Albanian Spiritualism

Albanian spirituality is a spiritual way of life which combines being down to earth, having an element of autistic straight forwardness, having a calm and relaxed face because you have faith, believing in God and living like a shepherd – walking in solitude on meadows, playing the flute, leading your sheep (simila to Christ who lead his flock) and being connected to Nature. This particular philosophy was developed by yours truly – Petrit Latifi.

Albanian Spirituality includes the following characteristics

1. Living like a Shepherd occasionally, where solitude on the meadow becomes meditation
2. Relaxed face and eyes as one is protected by divine power (God)
3. Honour as a quality, and always speaking the truth
4. Honoring ancestors
5. Honoring heroes who sacrificed themselves
6. Carrying on the legacy of ones predecessors
7. Independence – being independent and self-sustaining
8. Maintaining folkloric customs and traditions and refusing secular assimilation
9. Maintaining and speaking the Albanian language
10. Respect for other Albanians religious beliefs, as Albanians identify through heritage and language, and not religion

Neo-Albanianism and Neo-Illyrism (Illyrianism)

These two philosophies combine Albanian paganism, Illyrian and Dardanian traditions and mountainous tribal culture in order to create a new typ of Albanian culture free from Abrahamitism. Instead focus lay on Albanian autochtonous cultue, ancient myths, Albanian mysticism and Albanian logocentrism (identification through language and heritage).

Albanian Ancestor Worship

Albanians have since ancient times worshipped ancestors. Strength lay in the sacrifice of brave forefathers who fought and resisted invaders and imperial forces seeking to dominate over the Albanian tribes. The ancestors lived on through oral folklore, and songs were written and sung in their names. Though Albanians never “worshipped” ancestors in the sacrilegious way, compared to other cultures, they were were still remembered as a source of strength, pride and honor.

Albanian Spirituality has several archetypes.

One of them is the Albanian Shepherd – being one of the oldest archetypes in mans psyche, this archetype fits the Albanian psyche. Albanians have had the shepherd in their collective unconscious since time immemorial. Be it during the Illyrian era or during the medieval times, the Albanian shepherd archetype allowed for a truly independent and free pastoralist businessman. With his sheep and goats, the Albanian could roam free, trade fur and milk, wear his own clothes, and be free from imperial taxes or control.

The other is the Albanian Hero – Albanian culture and history is full of histories of men and women who sacrificed themselves for the greater good.

The third is the fierce Albanian Woman – Albanian history is full of stories of strong Albanian women, warriors like the Amazon women, who inspired their men and maintained the Albanian family structure.

God in Neo-Albanian or Neo-Illyrian culture

God in the old Illyrian world often meant the belief in Life, the Sun, Light and Nature. It was only after Abrahamitism was introduced in the early medieval era that Albanian tribes began to believe in a Semitic monotheistic God. Though this God eventually became fundamental in the Albanian psyche, the ancient belief in God was more directed towards Nature. Nevertheless, the Albanian saying “The earth belongs to God” shows that Albanians were in a way more “spiritual” than they were religious. They believed that this world truly belongs to God and not churches, imperiums or kings.

This philosophy could be part of:

Albanian Monotheistic Creationism: ultimate ownership and sovereignty rest with the one God, implying human responsibility/accountability.

Albanian Deism: supreme intelligent being (God) designed and created the universe, including Earth, but may not intervene actively afterward.

Albanian Panentheism: God is in all things (immanent) while also transcending them. The earth is part of or indwelt by the Divine, so it “belongs” in a participatory sense (seen in some process philosophy or certain mystical traditions.

Albanian Animism

Albanian Animism is a philosophy where all things are believed to have a “shpirt” (soul, from latin “spiritus”). All things were considered to be “alive”. It is thus not strange to think that the ancestors of the Albanians believed in some kind of animism.

Illyrian-Arbër Paganism or Illyrian-Arberian Paganism

Borrowed text

Illyrian-Arbër paganism is the most appropriate name for a branch of ancient Illyrian-Albanian beliefs with roots that extend to Illyrian mythology, respectively to Paleobalkan mythology.

Arbër paganism continued to develop even after the penetration of Christian elements into medieval Arbër society.

Over time, it was replaced by Christianity and was forgotten during the Christianization of the Arbër lands.

The same situation continued even after the Islamization of the Albanians. Contemporary scholars have managed to reconstruct some aspects of Arbër paganism with data from folklore, historical linguistics, archeology, toponymy and data left by other Balkan peoples.

Arbër paganism was transmitted through oral culture and not through codified texts. The old Illyrian religion was more focused on ritual practice, with kings and chieftains playing a central role in performing public acts of sacrifice.

At that time, various cult spaces and locations were used; initially, outdoor spaces such as groves, rivers and lakes were typically chosen.

Arbër paganism inherited the genre of the Indo-European epic narrative about ancient warriors (the Kreshnike Kangët), a tradition shared with ancient Greece, classical India, early medieval England,
medieval Germany and the South Slavs.

Albanian folk beliefs also preserved the typical Indo-European tradition of deities located in the highest and most inaccessible mountains (Mount Tomor), deities of the sky, lightning, weather and fire.

Zojzi, Perëndi, Shurdhi, Blindti, Enji, Votra, Nëna e Votraës), the legend “Daughter of the Sun and the Moon” (E Bija e Mëna e Solënës), “myths of the snake killing” and “fire in the water” (Drangoi and Kulshedra), the goddesses of Fate and Destiny (Zana, Ora, Fati, Mira) the divine Twins (Muji and Halili) and the guardian of the gates of the underworld (the three-headed dog that never sleeps).

What do other sources say about Albanian paganism?

“Illyrian paganism represents the popular belief system of the Illyrians before the arrival of the Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Islam) in this region. The Illyrians practiced a form of polytheistic theism, worshiping various deities associated with nature and daily life. An important part of this paganism included the cult of the sun, moon, serpent and stars. Goddesses representing nature and fertility, as well as those associated with war and protection, are also part of this tradition.

With the advent of Christianity, many of the pagan beliefs were gradually replaced by new religious doctrines. Illyrian paganism continued to develop even after the penetration of Christian elements into medieval Albanian society. Over time, it was replaced by Christianity and was forgotten during the Christianization of Albanian lands.

The same situation continued even after the Islamization of Albanians. Contemporary scholars have managed to reconstruct some aspects of Illyrian paganism with data from folklore, historical linguistics, archaeology, toponymy, and data collected from other Balkan peoples.

Summary

Illyrian paganism and later Arbër paganism were transmitted through oral culture rather than through codified texts. The old Illyrian religion was more focused on ritual practice, with kings and chiefs playing a central role in performing public acts of sacrifice. At that time, various cult spaces and locations were used; initially, outdoor spaces such as groves, rivers, and lakes were typically selected.

Arbër paganism inherited the genre of the Indo-European epic narrative about ancient warriors (Kângët Kreshnike), a tradition shared with ancient Greece, classical India, early medieval England, medieval Germany, and the South Slavs. Albanian folk beliefs also preserved the typical Indo-European tradition of deities located on the highest and most inaccessible mountains (Mount Tomor), deities of the sky, lightning, weather, and fire.

Zojzi, Perëndi, Shurdhi, Verbti, Enji, Votra, Nëna e Votrës),[10][11] the legend of the “Daughter of the Sun and the Moon” (E Bija e Mënës dhe e Diellit), the “myths of the snake-killing” and “fire in the water” (Drangoi and Kulshedra), the goddesses of Fate and Destiny (Zana, Ora, Fati, Mira), the divine Twins (Muji and Halili), and the guardian of the gates of the underworld (the three-headed dog that never sleeps).”

References

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Demiraj, Bardhyl (2011). “Rrënjë dhe degë të krishterimit ndër shqiptarë” (PDF). Hylli i Dritës. Shkodër. 2: 58–78.

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Doli, Flamur (2009). “Decoration from the house snake cult belief system, as evidenced in Kosovan vernacular architecture”. Thesis Kosova (në anglisht) (1): 127–144.

Durham, Edith (1928a). High Albania (në anglisht). LO Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0-8070-7035-2.

Durham, Edith (1928b). Some tribal origins, laws and customs of the Balkans (në anglisht).[lidhje e vdekur]

Elsie, Robert (1994). Albanian Folktales and Legends (në anglisht). Naim Frashëri Publishing Company. Arkivuar nga origjinali (pdf) më 2009-07-28.

Elsie, Robert (2001b). Albanian Folktales and Legends (në anglisht). Dukagjini Publishing House.

Elsie, Robert (2001). A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk Culture (në anglisht). London: Hurst & Company. ISBN 1-85065-570-7.

Elsie, Robert (2003). Early Albania: A reader of Historical texts, 11th–17th centuries (në anglisht). Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 9783447047838