During the weekend of Midyear 11th through 13th, 2243 Runic Era, members and friends of the Asatru Alliance gathered at a private campground near Payson, AZ to conduct a formal Thing, a Tyr Blot, Feast, Sumbel, as well as other ceremonies of the Folk.
After months of preparation by the Arizona Kindred, the gate to the Thing grounds opened at 12 Noon on Friggasday. Within moments there was a flurry of activity as guests proceeded to set up their camps for the weekend. Soon the ritual grounds were prepared, with World Tree's new dragon tent forming the backdrop for the stalli used in the blot. Many colorful Kindred banners were hung from the trees, flapping with pride in the afternoon breeze. As the stalli and the grounds were prepared in anticipation of the blot, more guests were registered and making ready for the day's activities.
After the Tyr Banner of the Asatru Alliance was hung proudly behind the stalli, the Folk assembled and the Blot began. Valgard officiated as Allsherjargothi for the day and opened the Blot with an invocation to the High God Tyr for justice at the Thing, and courage and fortitude to face life's struggles in the months ahead. Specially brewed and sanctified mead was offered as a symbol of our devotion and solidarity with the Holy Ones, and then the blessing of the assembled Folk followed. During the time for toasts and oaths to Tyr, weapon steel was blessed and sanctified by the sword, Tyr's Justice. Valgard was assisted by Gothi, Robert Taylor, in this most unique and holy of ceremonies of the Folk. During the conclusion of the Blot, Tyr was invited to remain with us for the Thing and the duration of the assembly. Many were said to have felt His presence that weekend. At the conclusion of the Blot, preparations were made in earnest to convene the Thing.
After a short break, Thing Speaker, Idunn Worley, convened the Thing. At the roll call of delegates, Valgard Murray came forward to represent Arizona Kindred, Oak Thorgeir for Vinland Kindred, and Robert Taylor for Wulfing Kindred. Jeff Copeland of Yggdrassil Kindred, was delegate for the non-Alliance Kindreds present. Following the seating of delegates, the Thing Speaker read letters submitted to the Thing. Greetings and best wishes were heard from Alliance Kindreds, and from Heimgest, Director of the Court of Gothar of the Odinic Rite. New business was then presented to the Thing, the proposed new By Laws of the Alliance were read, discussed and then passed with three ayes and one abstention. The upcoming Viking Days outreach project hosted by Wotan's Kindred was discussed, and the Alliance voted to grant $400 to promoting this project. Oak Thorgeir mentioned the personal losses incurred by Bill Bainbridge to bring Freya Aswynn to Vinland earlier in the year, and the Alliance woted $50 to Bill to help defray his costs. Valgard then promoted his plan to bring Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson to the next AlThing as a guest of the Alliance. This project was to be funded by a special promotion Thorr's Hammer offered by World Tree, at no cost to the Alliance, or participating members at the next AlThing. Valgard's proposal was accepted by the Thing, and the following week, Jeff Redmond while attending the AlThing at Thingvellir, personally extended the Alliance invitation to Sveinbjorn, and he accepted. Full details of this project and the next AlThing will be presented in the next issue of Vor Tru. Following this announcement, Arizona Kindred agreed to host the next AlThing at the same site in the Fall of 2244.
As Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance, Valgard then presented the Financial Statement of the Alliance to the Thing. He explained that the publication and distribution of Vor Tru met with a slight loss during the past year. He suggested that subscription prices, and the current size of Vor Tru be maintained for the time being, and at the next Thing he may suggest applying for a Bulk Rate permit with the Post Office to maintain current subscription rates. It is vital that Vor Tru remain affordable to all of those who wish news of the Asatru Community, as well as the other information offered within Vor Tru's pages.
Following the Financial Statement, there was no new business brought before the Thing. The Thing Speaker then called for any old business, as there was none, she then called for formal adjournment, this was voted upon, and the Thing was then closed.
Preparations were then made for the evening meal, which was an informal affair with grilled hamburgers, potato salad, beans, chips, and dessert. When the cooks yelled ready, a horde of hungry AsaFolk sat down to a welcome respite from the day's chores. There was then a break in the schedule until dusk, then the call to sacred Sumbel was made.
A fire of oak and cedar was then made in the fire ring at the ritual site. Sacred mead was brought forward by the Mead Brewer's Guild, and then duly blessed and sanctified by the Gothi. Laurel Olsen was asked to assist as Valkyrie, and the Sumbel began. Valgard poured wisdom's mead into the large bear clan horn and offered it to Odinn in his many names and guises. The valkyrie then offered a drink to each in turn in the circle. The three traditional rounds were made, the first toasts to the Gods and Goddesses of our Folk, the second in memory of kinsmen, heroes, and ancestors, the third round a boast, toast, song, poem, or other word of the moment was offered, the Sumbel then ended with a formal blessing of the Holy Aesir and Vanir. Most of the assembled stayed around the welcome fire until late in the night. Homemade mead and ale was offered by the brewers and gladly shared by the Folk. Rousing conversation, music and dance, and some fire leaping was the order of the night. Eventually the grove was quiet, and much needed rest was sought by all.
Early Saturday morning, members of the Arizona Kindred prepared an all you could eat breakfast to benefit the Kindred's land fund. Duly reinforced, many marched down to the meadow to participate in the Ninth Annual Viking Games. There were activities for all ages. Light and heavy axe throwing, spear throw, light and heavy caber toss, pillage and cut course. To highlight the day's games, an old fashioned tug of war was was held, with about forty people divided up into two teams, the struggle commenced. I very much believe that the two teams gave it everything that they had, but the one team with the preponderance of grizzled old men prevailed.
During and after the games, the free market was open. Asatru artists and vendors displayed their wares in front of the magnificent Gokstad type tent of World Tree. The new AlThing tee shirts were on sale for the first time, as well as Thor Taylor's unique Asatru buttons, Dagaz's amber, and Kimberly Swanson's runic jewelry. The World Tree tables were there as well, and included the numerous texts written by Thor Sheil of Trollwise Press. Many thanks to all of you who supported the vendors with your purchases.
The next big event of the day was the formal Feast, and preparations were begun in late afternoon. The cook fires were lit, and the aroma of mesquite broiled beef and ham steak filled the grove. When the meal was ready, a mighty blast from the horn brought the Folk together for sacred Feast. In keeping with tradition, toasts were made to the Holy Aesir and Vanir, and then a formal Hammer Blessing of the assembled food and gathered host was performed by Valgard. Now it was time to line up, load your platter, and enjoy a classic Viking Feast. Meats, salads, veggie trays, breads, and desserts were enjoyed by all, homemade beers, ales, mead, and other beverages were provided to compliment the meal. During the Feast the drawing was held for the Viking sword, crafted by Kirby Wise, and raffled off to benefit the Arizona Kindred's land fund. With almost 100 tickets sold, the winner was; Ivan, gothi in training of Norseman Kindred. I'd like to offer a special thanks to all of you who supported the Kindred in this most worthy fund raising project.
Following the sword raffle, the winners of the Viking Games were announced and called forward to recieve their ribbons. In the spear throw; Men's- Glen Martin, Women's- Kristine King, Children's- Thor Taylor. Heavy Axe; Glen Martin, Light Axe; Boy's- Thor Taylor, Girl's- Alisha Weathers. Pillage and Cut; Men's- Glen Martin, Women's- Mary Horvath, Children's- Ivy Murray. Ribbons were then presented to all participants in recognition of their efforts and determination to compete. An overall woman's trophy was donated by Trisha Hedin, which was a nice hand carved Viking statue, and the overall men's winner trophy was a nice Tyr Rune tee shirt donated by World Tree. Following the awards presentation, the Alliance held its annual fund raising auction for the general fund. The auctioneer was Valgard, and many items, too numerous to list were donated to the auction by the Folk present. The bidding was hot and heavy, and in the end, netted over $300 for the Alliance. Many thanks for the generous donations and bids.
After the auction, there were numerous ceremonies of the Folk, a divorce was granted Carleen Ryan from Ornolf Volden. A name giving ceremony for the child of Mr. aand Mrs. John Werther, and a ritual name was given to Bill Walker. A pickup truck was Hammer blessed for a safe journey back to New York for John Andolina, and a few other requests were made as well.
The last official event of the evening was the Mead Brewers Competition. As the Brewers brought out their best to be judged, the usual small army of mead hogs appeared. In true brewers fashion, after the esteemed judges had their way with the mead, it was then offered to our friends. A total of 8 brewers brought 12 meads to the contest. The esteemed judging panel poured, looked at, sniffed, scratched, and actually tasted each and every one of them. As always, the decisions were hard, and a second sampling was often in order. But after all was tasted and done, the clear cut First Place winner was; Bob and Karen Taylor for their exquisite Amber-Apple Mead. It came with a profesionally produced label, was crystal clear, highly aromatic with good bite, medium tilt as well. A fine mead. The recipe will be listed in the Brewer Guild section of Vor tru. There was a tie for second place between Valgard's Lithuanian Freedom (raspberry mead) and Susan Darling's Mountain Scream (citrus mead). Robert was presented with a Birch Rune tee shirt donated by World Tree, and Susan was presented with a honey bee necklace also from World Tree. With the cleaning up of the rest of the contest mead by the assenbled. This concluded the activities of the evening. Many stayed up around the campfire for talk and general socializing. As at all such gatherings, many of the Folk stayed up until the wee hours of the morning.
On Sunnasday morning, the Arizona Kindred produced another breakfast for the Thing goers, this one was on the house. After breakfast, there was a brief Greetings to Sunna ritual which formally ended the AlThing. It was now time for the difficult task of clean up, breaking camp, and heading home, for some thousands of miles. Farewells were said, and the Folk went their seperate ways. Until we meet again.
On the balance sheet it was a great AlThing. The weather was pleasant, cool nights with warm days. No rain. We had almost 70 AsaFolk in attendance from 8 Kindreds sending delegates. The rituals were well attended and well recieved. A high level of participation in the Games, and most importantly, everyone made it home safely. Details of the next AlThing will be released in the next issue of Vor Tru.
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