Mother of Earth

 

    Žemyna, the goddess of Earth, is one of the most important Lithuanian feminine divinities, and to whom we should be grateful for the opportunity to live on such a unique and beautiful planet. 

When other gods lived in the sky, Žemyna’s home was on Earth. There she has been known by many names: Mother of the Sands, Mother of the Graves, and Mother of the Ghosts. For medieval Lithuanians, the divide between the worlds of the living and the dead was an illusory one; thus, Žemyna's role encompassed the forces of both life and death.

   One of the aspects of life under Žemyna’s care was childbirth. When a child was born, often in a sacred bathhouse, offerings were made to Žemyna as well as Laima, the goddess of Luck. Women would share a special, sacred meal on these occasions. 

  She was also one of the only deities thought to directly oversee human welfare, and so she was petitioned often.