I was seriously interested in folklore in my first year. Probably because I always guessed: in folk rituals, songs and legends there is hidden true knowledge about the world that our ancestors possessed. And I was not wrong. Although then I could not imagine what discoveries await me on this path.
PAST IN PRESENT
For many years now, every year I go on folklore expeditions - and it is not only my cognitive interest that drives me. After the first trip, I noticed that I felt rested, healthy, full of energy - as if I had spent a month not in an abandoned village, but in an expensive spa resort. At first I explained to myself this effect by the healing effect of fresh air (and the air in our outback is really absolutely amazing - you literally physically feel that with each breath you are filled with energy, and not with exhaust gases, as usual).
But then she began to notice that it was not only a matter of ecology. The very way of thinking, habits, traditions, the manner of conducting a conversation, the rhythm of life - literally the entire way of life in Russian villages has an extremely positive effect on a person. Of course, we are not talking about the nearest suburbs and not even about the distant "castle": we go to such regions where it is necessary to get from the station for half a day "on deer". There is, indeed, a completely different world.
Although it cannot be said that life in the outback is not touched by civilization - nothing of the kind! Here, both mobile communications and the Internet - in a word, everything is as it should be. However, the feeling that you are entering another world does not disappear. For a long time I tried to understand why. And I came to the conclusion that it's all about people, each of whom is a kind of keeper of ancient wisdom. Even if it's a person in a foreign car. Even if unemployed. Even if a small child or a hunched-over old woman.
It took me a while to realize that the friendly aunts and grandmothers who allowed them to spend the night in their house were not just kind and open women. I remember their herbal teas, after which I did not get sick for a year; uncomplicated gifts - braided bracelets, embroidered handkerchiefs. Ordinary trinkets at first glance. But now I know for sure: not ordinary at all.
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For example, three years ago a woman weaved me a bracelet with a Slavic pattern. "With a woman," she explained. I practically didn’t wear it: somehow it didn’t fit into my urban wardrobe. But once I put it on - and that day I met a great guy. Future husband, as it turned out later. I confess that at first I did not associate our meeting with that decoration (or a talisman?).
But now I am absolutely sure: the present was meaningful, and not only this one. In general, all the details gradually formed into a single picture, and I no longer doubted: there is one more facet in this wonderful world - the magic one. Hidden from prying eyes. While.
MAGIC HERBS AND SACRED FIRE
This year I made a firm decision: I'm not going on an expedition for songs and legends, my main goal is to touch the village magic. Although, of course, one does not exist without the other. In general, on June 21 I got to my beloved Sosnovka. Of course, I have been to other villages, but here I have always been drawn, like a magnet. Earlier I could not explain why, now I felt: everything here is literally saturated with magic. By the way, I chose the travel time for a reason: I really wanted to get to the holiday of Ivan Kupala, because, according to legends, on this day (or rather, night) everything and everyone has supernatural powers.
It's so good that I arrived early! The fact is that after the revolution, in most villages and villages of Kupala, they began to celebrate July 7 - in a new style. But in Sosnovka (as well as in some other places) it was celebrated in the old fashioned way: in June, when the longest day and the shortest night. They say that you can't sleep on Kupala: all the evil spirits come out into the light, and in order to drive them away, you need to burn fires and sing ritual songs. Everyone this night becomes a little magician.
At least, everyone can attract a betrothed, save a child from ailments, protect their home from trouble. Women collect herbs (plants plucked on the night of Kupala have magical powers), men burn fires, all dance in circles, jump over the fire. And they swim, of course. It is believed that on this day fire and water, two incompatible elements, are friends. From their union, a special Kupala magic is born.
When I got to Sosnovka, preparations for the holiday were in full swing (I was glad again that I had listened to my intuition and arrived early). The men prepared a cleansing fire, made a huge doll of wood and straw, which they then had to burn. As they explained to me, this is the image of the goddess Mara, who sends death, hunger, disease and other misfortunes to people.
In the meantime, women were already starting to prepare holiday treats: here on Kupala it is literally customary to cover a clearing. I was eager to participate in this magical celebration. True, deep down in my heart I understood that in fact I was an “alien” and should be grateful for the fact that I was allowed to observe. Although I went to collect herbs with everyone.
“Ivan-da-Maryu be sure to pick, stock up on wormwood, fern, chamomile,” 15-year-old Dasha instructed me. "Dry it up and keep it all year round: this one will help from diseases, this one will help prevent the evil eye." I noticed that young ladies collect more flowers and plants. "That's what they need for wreaths," a middle-aged woman explained to me.
It turned out that in Sosnovka the girls, like hundreds of years ago, weave wreaths of herbs every year, insert a candle in the middle, set them on fire and let them down the river. If the wreath quickly drowned, then the guy will fall out of love. And if it floats for a long time and the candle does not go out, you will surely get married. It happens that a young man catches a wreath: then one hundred percent he will become your husband. For a moment, I also wanted to take part in the game (I was still not quite serious about ritual activities). They looked at me with slight bewilderment: you are married! And is it really me?
But I, together with everyone, danced around the burning scarecrow and even jumped over the fire. I must say that local men did their best: the fire was just huge! At first it was scary, but since no one burned out in front of my eyes, I also made up my mind.
Inexpressible feelings! And most importantly, as I was told, in this way I was cleansed of all bad influences, of the evil eye, envy and other misfortunes. It is a pity that I did not manage to jump above everyone else: this promises great happiness.
By the way, I was surprised that people on Kupala were dressed somehow casually. I expected to see girls in long sarafans, guys in embroidered blouses, but there were only a few of them. True, all the women were in dresses or skirts, and the married ones with their heads covered. But otherwise - ordinary clothes, unremarkable. However, this is not a Potemkin village, but real modern life - this is probably the way it should be.
The fire burned all night, young people played with burners, a trickle and other conventionally innocent games until dawn, and I got into conversation with 12-year-old Oksana. She was already old enough to participate in the celebration, but not yet so old (in her words) to "catch the groom."
-Do you really believe that the bathing night is magic?
“Of course,” my interlocutor answered seriously. - I've seen it a hundred times: all fortune-telling comes true, all conspiracies work. And the Kupala love spells are generally very strong. Anyone can bewitch a guy - just like my brother the year before last. Only the grandmother was able to remove the love spell, otherwise he would have to marry against his will. What a twist!
- Do you mean that a real "grandmother" lives in your village? “I just didn’t believe my luck.
- Didn't you know? - Oksana was surprised. - Do you want to show me tomorrow?
Well, of course I did.
Old friend
Until the morning I could not close my eyes: I was looking forward to meeting a real rural witch. But Oksana was in no hurry to meet, and I guessed what was the matter: after a night on Kupala, the whole village seemed to be dying out. Only closer to noon some passers-by began to appear, and soon I saw my guide. While we were walking to the house of a local celebrity, I kept trying to find out what exactly this "grandmother" is doing: spells, heals, divines, makes amulets?
“She can cure a cow, a dog, a child, an adult, and even an old man. Can love attract or prosperity, speak from drunkenness, remove a stone from the soul - whoever needs what, she will do.
According to Oksana, the village witch was just omnipotent! The girl rattled without stopping, telling about cases of healing, removal of damage, the crown of celibacy. She calmed down only in front of the house of a rural witch (or a healer?):
- Here, come.
Well, of course, I could have guessed right away! I already visited this house three years ago, and here I received that very bracelet! An old acquaintance, Anastasia Maksimovna, came out onto the porch and immediately recognized me. Without even looking at my wedding ring, she said: "I see my gift helped you." How helped! Oksana said goodbye to us, I entered. into the house, Anastasia began to collect tea (with herbs, of course). And I made myself comfortable and watched.
"Granny" was younger than my mother, by today's standards, a very young woman, at least ten years. Pretty, I would even say, stylish lady slightly over forty - in a word, in the prime of life. But I have already heard that women of any age with special abilities are called “grandmothers” in the villages, so I was not very surprised.
- Anastasia Maksimovna, - I decided to start a conversation. - They say you can do absolutely everything.
As soon as I opened my mouth to tell about what Oksana told me, the hostess interrupted me:
- Only the Lord God can do everything. And I help people - it's true. If necessary, I will return love, if necessary, I will take away trouble and illness. Anything can happen.
- And with what ailments do they come to you?
- I don’t make diagnoses - I just fly. I see: it is bad for a person, he suffers, he experiences pain, his vital force leaves him. I will conduct the ritual, read the conspiracy, drink a medicinal broth - and the illness recedes, the diseases pass, health returns. And there - and life is getting better. After all, everything in this world is connected.
- Perhaps that is why it is so good in your village? Everyone is engaged in business, the drunks are not visible at all, everyone is happy, healthy, at least at first glance. You know, I've been to different places. In some villages, such devastation is simply melancholy.
- Yes, - Anastasia was clearly saddened. - And the chaos begins in the heads. There are, of course, induced troubles. But if there is discord in the soul and thoughts, then there will be no happiness in life either. And our great-grandfathers understood this perfectly, and the whole way of life, traditions, customs supported this order. Of course, a person is weak, he can go astray, evil spells can be put on him - anything can happen. And then you need to look for someone who will help.
- That is, a person with supernormal abilities?
- You could say that.
- And when did you realize that you have a special gift?
- Probably always knew. My mother healed and bewitched, and so did my grandmother. Grandfather and father were healers. Here their skills were passed on to me.
- People like you are worth their weight in gold! Have you ever wanted to move to a large city: there, too, many people need magical help?
- No, I didn't want to. Although at the age of 25 I really left for Moscow. I dreamed about the late great-grandmother. I remembered her as an elderly woman, but in a dream a very young woman spoke to me - as if she had descended from an old, faded photograph. She said: "Daughter, go to the capital: now you are needed there more." I did not hesitate for a minute: I packed up and drove off. And in Moscow they quickly found out about me - in some incomprehensible way. And eight years later I had another dream: my grandfather said that I had to go home. I returned - and just in time. The village then began to gradually empty: young people were leaving, families were breaking up, the school was even closed for some time. But, as you can see, everything is fine.
Anastasia smiled, and I thought that it was not without her participation. We talked all day and all evening, and then the hostess invited me to spend the night.
The next morning a gift was waiting for me: a bottle of water from Ivan Kupala ("Wash with it when you want to be especially beautiful!") And a wooden pendant: against the background of the sun is depicted either an angel or a mythical bird. I had no doubt that these were not simple gifts. And for some reason there was a premonition that I would soon become a mother.
Olga ORLOVA
Journal "Steps" July 2014