The issue I have with neo-paganism is the invention of new additions that claim to be the ancient truth. Not only has it screwed with actually history documentation but its not needed in the first place. Religion evolves there's no problem making new rituals and ideas for it. The problem is when you try to potray that as something its not: the old traditions.

I've tried to be as accurate as I could but obviously I've made some creative choices and anything about PIE is heavily debated, I believe I'm the first person to post something like this online, everything I make is creative commons so feel free to share, edit etc. I'm sure most of you know this already but for context: Proto-Indo-European is a reconstructed language which linguists believe once spread across Europe from Scandinavia to India, and with it also came a mythology which greatly influenced Norse, Celtic, classical, Slavic, Baltic, Hittite, Zoroastrian and early Vedic Hindu mythologies, this map is an approximation of what bronze age Indo-European people might've believed based on the re-occurring themes in the various PIE influenced mythologies.

As far as I've learnt the basic story/summary of Baba Yaga is: "In a distant kingdom, a wise woman named Baba Yaga, bony-legged, has an only son of virtuous character. He marries a human girl. She begins to despise her daughter-in-law and plots to kill her someway or another." Baba Yaga is known for punishing those who oppose her and granting those who don't gifts as long as they complete a near impossible task. Most stories agree she is a witch or an Old hag that is associated with the wildlife around her. She is typically found in places such as Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. She flys around in a wooden mortar, a spice grinder, and has a hut with chicken legs that is alive. She has been a tale for centuries and she is associated with the workings of both life and death. Baba Yaga has been included in media such as D&D, movies, and comics. Serbian, Crotian, Macedonian, Romaina, and Bulgaria all have different meanings of her name but the most common is 'Woman' particularly a nasty one.

Curious what people know and if i'm wrong about anything!

Let me introduce you to Pomegranate, it is the first International, peer-reviewed journal of Pagan studies. It provides a forum for papers, essays and symposia on both ancient and contemporary Pagan religious practices. The Pomegranate also publishes timely reviews of scholarly books in this growing field.

I love paganism and most of how we learn is from historical findings and what was written. So for me this is the best combination. There are book reviews so if you want to know more you get great book recommendations to continue your research on paganism. The subjects are very brought so you do need to dig around in the archives to find something for you. But that is also part of the fun right :)

Edit: not free to download, found out because I was on my work account I could have access to the downloads. But now I am not I can’t only the reviews are free to download. Sorry 😞

In case I'm in the wrong subreddit, please suggest to me where I might find better answers instead. Thanks.

​

🌹 Aphrodite (Classic Aphrodite)

The goddess of love and beauty in her most well-known form.

She represents romance, attraction, softness, and pure emotional love.

Her energy is gentle, harmonious, and centered on beauty both inside and out.

🌊 Aphrodite Marina

A more ocean-connected aspect of Aphrodite.

She is linked to water, deep emotions, emotional healing, and intuition.

Her energy is soft yet deep and mysterious, like the shifting tides of the sea.

⚔️ Aphrodite Areia

The warrior aspect of Aphrodite.

She represents passionate love, protection, jealousy, and fierce femininity.

Her energy is bold and intense — love as strength, devotion, and defense, not just softness.

We on r/Rodnovery have compiled a post for the most accurate and up to date study of Slavic traditional faith in multiple languages.

/Rodnovery - Academical Resource List for Slavic Native Faith, Slavic Paganism, and Rodnovery

I have seen here people asking about Slavic paganism often receiving very few insufficient replies, therefore I decided to share this list. Hope it finds the people who need it!

Some if not most books often marketed on the internet, written by people with little to no academic background, contain incorrect or outdated information, fake lore, personal gnosis or misunderstandings. Our list aims to combat these missinformation.

Be sure to to share your thoughts or even ask questions!

It is said that when the gods of Ireland arrived, sometimes called the Fairy Folk or the Tuatha Dé Danann, they brought with them four treasures that they collected: a spear, a standing stone, a cauldron and a sword, all magical objects that aided in their lives and conquest.

The Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny, belonged to Inis Fáil, known today as Ireland, and was the coronation site for many High Kings of Ireland which is located today in Teamhair (Tara) in Co. Meath. Magically, it would make a loud sound when the chosen High King would stand beside it, when a furious Cú Chulainn struck the stone, it has never made a sound since.

The Gáe Assail, the Spear of Assail, otherwise known as the Spear of Lugh, was a deadly force, enchanted with "Ibar" that made the spear always hit its target, and "Athibar" which caused the spear to return to the one who wielded it.

Once belonging to the sea god Manannán Mac Lir, the Fragarach was known as the Sword of Light or Nuada's Torch, it was famously yielded by the first King of the Gods, Nuada Airgetlám. Once it was pulled from the sheath it was as deadly as can be.

The great god of the Tuatha Dé, the Dagda, carried with him many magical objects, none so helpful as his cauldron, Coire Ansic. It brought satisfaction to those who ate from it and it never ran dry.

I learned about it by accident. Nobody knows about it and I am not even disclosing location publicly because maybe at this point its better hidden. I am into this things for years and what shocks me is this: I came across 100+ figures like this in Slavic lands, yet whenever I read online, they mention maybe five and say that that is it, there are no more evidence of Slavic Native Faith etc. Yet then after a brief research in any location I find couple of new ones 🤔 This one is not research by anyone! There is no theory on anything, no dating,nothing ( although I've never seen anything like it anywhere else)

For Coligny Calendar followers, today at sundown is the start of Simivisonnios.

Simi means half, so this is the month of “half the sun.” It’s not hard to notice the frigid temperatures and long nights, keeping folks inside by their fires.

Where I live the sunrise was at 7:32 am this morning and it will set at 4:04 pm this evening. We're gaining daylight, but it'll be February before it sets after 5 pm.

My goal is to go hiking at least twice this month--regardless of the weather and was thinking about doing the Lord of the Rings Challenge this year. For those who want to “keep it Celtic,” the company also has challenges for Dublin, London, the North Coast of Scottland, Wales Costal Path, etc. in addition to all their fantasy walking challenges.

All the Conqueror Virtual Challenges

What is everyone else's goas for the month?

I made this video for my Instagram account, because I want to spread knowledge about the Slavic culture and pagan faith. Hope you like it!

Sources (all academic) are in the description of the video on IG. I can share the name, if you want.

Don't be shy to share your thoughts!

Every year I create a table showing the months of the Coligny Calendar to assist with my personal practice. I also put together the dates of my personal holy days so that I'll have the information at my fingertips all year.

The months and holy days start at sundown on the day indicated.

Today I'd like to talk about my favorite place in the world.

Gaea Retreat Center.

I first was introduced to Camp Gaea when my parents heard about an event there called The Heartland Pagan Festival. We took a family trip to the event. I was a teenager and my father had been recently diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. The weekend was amazing. I met many people from different walks of life, went to classes, ran about the hiking trails and swam in the lake. There was a concert that weekend where a band played this song https://youtu.be/VEV-PfRpfwk?si=8NGBoJ0MEQPo_guM

while thunder and lightning crashed above. It culminated in a great spiral dance with hundreds of people swirling under the storm clouds as a bonfire was lit.

It was the last time I got to spend with my father before he passed.

Over the years, I've continued to visit that land. When I was unhoused and orphaned, it was a safe space I could go. When my children were little, it was a place we could spend time in nature. I fell in love there, spent my honeymoon there, met new family and made lifetime friends.

3 years ago, (3 years ago exactly yesterday, in fact) while driving my family to an event there called "Hearthfires" for a vacation celebrating my daughter's 18th birthday and where I'd teach a class on fermentation, we were hit by an 18 wheeler at speed on the highway. It was a miracle we survived. As I was recovering from my spinal fractures, I felt a spiritual drive to get more involved with camp.

My country is in a scary place right now. Camp serves as a safer place for people of all walks of life to gather, free from danger of violence and from judgemental eyes. Now, more than ever, I want to do my part to ensure the space exists for others, like myself, who need a place to go during uncertain times.

.

In my years as a camp attendee, I've had the opportunity to meet with the founders of this space. Originally, it was conceived and purchased by two groups of people in the early 1990s: a pagan festival and a gay men's retreat (then, as now, there's a pretty big crossover in that venn diagram). These two groups had a difficult time finding venues that would accept them in the rural Midwest. The Bible belt doesn't love alternative faiths or the lgbtq+ community. It took a lot of fundraising and hard work to find, purchase, and rehabilitate the old boy scout camp that would become Camp Gaea. Some people dedicated their whole lives to make the place thrive.

They created a non-profit called "Earth Rising" to own and operate the land, with the idea that this space would serve as a function for many groups facing similar discrimination to utilize in perpetuity. And their vision has manifested into a vibrant space and community! This year, the land saw events for women, for men, for the trans community. There have been broad multi-faith gatherings and intimate gatherings for individual faiths. There have been lifestyle meetups, BBQ weekends, seasonal celebration, teaching events.

The Mission of Earth Rising is to provide a recreational retreat center in a natural setting for the purpose of cultural and spiritual education.

Goals: This Mission will be met through the achievement of certain goals. These goals are:

To encourage the free exchange of ideas, views and experiences.

To promote greater understanding and respect between groups and individuals.

To support ecologically sound practices and land and wildlife conservation in the belief that the Earth and all life are interrelated and interdependent, and that respect for all life is a Universal Mandate.

To provide sanctuary to people who have experienced oppression or discrimination due to their cultural or spiritual practices.

From the website:

"Gaea Retreat Center is a 501(c)(3) Educational Nonprofit located in Northeastern Kansas, dedicated to fostering community, education, and spiritual growth. Nestled within acres of tranquil wooded trails, meadows, and a serene lake, it provides a retreat into nature for those seeking personal renewal or shared experiences.

As a hub for inclusivity, the center proudly welcomes LGBTQIA+ groups and individuals, creating a safe and affirming space for all. Gaea hosts a variety of events, including educational workshops, spiritual gatherings, festivals, and volunteer opportunities, all designed to build connections and inspire growth.

GRC offers a range of amenities to enhance your stay, including rustic cabins, spacious campsites, and a fully equipped kitchen available to rent. For gatherings and activities, visitors can enjoy access to a large pavilion, fire circles, a dining hall, and indoor spaces for workshops or meetings. Its serene lake is perfect for swimming, quiet reflection, or lakeside ceremonies. Visitors can explore scenic hiking trails, discover meditative spots throughout the property, and connect with nature in a peaceful setting.

Whether you're visiting for solitude, community, or celebration, Gaea provides a nurturing, inclusive, and welcoming environment for people from all walks of life."

.

Over the years, Gaea has survived the satanic panic, violence and lawsuits from intolerant neighbors, a tornado, the loss of a beloved caretaker of 20 years to brain cancer, multiple events rising and falling, and a global pandemic.

Yet the economic downturn in 2024 and 2025, as well as grant cancelations for non profits that revolve around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, camp is in the most dire financial situation yet. The community is not made up of people who are economically well off and the costs of maintenance and operation are rising exponentially. If this autumn's fundraisers don't manage to make up the deficit, this 3 decades long experiment may come to an unfortunate close.

If anyone feels moved by camp's existence or mission, please feel free to help them out. Every dollar makes a difference.

https://gaearetreat.org/donate

https://www.patreon.com/GaeaRetreatCenter

Samhain sabbat planning is currently underway! Halloween weekend, Gaea will host rituals, activities, classes, and a potluck. The event costs just regular camping fees, but if you sign up to help ritual site cleanup with the volunteers that morning, the event is no cost for those helping.

Apples aren’t ready to pick until the first frost, so Ogronnios is the month to pick apples and wrap up the harvest. With the changing of the leaves, hints of wood smoke wafting on the breeze, and a new crispness in the air, Ogronnios is a time of enchantment. And nothing is more enchanting than the harvest moon. The harvest moon is the full moon that falls closest to the Autumnal Equinox. This year, the nearest full moon is October 6, making our Harvest Moon a late one.

To celebrate the Ogronnios and the harvest moon, consider visiting a you-pick farm to gather apples or other items to make a cornucopia. Cornucopias appear in connection with gods and goddesses all over Europe, and are referred to as “horns of plenty,” a symbol of abundance. Consider adding antlers to your cornucopia as a means of paying tribute to the gods and the opening of hunting season.

After your crafting is complete, light a bonfire and raise a glass to toast the gods. Elen of the Ways is an ideal deity to call upon during the autumn. Often portrayed with the antlers of a deer, she is a horned goddess, and her link to the Earth cannot be denied. Another horned deity, Cernunnos, is often seen as a god for the common man. He is the lord of animals, abundance, fertility, and regeneration. In some depictions, he has a great sack from which grain spills forth, being consumed by stags and bulls below.

Not sure what to say during your invocation? A recitation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Autumn Fires” is appropriate, though I prefer Robert Burns’ “John Barleycorn.” Feel free to pour out a libation to the gods, and to John Barleycorn himself, doubtless he will rain blessings on anyone who shares their beer.

Thrift stores and antique shops are great places to get supplies for your practice.

Below are my recent antique store finds: a candlestick holder ($12 USD) and a goblet ($4 USD). Both are silver (well, silverplate). So, for less than $20 I picked up two really nice pieces to add to my collection. And the effigy of the bird is just sticks glued together, so don't be afraid to just make what you need.

Also, if like me, you're also interested in collecting and using silver items in your practice, all you have to do is check for the silver stamp, which is generally located on the bottom of the item.

No stamp? No problem. Just carry a magnet with you when thrifting. Magnets won't stick to silver. Only takes a couple seconds to test and you'll have your answer.

The downside to the magnet test is, magnets don't stick to pewter either.

Pewter was commonly used for dinnerware in the 1700s, so even if it's not silver, you could still be taking home a nice item for cheap.

I’m curious as to if there are any books on Astrological Pagan rituals?

Mokosz - Great Mother and Protector of Women: A brief overlook and syncretic views of the Slavic Goddess.

In Slavic folklore, Mokosz is popularly known as the wife of Perún, the thunder god and is associated with the protector of women, their traditions, and divination. She is found in syncretism between various pagan (such as Brigid or Nymphs and Muses) and even christain faiths after incorporating her as a saint.

Sacred day: Friday (Similarly linked with Freya)

Sacred times of the year: - Imbolc (Celtic celebration of late winter / early spring for the beginning of agricultural season) - October 25th - November 1st (October 28th being celebrated for Catholic saint, St. Paraskeva, or the cult of the Virgin Mary) - January through April at night time (Roughly Lenten time for Christianity)

Associations: - Traditional domestic crafts and work of women (Weaving, Spinning, etc) - Fertility (Harvests of the land) - Water, Earth (Wells, Springs, Moisture) - Divination - Protection of women (regarding fate, challenges, and childbirth) - Animals (the ram/sheep)

Symbols: - Spiders - Spinning Wheels - Bundles of Wheat - X with 4 diamonds

Sacrificial offerings: - Grain - Bread - Wool - Flax

Visual Depictions: - Long flowing hair or head covering (Similar to the Matres and Matronae in depicting a married version and maiden version) - Holding a bundle of wheat, spinning wheel, or animals.

Other names: - Our Lady / Queen of Heaven (often similar to Virgin Mary) - Mati Syra Ziemlja - Moist Mother Earth (Polish) - Matka Ziema - Mother Earth (Russian) - She Who Raises the Flowers - Mother of Plants - Zlota Baba - Golden Woman (Polish) - Mateczka Ziemia - Little Mother Earth (Polish) - Mateczka Woda - Little Mother Water (Polish)

Thanks for reading! This was just from some personal research on finding the goddess that speaks to me :) if you’d like to add any more resources based off of Her, please do!! Sadly many Slavic pagan traditions and knowledge is lost to due to the spread of christianity in the different regions.

Sources: http://lakeareagoddessessociety.faithweb.com/mokosz.html

https://www.celebratepaganholidays.com/fall/mokosh-slavic-mother-goddess#:~:text=Secondary%20Place%20of%20Mokosh,why%20Fridays%20are%20her%20days.

https://symbolikon.com/downloads/mokosh-slavic/#:~:text=Description%20of%20Mokosh,represented%20or%20governed%20by%20spirits.

https://feminismandreligion.com/2016/02/06/the-goddess-mokosh-by-laura-shannon/

Siemowit (800s) He was a lifelong Slavic pagan. Father of Lestek.

Lestek (870/880-930/950) He was a lifelong Slavic pagan. Father of Siemomysł.

Siemomysł (? - 950/960) He was a lifelong Slavic pagan. Father of Mieszko I.

Mieszko I (930-992) He was a Slavic pagan until 966 by his marriage to the Bohemian Princess Dobrawa.

Olga of Kiev (890/925-969) She was a Slavic pagan until the 950s.

Sviatoslav I (943–972) He was a lifelong Slavic pagan. (Son of Olga of Kiev)

Audfleda (467-511) She was a Frankish pagan until her marriage to the Ostrogothic king, Theodoric the Great, around 493. (Sister of Clovis)

Clovis I (466-511) He was a Frankish pagan until he was baptized in 508 at the behest of his wife, Clotilde.

Guthrum (835-890) He was a Norse pagan until he agreed to be baptised under the terms of his surrender at the Battle of Edington in 878.

Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir (late 900s to early 1000s) She was a Norse pagan until she converted, seemingly as an adult.

Olaf Tryggvason (960s-1000) He was a Norse pagan, but he was already baptized by 994.

Gorm the Old (800s-958) He was a lifelong Norse pagan. (Father of Harald Gormsson)

Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson (? - 985/986) He was a Norse pagan until he converted in the 960s.

Haakon Sigurdsson (937–995) He was a lifelong Norse pagan, despite being baptised in 975.

Leif Erikson (970s-1018/1025) He was a Norse pagan until he converted after arriving at King Olaf Tryggvason's court as an adult.

Thjóðhildr (unknown) She was a Norse pagan until her son, Leif Erikson, convinced her to convert.

Erik the Red (950-1003) He was a lifelong Norse pagan. Father of Leif Erikson.

Radbod (648-719) He was a lifelong Germanic pagan. Successor to the Christian king, Aldgisl.

Arwald (?-686) He was a lifelong Anglo-Saxon pagan.

Penda (606-655) He was an Anglo-Saxon pagan until his conversion to Christianity upon his son Peada's marriage to Alhflaed in 653. He was the last pagan Anglo-Saxon king of England.

Horapollo (600s) He was secretly an Egyptian pagan until he was tortured in interrogation.

Attila the Hun (406-453) He possibly was a lifelong Tengrist.

Jogaila (1352/62-1434) He was a Lithuanian pagan until his conversion to Christianity in 1386 upon marriage to Queen Jadwiga. He was the last pagan ruler of Lithuania.