Also called Gamaiun.
Their story
Gamayun is a prophetic bird with a woman's head who flies from the east and brings storms, singing of the fates of the world. The name may come from the Persian homayun, meaning blessed, linked with the Huma bird. She became famous through Viktor Vasnetsov's painting of 1897 and Alexander Blok's poem inspired by it. The so-called "Songs of the Bird Gamayun" read in some Rodnover circles are modern compositions.
Best times to give to them
- New Year
- times of decision
What they like being given
- a candle
- a question written down
- quiet listening
How to honour them
- Sit quietly and write down what you already know about a problem.
- Treat the bird as a symbol of listening before speaking.
How they can help you
- insight
- decisions
- listening
Symbols
- a bird with a woman's head
- a storm cloud
- the rising sun
Her popular image is largely nineteenth-century; the "Songs of Gamayun" are modern, not ancient.
Sources
- Viktor Vasnetsov, Gamayun, the Prophetic Bird (painting, 1897)
- Alexander Blok, "Gamayun, the Prophetic Bird" (poem, 1899)
More Slavic beings
- Div The crying omen in the tree-top
- Vodyanoy The old man of the millpond
- Polevik The spirit of the fields
- Poludnitsa Lady Midday of the harvest fields
- Mavka Hollow-backed maiden of the Ukrainian woods
- Mora The night-mare who sits on the chest
- Zmey Gorynych Many-headed dragon of the byliny
- Firebird The glowing bird of the golden apples