to resolve the
issue(s) presented before her in our ritual.
Needful
Things ~
Roses
and rose oil
A
green altar cloth to represent the earth
A
small living plant or tree to represent the forest
Vessel
for water
Salt
for earth
Falcon’s
feather or any found feather would do to represent air
Cauldron,
sage/rose incense and charcoal for the ritual fire
Images
of animals, especially Falcon, Mother Bear, Horse, Swan and Deer, all forms of
the Goddess Samovila
A
red or green candle
Ritual
Music from “Bulgarian Women’s Choir, Melody Ritual & Harmony” or music that
inspires you to dance
Procedure
~
*Purify
your sacred space by sweeping with your besom, and then bless the ritual space
with the sage/rose incense
*Ground
and center
*Cleanse
your altar with salt and water, fire and air
*Cast
your Circle
*Call
the Quarters
Suggestion: (East, the Falcon) (South, the
Snake) (West, the Deer) (North, the Bear)
*Anoint
your candles with rose essential oil or blended rose oil (Bulgarian Rose Oil is
made from roses that have grown profusely in the Balkans since ancient times)
Samovila’s
Altar Box (Inside) By
*Light your candles; continue burning your sage and rose incense mixture in your cauldron
*Recite
the Invocation to the Goddess Samovila below…
Invocation
Of The Goddess Samovila
By
Great
Forest Mother of all,
Goddess of
life and destruction
Mistress
of eternal rhythm and song
Come and
dance with us tonight
Help us to
banish that which burdens us
And
eliminate all that hinders and harms
Goddess
Samovila, wild embodiment of light and darkness
We call
upon you to join us this night.
Samovila,
Goddess of change and transformation
Polarity
is your constant companion
Mercy and
judgment, light and shadow, harmony and tension
Finally
understanding that in the end, a new beginning awaits us
Send your
healing knowledge, your keen insight and right action
May we
stand confident and courageous, beautiful and inspired
Ready to
end the pain and replenish your earthly realm
Samovila,
come now with your sacred song and teach us to sing
Protector
of all that is wild and free
Send your
fur and feathered, scaled and shelled
We embrace
our guides and the messages they carry
Great
Goddess of shape shifting and primal change
We soar
and burrow, lumber and glide, swim and crawl
It is to
you we return again and again
To renew,
receive and rejoice
Samovila,
the many in one, the one in all
Please
join us in our ritual this night
Samovila’s
Altar Box (Outside) By
Ritual
Visualization
Once you have invoked Samovila’s
presence, close your eyes and speak to her concerning the aspects of your life
that you need help with. Samovila will honor your request if you are sincere
and forthright. Ask the Goddess to send her animal messenger(s) to you,
carrying the wisdom and knowledge you need for resolution, change, balance,
courage or whatever it is that you request of her.
Visualize a dense, fertile forest
before you. Enter without fear knowing the Goddess resides within. You come to
a spot in the forest that feels like sacred space to you. Sit down and rest
here. What smells, sounds, vibrations, surroundings, colors and energy do you
notice?
You are acutely attuned to the
environment around you. You feel completely safe and content. Relax, breath, be
at peace here. When you hear the sound of something approaching you through the
lush greenery, invite it to come near and welcome your guide without fear.
Acquaint yourself with this animal as
you nestle together, touching, sensing one another. You find yourself becoming
one in spirit. What message has she carried from Samovila? What answers does
she bring? What guidance and clarity does she share? Spend time together until
you are aware that you have received complete understanding and direction from
your guide. Perhaps you will experience yourself merging with your guide, shape
shifting into a different form yourself... a new consciousness. How does this
alter your awareness? Do even more significant revelations unfold?
Remain in this form until you feel that
the message and guidance is completely clear to you. Do you wish to dance with
your guide, raising power to send out to materialize your request, your need,
your desire? Dance together in Samovila’s sacred forest and feel the sheer joy
of intimately coming together with her. You will know when your time together
is coming to closure.
Know that you can meet your guide
whenever you wish through visualizing this sacred place where you first met.
Thank your guide for her help and give her a gift. What is it you give? In
return, she gifts you as well. This is a power object that addresses your
specific needs. What gift did she present? What qualities or attributes does
her gift represent to you? Say your farewells and when you feel ready, return
to your human form once again.
Later, you
may wish to journal this encounter with your animal guide or use creative acts
to integrate Samovila’s gift into your life. You may feel the will to dance, to
draw or to sing out the wisdom Samovila has blessed you with. You may be led to
plant a flower in your garden or visit a park and consciously clean up an area
outdoors in honor of the Goddess. Samovila respects action on behalf of her
creatures and the environment. You may leave seeds for the birds or even a bit
of soft yarn for nesting materials. Listen to what your heart leads you to do
in Samovila’s honor.
Thank Samovila for the gifts you have received this night. Enjoy your cakes and ale, dedicated to her.
Take down your
Prayer
To the
Earth I bury my burdens
May they
decay and return to the body of our Great Mother
Where she
will transform them into something fertile and beautiful
I ask for
this in the name of the Goddess Samovila
So Mote It
Be!
Thank
you allowing me to share my journey with you.
May
the Song of Samovila touch your heart and bring you peace.
Copyright 2009 ~ Willow
O’Rourke Bennett
Some
Informational Sources ~
\
Bulgarian Folk Customs by Marcia Mac Dermott
\
Bulgarian
\
Background To Bulgarian Myth And Folklore: http://www.spellintime.fsnet.co.
\
Goddess Myths: http://www.goddessmyths.com
\
\
Mything Links: http://www.mythinglinks.org/euro~east~panSlavic.html
\
Slavonic Literature by William Richard Morfill
\
The Mythology of All Races, Volume III by John Arnott MacCulloch
\
The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets by Barbara G. Walker
\
Woodland Fairies: http://www.omda.bg/engl/ethnography/samodivi.html