Photo by Sigita Danil on Unsplash
What it's All About:
Abkhaz Neo-paganism, which is sometimes called Apsuara, is a modern pagan religion that began in the country of Georgia. The Abkhaz people are reviving their pre-Christian beliefs and practices, which involved worshiping a pantheon of gods and goddesses connected to nature and the elements. The religion stresses the significance of living in harmony with the natural world and keeping up with traditional customs and values. In this podcast, I dive into the history and practices of Abkhaz Neo-paganism, exploring its rituals, beliefs, and spiritual traditions in-depth.
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Spirit Guide of the Week:
By Dr Haggis - w:Image:Thunderbird_on_Totem_Pole.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1329416
Thunderbird
Dream Symbol: (There are three)
Photo by John Paulsen on Unsplash
Garage
Photo by Yaro Felix Mayans Verfurth on Unsplash
Garbage
Photo by Victor Malyushev on Unsplash
Garden
Transcript:
(03:54)
Welcome to another episode of the Music From the Goddess' Vault Podcast. I am your host, Midnight Starr, and I'm thrilled to bring you another captivating episode. You just listened to the enchanting Behold the Passion of Nature by Hagalaz' Runedance, and I can't wait to share more incredible music with you today. So sit back, relax, and get ready for a fascinating glimpse into the world of Abkhaz Neopaganism. First, some stuff to get out of the way. The Red Album, created by the Abortion Access Pagan Music Project, is set to be released this summer after successfully raising 12 thousand dollars. Although they have met their goal, you can still make a difference by contributing to this meaningful cause. All the proceeds will support charities that strive to improve women's reproductive health. If you'd like to donate, please check the GoFundMe page linked in the show notes. Now the organizers are now looking for sponsors for each of the songs on the album. Learn more about this by going to the The Red Album Facebook page or https://pagansong.com. Are you a Canadian Pagan musician trying to get your music out there? Contact me! There's a shortage of Canadian Pagan music, and I need more. I'm looking forward to discovering you and your band and hearing some of your great songs! By having your tunes played on the Music From the Goddess' Vault Podcast, you'll gain many new fans and increase your exposure. If you're a Pagan musician who's not Canadian, don't worry, I'll still play your music on this podcast if you get in touch with me. If you love this program, donate at http://www.ko-fi.com/goddessvault or http://www.patreon.com/goddessvault to show your support for the Music From the Goddess’ Vault Podcast. Stay up to date with Music From the Goddess’ Vault Podcast by subscribing to the newsletter. Get notified when new shows are available. Access past episodes for a fee of $7 a month or $70 a year. Subscribe for free at http://musicgoddessvault.substack.com. If you have a suggestion for a show topic, spirit guide or dream symbol, you can reach me on my blog or on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Mastodon, Minds, and Pixedfed. And now, for today's topic: Abkhaz Neo-paganism. This old religion, which started in the Caucasus region, is making a comeback. This episode is all about Abkhaz Neo-paganism and how it's unique from other pagan traditions. If you're interested in paganism or already practice it, this episode offers a unique and fascinating perspective on this lesser-known religion. For now, I have a musical treat from Alexander James Adams with his song, Balance of Nature.
(10:59)
You might be asking yourself, who are the Abkhaz? They are an ethnic minority group living in Abkhazia, a region on Georgia's northeast coast that has been their ancestral home for centuries. They arrived in the region as early as the 5th century BC and have maintained their unique identity and culture since then. Their unique language is known for having the fewest vowel sounds and long strings of consonants, making it distinct from other languages in the region. The Abkhazians have a rich and diverse history that spans several empires and religions. They were once a part of the Roman and then the Byzantine Empires, where they adopted Christianity. Later, they became a part of the Ottoman Empire, where half of the population converted to Islam. However, the Abkhazians maintained their unique identity and culture throughout these various periods of influence. In the 19th century, they became a part of the Russian Empire, which eventually became the Soviet Union in the 20th century. Despite their unique identity, the Abkhazians have faced numerous challenges, including the fight for Georgia's independence. However, they continue to fight for their own rights and independence, determined to establish themselves as a sovereign nation. Today, there is a growing movement among the Abkhazians to revive their ancient pagan faith. In the next segment, we'll delve deeper into the fascinating aspects of Abkhazian paganism. Let's now tune in to the enchanting rhythms of Libana's A Medley of Slav Wedding Songs, a beautiful piece that pays homage to Slavic roots and traditions.
(16:02)
Time for another Spirit Guide of the Week. I am going back to the mythical creatures world to talk about the Thunderbird. The thunderbird is a powerful force of nature in Native American mythology. It's wingspan is as wide as two canoes, and it can carry a whale out to sea with its talons. The bird is known for its majestic appearance and its association with creation and destruction in nature. The thunderbird has the ability to transform into a human being. The myth goes like this: The Great Chief lived on the highest mountain, near Cape Cook on the west coast of Vancouver Island. During a great flood, the Chief saw a Thunderbird who turned into a human. The Chief requested that the Thunderbird find survivors of the flood and invite them to a dance. The bird reported back that it found them to participate in the dance. According to tradition, the thunderbird dance helps with the abundance of the land and crop growth. If the Thunderbird is your spirit animal, call on it when you need power, are in crisis, or a dramatic change in a situation. That is it for now, stay tuned for another spirit guide of the week.
(20:02)
And that was The Bird Rock by Three Weird Sisters, folks. Hope you are enjoying the music so far! To tell you the truth, the ancient Abkhaz religion was not entirely wiped out. It just adapted along with Christianity and Islam. The revitalization of the Abkhaz Neopaganism started in the 80s. I believe it might be the time around the collapse of the Soviet Union, that is when it started. Their holy sites were restored in the 90s. During their conflict with Georgia, they distanced themselves from Christianity, thinking that it was a Georgian religion. At the core of Abkhaz Neo-paganism is a belief system centered on the soul. Their teachings suggest that the soul is intimately tied to the body and cannot stray too far from it. As someone approaches death, their soul gradually begins to depart from their physical form. When the soul completely leaves the body, that's when death happens. The reunion of the soul and body will occur once more in the next world. The Abkhazians have a ritual called “Catching souls” where they put a wine skin on the deceased and transfer it to the grave. Abkhaz Neo-paganism has a rich pantheon of gods and goddesses, among which Antsua, the creator of the world, is the supreme deity. The religion also reveres Afy, the thunder god, as well as Ayerg and Azhvepshaa (I hope I pronounced that one right), the spirits of the forest, wild animals, and hunting. Anana Gunda is the goddess of marriages and bees, while Aytar is the patron of all domestic animals. And there are more. These deities and more form an integral part of the Abkhazian belief system, emphasizing the connection between the soul and the body in their worship. The gods in this religion also have representatives who are either called angels, observers, or servants. They are the ones that help track of everything that is going on with human and reports everything to them. The ancient Abkhazians did sacrifice animals, mostly male goats and sheep. Their most important symbols are fire, wood, and stone. During ceremonies and festivals, candles are placed on the roots of a tree with a small pile of stones. The Abkhaz also have seven holy sanctuaries. I’m not going to name them all because they are hard to pronounce. However, to date, only six of the seven of them have been recovered. In addition to that, every village in Abkhazia have their own sacred place where they can hold ceremonies. For those interested in delving deeper into Abkhaz Neo-paganism, a wealth of information is readily available online. Go check those out. Let's keep the music going with another fantastic track. You're in for a treat with Ritual by Trobar de Morte.
(29:53)
Here's another dream symbol to interpret. Today its Garage, Garbage, and Garden. Did you have a dream about being in a garage? This could indicate a time of stagnation and lack of productivity in your life. If you dreamed that you were opening the garage door, it means that you have decided on a particular issue. If you dream of closing a garage door, it could mean that you're prioritizing other people's needs over your own goals. If you put your automobile in the garage in a dream, it symbolizes stability and safety brought on by your work and achievements. Garbage heaps in your dreams are a symbol for self-concepts that you have rejected or don't like. A dream about throwing away garbage may suggest you are getting rid of old, negative habits and moving towards a more positive outlook. Finding something valuable in garbage in your dream shows your ability to recognize value where others may not. A flower garden in your dream is a symbol of peace, contentment, love, and household harmony. Seeing a vegetable or fruit garden in your dreams may be a sign that your persistence and dedication will ultimately lead to success. A tropical garden in your dream means that you are looking for comfort and hospitality. And a sparse and weed-infested garden in your dreams may indicate neglect of spiritual well-being. If you want a dream symbol to interpret and maybe have a dream symbol featured, I will mention the contact information at the end of this show. So keep dreaming.
(33:51)
It's time for another myth. Get ready for our next tale! We're diving into the rich folklore of Ukraine with Voice at the Window. This is another captivating story, sourced from the World of Tales website. Enjoy.
(44:59)
That was Your Voice Still Lingers by Crow Women, and before that, I played At the Garden Gate by Brian Henke. I would like to remind you that if you are interested in donating to the Red Album project, which I mentioned at the beginning of this show, they already raised 12 thousand dollars just to make the album. But you can still do to the Access Pagan Music Project GoFundMe page linked in the show notes. They are currently looking for sponsors for each song on the album. Get more details about this project by checking out The Red Album Facebook page or visiting https://pagansong.com. Got an idea for a show topic, spirit guide or dream symbol? Share it on the website https://goddessvault1.wixsite.com/home and on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Mastodon, and Pixelfed. If you’re a Canadian Pagan musician, I'd love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me! I can't wait to discover and play more Canadian pagan music! If you want to help keep this show going, you can donate money to either https://www.ko-fi.com/goddessvault, or https://www.patreon.com/goddessvault, If you want to be the first to hear the latest episode, you can sign up for the newsletter, https://musicgoddessvault.substack.com.
I am going to leave you with Faun and The Market Song. Blessed be.
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