Dievturiba

In 1925, Dievturiba was first established, based off ancient Latvian folklore, old folk songs and stories. It is not identical to the beliefs of the ancient Latvians themselves. For example, there is no evidence that the ancients divided their deities into groups of three; in Dievturiba, Dievs, Mara and Laima are a trinity of fate goddesses, for example.

Of primary importance in the early developed of Dievturiba is Ernest Brastins[?] (1892-1942). He was an artist and amateur historian, folklorist and archaeologist. He documented many ancient Latvian temples and castles, writing Index of Mythological Notions of Latvju Dainias[?].

The catechism of of Dievturiba is Catechismus Teoforii[?].

Dievturiba is essentially a monotheistic religion. Other deities are either aspects of the one god, or other types of non-deific spirits. In Dievturiba, severel triumvirates of deities and concepts are recognized.

• Gods of fate, the primary triumvirate
  • Dievs (who is the one monotheistic god and emanates the others as aspect of himself)
  • Laima
  • Mara
• God/esses of water
  • Juras mate
  • Udens mate
  • Upes mate
• Human form
  • astral body (velis)
  • flesh (miesa)
  • soul (dvesele)

The different between dvesele ("soul") and velis ("astral body") is a fine one. The dvesele is eternal. It comes from god (Dievs) and will return to him after the death of the miesa. The velis stays near the body, gradually melting and disappearing over time (similar to the concept of a ghost).