Polish Ancestral Dream, Thesis Excerpt

August 26th, 2009 by atava in Ancestors, Dreams, European Indigenous Mind, Poland, Polish American, Slavic

“To reenact is to remember.”
Dr. Apela Colorado, Founder of the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network

On Summer Solstice of 2003, I participated in a Polish ceremony that has its roots in ancient pre-Christian times. A few days before Solstice I had this dream:

“Picnic, Pickles and Polish People”

I am at the Summer Solstice Polish picnic. I am lying on a picnic table with my sister. Polish people are surrounding us. They walk up and say, “Dzien Dobre” (Good Day).” Everyone is chattering in Polish. Many of them have brought jars of pickles. Polish people and pickles are piling up on the picnic table. (June 18 2003, Sun in Gemini, Moon in Pisces)

This was the first time I heard Polish being spoken in my dream. It signified to me that there was a lot of Polish ancestral energy around this time of year. Summer Solstice, called Kupala in Polish, is one the four major fire festivals of the traditional Slavic year. The ancient Slavs saw this day of longest light as the day the sun “bathes in the river” and “dances and plays in the sky.”

On this day, special fire and water rites are performed. The word Kupala comes from the ancient word kupati, meaning “to bathe.” Water is believed to be infused with special healing power on this day, and people gathered to bathe at rivers, springs, and seas. Women create wreathes of nine sacred herbs and flowers to offer to the water. These offerings to the water helped to strengthen the water as well as to bring protection to families from floods and thunderstorms.

In the evening of Kupala (also called Sobotki or St. John’s Eve) people gathered on hilltops, mountaintops or in clearings in the forest to light huge bonfires. The sacred fire was believed to be connected to the sun itself and could only be started by rubbing two sticks together. People would dance and sing around the fire. Later they would jump over the fire to receive its blessings of cleansing and protection. The smoke from this sacred fire would drift into nearby fields to help protect the crops.

Mugwort or Blycia

Mugwort, or blycia, is the herb most honored by Poles at Solstice time. Polish herbalist Sophie Knab Hodorowicz writes: “No other plant played as important a role as mugwort, so much so that the midsummer bonfires were also called mugwort fires.” In pre-Christian times, the Slavs used blycia to protect themselves against evil spirits. On Kupala, blycia is hung over doors, worn as belts, and offered to the fire for protection. On Solstice morning, I gathered blycia and other herbs for our ceremony. I first made an offering of salt and tobacco to the Ohlone people, the ancestors of the land. I told them about our Kapula ceremony and asked permission to have this ceremony on their soil.

Later, in the afternoon, I met with other members of the Polish Arts and Culture Foundation at Lake Temescal in Oakland. We were gathered to reenact an ancient ceremony, in which we created beautiful wreathes of flowers and herbs. After we finished making our wreathes, we walked to the water’s edge and tossed our wreathes to the water. As I sat with my Slavic friend David watching the wreathes, the water seemed to shimmer with our prayers and blessings. The lake looked like a beautiful woman covered in flowers and jewels. The energy surrounding us felt peaceful and welcoming. I could almost hear the lake saying: Thank you for your beautiful gifts.

This day was an important landmark for me, for it was the first time I had participated with the Polish community in such a ceremony. Smelling the pungent aroma of the blycia, I was transported back in time. As my hands wove together strands of herbs and flowers, I could almost see the hands of my great-great grandmothers. As I gazed at the lake decorated with our wreaths ancient memories stirred within me.

Tags: Dreams, Kupala, Polish ancestors

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