Art by Kris Waldherr




Lada

Lada by Joanna Powell Colbert

The spring maiden Lada is the Slavic goddess of love and beauty. She returns from the Underworld at the Vernal Equinox, bringing the lark and the springtime with her. In Slavic countries, birds were thought to bring the Spring with them when they returned on March 9, the holiday of Strinennia. On this day, people make clay images of larks, smear their heads with honey and decorate them with tinsel. Special cakes are also made in the shape of birds, which is thought to ensure their return.











Lares

Lares (also called Genii loci or Lases) were Roman deities protecting the house and the family - household gods. See also Genius, Larvae, Di Penates, Manes. Lares are presumed sons of Hermes and Lara, and deeply venerated by ancient Romans through small statues, usually put in higher places of the house, far from the floor, or even on the roof (but some statues were also on some crossings of roads). Of the Lares proper, there are only two, and they had inferior power. Over time, their power was extended over houses, country, sea, cities, etc., as the Lares became conflated with other Roman deities and protective spirits.

The Genius loci was presumed taking part in all what happened inside the house, and a statue was also put on the table during the meals.

In the early roman times, in every house there was at least one little statue. Later, a sort of confusion connected their figure with those of Mani, deities of Hades (and the most virtuous dead persons of the family). Finally the confusion included the Penates too (other minor deities, so called because usually represented with an evident erected penis).

Types of Lares:





Lilith

Lilith

Lilith was the first feminist, dating to 2300 B.C.E. This powerful dark-mother goddess is referred to as a demon by Levite priests who wrote the Bible, likely due to her assertive behavior at a time when patriarchy was new. A Sumerian and Hebrew Goddess, she is referred to as the hand of Inanna who gathered males into the temple for sacred sexual rites. In Christian tradition she was the original wife of Adam, with whom she claimed equality because they were created together in the image of Elohin (a word for "God" which had feminine as well as masculine linguistic roots). In her hands she holds the rod and ring of Sumerian royal authority. Lilith wears a stepped crown or turban and is companioned by the bird of wisdom and the king of beasts












Loki

Lokis Magic Fire by Arthur Rackham

Loki spread discord among the Aesir gods, contrived the death of Baldur and was the father of Midgard, Fenris and Hel, all of whom were forces of chaos. Yet Loki, the name given to this famous perpetual trouble-maker, paradoxically may have connoted "luck" or totemic positive energy for ancient Norse family clans. Ironically it often requires the destabilizing energy of strife and perceived misfortune to retune our life to harmony. This image of Loki was painted by the famous water color artist Arthur Rackham. (See our Art Gallery)















Lugh

Lugh

Celtic sun-god Lugh shows him at the gates of Temhair (Tara), laughing and boasting to the gatekeeper that he can do virtually anything, and do it better than anyone else! When we feel inadequate to the task at hand, we can draw on this energy of confidence, ability, and pride in our work that is embodied in Lugh. Lugh was Celtic Lord of Every Skill. He was patron of Lugodunum (Lyons) in Gaul. He and his nature goddess consort (named variously as Tailltu, Machta or Gaulish Rosmerta) were worshiped during the 30-day Lugnasad midsummer feast in Ireland as well. Sexual magic during this festival ensured ripening of the crops and good harvest. Called Lamfhada (or of the long arm) in Gaelic because of his great spear and sling, his animal totems were the raven and the lynx. Lugh mirrors Hindu Kartikeya , the spiritual warrior, and Roman Mercury, the swift messenger, and his exploits are recounted in the Celtic epic Tuatha De Danann.





More Coming......





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