Aleksander Heintalu
Aleksander Heintalu | |
|---|---|
 Aleksander Heintalu in 1982 | |
| Born | May 31, 1941 |
| Died | August 19, 2015 (aged 74) |
| Other names | Vigala Sass, Aleksander Rassadkin |
| Education | Estonian University of Life Sciences |
| Occupations | Agriculturist, writer |
| Known for | Alternative medicine, Estonian neopaganism |
Aleksander Heintalu (also known as Vigala Sass; until 1974, Aleksander Rassadkin; 31 May 1941 – 19 August 2015[1]) was an Estonian agriculturist, who, in addition to his botanical knowledge, spent time examining herbs in Siberia and the Far East.[2]. He practiced herbalism and alternative medicine.[2] He was also known for his participation in and popularization of Estonian neopaganism.[3] He was born in Tartu. In 1981, he graduated from the Estonian University of Life Sciences, then known as the Estonian Agricultural Academy.[2]
In May 1990, on the 350th anniversary of the death of the healer and accused witch Kongla Ann, a memorial stone was unveiled in Viru-Nigula. The ceremony was done to restore the spiritual dignity of the accused and to honor her as a symbol of dissenters who kept Estonian traditions alive. As a member of the native religion Maausk, Heintalu (known then by the name Vigala Sass) led a loits (a public incantation or spell)[4] at the ceremony. Before Estonia gained independence, those practising their native religion openly were often doing so as a form of protest because of the enforced atheism and cultural leveling that occurred during the Soviet era.
Works
- Kuldjuure (Rhodiola rosea L.) agrotehnika Eesti NSV-s [Agrotechnics of Golden Root (Rhodiola rosea L.) in the Estonian SSR] (1988)
- Minu raviraamat [My Book of Healing] (series, 1991–1993)
- Estide (tšuudide) hingestatud ilm (2001) [The Soulful World of the Ests (Chudes)]
- Sassi raviraam (2003) [Sass's Book of Healing]
- Taimeravi põhitõed (2005) [Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine]
- Estide (tšuudide) hingestatud ilm II (2007) [The Soulful World of the Ests (Chudes) II]
References
- ↑ "In memoriam" (PDF). folklore.ee. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Heintalu, Aleksander - Eesti Entsüklopeedia". entsyklopeedia.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ↑ "Mina olen Vigala Sass". arhiiv.err.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.