Kalevala rune II

This video presents the first half of the second rune of the Kalevala, in which Väinämöinen lands on a barren island and Sampsa Pellervoinen sows the world’s first forests. The English text is based on William Forsell Kirby’s 1907 translation.

The Kalevala is Finland’s national epic, compiled in the 19th century by Elias Lönnrot from oral poetry, especially from Karelia. It blends myth, history, and folklore into a poetic cycle of creation, heroes, magic, and the shaping of the world.

The Rutimo-raita, the Great Oak

In the Kalevala this immense oak grows so vast it blocks the sun and moon. It echoes world-tree myths everywhere: the Norse Yggdrasil, Siberian rot-aibmo, and Finno-Ugric sky-trees linking heaven, earth, and underworld.

In a modern sense, Rutimo-raita could be seen as the Internet, or even as dependency on it, the endless tree of concepts, the towering trunk of saṃsāra. To fell it is the work of spiritual practice: the axe must be sharp with knowledge and heavy with discipline. Only when the “smallness of mind” is overcome and one grows into true inner strength can the tree be brought down.

This moment is individuation in Jung’s terms, enlightenment in spiritual language, when consciousness breaks free and the sun of awareness shines again. And after this heroic act comes the realization: the branches, fragments, and concepts themselves are not evil – but their meaning is now seen in a transformed light.

Other vocabulary in English (mythic names in the poem, from Kirby 1907)

Jumala
A Finnish word usually meaning “God.” In Kalevala it often refers not to the Christian deity but to a higher cosmic power or fate guiding natural order and creation.

Luonnotar
A mythic female spirit of nature and creation. She is a Mother-figure connected with birthing and shaping the world, embodying natural forces and nurturing Väinämöinen in Kalevala mythology.

Sampsa Pellervoinen
A small youth, earth-born spirit of growth, who scatters seeds across the barren land. He brings forth forests, meadows, and plants, representing fertility and the vital power of vegetation.

Tursas
A mysterious being from the sea, sometimes depicted as a monster or spirit. In this passage he rises from the ocean, sets fire to the hay, and helps the oak-tree to sprout.

Väinämöinen
The wise, ageless sage and central hero of Kalevala. Born of the primordial waters, he is a singer, seer, and culture-bringer, whose deep wisdom and magical songs shape the world’s fate.

Vocabulary in Finnish (katkelman vaikeampia sanoja)

(Suurin osa on poimittu ja mukaeltu lähteestä http://kalevala.finlit.fi/
)

kangas – kuiva metsämaa
selällinen – meren selällä sijaitseva
touko – viljan kylvö
tihittää – tehdä tiheäksi, kylvää
leyhkeä – löyhä, löyhämultainen
pyhä – koskematon
lautua – levetä, laventua
lakka – männyn tuuhea latvus, katos
vuottaa – odottaa
terheninen – suojainen, sumuinen
karhi – heinäkasa
väki – voima, elementti, haltijaväki, jne.
koko – kasa
hasertaa – liikehtiä sinne tänne
inehmo – ihminen
langettoa – kaataa
kave – emo, äiti
miesi – mies
silmän luonti – katse
kynsi – tässä: sorkka
katonut – kadonnut, kuollut
mokoma – sellainen
murska – hauras
teutaroida – liikkua haparoiden
hivus – tukka
syli – vanha pituusmitta
kaation raja – vyötärö
hivellä – hioa
tahkaista – hioa äkkiä
tasa-tere – kirves
siera – hiomakivi, kovasin
lykytellä – astua keveästi, keinahdella
kulleroitella – kävellä keveästi, ripeästi
liehuimet – leveälahkeiset housut
torkahuttaa – kulkea keinuen, keinua
maksankarvainen – maksanvärinen, ruskea
koikahuttaa – astua pitkin säärin
tarpaista – lyödä äkkiä
panu – tuli
lysmyä – taipua
rutimo-raita – suuri mytologinen puu
ruhtoa – murtaa, rusentaa
lasketella – kaataa
suvi – etelä
pirata – singota, lentää
läikkä – aalto, aallokko
läikytellä – keinuttaa, keikutella

Video made with Suno and HailuoAI.