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inspired by Mokosch (also Mokosh, Makosh, Mokysha, Mokush, Mokuscha, Mokos) the Slavic goddess who gives and takes life. Mokosch is the "moist Mother Earth," mistress of the snow and goddess of fertility and femininity, guardian of the pets and guardian of the domestic chores.

The "Schneeweib" as mistress of cold and death

Mokosch is not only the goddess of the fertile soil of the wet spring and summer, she also stands for snow and winter. In pre-Christian times one goddess was common in the entire Slavic area - the "Schneeweib" (the word "winter" in Russian is female, the winter is often referred to as "Mother"). This goddess was no other than Mokosch in her winter form as mistress of cold, death and the afterlife. Mokosch is for this reason - like many other goddesses of fertility and birth - also that mystical figure, to who returns life and who is giving life to the newly born.

After a widespread peasant tradition women are built up in the fields in the period after new year and spring snow, to destroy them afterwards. This symbolizes the victory over death, therefor people wish that the mother-earth will bring a good harvest. According to legend a living child is born from dead snow - a girl.

Snow as a fertility charm

With the idea of ​​"Snow equal life" wishes and hopes are linked. Women who couldn't bring a child into the world for a long time have eaten snow or looked on it for a long period to finally be pregnant. This can be found for example also in the fairy tale Snow White. The Queen looked at the snow and wants a child and her wish came true! She got a girl as white as snow, as red as blood and as black as ebony, which symbolizes the triple goddess.

background by skubmic, a friend and wonderful photographer
snow brushes by Scully7491 on deviantART
The picture was taken in the MFO-Park, a public park in Neu-Oerlikon, Zurich, built on the former area of the engine factory “Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon”, which gave the park its name.

I digged in the archives and found this one. Isn't he absolutely adorable, the little tiger? Because we have absolutely no snow at the moment I walk down memory lane of a white surrounding.

Opportunities to look into the eyes of wild animals are rare.
Sometimes you're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them. The sparkling and bond of nature in them.
That's why I love being around cats. Sure they're kind of domesticated but if you let them be what they are they show you a little bit of the wild spark still glowing inside.
What is going on in their mind and souls when they look at me, I just guess. But why should I...
Such eye to eye contacts as shown in this picture are a gift I accept without questioning.

Birds of prey are really fascinating.
Their strength, velocity and stamina are pure perfection.
Humans can fly too but it looks definitively not as elegant.

The image is not top quality but I like the blurry forest in the background visualizing the speed of the red kite.

I decided to go out and enjoy the sunshine. Two of the neighbour cats followed me to the fields. The little furry one on the road is a young and pretty agile cat. He is far too curious. The tiger on the right is out of the playing age but sometimes he's doing the kiddy cat stuff.