Saule - the Baltic/Slavic Sun Goddess
And Her Sacred Serpent – the Zaltys
To the Balts, the Sun was a goddess - Saule Motul – the Mother Sun. Saule charged across the hill of the sky in a horse drawn chariot with copper wheels. The Sun is her jug or ladle from which light pours forth. One of the most powerful goddesses, she provides nature's warmth and fertility. Saulė is the patroness of all misfits, especially orphans, since only She is a suitable substitute for a mother’s warmth. Her universal Mother role is confirmed by the word for “world” - “pasaulis” which translates as “under the sun”.
Historically, the Lithuanian celebration of Rasa started the evening before the Summer Solstice, and included circle dances, games and divination, a ritualized meal, greeting the setting sun, lighting the bonfires and making offerings, and visiting the fields, trees and groves to bless them. Healing herbs and flowers were collected and poles or trees, often with 3 branches were erected with fires lit atop them. The herbs and flowers were garlanded upon them and hung with wreaths. The earth's axis as world tree with the sun perched atop it was a common motif. This was followed by a primary bonfire, where a corn dolly was burned to symbolize the passing of the old. Dancers circled the bonfire, and wreaths were cast. Bathing, and a boat with a fire aboard sails to symbolize Saule's stopping her chariot in the evening sea to wash her horses – tired from the day's ride across the sky. Finally, the people greeted the nocturnal celestial bodies – the stars, as well as the moon, and awaited the rising sun to worship her. Finally, the morning dew was collected and saved for bathing, and healing properties. The belief is that dew, like all waters, comes from the depths of the sea, through the earth. Combine that with the rising and setting summer solstice sun, and dew on that day is imbued with exceptional healing powers. Rasa is the Festival of Dew.
So as dew falls on the grass, so Saule's beloved animal was the Zaltys, or grass snake. This European species looks extremely similar to the North American garter snake – so much so that they were once classified with the same Latin name – Natrix, which is linguistically connected to the Irish nathr, the German nattern, and the Welsh naddred, from which we get the English 'adder'. All the while, the grass snake (like the garter snake) is completely harmless.
The Zaltys symbolized good fortune and it was considered very bad luck to kill any snake. It was said that Saule would weep to see her zaltys hurt, and her tears turned to amber as a reminder to men. Saule was also considered a goddess of the hearth fire. At Rasa, the Hearth Fire was extinguished and relit from a fire brought from the spiritual center of Lithuania. And the Zaltys, as Her favorite, was called the house-snake, and lived in the farmhouses by the hearth fire or stove. As a fertility symbol, the Zaltys was encouraged to live under the bed. In some cases, a spirit house was provided for the zaltys to reside in, in others, the Zaltys lived under the millstone by the hearth. In winter, they sleep. January 25th is the celebration of Kirmeline (Day of Serpents). Kirmeline is the symbolic awakening of the zaltys. The best of human food, and milk is put out for them – if the priests can entice them to eat and drink, a prosperous year is foretold. Each farmstead worked hard to encourage a Zaltys to take up residence. People revered the Zaltys and they were kept as living guardians for sacred sites.
The Zaltys can traverse the Three Worlds (like a garter snake, they can climb the branches of the World Tree to the Sky, slither across, and within, the Earth itself – as well as swim across and dive to the depths of the Waters.) For all of these reasons, the Zaltys will act as our Gatekeeper, as we worship Saule as the Summer Solstice Sun.
Praise offerings for Saule can include anything golden, copper, yellow, orange or white. Golden apples, white wine, mead, or fruit juices. Amber or citrine. Flowers, wreaths, wheels, eggs, fire, fireworks or incense. Flax is sacred to Her, and a special meal of golden cheese and mead is often prepared on Rasa.
Historically, the Lithuanian celebration of Rasa started the evening before the Summer Solstice, and included circle dances, games and divination, a ritualized meal, greeting the setting sun, lighting the bonfires and making offerings, and visiting the fields, trees and groves to bless them. Healing herbs and flowers were collected and poles or trees, often with 3 branches were erected with fires lit atop them. The herbs and flowers were garlanded upon them and hung with wreaths. The earth's axis as world tree with the sun perched atop it was a common motif. This was followed by a primary bonfire, where a corn dolly was burned to symbolize the passing of the old. Dancers circled the bonfire, and wreaths were cast. Bathing, and a boat with a fire aboard sails to symbolize Saule's stopping her chariot in the evening sea to wash her horses – tired from the day's ride across the sky. Finally, the people greeted the nocturnal celestial bodies – the stars, as well as the moon, and awaited the rising sun to worship her. Finally, the morning dew was collected and saved for bathing, and healing properties. The belief is that dew, like all waters, comes from the depths of the sea, through the earth. Combine that with the rising and setting summer solstice sun, and dew on that day is imbued with exceptional healing powers. Rasa is the Festival of Dew.
So as dew falls on the grass, so Saule's beloved animal was the Zaltys, or grass snake. This European species looks extremely similar to the North American garter snake – so much so that they were once classified with the same Latin name – Natrix, which is linguistically connected to the Irish nathr, the German nattern, and the Welsh naddred, from which we get the English 'adder'. All the while, the grass snake (like the garter snake) is completely harmless.
The Zaltys symbolized good fortune and it was considered very bad luck to kill any snake. It was said that Saule would weep to see her zaltys hurt, and her tears turned to amber as a reminder to men. Saule was also considered a goddess of the hearth fire. At Rasa, the Hearth Fire was extinguished and relit from a fire brought from the spiritual center of Lithuania. And the Zaltys, as Her favorite, was called the house-snake, and lived in the farmhouses by the hearth fire or stove. As a fertility symbol, the Zaltys was encouraged to live under the bed. In some cases, a spirit house was provided for the zaltys to reside in, in others, the Zaltys lived under the millstone by the hearth. In winter, they sleep. January 25th is the celebration of Kirmeline (Day of Serpents). Kirmeline is the symbolic awakening of the zaltys. The best of human food, and milk is put out for them – if the priests can entice them to eat and drink, a prosperous year is foretold. Each farmstead worked hard to encourage a Zaltys to take up residence. People revered the Zaltys and they were kept as living guardians for sacred sites.
The Zaltys can traverse the Three Worlds (like a garter snake, they can climb the branches of the World Tree to the Sky, slither across, and within, the Earth itself – as well as swim across and dive to the depths of the Waters.) For all of these reasons, the Zaltys will act as our Gatekeeper, as we worship Saule as the Summer Solstice Sun.
Praise offerings for Saule can include anything golden, copper, yellow, orange or white. Golden apples, white wine, mead, or fruit juices. Amber or citrine. Flowers, wreaths, wheels, eggs, fire, fireworks or incense. Flax is sacred to Her, and a special meal of golden cheese and mead is often prepared on Rasa.