I have just returned from a few weeks at sea in the Pacific, so my apologies for the somewhat late addition of much of the news which follows. The coeditor of the page, Ragnar, has embarked on a journey of his own, which hopefully he'll tell us all about upon his return.
Hnikar (18 December)
ELSE RELEASED!
In early December, Else Christensen was released from prison. Having served a sentence for charges widely believed to have been a set-up, the U.S. Government deemed that this woman, in her 80's and with property in Florida, had to be deported to Canada. She has therefore accepted the hospitality of Wodan's Kindred in beautiful British Columbia (letters of support may be sent to Wodan's Kindred, P.O.Box 190, Union Bay, BC, VOR 380 Canada).
Else is widely admired and loved for her role in the revival of the ancestral faith. Known as the Folk Mother, she was the guiding force behind the Odinist Fellowship and the seminal newsletter The Odinist. When it became certain that she would be deported, therefore, Asatruar representing the Asatru Alliance, Asatru Folk Assembly and the Odinic Rite Vinland mobilized to ensure her well-being and security. At first it seemed that the U.S. government would deport her to Ontario, where she knew no one, and leave her to fend for herself, but her coreligionists worked successfully to have her sent to BC instead, all the while making backup arrangements to get her from Ontario to British Columbia themselves had their efforts failed.
Happily, Valgard Murray reports that Else is well and her spirits are high. Her ordeal is over and her Folk stands beside her.
Hnikar
ODINIC RITE ON THE BBC
At the end of November the Odinic Rite was featured on a BBC programme entitled Pagans' Progress. Three hours of video were shot at a hearth blot alone, featuring Heimgest DCG, Oswin CG, Olaf CG, Asgar CG, and Mike Robertson OR. While the spot was ultimately condensed to six minutes, it was nonetheless quite positive coverage for our faith. After having spoken to Heimgest DCG, Osferth OR was pleased to report that all came across well and that the Rite has enjoyed a surge in membership since its airing.
Hnikar
AFA HOLDS PUBLIC SERVICES
The Asatru Folk Assembly, which has had national- and even international- impact in recent months as a result of their historic ceremonies in honor of the Kennewick Man, continues to focus also on the local level. At the end of November they commenced public services in Nevada City, California, which have received excellent coverage in the local press. An article in The Union (Grass Valley-Nevada City) presented many highlights of Steve McNallen's religious message verbatim. As always, the AFA focuses on the future without losing sight of the present, and upon the worldwide viewpoint without losing sight of the grassroots.
Hnikar
OTHER ASATRU NEWS PAGES
Here are links to two other Asatru news pages...
Asatru Folk Assembly News and Events
***YULE*** CALASA KINDRED/AFA YULE CELEBRATIONS
Added 21 December Calasa Kindred (or most members thereof- Kevin and Julie were ill and had to cancel) gathered at Henry's house on the evening of Saturday the 20th for dinner, socializing, and honoring the season with Scott's homemade mead. We talked endlessly about things of interest to Asatruar, to include family anecdotes and self-sufficient lifestyles. Bob, a long-time Asaman from Alaska who decided to come south for the winter, was our special guest.
The Asatru Community Church, one of the AFA's on-going projects, will host a public Yule celebration on Sunday, December 28th, in Nevada City. We will hail the season with a blot to Frey and receive the God's blessings while pledging to him our might, main and troth. Afterward, our congregation will sing Yule songs, decorate our tree with appropriate ornaments, and enjoy each other's company over a potluck feats. We will collect canned goods for the food bank, as well.
Incidently, the Grass Valley Union is printing an article on how we Asafolk celebrate Yule- which makes three successful writeups in the local newspaper!
Steve McNallen Additionally, Steve recently was interviewed by Austrian radio concerning the Kennewick Man and the Asatru Community Church held a public Frigga Blot last weekend. -Hnikar
BERSERKR KINDRED YULE CELEBRATION
Added 21 December I celebrated each of the previous Yule seasons at Hesperia in the Mojave desert, the cold wind blowing through the Joshua trees as ravens rode the drafts, mountains on the horizon. The fire in the night, and the warm companionship in the house, were something I will remember every Yule. The gatherings were hosted by the Paytons, who last year presented each of the many guests with a Thor's Hammer. Early this year, however, they moved to Utah and formed Berserkr Kindred.
On the weekend of 13-14 December, in Salt Lake City, they again hosted a Yulefest. Guests gathered from all over the West, including many members of Thorr's Hammer Kindred, and the Parkers of Eagle's Kindred of Utah were also there.
Saturday brought first the opening of gifts around the Yule tree and later a feast. Long tables were arranged in the shape of Thor's Hammer and the meal prepared by Cara and Emily was served. The theme was Scandinavian, with cucumbers stuffed with herring and salmon among the many treats served. Cara's smoked turkey also drew raves, as did the corn beef stew and stuffed onions. It was a memorable feast which one guest went so far to describe as "exhilerating", high praise indeed!
Viking Games were also hosted. The pillage course, caber toss and boulder throw were all won by my friend Shaun, who has now moved to Utah also. Jerry Parker reportedly took the prize in the axe throw. There were 5 inches of powdery snow on the ground so there were some comical moments on the pillage course especially, with slipping, sliding and snow under shirts.
A stone horg was set up in the snow, rich with pine branches. The Berserkr banner flew in the breeze beneath a full moon and shooting stars. A central fire warmed the bitterly cold night, and torches surrounded the site. Frey was called upon and offered a sacred mead brewed by Shaun and Jim in Blot. Jason Corder served as gothi for the ceremony.
Afterward a sumbel was held around the fire. In addition to the home-brewed mead, bottles of Chaucer's Mead were enjoyed. Festivities continued until well into the night, in a sacred bond with our ancestral gods.
Hnikar
A SOLITARY CEREMONY
Added 21 December Next week a number of people will gather in Washington state to hold the Mother Night Blot. One of these will be Heimdall of the Odinic Rite Vinland and the Asatru Folk Assembly. In addition to traditional celebrations, however, Heimdall also hikes each year into the Cascades to offer blot to the gods, including a long and complicated blot to the god whose name he proudly bears. The blot is in memory of help received in the past and the promise of the future. His account of this year's ceremony follows....
The snow was a crusty blanket concealing pitfalls in the ground and covered the outcroppings as to make them treacherous. A climb I normally make in an hour took three. It was well worth the effort however.
This year, even more than most, I felt a strong presence of the Gods here and felt an even stronger bond to them and the past. The fire burned strong through the wind and the birch runes glowed a strong yellow as I returned them to the Gods after reading. I feel the strength of the Gods' presence here in Vinland is an ever-growing one as more folk come back to a past long neglected but never gone.
During the closing blood oath I swear, each time this year, a hawk took a snowshoe rabbit a short distance away. I am unsure of the significance of this, if any, but the presence of nature's way made it all the more powerful for me.
A dear comrade rose to Valhalla at this spot 16 years ago and was the beginning of my own quest for the renewal of the old ways. As I have sworn to never forget this, I honor it each year as part of my Yule celebration and the time I first dedicated myself to my path.
Heimdall AOR/AFA
Added 21 December WOTAN'S KINDRED YULE CELEBRATION
Carola, my wife, and I went down to Reinhold and Cathy Clinton's yesterday, where we celebrated a great Yule feast at Wotan's Kindred. Among other things, we swore oaths for the New Year on an enormous boar which Reinhold had carted over from a farm. Also included was a group prayer outside around a campfire in a stone circle which includes an enormous wooden carved statue of Thor, plus a horg, or altar, consisting of a huge boulder. Four of us wore large wooden animal masks (mine was that of a stag) and after the prayer we did a chain dance around the fire (a considerable feat with a mask with very small eyeholes!). Later, inside, among other things we held a sumbel, and had a wonderful dinner and conversation.
Brian Regan
Added 22 December NORTHWEST WULFINGS CELEBRATE JUL ON MT. HOOD
The Northwest branch of the Wulfings held our first formal gethering on the night of the 20th, out in the woods on Mt. Hood. The weekend was filled with friendship and feasting, enhanced by good home-made mead and highlighted by a strong Midwinter Blot. For the ritual we decided to use the Odinic Rite's ceremony from the Book of Blotar. It was raining outside, and since indoor rites are traditional for Jul anyway, we simply shut off all the lights and gathered standing around the blazing hearth, next to the proud Jul tree and underneath the gaze of the stag's head above the mantle. Using a wooden table as the altar, the Blot began with 3 drum beats toward each cardinal point to set the space. After some minutes of silence and meditation, the rite began. With Michael as the Gothi, we hailed the Mothers and the Sun Reborn, Ullr and our Faith, Folk and Family. Two different Julleuchter were lit at the appropriate points, and a small sunwheel fashioned from twigs was placed on the hearthfire. The readings were done by Matt and Markus, and Annabel read the invocation as the second Jul candle was lit. The rite was engaging, eloquent, and inspired all who were present.
Afterwards we drank a round of Wassail made from our Black Cherry Mead and mulling spices, which warmed both body and spirit. At that point the feast began, with baked Black Forest ham basted with mead, German noodles, potatoes, salad and sunwheel bread (and Gardenburgers for the less carnivorously inclined). After the meal we exchanged gifts; the most "Wulfing-esque" of which had to be the necklaces Erica presented everyone with that she had made herself from real wolves teeth. Then a Jul sumbel in the Alliance tradition was held outside amongst the tall evergreens around a fire in the rain. Ancestors and fallen friends were hailed, songs were sung and poems recited. We then returned to the glowing hearth inside and ate warm Lebkuchen gingerbread cake, setting two extra places at the dining table with mead and cake for our ancestors. The mead continued to flow, talk and merriment carried on until the wee hours of the morning, and somehow an entire bottle of traditional Swedish wormwood aquavit, Baska Droppar, managed to be miraculously consumed without any casualties. This was one of the finest Jul celebrations we have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Hail the Unconquerable Sun, Hail the darkness and the light which breaks it! Hail the ancestors!
Michael and Annabel
Added 22 December THUNDERSLEY HEARTH ODINIC RITE CELEBRATES YULE
Our Thundersley Hearth OR Yule celebration was a small family one, but a very festive occasion nonetheless- and we had quite a feast (spiced ham with all the trimmings). Our Blot, of course, was the Odinic Rite Mother Night Yule Blot (as found in our Book of Blotar). I presided as Hofsgothi, and Wulfgaest took care of the readings. During the Blot itself, the presence of many of our dead ancestors was felt- at one point, Heidrun AOR saw her recently deceased grandmother in the meadhorn during the Memory Cup. Others gave it a go, with none so fortunate as Heidrun.
Our sumble was indeed a fitting one, honoring the holy Gods and Goddesses of our Faith, heroes of our Folk and ancestors of our Family. Among those heroes loudly hailed were Hermann, Iron Skeggi the Thorsgothi, Sigurd, and of course Wayland the Smithy (just to name a few). It seemed the mead was never going to stop flowing, but alas, when it did, we shifted to ale! Oaths were renewed, notably my marriage oath to Heidrun, as well as my oath of brotherhood to Wulfgaest.
We had quite a time exchanging gifts. Wulfgaest presented my children with a three volume, fully illustated, comic-book format of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit (one of their favorites- and ours!). They specially crafted Yule tree ornaments for him. We were presented with a most magnificent statue of Thor crafted by a fellow named Paul Borda, done up in a lovely Rosewood finish. Simply splendid! We gifted Wulfgaest with a specially designed leather bound Odinic Rite notebook, handcrafted by Dean AOR of Michigan. Also given to Wulfgaest were a few items to appeal to his sweet-tooth- a complete batch of Heidrun's best Yule sweets, including her now famous Lebkuchen, a seriously potent alcohol-soaked fruitcake, as well as other favorites that have been made for quite some time by members of her family. We also sent him off with a box of the finest Swedish coffee to be found, as well as a two-pound custard pie from Europe. Indeed, he'll remember this Yule, not only for the most brilliant time we had, but also by the extra inches we likely added to his waist-line! Our drinking and fun lasted well into the night, but of course all good things eventually end....So Wulfgaest returned home, looking forward to our next time together in less than a week.
Thus ends the Thundersley Hearth OR Mother Night Feast 2247.
Osferth OR
Added 22 December ARIZONA KINDRED'S LAKESIDE YULE CELEBRATION
YuleFest Greetings to All! I proudly announce that the Arizona Kindred of Asatru held their 19th Annual YuleFest on the weekend of 12/19 through 12/21 2247 RE.
The location was south of Payson along a large lake. Our campground was on a high mesa overlooking the lake with a 360 degree view of the snow capped mountains surrounding the lake.
It was well attended with 24 of the Folk braving the elements and distances to join with the Kindred in fellowship and ritual. The main festivities began on Saturday with a Thorr Blot. The Kindred formed a procession in the camp grounds and marched to the Blot site on the edge of a 200 foot cliff overlooking the lake. During the Blot a pair of ravens circled low over the group much to the satisfaction of all. After the Blot the cook fires were lit for the YuleFeast. After a formal Hammer blessing, the Feast of pork, potatoes, salads, smoked herring, pickled peppers from my garden, and loads of pies and cookies were consumed. At dusk, as Suna dipped behind the mountain peaks we had a traditional three round Sumbel. 10 bottles of home made mead were brought forth by the Kindred brewers. After the three rounds of the Sumbel, oaths were sworn on the Kindred oath ring. A formal blessing closed the Sumbel and we then burned a wooden sunwheel while the Kindred formed a circle and chanted for the wheel to burn and the sun to turn. Of course kinship proceeded around the campfire well into the long night.
Sunasdag morning we held the traditional Spam breakfast to fortify the Kindred for the journey home. It was a perfect gathering of the Folk attended by 24 members of the Kindred and invited guests.
Valgard Murray
Added 22 December THOR BLOT CELEBRATED IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Stinar OR and other kinsmen in Northern Ireland last year dedicated a high hill there to the honor of Thor. This season's events are narrated by Stinar below...
Though we started out to honor Ullr, on a moment of inspiration and improvisation we decided to climb our Hill of Blotar and do honor to Redbeard... The sky and the prevailing atmosphere lent itself to a Thor blot indeed, as did the mood of the moment. Ireland and Thor have always had close affinity.
We lit a fire on the wind-swept hill, and toasted (several times) and we did a prolonged galdra of several rune-tones. Then, we asked of the runes which would have bearing on our collective futures, and these we chanted and meditated on before breaking off the blot. All this before mid-morning, at that.
Stinar
Added 23 December EAGLE KINDRED OF IDAHO YULE
We have a very unusual thing we do at the end of Yule. When Yule is over, we disassemble the tree where it stands. Sounds weird but there is a reason for it.
We start by cutting each branch off at the trunk. Place the branches in a large box. The branches stay green for at least 2 years and the needles stay on the branch. Starting the next fall, we use the dried branches to start the fires in the wood stove.
After the branches are cut off, the tree is now a Yule log. We put the date on the bottom of the tree and store it away till next year. During Yule, we then cut a 6-inch section off the top of the log. We use one cutting off the log each year until gone. This way we can tie the memories of one year to the memories of the past years continuing the tradition of burning the Yule log.
Robert and Katherine
Eagle Kindred of Idaho
Added 24 December YULE IN NORTH CAROLINA
We met at an old farm on the coastal plains of North Carolina. A Blot was held for a small number of Kinsmen to celebrate the Yule and proved to be a time of brotherhood and enlightenment for all.
As the Yule Log burned well into the morning hours, many glowing embers were swirled over our heads by the North Wind and as we gazed skyward to observe their trek, we were reminded by the Gods of the ultimate sacrifice made by our great ancestors to preserve our folk, our faith and our family.
As the brilliant embers reached their zenith and burned out, new embers began again the task of rising from the intense flames and followed their predecessors into the darkness to complete the cycle of birth, life and death.
So too will we rise from the glorious flames of our past and as we follow those who have gone before us, we shall become the link between ancient times and future folk.
We Shall Rise Again!
Hans Hansen AOR (Hans also notes than plans are in the works for more Blots at the same site and at a remote location in the North Carolina mountains--Hnikar)
Added 24 December YULE GATHERING IN WASHINGTON STATE
I got together with a few like-minded folk and we discussed the possibility of forming a kindred. Heavy discussion about the state of the folk, both within and outside the faith, took place. Ideas were bandied back and forth about the format to use and the alliances that would be contemplated. All of us being very folkish in outlook there were no real problems but many ideas to contemplate. There were differences in how we all view the Gods but much agreement in the reality of forming bonds within the folk as we attempt to solidify what has splintered so badly over the years.
We were open to trying the Mother Night Blot following the OR format and I presided as best I could. Due to the time frame we were forced to hold the Blot at my home but I feel it went well with one individual feeling a very special touch by one of the Gods. He was very much overcome and spoke little of his experience but it was obviously powerful. What we may have lacked in experience in a group we more than made up for with desire and comradeship. I was somewhat nervous due to my many years of solitary communion with the Gods but I perservered. I couldn't help but wonder if one or more of my ancestors in Norway or Germany had done this in the past with far greater ease than I.
Heimdall AOR/AFA
Added 24 December A PERSONAL RITUAL IN GERMANY
When the Yule feast started on Mother Night, I had nightshift. So I took all the things with me to work and celebrated there in a quiet hour after midnight. I got a bottle of non-alcoholic beer, took my runes, books, candles, ritual knife with me.
First of all, I meditated for a while, thinking about this year's feast and that for the first time after a long period of time I'll be alone at Yule, that is without a partner. I spoke my invocation to Fro Ing/Freyr and asked him to guide and help me in 1998. After that I spoke an invocation to Wotan. I don't know (yet) what exactly the character of my relationship with him is- but I know he's there.
From the beer I offered to the gods and goddesses, went out and poured it on the soil. After that I made a rune draw and found out that the intimate answers I already got during my stay in Sweden seemed to be repeating. I learned a bit about my way of living my life (and what I need to improve on). Then I read the Skirnismal and the Havamal, drank the beer and felt very joyous and content.
Stilkam
Link: Stilkam's Asatru Page
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