Slavic ornaments: supernatural amulets

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In past centuries, embroidery for peasants was never just an ornament. On the contrary, Slavic ornaments were considered a powerful magical tool that could create order out of chaos. In order for life to develop according to the desired scenario, a person had to have a supernatural image, as if a reduced “model” of well-being. This role was performed by embroidery elements on clothes or woven household items, made by hand or by the closest people.

Of course, the products were made not just like that, but according to strictly observed canons. When embroidering motifs, not only the exact execution of the element was required, but also the quality of the stitches, equally beautiful from the front and the wrong side, without knots. From this, the magical power of the product increased many times and formed an even and strong energy field around the owner.

Different symbols of the Slavs had a different meaning from each other on the subject. Each element of the ornament performed a specific function: protection from diseases, assistance in spiritual searches, family preservation, etc.

For example, in the Sverdlovsk region, it was customary for loved ones to embroider something with the following symbol:

It means "Unity and harmony of male and female principles",serves to strengthen love and family ties. And the female amulet “Blessing of Mother Earth and Ancestors” (Tver Region) looks like this:

These Slavic ornaments on clothes gave the woman the belief that she would have many he althy, strong and smart children, and her youth would not fade for a long time.

"Blessing the grains in the field by the Sun" (Perm Territory) by contemporaries can be interpreted as a talisman for successful business and success in studies, mastering new knowledge:

There is another interpretation of this symbol - "The Holy Union of the Sun and the Earth." Our ancestors believed that this ornament guarantees a bountiful harvest.

In the Yaroslavl region, a light curtain over the cradle, clothes of children and teenagers were often decorated with the following embroidery:

It is called "Blessing of the Seven Elements": fire, water, earth, air, matter, spirit and mind. Served to protect children from all misfortunes.

"True love" is already a wedding talisman from the Perm region:

Slavic ornaments, on which S-shaped figures are embroidered, depict pairs of white swans. And the red motifs between them form the repeating symbols of Mother Earth. They bless the couple, grant protection from any harm, true and eternal love based on friendship, respect and care.

Ritual embroidery for expectant mothers "He althy pregnancy and happy motherhood" from the Perm region looks like this:

It's like a graphic spell for a he althy pregnancy and easy delivery - Mother Earth's blessing for the mother and baby.

In the computerized era, you will not find outfits with such embroidery, except that in winter you can see mittens with ornaments on a child. And yet, the ancient art of embroidering pagan symbols has not gone into oblivion, it is being actively revived. Slavic ornaments attract not only with their beauty, faith in their magical power is still alive. This, of course, is good, it means that folk art has survived. And a new wave of interest in the knowledge of our ancestors will certainly resurrect symbolic art.