The Matronae Dervonae (Oak Mothers)

Beneath Drus, the World Tree, dwell the Matronae Dervonae, the Oak Mothers, who hold the sacred power to govern the span of mortal lives. These goddesses do not impose a fixed path upon each soul but instead oversee the potentialities of life, allowing the actions of mortals to shape the course of their own destiny. The Matronae guide the threads of life, embodying the cyclical and mysterious nature of fate while still granting space for personal agency.

The Three Oak Mothers

Snitātis, the Spinner, presides over the beginning of life. With her distaff, she spins the threads of existence from the unseen forces of the cosmos. Each soul, each life, is a new thread, infused with the potential for growth, experience, and wisdom. As the spinner, Snitātis represents the birth of life, the spark of creation, and the possibilities that lie ahead in every mortal journey.
Messātis, the Measurer, governs the passage of time within each life. Using her rod, she carefully measures the length of each thread, determining the span of life. She symbolizes the course of destiny as it unfolds—moments of growth, joy, hardship, and learning. Yet, the length of the thread is not rigidly fixed. Through one’s actions, the quality of life is shaped, for better or worse, even though the passage of time is inevitable.
Scerātis, the Separator, oversees the end of life. She cuts the thread, determining the final moment of a person’s journey. Her act of severing is both inevitable and mysterious, marking the soul’s return to the flow of the cosmos. However, the nature of one’s departure—whether peaceful or tumultuous—reflects the culmination of the life lived and the wisdom accumulated along the way.

Guardians of Cosmic Order

The Matronae Dervonae are not only weavers of fate but also guardians of cosmic balance. They dwell in a place between order and chaos, ensuring that the universe flows according to its natural rhythms while allowing each soul to exercise its will. Though they guide the thread of life, they do not control how mortals use their span. Instead, they observe, silently allowing each individual to craft their own destiny within the framework of time and space.

Each of the Matronae reflects an aspect of life’s journey:

Snitātis represents the beginning and potential,
Messātis signifies the flow and measurement of one’s choices and experiences,
Scerātis embodies the completion and transition to the next phase of existence.

Together, they craft the web of life, ensuring that balance is maintained within the ever-turning wheel of creation. These Oak Mothers remind us of the delicate interplay between fate and free will, and the sacredness of the choices we make as we walk our path beneath the World Tree.