Dearest keeper of magic,
Finnish month names are interesting, because they describe the time of the year very well. Toukokuu (May) means the month (or moon) of sowing.
This is the time of Beltane, and in Finland Vappu, Helka-celebration or Touko-celebration. Everyone will be sharing you rituals including dancing and bonfires. The rituals call for fertility, manifesting abundance, love and good harvest, or keep the evil spirits away. These are also familiar in Finland.
I was considering which path to take in this email. Alongside with the sowing, this time of the year has been the time when the cattle were released to pastures, forests and meadows. This called for powerful protective magic.
Which brings me to bears.
And the feminine magic of the vittu. Vittu, meaning the pussy, of course.
In the ancient lore, the bear is the king of the forest, a powerful spirit, worshipped and respected. So much so, that there’s a theory that in the time of hunter-gatherers (and shamanism) the year was understood through the rhythm of the bear.
In the rituals respecting the bear (after a successful hunt), a woman could be married to the bear before sending the animal’s spirit back to the stars, Ursa Majoris.
However, in the later times (at least), feminine power “vitun väki" (that would translate: pussy’s power) was used to protect the herd and people from the bear.
In places like North Karelia, where I’m from, a strong woman might be hired to scare the bear away to keep the cattle safe. She would do that by standing with her bare behind exposed, flashing the source feminine magic.
And at one point, there was a profession called a karhunpyllyttäjä, translating into bear-mooner. Moreover, it is recorded that one nickname for the pussy was in fact karhu - translating: the bear.
The spell:
”Ääh pois karhu miu karhui tielt, tiä on syönt jo monta miestä.”
”Ääh go away bear from my bears way, this bear has already eaten many men”
- Said a granny from Karelia.
In the folklore, the sacred feminine magic is something even the mighty bear respects.
Exposing the vagina to anything (objects, animals…) would protect or release the target from harmful energy. Or sometimes the same act could cause bad luck.
Tying this into this time of the year, it could mean for example when letting the cattle out, a woman might stand on top of the gate so that the animals would have to run between her branches and thus become protected by vitun väki. (This is called harakoiminen.)
Perhaps us modern witches can take it as a reminder: When we walk in your full strength, connected to the body, nature and intuition, we are more powerful than we've ever been told.
You carry the magic in you.
So think: what is your relationship with your inner magic and power? How do you use it to protect yourself and people and things important to you?
That's it about women and bears for now 🐻💃
In the next letter, I will share a love spell.
Meanwhile, if you are interested in the Finnic lore and spells, check out my Spellcraft course (Note: I will increase the price when the month turns).
And a final note: I am cooking something. The pagan/wiccan wheel of the year does not speak to me (the timing does not align with where I live). So, I am coming up with something that takes from the shamanistic bear year, and the Finnish pagan celebrations, Finnish & Fenno-ugric mythology and lore, and even from the month names. Bringing it all together into my version of Finnic year of magic and shamanism and nature rooted practices. Stay tuned.
With warmth,
Ninni,
Witches’ North
Sources:
Kotimaisten kielten keskus.
Savon sanomat.
Pulkkinen, Suomalainen kansanusko, 2014.
Stark-Arola, Lempi, fire and female väki, 1997.