Mokosh is the Slavic Great Mother Goddess and Protector of Women
I was shocked and sad when all that shit began in the Ukraine. I think most Americans were. My first response was to petition a Goddess and Hekate suggested I connect with a Slavic Goddess; most importantly, one that would understand the country and people better than I did.
In that respect, She could tailor her help in a way that benefited the people.
That made sense to me and I may not be very familiar with the Slavic pantheon, I am pretty good at meeting and working with new Goddesses.
So down the rabbit hole I went.
My quick search for Slavic Goddesses led me to 5 ancient Goddesses:
1) Mokosh – Moist Mother Earth
2) Marzanna – Goddess of Winter and Death (possibly an older version of Baba Yaga)
3) Zhiva – Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Marriage
4) Lada – Goddess of Hunting and Forests (Slavic version of Diana?)
5) Rozanista – The Supreme Goddess of which all other Goddesses are an extension of her.
Mokosh stood out to me and I can’t explain why. There wasn’t one particular thing that said “Yes! She’d make a great anti-war Deity”. Yet, in my experience, the ones that stand out are usually the ones I need to learn more about.
(Just a FYI, there are a lot more than 5 Slavic Goddesses.)
Mokosh
Mokosh means Wetness or Moist Mother Earth. She was most likely a newer version of the ancient goddess, Mati Syra Zemlya which literally means Moist Mother Earth. Both are the embodiment of the rich, fertile, black soil that grew life sustaining food for the early Slavs.
She is the Protector of Women’s work & Women’s destiny. That sounds sexist but it’s not when you consider what badasses ancient women were.
Mokosh was also the Patroness of herbalism, medicine, childbirth, and spell casting.
She’s most associated with Spinning and Weaving like the Three Fates of Ancient Greece. Mokosh is the Weaver of Destinies. As such, Shewas petitioned for protection, luck and success.
It took some searching but I did find reference to Mokosh as a Warrior Goddess: She who strikes with her wings. She is symbolized by butterflies & bees. Mokosh has taken on the responsibility of Protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
She is the Keeper of Morality & Goodness, guiding her patrons to live at peace with themselves and their neighbors.
History
The trouble with learning about the ancient Slavic beliefs is they only had an oral tradition. As such, it wasn’t written about until after they were conquered by the Christians. What we can find has been recorded by ancient monks and historians studying local tales. As always, we have to read between the lines.
We do know that the Slavic Pantheon is called the Rodnovery. It’s named after the supreme god, Rod. Every other God was a smaller aspect of him. The pantheon also includes ancestors and spirits of nature that are revered in Slavic culture.
Mokosh is the only goddess whose idol was erected by Vladimir the Great in his sanctuary in Kiev. She sat among male Gods. She was so revered that there are a number of rivers and towns named after her.
Post Christian Pantheon
Mokosh was re-branded as St. Paraskeva when Christianity overtook the pagan society. Paraskeva means Friday in Greek. It can also be translated as “to get ready” or “to prepare”. Friday was the day of preparation for the Jewish sabbath in the bible.
Friday was also a day to honor Mokosh which probably made the transition easier.
(Funny enough, it is also the day attributed to the Norse Goddess Freya)
Mokosh was also superimposed onto the Virgin Mary when Christianity invaded. Pagan cultures all over Europe clung to the only female figure of the Christian pantheon lifting her importance higher than the patriarchal system ever intended.
I find it fascinating that Mokosh is also related to the Black Madonna. The Black part in Slavic lore related to the black fertile, life-giving soil. Where as in France she is rumored to be Mary Magdalene, wife of Jesus and mother of his child.
Some scholars believe her blackness was literal since she was from the middles east. The church says its the byproduct of aging and candle soot. Others like to attribute her color to symbolic meanings: black was the color of Knowledge (Sophia) created out of chaos.
Most likely, as in all of Europe, the statues of the Black Madonna were originally Pagan Goddess statues. Nonetheless the Black Madonna was attributed with “compassion, strength and the ability to break chains and tear down walls.”
Sounds like the perfect Goddess for Freedom Fighters in the Ukraine.
As a side-note, the Black Madonna in itself fascinates me and someday I’ll collect all my notes and references and share my own theory of her continued existence.
Myth
As I began my research in to the myths, which are just as wierd as the celtic myths, Mokosh told me impatiently:
“The old stories don’t matter anymore, only my purpose.”
~Mokosh
Just the same she seems to have bounced between the two main gods as their wife/consort. Perun the God of Sky, thunder, lightening and fire and the Veles, the God of Earth, waters and the underworld. This suggests the Mokosh, like Freya, was a Goddess authentic and loyal to herself first.
She gave birth to two child-gods, the twins Jarilo and Morana.
Folklore
The Folk lore is more fun than the myths. One tale tells of Mokosh as a wanderer. She makes house calls during Lent, disguised as an old women. She’s making sure the winter wool is spun.
Another talks about the importance of honoring the earth. To touch the earth while making an oath or vow will bind your words.
It is rude and disrespectful to spit on the Earth or disturb it by digging, putting in stakes or sowing seeds before March 25th also know as Lady’s Day. It is believed the Earth is pregnant before that day.
Sins were confessed to a hole in the ground. Women would lay prone on the earth before picking herbs, petitioning Mother Earth to bless the herbs.
Associations
Mokosh has so many association to other Dieties
Triple Goddess: Maiden aspect of budding life
Mother aspect fertility and life
Crone aspect divination spellcasting wisdom.
She is like a Slavic version of Gaia because of her connection to the fertile earth.
Mokosh is associated with wombs, caves, and descending into the underworld just like Inanna.
Mokosh, like her crone sister, Baba Yaga and Hekate is believed to help with divination and magical powers.
She is mostly associated with spinning and weaving just like The Greek Fates and the Scandinavian Norns. She is believed to control the destinies of humans.
Symbols
- Animal: Horses, birds, bees, butterflies, spiders
- Symbols: rain, mokosh (breast shaped) Stones, Sheeps wool, thread, spider webb
- Appearance: Blonde hair, flowery clothes, large head and long arms.
- Elements: Earth = grounding & Water = emotions
- Color: black & gold
- Day: Friday
- Feast Day: October 28 (no spinning, weaving, or mending)
Offerings for Mokosh
Here’s a few things to help you petition Mokosh
- Oil seeds, dairy, bread, grain, berries, plants
- A hank of wool roving or spun wool
- A spindle or weaving loom
- A sacred Flame.
- Pledge a promise/vow with hand on the ground
- Confessing sins to a hole in the ground
Also don’t forget art in her honor, poems, prose and music.
Practical Stuff
I realize that working with a new Goddess can be intimidating. Just Relax. Mokosh is not easily insulted. She wants to work; wants to help her people and our Earth. She needs us to do that. The most important thing is to keep her in mind. Our attention gives her power. If all you can do is light a candle and ask her to help that will be acceptable. Don’t over analyze, don’t worry about perfection. Get creative and have fun!
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Resources:
I worked up a page with some basic Info on Mokosh you can find it here in the Book of Shadows.
Here are some of the places I found my information.
Tirza Schaefer
Icons and their Interpretations
Storytelling for Everyone
Slavic Paganism
Mary Magdalene and the Divine Feminine by Elizabeth Clare Prophet and Annice Booth
