Wildspeak Article - Gods: Vasilia

[moonvoice]

Vasilia (pron. Vah-SEE-lee-ya)

Depicted As

- A lithe, willowy maiden (physically mature) with small breasts and a feminine face.
- She is often depicted wandering alone on a path, with trees on her right hand side. She is sometimes holding a lantern or doll.
- As a star-maiden, she is a woman holding up the stars, or sending them into the night sky from her lantern.
- A spider in its web.
- Often shown as having spiders in her hair, or webs between her fingers.

Other Names

Vasilisa.
Wind Maiden.
Star Maiden.
Goddess of Gentle Breezes.
Web-Spinner.
She of the Wind and Stars

Symbols

The Lantern.
Breezes.
Children's Toys.
The Maiden.
Stars.
Saplings.
Seeds.
Candles.
Contained Fire.
Feathers.
Spider Webs.
Weaving.
Spiders.
Journeys.
Healing.
Autumn.
Spring.
Equinoxes.
Otherworlds / Upperworld.
Birds.
Initiation.

Presides Over

Vasilia is a remote goddess, though generally thought to be kind and gentle. She presides over the wind, stars, and all journeys - particularly ones taken alone. She is constantly searching for ways to heal her people, or for ways to heal the land itself. She rules the 'path' and the journey, as well as the destination or the 'cure.'

Vasilia is considered a sky deity, and is fairly inaccessible. She is often abstracted as simply being the wind and stars. She primarily presides over gentle breezes and the cold winds of Spring and Autumn, which are also thought to be her seasons.

Vasilia presides over contained fires, particularly lanterns, lamps and candles. Fires that can - in other words - be held in the hand and manipulated to shed light on specific shadows when we want to find wisdom. This has been modernised to also include the torch. Her knowledge is how to seek the shadows we fear, and to bring them forward into the light.

Vasilia presides over all dolls and effigies.

Vasilia presides over all spiders and spiderwebs, the latter being one of the fundamental symbols of Vilturj. She teaches us interconnectedness and communication. She also represents all that is 'good' in this world, but that which is also hard to attain; honour, humility, bravery, honesty, purity, loyalty, strength. She teaches us that there is beauty within ugliness, and fairness, for her confrontation of the ugly Vavale showed us her compassion and ability to heal. In undertaking potentially fatal tasks, she experiences initiation. Vasilia shows us that bravery and a willingness to trust in others can bring us through even the harshest of circumstance.

Vasilia presides over instinct and subjective experience, anecdote and personal truths. She also represents our ability to face death and remain innocent and childlike. She teaches the value of overcoming cynicism and jaded attitudes. It is thought that she is a special goddess of children, teaching them whimsy and play.

Connections to Other Deities and Folklore

Vasilia is often thought to be the sister or daughter of Karijiana. She is also associated with Vavale, who confronts this goddess in order to save her family or community. She triumphs where others fail, because she remains virtuous and brave.

Vasilia is not implied in any sexual relationships with other deities, though she has been raped by Zirczekaja in some stories.

Times of Honour

- The equinoxes.
- Luflijka - festival of flowers.
- Windy Autumn and Spring days / evenings.
- Under the Stars.

Places of Honour

- New Forests. New-Growth Forests.
- Places in view of Stars.
- Fresh-water Streams and Rivers.
- Places near spider-webs.

Offerings

- Handmade dolls
- Umiki (effigies)
- Small, sweet bread-buns
- Sugary sweets
- Spring water.
- Silver jewellery
- Candles and Lanterns
- Feathers (particularly white and grey feathers)
- Effigies of Birds and Spiders.
- Stars (pictures / ornaments etc.)