Posts tagged Earth
Zeme: Goddess of the Earth

In Baltic religion, earth is sacralized. Thus, the goddess Zeme is named after the direct translation of the Latvian word for earth. Sometimes called Zemes Māte, translated as "earth mother," she holds a very central role in the religious system of the Baltic peoples. Inspired by her undoubtable femininity, Zeme's role is that of a mother, in direct connection with the promotion of fertility. Her purview extends to all things in nature that follows the path of birth, growth, and death. Therefore, even humanity is drawn into this all-encompassing cult, from the first breath to the last. Credited with both the giving and the taking of life, Zeme embodies the cyclical rhythm of nature, showing that what comes from the earth must eventually return to it.

This 27 Bead Pocket mala is part of our Earth Collection. This pocket mala is a quarter the size of a traditional 108 Bead Tibetan mala, it contains 27 beads plus 2 marker beads (not to be counted in meditation), and a guru bead and silk tassel. This particular mala is comprised of Genuine Baltic Amber, with Turquoise marker beads and Tibetan Brass guru bead with Turquoise inlay.

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Aranyani: Goddess of the Forest and Animals Within It

In Hinduism, Aranyani is a goddess of the forests and the animals that dwell within them. Aranyani has the distinction of having one of the most descriptive hymns in the Rigveda dedicated to her, in which she is described as being elusive, fond of quiet glades in the jungle, and fearless of remote places. In the hymn, the supplicant entreats her to explain how she wanders so far from the fringe of civilization without becoming afraid or lonely. She wears anklets with bells, and though seldom seen, she can be heard by the tinkling of her anklets. She is also described as a dancer. Her ability to feed both man and animals though she 'tills no lands' is what the supplicant finds most marvellous. Her worship has declined in modern-day Hinduism, and it is rare to find a temple dedicated to Aranyani.

This 27 Bead Pocket mala is part of our Earth Collection. This pocket mala is a quarter the size of a traditional 108 Bead Tibetan mala, it contains 27 beads plus 2 marker beads (not to be counted in meditation), and a guru bead and silk tassel. This particular mala is comprised of Aromatic Sandalwood, with African Turquoise marker beads and an Azurite-Malachite guru bead.

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