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Post by deuce on May 20, 2016 23:28:12 GMT -5
Jean Sibelius could, in many ways, be considered the "Wagner of Finland". I actually knew his music from a young age because my mom played a lot of classical music. Some of his best work (IMO) is inspired by the Kalevala. The former governor of my state is a S ebelius by marriage.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2016 10:35:42 GMT -5
Jean Sibelius could, in many ways, be considered the "Wagner of Finland". I actually knew his music from a young age because my mom played a lot of classical music. Some of his best work (IMO) is inspired by the Kalevala. The former governor of my state is a S ebelius by marriage. It's true, much of his work is inspired by Kalevala.
Funny enough, I don't really like Sibelius that much. I consider his music more like "background music" it's more abut ambiance than melody, and I like to be able to sing along my music. But to each their own, and as background music it goes well enough. My favorite parts of his work are ofcourse Finlandia: The end part of it called Finlandia Hymn. It is by some considered the anthem of Finland. Strangely, the anthem which we sing at Hockey-games is not labeled OFFICIAL. We just use that one for some reason. For many, this piece is the one that touches us most, Here sung by ordinary people, who have gathered in Helsinki to sing it, on Sibelius' birthday, to his honor: Then there is Intermezzo I, and Alla Marcia from Karelia suite. They play those during the entrance-march of the Ball in the Precident's Castle on independence day.
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Post by jmbroberts on May 21, 2016 12:42:19 GMT -5
My favorite Sibelius piece is "Kullervo," especially the brooding, dark first movement. Nobody caught the dark, ominous feel of the northern forests like Sibelius, not even Wagner.
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Post by Von K on May 22, 2016 5:14:20 GMT -5
Very interesting thread Venaala.
Elements of Finnish folklore have influenced some of the best fantasists in the field, like Tolkien and Moorcock (plus Poul Anderson mentions Finland in The Broken Sword), yet still remains generally overlooked as a general source of cultural inspiration, imho.
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Post by deuce on May 28, 2016 0:54:39 GMT -5
Tolkien, Finno-Ugric and the High Elves: www.sci.fi/~alboin/finn_que.htmA good article, but it fails to note the much higher percentage of Indo-European roots (compared to Finnish) for Quenya. If a philologist/linguist was to look at Quenya in a "cold" setting, he would have to say that High Elven was an Indo-European language deeply affected by a Finnish overlay. That said, the Finnish language (by way of JRRT) has thrilled readers from almost every country on earth. The Basques need a "Tolkien".
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2016 22:53:02 GMT -5
My favorite Sibelius piece is "Kullervo," especially the brooding, dark first movement. Nobody caught the dark, ominous feel of the northern forests like Sibelius, not even Wagner. Talking about Tolkien and Kullervo...
JRR Tolkien's version of the Story of Kullervo was published autumn last year, by the same name (Kullervo).
In Kalevala, the story goes something like this:
Kullervo's tribe is killed by a rival, all of them exept for a handmaid. The maid is kept as a servant to the rival tribe, and gives birth to Kullervo. The rival tribe's leader tries to kill baby-Kullervo, but the child possesses magical abilities and avoids being killed. The child is feared, so he is sold as a slave to smith Ilmarinen. He is given his dead father's knife with him, which is his only reminder of his origin. Ilmarinen's wife doesn't like Kullervo and treats him badly. Eventually he bakes a stone inside a bread and gives it to Kullervo as food when he goes to herd cattle in the woodslands. When Kullervo cuts into the bread, the stone baked inside breaks his father's knife. Kullervo gets pissed off, and his magical abilities awake. He curses Ilmarinen's wife and sends forest animals to kill her. He's become pure evil killer and wicked wizard, immortal and impossible to kill. He goes around doing evil things and killing a bunch of people. Then he meets a girl. He picks the girl up and sleeps with her. The next morning he finds out that the girl is his father's daughter - his sister. Then he asks for a sword from the gods, and kills everyone. And I mean EVERYONE. Feeling so much angst about shaming his sister by sleeping with her, and by the fact that he killed everyone, Kullervo ends his own life with his magical sword. The End.
Tolkien's version is slightly different, from what I've heard. I haven't red it yet. But now you know the original story of Kullervo. More on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kullervo
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2016 23:46:59 GMT -5
Venaala Thanks for your extra info. I too am much more interested in folklore before christianity took over. But it's hard to find? [ christian monks /priests wrote down so much that we have lots of info from the christian-era archives ] -- it seems that the Blakulla isle has been visited for many thousands of years by cults from all over the surrounding areas? That fascinates me very much. ==== >>>> here is more good info about the mysterious island... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bl%C3%A5_Jungfrunits all interesting detail, but this section [below] is the most significant regarding supernatural powers [ curses ]... "The many water polished stones on the beaches of Blå Jungfrun are illegal to remove from the island because of its national park status. And according to tradition, anyone who steals a stone from the island will suffer from bad luck until it is returned. The town of Oskarshamn yearly receives stones from former Blå Jungfrun visitors, often with an accompanying letter describing misfortunes and disasters which happened to the letter writers after removing them. In May 2004, over 160 such stones were publicly brought back to the island on a ferry from Oskarshamn." ==== Checked those links. Very interesting indeed! I feel like I've seen that kind of rock formations somewhere else, maybe in Lapland, but I can't be sure. I'll go looking for possible connections right away!
It is difficult to find pagan-era history, yes. :/ But not impossible. I do not know about where you live, but here we have very well trained librarians. It pays the trouble back in surprising ways, just to go to the library and ask for research material on a subject. They bring you piles of texts from various country-wide sources that are not even listed anywhere! I hope that our library system never cuts out on the training of their librarians because they are worth their weight I gold.
Your request for more witch-info and spells requires some time from me, but don't loose hope! I'll get right on it after I finish school next weekend and have some time to do what I like.
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Post by deuce on May 30, 2016 1:57:23 GMT -5
My favorite Sibelius piece is "Kullervo," especially the brooding, dark first movement. Nobody caught the dark, ominous feel of the northern forests like Sibelius, not even Wagner. I absolutely agree, Mr. Roberts.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2016 12:59:05 GMT -5
Story time!
Something from a fairly recent history...
SIMO THE HOUND ( Simon Affleck)
Simon Affleck (ca. 1660 – 1725) was a Swedish tax official, of Scottish descent, who worked in then Swedish-ruled Finland. He had been appointed by the King of Sweden to collect taxes in the Pielisjärvi region, and also paid the rent of his mansion in Pielisjärvi to the King. His probable grandfather Hillebrand or Gilbert Affleck was born in Scotland and was a burgess in Turku and inspector of gunpowder factories. Affleck is said to have been a ruthless collector of taxes with little pity towards the poor Finnish peasants. This, and the large and ferocious dog he kept as a pet, earned him the nickname Simo Hurtta (hurtta is Finnish for hound).
Affleck died in 1725 after the Greater Wrath. He is said to have shot himself in the head in his mansion to deny the Finnish peasants raiding his mansion the satisfaction of killing him.
------So says the english Wikipedia about Simo the Hound. I have lived for about a year in this town, which used to be called “Pielisjärvi”, and for a year I have been searching to learn about this person, whose name appears in street-signs and in the map in various locations – who everyone knows by name, yet doesn’t’ know about, or remember. This is one of the stories that are nearly forgotten. The locals do not know or care much nowadays, and to find out what Simo the Hound was really about, I had to dig into various sources. Some from the internet, and many pieces from the library and filed documents, I have found little scraps of knowledge. Enough of them to tell you his story. That story doesn’t lack in drama and twists. And most importantly, it is true.
We dive back to the 1600s… Hold on! .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The Great Northern War raged between Sweden and Russia, leaving the eastern border of Sweden (Finland) in great danger. The whole Pielisjärvi region lacked a defence system, unless we count in an old wooden fort that is badly decayed. The war brought harship to peasants aswell as their masters. Taxes had to be collected to build new fortifications. To answer to the demands of the harsh times, Simon Affleck was sent to the region, to assist tax renter Salomon Ehnberg with his duties.
1680 Affleck acted as the collector of taxes under Salomon Ehnberg. From his arrival, he was known as a brutal and merciless man who showed no kindness to the peasants whom he milked the taxes from. He gained his title “The Hound” by keeping a large hound with him that he used to terrorize people, but there are many more stories about his greed, cruelty and lust. On one case of court records where Affleck argues with a man over a barrel of pipeweed, he breaks his opponents hand with a measuring scales hook.
Muurisaari – “Wall island” is said to have received it’s name because Affleck buried unwilling tax-payers alive into the stone walls of the ruins. – however, the location hasn’t been studied to confirm this.
Neitijoki “Maiden river” has by story received it’s name from a young woman drowning herself after begin claimed by Affleck.
It is told that Affleck stole vicar Herkepaeus’ daughter, Anna, and later on forced the vicar to marry them. Although it is not clearly so stated in any documents, this may well be true. Atleast Affleck was married to Anna, and there was ever great hatred and rivalry between vicar Herkepaeus and his notorious son in law. The vicar and the tax collector were in such hot terms that they shot eachother across the river.
1696 Ehnberg retired, and Affleck became the official tax renter. The timing couldn’t have been worse, because the years 1695-1697 are known as the great years of Death. Due to climatic changes and bad harvests on those years, every second person in the region died of hunger. Despite the desperate times, Affleck collected his taxes in full measure. This may be because of the very inflexible taxing system, that made him responsible for delivering certain amounts to the Swedish rule, despite the conditions. However, no one can deny that the Hound bit harder than was reasonable. He drove badly succeeding people from their homesteads, out to join the hordes of the starving, and replaced them with those more suitable to fufill their purpose on the farms. On the autumn of 1696 when he arrived to the village of Haapajärvi for Taxing, angered peasants turned against him and drove him and his officials away with violence. 1697 The Hound returned to Haapajärvi the following year, and ran into two ambushes, of which he escaped without major injury. December 1697 the peasants raided his mansion in the town of Nurmes, led by farmer Markku Ikonen who was at that time 60 years old, but apparently in good enough shape to lead a raid and rip the lock off Affleck’s door. Quite an achievement for a man of that age in those times. After raiding Nurmes, the riot tried to claim Affleck’s house in Lieksa. This time Affleck was able to defend his belongings with 14 men. Later on he got assistance form the military, and captured the head-men of the riot – Ikonens included. Ten of those who partaked in the riot were sentenced to death and sent to Käkisalmi-fortress for execution. However the complaints of the tax-official’s behavior were heard in Käkisalmi, and put under investigations - The captured kept their lives. House Ikonen became the worst opponent of Affleck since, and despite trying to get rid of this stubborn family in various ways, the Hound is told to have sighed in the end “The devil can rip a tree off it’s roots, but not bend one stubborn peasant.”
1700 The Great Northern War stirred the border-zones. Affleck was named as town-lieutenant. He made border treaty with the Russians, and restored the old wooden fort of Pielisjärvi defence-ready. He also established a force of 38 men for security – his own. After all he couldn’t trust the peasants any longer. He paid this defence force with his own money. Ripped from the peasan’ts ski, ofcourse.
Simon Affleck's neck-shield. (most likely. Gifted to he museum by the descendants of people who raided his houses)
1708 Another bad harvest. During the hungry winter the peasants grew desperate and broke the border-treaty made by Affleck. Their purpose was to raid, and taunt the enemy to attack Affleck’s fortifications. The peasants didn’t even care for the fact that their own lives would be in danger, if the enemy was to attack their land. So dire was their need to get rid of their evil master. During the raid the towns behind the border were demanded to come and burn the courthouse of Pielisjärvi, and it was openly said that it was the purpose of this raid. However, no counter-attack happened just yet.. 1710 When nothing happened for a while, the peasants grew anxious and started a new riot against Affleck. The Hound saved himself and escaped the town. That winter Sweden had some bad luck in war against Russia, and now the forces were steadily rolling over the border with invading purposes. The russians were closing to Pielisjärvi while Affleck was away, and vicar Herkepaeus took lead of town and his willing herd. The town announced loyalty to Russia, and moved under rusian rule even before the army arrived. This way the people had officially got rid of their former master. The situation in Pielisjärvi had grown so unstable that Affleck had desided to evacuate his belongings. He sent his wife and children ahead to his house in Sotkamo, and turned back to claim his property. With the help of 30 soldiers, 1 book-keeper and one farmhand, he was able to break the force of hundreds of peasants and take back his mansion – atleast for a while. 1711 Affleck was in no position to stay in Pielisjärvi. He tried once this year to collect taxes in the area, but only once. After this he collected his treasures, burned his mansion and moved to his Family in Sotkamo.
1712 A peculiar “Crop war” began near Sotkamo. Finnish toll-officials had taken to custody a remarkable amount of crops from Russians who were trying to smuggle them into the finnish market. The Russians desided to avenge loosing their crops. An assault began, during which three towns were destroyed, people robbed and raped and 60 houses and 3 churches burned. During this time Affleck was assigned on the duties of a border-captain in southern parts. He was away from his house in Sotkamo. When the Russian forces were closing to Sotkamo, a local peasant Retu Sormunen went on skiis to meet them half the way, and point the to Affleck’s house. The house was raided and Affleck’s wife and seven children taken hostage. The Russians didn’t burn the house, but when the region commendant Silverbagge heard about the occuranse, he gave an order to burn it after the russians had left. Apparently they didn’t like Affleck either.
1721 The Russian occupation ended 1721 and the land moved back under Swedish rule and order. Official and church returned to their steads – So did Simon Affleck. Afflleck’s wife Anna Herkepaeus and two children had died in captivity in Russia. The rest of his years Affleck continued his harships against the finnish peasants and the church in Pielisjärvi, from where he left the at year 1712. The golden age of tax renters had ended, however, because their rights were diminished.
1725 Simon Affleck shot himself to the head 9.5.1725, on a ferryboat in the middle of a river. I haven't found any further detail on the circumstances, but it seems to be under distress, perhaps he was trapped on the ferry by another riot.
His death caused conflict aswell, because a suicide candidate couldn’t’ be blessed to the grave like any other, and so Affleck wasn’t buried before 29.3. the next year.
May he rest in peace for a long time
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Post by buxom9sorceress on Jun 12, 2016 16:31:42 GMT -5
Hi Venaala, Many thanks for all your info in here. i am enjoying it all. More witch & supernatural info are always welcomed by me. Please post more when you can? ==== [ i bet your local librarians are most helpful when you show up wielding that huge sword, in your avatar? ]
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Post by deuce on Jul 14, 2016 12:47:58 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 13:25:02 GMT -5
WITCHES, SEERS & SHAMANS
”Among the people of Pohjanmaa and Peräpohjola (Mid-west Finland) there are seers and witches everywhere, as if it was their homeland.” – Olaus Magnus, Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus, 1555.
1930. Strange things are happening in modern Helsinki. In the natural spring of Tattarisuo swamp, an astonishing amount of human remains are found. Hands, heads and feet, severed from the body. These body-parts alarm the locals and get the attention of media abroad aswell. Headlines scream of ritual murders and occultism! Finally, the quilty are brought to justice. A small circle of witches, living in the suburb of Kallio. They took the body-parts from a nearby cemetary, and performed a ritual, in which these body parts were sunken into the spring. Their motive was to provoke wealth and fortune. The crowd goes “Oh…” and the occurance is soon forgotten. Nobody was murdered, and anyway, sinking things into natural springs for magical purposes is fairly common. Isn’t it? Indeed, natural springs play a very big part in finnish magic. I know one trick, where sinking the garments of a sick person into a particular spring, will heal the sickness. Not too far from me is located “The Spring of the water of life”. I have seen it on the map, but not found it in the forest. Maybe it only appears on midsummers night? Another nearby spring is known for it’s magic aswell. You can find coins in the botton of it. I do not know what that one does, though…
Anyhow, what I mean to demonstrate with this story is, how common such spells are, and how many people know their means and tricks. Nearly every finnish family has a seer, witch, shaman, or a chanting grandmother in their family tree. What comes to the public image, however, Finland is astonishly rational a community, - and wants to remain that way. To be ridiculed would be the worst thing that could happen! Such things as witchcraft are left entirely outside historical writings.
Still, one doesn’t have to scratch the surface for a lot, before findind...somethign wicked.
From my own part, I can proudly say, that I have a witch in my family too. Noita Penttinen – my great grandfather, who was skilled in blood-stopping, and spelled his neighbors cattle into “veil of the forest” – from where they were never found. He was in rivalry with seer and cunning woman called Mateli Kuivalatar, who is more famous, because she met Elias Lönnrot.
But there are other famous witches found in my area too, if you go further back in time. Ukko Kinolainen (1700’s) was told to be capable of raising the dead. He was so powerful, that springs began to boil when he walked near. Others that I have heard of mention are Vaara-Jaska Eronen and Höljäkän-noita Eskelinen. Of their deeds I have no details. I’ll have to do more research.
Anyhow, these witches lived within 50mile radius from my home, and wherever you go in Finland, you will find stories of local witches, what they did, and how they are related to those people who still live there.
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LOUHI Once more, we start from Kalevala. Louhi is described as a powerful and evil witch queen ruling over the northern realm of Pohjola, with the ability to change shape and weave mighty enchantments. She is also the main opponent of Väinämöinenn, the Gandalf of Kalevala ( =P ) Like Väinämöinen, she is in some stories said to be of ancient origin, and born from the ethereal Sickness-maiden , bred by the ancient monster Iku-Turso. Louhi herself crafts sickness and disease, which she then sends upon her rivals and enemies.
She is portrayed just lovely in this cute old film here =)
In Kalevala, Louhi is famous for tricking the suitors that come to claim one of her daughters. Ilmarinen forges Sampo – the mill of wealth, and wins over the daughter. But as Pohjola’s riches grow, Kalevala grows poorer, and eventually the heroes deside to take Sampo back from Pohjola. In the battle over Sampo, Louhi’s spells consists of such as: Forming thick fog, Summoning Iku-Turso, , summoning a storm, and transforming herself into a monstrous bird.
In the same book she also sends frost to Kalevala, hides the sun, moon, and steals the fire from them, and breeds the 9 deadly diseases.
We could easily call her the mother of all evil, in finnish mythology.
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SHAMANS OF LAPLAND Noaidis, Sámi shaman, were traditionally the healers and protectors. They are most famous for their witch-drums, that you can now buy in convenient plastic from every tourist shop in Lapland!
Noaidis are said to have the role of mediator between humans and the spirits. Sacrifices were designed by the noaidi to reestablish the balance between the mortal and immortal worlds. A noadi often had spirit helpers and companions to do their bidding, and could this way either cause a lot of good or evil.
They were also known for the out-of-body travel – moving between worlds, time and space, was their thing. That also gave them a bad reputation as thieves, because they could easily steal what they needed from far-away places, or without being seen. One story tells of a traveler going to Lapland, and seeing his brother’s knife there. His brother had thrown it into the field. The Shaman told, that it had hit him to the leg. French writer Jean Francois Regnard travelled to Tornio, year 1681, and documented his meeting with a Lappish noadi. The skeptic Regnard describes the meeting like this:
“The Laplander took his drum and began to beat it, and squirm like possessed. We asked him, if he could tell us, if our mothers and fathers were still alive. The question was difficult, because there were three of us. One has a mother still alive, the other has a father alive, and the third didn’t have either alive. Our shaman told this to us precisely and passed our test. None of the travelers with us knew these details, and couldn’t have told this information to the Laplander.”
The Catholic priests accused Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden, for using Shamans of Lapland in the 30-year war. Several Sámi shamanistic beliefs and practices were similar to those of some Siberian cultures.
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OTHER SEERS From 1930 to the 70’s, Finland had it’s own official seer. Aino Kassinen. She received an endless queue of politicians and celebrities. Some of still famous people of today, like Vesa-Matti Loiri , were her pupils. Rumors tell, that Kassinen’s abilities were taken advantage of during winter- and continuation war. Marshall Mannerheim took her councel, aswell as Precident Risto Ryti and his wife Gerda. Gerda Ryti was immensely interested in the occult and translated spiritual texts.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 13:55:35 GMT -5
WITCHES, SEERS & SHAMANS
”Among the people of Pohjanmaa and Peräpohjola (Mid-west Finland) there are seers and witches everywhere, as if it was their homeland.” – Olaus Magnus, Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus, 1555.
1930. Strange things are happening in modern Helsinki. In the natural spring of Tattarisuo swamp, an astonishing amount of human remains are found. Hands, heads and feet, severed from the body. These body-parts alarm the locals and get the attention of media abroad aswell. Headlines scream of ritual murders and occultism! Finally, the quilty are brought to justice. A small circle of witches, living in the suburb of Kallio. They took the body-parts from a nearby cemetary, and performed a ritual, in which these body parts were sunken into the spring. Their motive was to provoke wealth and fortune. The crowd goes “Oh…” and the occurance is soon forgotten. Nobody was murdered, and anyway, sinking things into natural springs for magical purposes is fairly common. Isn’t it? Indeed, natural springs play a very big part in finnish magic. I know one trick, where sinking the garments of a sick person into a particular spring, will heal the sickness. Not too far from me is located “The Spring of the water of life”. I have seen it on the map, but not found it in the forest. Maybe it only appears on midsummers night? Another nearby spring is known for it’s magic aswell. You can find coins in the botton of it. I do not know what that one does, though…
Anyhow, what I mean to demonstrate with this story is, how common such spells are, and how many people know their means and tricks. Nearly every finnish family has a seer, witch, shaman, or a chanting grandmother in their family tree. What comes to the public image, however, Finland is astonishly rational a community, - and wants to remain that way. To be ridiculed would be the worst thing that could happen! Such things as witchcraft are left entirely outside historical writings.
Still, one doesn’t have to scratch the surface for a lot, before findind...somethign wicked.
From my own part, I can proudly say, that I have a witch in my family too. Noita Penttinen – my great grandfather, who was skilled in blood-stopping, and spelled his neighbors cattle into “veil of the forest” – from where they were never found. He was in rivalry with seer and cunning woman called Mateli Kuivalatar, who is more famous, because she met Elias Lönnrot.
But there are other famous witches found in my area too, if you go further back in time. Ukko Kinolainen (1700’s) was told to be capable of raising the dead. He was so powerful, that springs began to boil when he walked near. Others that I have heard of mention are Vaara-Jaska Eronen and Höljäkän-noita Eskelinen. Of their deeds I have no details. I’ll have to do more research.
Anyhow, these witches lived within 50mile radius from my home, and wherever you go in Finland, you will find stories of local witches, what they did, and how they are related to those people who still live there.
--------------------
LOUHI Once more, we start from Kalevala. Louhi is described as a powerful and evil witch queen ruling over the northern realm of Pohjola, with the ability to change shape and weave mighty enchantments. She is also the main opponent of Väinämöinenn, the Gandalf of Kalevala ( =P ) Like Väinämöinen, she is in some stories said to be of ancient origin, and born from the ethereal Sickness-maiden , bred by the ancient monster Iku-Turso. Louhi herself crafts sickness and disease, which she then sends upon her rivals and enemies.
In Kalevala, Louhi is famous for tricking the suitors that come to claim one of her daughters. Ilmarinen forges Sampo – the mill of wealth, and wins over the daughter. But as Pohjola’s riches grow, Kalevala grows poorer, and eventually the heroes deside to take Sampo back from Pohjola. In the battle over Sampo, Louhi’s spells consists of such as: Forming thick fog, Summoning Iku-Turso, , summoning a storm, and transforming herself into a monstrous bird.
In the same book she also sends frost to Kalevala, hides the sun, moon, and steals the fire from them, and breeds the 9 deadly diseases.
We could easily call her the mother of all evil, in finnish mythology.
-------------------------------------
SHAMANS OF LAPLAND Noaidis, Sámi shaman, were traditionally the healers and protectors. They are most famous for their witch-drums, that you can now buy in convenient plastic from every tourist shop in Lapland!
Noaidis are said to have the role of mediator between humans and the spirits. Sacrifices were designed by the noaidi to reestablish the balance between the mortal and immortal worlds. A noadi often had spirit helpers and companions to do their bidding, and could this way either cause a lot of good or evil.
They were also known for the out-of-body travel – moving between worlds, time and space, was their thing. That also gave them a bad reputation as thieves, because they could easily steal what they needed from far-away places, or without being seen. One story tells of a traveler going to Lapland, and seeing his brother’s knife there. His brother had thrown it into the field. The Shaman told, that it had hit him to the leg. French writer Jean Francois Regnard travelled to Tornio, year 1681, and documented his meeting with a Lappish noadi. The skeptic Regnard describes the meeting like this:
“The Laplander took his drum and began to beat it, and squirm like possessed. We asked him, if he could tell us, if our mothers and fathers were still alive. The question was difficult, because there were three of us. One has a mother still alive, the other has a father alive, and the third didn’t have either alive. Our shaman told this to us precisely and passed our test. None of the travelers with us knew these details, and couldn’t have told this information to the Laplander.”
The Catholic priests accused Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden, for using Shamans of Lapland in the 30-year war. Several Sámi shamanistic beliefs and practices were similar to those of some Siberian cultures.
-------------------------------------------------------
OTHER SEERS From 1930 to the 70’s, Finland had it’s own official seer. Aino Kassinen. She received an endless queue of politicians and celebrities. Some of still famous people of today, like Vesa-Matti Loiri , were her pupils. Rumors tell, that Kassinen’s abilities were taken advantage of during winter- and continuation war. Marshall Mannerheim took her councel, aswell as Precident Risto Ryti and his wife Gerda. Gerda Ryti was immensely interested in the occult and translated spiritual texts.
TO BE CONTINUED....
Very interesting Venaala. The Sámi shaman's drum is very similar to the shaman drums of Siberia, Altai and Mongolia. Sami shamanic drum in the Arktikum Science Museum, in Rovaniemi, Finland "A shaman (sorcerer) of Altai" a Russian postcard from 1908.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 14:24:00 GMT -5
Very interesting Venaala. The Sámi shaman's drum is very similar to the shaman drums of Siberia, Altai and Mongolia. Sami shamanic drum in the Arktikum Science Museum, in Rovaniemi, Finland "A shaman (sorcerer) of Altai" a Russian postcard from 1908.
Yep!
Finns/Sami people and Siberians share the same linquistic dialects, and a lot of customs and rituals in common, like the worship of a bear and the "Feast of the Bear" - tradition. Not sure when and how they got separated, but they seem to have shared background, somewhere very, very far in history.... I can't help but bring back the whole "Hyperborea" theme again. Sorry Deuce! This time I am talking about a whole different Hyperborea - the Hyperborea of Herodotos, from Greek mythology. The story tells about a kingdom, where sun shined 24/7 and people lived without war and hard work. The people ate well and grew 3 metres tall. Sun shining all night long can only happen beyond the Arctic Circle. There isn't a lot left on guessing about that. Borea means northern wind in Greece. Scholars believed Herodotos' Hyperborea to be located in Siberia, because he placed it somewhere in Northern Asia.
Anyhow, back to the witch drums! The Sami drums had the layer that portrayed 3 worlds aswell. The upper world, middle world and underworld. Most of the attention so far has been centered of the layer of the drum, but there are markings inside the drum, I the drum's structure too, that seem important. So there are more "levels" and "layers" to the drum than just the surface. Sadly, there are no living shamans anymore, who could explain what they mean and how to read the drum. It'll remain forever a mystery!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 15:04:46 GMT -5
Yep!
Finns/Sami people and Siberians share the same linquistic dialects, and a lot of customs and rituals in common, like the worship of a bear and the "Feast of the Bear" - tradition. Not sure when and how they got separated, but they seem to have shared background, somewhere very, very far in history.... I can't help but bring back the whole "Hyperborea" theme again. Sorry Deuce! This time I am talking about a whole different Hyperborea - the Hyperborea of Herodotos, from Greek mythology. The story tells about a kingdom, where sun shined 24/7 and people lived without war and hard work. The people ate well and grew 3 metres tall. Sun shining all night long can only happen beyond the Arctic Circle. There isn't a lot left on guessing about that. Borea means northern wind in Greece. Scholars believed Herodotos' Hyperborea to be located in Siberia, because he placed it somewhere in Northern Asia.
Anyhow, back to the witch drums! The Sami drums had the layer that portrayed 3 worlds aswell. The upper world, middle world and underworld. Most of the attention so far has been centered of the layer of the drum, but there are markings inside the drum, I the drum's structure too, that seem important. So there are more "levels" and "layers" to the drum than just the surface. Sadly, there are no living shamans anymore, who could explain what they mean and how to read the drum. It'll remain forever a mystery!
Yeah, it is a shame that the old ways are disappearing. When tribes converted to the major religions like Christianity, Islam or Buddhism, the role of the shaman was at best diminished or worst demonized. During the soviet era shaman drums were destroyed and shamanism was practiced by Siberian peoples in secrecy from the authorities. The Soviets also took away Siberian children to be assimilated in Russian boarding schools. Once you can not speak your mother tongue, that connection not only to your family and tribe is lost, but to a whole way of life. The languages of these peoples, at least from my experience are a lot more expressive and nuanced towards nature and the spiritual world. For example a Yakut or Altai will sing like a bird, mimic the sounds of nature. To a Siberian, the mountains, valleys, steppes and surroundings take on a different significance. In comparison, the Uzbeks and Turkmen are linguistically related to the Altai people, but they live in towns and cities and adopted the Islamic religion. They don't get it anymore, their spiritual vocabulary is reduced, the words are no longer necessary, and the new religion, in this case Islam provides that role. The Uzbek lyrics tend to be generic love songs or Pop songs from Turkey etc... The spiritual connection has long been severed, which is a shame.
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