 In Slavic mythology a Sirin is a bird woman generally associated with benevolence, likely introduced into Ukraine and Russia and much of Eastern Europe by the Persians. When birds flew south for the winter, it was thought Sirins flew south too, to a mystic land near the Euphrates where souls go after death.
A Sirin can be just about any type of bird with a woman's head, sometimes more angel-like or human with feathered tail and wings. Sirins live in apple trees of Paradise, or in Eden, or in a forest on the periphery of Eden. They sing beautifully, and this is a call to souls of the newly dead, so that they may find their way to Paradise. Only people who have known happiness can hear the Sirin sing, and it is like a premonition of heavenly bliss. In some legends Sirin is not a class of creature, but is the name of a single birdwoman, and she has such sisters as Alkonost who can sing away all memory bringing peace to souls that were grieving over their release from the living world; Gamayun from an eastern paradise whose songs in an angelic language awaken prophetic abilities and divine wisdom; Raróg the fire-falcon similar to the Phoenix; and Stratim the mother of all birds and the cause of storms far at sea where she dwells. "Sirin" aka "Blue Bird" by Russian painter and illustrator Sergey Solomko (1867-1928)
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 As you fall
asleep tonight, do not take this inhalation for granted. Honor her like a royal guest. Make a spacious tent of your flesh, for She who scattered the galaxies and harvested all their clustered stars has come to dwell in the vineyard of your body. She will pour the Milky Way down your backbone, anointing you with spikenard from her fathomless jar of whimsy. Let each expiration guide you to a mirror of moonlight. The key is silence. Step through. Follow her rainbow into the void where wings of astonishment will carry you from death to death. Fathom the sap. A scent of blossoms from the arbor under your ribs will guide you home, heart widened by a memory of stillness. Let her lure you down green corridors and pull you into the seed. If you won’t become hollow, how can you be filled with the music of Imbolc? by Fred LaMott photography Hiseo Kanno |
cover photo: gal steinberg
Here you will will find posts on consciousness expansion, folklore, poetry, articles on healing practices, Eastern thought, and other topics. I hope you enjoy these offerings as much as I have had collecting them. Archives
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