What is Väki? | Finland's version of Chi

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

You have single handedly become one of the most comprehensive channel about ancient Finland and Finnish culture.

[@aaronstavern]

I enjoy learning things, I also enjoy explaining those things to other people, And this is where I now find myself 😅✊🏻

[@atypicalaspie7208]

@@aaronstavern Why Finland as an Irishman, if I may be so bold as to inquire?

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

@@atypicalaspie7208 Dude has a Finnish wife and moved here few years ago.

[@atypicalaspie7208]

@@ReasonAboveEverything Sounds good. Not surprisingly, 😀 my missus is Finnish as well.

[@jesselindholm2963]

We also have this " Vesi vanhin voitehista " = Water is the oldest ointment .

[@SiiriCressey]

Ointment as in healing?

[@Kotifilosofi]

Väki is an interesting term since it means both a substantive "the group of living beings", an adjective "powerful" and the fluidity between the two. So, väki is the group of living beings, but it is also the power they posess, and somewhere along the way all the individuals with the power turn into this more fluid form of "väki" where individuals won't be recognized anymore, but they'll only be recognized by their power. This mindset basically describes the life from the birth to the death. After birth child won't be recognized as an individual of the group until it receives it's name (name has a huge importance in the Finnish mythology). After receiving their name, the individual will live as a recognized member of their väki, being one particle in that recognized group. After the death they'll still be recognized as the individual of their väki long as they're being remembered. Again, name is very important in this, and that's why children were also often named after their passed away relatives, to keep these individuals remembered, and possibly also to make them reincarnate as the haltija of the baby. However, when enough time has passed, there won't be people who remembers the passed away person anymore. The individual has lost their form, and became a fluid member of the väki, in the sense of the power. They won't be remembered anymore, but their existence will still be recognized as the source of the certain power. And this applies to both humans and the other species. Everyone eventually turns into the faceless mass of power their group possesses.

[@ariengman]

A word "väkevä" can still be used as a synonym for "vahva" in daily vocabulary if something is considered strong. I'd say now it's most often used to describe a smell or a taste. Väkevä = full of väki.

[@aaronstavern]

That's very interesting!

[@MrBanaanipommi]

exactly, i just was telling to another friend, like strong alcohol is called VÄKEVÄ alkoholi or viina in finland, it means actually strong but in the mythology meaning it has a lot of väki! and it kinda makes sense. if your mustard/senap is strong, it is väkevä also.. :) it is kinda same also that the town has a lot of väki (people) which kinda is mythology way true and makes sense

[@kallejotoksella8743]

@@MrBanaanipommi There is also a saying 'vähäväkinen' meaning also lack of people and/or lack of strength and weakness. .

[@finboror]

Though when talking about mythological väki, usually the adjective for that is "väekäs", for whatever reason.

[@erkkiboy]

The word "väkivalta" now makes a lot more sense to me. Cheers 😊

[@sampohonkala4195]

Väki is a very useful word, especially when added to something else. Väkipyörä = pulley, väkivalta = violence, sotaväki = army, jalkaväki = infantry, ratsuväki = cavalry. And väkevät = spirits (alcohol). In the modern world väki no longer has much connection to mythology, except maybe in the word 'metsänväki' which means animals of the forest, but as väki is people it refers to animals as just another kind of people, as if they were human, only living in the forest and being adapted to it. Metsänväki also suggests, a bit hiddenly, that it may not only be animals but other kinds of creatures as well, all this that might exist in the forest. In this context, the word does not mean strength or violence, but rather the opposite; it gives a feeling that whatever - even seemingly frigtening - there might be in the forest, it is just metsänväki, almost like us people. This way I think traditionally the Finns feel safe in the forest, surrounded by metsänväki, and unsafe alone in the open.

[@SorbusAucubaria]

it is kind of interesting that etymologists say that the Finnish pronouns hän/se was originally used with both animals and humans and it was only when formal finnish language grammar were developed and the scientist could not make clear rules when to use "hän" or when to use "se", they borroded the grammar rule from swedish and stated that only the word "hän" should be used when speaking about humans. So originally men, women and animals were one and the same in the language as well...

[@mikkis668]

Kotiväki vs metsänväki (?)

[@youmustbeanidiot3580]

->VÄKEVÄ == EXTREMELY STRONG

[@harrirautell5656]

@@mikkis668 Väkimäärä... population

[@Kotifilosofi]

@@SorbusAucubaria but that still does exist in the spoken Finnish today, doesn't it? You can use "se" both for humans and animals in informal speech, and it's not rude. And nowadays people also use "hän" for animals, when speaking about beloved pet etc. "Hän" always sounds more formal/honored, but imo "se" is not disrespectful either, just more ordinary. Maybe it has to do with the fact that we don't use that much honorifics (mrs., mr. etc.) in Finnish in general, but informal speech just doesn't sound rude in most situations.

[@Why8876o]

You are making me love and embrace finish mythology and culture and I love it thank you

[@SEWERHOOVY]

i think the real finnish chi is closer to screaming PERKELE while carrying 4-5 bags (plastic, maybe broken and the handles are stretching) of food from floor 1 to floor 7 in one go, if anyone gets in your way curse lauder.

[@Pinjamiini]

Maanväki > maahinen, stories that they lived under the ground and teased people, caused troubles. Vedenväki > Vetehinen, ”Näkki” stories about creatures in water, maybe death peoples, maybe things that could help to get lots fish. I dont know much, but I know that ancient finnish peoples had to keep both maahiset (plural word) and vetehiset (also plural) happy or atleast not to do anything to hurt them or their feelings if wanted to survive in live. And that way it was with all ’väki’. Lots of offerings and sacrifised food was given to gods and to ”väki” in woods to keep them happy.

[@sheilacoughlin8089]

Thank you so much for your channel, and this specific video. I am 1/4 Finnish. My grandma who died last year was full. I am just starting to learn more about our Finnish culture. I’m going to learn the language, too. I am working with a Finnish genealogist who has been so helpful with learning about my ancestry. Your videos are going to be a fantastic resource for my unschooled son and I. I can’t thank you enough! I am also 1/8 Irish.

[@DanielosVK]

You might be Irish, but I already use your channel as a legit source of info about Finnish culture. Cool stuff as I myself am very interested in folklore and ancient culture as well. :)

[@aaronstavern]

I appreciate that thank you very much! And also thank you for the support since I started! I know you have been here from in or around the start of this channel ✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻

[@DanielosVK]

@@aaronstavern Oh, maybe not from the very start, but I think since I arrived in Finland myself, which was August 2020... so a while! Anyway, my pleasure!

[@Summerwood777]

Väkivalta also translates to violence. To use force (väki) against someone to gain control (valta).

[@DarkMode95]

The thumbnail really invated me to this video

[@tonttu7979]

Curiously Väki is also used in finnish folk lore to describe the spirits and creatures in the forests, especially living in metsänpeitto, like trolls (peikko) goblins/elves (menninkäinen) and wisps. The most fitting translation would probably be "the folk" Also bonus fact about forest spirits, it used to be a custom to knock on the trunks of trees before chopping them down, to give time for the spirit of that tree to find a new home. If you didnt do this it would follow you whereever you took that log, whether it was the wall of a log cabin or firewood for the sauna or the oven

[@denni7173]

Yes! My friend's grandparents from Finland ALWAYS knocked on both the trees they cut for firewood and the firewood itself before putting it into the stove. His grandma always warned that the spirits could get into the house and hide in the wood pieces so best be careful and knock for them. God forbid they burn in the woodstove!

[@MrThule]

also can refer to the spirits that live within and among a person.. for what i understood form some writings., can't remember reference. also kinda makes sense with the language.

[@marttivuorinen8475]

That leads to a saying "Niin metsä vastaa kuin sinne huudetaan" "Forrest answers like you shout at it" Obvious thought could be it means echo but forrest dont echo. At least not like olen spaces with some Hills or mountains. I think it is about Väki of The forrest and how one should Be on balanse with IT. Treat IT respectfully and Väki of The forrest treats you same way.

[@denni7173]

@@marttivuorinen8475 Perfectly said! And your last sentence says it all!

[@kallejotoksella8743]

It's just a use for the meaning Crowd/people. People/crowd that lives in there.

[@josiahhampton2094]

I love this. I found this video after my own discovery of the word. It’s fascinating! I’ve been studying Scandinavian culture in tandem with building my own sauna. Thanks for fueling the fire!

[@pystykorva7114]

Väkevä means stark or strong, Väkivalta means violence, Väkipakko means to force something, Väkipuukko means Seax, Väkiviina means strong alcohol. Just some Väki words that came in mind :)

[@artopaivinen3233]

väkipakko = brute force

[@anunaukkarinen2867]

And some mans can be väkevä allso. He comes with alot of spirits or strenght with him.

[@mikkis668]

Interesting when you come to words like kotiväki = family, metsänväki = "things" living in the forest. Though väki here refers to people or group, you can sense the meaning of power or force in there as well

[@juharytkonen6153]

What does väkisin or väkisin makuu means??

[@peopleofonefire9643]

The Uchee people of Georgia and Tennessee told British settlers that their ancestors came across the Atlantic and first settled at the mouth of the Savannah River. I am part Uchee. It shows up as a mixture of Sami, Finnish and pre-Gaelic Irish. When my sister visited Finland two years ago with a group of women from her church, Finnish shopkeepers spoke English to the other women, but spoke Finnish to her, because they assumed she was Sami!

[@pdk9903]

Thanks for a great video! Perhaps someone already pointed this out - "väki" could be seen as "life force", but it isn't as neutral a term as I've understood it, väki manifests as different properties in different beings, not just as a force. For example women (and their sexual/reproductive organs) were revered for their particular kind of väki as they could create life. Women's väki was also a protection - when livestock was let out to pasture, a woman would stand over the gate (the cattle would pass below her but technically between her legs) so as to bless the animals and give them the protection from predators with her väki.

[@aleksipeltomaki1863]

Väki of the house. You don't need to lock the doors because the Väki of the house is always in to protect the house when you are away. You also make sacrifices to the house Väki so that they are happy and quests always still bring "tuliaisia" meaning gifts for the Väki of the house so that they can sleep peacefully. Saunatonttu is ofcourse part of väki.

[@JP-zz7en]

And how do you made that sacrifices? Or rituals?

[@WildWoodsGirl65]

​@@JP-zz7en You leave them food, or little items they might like, & keep the home clean bc they like that.

[@finnoXkhmer]

It's beautiful to see a foreigner in Finland being genuinely and so deeply interested in Finnish mythology, folklore, ancient culture. Same time it's sad to see that so few Finnish people themselves are not interested in our true heritage. Thank you so much for the hard work you do. You earned a new subscriber. Kiitos.

[@aaronstavern]

I appreciate this thank you!

[@e.i.4362]

@@aaronstavern kiitos näistä videoistasi. Tuntuu, kuin olisimme edistyneet huomattavasti niistä ajoista, kun roomalainen senaattori näillä main vieraili ja tuli maininneeksi, että tämä kansa on "kaiken toivon tuolla puolen".Fennit ovat hämmästyttävän raakalaismaisia ja iljettävän köyhiä: heillä ei ole aseita, ei hevosia, ei rakennuksia; heidän ravintonaan on ruoho, vaatteena eläinten nahat, ja sänkynä maankamara. Heidän toivonsa lepää ainoastaan nuolissa, joiden kärjet - raudan puutteessa - on tehty luusta. Metsästys elättää sekä heidän miehensä että naisensa, joista jälkimmäiset seuraavat ensin mainittuja kaikkialle ja hakevat oman osansa saaliista. Heidän vauvoillaan ei ole mitään muuta turvapaikkaa villi-eläimiltä ja sateelta kuin oksista punottu suoja. Sinne palaavat myös nuoret miehet ja se on myös vanhusten suojapaikka. Mutta fennit uskovat olevansa onnekkaampia kuin jos he vaikeroisivat pelloilla tai rakentaisivat taloja, tai jos he tuskailisivat vuorotellen pelon ja toivon vallassa omasta ja toisten omaisuudesta. He ovat turvassa jumalilta ja turvassa ihmisiltä, ja näin ollen saavuttaneet kaikkein vaikeimman saavutuksen: heillä ei ole tarvetta edes rukoilla. Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Germania 46.3.

[@Pinjamiini]

I just remembered story sbout one of my own ancient relative ”Martti Kitunen the bear killer”. He lived 1747-1833 in Virrat. He had his own sacrificing place, very very big furtree. I have visited the place, tree is dead now but some parts of it is still there. Every person, every family had their own place were they made they offerings to ”Väki”, usually those places were huge stones or trees. Offerings were made to keep Väet (plural) happy and make them to help to get lot of fish or hunting to be succesful.

[@vesaleinonen6334]

Love your stuff talking about connection, I had a ancestry dna test and I was suprised to find out when it came back that I was point 2 North American Indian, although both my parents were fill Finn`s.

[@aaronstavern]

Oh that's interesting!

[@WildWoodsGirl65]

There was an article by an anthropologist published around 2016 or 2018 saying Algonquian tribes have ties to Scandinavia, genetically & culturally very similar beliefs on what is sacred plus some shared words. The words got spelled differently phonetically when Europeans wrote them down but are said very much the same, same meaning. Algonquians didn't come from the Bering Strait but over the ice from the NE, from Scandinavia, much earlier, they have discovered. He had found evidence. I wish that I could remember the name of the anthropologist & article. It is out there though & it made absolute sense to me. My father was Virginia Algonquin, my maternal grandmother Sámi, and their traditional beliefs were exactly alike - even the same things kept & the same things considered archaic. There is similarity with Irish too. My maternal grandfather was Irish. It's not exactly the same there but enough so that in times of hardship they have sent each other funds for food & spiritual support long distance. Choctaws gathered money from tribes during the famine & Irish sent funds during covid when tribes were in lockdown on remote reservations & couldn't leave for work. But I digress... It is not uncommon to find that DNA marker in both Scandinavian ancestry, especially Finnish, and Algonquians. And there is research online.

[@loriannepresnell7951]

I've been investigating many similarities between Finnish and Native American lore and practices. Life force energy in Lakota is Skan, Taku skan. I'm Irish and Scandinavian( FINNISH and Swedish) and live in Midwest America. Often wonder if the American Indian and Finnish populations share a common ancestry. Love the channel!

[@kyyyni]

@loriannepresnell7951 Everyone obviously shares common ancestry, the only question is from how far back in history. My uneducated guess would be that especially Eastern Finnish and Karelian and Sami peoples share quite a of "recent" common ancestry with indigenous American people, the point of divergence in history being populations inhabiting Siberia - though still millennia ago, but in terms of human history it's "recent". To me, even more interesting are the various possible common mythology and folklore. Those cultural memes are very persistent too, like biological heritage.

[@SK-nw4ig]

You mentioned everything living has it's own väki - true. However, the traditional view is animistic, so everything is alive. That means everything has it's own väki. Iron, rocks, etc. Thank you for a very good topic!

[@LyssasHandicraft]

Love this video! Very interesting! Hyvää👍🏻

[@neulasia]

in my mind i have always seen väki as a people: small, see-through, shadowy. they kind of live inside everything and can be talked into helping you, if you know the right words, of course.

[@vincentcarrot]

"silmänurkastani silti aina näen/tuon kuiskailevan harmaan pikkuväen" -- Eppu Normaali : Delirium Tremens

[@karrikemppainen1535]

Greetings from Oulu! I recall you were staying here at some point, so I'd love to buy a coffee/pint and share a story or two in good "väkevä" spirit 😎 Been kind of a hippie my whole life and I've come across atleast few interesting phenomena that shaped my life for years to come. You're restoring my faith in spirit and I'd love to share that inspiration even if only a bit 😁

[@rikulappi9664]

VÄKI is a bit oldish but powerful a word not used slightly... If you describe a one VÄKEVÄ, you say he/she has powers you cannot understand. A VÄKEVÄ (=full of VÄKI) person has spiritual/mental/physical strength to act beyond duty and exceptions. "So VÄKEVÄ (strong) was her faith, that VÄKI (folk, people) and the king bowed their heads."

[@Anneitia]

Pagan/occultist here! I remember the some of the Finish goddesses of death reaching out and when I asked around, someone immediately brought up death Väki - and I'm so glad they did! Made sure to do a little extra self care after I was done working with them and daaaamn, I felt *so* much better after cleansing whatever they had given off! Based on this video and my experiences, definitely seems like there's a few kinds of Väki out there. Gotta say though, fairly new to working with the Finnish pantheon and I'm loving it! Thanks so much for this video and your channel, I've loved learning more about Finnish culture and mythology!

[@aaronstavern]

That sounds absolutely awesome! You're welcome to come on and talk about your experiences if you want 🤟🏼

[@Anneitia]

@@aaronstavern I really appreciate it! ❤Still quite new to working with Finnish deities in general though! 😅

[@Jaska8000]

Väki is also a base word for väkevä. It is most commonly used to describe certain spices. You can say for instance: "This mustard is strong." And in Finnish it goes: "Tämä sinappi on väkevää."

[@TheTsalop]

Found these videos some time ago and really like them :D The concept of väki reminded me of another interesting concept I read about: "soul" (or well spirit in this case as soul was much newer concept) is actually split to couple parts, one of them being "luonto" (the nature of being) that describes the person and how they are... Like one can have the nature of the bear or that they have born with a firy nature. Your nature also can tell what kind of folk you align the best. Not sure if you have touched this topic yet as haven't watched all the video but just something I wanted to bring up :)

[@DarkMode95]

Trying not to sound crazy, but this resonated with me, maybe a bit too hard. I early on recognised how my believes didn't fit with the religions I was forced to learn and be part of. I have strong feeling about souls. How everything around us has atleast a part of souls. I have always had strong bond, liking of water. I was in my early teens told that on my fathers side of the family, we had skills of "käsillä parantaja" (simply put, healer). My uncle is chiropractor and very good at his job. Haha. People in my life have told me that being around me is calming. And my parter has seen and told that when I get some way nervous, I start to rub my hands. It's like there is too much energy. If I then massage him, he often falls a sleep or just feels so much better. I just wanted to share what came to my mind, even if just for a laugh. I find this super facinating. Maybe it is just my roots reminding me of our pasts believes

[@dover1129]

Interesting, even if i'm a finn i didnt know half of the stuff you tell, i would like to get more of this stuff in finish history classes so people get to know their history and heritage

[@pukki34]

Funny thing I'm learning from someone who isnt from Finland... Keep the videos coming

[@HessuVee]

A related, and curious, thing happened to me some years ago. I was reading about this very subject and of "seita", and my mind wandered instantly to this little bay in the lake by which my mother and her husband live. The water there seem to always flow to one of the "corners" of the bay, no matter where the wind blows and it just seems to me a very... sort of mystical place. What I didn't remember at that time of contemplation was that right in that same corner of the bay there grows a very crooked birch tree. So crooked that it needs to be supported by a small log resting against its trunk or otherwise the tree might just fall into the water. But still the tree is lush and vibrant in the summer. The strangeness of the tree and the water always flowing towards it made me think of it as a dwelling of veden väki and I still think so to this day. Turns out they were supposed to cut the tree because it was such an eyesore, but after I told them about the väki they have been hesitant to even think about cutting it, even though they claim not to believe "in such silliness".

[@rainbowflash7284]

I love this! Now I'm very interested to learn more about Väki!

[@karihamalainen9622]

VÄKIPYÖRÄ is trolleywheel or similar which aids lift for example stones. Removing big stones from wheel is pretty important.. With horse yes. It is amasing how horse and väkipyörä and prope ropes can move pretty massive strones. With PURILAS you only need more fallen trees if purilas broke.

[@FlyTyer1948]

Vaki sounds similar to the animistic beliefs of native peoples in many parts of the world. We are another part of the world around us & related to all earth elements & beings. It is our responsibility to care for it.

[@atypicalaspie7208]

Here's my fairly literal translation of a segment from Mythologia Fennica (1789) mentioning väki: “The Harlot Mistress of Pohjola, Old woman Lowehetar, With her back leaned into the wind, Arse facing bad weather, Assuredly became pregnant, Barren turned fertile-wombed; Thence was sated, Thence was filled, Thence was impregnated, And grew heavy = = = Spawned nine sons, From the might* of one belly = = =” * I translated väki as 'might'.

[@kallejotoksella8743]

It all gathers and comes together in the meaning of the Crowds. As people gather together, they have force and power like military. Or as animals get together in herd or horde they have power as they get more dangerous... And as water gather from drops to flows and lakes, it get more powerful... Although 'vedenväki' can also mean crowds that live in there, like fish, crabs, mussel and clams.

[@James_5959]

This is all very interesting stuff. Thumbs up!

[@grimmreaper3241]

Väkivalta while translated as violence its literal translations would Be Folk/People-Power/Charge/Lead

[@asjaosaline5987]

In estonia there is similar thing even world is Similar we have VÄGI roughtly it means internal power or life force. in our mythology it is accoieated with our Heroes Like Kalevipoeg, Suur Tõll or Tasuja=Avenger

[@Mr-Cane]

Im sure you konw Ilmatar for Kalevala, but what about Maatar, Tuletar and Vedetär? All i know about that each of four represent one of four major elements and are somewhat like representative/spokesperson from their own elements or something similar.🤔 Ilmatar=ilma, air Maatar= maa, earth Tuletar= tuli,fire Vedetär= vesi,water

[@buKzone]

Tää jäbbis on käyny ne läpi jo ajat sitten..

[@nirrieeva4239]

Interesting beginning in this subject matter

[@sabithasajan5564]

Relaxing music

[@tinycrimester]

i remember hearing about "kirkonväki", spirits who would congregate to hold their own rituals in churches at night. they're not ghosts, at least not human, or at least not the ancestors of currently living Finns.

[@jessemclinden9789]

Not control…influence…the weather. Especially with…Conscious Intent.

[@xollo397]

I got a hunch that at old times people shared same values and they had same definitions to things(objective definitions). so they could trust every member of the tribe 100% without fear or hesitation what so ever. Everybody saw others as equals in every sense and that made their bond so strong that it can be seen as spiritual bond "haltija" guardian spirit. You could say they were all perfectly enlightened beings in the circumstances where they lived, but when threatened. They responded with wrath so great it is hard to comprehend. Haltija = Buddha = Holy Spirit.

[@SakuTiainen]

And then we have "väkijuoma"!

[@Tuulihaukka]

Väkivahva

[@sandels2000]

Spirits and/or sprii. No explanation, but I like to drink väkijuoma

[@mehsatunnainen9726]

Have you heard the song "Vallat ja väet" by CMX? It's a complicated one, but I think you might appreciate. For me the first things that come to mind with the word väki are väki = people, spirits väkijuoma = strong alcohol väkipyörä = torque wheel in a machine väkivalta = (literally governing by force) = (actually) violence

[@MrBanaanipommi]

you should try to watch an episode of madventures Suomi, where they get deeper into the spirit of väki and the mythology with a shaman/witch

[@ItsAweeb]

interesting i always liked to think that its closer to shamanistic spirits or japanese kamis

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

When I drink väkiviina it seems I become possesed and next morning I feel like a dark cloud is following me for hours. I don't understand. What does this mean? Was I too greedy and made the väki of viina angry?

[@sabithasajan5564]

Basically the power system of Finnish Mythology

[@Eternalnight198]

There are so many other meanings. "Väki" can also refer to physical strength. Finnish Finnish

[@samelikortesniemi89]

This was an interesting video

[@Tuttijaba]

There was also väki called väki of the church.

[@JainMonroe]

hey there is one more and it is Metsän väki (forest väki) and every time you go into the woods you have to let them know that you are coming

[@aaronstavern]

I have heard this from a few hunters here in Finland, possibly the same thing? One hunter told me he leaves a sort of "offering" to the forest spirit before proceeding

[@WildWoodsGirl65]

Yes, you greet them with affection and respect, and pause, acknowledge you are entering their place, their home, and go in right minded, right mood, observant, calm, quiet but not secretive, and careful of the plants and animals & all else living there. Ask & inform before taking (& not just suddenly taking, like the knocking on a tree), honor the spirit of anything you gather there, and give something back to the forest, with thanks. And never take all or most of anything but it is not just for you, and some must be left for animals and birds and to grow or create more.

[@vidalcuervo8257]

nice and instructing video. I like what you do. Just a precision in this video : you say "mana in hinduism" is similar to väki and chi. You probably meant "prana". Mana is a polynesian word to render pretty much the same idea of life-force. Prana is the sanskrit word for that selfsame idea

[@hextatik_sound]

Here's a good song about the subject: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4a6mINsZ9uceqc

[@aaronstavern]

I'll take a look now!

[@GeneralCalculus]

I've thought that "Väki" is less like "chi" and more like "kami". But perhaps I understand things less than I thought. lol

[@turpasauna]

As a Finn I feel like this too. "Väki" simply translates as "folk", so I think about not only animals and such but also small kami-like creatures.

[@Kaarlo]

Kirkkoväki; dead people buried in to cemetary around the church. "Do not disturb the kirkkoväki, or they might rise from their graves and follow you home..."

[@herrakaarme]

Water was seen as eternal, so folks that practiced electrolysis were considered blasphemous heretics.

[@jussikuusela7345]

It was not understood that the separated components would soon find their way back together as water ;B)

[@thomasfloyd3146]

Hey Irish in finland its your boy finn in Detroit.i have a topic for u that is very interesting but might not make u to popular with your Swedish neighbors.habe u heard of the rurikid dynasty or family d.n.a study.in conclusion it states that ruriks father was of a finnish line.alot of finns have always believed that rurik.was finnish and in my mind this is proof but being that the swedes ruled finland well u know history is written by the victors.there is supporting evidence but utube isn't paying me so look into it.i will help if I can

[@aaronstavern]

I will for sure look into that! Very interesting 👌🏻

[@thomasfloyd3146]

The interesting thing is if rurik was a finn then more then likely the rus were a tribe of finns.

[@tsud165]

@@thomasfloyd3146 Rurik was from the Mälar region, Which had a sizable Finnish population in those times. Finns were a majority at some point there. 70% of the graves in Birka, have one or more items that originate in Finland.

[@thomasfloyd3146]

@@tsud165 is that were they believe the rus were from

[@paju4140]

Where do you get all your information? There's really not much info about finnish mythology/paganism out there...

[@quintessence5310]

Looking at the etymology, northern country shamans i.e. of the Laplands may have called themselves Vaki as well. This is probably where their Norse neighbors get the term "Vitki" from....

[@Vc16733]

I read somwhere that vaki may also mean race of haltijas(some kind of fairies) so is there any truth to that.

[@rrsjr]

Voima?

[@neuthral]

Väki-juoma = koskenkorva, vodka ect.

[@sabithasajan5564]

Mana is from Polynesia paganism not Hinduism. in Hinduism it's called "prana" but yeah I believe all these things are just different names given by different cultures to a single Energy.

[@sabithasajan5564]

Animals from Finnish Mythology sounds like Pokémons lol.

[@samimiettinen5539]

Väki are the fey

[@SiiriCressey]

Did I miss something? Why would eating deer brains cause nightmares, etcetera?

[@aaronstavern]

if any of us eat brains it can cause us to go mad (prion diseases) I think people back then noticed this and linked it with a bad spirit been inside someone who has ate brain

[@SiiriCressey]

@@aaronstavern I had the same thought (but I think that's just with human brains). I've eaten brains with no I'll effects. Anyways, I was wondering what the ancient Finn's specific reasoning was. Was it just for deer brain?

[@WildWoodsGirl65]

​​@@SiiriCressey It is taboo bc it steals a vital part of their spirit. It is different than using the venison or sinew, antlers, or fur. For the vaki to enter the collective vaki the head itself has to remain intact. A skull can only be used if found & then only for very sacred old old things by certain healers. The video explains the sacredness of the deer, among forest spirits. Deer is a protector and teacher, strong and gentle yet fierce if need be for protecting the others. The Deer Mother is a sacred being among northern peoples including at least some Finns, if not all. And it's a matter of respect. But it is the brain that is aware & it disrespects the taking of that deer. It is important to treat any animal taken with great respect and honor their spirit or it affects your own spirit, to become hard and lose conscience and empathy which are strengths. And we don't waste any of it, but that part is not to be dishonored. It offends the collective vaki, that which is hated in all things, all beings that have passed but are still remembered & so, present. ... They noticed it was not good, people who did this had a colder attitude, less respect for life which affected the community & life, & also the environment. It prevents greed & thoughtlessness. And those things are important still, not just in ancient societies. It is not just a deer's brain but that is the largest animal hunters most often would hunt. And not the strongest, not the biggest rack, bc part of it is knowing to leave the strongest or you weaken the herd, and so those who might not make it through winter, instead & that's wiser. No photos, no trophies, acknowledgment & gratitude, & some still have a practice for thanking the deer's spirit, not just there but in other cultures too, so that it is at peace & can join the deer spirits, & vaki of the forest. Bc it gave us survival. It has given us strength & life, without taking the brain, its consciousness too. Instinctively it feels wrong & sick when you are raised with the forest as sacred. It's taking excess & it's disrespectful. That is why. I had to phrase it to accurately answer your question. This is what I was taught.

[@SiiriCressey]

@@WildWoodsGirl65 Thank you. There are several hunters in my extended Finnish-American family. They hunt for food, not trophies, so I think I quite understand what you mean. Are you a Finn?

[@WildWoodsGirl65]

@@SiiriCressey I was raised by my maternal grandmother & among her generation. My parents were there, but mom was busier, & so it's my gram & elder cousins that were around a lot, & my dad was Algonquian but he & Gram would talk about these things & frankly the beliefs were very much alike. They might different ways but it would be for the same reason... So this fascinated them, & me, & they talked a lot about it & I would ask questions so they'd teach me. & I think all the more bc it never occurred to my sister or cousins to ask or be interested. My grandmother was first generation here, Sami & her cousins Finn & Sami she'd grown up with, together, beside. She knew more of Finn ways than Sami. Her Sami parent didn't talk much but all the other adults had, and they were Suomi, Finn. Dad believed almost exactly the same, but Natives can use brain tanning for the hide. He didn't. Most don't anymore. He'd take it to the "glover's." He adopted her way, for her. She was a very strong person but very gentle. She didn't ask him to. Just the kind of wise, kind, person people automatically feel akin to & care about. And it smells really bad!

[@pcpasix]

Väkiviina is chi!

[@中隐于市]

This is very interesting. Vaki or life force is still existent I think but much thinner than what it was before a long time ago. I suspect different measures were put in place over time to reduce the abundance of Vaki to limit human/animal potential. The video talks about animals possessing Vaki, which is true from Asian perspectives too. Animals arguably relied on Vaki way more to reach their potential than us. They are helpless in the face of human means without Vaki. If Vaki were to be abundant again, I believe all animals will be liberated and be able to easily defend themselves against human prey enabled by mechanical methods.

[@arthurfodor9841]

kittos

[@akaittou]

I'm very curious what your source on väki being a force similar to chi or mana is, because it goes against everything I've learned in practicing Finnish paganism. The old faith was fully animistic, so describing väki as "life force" seems somewhat misleading - though I appreciate that you didn't leave it there and actually did include that väki is/are the spirits of everything. Rather than an ephemeral force, väki have always been a kind of... capricious unseen "people" that can be convinced into cooperation with the right gifts and words just as one might negotiate with a neighbour. Sentient in a manner very distinct from something like chi.

[@aaronstavern]

No sources, just trying to make an easy to digest parallel for the viewer who probably has no idea what it is, now I want to know where do you get your sources on the "old faith" because it's a struggle to find and also anyone who I've talked to seems to have none and it's just a best guess

[@akaittou]

@@aaronstavern Unfortunately we're in the same boat then, since rather than easily referenced and distinct sources my knowledge base is built on roughly twenty years' worth of scraping together bits and pieces from all over the place, along with chasing the origins of a few specific beliefs passed down in my family. It's why I was so curious on whether you had some source I've missed - drawing such a sure direct parallel to a power like chi that fuels life rather than being alive on its own is enough of a leap from what I know that I thought you might have come across something, and figured there'd be value in asking, even if it's an older video. A little sad to hear that you have no hidden nugget of gold to share after all, but I'm starting to resign myself that this is just how things regarding the old faith are. Thank you so much for responding :D

[@WildWoodsGirl65]

It's hereditary beliefs with much lost to time & conversion. Values & traditions & things people might call folkways are kept. Religion & rituals from way back aren't documented & weren't carried forward - as far as we know. (I mean, I think it's correct to say it's not known but I can't speak for everyone.) Families, often an older person unconcerned what others might think (bc it's not "modern," & bc it was not seen as ok, often for lengths of time!) teach the way of thinking, little things that could safely be carried forward, what is sacred & how to respect it, symbols, songs, designs, teaching stories, herbal medicine... the spirituality behind it, that feeling it brings too. We don't have a pantheon & a religious text or others writing down observed rituals, but we have the nature beliefs bc those threatened no regime or organized religion, offended no powers, etc. & weren't seen as false or superstitious. They're about living in harmony, survival skills & good attitude. Those parts are the heart of it, bc attitude is everything. The things humans do to practice that vary, but the attitude behind it, is why it's good for us, healthy, & good for all other living things. If we lost all respect for the earth & other life we'd harm ourselves too, and do. So in that way, we've kept the essential part & more people are seeking it in multiple cultures. I found these by watching videos on nearby cultures bc I didn't think we had any. Thank you that we do. KZbin showed me bc they group topics that way. I only had what my Gram taught me that her father taught her, & a half Sami / half Suomi older lady, her distant cousin, I knew as a child. Come to think of it I'll bet I combined the two cultures. But again what's sacred is similar bc the reasons for it are survival & harmony I guess I could call it bc I don't have the word, in the language.