I returned yesterday from some work in the high desert of western Nevada that permitted me the opportunity to explore and visit. Much of it has relevence to the faith, so I've decided to add it to the news page.CALASA KINDRED
I twice had the honor of visiting Steve and Sheila McNallen (congratulations are in order, by the way, on their recent marriage!). On the first occasion, after the drive over the Sierras, I was able to spend a few hours with the two of them, discussing a variety of topics. Their interests range widely over historical, scientific and, of course, religious issues, so it was a fascinating visit.
A week later I returned to take part in a gathering of Calasa Kindred. Also arriving as a guest was my friend Shaun, formerly living near me in La Jolla but now back in the Bay area. I was the first to arrive so I was able to meet each person as they arrived, enjoying casual conversation with each. They are a very talented bunch brimming over with ideas on how to further develop our community, actively building on the foundations that have been laid for our new tribe of the Folk. They are deeply committed to Faith and to the Folk, and not content with allocating the gods only a small portion of their lives. They live their faith.
The gathering opened with a ceremony, the Kindred and guests encircling an oak as Steve McNallen offered mead to our ancient gods. Beneath the blue sky, the leaves rustled in the breeze as we called on the high ones.
This was followed by the meeting in an open space in the trees near the house. Steve spoke of the many things that Calasa Kindred and the Asatru Folk Assembly are doing to build the faith- about which more later- and then many of the members added more ideas and updates on their actions. Among the issues discussed was the Kennewick Man matter, and about that, too, more later.
There was a bit of a break before the Frey Blot, people enjoying one another's company a bit beneath the Calasa Kindred banner, which is based in part on the Bear Flag of California. The children were enjoying the outdoors, as we older folks were. Suddenly one of the women swept past, carrying a child to safety as a bear had dropped in uninvited. As the children were carried off in one direction, the bear scampered off in the other. Naturally, the guys went trudging off in search of it- some live in the Sierras and are rather adept outdoorsmen, but dogs barking in the distance told the story of a bear in a hurry. Everyone marked it a pretty good sign that the bear had come.
Steve then spoke of Frey, an old friend of our Folk, and just what he represents, then led us to the horg, which was graced with a statue of Njord's son made by Sheila (if I recall correctly). We offered Blot to him, a fine mead.
Afterward, we enjoyed conversation once again, and then enjoyed a splendid meal. All too soon, I headed east over the mountain passes into the desert.
LOVELOCK CAVE
Among the many books the McNallens own is a copy of Loud and Harrington's Lovelock Cave. Loud was the original excavator of the cave, which has great archeological interest. Seeing the book, I was inspired to visit the site.
Five thousand years ago, much of Nevada was covered by Lake Lahontan. One can still see the ancient seabed- in fact, that is precisely what much of the desert is. Ancient beach lines can be seen from any high point.
There is an old Indian legend that at Lovelock Cave, they burned to death a race of "redhaired giants". Within the Cave were found skeletons and mummified remains- caucasoid skeletons much like the Kennewick Man, these a few thousand years old. Dennis Cassinelli's Gathering Traces of the Great Basin Indians, sold at the Churchill County museum (along with replicas of petroglyphs from the area which include a sunwheel with a solar corona), says "Some of the bodies were nearly perfectly mummified by the dry conditions in the cave. Some of the mummies were found to have red hair. One skeleton was of a man who measured 6'6" in height...."
It has become quite clear to me that a branch of our Folk crossed the Asian continent thousands of years ago and once peopled this land. In the sand of the cave, I traced an othala rune, and again among the petroglyphs at Grimes Point.
My journey also gave me the chance to enjoy this land called California. My journeys took me from the Pacific coast, wild and welcoming, and across the beautiful and harsh landscape of the Mojave, and over the lush green Sierras. Our ancient gods, the gods of our Folk, are here- as everywhere we journey. And have been for thousands of years.
Hnikar
In a noble expression of the true spirit of the faith, the Asatru Folk Assembly Wednesday conducted a private ceremony in honor of our ancient kinsman, the Kennewick Man, in the repository where his remains are currently kept, and an Odin-Blot in his honor in a park. I hope to add a report from the participants in this landmark event, so I'll not go into great depth tonight. What I do want to do is to link up to the photographs of the event published on-line by the Tri-City Herald.Link: AFA Honors Kennewick Man
Added 2 September On Wednesday, August 27th, the Asatru Folk Assembly was privileged to perform sacred rites over the remains of the Kennewick Man. It was an experience that will never be forgotten by those of us who were there.We were distressed when we learned, some weeks ago, that the Indians had been allowed to conduct rituals over the skeleton. On the one hand, this was another example of bias on the part of the Corps of Engineers. However, it was at the same time very encouraging because it meant that we could do something similar. This was news to us; our understanding was that the skeleton was "off-limits" to all the interested parties.
RITES OVER THE BONES As we walked up to the repository, reporters crowded around and began asking the usual questions, which we answered as best we could. Before entering the building, AFA attorney Michael Clinton read a statement agreed upon both by us and by the Umatilla tribe, in which we recognized each other as tribal peoples and agreed to try to cooperate in resolving this issue which means so much to both of us. I shook hands with a Umatilla representative, and then we were ushered inside.
Minutes later, we were standing around a table on which rested a white wooden box. Inside were the bones of the Kennewick Man, wrapped in plastic bags and hardly visible due to their tightly-packed arrangement.
Also inside the box were a number of short cedar branches, placed there by the Indians during one of their several visits to the repository. We thought this interesting, since we had been told that we could neither take anything from, nor add anything to, this container- indeed, we had not even been allowed to use mead in our ceremony; no alcoholic drinks were permitted!
We began the ritual. A moment of silence was ended by a Hammersign and the names of Odin, Balder, Frey, and Thor. Each of us in turn then read or recited appropriate words as the horn was passed, taking a sip of juice in honor of the one whose skeleton sat before us. After another moment of silent contemplation, we finished and left the room.
These simple words do not adequately describe the profound effect these moments had on each of us. To say that we were moved would be an understatement.
MEMORIAL IN THE PARK From the repository, we went to a location in the park near where Kennewick Man had been unearthed. After setting up the horg and making last minute preparations, we began.
First, we expressed gratitude to the elements for nurturing this ancient ancestor during his life, preserving him in death, and for now bringing him to us once more. Fire, ice, air and water were thanked in turn. From the four quarters, appropriate runes were galdored and signed, and words spoken to express our feelings. Rune names were echoed by all the assembled Asatruar, lending our might to the occasion. Then I stepped to the horg and thanked the earth itself. We poured a libation, then performed an Odin-blot which will long be remembered for its intensity.
Later, as the crowd dispersed, it was clear that what we had done there had made an impression- an overwhelmingly good one- on the individuals who had witnessed it. May the voices of the Gods and Goddesses speak to the hearts of all who were there!
AFTERMATH The spiritual effects of having actually honored this ancient kinsman in this way have been tremendous. All of us emerged from this experience with greater commitment than ever before, even more aware of our duties to Kennewick Man and the ancient people he represents.
On a strictly mundane level, many thousands of people are hearing about Asatru who never before dreamed of our existence. Queries are starting to show up in our email from strangers who have seen the newspaper articles, or heard the radio talk shows, and want to know more. We're seeing this favorable response because, for the first time, media people are taking us seriously- not just treating us as an oddity. Indeed, the average person seems to believe we have just as much right to pursue this matter as do the Indians- and in today's society, that's saying a lot!
Whatever the publicity benefits for Asatru- and they are great- we must keep our eyes on the spiritual importance of this incredible series of events. Kennewick Man's message is yet to be fully understood, but it is safe to assume it is one of immense importance to us.
SPECIAL THANKS ...is due to everyone who helped make our actions in Washington so successful. People took time off from work, drove many hours, and generally inconvenienced their busy lives to honor this Far-Traveling One.
Mr. Clinton, our attorney, is due particular credit for his time, energy and legal savvy. Without his on-the-spot aggressiveness and know-how, none of this could have happened.
Hail our Gods and Ancestors!
Steve McNallen
Added 2 September The Asatru Folk Assembly is proud to announce its brand new presence on the web!
Our new web site is much, much larger than the one we've had until now. In addition to information on The Runestone and Wolf Age, you'll find a short history of the AFA, the Nine Virtues of Asatru, articles on a variety of topics, news from Calasa Kindred, a catalog of our publications, a copy of our Declaration of Purpose, information on Kennewick Man- and a lot more.
Photos? We've got them. Burning ships, blots, a wedding, Viking Games, Asatruar at work and at play.
We invite you all to take a look at:
...and find out what we've been up to!
Added 3 September Issue number nineteen of The Runestone is on its way to subscribers!
Contents include:
"Spear Against Tusk" by Reinhold Clinton- the story of how the author revived the sacred boar hunt the old fashioned way, with dogs and spear!
"Roots and Branches" by Hnikar- a new comparison of the Classical and Germanic deities.
"Sif's Bounty" by Charles Spratling-reminding us of how dependent we are on the growing fields.
...plus information on Else Christensen's situation, the Kennewick Man controversy, a review of the Odinic Rite's Book of Blotar, a report (complete with almost a dozen photos) of the pre-Althing gathering hosted by Calasa Kindred, and more.
Copies of this issue are currently in a number of Tower Books stores throughout the country.
Subscription information is available on our web site:
Added 3 September Wolfgar Kindred, a formational Kindred of the Asatru Alliance based in Montana, has a new website at http://members.aol.com/Wolfgarmt/wolfgarindex.html .
Grauwolf is a friend I've enjoyed many hours of conversation with, so his is a very welcome voice on the Net!
Hnikar
Added 8 September Click here for an Althing 17 report
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