Swan Goddesses

In Swan Lake, one of the world’s most beloved ballets, women are transformed into swans by an evil, manipulative sorcerer. The story draws on distorted legends of Swan Goddesses, among the most primeval of all deities. They are spirits of northern climates and may have first emerged among the Finno-Ugric peoples (Finns, Saami, Hungarians) as well as various indigenous Siberian groups. Swans fly and these goddesses may have migrated to play prominent roles in Russian, Scandinavian, Balkan, and Celtic mythology, among others. (Alternatively, Swan Goddesses are innately an international phenomeon.)

As in that ballet, Swan Goddesses shape-shift, sometimes appearing as beautiful women clothed in white or black and sometimes appearing in the form of swans. Even as women, they may wear sleeves evoking swans’ wings. Abundance, good fortune, and fertility spill from these sleeves. (Priestesses perhaps channeling these goddesses did indeed wear dresses with sleeves like this. Sleeves were normally kept pinned up, but during ritual dances, these excessively long sleeves were released to billow and fall beneath the women’s fingers.) Any swan might be a Swan Goddess in disguise, so tremendous taboos existed regarding killing swans. Alternatively any woman might be a Swan Goddess in disguise. In many Siberian cultures, swans traditionally represent women. In the mythology of the Northern Voguls, swans were originally human but even in avian form, still menstruate like women.

Swan Goddesses are spirits of life and death. They are the original White Ladies. Many are psychopomps, death goddesses, traveling between realms of the living and the dead. They control the migration of birds and provide abundance and good fortune. They are mistresses of transformation who can help devotees become who they wish to be. Among those spirits classified among the Swan Goddesses are Valkyries, Vila, and Tündér.

Swan Goddesses may also be Goose Goddesses. The ancients didn’t necessarily distinguish between these two large, aggressive water birds. The origins of Mother Goose may lie among Swan Goddesses.

Swan maidens are subject of legend, lore, and ballads. The English ballad “Polly Von” may recall vestigial memories of transforming swan maidens. (There is a recording by the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.)

According to Yakut mythology, swans are the sacred birds and messengers of a very beautiful goddess named White Bird who lives in a stone house at the top of the world. White Bird dresses in white. Every spring, she travels to a cliff opposite the Yenisei River and shakes dust out of her long sleeves, which then transforms into migratory birds. Every fall, the birds return to her and transform back into dust for safekeeping.

SEE ALSO:

• Aphrodite;
• Caer Ibormeith
• Graeae
• Kaltes
• Laimos
• Norns
• Psychopomp
• Sirens
• Tündér
• Valkyrie
• Vila
• White Lady

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.