Veles
Another god I rarely see mentioned is Veles despite his major role within his pantheon. As Always my inbox is open for questions.
Other Names: Volos, Weles
Family: Zemun (Mother), Rod (Father), Devana (Wife)
Role: God of the Earth, Waters, Underworld, Trickery, Commerce, Marshes, Wealth, (Traveling) Musicians, Shepherds, Death, Oracles, Magick, Poetry, The Harvest, Fertility, and All Animals. Punishes Oath-Breakers with Disease, Punishes Warriors with Death,, Destined to Always Die and be Reborn, The Serpent Ever Shedding its Skin. Protector of Mankind from Malicious Spirits. Rival to Perun.
Offerings: Wine Split Over Tree Roots, Rain Water (Collect Yourself), Animal Bones, Claws, Fur, Wheat, Ferns, Horns/Antlers, milk, butter, basil.
Animals: (Note that Veles is a Shapeshifting God) Dragons, Bears, Serpents, Wolves, Owls
Other Forms: A Bearded Man, Sometimes with Horns, Dog-Headed Humanoid
Tree: Willow
Ways to Set up an Altar and Worship: Spilling wine over the roots of a tree and praying to him, placing his statue in a market or lowland. Swearing with his name. Finalizing deals in his name. Blessing a field with his amulet, must be made or anointed with this purpose.
Can be called for aid in speaking to the dead and may send the dead to speak to the living.
His Festival is celebrated between December-February, some dedicate February 11th to him. He can also be worshipped during Kolyada, Radunitsa, Semik, and Roditel’skaya Nedelya.
His festival should include songs.
A prayer to him can be anything from the heart or the words below:
О Волосе поём верно! (O vo-LOS-YE po-YOM ver-no)
Дед Бояна и дед смертей, (DYED bo-YA-NA i DYED smer-TEY)
Держи нашего от огней! (DER-ZHI NA-SHYE-vo OT og-NEY)
English:
About Veles we sing truly!
Grandfather of Boyan and of Deaths,
Keep us away from the (funeral) fires!
All worship, offerings, and altars must be kept separate from anything related to Perun.
