Slava!

""Slava! is one of the most important books to come out of contemporary polytheism today. It fills a crucial gap in the literature available both to academics and, more importantly, to practitioners....Most importantly, Anna discusses syncretism, the blending of Christian and polytheistic practices that make up an all-too-often neglected aspect of contemporary living polytheisms, one that many polytheists are ashamed to discuss. This book is essential for anyone interested in the potent call of gods that predated Christianity by millennia. Anna highlights the thing that many contemporary polytheisms miss: our traditions evolved connected to spirits of particular places, particular peoples--and while anyone may honor the gods, learning about those origins can only deepen a person's connection to the Holy Ones. I cannot recommend this book highly enough."" --Galina Krasskova, PhD candidate, Theology, Fordham University; author of A Modern Guide to Heathenry and Living Runes ""Slava! is a thoughtful work of cultural ambassadorship, merged with spiritual memoir, along with a good helping of anthropology, well-vetted folklore, history, and Magick, capped off by compelling storytelling. Within these pages you will encounter tree and plant wisdom, spells, ancestor veneration and considerations, environmental stewardship connections, rites directly from Slavic tradition and those created by the author, deities, fairy-lore, useful tools, and more. This polytheistic, earth-centered, and, at times, Otherworldly, tome looks at the past to pave a road to a lively and meaningful Slavic Magick practice of now and the forevermore."" --Priestess Stephanie Rose Bird, author of Sticks, Stones, Roots, and Bones and Motherland Herbal ""For years, many contemporary Pagans have drawn their inspiration from Germanic, Classical or Celtic cultures. Now, Anna Urosevic Applegate presents the traditions of Slavic polytheism in Slava! Her book begins with an exploration of the native, Pagan origins of the Slavic faith, and goes on to examine how this later became coupled with Christianity to survive as a Dual-Faith Tradition. Applegate includes rituals, prayers, and even recipes to provide a truly immersive experience for anyone who would like to learn more about the cultural traditions of eastern and central Europe. I found the book to be both informative and thought-provoking, and I highly recommend it."" --Alaric Albertsson, author of Wyrdworking and A Handbook of Saxon Sorcery & Magic