Hello friends!
In today's episode I'm going to share you some stories about Vellamo,
Who is the Finnish goddess of the sea,
And she is also the goddess of healing and adventure.
Enjoy!
Vellamo was worshipped by the sailors.
They asked her for smooth winds when they were sailing.
As a goddess,
She is both guide and a challenge to those who dare to venture out into her domain.
Vellamo is a reminder that the journey itself,
Filled with both calm and storm,
Is as important as the destination.
She represents the allure of the unknown,
The courage to face the unpredictable,
And the thrill of discovery.
Adventure in her realm is not just about crossing physical boundaries,
But also navigating the depths of one's own spirit.
Much like the sea itself,
Vast,
Mysterious,
And full of hidden treasures.
Vellamo calls to those who long to embrace the adventure of life,
Whether it be in the form of travel or self-discovery.
Her mythological essence serves as a guiding force for anyone ready to set sail into the unknown.
With the understanding that,
Like the sea,
Adventure can be both calm voyage and a wild tempest,
Ever-changing and forever captivating.
A skilled witch or a shaman could summon the winds,
Both at sea and on land.
The spell typically began with whistling.
By the end of the incantation,
The witch would bark like a dog,
Saying phrases like merenhalli and aharinkoira,
Dog of the sea,
Dog of ahti.
Ways were often referred to as the dogs of Vellamo and ahti.
The spell became even more powerful when multiple people joined in to create the barking sounds together.
Rise,
Oh wind,
To where you roam.
Blow across the vast unknown.
Let the sky's heart beat in fury.
Through the clouds let thunder hurry.
Lose your halt,
Oh wildest breeze.
Cast away your coldest freeze.
Let the folk of earth rejoice and the plains begin to voice.
Move your wails,
Oh winds,
So wide.
Sway the skirts of nature's tide.
Pull the storms from deep below.
Make the earth in fury grow.
Let the wind begin to howl.
Let the storms their fury prowl.
Let the sky's great mother raise and the sea's white beasts find place.
Vellamo is the goddess of emotions.
Just as the sea is dynamic and ever-changing force,
So too are the feelings that dwell within the human heart.
In this form,
Vellamo symbolizes the depth,
Power and complexity of our inner emotional worlds.
Sometimes calm and serene,
At other times fierce and overwhelming,
But always vast and full of hidden currents beneath the surface.
As the goddess of emotions,
Vellamo is both a nurturer and a force of transformation.
Water,
In all its forms,
Represents the flow of our emotional states.
The gentle lapping waves on a peaceful shore can signify contentment and tranquility,
While stormy sea may embody tumultuous,
Overwhelming nature of sorrow,
Anger or inner conflict.
Vellamo in this capacity is the embodiment of emotional balance.
She teaches that all emotions like water are fluid and ever-changing,
And they need to be embraced,
Not feared.
Her connection to the tides mirrors the rhythms of our hearts.
Moments of calm and stillness followed by surges of intensity,
Just as the moon pulls the ocean's waters.
Vellamo's influence on human emotions is subtle,
Yet profound.
She guides us through the heights and lows of life,
Helping us navigate our feelings with grace,
Much like a sailor learns to read the sea.
To understand Vellamo is to understand that emotions are not to be controlled or suppressed,
But rather respected and allowed to flow.
Vellamo's deep wisdom shows us that there is beauty in the depths of our emotional landscapes.
Like the sea,
Emotions have layers.
What is visible on the surface may not always reflect what lies beneath.
Her waters can heal,
Cleanse and refresh,
But they can also challenge and transform us.
She encourages us to dive into the deep unknown parts of ourselves,
Knowing that the journey through our emotions,
Though sometimes turbulent,
Is a crucial part of our growth.
Altars.
Many rituals took place in sacred groves known as lehto or hiisi,
And people encountered large stones with indentations.
They often left sacrifices into those tents.
These could include offerings like milk or alcohol.
Each family typically had a spirit tree called haltiapuu in their yard.
It was believed that a protective spirit resided in the tree,
And food and drinks were left as sacrifices underneath it.
Various amulets were also hung into the tree branches.
When seeking a favor from a water spirit,
It was common to throw silver coins into a fountain or lake.
In honoring Vellamo and the water spirits,
Consider making a biogradable amulet to hang on a tree near the water.
If you feel a connection with Vellamo,
You might want to consider building an altar for her.
Based on my studies on Finnish folklore,
There is no concrete evidence that people maintained household altars for deities,
Although it is possible they did.
However,
We do know that spirits were worshipped in nature.
You can create an altar for Vellamo and build it by the sea,
Lake,
Pond or a river by using driftwood,
Sticks and tree branches along the shore,
Decorating it with flowers and other natural elements.
