With the Spring Equinox only a couple of days away, March's full moon altar honours Mokosh, the Ukrainian Earth Goddess. Dressed in an embroidered blouse and traditional cone-shaped dress, she is adorned with a vinok (flower crown) of golden wheat, red poppies and blue flax flowers. Like all Earth Goddesses, Mokosh causes the Earth to be fertile, fruitful and bountiful. Starting in the Spring, she ensures the sustenance and creation of all life with her many blessings.
The portrait of Mokosh on the altar is by artist Thalia Took. The altar cloth with its traditional embroidery design and the dish of pysanky (Easter eggs) were all gifts over the years between My Rare One and me. The wheat symbolizes the fertility of the steppes. The blue of the altar cloth and the golden wheat upon it reflect the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag.
Currently, Mokosh is suffering along with her Ukrainian people in Russia's war of aggression. May Spring, Peace and Hope soon be restored there and everywhere.
[Photos #1 and #3 © Debra She Who Seeks, March 2022;
Photo #2 from Thalia Took's website Amused Grace]
the eggs are wonderful. so many people make them here and they give classes too. this war, what can i say? i wake each morning holding my breath as i read the latest news.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful; we can’t forget how much the earth is damaged during war.
ReplyDeleteUkraine and its people are foremost in the thoughts of many these days.
ReplyDeleteOh, so appropriate.
ReplyDeleteLove the colors and last night I noticed the fantastic moon. March is my month!
XOXO
This one is a gorgeous alter Debs. I love the stories you give behind why the item are there too. And a lovely sentiment to have the Ukrainian eggs there. Im just jealous you have them. I would love to have some but have never seen any in my travels yet.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I learned a lot here today. I am praying for he people of Ukraine. It is so so sad. Have a wonderful weekend with The Rare One. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. I've known about the cloth etc, so good of you to post about it. I hope each day we'll read some good news about Ukraine, that someone has stopped that monster Putin.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful alter. The full moon called me outside to look - not as bright as some but clear and shining.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, and very informative. The moon was big, bright, and beautiful. We hope it signals better days ahead, especially for the people of Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteAbsolute perfection!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and timely alter. Praying for the good people of Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteShe's beautiful. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteHow gorgeous! Your altars always leave me in awe. And that altar cloth is stunning! And let's not even go to the Easter eggs...I mean, wow!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Spring Equinox, what should be the start of the new year... for the northern hemisphere people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you wish. May spring, peace and hope soon be restored in Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely and so timely.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful altar, Debra! My heart goes out to Ukraine and its people. I've had my computer in and worked on at Apple, but I'm still having a lot of trouble with it. I hope this comment posts. I'll come back later to check. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a handsome tribute to Mokosh! I second your prayer that Spring, Peace and Hope may soon be restored to Ukraine and our planet.
ReplyDeleteA lovely altar. We have one Ukrainian in our extended family, and she passed recently. Even at her hundred years she knew Putin was ravaging her country.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of her. Sunday I will be going to an Ostara potluck.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Thanks for letting me know my comment posted, Debra! I cannot make my comments work on my blog. I'm hopeful I can make everything work when I get home. Between my eyes, my new phone, and blogger I'm ready to drink myself oblivious ~ Just kidding ~ LOL! Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteYour altar looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI keep worrying about that one time when the sailors were going across to another port and a voice said "the gods are dead ". I worry about that. I have decided it was probably christian bullshit. I don't trust them. But what if it is true? What if they are dead? Are we going to have to be christians and moslems?
ReplyDeleteReligion is too headache.
I love this soooooooooooooooooo much. I love the eggs which remind me of the Czech eggs they have here..
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Debra. Spring, renewal and peace, sending that prayer out to the world every day. Blessings to the people of Ukraine. Their strength and determination is a lesson to us all.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMay the promise of renewal that sprouts with spring bring peace to all, and to Mokosh's children in particular.
ReplyDeleteMy nerdy inner self is pleased as punch to find a site where it shows the sub-solar point at any time of the day. I am watching the sun slowly creep up to 0 Latittude. I would watch this for hours.
ReplyDeleteHello Debra, The eggs are amazing. Are they painted on real eggs, or artificial ones?
ReplyDelete--JIim
So beautiful!
ReplyDelete@ Parnassus (Jim) -- They are created using hot beeswax and various dyes on real eggs which have been blown out and then varnished when done. So essentially they are empty eggshells and therefore, extremely fragile. The ones in my photo were purchased commercially at craft shops, but My Rare One also makes beautiful, intricate pysanky. She keeps all hers at home on display, so that's why I used the three other ones which she gave me years ago before she started creating her own.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful; all of it😘😘😘
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful altar, Debra. It actually brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteMokosh will have her work cut out for her this spring. Ukraine is such an important breadbasket for the world, I hate to think of the farmers who are not able to get a crop in the ground. People around the world will feel the effects of this senseless, destructive, egomaniacal war. Sob.
Thank you for bringing a moment of beauty to the interwebs. I can only hope that all of our heartfelt prayers are heard in the ether and change comes.
Sadly, Ukraine, the wheat grower for much of Europe, is not able to fulfill that role while fighting for its survival.
ReplyDeleteVery appropriate and beautifully done altar. <3
ReplyDeleteSo hard to believe in this day and time any country is waring on another country. Yeez. Will mankind never learn?
ReplyDeleteFirst I've heard of her
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful spring alter.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful altar. My thoughts are with Ukraine every day with those same wishes of peace and hope.
ReplyDeleteYour altar is beautiful.💚
ReplyDelete-Quinley