Slavic rings. Types and features of Slavic rings

From time immemorial, people believed in the magical properties of various symbols. On their basis, amulets, talismans, and amulets were created that called upon certain forces to help people in trouble, protect them, and bring good luck or wealth.

The ancient people kept their wisdom and knowledge in legends, myths, and fairy tales. These seemingly children's stories reflect the life and beliefs of our ancestors. The key subject of many fairy tales is the ring. Later it began to be used as a regular decoration, but initially it carried a deeper meaning. Our ancestors believed in the magical power of this item, and their knowledge will help you choose the right amulets.

Ancient traditions

The ring is the embodiment of a circle, which, together with the cross, is one of the most common signs. It is found in many world cultures and movements, ranging from the Ancient East, Egypt, Ancient Greece, and ending with Kabbalah, alchemy and even modern religions.

The power of the circle has great power

Among the Slavs, the stake symbol denoted solar energy, the infinity of life. The closing line symbolized the completeness and unity of everything in the world. By circling an object, it was possible to protect it; no evil force could violate such a boundary. Remember, this is exactly how the hero of Gogol’s “Viy” defended himself.

The amulet ring on the finger performed the same functions. It could give strength, confidence, protect from disease and damage. In folk tales, a ring can make a person inventive and invincible. A ring is a magical object that fulfills wishes, makes its owner lucky, changes his destiny, the main thing is to find yours.

Magic

In magical symbolism, the value of a ring is a certain combination of the meaning of a ring and a belt.

The loss or destruction of a ring was usually perceived as an ominous omen.

The ring of Gyges - the king of Lydia, Renart - from “The Tale of Lysia”, Othnitus - the king of Lombardy, etc. - according to legend, magic rings that can make their owners invisible. “Take that ring and put it on your finger with the stone inside your palm, and clench your hand into a fist. And how long you hide the stone in your closed palm, the same amount of time you will remain invisible” (“The Lady of the Source”); after all, man has always dreamed of hiding his weaknesses, showing only his strengths, because the world has never been kind to him...

according to popular beliefs, a magic ring or bracelet made of copper that cures rheumatism, arthritis, skin diseases, pain in the sacrum, etc. Oger the Dane's ring, which was given to him by the sorceress fairy Morgana: he treated all sorts of diseases and restored youth. “Whoever wears the ring,” said Mrs. Leones, “no matter how seriously wounded he is, will not lose blood,” as it was told in the book of the anonymous English medieval author “The Exploits of King Arthur” (about 1400).

Individual approach

Slavic amulets rings were not made for everyone at once. They were made for a specific person, charging the item so that personal energy was multiplied. In order for a ring to protect and bring benefits, it must correspond to the personal qualities of the owner. To do this, it was necessary to know the name of the future owner of the amulet, date of birth, and zodiac sign.

According to tradition, each person was given two names. The first was whispered in the ear immediately after birth. Only his parents and the man himself knew about him. The second was shared with everyone and was often unsightly or repulsive. It was believed that evil spirits and death itself could not come to the soul if they did not know the real name of the victim.

The secret name was written on the inside of the amulet ring

The secret name was placed on the back of the amulet ring. So, it helped the owner, and was securely hidden from the devils. The Slavic amulet ring was a personal item; people believed that if you give it to others, you can bring trouble upon yourself. The outer side of the ring was decorated with runes and symbols that have mystical meaning. For example, for a warrior, such a talisman depicted a sign of courage, for a mother - a sign of the keeper of the family.

Material for talismans

The meaning of a talisman ring is determined by each of its details. The materials from which it is made can enhance the human spirit and each other’s properties, or, on the contrary, they can repel, sowing negativity. It is important to know how they fit together, and most importantly, with the person who wears them.

Amulet rings made of bones carried the spirit of the animal

In ancient times, people used everything for decoration, including animal bones. They believed that the spirit of the animal was preserved in them, and the owner of the amulet ring made of bone acquired the best qualities of this animal. Nowadays it is popular to use wood, precious and semi-precious stones, and metals to make amulets.

Masculine energy is carried by warm, yellow metals that are associated with the Sun. Light metals have feminine lunar energy. To exchange energies, women, as a rule, wore gold and copper, and men were given amulets rings made of silver. The symbols on the amulet ring also often referred to either male or female.

Stone inlay complemented the power of the amulet ring very well.

An important element of the amulet ring was the stone. Previously, they differed in the direction of their action. Some controlled power, others controlled relationships, others were responsible for material well-being, and others improved health.

A ring with agate gave confidence, longevity and prudence. Emerald saved from melancholy, pearls supported health, aquamarine brought harmony and mutual understanding to the family. However, any stone in the ring must certainly be combined with the energy of a particular person.

Ad vocem

The ring is responsibility. Greek proverb: “Never wear a ring that is too tight.” “A ring binds spouses—doesn’t it look like shackles?” (“Mary Stuart” by F. Schiller).

“My honor, this is also my ring, but the best jewel in my house is my purity.” W. Shakespeare “All’s well that ends well” “Titus put a beautiful and expensive ring on Saphronia’s finger and said: But I wanted to be your husband. So how will we now complement our marital relationship?“ “The Decameron” by Boccaccio

Correct use of amulets rings

In life, we often encounter other people's aggression and rejection. Any negative thought or word affects us, leaving its mark. From here further illnesses, illnesses and failures can occur. Of course, the best protection is not to take everything too seriously, but amulets rings will not be superfluous.

Some amulets can have an excessively strong influence on a person; these cannot be worn constantly

Amulets and charms are intended for various occasions. Some should always be worn, others can only be worn in certain situations. If the talisman ring has too much energy, it is better not to abuse it, wear it only on days of strong need.

Amulets, like other objects, are capable of not only giving energy, but also taking it away. Knowing this, our ancestors wore uncharged amulets rings during severe illnesses. It would be better if it was made of stone. The amulet ring absorbed negative energy, after which it was buried in the ground. It was believed that the disease would not return.

Hinduism

Shikuntala's ring is a pledge, a guarantee of love, a magical return of memory. The drama of the Indian poet Kalidasa was based on episodes from the epic “Mahabharata”: King Dushanta, who was in love with Shikuntala, left her a ring before separation as a pledge of love. However, as a result of the spell of the ascetic Durvasa, Shikuntala lost her memory of the king and his love. The ring, in the end, returned her memory and feeling. Shikuntala's ring is a pledge, a guarantee of love, a magical return of memory. The drama of the Indian poet Kalidasa was based on episodes from the epic “Mahabharata”: King Dushanta, who was in love with Shikuntala, left her a ring before separation as a pledge of love. However, as a result of the spell of the ascetic Durvasa, Shikuntala lost her memory of the king and his love. The ring, in the end, returned her memory and feeling.

Is it possible to buy a talisman ring?

Those who have decided to make their own amulet always have a question: buy or make it yourself? Both methods are suitable, however, with minor reservations. The amulet begins to charge with energy during the process of its manufacture, so it is much better to make it yourself.

The Magi had great knowledge of the mystery of protective symbols

At a time when people filled everything around with folk symbols, everyone made amulets for themselves. Although they were often given or received from witches and magicians. The amulets were given to close, well-known people. When making a gift for children or lovers, it was necessary to think about what the amulet should bring with it.

Sorcerers helped to charge the talismans correctly. They knew what suited a person and knew how to fill amulets rings with the necessary energy. They could cast various spells that enhance the power of the item.

Nowadays, we don’t always know what kind of person takes on the task of making a product, whether he can be trusted, or what thoughts accompany him. It is recommended to keep the purchased amulet ring in salt before wearing it, literally burying it there. Salt will remove all negativity, cleanse the product, after which it can be charged with your energy.

Antiquity

Already during the Stone Age, having learned to drill and polish stone, our ancestors on the territory of what is now the Russian Plain / on the banks of the Ra River, the great Volga / were engaged in the manufacture of rings from this material. They were worn on the fingers, perhaps as a talisman, decoration or marital symbolism... Later, during the Copper-Bronze Age, such rings were made of copper, then iron, and gold. In late Roman antiquity, the ring could be replaced by any other value for the parents of the young, because they did not meet one-on-one until the wedding day.

In ancient Greece, a ring was a sign of a free citizen. In Rome, wearing a gold ring was the privilege of legates, then senators and other representatives of the state, and finally, all free people.

There is a legend about the ring of Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos (538 BC). He boasted so much about his happy life, his luck and his wealth that his friend, King Amasis of Egypt, warned: “It is dangerous to arouse the envy of the gods! Something very, very valuable and beloved must be sacrificed!..” Polycrates threw his favorite ring into the sea. And - oh wonder! The fisherman, who caught the fish and ripped open its belly, brought the king his ring. The gods refused to accept the sacrifice! The Egyptian king broke off relations with Polycrates, and soon Samos was attacked by enemies, and the arrogant tyrant was killed and his kingdom was ruined.

The signet ring, with the sign of the owner of the ring carved on it, served the Romans instead of a signature - it was placed at the end of the letter, and they also sealed the necks of amphorae and various vessels. Iron rings - in honor of Hephaestus, the husband of Aphrodite, the symbol of the phallus, the Romans and Greeks wore on the thumb - it was believed that such a ring increased male potency. Because he gave fire to people and thereby committed a crime before Olympus, Prometheus was chained to a rock for many years and suffered from an eagle's beak. Freed by order of Zeus, he had to wear on his finger a ring forged from a link from his chain - like a ring.

Symbols for Slavic amulets rings

For the ring, the shape was not important, the key was the protective meaning

The amulets rings of the Slavs could have a wide variety of shapes. They were made wicker, twisted, plate-shaped, and made in the form of seals. Special signs and runes were applied on top. Some figures combined the outlines of runes and symbols that complemented each other.

Among the common symbols for Slavic amulets rings were:

• The caroler is the main male symbol, endowing them with a sharp mind and wisdom. Women rarely wore it when they needed courage and confidence in a certain matter;
• Kolovrat is a symbol of the rotation of the sun, the change of time of day, the infinity of life’s movement;
• Valkyrie - gave the Slavic warriors peace, tranquility, and a clear mind. The symbol reduced the blind aggression of war, giving the warrior prudence;
• Ladinets is a truly feminine symbol of protection, helped to find love and save the family;
• Molvinets - protected from the evil eye, prevented negative energy, this is one of the most powerful Slavic symbols;
• Rodovik - symbolized the connection of the Slavs with their family and ancestors, a sign of grace and creativity;
• The Fern Flower is a symbol of solar and vital energy; it fulfills wishes and helps the owner find hidden treasures.

Rings with stones for various zodiac signs

It is very important to choose a stone that suits your zodiac sign.

Choosing stones for a talisman is another difficult task. You can’t take the first stone you like. You definitely need to know how suitable it is for you. The determining factor is the horoscope. Rings with stones according to the zodiac signs will certainly bring only benefits. To find your stone, look at the table:

Slavic wooden rings amulets

Wooden amulets rings were very popular due to their availability.

Trees played a special role in the life of the Slavs. It was the prototype of the world order. In mythology, the Tree of Life connected three worlds: underground, earthly, heavenly. It symbolized the connection between generations, as well as the connection with the gods.

In ancient times they believed that if you touched a tree, you could be cured of all your worries, sorrows and ailments. A Slavic ring-amulet made of such material will support vitality, help overcome difficulties, and strengthen the immune system. The Slavs were not familiar with palm trees and distant Australian eucalyptus trees, so they endowed the plants that surrounded them with magical properties. The common ones were: oak, birch, pine, spruce, willow, viburnum, chestnut, ash, linden, aspen, alder.

To make a wooden talisman in the form of a ring, they went into the forest, listened to their hearts, and chose their tree. Nowadays it’s easier to entrust the work to professionals, since not everyone can handle such material correctly.

The properties of some trees are shown in the table:

Mythology of the image of Leo

Since Leo is the king of animals, in size and strength, protecting his territory and his pack (pride), in mythology and religion, this aspect was primarily used.

Therefore, Leo is a symbol of power, wealth and dignity of rulers . It is not for nothing that in the Russian language, which has preserved the essence and true meaning of the names, in the word korolevsky, this beast is present. As you know, there were no kings in Rus', which means we were talking about foreigners.

These animals lived at different times in the palaces of rulers, tamed or isolated in special zoos.

The lion is a zoomorphic image of several Egyptian goddesses. Sekhmet , the daughter of the god Ra, was depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness. And with the solar disk above her head - her influence was identified with solar energy. It was believed that Sekhmet had a character that could not be controlled (of course, no one can control the Sun!).

The Egyptians also declared her the guardian of peace and protector of people, which gave them a reason to turn to Sekhmet in times of danger.

Goddess Sekhmet (photo from https://pin.it/kmi7nvwjg4amch)

Another daughter of the god Ra - Tefnut (her other name is the Nubian cat), also a goddess with the head of a lioness and a solar disk above her head, had the opposite function - she was the goddess of moisture, rain and natural fertility. This was precisely the highest mercy of heaven for people living by agriculture.

The lioness was the companion of the Babylonian goddess of war, fertility and carnal love - Ishtar , this goddess herself was called the “fierce lioness”. In the hymn to Ishtar, she is praised as “the giver of vitality, health and good fortune.”

The Buddhist Lion is a zoomorphic image of many divine beings (Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya, Vairochana, Manjushri, Buddha), who, according to legend, either embodied in this form or were associated with it.

Christ was sometimes associated with Leo as the solar archetype, conquering evil and darkness. In Christianity, the Leo is entrenched as a symbol of the Evangelist Mark , however, in the Old Believer tradition it is considered a symbol of John . It seems that these are just different interpretations of the faces of the so-called. tetramorph (lion, eagle, bull and angel). After all, Christian prophets received their information through revelations, now called meditation and channeling. And all practitioners know that the results of this method are very subjective.

For example, in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel, the tetramorph appeared with four faces, and one of these faces was the face of a Lion. These images are enshrined in Tarot cards. In other revelations, the divine geometry of the square was described and interpreted differently.

21 Tarot Arcana - World card

Also in Kabbalah , the lion is one of the four sacred animals, as one of the four pillars of our world, the cosmic guardians.

An important archetype of Leo is the mystery of the victory of the human principle over the animal , the fierce beast. If, for example, in a similar mystery the Dragon had to be killed or ridden, then the Leo must be tamed and pacified.

Although in meaning, “pacifying a predator” for a person in ancient times meant victory over one’s animal nature , over passions. However, the more recent the story, the more literally this mystery was perceived.

In Atlantis, women from the ruling dynasties had a ritual for taming a lion , which formed the basis of the image of the Tarot card "Strength".

The girl was left in the same space with the predator; she needed to stay alive, taming the lion with her love and intelligence. It was believed that if she is pure, there are no low vibrations in her - fear, lust, evil, then the lion will not harm her.

In Babylon, the demonic forces of chaos were hidden in the images of lions; the names of these demons have come down to us - Ugallu and Uridimmu, evil and cruel spirits. In Mesopotamia, the legendary Gilgamesh fought with the Lion, which was preserved on the seals of those times. And one of the feats of the irrepressible Hercules was the victory over the Nemean lion.

Much later, in Ancient Rome, distinguished by its wild customs, lions were brought to participate in gladiatorial battles and were exterminated by the hundreds. image of the lion hunter reigned , with lions represented as cannibals, symbols of the wild nature that man conquered:

We cut down forests, we dug ditches,

In the evenings, lions approached us.

But there were no cowardly souls among us,

We shot at them, aiming between the eyes.

N. Gumilyov “By the fireplace”

Another interesting aspect is the legendary creatures with characteristics of the lion breed, which would now be called the result of genetic experiments:

Photo https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/lion

From the lion genes in these creatures - strength, some unique abilities and the danger emanating from them.

Cleaning Ward Rings

When worn constantly, amulets rings quickly become contaminated with negative energy and emotions. These rings need to be cleaned periodically. If you wore the amulet ring during an illness or emotional shock, you should immediately clean it after recovery. This can be done with water or salt. This action should be performed at least once a year so that ring-shaped talismans have the necessary strength and are effective.

Coarse salt is best for cleansing the amulet.

It is better to choose coarse salt for cleansing. The amulet ring should be completely sprinkled with it and left for five days. It is advisable to store in a quiet place, away from sunlight. Sometimes it is recommended to hide it in the refrigerator. After use, the salt is thrown away; it is no longer suitable for use, as it is filled with negativity. This method is well suited for amulets made of stone and wood.

Amulet rings made of gold and silver are cleaned with water. This requires not stagnant, but running water. You need to keep the ring for about a day. Nowadays, this method is a little problematic and is not suitable for everyone. In ancient times, amulets were tied to a tree with a string and lowered into the river.

Charging Ward Rings

The August sun is the most active

The sun is the main source of energy for our planet, and at the same time the main way to charge talisman rings. The ideal time is from July 22 to September 22. The sun is the most active these days.

The protective ring should be placed in an unshaded place and left for one or several days. Thus, the protective ring is cleansed, the negativity and negative charge instantly go away and are burned out by hot rays. At the same time, the amulet ring is charged with positivity and vital solar energy, in order to then give it to its owner. It is not for nothing that our ancestors revered the Sun so much.