During the weekend of Hunting 7th through 9th, 2244 Runic Era, members and supporters of the Asatru Alliance gathered at a private campground near Payson, AZ to conduct a formal Thing, a Tyr Blot, Formal Feast, Sumbel, and various ceremonies of the Folk.
After months of preparation by the Arizona Kindred, the gate to the Thing grounds opened at Noon on Friggasday. There was an immediate flurry of activity as Asafolk entered the grounds, prepared their camps, and made ready for the Blot which would officially open the AlThing.
Soon the magnificent raven tent of World Tree was raised by the Blot Circle. The grounds were cleaned, and numerous Kindred banners hung from the trees. The stalli was prepared with the Tyr Banner of the Alliance as a backdrop, and this was flanked by two more Tyr banners on each side. Specially brewed mead, sanctified to Tyr, was brought forward, all was ready. Three blasts from the Gjallerhorn summoned the Folk, and the Blot began.
Allsherjargothi for the duraton of the Althing, Valgard Murray, raised the protective shield wall. Then with two swords formed the rune Elhaz, and the rune Tiwaz to summon the holy runic powers for protection and strength. Then holding the sword, Tyr's Justice, high overhead, summoned the ancient Sky God of our ancestors. Calling to Tyr by His many names, the Gothi bid him welcome. Then the sacrificial mead was poured into the ritual horn of the Kindred, and freely offered to the God of courage and the keeper of tribal Law. Not as an appeasement, but freely given in kinship and fidelity, for we are the children of Tyr, and He is our most Holy ancient Father. The sacrifice was accepted, as witnessed by the many of the Folk gathered that day. Tyr poured his blessings and courage into the horn to be shared by the Folk. It in turn made them stronger and braver, so that they can face the Fenris, and delay Ragnarok long enough for the Folk to become strong.
The charged mead was then poured into the bowli, and the Gothi proceeded to bless the Folk. Then the horn was filled anew, and the round of toasts to Asa Tyr began. It is customary at the Tyr Blot for the blessing of weapon steel, to be sanctified in the service of Tyr and the Folk. At this time, Valgard and Tyr Gothi, William Bainbridge, took the oaths offered, touched the steel with Tyr's Justice, and blessed this union of steel with sacred mead. Many weapon oaths were taken that day.
Following this portion of the blot, the bowli mead was poured on the base of a small cedar tree as an offering to the Land Spirits of the grove. The blot was then concluded.
After a short break, the Folk gathered anew for the commencement of the Thing. Thing Speaker, Scottie McMurry, officially opened the Thing with an invocation to Tyr as God of the Thing, and the keeper of Tribal Law and administrator of justice for the Folk. He then called for the seating of Alliance delegates. Valgard Murray representing Arizona Kindred, and Oak Thorgeir representing Vinland Kindred were recognized and seated. From the floor, eight other Kindreds were present, many of them would soon petition the the Thing for full Kindred status. It has been a long-standing tradition of the Thing, to allow Folk in attendance who were not officially in the Alliance, a voice at Thing procedings. This is done in the true spirit of tribal democracy, which is only practiced by the Asatru Alliance.
The Thing delegates of record voted to allow for the formation of two ad hoc Kindreds with a representative elected to vote at the Thing. After a short deliberation by the members of the eight Kindreds, two Thing delegates were elected to represent them, Jeff Copeland of Yggdrassil Kindred, and C.L.Hankins of the Indiana Asatru Council. With preliminary Thing business settled, an adjournment was called by the Thing Speaker so that the evening meal could be served.
The evening feats consisted of sloppy joe sandwiches, cowboy beans, and assorted chips and beverages. The evening meal provided a welcome rest to many of us who had been running at full speed all day.
Soon the Sumbel fire was lit in the Blot circle, aromatic oak and cedar fed the flames and added needed warmth in the grove. Again the Gjallerhorn summoned the Folk and the Sumbel began. Valgard officiated as Gothi, and Katherine Stewart as Valkyrie. This most ancient and sacred of rituals began by Valgard raising the Kindred horn, filled by mead, high overhead and summoning Odin by His many names and attributes, offering the horn to be charged with wisdom and to be shared by the Folk. This being done, the horn is offered to the Valkyrie who in turn offers a draught to each willing person in the circle. The first round is customarily devoted to toasting your patron God or Goddess, the second being the memory round, is offered to a deceased ancestor or friend. The last round is generally open to whatever the participant feels inspired to do. Sometimes singing, reciting of poetry, and special oaths taken. That night because of the willing mood of the Folk and an ample supply of mead, four rounds were made. At the conclusion of the Sumbel, Valgard made a special blessing, and leapt the fire. Many of the Folk also jumped the flames for luck and purification. The Sumbel had ended.
This concluded the last structured function of the day. Many of the Folk chose to stay at the ritual fire, where kinship and revelry was shared by all. Others decided to turn in early and get some much needed rest for the rigors of the next day.
Early Saetyrday morning, the Arizona Kindred prepared a fundraising breakfast to benefit their land fund. Much welcome coffee, hot chocolate, juices and milk were offered to wash down the sweet rolls, muffins, and cereal offered. Many of the Folk chose to support this most worthy project.
At 9 AM sharp, the Law Speaker called the Thing to order. First order of business was to hear the petitions of the Kindreds requesting full membership in the Alliance. Petitions were read from Wotan's Kindred of Washington State, Eagle's Kindred of Utah, Eagle Kindred of Idaho, and Thorr's Hammer Kindred of California, these being duly read, and after a short discussion of the seated delegates, were approved. It should be noted that the two delegates of the at-large Kindreds abstained from voting on the membership issues as a courtesy to the Alliance Kindreds. Following the vote, four new Thing delegates of record were seated and officially welcomed to the Asatru Alliance.
The next order of business was to remove an Alliance Kindred from full membership because of lack of activity and no communication with other Kindreds of the Alliance. This is a violation of the By Laws of the Alliance, and the motion was carried. Novegr Kindred is no longer part of the Asatru Alliance.
New business was then discussed. On behalf of Wulfing Kindred, Valgard Murray discussed plans to hold Althing Fifteen on Rock Island, Wisconsin on the weekend of 6/30 through 7/2, 2245 Runic Era. This offer was approved, and further information will be made available in the next issue of Vor Tru and Odin's Folk.
Valgard then proposed that the Alliance invite Heimgest, Director of the Court of Gothar of the Odinic Rite of England, as our special guest at Althing 15. Funding to pay for his expenses to be provided by profits made from the Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson memorial poster which is being marketed by World Tree Publications. This proposal was accepted by the Thing. World Tree promised to make up any deficit if not enough sales were generated by the poster sales, and at this time, C.L.Hankins of the Indiana Asatru Council pledged $100 towards this project. This of course was warmly accepted. This was the last formal action of the Thing, at which time the Law Speaker thanked everyone for their participation, and adjourned the Thing.
It was now time to prepare for the Viking Games, and at the same time the Free Market opened. World Tree, Dagaz, Wulfram of Wings of Asatru Kindred, John Matson, and Cliff Raeder set out Asatru related materials for inspection by the Folk. At this time I would like to thank everyone at the AlThing who so generously supported World Tree's ministry with their purchases.
While the Free Market was in full swing, the Tenth Annual Viking Games were in full swing. There were events for people of all ages. The ever popular Pillage and Cut, which is the equivalent to a combat pistol course only you use a sword instead. Both heavy and light caber (log) toss, heavy and light throwing axe, spear throw, and tug of war. The Games continued into the early afternoon, with most of the Folk present at the AlThing participating in the various contests of luck and skill.
By late afternoon, it was time to start the cookfires and make preparations for the Formal Feast. As the charcoal grills were lit, the cooks set up our outdoor kitchen and dining room. Ten eight foot tables were loaded with food in anticipation of the Feast. Finally, all was ready, and another blast from the Gjallerhorn summoned the Folk. After a formal Hammer Blessing of the food and the assembled kindred, the serving line formed and the Feast began in earnest. Platters of mesquite broiled beef steaks, ham steaks, pork chops, chicken, tossed green salad, vegetable trays, dinner rolls, fresh baked cakes and much more was eagerly savored by the Folk. After everyone had settled in at the tables, Valgard raffled off the sword and it was claimed by a lucky fellow from California. Again, thanks to everyone who supported Arizona Kindred in this fund raising activity to benefit our land fund.
Right after the sword raffle Oak Thorgeir announced the winners of the Viking Games, special commerative ribbons were awarded the winners, and then every participant recieved one as well. See Vor Tru for the listing of the winners.
It was now time for the auction of donated items to benefit the Alliance's general fund. Many fine items were donated by vendors of the Free Market, and individuals within the Alliance. Thanks to some very generous bidding, the Alliance raised over $420 that night. See Vor Tru #53 for a complete listing of donars to the auction.
Following the auction, there were ceremonies of the Folk. Cliff and Elise Raeder who hail from Indiana, requested a short wedding ceremony and Hammer Blessing of their union. In the presence of the Folk, Valgard Hammersigned and hallowed the wedded couple in the custom of our tribe. There was then another request for wedding to be sanctified by the Hammer, my dear friends and kinsmen Richard and Mary Whitcomb of Dagaz, were formally married, Hammersigned and blessed in the presence of the Folk in the manner of our Folk. Following the weddings, gifts of mead were made to the couples, and many wedding toasts made by the assembled. There was happiness and rejoicing for the Kindreds in the grove that night.
By now it was getting late in the evening, but there was still one major matter of AlThing business to attend to, the 10th Annual AlThing Mead Brewers Competition was about to begin. Two tables were cleared, adequate lighting procured, special tasting cups brought forward, and then the mead to be judged by an expert panel, each a mead brewer in his or her own right. In what seemed like an eternity of looking, pouring, sniffing, tasting, and then tasting some more, the tabulation of points began. The high point winner was Idun Worley, Second Place was Susan Darling of Arizona Kindred, and the winner of the hand carved wooden statue donated by Terry Hedin of Thorr's Hammer Kindred was Skadi of THK. We would like to congratulate the winners of the contest, and thank all of those who brought the best of the mead brewer's art for the competition.
After the competition, many of the Folk went to bed to prepare for the morning journey home, while a few of the stalwarts stayed up late into the night enjoying the fellowship displayed at this AlThing.
On Sunnasday morning, the Arizona Kindred offered breakfast
again, and it was well received. It was soon time to break
camp, pack up, and head home. By noon, most of the kindred
had left, leaving a few of the Folk to the final sweep of
the grounds making sure that all was well in the Grove.
Soon they were gone as well, and AlThing 14 had come to a
close.
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