Earth Folk

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

Our own thoughts can be our most significant barriers, but they can also be the catalyst for transformation. Instead of dwelling on the past or present, ask yourself: What empowering steps can I take to achieve my goals? What adjustments can I make to unlock my full potential? Focus on what you can control, and know that every obstacle presents an opportunity for growth. Never lose sight of your aspirations, and when faced with challenges, explore alternative paths to success.

12/29/2025

Fascinating tale.

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Morana — The Slavic Goddess of Winter and Death

Morana (also known as Marzanna, Morena, or Mara) is a pre-Christian Slavic deity associated with winter, death, and the natural ending of life cycles. She was known across large parts of Eastern and Central Europe, long before Christianity reshaped local belief systems.

Unlike later concepts of death as punishment or final judgment, Morana belonged to an older worldview—one where death was seasonal, necessary, and temporary.

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A Goddess of Winter and Stillness

Morana ruled over the cold months, when the land fell silent and life withdrew beneath the surface. Winter was not seen as evil, but as a pause—a time when growth slept and the world rested.

Her presence explained why fields lay barren, rivers froze, and daylight faded. She embodied the moment when life seemed absent, but was only waiting.

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Death Without Finality

In Slavic belief, Morana was not a destroyer for destruction’s sake. She represented death as transition, not as an ending. Just as winter inevitably gives way to spring, death was understood as part of an ongoing cycle.

This is why Morana is often connected to rebirth—not because she brings life herself, but because life cannot return without first passing through her domain.

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Rituals of Farewell

One of the most enduring traditions associated with Morana is the ritual burning or drowning of her effigy at the end of winter. These ceremonies marked the community’s farewell to cold and death, and their invitation for spring to return.

The act was not one of hatred, but of balance—acknowledging her role before letting her go.

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A Pre-Christian Memory

With the spread of Christianity, Morana’s role was diminished or demonized, yet traces of her worship survived in folk customs, seasonal festivals, and oral tradition. Her figure lingers as a reminder of how earlier cultures understood death as something woven into nature, not imposed from outside it.

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What Morana Represents:

• Winter as a natural phase, not a curse
• Death as transition, not punishment
• The earth in its dormant state
• The inevitability of return and renewal
• Balance between ending and beginning

12/28/2025

Trolls are a part of the Old Norse religion. They remained a staunch part of Norwegian culture even when Christianity flooded Europe and replaced traditional Norse beliefs in the ninth century. Unlike Odin and Thor, the trolls decided that they weren’t ready to give up their beautiful home.Perhaps trolls stuck around because they mind their own business as they conduct their lives in the mountains, fjords, and caves. Or maybe it’s because there are no other creatures that will scare your children into eating their broccoli. But trolls might have remained part of Norway’s story because they are an integral part of the beautiful landscapes; the landscapes are part of Norwegian life, Christian or not.

Source:
Finding Trolls in Norway
By Jordan Park,
December 06, 0020 12:00 AM

https://stowawaymag.byu.edu/2020/12/08/finding-trolls-in-norway/

Photo: Troll Face on a Cliff of the Geirangerfjord, More og Romsdal, Norway

12/25/2025

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

12/24/2025

An amazing find!

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Unearthed from the Badlands: A 66-million-year-old giant. 🦖

Meet "Shady"—a colossal, seven-foot Triceratops skull weighing as much as a compact car. Discovered by David Schmidt and a dedicated team from Westminster College, this isn't just a fossil; it is one of the most significant paleontological finds in recent history.

Extracting Shady was a feat of grit and precision. Encased in concrete-hard sandstone, the team spent weeks meticulously freeing the skull. For the students involved, this was more than fieldwork; it was a direct interface with deep time, revealing a creature that once stood as a living fortress against apex predators like the T-Rex.

From a scientific perspective, Shady is a goldmine. The preservation allows us to analyze jaw mechanics and ancient pathologies, potentially revealing battle scars from millions of years ago. But beyond the biology, this skull represents a marvel of evolutionary engineering. The massive frill was likely a multi-functional tool: a defensive shield, a thermal regulator, and a social signal all in one.

💡 Fascinating Insight: That famous frill wasn't just static bone. Theories suggest it was highly vascular, potentially allowing the dinosaur to "blush" or change color to signal dominance or attract mates. A prehistoric mood ring, built for survival.

12/24/2025

12/23/2025

Dec. 23rd, Festivus.