Kaltes
Kaltes
ORIGIN:
Siberia
The moon exerts its pull on Earthly tides and women’s menstrual cycles. Kaltes is the beautiful spirit who mediates this relationship between Earth, the moon and women. Kaltes first manifested to the Ugric tribes of Western Siberia such as the Mansi, formerly called the Voguls, who traditionally inhabited the forests and swamplands near the Ob River and who are linguistically related to the Finns, Saami and Hungarians.
Once upon a time, Kaltes lived in the sky with her husband, Numi-Tarem the Sky Master who may be a bear spirit. (She may also be his sister or daughter.) Kaltes had a secret love affair with Xul-Ater, Prince of the Underworld but her husband found out. He drew his sword to stab Kaltes but their eldest son stopped him. Later, when he had the opportunity, the enraged Numi-Tarem threw Kaltes to the ground three times; then dropped her to Earth through a hole in the sky. While falling, she gave birth to the spirit-child who would become World Surveyor Man, the Gander Prince.
Kaltes (the very same spirit or her double) serves as World Surveyor Man’s foster mother. Yes, she is also his real mother. When he comes of age, depending on the version of the myth, World Surveyor Man may or may not marry Kal tes or her avatar.
Kaltes resembles those Russian dolls, which appear identical except for size and which fit one inside the other. There are seemingly a dizzyingly endless number of Kaltes who may be one and the same or reflections of each other, sort of the way rabbits legendarily multiply. Fittingly, Kaltes is the Lady of the Rabbits, her sacred creature and messenger. She is a goddess of fertility, childbirth, and women’s reproductive health.
MANIFESTATION:
Kaltes appears as a beautiful woman, a rabbit or a goose. She is intensely associated with rabbits; even when she appears in another form, some reference to rabbits may still exist, giving the clue to her true identity.
PLANET:
Moon
Sacred tree: Birch
Animal: Rabbit
Bird:
Goose; swan
SEE ALSO:
Swan Goddesses; World Surveyor Man
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
