The Finns possess a considerable number of words and epithets for wizard, sorcerer, witch, seer, ecstatic and the like. Some of these are native words like noita 'a sorcerer,' tieto-mies or tietäjä 'the knower,' loitsija 'the reciter of a magic song (loitsu), arpoja 'a diviner,' näkijä 'a seer,' myrrys-mies or into-mies 'an ecstatic,' lumoja 'a stupefier,' lukija 'a reciter,' katselija 'an observer,' laulu-mies 'a song-man,' ampuja 'an archer,' kukkaro-mies a bag-man.' Others are of foreign origin like mahti-mies or mahtaja
The Finns possess a considerable number of words and epithets for wizard, sorcerer, witch, seer, ecstatic and the like. Some of these are native words like noita 'a sorcerer,' tieto-mies or tietäjä 'the knower,' loitsija 'the reciter of a magic song (loitsu), arpoja 'a diviner,' näkijä 'a seer,' myrrys-mies or into-mies 'an ecstatic,' lumoja 'a stupefier,' lukija 'a reciter,' katselija 'an observer,' laulu-mies 'a song-man,' ampuja 'an archer,' kukkaro-mies a bag-man.' Others are of foreign origin like mahti-mies or mahtaja
Shamanism is the oldest form of spirituality and magic on earth. In Finland, shamanism is the source of their system of magick. Now you can learn their system in Finnish Magic by Robert Nelson, Ph.D. In this book you will discover the ancient national epic of Finland known as the Kalevala. This book involves the search for magical power and is "the single greatest influence on the formation and definition of modern Finland" according to the author. Finnish Magic describes the ancient Finnish beliefs about deities and spirits. You'll learn about the primary Finnish deity, Jumala, and how the Finns also adopted some of the Norse deities. Also described is the notion that everything has a spirit, followed by a discussion of how those spirits are different from each other. Next, Finnish Magic goes into the methods of shamanism and Finnish magic. This is one of the best explanations of shamanic practices ever published. You will learn about the nature of the shamanic trance and the steps you need to follow: - How to go enter a trance - How to begin your shamanic trance journey - How to contact your guides - What to do when you contact your guides - What your guides will do and how to follow them - How to return from your journey - How to leave the trance All of these are guidelines. Dr. Nelson reveals that the key to Finnish magic is contained in three words: "Do what works." You will learn how to add spontaneity to your rituals. You will also learn about using drums, song, and dance to make your magic work. Other topics include shapeshifting, the runes, charms, talismans, amulets, the Finnish festivals of the year and how they are celebrated, how to honor ancestors, and much more. If you are interested in shamanism, in Finland, or just ways to enhance your magical abilities, this book must be one you study.
Not so long ago, in the tiny, isolated villages of Finland, where prolonged summer days gave way to endless winter nights, people would pass the time by singing the many adventures of their favorite heroes: the mighty, magical men and women of ancient days. They sang of old Vainamoinen, greatest of sages and magicians, who helped create the world but never could find a woman to wed him. They sang of his friend and ally Ilmarinen, first among craftsmen, the blacksmith who forged the dome of the heavens. They sang of Louhi, the ancient lady of Northland, whose crafty wit and magical powers made her a worthy opponent for Vainamoinen himself. And they sang of Aila, Louhi's lovely daughter, who captured the hopes of the two old friends and drew them as rivals to the shores of Northland. And while these songs could still be heard, there came along a rural doctor, a scholar, who gathered and wove them together in a book he called the Kalevala. And so he created for Finns a national epic, and for the rest of the world, a work of wonder. The songs endure, the heroes live. . . . For ages 10 and up. Not illustrated! ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "Lady White Snake," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Cover artist Carol Schwartz is the award-winning illustrator of over 45 picture books. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Well written and valuable. . . . Shepard's use of free verse allows him more flexibility than the traditional poetic meter. [The text] retains a sense of majestic rhythm and is most effective when read aloud. Supporting information is detailed." -- Donna L. Scanlon, School Library Journal, Apr. 1996 (reviewing an older edition) "Shepard's free verse telling has power and sparkle." -- Glenn Giffin, Denver Post, May 12, 1996 (reviewing an older edition) ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Vainamoinen chanted and Joukahainen sank in the marshy ground, up to his waist in the swallowing earth. Cried Joukahainen, "Reverse your words, undo your spells! I will give you a hat full of silver, a helmet full of gold." "Keep your wealth," said Vainamoinen. "My coffers overflow." He chanted again, and Joukahainen sank to his chest. "Reverse your words, undo your spells! I will give you fields for plowing, meadows for pasture." "Keep your land. My farm stretches beyond sight." He chanted again, and Joukahainen sank to his chin. "Reverse your words, undo your spells! I will tell you of the fairest woman, the finest maiden." Vainamoinen stopped his chant.
In this country the term Finn is generally restricted to the natives of Finland, with perhaps those of Esthonia thrown in. But besides these Western Finns there are other small nationalities in Central and Northern Russia, such as the Erza and Mok_a Mordvins, the _eremis, Votiaks, Permians, and Z_rians, to whom the term is very properly applied, though with the qualifying adjectiveÑEastern. Except by Folklorists, little attention is paid in Great Britain to these peoples, and much that is written of them abroad finds no response here, the 'silver streak' acting, it would seem, as a non-conductor to such unsensational and feeble vibrations. Although the languages of the Eastern and Western Finns differ as much perhaps among themselves as the various members of the Aryan group, the craniological and physical differences between any two Finnish groups is very much less than between the Latin and the Teutonic groups, for instance. All the Finns live nearly under the same latitudes, and in pre- and proto-historic times, which are not so very remote, the differences in customs, religious and other beliefs, could not have been very great. This is important; it allows us to supplement what is missing or defective in one Finnish group by what is more complete in another, with far greater certainty than when dealing under similar circumstances with the Aryan-speaking groups. In the first five chapters of the first volume I have tried, with the combined aid of craniology, arch¾ology, ethnography, and philology, brought up to date, to sketch as succinctly as possible the pre- and proto-historic history of the Eastern and Western Finns, showing the various stages of civilisation to which they successively advanced after contact with higher civilisations, at different periods of their evolution from neolithic times to the middle ages. Chapters six and seven contain an analysis of the beliefs of the Western Finns, so far as they can be gathered from the text of the Magic Songs in the second volume; and a perusal of them will facilitate the comprehension of the Magic Songs themselves. The second volume, containing 639 magic songs, some of considerable length, classed under 233 headings, is a translation of a very large portion of the Suomen kansan muinaisia Loitsurunoja, edited and published by the late Dr. Lšnnrot in 1880. As the translation was made for Folklorists it is as literal as possible, without additions, without subtractions, and the vocabulary employed is in conformity with the subject, with the humble social status and homely surroundings of the original composers. The metre of the original is the same as in the Kalevala, which cannot be reproduced in a language like English, where the ictus of the metre has to coincide with the natural stress-accent of the words. But where it could be done without loss of exactness a certain rhythm, generally three beats to a line, is given in the translation, though to save space the lines are printed in prose form.
Return to a magical alternate London as Deborah Hewitt continues the Nightjar series with The Rookery. After discovering her magical ability to see people's souls, Alice Wyndham only wants three things: to return to the Rookery, join the House Mielikki and master her magic, and find out who she really is. But when the secrets of Alice's past threaten her plans, and the Rookery begins to crumble around her, she must decide how far she's willing to go to save the city and people she loves. "Superb, darkly charming.... It's a delight to explore the Rookery..." --Publishers Weekly starred review At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
A collection of magic songs, spells, and charms in one of the largest published volumes of traditional Finnish folk music. First collected and published by Elias Lӧnnrot in 1880 and later translated into English by John Abercromby and republished in 1896, Magic Songs of the Finns is a beautiful volume of forgotten wonder. Over 600 spells and charms from rural Finland are collected in this book to assist its reader in capturing the sound and passion of a very special culture. These songs were traditionally sung to ask for help from the spirits that the Finnish believed possessed all objects.
This book collects 28 songs from the Finnish-American Lutheran tradition. Sheet music notation is included along with historical, theological, and musical commentary.
“Shows how Finnish mythology and folk tales were instrumental to how Tolkien created his own legendarium.”—Boston Globe Kullervo, son of Kalervo, is perhaps the darkest and most tragic of all J.R.R. Tolkien’s characters. “Hapless Kullervo,” as Tolkien called him, is a luckless orphan boy with supernatural powers and a tragic destiny. Brought up in the homestead of the dark magician Untamo, who killed his father, kidnapped his mother, and tried three times to kill him when he was still a boy, Kullervo is alone save for the love of his twin sister, Wanona, and the magical powers of the black dog Musti, who guards him. When Kullervo is sold into slavery he swears revenge on the magician, but he will learn that even at the point of vengeance there is no escape from the cruelest of fates. Tolkien himself said that The Story of Kullervo was “the germ of my attempt to write legends of my own,” and was “a major matter in the legends of the First Age.” Tolkien’s Kullervo is the clear ancestor of Túrin Turambar, the tragic incestuous hero of The Silmarillion. Published with the author’s drafts, notes, and lecture essays on its source work, the Kalevala, The Story of Kullervo is a foundation stone in the structure of Tolkien’s invented world. “A fascinating read.”—NPR
