There is an old legend in Croatia.
There was a tree. Tree was ancient and strong. Unlike many other things, the older it got stronger it became. In the treetop, the sun shined. Fruits grew and green leaves covered everything. There lived Perun, large God with big white beard and big muscles who commanded anything light touched, even light itself bended to his wishes.
Under the earth, where the roots are, hidden from sight where light rarely passed through lived Veles. He always wanted to live in the treetop among the light, but Perun and his strongmen chased him away because he was too ugly for the heavens. Veles commanded everything under the Earth, every soul that left a body was his to judge.
One day, he decided he had it. Being king of the dead, he thought was unfair. He still remembered that short moment when warm sunlight touched his cheeks. It was unfair, he decided. He will steal Peruns bride to be to teach him what it’s like not to be able to have something you want.
Veles joined with serpents and wolves and marched the treetops. He stole Peruns bride and ran...
He ran and traveled the Earth. Perun followed him, throwing thunder at his feet. His anger and cries of despair brought storms and rain to everyone on the planet.
One day, Veles slipped on the humid road and Perun struck him with his bolt. He carried his bride to be to the treetop.
Storms and thunders vanished and sun shone on the good Earth….
… And below it, among the roots and snakes Veles cursed and sworn ”Until next time."
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It was then that I realised I was a bit weird. I sympathised with Veles. And if research is right, so did the old slavs. For them, Veles and Perun were necessities. A tree can not live without its treetop or its roots. It needs both. A tree cannot live without sunshine or rain. In a similar fashion, they believed that there is a duality in every man. Powerful Perun, and smart Veles.
It is what I thought as well. For me Veles is everything I do artistically, when I stay home to paint and write, and Perun is the me who socialises and goes out on dinners and hangs out with friends. And I always had trouble combining one with the other. I call myself an artist reluctantly when chased into a corner, but I still don’t know who I am…. Do I live in the treetops or among the snakes?