Vaiomingas Dievturu sadraudze

Vaiomingas Dievturu sadraudze A modern gathering of land-stewards, ranchers, and seekers across Wyoming. We honor the spirits of the prairie, mountain, and river land.

No Latvian blood required; only reverence for Earth, courage to live by the seasons, and respect for all souls. A modern gathering of land-stewards, ranchers, and seekers across Wyoming and the Mountain West who walk the ancient Baltic path of the Dievturi. We honor the spirits of this prairie, mountain, and river land as our ancestors honored Baltic forests and seas. No Latvian, Lithuanian, or Estonian blood required; only reverence for Earth, courage to live by the seasons, and respect for all souls—rancher, artist, gay, straight, elder, child. "Mūsu altāris ir zeme zem zirgu nagiem,
Mūsu tempļi — vējš pār Badlands,
Mūsu dievi — saule, uguns, un mūžīgā dzīvība." Our altar is the earth beneath horse hooves,
Our temples — wind over the Badlands,
Our gods — sun, fire, and eternal life.

Thank you, Speaker Janis, for sharing your gathering!Paldies, Runātāja Jāni, par dalīšanos savā pulcēšanās reizē!
01/16/2026

Thank you, Speaker Janis, for sharing your gathering!

Paldies, Runātāja Jāni, par dalīšanos savā pulcēšanās reizē!

Thank you, Anna, for sharing your artwork depicting the Ice Time of the ancient Kuršu!
01/16/2026

Thank you, Anna, for sharing your artwork depicting the Ice Time of the ancient Kuršu!

01/16/2026

From Speaker Janis:

Brothers.

We stand now in the belly of the wolf. The sun has turned its face away, traveling far to the south, leaving us to the mercy of the frost and the wind. This is the time my people called Ziemassvētki, the Winter Festival. But it is not a time for celebration alone. It is a time for survival.

In the old days, before the cross came to our shores on the points of swords, we knew that the winter was not a punishment. It was a test. Laima, who weaves the fate of men; Perkūnas, who strikes the oak with lightning; and Saule, the sun herself—they do not give us strength for the easy days. They give us strength for the hard ones.
Look at the world outside. It is dead, you say? No. It is waiting. It is holding its breath. The earth sleeps beneath the frozen crust, gathering power for the spring. And so must you.

Do not fear the darkness. Embrace it. It is in the dark that we learn who we truly are. When the wind howls and the snow drifts high against the door, that is when you discover if your fire is made of straw or of oak. A Dievturi man does not curse the winter. He sharpens his axe. He feeds his horse. He warms his brother.

You call this January. To my ancestors, this was the time of the Veļi, the spirits. The time when the veil between the living and the dead is thin. We honored those who came before, those who walked the same frozen paths we walk now. We drank to their memory, not in sorrow, but in defiance. We told them, "We are still here. We are still standing."

So, as you go out into the cold today, do not bow your heads against the wind. Lift your chins. Remember that your blood is the blood of survivors. You are the sons of the storm. Let the cold bite your skin—it only reminds you that you are alive. Let the work break your back—it only reminds you that you are strong.

Ride for the Brand. Yes. But ride also for the fire that burns inside you, the fire that no winter can ever extinguish. That is the Old Belief. That is the only truth that matters. The light will return. It always does. Until then, we keep the watch. We endure.

09/13/2025

As we approach Miķeļi (autumn equinox, ~Sept 22–23), harvests honor Earth’s generosity. For ranchers, this aligns with livestock blessings and grain storage—a time to give thanks to ancestors for the fertile land.

"Govis, zirgi, zeme —
Senči stāv blakus mums šajā darbā.
Lai jūsu roku spēks plūst caur mums!"

"Cows, horses, land—
ancestors stand beside us in this work.
May your hands’ strength flow through us!"

09/13/2025

The rituals are important to us:

I. Birth & Naming

Purpose: To welcome a soul from Viņsaule (the Other Sun/afterworld) and bind it to Earth.
Timing: At dawn, 3–7 days after birth.

Key Rituals:

* Earth Connection: Child’s feet washed with rainwater; palm pressed to soil from ancestral land.
* Naming: Parents declare a nature-derived name (Ziedonis "blossom," Saule "sun," Māras dēls/meita "child of Earth") before a hearth fire.
* Ancestral Thread: Red wool cord wrapped 7 times around wrist, symbolizing Laima’s (fate goddess) thread.

Why It Matters: Names shape destiny; the ceremony roots the child in the land’s spirit. "Tavs vārds ir sakne zemē, tava dvēsele — spārni debesīs." (Your name is root in earth, your soul — wings in sky.)

II. Coming of Age

Purpose: To mark the passage from childhood to community responsibility (age 12–16).
Timing: At the summer solstice (Jāņi), when the sun’s power peaks.

Key Rituals:

* Birch Grove Vigil: Youth spends night alone in a sacred grove, carving a personal pērkona krusts (thunder cross) into wood.
* Fire Leap: Jumps over juniper flames 3 times, shouting virtues they embody ("Es esmu stiprs kā ozols!" / "I am strong as oak!").
* Community Gift: Receives a tool (for boys: axe; for girls: spindle) or weapon (for all genders), blessed by elders.

Why It Matters: Proves self-reliance; integrates youth into tribal labor and defense.

III. Marriage (Vienotības Ceremonija)

Purpose: To unite two souls under Laima’s thread, forming a new branch of the tribe.
Timing: At the autumn equinox (Mārtiņi), when harvests symbolize abundance.

Key Rituals:

* Grain Binding: Couple pours rye/flax into a basket while vowing: "Mīlu tev kā saule mīl zemi" ("I love you as sun loves earth").
* Sun Wheel Exchange: Hands clasped over a wooden saules rota (sun wheel), circled 3x clockwise.
* Hedgehog Oath: Pinecones placed in shared pouch: "Kā eži nes savus ērkšķus kopā" ("As hedgehogs carry spines together").

Why It Matters: Unions are blessed for mutual support, not procreation—dainas explicitly honor childless couples.

IV. Seasonal Ceremonies (Tying Life to Earth’s Cycles)

These frame all human rituals, reflecting Latvia’s agrarian soul:

Ziemassvētki (Winter Solstice):

Purpose: Honor the sun’s rebirth; remember ancestors.
Ritual: Feasting on kāpostu biezpiens (sauerkraut cheese); swinging on birch swings to "lift spirits from darkness."
Life Link: Elders receive honey cakes shaped like sun wheels—"Lai jūsu dzīve būs gaisma ziemā." ("May your life be light in winter.")

Lieldienas (Spring Equinox):

Purpose: Bless seeds/livestock; celebrate renewal.
Ritual: Smearing horns of cattle with honey; rolling red-dyed eggs down hills to mimic the sun’s path.
Life Link: Ranchers like Bryan would lead this—"Mūsu govīm un zemei — viena dzīvība!" ("Our cows and land — one life!")

Jāņi (Summer Solstice):

Purpose: Peak of solar power; fertility rites.
Ritual: Jumping over bonfires; weaving pļavu vainagi (meadow flower crowns) for unmarried youth.
Life Link: Coming-of-age ceremonies culminate here.

V. Death & Return to Earth

Purpose: To guide the soul back to Viņsaule and release the body to Zemes Māte (Earth Mother).
Timing: Burial/cremation within 3 days; ashes scattered in water at midnight.

Key Rituals:

* Birch Threshold: Body laid on birch boughs (symbolizing transition); feet pointed west.
* Soul’s Provision: Bowl of barley/honey placed on coffin for the 9-day journey.
* Willow Whistle: Blown 3x to guide the soul; no tears shed (sorrow "weighs down the spirit").

Why It Matters: Death is a homecoming—"Dvēsele aizgāja, miesa atdota Zemei" ("Soul has gone, body given to Earth").

VI. Ancestral Veneration (Mīļoto Piemiņa)

Purpose: To maintain dialogue with ancestors, ensuring their wisdom guides the living.
Timing: At Miķeļi (autumn equinox) and during family milestones.
Key Rituals:
Seed Offering: Flax seeds scattered where ancestors’ ashes rest.
Shared Feast: Eating kūkas (honey cakes) while speaking: "Jūs esat mūsu ozola saknes" ("You are our oak’s roots").
Pinecone Tokens: Pressed into hands of living descendants as "guardians of memory."

Why It Matters: Ancestors are active participants in daily life—not distant figures.

Core Philosophy Underpinning All Ceremonies

No Gender Binary: Roles based on skill, not s*x. Dainas praise women warriors ("meita ar zobenu") and nurturing men ("tēvs, kas audzē ziedus").

Nature as Sacred: Every ritual uses earth/water/fire—no temples, only groves, rivers, and hearths.

Community Over Individual: A ceremony is void without the tribe’s participation. As one daina states: "Viens koks neveido mežu, viena dvēsele neveido dzīvi." ("One tree does not make a forest, one soul does not make life.")

Cyclical Time: Birth, death, and seasons are endless loops—grief is honored but not dwelled upon, for life always renews.
"Latvju dvēsele dzīvo ar sauli —
Rītā dzimst, vakarā mirst,
Bet katru rītu atgriežas."
("The Latvian soul lives with the sun —
Born at dawn, dies at dusk,
But returns every morning.")

*Sources: Rituals reconstructed from Krišjānis Barons' Latvju Dainas (1894), Iron Age archaeological sites (cremation urns, grave goods), and ethnographic studies by folklorist Pēteris Šmits. Modern Dievturība (revived 1925) preserves these core tenets while explicitly welcoming LGBTQ+ inclusion—aligning with ancient Latvia’s focus on deeds, not identity.

07/18/2025

"Kavbojiem Vērtība" (The Value of Cowboys)

Pret zemi un debesīm,
Kavbojis stāv kā stiprs ozols.
Viņš mīl savu darbu,
Un zemi, kā savu māti.

Zemes malās, zāļu lauku,
Kavbojis strādā bez stāvokļa.
Viņa rokas un sirds,
Ir vērtīgas kā zelta.

Vakarā, kad saules gaisma
Pāriet zemē, un naktis nāk,
Kavbojis sapņo,
Par tām zemi, kas viņam pieder.

Kopā mēs cēlam ranču,
Kur katrs ir vērtīgs,
Tas ir mūsu darbs, mūsu laime,
Zemes dāvanu mantojums.

English Translation: "The Value of Cowboys"

Against the earth and the sky,
The cowboy stands like a strong oak.
He loves his work,
And the land, as his mother.

On the edges of the land, grassy fields,
The cowboy works without rest.
His hands and heart,
Are valuable as gold.

In the evening, when the sunlight
Fades and night comes,
The cowboy dreams,
Of the land that belongs to him.

Together we build the ranch,
Where everyone is valuable,
This is our work, our joy,
The inheritance of the land's gifts.

07/18/2025

"Zemes Darbs" (The Work of the Land)

Tālu zāļu lauku malās,
Kur saules stari spīd,
Tie, kas mūžam strādā,
Zemes darbu atbalsta.

Vairags un spēks, tie ir vērtīgi,
Kur mēs uzturam dzīvību.
Tas ir rančas sirds,
Kur mēs kļūstam stiprāki.

Vakarā, kad saules gaisma
Pāriet zemē, un naktis nāk,
Tie, kas strādā, atpūšas,
Zemes dāvanu sapņo.

Kopā mēs cēlam ranču,
Kur katrs ir vērtīgs,
Tas ir mūsu darbs, mūsu laime,
Zemes dāvanu mantojums.

English Translation: "The Work of the Land"

On the edges of vast grassy fields,
Where the rays of the sun shine,
Those who work forever,
Support the work of the land.

Courage and strength, they are valuable,
Where we sustain life.
This is the heart of the ranch,
Where we become stronger.

In the evening, when the sunlight
Fades and night comes,
Those who work rest,
Dream of the land's gifts.

Together we build the ranch,
Where everyone is valuable,
This is our work, our joy,
The inheritance of the land's gifts.

The Values Committee is meeting this month to discuss the ongoing work on the English language version of the "Dievtur̦u...
02/20/2024

The Values Committee is meeting this month to discuss the ongoing work on the English language version of the "Dievtur̦u cerokslis jeb Teoforu katk̦isms." For this meeting, the main discussion will be about how best to remove the external religious influences from the writing.

For many years, the Dievturi have struggled with the fact that many of our historical records were made by outsiders during the Middle Ages through the 15th century who could not comprehend our beliefs in their actual form and therefore "translated them" into things where they held a point of reference.

An excellent example is that "Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus" in modern Latvian is used to mean "Merry Christmas" yet the direct translation would be more like "Happy Winter Festival!" and was in use prior to the Christianization of the Baltics. "Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus" originally related to the celebration of the Winter Solstice and the coming of longer days.

Due to the tendency of Latvians to keep the same words as new invaders and ideas arrived in the region, many words actually have multiple historical meanings. One example is "dievs" which most modern Latvian dictionaries translate as "god"--yet the word may better be translated as "the penultimate," "the perfect," and/or "the universal."

02/20/2024

Our calendar team is nearing completion of their work. The traditional calendar from the Baltics is based on months that average 45 days each and weeks that are 9 days each. The challenge undertaken by our team is to do a "better" job considering the astronomical cycles upon which various dates are based. Once their report is issued, it will be submitted to the Speakers for consideration. If approved, we cannot wait to implement the calendar that better follows the original intent and purpose of our ancestors who lived in harmony with their world.

One of the debatable points is deciding "when" a calendar event occurs based on the exact time of the related astronomical event. For example, if the Summer Solstice will occur at 11:30 AM on a given date, should Līgo be that night or the night before? We already agree upon rejecting the "convenience" of a proscribed date because such standardization results in inconsistency with reality.

The calendar team is also ready to propose that all shrines operate on LST (local solar time) if they are not already doing so. Here in the American West, it seems especially ridiculous that "high noon" can take place anywhere from 12:02 pm to 1:29 pm due to time zones and DST. The whole point of "high noon" is to be the time when the sun is highest in the sky. When using LST, noon is *always* when the sun reaches its highest point in the day.

09/02/2022

Due to the intolerance of others and their actions, we have decided to relaunch this new page here on Facebook as one of the only public-facing presences we have. Typically, our adherents are extremely private and we have no need for public statements. If you have a GENUINE curiosity about our beliefs, we welcome your inquiry. Otherwise, we invite everyone else to go in peace while leaving us to our own peace.

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Dubois, WY
82513

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