On Returning to the Old Gods

Baba Anujka: The Banat Healer Who Became a Poisoner In the village of Vladimirovac in Banat, during the late 19th and early 20th century, lived a woman named Ana Dee, better known as Baba Anujka. Today, she is remembered as a Banat fortune teller and poisoner, and some authors refer to her as the first serial killer in Serbia. Who was Baba Anujka? Ana Draksin came from a family of Romanian origin. She was baptized on April 30, 1844, in Vladimirovac. She married Jozef Dee and had three children with him. She lived in the multicultural region of Banat, where different languages, customs, and folk beliefs came together. She practiced fortune telling and folk medicine and eventually gained a reputation as a woman people turned to when ordinary help was not enough. Her knowledge of plants and preparations At that time, folk medicine was an important part of everyday life. People often relied on women who knew how to use plants and various natural ingredients to make teas, ointments, and other preparations. Baba Anujka was also known for preparing different remedies. Her knowledge of substances and their effects contributed to her reputation as a fortune teller. Over time, this knowledge became connected to a much darker side of her activities. According to the research of Šimon Đarmati, Anujka knew how to prepare a solution made from fly agaric poison, with the amount supposedly determined according to the body weight of the person it was intended for. Who came to her? People came to Baba Anujka with different problems. Some wanted a particular person to become ill or “go mad”, while others wanted to get rid of someone from their lives. She was also assisted by Ljubina Milankov, who acted as her helper and intermediary. Among her clients were people who had serious problems in their marriages and families. In some cases, women sought help because of husbands who were violent or struggled with alcohol. The trial Baba Anujka was arrested in 1928, and in 1929 she was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her involvement in the poisoning of Nikola Momirov from Ilandža. During the trial, she claimed that she was a trader and that she did not know what her customers intended to do with the preparations they bought from her. The court nevertheless found her guilty. How many people died? The exact number was never established. Later research has suggested estimates ranging from at least 50 to around 100 victims, but not all of these cases were historically or legally confirmed. Because of this, it is difficult to separate what was actually proven from the stories that became associated with her name over time. The end of her life She served her sentence in Požarevac and was released in 1936 because of her advanced age. She died on September 1, 1938, in Vladimirovac. Baba Anujka remains one of the best known fortune tellers and poisoners in the history of Banat. Her story continues to exist somewhere between history, folk beliefs, and legend. Although she is remembered today as the “Banat witch”, behind that name was a real woman whose life left a dark mark on the history of the region. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

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Today is International Cat Day, so here is an interesting folk belief about cats. It was believed that cats could sense things that humans could not see and that their presence could cleanse a space of negative energy. Because of this, in some folk beliefs, a cat would be allowed to enter a new house or space before the people moved in. It was believed that the cat would absorb or drive away anything bad, restless, or impure, preparing the space for its new inhabitants. People would also carefully observe the cat’s behavior, believing that it could sense whether a place was peaceful or whether there was something there that did not belong. For this reason, the cat was not seen merely as a useful domestic animal, but also as a kind of guardian of the home. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

How Nosferatu Changed the Myth of the Vampire Today, it is almost impossible to imagine a vampire without one defining rule: sunlight kills them. As soon as dawn arrives, the vampire retreats into darkness, and if the first rays of sunlight catch them off guard, they turn to ash or disappear into smoke. We are so used to this idea that it feels as though it has always been part of vampire mythology. However, when we look at older folklore and classical literature, we find something quite different. Sunlight was not originally the vampire’s greatest enemy. The Vampire of Folklore In older Balkan and Slavic traditions, the vampire was not an elegant aristocrat living in a dark castle, but primarily a dead person who returned among the living. Night was associated with their activity, but the arrival of dawn did not mean their death. In some traditions, a vampire could move among people, visit their family, return to their former wife, or even travel to another village. The boundary between the world of the living and the dead was much less defined than we imagine today. If a vampire needed to be destroyed, much more specific methods were used, such as a wooden stake, fire, decapitation, or certain rituals. Sunlight was not a weapon against them. It could mark the arrival of day and the end of their nighttime activity, but it was not deadly. Literary Vampires Did Not Burn in Sunlight Either When the vampire moved from folklore into literature, its image began to change, but the rule about sunlight still did not exist. John Polidori’s vampire from 1819 could move among human society, while Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla from 1872 was also far removed from the image of a creature that would turn to ash at the first ray of sunlight. Even the most famous literary vampire did not have this weakness. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897, the Count can move around in daylight. Sunlight limits some of his supernatural abilities and makes him weaker, but it does not burn or kill him. By the end of the nineteenth century, the vampire was already firmly associated with the night, but it still was not bound by the rule that it had to die with the rising sun. 1922: The Year Everything Changed Then came Nosferatu. In 1922, German director F. W. Murnau made Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens, an unauthorized film adaptation of Stoker’s Dracula. Dracula became Count Orlok, and the story received one of the most famous endings in horror history. Orlok remains with his victim until morning. When the first rays of sunlight reach him, the vampire disappears into smoke. Sunlight became deadly The idea was simple, dramatic, and visually striking. It quickly began influencing future portrayals of vampires. What was originally a cinematic choice for a powerful ending gradually became one of the defining rules of the entire genre. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

Today marks 6 years since I started my journey in Paganism, on August 6th, 2020. I can’t believe how much time has passed. In these six years, I have changed a lot. I have questioned my beliefs many times, changed some of my views, strengthened my faith, and learned to see many things differently than I did at the beginning. I still feel like I have so much more to learn, and that is what I love the most about this path. This journey never truly ends. There is always something new to discover, understand, and experience. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

Lada: Goddess of Love or a Misinterpreted Tradition? The Problem of Historical Sources and Interpretations The name Lada is today one of the most well known names associated with Slavic mythology, especially as a supposed goddess of love and marriage. However, when historical sources are examined, the picture becomes much more complex. References to Lada appear only in later written sources and often differ from one another. Polish chroniclers from the 15th and 16th centuries connected this name with the Roman Mars or the Greek Leda, while Russian chroniclers from the 17th century described Lada as a god of joy and marriage and identified it with Bacchus. In the South Slavic region, the Croatian writer Josip Bedeković in 1752 added a verse to a folk song in which Lado was called a god. However, the sources themselves do not provide a clear answer about the gender of this figure or its exact attributes. The Romantic Creation of the Goddess Lada The image of Lada as a goddess known today mostly developed during the Romantic period. In the desire to give Slavic mythology counterparts to ancient deities, Lada was given a female form and became associated with love, marriage and beauty, similar to Aphrodite, Venus or Freyja. Because of the mistaken connection with the Greek Leda, Lada was often portrayed with a swan in art. Folk Customs, Rituals and the Refrain Lado However, behind the name Lada there may be something much older: folk customs and language. The refrain lado or lada was repeated in seasonal and wedding songs, especially at the beginning of summer around the summer solstice. Among the South Slavs, these songs were part of the female rituals known as kraljice, and because of the refrain they were also called ladovnice or ladarice. A similar motif appears in wedding customs: in Bulgaria, the maiden ritual of predicting marriage is called laduvane, while in Russia these songs are known as podblyudnie. On the border between Serbia and Bulgaria, the bride or the entire ritual procession that went to a spring to collect water for wedding bread was called Lada. The Meaning of the Word Lada and the Final Interpretation The meaning of the word itself also changes the way this name is understood. In Old Russian, as well as in other Slavic languages, lada refers to a beloved person or spouse. This is also shown by words such as ladovati, meaning to celebrate a wedding, and ladkanje, connected with wedding singing. Lada may not have been a clearly confirmed Slavic goddess of love in the way she is known today, but the name and the customs connected with it probably preserve a very old Slavic layer related to love, marriage, fertility and ritual celebration. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

Happy Lughnasadh to all my followers who celebrate it today 🌾 Today marks the ancient Celtic festival dedicated to the god Lugh and the time of the first harvest. It is a day of gratitude for the fruits of the earth, our efforts, and everything we have managed to achieve. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

I shared this video a long time ago, when this channel had far fewer followers, so I wanted to recommend it again to those who may have missed it. Really good video. The topic is very important, and I’m glad it was covered in such a clear and straightforward way. I think this is one of those topics where having a wider context and a deeper understanding is very important.

Protection Against the Evil Eye: Amulets and Talismans Part 2/2 Because of the fear of the evil eye, people throughout history used various protective objects. Among them were amulets, written charms, and talismans that were worn on the body, especially by children. Amulets in Folk Tradition Image 1. Child’s necklace Interesting objects, talismans, and amulets can be seen in the Ethnographic Museum as part of the Timor mortis collection. Author Saša Srećković included objects from Serbian, Mexican, and Vlach traditions, which are part of the rich collection of the Ethnographic Museum. Among many original and mystical objects are richly decorated amulets on silver chains that were worn by children as protection against the evil eye. The collection also contains many motifs recorded at the beginning of the 20th century by Sima Trojanović, the first formally educated ethnologist and anthropologist in Serbia. These objects show how important the belief in protection from the evil eye was in everyday life. Amulets were not only decorative objects, but also symbols of safety and protection from invisible dangers. Written Charms and Protective Talismans Image 2 and Image 3 The images show amulets intended as protection against the evil eye. These objects were made to be worn close to the body, attached with a cord or clasp, around the waist or under the arm. Inside them was placed a written charm against the evil eye, which according to belief was written by dervishes and hodjas. The charm was then wrapped in waxed cloth or oiled paper so it could be preserved and carried as a protective talisman. These amulets represent a combination of folk beliefs, religious influences, and traditional methods of protection passed down through generations. Preservation of Ancient Beliefs Beliefs in the evil eye and curses were once much more widespread than they are today. However, traces of these ideas have been preserved through customs, stories, and objects that remain part of folk tradition. Such beliefs were recorded by many ethnologists, including Tihomir Đorđević, whose works preserved many records about the customs and beliefs of the Serbian people. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

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Belief in the Evil Eye: The Evil Eye in Ancient and Folk Beliefs Part 1/2 The belief in the power of the gaze is known throughout the world, and the idea that a person can harm another simply through their eyes is one of the oldest forms of folk belief. In Serbian tradition, this belief is known as urok or the evil eye, and traces of these ideas can be found in ancient sources. The Evil Eye among the Illyrians and Triballi One of the oldest records about people with the evil eye was left by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE) in his work Naturalis Historia. According to his account, the Greek writer Isigonus claimed that among the Illyrians and Triballi there were people who could cause harm through their gaze. It was believed that such individuals, especially through a gaze filled with anger, could injure or even kill those they looked upon. Pliny also describes unusual physical characteristics associated with them, stating that some were believed to have two pupils in each eye. Similar stories were recorded among other peoples as well, such as the Scythians, where women with similar abilities were mentioned. Who Could Cast the Evil Eye? According to folk beliefs, the evil eye was not connected only to humans. It was believed that some animals could also possess the ability to cause harm through their gaze. However, in many cultures, humans were considered the most common and dangerous sources of the evil eye. Folk traditions made a distinction between those who cast the evil eye intentionally and those who did so unintentionally. The intentional casting of the evil eye was attributed to evil people, sorcerers, and witches, meaning individuals believed to deliberately wish harm upon others. An unintentional evil eye could occur when someone, even without bad intentions, looked at a child, an animal, or something valuable at an unfavorable moment. Across the Balkans, there are numerous records of people believed to possess such abilities. In the region of Skopska Crna Gora, it was said that witches and sorcerers could weaken a person simply through their gaze. In Srem, the konjobarka was believed to be a powerful witch who could knock a person off a horse with her eyes. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were stories about women with the evil eye who could cast it either intentionally or unintentionally. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

In a secluded part of the courtyard of Rakovica Monastery, where Patriarch Pavle is buried, there is a bell with the inscription: This bell is intended for breaking clouds. Year 1927. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

Folk Beliefs and Traditions Connected to Storms Some time ago, I wrote about Dodole, one of the most famous Slavic rituals for calling rain. While researching that topic, I came across many other interesting traditions connected with hail, storms, and protecting the harvest. Some of them caught my attention, so now it is time to focus on the customs that were used as protection from storms. For our ancestors, storms were not seen as just a passing weather event. A single hail cloud could destroy months of work in a short time, which is why many protective rituals developed and were passed down from generation to generation. Although they differed from region to region, they all had the same purpose: to protect the home, family, and the fruits of the land. The Axe Against Hail One of the most widespread practices was recorded in western and central Serbia. When dark clouds gathered above the village, the head of the household would go outside and throw an axe or place it into the ground with the blade facing the sky. It was believed that the blade could symbolically cut through the hail cloud and turn it away from the village. In some places, the axe was not thrown but placed on the doorstep or in front of the house, while in others it was directed toward the clouds. Although the details differed, the purpose remained the same: protecting the household and crops. Iron also held a special place, as it was believed in Slavic tradition to have protective power. Because of this, axes, knives, and other metal objects were often part of different protective practices. While researching this topic, I came across an interesting story connected to this tradition. In the past, people in villages had a special place where they chopped wood, a large wooden stump that in some regions was called drvljenik. Before a storm, the axe would be turned on the drvljenik so that the blade faced the sky. According to the story, when thunder started, the man of the house would say that if lightning had to strike, it should strike the drvljenik, while it was believed that the axe blade would break the ice that came with hail clouds. The same story also mentions that before a storm, a three legged wooden stool was taken outside and placed with its legs facing the sky. Throwing Spoons In some parts of eastern Serbia, as well as in the Rasina region, an odd number of spoons, usually three or five, were thrown into the yard when a storm was approaching. In folk tradition, a spoon was not only an everyday object but could also have a symbolic role. It was believed that by doing this, hail would avoid the household or lose its strength before reaching the fields. This example shows that even ordinary objects could become part of protective rituals. The Ringing of Church Bells In many places across Serbia, church bells were rung as soon as dark clouds appeared on the horizon. According to folk belief, their strong sound drove away storms and protected the village from hail. Over time, this practice became part of Christian tradition, but its roots are often connected with older beliefs that noise and sound had the power to drive away danger. Similar beliefs existed in other parts of Europe, where bells and striking metal objects were used as protection against storms. Do you know any other similar beliefs or stories connected with protection from storms, hail, and bad weather? @OnReturningtotheOldGods

Today, many people associate spiritual leadership with priests. Yet in many pre-Christian pagan traditions, women held some of the most respected spiritual roles. As seers, healers, ritual leaders and keepers of sacred knowledge. They guided their communities through prophecy, ceremonies and spiritual practices, helping people navigate both the seen and unseen aspects of life. These women were often regarded as wise and deeply connected to nature, the cycles of life and the spiritual world. Their knowledge was passed down through tradition and experience, making them trusted and respected figures within their communities. Their legacy reminds us that women once played a central role in preserving and practicing the spiritual traditions of their people. Text from @ashbornalruna

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Testing Telegram’s new article feature. It’s still in development and has limited editing options. For now, changes are made through AI, while manual editing is not fully available yet. The feature has some bugs, but it’s interesting to see how it will evolve. This article was created with its help

Lead Pouring in Folk Tradition Lead pouring is one of the most well known practices of folk divination and ritual protection in the Balkans. Similar customs have also been recorded in other parts of Europe, including Slavic and Germanic communities, where the practice developed different forms and interpretations. In folk tradition, lead pouring was associated with discovering hidden causes of misfortune, removing negative influences, and seeking answers to important life questions. How the Ritual Was Performed The ritual was usually performed by a person regarded within the community as knowledgeable in traditional practices. This was often an older woman whom people approached because of her experience in carrying out such customs. The person receiving the ritual would sit calmly, often covered with a white scarf or cloth, which symbolized protection within folk symbolism. In some regions, chants or prayers were spoken before the ritual, while in others the practice was performed in silence. The lead was melted in a metal container over a fire and then poured into cold water in a single motion. As it cooled rapidly, it formed various shapes that became the basis for interpretation. Interpretation of the Shapes The formed figures were observed from different angles, as it was believed that different positions could reveal different meanings. Interpretations were not strictly fixed but depended on local traditions and the experience of the person performing the ritual. Common symbols in folk interpretations included: ● The cross was associated with protection and freedom from harmful influences. ● The snake could represent hostility, deception, or hidden danger. ● The heart was connected with love, relationships, and emotions. ● The key symbolized new solutions, opportunities, and changes. ● A human figure represented a person who would have an important role in someone’s life. ● A spider or web was associated with obstacles and complicated life circumstances. ● A bird or wings were interpreted as symbols of freedom, travel, or new beginnings. ● The eye represented awareness, intuition, and protection from the evil eye within folk symbolism. The Protective Role of the Custom Besides divination, lead pouring also had a protective role. According to folk beliefs, the melted lead was thought to absorb negative influences during the ritual, which is why the proper disposal of both the lead and the water was considered important after the ceremony. For this reason, the water in which the lead had cooled was not kept in the household. It was most often poured at a crossroads or into running water, according to local customs. Throwing Lead into a River One widespread practice was throwing the hardened lead into a river. In traditional beliefs, the river represented continuous movement and purification, and it was believed that its waters carried away anything harmful or unwanted. This act carried several symbolic meanings. It represented the completion of the ritual, release from negative influences, and separation from unfavorable circumstances of the past. At the same time, it emphasized the connection between humans and nature, especially the importance of water as an element associated with purification in many folk traditions. Although the interpretations and methods of performing the ritual varied from region to region, lead pouring remains one of the most recognizable customs of Balkan traditional culture. Today, it is viewed as part of cultural heritage that reflects how communities throughout history attempted to understand uncertainty, explain misfortune, and find a sense of security. @OnReturningtotheOldGods

Today I had an interesting discussion with several people about the concept of a protective deity, what it truly means to have a relationship with a deity, and where the line lies between sincere spiritual practice and ideas that may come from ego. I invite you to read his post 👆🏻

A Reflection on Tutelarship and Illusory Ideas of Self-Worthiness [Today I held a discussion with several good contacts of mine. Here are their channel links.] – t.me/AionDivinatory – t.me/Folk_Spirit – t.me/OnReturningToTheOldGods ____________ The concept of having a "patron deity" is controversial, for good reason. At the heart of New-Age ideology is one value above all others – the unadulterated elevation of oneself, normally in the name of the pursuit of base desires and sensory pleasures. Think of a conman, for instance, who tries to manipulate a court in a case of insurance fraud scheme, or perhaps a plagiarist selling "get rich quick" books. In this case, we must ask ourselves, what is "having a patron deity", really? One of my contacts remarks, "To claim a patron deity you are essentially saying you are especially loved or at least valuable to a certain God. And to make the claim it better be true,"; another one says, "In my understanding, a patron deity is a god or goddess from whom a person has sought protection through prayer and appropriate offerings or sacrifices. If signs and personal experience indicate that the request has been accepted, that deity is regarded as the person's patron. It is the deity to whom a person primarily turns for protection and to whom they show special reverence through worship and offerings,"; and another contends, "The thing is real, though rare and special. The common refrain today, and the real hybris of those humans who think these relationships are theirs to decide, is that certain types ALL think they're so rare and special - conceitedly taking for granted the gods' judgment on the matter." Essentially, divine patronage to a person, place, or thing, refers to acting out of protection, like a guardianship. What the crux of the issue is at hand is there are narcissistic hildings and self-seekers out there, and, in the spirit of New-Ageism, will jump the gun to proclaim a "patron deity" as if trading a Pokémon card, normally to boost their sense of selfhood, and, what normally follows is a trail of this individual, insultingly toward the divine, having delusions of grandeur. An essential question, however, poses a direct challenge to their superstition: that being, by what evidence do they have to have been especially favored for protecting more than others? It seems these types are misguided at best, and, at worst, guilty of blasphemy and impiety. It all remains an easy pit to find oneself plunging into.