Mokosh
Mother Earth & Protector of Women
Domains
- Fertility & Childbirth
- Weaving & Women's Crafts
- Agriculture & Harvest
- Protection of Women
Symbols
- Spindle & Distaff
- Sheaf of Grain
- Moist Earth
- Wool & Flax
Description
Mokosh is the only major female deity in the Slavic pantheon, worshipped as the Moist Mother Earth and protector of women's crafts, fertility, and the harvest. She embodies the nurturing and creative aspects of nature.
Often depicted as a tall woman with large hands (symbolizing her spinning), Mokosh was particularly revered by women who sought her protection during childbirth and in their domestic crafts.
Mythology
Mokosh appears in few surviving myths, but she is said to spin the thread of life and destiny at night, connecting her to both creation and fate. She was believed to walk among people, rewarding industrious women and punishing lazy ones.
Some legends tell how Mokosh collects the wool that sheep lose on bushes, spinning it into golden threads that bring prosperity to households that honor her.
Worship
Mokosh was worshipped with offerings of spun wool, flax, and bread placed at sacred stones or springs. Women would leave strands of wool in trees as offerings, especially on Fridays (her sacred day).
After Christianization, Mokosh was syncretized with the Virgin Mary and Saint Paraskeva Friday, maintaining her association with women's crafts and fertility in folk traditions.