Veles idol in Kublov
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Who inspires more fear in our enemies and comfort in our own the 220-250lbs strong man or the 150lbs running man? - CG

Titania by Alexander Otto Stichart

4th Pumpkin in honor of The Bear Mother

The world of pagans and heathens knows a lot of folklore, deities and other spiritbeings. Some deities are very well known and honoured in a large part of Europe and others are more local. The Tribe of the Fox gave attention to Nehalennia (goddess of the Northsea) and to Baduhenna (Frisian wargoddess) and made interesting video's about them. The Antlered One made a video about Rübezahl, a being more known to the Silesian part of Europe. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EvQUUkEqZ8

Thank you Tribe of the Fox for sharing my video

Christianized Origin of the Jack'O Lantern-TAO

Perun Hill
Discover this pagan place at https://paganplaces.com/places/perun-hill/
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Veles, also known as Volos. Is the horned god, wandering trickster, and lord of the underworld for the slavs. He is a wildman and a wizard, a trickster and a gift giver. Next to or perhaps even surpassing Perun, Veles is one of the most widespread and honored gods of the Slavs. This is exemplified in how many saints were used to replace him. Not one, not two, but many saints were used in an attempt to cover up Veles. Including but not limited to: St. Vlasii, St Makarii, St. George, St. Blaise and even St. Nicholas. Veles is at times a contradictory god which is partly due to have many regional variants in his legends. With similar gods such as Berstuk, Leshy, Radegast, and Chernobog all at times being said to either be him or not. I tend to ere on the side of them all being different gods. Veles is in many ways the antithesis to Perun. Being earthy, wet, and beast like to the more heavenly Perun. A sort of Dionysus and Apollo differential.Though their relationship is much more volatile. With Veles and Perun often fighting to Veles' death though Veles arises again out of his corpse as a serpent. These fights vary with it being because he stole Dodola (Perun's Wife), Perun's son, or the heavenly cows (Clouds). It ends the same way with Veles defeated and the rain falling down. It is important to note that in this fight Veles takes the form of a dragon or serpent. An animal he is commonly associated with similar to the Cow and bear. In many fairy tales Veles turns into a dragon or is seen as a dragon. However he is most commonly with the exception of the southern slavs (In which he is associated with the wolf) with the bear. Which is known as the emperor of the forest. Tying into Veles' position as lord of the forest and wilderness. A king of beasts both great and small and capable of taking any of their forms.Veles is often considered a god associated with wetness especially the sea and bodies of water as the sea was seen as the passage to Nav the underworld of which Veles ruled over it. Though other tales give the lord of the underworld role to Chernobog as Veles travels between worlds too much to continuously rule over it. In this way Veles is a psychopomp a bringer of souls to their afterlife but he also brings ancestral souls to the surface to be reincarnated. Completing the cycle of death and rebirth. Veles is a bit of a womanizer or at the very least is attributed a different wife in each region. With Devana the goddess of the hunt (and possible bear mother of the slavs) being one such wife. Another is Morana the witch goddess that brings winter. Or Mokosh the matriarch and spinning goddess of the earth. But most famously is a tale that ties into his wandering and kingship of the underworld. That of his love for Baba Yaga. Baba yaga as a youth loved Veles but when she was poisoned by his mother Zemun the universe cow (essentially slavic Audhumbla) he bargained his life for her own and he became a wanderer between worlds. Baba Yaga lived but she grew old and due to Veles' act became a protector and mediator between worlds and grew bitter but never lacked for her wanting for Veles. Who despite his many children and supposed wives never let go of Baba Yaga in his heart.His position as a god closely tied to the afterlife is why one of his names is the Lord of Nav. With the Milky way being “Veles' hair” a reference to the hair that flows out of his stunning mane of hair. This is said to be one of the roads to the afterlife, Likewise the Pleadies is tied into the ancestors via it being a representation of Veles' daughters. Ursa Major is said to be where he keeps his hall. Tying back once again to his bear form that he is said to be often seen in. In comparison to his human form with bulls horns a reference to his mother.

He was originally far more associated with the bear but the cow focus for him became prominent under christianity which along with all the saints mentioned above, his more malevolent trickster aspects and status as being of the underworld caused him to be changed into an array of demons and the devil under Christian rule. However in his bear form Veles appears in many fairy tales and notably in some folklore a bear comes during the Yuletide/Koleda season. This Combined with some of Veles' holy days being the 12 days around Yule has made the argument him and Moroz may be the same though this is possibly a regional difference perhaps the same region that argue for the Morana marriage and that Veles is most powerful in winter. With Devana perhaps being where his persona as the bear god was most important and Makosh his agricultural pursuits. With the last part of the crop even being set aside for “Veles' beard”. Though this is not necessarily the case of how these supposed marriages break down, where and when he is married to each one.Oddly in another tale he is said to be the father of Yarillo the youthful spring god of the Slavs. Having impregnated Dodola by turning into a a lily of the valley and when she went to sniff it making her pregnant with the young god. Veles is also said to fight with Perun around the tree of life. With the Eagle shaped Perun roosting in the trees and the serpent shaped Perun fighting from the roots. Veles was also one of the seven gods who had a statue erected to honor him by Vladimir the first. Though like all said statues his was eventually destroyed. He was also a god of magic and was said to have drawn the ire of the more heavenly gods by teaching magic to man, especially that of Perun. As such Veles had many magical abilities most notably shape changing, able to change into any animal of the forest that he was lord of. He was also a god associated with Werewolves and Characterists a sort of magical warrior who employed (and some say still do employ) said magic in war. Veles' wandering have made him an important god for travelers of all kinds such as wandering bards and merchants. Which combined with his association with cattle and agriculture made him a god of riches as well. Especially those buried within the earth.His wanderings from the heavenly realms (Yav) down to the underworlds (Nav) has made him the one who at times will hold the doors to both open allowing spirits to roam free. This is done on April 30th and October 31st (AKA as Halloween). However despite many parallels to Woden Veles' day is usually considered to be Monday both due to his association with the Moon as well as Monday being the day upon which he is said to take a break. Making it a bad idea to die on a Monday. He along with Perun is one of the two gods the now ascended Sveitoslav swore upon when dealing with christians. Along with the many animals and forests that are associated with Veles the Willow is especially important to him as the Oak is to Perun. His name could come from many possibilities. It might be from an Old-Bulgarian word for “big”, or it may mean “the great one” or even be an old word for Hairy referencing both his furry coat when in animal form and perhaps a hair covered wildman form he may have had long ago. Along with The Lord of Nav, Veles, and Volos. He has many titles the lord of winter, the guide of souls, the patron of poets, the lord of the crossroads, the lord of the dead, the god of thieves wisdom and magic. And much much more, Veles is a complex and widespread deity and is clearly of deep importance not only to the slavic people but to our people in general. This does not even begin to cover what there is on Veles. What is your favorite thing about Veles?

Veles is 1 of 2 gods I'm doing in honor of Halloween. One of my most beloved gods a certain German goddess will be up Tomorrow Happy Halloween.

CG's Helm pumpkin #1-TAO

CG's second Helm Jack'o Lantern