Today, nearly forgotten and sparsely populated, the small Greek island of Samothrace in the northern Aegean Sea was once an important cultural center and the heart of the ancient religious cult of the Great Gods. Samothrace is first mentioned in the Iliad, where it is said that Poseidon used to sit atop Mount Saos, located … Read more
Sufism is one of the spiritual paths that emphasizes the mystical aspect of Islamic teachings. The word comes from the Arabic word “sufi” which means mystic, and is derived from the word “suf” meaning “wool”, which is likely related to the woolen clothing worn by the early dervishes. Sufism can also be associated with the … Read more
The Festival of Mars (March 1st) (Feriae Marti, Natalis Martis) In the pre-Julian Roman calendar, the year began with the spring equinox, and March (Martius) was the first month of the year, a time when nature comes back to life after winter. The month was named after the god Mars, who, as the father of … Read more
“Will you ever begin to understand the meaning of the ground beneath your feet? Everything is sacred – from a grain of sand to a great mountain. On this earth, yesterday and tomorrow coexist eternally. We, the native guardians, are protectors of these sacred places.” Peter Blue Cloud, Mohawk Anthropologists claim that there were about … Read more
The Western civilization was still asleep, awaiting the dawn of a new era when Orpheus, traversing the vast expanses of his homeland Thrace, began singing miraculous songs. With the sounds of his seven-stringed lyre, harmonious hymns dedicated to the divine forces of Nature resounded, and their echo never ceased… Like many verses that come to … Read more
Everything that is not written or preserved through oral tradition is forgotten. How many cities, works of art, beliefs, and ancient languages have disappeared from our historical memory! If we return to the distant past through various traces that are rarely preserved today, exploring the history of scent use and its importance in both sacred … Read more
Calendar customs and festivities originated in ancient times. They have been passed down to this day as elements of religion, but their meaning and content have remained the same. Customs of all ancient cultures and civilizations reflected the connection between humans and the cosmos, the process of world creation, and the embodiment of the divine … Read more
Beauty in front of me, Behind me, Below me, All around me. I speak through beauty. Annie Kahn, Navajo There have always been people who have pointed out the beauty, meaning, and importance of the culture they belong to. Such was Hosteen Klah, an artist and healer who, among other things, was responsible for preserving … Read more
“Our ancient faith, the book of our prominent recently deceased linguist Radoslav Katicic, presents a simple summary of his thirty-year research on the beliefs of Slavic peoples before their Christianization. This was not an easy task because there are hardly any material remains. It is not known whether the Slavic peoples had a writing system … Read more
Traditional customs associated with carnival were present in many countries, including Russia, until a few centuries ago. The roots of this tradition date back to ancient times and were associated with spring festivities. With the advent of Christianity, the carnival tradition adapted to the time and environment and became an introduction to the Great Lent … Read more
