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First-What is Koldovstvo/Yacheistvo?

Despite what traditionalists wish to imply, these two "systems" are infact identical.  They utilize the same Pantheons, ritual excersises, religious symbols, and Eastern European folklore/superstition that their ancestors used before the Orthodox Church took over the Slavo-European culture.  Contextually the "Labels" are cultural and regional words for "magic" itself, just as "Heka" is both the term for and practice of Egyptian Word Magic.

I was first introduced to the Slavic sorcery and mysticism when I encountered a book by the late Kenneth Johnson called, appropriately, "Slavic Sorcery".  In this book, he detailed his personal account of meeting with and receiving teaching by a modern practicing Koldun (Sorcerer) from the former Soviet Union.  He journals the experiences he had, as well as demonstrates with futher analysis and explanation the pracitices he was introduced to by other practitioners while he was overseas.  The history of magical developemtn in Eastern Europe is also explained as well as numerous examples of the practice of slavic mysticism thourout history. Unfortunately, Johnson did not state more obvious examples such as the Romanian concept of the "modern day" Vampire/Werewolf, and the various ways that other paths had been influenced by Koldovstvo. (Nor did he explain anything about Yachiestvo or how it was the same).  What he did do however was help open the Western magical community to the information on this form of Craft that is still practiced today, unlike many of the Western European systems that have had to go through adaptations and reconstruction over the past several generations.
After I found and read the book, I found similar literature in libraries and the web and located local practitioners who were at least remotely familiar with their ancestry and were taught certain "types of sorcery" that are given to practitioners as specialized skills..similar to how the Druids assigned certain tasks to the Bards that were not handled by the Priesthood.  The common types of kolduny are detailed below in the index.

Though it is true that a great deal of Slavic Shamanism has "mutated" due to the modernization of the once isolated Slavic peoples and villages, the old women and men who remember the Craft of their ancestors thrive.   Once one removes the Orthodox Church iconography, such as the Virgin Mary in place of the Earth Goddess Mokosh, a scholar of the occult can see a rich and beautiful system just as powerful and equal to the complex teachings of the Druids, Hebrews, and the Chinese mystics.  In fact, many of the once hidden arts of the Kolduny (collective term for a coven of -or the practitioners of) are found to be similar to Hinduism, Taoism, and even...Kabbalah! Rather or not the ancient origins are from the same sources (very likely), or if the mountain witches developed this on their own during the nomadic settlement of these areas, Koldovstvo and Yachiestvo are easily crossed over into Wicca and Ceremonial High Magick operations.

I will also confess that though I use the Celtic gods and godesses of my paternal ancestry, as well as the Kabbalastic Holy Divine Names and some of the Egyptian pantheon, I have become very comfortable with honoring my Slavic-Jewish and Romanian history passed onto me by my mother's blood.  To be more specific, outside of the rituals of my "Art", I reserve a special evocation and invocation in my personalized Sabbats with the Slavic names substitued for the Celtic names.  Belive it or not, you can almost match any deity or archetype in Koldovstvo with an Asatru or Celtic/Wiccan equivalent.  I will explain this below in the index of terms.
I also use certain Slavic rituals and believe in the various nature spirits and creatures that the Slavic shamansn use for divination, protection, or protect themselves from.   These spirits may have strange and foreign associations, but I argue that they are in fact the same elementals, ghosts, Angels, and Demons of Magick.

Below is a list of terminology and definitions, as well as comparisons with Wiccan and Celtic magical concepts. Following the list is a small sample of various spells taken from the old slavic shamans and integrated into the modern magickal style of mainstream practitioners. Because much of Koldovtsvo has been altered due to its slow integration into the Russian Orthodox Church, I have researched and "pulled" from the modern incarnation what I believe to be the essential ideals and energies. Others who have studied the path have commented that my analysis is for the most part correct and rich in creative but accurate interpretation.

I hope that those of you who are curious of this subject matter find this introduction quite informative.

The Index of Slavic Shamanism

Baba Yaga-The Goddess of Death and Rebirth, sometimes called the Old Mother Bony-Shanks. Similar to the mysterious Crone aspect of the Celtic Triplegoddess, and part of the Triad of the Goddess energy of Svarog.

Bannik-Spirit who occupied village bath houses (banyas), and hospitals. This spirit can be benevolent or cruel depending on the character of a person. Used in divination.

Belobog-The White God. Belobog is associated with the Positive forces in nature and the Male energies of Svarog.

Chernobog-The Black One. Chernobog is associated with the Negative forces in nature and the Female energies of Svarog.

Dazhbog-The Sun God. Considered to be the first human male in the world and associated with Adam.

Domovoi-A spirit that resembles a male ancestor in heavy robe and covered in fur, who resides in the household and cares for things as well as protects your home from rival spirits. Referred to as "Home Grandfather" and can sometimes cause poltergeist activity if unhappy with the home or guests.

Domovika-In large families and households, this "wife" of the Domovoi will reside therein.

Dvorovoi-A yard spirit that is cruel to animals and livestock, especially white animals. The Dvorovoi is afraid of cats and carrion birds such as magpies and ravens.

Dzivot-Your inner spirit or soul. Your collective energy or chakras. Said to be located within your lower abdomen just under your diaphragm.

Fire Flower-A mystical blossom that grows from the fern only at midnight during the Summer Solstice. It is said that a man who is brave enough to journey into the woods and face the mischeif of spirits on this night while gathering this sacred plant, eternal health as well as true love and access to wealth unmeasured will be his.

Gadalky-kolduns(witches) who specialize in detecting spirits, energy centers, and missing objects.

Koldovtsvo-a magic ritual or act, or magic in general.

Koldun-A koldun is a male sorcerer or practitioner

Koldunya-A female koldun

Kolduny-A coven or group of practitioners

Koliada-A winter sabbat corresponding to the Celtic Yule. A feast for the coming of the reborn gods and spirits in which you eat a honey/oat meal called "kuchiya" and share with the Domovoi.

Many believe that the word "Koljada" is derived from the word "Kolo," meaning wheel (much like the word Yule is an Anglo-Saxon word for wheel). The holiday was filled with revelry, involving processions ofpeople masked like animals and cross-dressers roaming the village. Often times, they were accompanied by a "goat" - usually hand made and stuffed on a stick. The person holding the "goat" would be covered with a blanket, to play the part. Sometimes, a child on horseback, symbolizing the reborn sun, would accompany the revelers. Often times, the "horse" was played by two young men in costume. One of the revelers would carry a spinning solar symbol, internally lit by a candle on a stick. Later, after Christianity came on the scene, the spinning "sun" became a star. The group would stop to sing "Koljady" (plural) from house to house. These songs usually included invocations to "Koljadah," the goddess or god (depending on the region) of the holiday, praises and good wishes, requests for handouts, and threats for refusals. Besides caroling, they would also recite poems and put on little skits. Usually, the theme of the skits was "good-battling-evil." Bonfires were sometimes lit. Dead ancestors were asked inside to warmthemselves. Mock funerals were held where a person pretending to bedead was carried into the house amidst both laughter and wailing. One young girl would be chosen for the traditional custom of kissing the "corpse" on the lips. The person playing the "corpse" would leap up after being kissed, symbolizing rebirth. The handouts often times took the form of little pastries or "korovky" shaped like cows or goats. Traditionally, these were baked by the older people in the house - the grandmothers and grandfathers. Sometimes, the "tricks" played by those who were not rewarded could be brutal: garbage hauled in from all over the village might be piled in front of the offending host's gate, as an example.

In some regions, a caroler would carry a bundle of hazel twigs. After receiving handouts, the caroler would gently hit the host/hostess with the small stick while loudly wishing (loosely translated) "Happiness and health in the coming New Year!" The small twig would be left with the farmer to nail it above his door for wealth and protection.

What is found interesting is the similarity of the Celtic tradition of "Mummers" going around at Solstice/Christmas time, carrying a solar symbol, wearing costumes and/or masks, singing songs, telling stories and putting on skits for food, drinks and money.

Kupalo-The Horned One, the Great Father, (The Earth-God), and part of the Triad of the Male God energy of Svarog.

Lada-The Sky/Spring Goddess-resembles the maiden aspect of the Celtic Triplegoddess and part of the Triad of the Goddess energy of Svarog.

Leshy-A forest spirit, who appears as a massive ogre or very tall man covered in leaves and fur. Sometimes shown to have horns similar to the antlers of the Celtic "Green Man". The Leshy can live alone in a forest or with a small family called a Leshiki and protects the forest and misleads intruders. Can be used to learn magik if you ask it.

Maslenitsa-Festival of celebration and feasting held approximately at the same time as Mardi Gras.

Mokosh-The Mother aspect of the Celtic Triplegoddess correlates to this goddess of the Earth and Sky. Modern Kolduny associate her with The Virgin Mary. Her transition to death and rebirth in the autumn is celebrated between October and November with Pokrov. Mokosh is part of the Triad of the Goddess energy that encompasses Svarog.

Myesyats-The Goddess of the Moon. In some areas Myesyats is a male diety and "Bald Uncle" of the Sun Lord.

Perun-Generally accepted as the Thunder Lord, similar to the Norse spirit Thor, and part of the Triad that collectively encompasses Svarog. He is associated by modern kolduny as St. Elijah.

Pokrov-The autumn ritual of food and magical workings for the Mother Mokosh. Correlates to the autumn equinox.

Polevik-Spirit of the fields that is brought into the home for protection from mischevious sorcery through the last sheaf of wheat or barley gathered during the harvest season.

Pysanky-a protective talisman used for healing/protection made from an eggshell decorated in a wax-and-dye fashion. Hanging a pysanky from a tree or burying it led to a good harvest. The magical images painted on a pysanky are called znaki.

Rod-family or ancestral lineage.

Rozhenitsye-The Fates (as in those of Greek mythology).

Rusalki-Sometimes mischievous water nymphs who appear as young women with flowers in their hair who bless the waters, though some areas of the Siberia believe them to be old fairies of dead young maidens who drown and want to cause harm.

Semik-Similar to the Samhain festival and held during the Rusalye or Feast of the Rusalki during the autumn season.

Stribog-A god of air and intellect who resembles the Celtic King of Air, Paralda. It is said that the "Holy Spirit" is carried by Stribog to a Koldun when magick is performed.

Stritennia-New Year festival, usually in march.

Svarog/Simargl-The Phoenix male half, bringer of energy and light. Said to be the union of the Three Male God trinity Belobog (Perun, Kupalo, Volos), and the reflection of the Three Female God Trinity Chernobog (Lada, Mokosh, Baba Yaga) and part of creation/destruction itself. (In Slavic folklore, the Phoenix was two souls intertwined...one male and the other female-usualy the collective TripleGod and Triplegoddess. Their mirror image is the two halves of the great serpent of the deep at the base of the world tree that guards souls and the water of life.)

Svarovitch-he is the son and Elemental Lord of Fire of the Phoenix creator Svarog. From the holy light of the firebird is born the element of fire, so Svarovitch is associated with the Celtic King Djinn.

Svyato Mesto-Literally "power spot." These are sacred places where the spirit world and our world intertwine in their purest forms. These areas of magical energy can be used for many purposes, and appear at many different locations, even in cities and along ley lines. (My own area of magic working is made on a svyato mesto for my magic circle).

Upyri-Basically, the Russian vampire. Upyri are disembodied spirits of cruel people who possess the empty bodies of the deceased. Similar to a "revenant".

Vedma-A derogatory term for a koldun, or a practitioner who performs "spoiling" or cursing magic.

Vily-Ancestoral spirits, or more commonly...The slavic equivalent of Faery Folk.

Vodyanoi-Water spirits that dwell in ponds and streams. They are the male incarnations of Rusalki and are very mischevious towards the living. Usually offerings of bread were brought to appease them to save the water mills and boats of the Slavic people.

Volos-The god of the underworld and the dead. Volos is associated with St. Nicholas by the modern kolduny. Volos is the underworld aspect of the Triad of male energy encompassing Svarog.

Vorozheia-Divinating koldun or koldunya.

Vyri-Paradise for the spirits of the dead. (Celtic Land of Youth)

Water of Life-Basically, "holy water" or magically pure water used for healing, divination and magic work.

Znakhary-Kolduny who specialize in healing.

Znaki-A magical symbol painted on a pysanky egg to bring about a particular magickal working. Pine needles for health and youth, diamonds for knowledge, wheat for health and a good harvest, deer for prosperity, curlicues for protection, roses for love, spiders for patience, fish/crosses/triangles for the divinity of Christ, the sun for healthy life, ribbons for eterntity and everlasting life, and birds for fertility and wish fulfillment.

Zorya-Goddess who represents protection and battle. Outside of the Kiev area, She is represented as two sisters, each connected to the Morning and Evening Star. When the change in day is coming, Zorya unties or ties the horses of the Sun Lord's chariot so that he may ride across the sky to bring day, or return his chariot to the staples in the lands of the West for his horses to rest.

Spellworkings and Notes:

I use these rituals as well as other spellwork to intune myself with the natural enrgies of Slavic mysticism.  Some of these practices I do not perform, nor do I condone, but they are included for the viewer.

 
To Attract a Domovoi: Go outside of your home wearing your finest
clothing and say aloud "Dedushka Dobrokhot/Great Grandfather, Please come into my house and tend the flocks."

To please your Domovoi: Take a slice of salted bread and wrap it in a cloth or papertowel :-) and leave the bread in your hallway or by the fireplace or stove in your kitchen. Ask for forgiveness for whatever you have done to upset him.

To rid yourself of a rival Domovoi: Sometimes a home may have one too
many Domoviki. In this case poltergeist-like activity may occur. Beat
the walls of your home with a broom shouting "Grandfather Domovoi, help
me chase away this intruder."

To Gain Magical Knowledge
by Calling a Leshy: Cut down a young Aspen tree so that it's top falls facing
the East. Bend over and look through your legs saying "Leshy, Forest
Lord, Come to me now; not as a gray wolf, not as a black raven, not as a
flaming fir tree, but as a man."
The Leshy will teach the arts of magik to any whom he befriends.
(from Ivanits - Russian Folk Lore)

For Protection

use this Prayer: Recite the following prayer to Zorya:
Oh Virgin, unsheathe your father's sacred sword.
Take up the breastplate of your ancestors.
Take up your powerful helmet.
Bring forth your steed of black.
Fly forth to the open field,
There, where the great army with countless weapons is found.
Oh, Virgin, cover me with your veil.
Protect me against the power of the enemy
Against guns and arrows, warriors and weapons;
Weapons of wood, of bone, of copper, of iron and steel.
(from The New Larousse Encyc. of Mythology)

Begging pardon of the waters:
Pour milk or drop a piece of bread into a body of water, and greet it.
Say, "I come to you, little water Mother,
Repentant and with bowed head.
Forgive me, pardon me,
and you too, you ancestors
and forefathers of the waters!"

To Create the Water of Life:
Hold both hands over a bowl of very cold water and wave them back and forth.
Close your eyes and inhale. As you feel your lungs fill, imagine that globes of spiritual fire appear around your hands. Breath and exhale continuously as the globes "heat" the water with your inner energy. Sense the heat radiate outward and then breath through your hands into the bowl. (A pendulum will swing "positive//yes" if placed over the bowl.)

Dowsing or repairing your/another's psychic centers:
Sit in chair, (or when performing on another...sit them in a chair)
The patient must be asked to try to imagine themselves from the outside.
Take a bowl of cold water and hold behind the patient, (or in front of yourself)
Move the bowl starting from your lower chakras to your uppers, noticing if the bowl seems to move away from you or the patient. This movement if drastic means that the chakra is out of alignment. Simply transform the bowl into the Water of Life, and push the bowl towards the chakra region until you feel a sensation or the patient notices a change.

(These are only a small sample of magic terms and techniques in Koldovtsvo. There are similarities in this magical school and Celtic/Wicca as well as Norse mythology. I practice as both a general koldun teacher as well as a znakhary, vorozehia and gadalky for colleagues. )

-
Khalell Zen Paraldan, Frater Sacramentum Regis et Lucem (S:.R:.E:.L:., CLXVIII) W.W.B.D.

-revised 12/16/04 at the House of Horus Temple (Bristol, Tennessee USA)

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