Lada, Goddess of Beauty, Love, and Marriage
Lada represents the harmonious balance between the earth's fertility and Human desires, teaching that love, in all its forms, is the ultimate wellspring of joy and prosperity. Her holy days are marked by festivals of song and dance, where tales of legendary loves are shared, and offerings of flowers and handcrafted tokens of affection are made in her honor. Through Lada, The Old Faith celebrates not only the strength found in the bonds between people but also the beauty and kindness that enrich the soul. Her sacred symbols, the rose for beauty and the dove for peace, are prevalent in rituals and ceremonies, particularly those celebrating the union of hearts and the blossoming of new life.
The Emberbloom Rite of Lada Performed on the eve of the Summer Solstice, when the sun hangs long in the sky and shadows grow restless beneath it.
The rite is led by a priestess or chosen matron—the Bloom-Mother—adorned in woven grasses and foxglove, her face marked with ash and rosewater. At her side stand two young women and two young men—the Fertile Four—representing the potential of union and life. None are volunteers. Each was chosen by divination, and all feel the weight of the role they must play.
Rituals:
Lada's Embrace
On the eve of the spring equinox, young couples join in a ritual known as Lada's Embrace. They exchange garlands made of fresh flowers and pledge their love by jumping over a small bonfire, symbolizing the burning away of past grievances and the warmth of their affection.The Emberbloom Rite of Lada Performed on the eve of the Summer Solstice, when the sun hangs long in the sky and shadows grow restless beneath it.
The Emberbloom Rite
As the sun begins its slow descent behind the dark crests of the Old Dark Wood, the folk of Guthram and surrounding villages gather in hushed reverence at the Stone Circle of Veils, an ancient site veined with ivy and long-forgotten carvings. At its heart burns a sacred fire, kindled with last year’s dried love-offerings: wilted garlands, worn ribbon-ties from wedding beds, and locks of hair wrapped in linen, gifted by hopeful lovers or grieving widows.The rite is led by a priestess or chosen matron—the Bloom-Mother—adorned in woven grasses and foxglove, her face marked with ash and rosewater. At her side stand two young women and two young men—the Fertile Four—representing the potential of union and life. None are volunteers. Each was chosen by divination, and all feel the weight of the role they must play.
