01/25/2019 Vyacheslava Lisitsina Fashion and style
The desire to decorate your body with a pattern should be accompanied by awareness. After all, many images and symbols have unpredictable interpretations. Signs reflecting Slavic culture have varied meanings.
The Kolovrat tattoo, for example, is a fairly popular symbol originally from the pagan world. He inspires admiration and fear. What does this sign contain, where is it best to place it, and who is it suitable for? The answers to these questions will be given below.
Antiquity
Kolovrat and a number of other symbols came from antiquity, when paganism was highly developed among the Slavs, even before the spread of Christianity. In general, the Slavs used the sun much more often in their symbolism than other religions. However, Kolovrat in its various variations was found not only among the Slavic peoples. It was spotted in America, India and several other countries, even China. However, regardless of country and religion, it always meant the same thing - the movement of the sun across the vault of heaven.
The Slavs believed that if Kolovrat was applied to the body, the wearer would constantly receive a large amount of positive energy, which could help him in business. In addition, the Kolovrat was endowed with magical characteristics, the protection of the gods and belonging to all four elements. In ancient times it was believed that this symbol could be applied not only to the body, but also to clothing, inside houses, in the manner of modern icons. Kolovrat was endowed with the ability to remove all bad things from the place where it was applied, bringing only good luck and luck.
How to make the Kolovrat amulet with your own hands - instructions
The most effective amulet is the one made by yourself. Suitable materials for creating Kolovrat are metal (silver, gold, copper), bone and wood. You can also embroider a sign or draw a symbol.
Due to the fact that it is quite difficult to make an amulet from metal without preparation, it is better to use wood for this purpose. Oak is considered suitable for men; birch and rowan are suitable for girls. For beginners in wood carving, it is better to turn to soft woods - aspen, linden, etc.
If your skills allow, you can make and sand a blank for applying the design yourself; otherwise, purchase a ready-made one. The optimal form is considered to be a circle, as a symbol of the Sun, although any other can be used. The size is determined by the purpose - a small one is needed for a personal amulet, a large one is needed to protect the home and family.
Instructions for creating a talisman:
- Apply Kolovrat’s drawing with a pencil onto the selected workpiece and, if desired, add other elements.
- Using a joint knife or similar tool, follow the contours of the shapes.
- Use a chisel to remove excess wood from the workpiece.
- Lightly cut off the sharp edges with a knife and sand them.
- Cover with stain of the chosen tone and let dry.
Priests
The priests already put a slightly different meaning into this ancient meaning. According to their interpretation, Kolovrat meant constant rotation, but it was not directly related to the sun. It personified the reincarnation of everything that exists in the world. It was very popular among the priests to apply this symbol to their skin. They meant by this a great thirst for knowledge, a value for life.
Tattoo location area
After familiarizing yourself with the meaning of the Kolovrat tattoo, you should choose the area of the body on which it will be located. The most suitable places for such a tattoo are the shoulder, back or chest. This image on the elbow looks very original. This tattoo is also done on the knees. But in this case, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons, because “kolovrat” is often done on the knees by prisoners. By this they show that they will never kneel before the law.
The choice of performance style is quite extensive. You can make a voluminous tattoo in a classic style. It looks really cool. Most often it looks like a symbol carved from stone. Realism for this type of image is used quite rarely, as it is difficult to implement. Therefore, before you begin to implement your plan, you should find an experienced craftsman. The dotwork style is also popular. It looks like Indian motifs.
The subject of a tattoo can be very diverse: a warrior with a shield with a symbol on it, a tree with a sign carved on it, or a “kolovrat” on fire. There are many variations, it is important to find the ones that suit you. To feel that this is the same, dear. Additional elements of the image slightly “adjust” its meaning. For example, a tree symbolizes peacefulness, and fire symbolizes a militant spirit. Finding a suitable tattoo is not difficult, the main thing is to understand what exactly you want to display. Well, and, accordingly, find a good master who will do the job perfectly.
Source
Types of tattoos
There are a large number of varieties of Kolovrat, which differ little. Men applied a symbol with sharp edges that moved clockwise as a tattoo on their bodies. They believed that this would give them strength and luck in battle. Later, after Christianity appeared in Rus', the Kolovrat began to gradually disappear as a symbol. Moreover, the Orthodox Church persecuted paganism and all its supporters, and therefore Rus' soon became completely Christian.
At the present time, when the church does not have colossal power over the people, there are still supporters of Slavic paganism. Due to the great creative possibilities, Kolovrat began to be often supplemented with various elements. As a rule, these are axes, as they were most popular among ancient warriors due to their versatility of use. Crossed axes and various inscriptions are often found. Very rarely, the rays of the Kolovrat are replaced with axes. It is believed that this variation of the tattoo is exclusively warlike and aggressive. However, it still protects its wearer from evil influences from the outside, protects in battle and brings good luck.
Variants of images of Kolovrat
There are many options for depicting this symbol. It is often drawn surrounded by animals, birds, runes, axes, etc. Each option gives the amulet its own characteristics.
Sign with a bear
The bear is a sacred animal that has a special role. Many peoples considered him their ancestor; he acted as an assistant to the shaman or spirit healer. In addition, the bear has long been perceived as a symbol of Russia.
On men's amulets, this animal symbolizes the following qualities:
- strength and courage;
- courage and confidence;
- wisdom and patience;
- endurance.
For women, the bear meant fertility and a developed sense of motherhood.
Wolf symbol
The wolf is another mystical animal of the Slavs. This beast symbolized devotion and fidelity, strength and determination, courage and prudence. He complemented the solar sign with such qualities.
Crow
Since ancient times, this bird has evoked ambiguous associations and has been endowed with various abilities. Such an image may indicate wandering and loneliness, loss of something and anxiety.
Positive meanings of raven on Kolovrat:
- hope for change for the better;
- wisdom and insight;
- longevity.
Rune
Runes are popular mystical symbols of the Slavs. They have the most powerful energy. But in order to supplement the amulet with them, you need to study their meaning well.
Women's tattoos
Girls also do not avoid applying this ancient symbol, but they put their own, purely feminine meaning into it. A distinctive feature of the female variation of the Kolovrat is its more rounded shape, its rays are not pointed. The intended meaning, as a rule, means calm and mutual understanding in the family. It wards off scandals and quarrels, protects the inhabitants of the house. Girls rarely apply Kolovrat as a tattoo, but they wear it very often in the form of an amulet, on the neck or on the arm. In this case, the female symbol should have a counterclockwise direction. This is the main distinguishing feature from the militant, male symbol.
The Slavs believed that this symbol could reveal magical abilities to a girl, which she could use for the benefit of her family. It is necessary to understand that in Slavic mythology there are a large number of gods and various dark forces, therefore amulets and amulets, especially of this nature, were very popular and literally everyone had them.
Unlike the man, the girl used her gift from the symbol only in a peaceful way, to establish connections, strengthen the family and unite the team. It is believed that clairvoyance is one of the magical powers that can be revealed. It is this that is most valuable, as it allows you to avoid irreparable consequences by preventing them in advance.
History of origin
The ancient Slavs symbolized the Kolovrat with a rotating circle - the Sun, which they sought to serve and worship. The rotation of the Sun for them was the basis of existence, a sign of life and prosperity, a symbol of the beginning of all life and fertility.
Astrologers have an opinion about the origin of this sign. The ancient Russians closely watched the sky. Having drawn lines between the North Star and Ursa Minor and Ursa Major on the days of the solstice and equinox, we will see the four-rayed Kolovrat in front of us. This is most likely how this symbol was first drawn thousands of years ago.
Since ancient times, the Slavs revered the power of nature and the Gods identified with it. To honor them, they performed a ritual or rite, an integral part of which was a sign - a talisman or amulet. Kolovrat is the most “strong” amulet.
Attitude
Each religion treats its symbols and signs differently, but all with respect. There were no exceptions in Ancient Rus'. Moreover, a more serious approach to symbolism was practiced. Given the specificity of that time, men spent a lot of time on military campaigns. And Kolovrat, applied to the body, weapon or shield, gave its wearer strength and good luck.
If someone was careless about this symbol, it was believed that he had angered the gods and they would no longer patronize him. In this case, the man needed to atone for his guilt. This could be done in two ways:
- Sacrifice to an idol;
- Show courage in battle.
If a man was on a military campaign at that time, he had no choice but to erase this symbol from his weapons and armor, and go into battle literally without protection. If he managed to survive, it was believed that the gods had forgiven him and would again protect him. Only then did he have the right to put this sacred symbol on his weapon again and wear it as an amulet.
This practice was not common among women, but the attitude was no worse. All things bearing symbols were carefully stored and passed on from generation to generation. Rituals were carried out regularly, the purpose of which was to show the gods that people valued and loved them. As a reward they asked for patronage, harvest and good luck in the coming year. Depending on the place, the rituals differed somewhat, but had a common basis.
How to clean and charge
A purchased or self-made amulet will be useful only after the ritual of cleansing from extraneous energy and charging.
In modern conditions, the amulet can be left under running water for several hours (a wooden one can simply be wetted). After which you need to hold it for several minutes over a thick wax candle, but not a church candle.
After this procedure, Kolovrat should be charged by transferring his own energy:
- squeeze the amulet tightly in your palms;
- ask the deity that your symbol represents for protection, health and good luck;
- After this, constantly carry the amulet with you for 3 days so that it is saturated with your energy.
