On Friday, September 26, the Asatru Folk Assembly filed its first status report with the court. Our report included information on the Indians' secret access to the remains, the AFA's recent trip to Kennewick, Washington to perform two ceremonies connected to Kennewick Man, and finally our observation of finding cedar scattered among the remains during the visit. We brought the court's attention to the fact that cedar could pose a serious risk to the Kennewick Man's fragile skeletal structure. We are hoping to receive a hearing on the issue of whether or not the remains have been properly preserved.
Reinhold Clinton
WOODPILE KINDRED UPDATEScott Tolley's Path of the Godi study course has taken off. With Chuck and I acting as liaison the course is now being taken by people in four different penitentiaries. The class involves studying of the Gods and Goddesses, the runes and other aspects of Asatru. We are attempting to send as much study material as we can (on a budget of of $0.00). One God or Goddess and one rune are chosen and participants are asked to write on what they know and have learned and then take a quiz on each. Most of the guys are working with extremely limited materials, but everyone is eager to learn and willing to do what they have to do to establish Asatru at their facility.
Through this we've gotten involved in the start-up of three new kindreds in facilities in Minnesota and Iowa (after hearing about it all the time, now I get the joy of having to "deal" with a very opinionated and closed-minded administration). A lot of the guys have no idea what to do, and thanks to Chuck and Scott's first hand experience we can help them every step of the way. We've put together quite a library of documentation materials to supply administrations with to educate them somewhat. We've all been keeping really busy with this, each of us has found the areas we do best in and we seem to work together really well.
Another thing that happened is the members of the Woodpile Kindred have asked me to be their first female member. I don't think Scott was prepared for the reaction he got. I was so overwhelmed and honored I could't stop crying. (I think I'm the first kindred member to do that!). Anyway, the oath is wonderful and like I said, I was very honored to say yes.
Yrsa
WOTAN'S KINDRED UPDATEWork on our hof, while slower than expected, is still progressing. The cement has been laid on the forms and all the gravel has been dumped on the foundation. We also received our first shipment of wood for the exterior. Thorgren Odden, our builder, who's devoting all his time free on this project, informs us that barring some unforeseen obstacle, the structure still should be completed by Yule.
Reinhold Clinton
I'm jumping the gun a bit with this announcement, but in the very near future an English translation will appear on the website of the Artgemeinschaft of Dr. Wieland Hopfner's Odin's Runes- Our Ancestral Script. Translated with the assistance of an Asatruar from Vinland, it is a call to revive the art of writing with the runes, and gives an overview of rune history.
Added 4 October 1997 Heidnischwerk offers some items sure to be of interest to Asatruar and to those with an interest in Northern European culture in general. Below is presented the text of a brochure. Unfortunately, at this point I can't reproduce the images that grace the brochure, but descriptions are provided.
Presented in this catalog are the first fruits of a new branch of Volkways called Heidnischwerk. The purpose of Heidnischwerk is to make high quality sculptures available to those interested in and dedicated to the Northern Ways. The first manifestations are part of a series of reliefs depicting some of the most important gods and goddesses of the Nordic pantheon.
According to the Germanic ideal, the gods are understood as the personifications of cosmic natural forces which on the macrocosmic level also define ideal manhood: creativity, poetic inspiration, wisdom, courage, loyalty, and fierceness. Conversely, the diverse goddesses are personages with concentrated desirable female attributes, such as beauty, endurance and fertility.
Regardless of whether you are a practicing pagan, it is hoped that these "graven images" will speak to you with renewed force.
FREYR
8-1/4"W x 13-1/4"H x 1-3/4"D This relief is based on a Viking Age find, a 3 inch tall bronze figure found at Rallinge, Sodermanland in Sweden. Various appropriate fertility charms, such as the Icelandic "Aegishjalmar", the symbol of irresistibility, have been added to amplify the image.
TYR / TIWAZ / ZIU
8-1/4"W x 11-3/4"H x 1-3/4"D Tyr is one of the oldest Germanic gods, and is the ancient sky and war god. He is portrayed here as the binder of Fenris and upholder of the universe, sacrificing his right hand in the process. The Tyr Rune as a symbol of justice is the "backbone" of the piece.
ODIN 9"W x 13"L x 2"D Odin is here represented with his symbolic animals, the wolves Geri and Freki and the ravens Hugin and Munin. His spear Gungnir, the symbol of his magical will, points skyward from the seat of his mind and his beard frames the ring Draupnir. The runic inscription "asau wija", originally from a buckle from 200 CE, consecrates this piece to the Asaman, Odin.
FREYR- OTHINN- THORR /
FROH - WOTAN - DONAR
8-1/4"W x 13-1/4"H x 1-3/4"D This piece is partly inspired by Adam von Bremen's mention of the statuary in the temple at old Uppsala. However, Othinn is placed in the middle because it seems that in the minds of most Asatuars he is the central deity in the northen pantheon. To emphasize the interlocking nature of the gods' attributes, the gods' heads grow out of a common body. A corresponding rune to each god adorns the sacred sunwheel.
THOR 8"W x 12-1/2"H x 1-3/4"D This piece is a reinterpretation of a small bronze statue found in Akureyri, Iceland, and dating from about the year 1000. The symbol in the background is an Icelandic "hex" sign signifying the Mjolnir, or Thor's Hammer.
The pieces in this catalog are cast in plaster and come in a variety of finishes, such as bronze, copper, and old stone. Please indicate the finish you would like. Prices for bronze castings are available upon request. This series is ongoing and will include many goddesses, such as a Freya companion piece for the Frey, in the future!
PRICE: $45 per sculpture plus $10 estimated for shipping (UPS Ground). Please inquire about shipping mulitiple sculptures or to overseas addresses. Please make checks or money orders out to Markus Wolff.
While I was on my latest sea journey on the Pacific Ocean, Stilkam was also travelling, from his home in Germany to Sweden. He writes:
"The first week I spent in the area of the lake Maelaren west of Stockholm. I drove to the famous Sigurd rock carving, went by ship to Birka, the old trading town and explored many rock carvngs from the Bronze Age. The definite highlight was my visit to Gamla Uppsala where the ancient heathen temple once stood....Nearby is Odinsburg, an inn where you can drink mead out of horns....On my way back to the ferry I drove to a large grave field called Ekornavallen that has been in use for over 4,000 years!"
He has added informative text to his website on the sites he visited, and also some dazzlingly beautiful photographs (my favorites are of a sunrise in the vicinity of Lake Siljan and of the view from Stor Mittaklappen).
Sixteen years ago today, Suzanne left her home in North Carolina to move in with me in Louisville. It was one of those brilliant Autumn days, with the sky the brightest blue, as we watched the trees pass, red and yellow leaves fluttering in the breeze, driving my brother's Firebird (Suzanne holding the passenger door shut as we turned corners!). A beautiful girl and a scraggly bearded redneck. Once at what had been my place, and was now our place, we put some tea on to boil, then began kissing, just feeling as if the whole world was celebrating with us. The paint burned off the tea kettle before we got back to it. We didn't make it "legal" until December, but before the gods, and between ourselves, we were married that day. Happy anniversary, Suzanne. When I said "forever", I meant it.Picture: Suzanne, August 1997
ODINIC RITE VINLAND UPDATELink: The Odinic RiteThe ORV continues its rapid growth, adding a new dimension to the efforts of the Folkish Asatru/Odinic community to restore the ancient faith to our Folk. The Book of Blotar has already begun its 3rd Vinland run. When current supplies are exhausted the latest printing will be available with a new cover and graphics, and with improved binding, for a $12 donation to the ORV. In the latest issue of Vor Tru, Michael Moynihan writes of the Book of Blotar, that "many of the OR's rituals are distinguished by a high degree of poetic power and beauty, which bring an increased level of inspiration...." Steve McNallen, in his review in The Runestone, says "it is as rich as it is lengthy, with a style and an appreciation for prose that makes it a significant addition to our emerging Asatru/Odinist cultures." I agree wholeheartedly- I have pledged to purchase a copy for our kinsmen of the Woodpile Kindred of the Asatru Alliance as a token of my esteem in honor of our gods.
Not content to rest on their laurels, Osferth ORV tells me that in November Odinic Mythology of the Circle of Ostara of the Odinic Rite will be available. The cost has yet to be determined, but copies may be reserved. The next printing project will be The Gods and Goddesses of Odinism, also from the Circle of Ostara.
Not long ago, ORBriefing 161 was issued. Available from the ORV (details elsewhere on the FAP), it is the best source of news pertaining not only to the ORV, but to the other national branches and to the Odinic Rite as a whole.
On the 8th of November, the Odinic Rite will hold its 10th Great Moot in England. With the formal launching of the International Asatru/Odinic Alliance at Althing 17, with Heimgest, Director of the Court of Gothar of the OR in attendance, this Great Moot promises to be especially historic. The Folk-Soil ceremony, which will take place during the Great Moot, will include earth from our holy Vinland.
The Hofgothi Training Programme is now available to interested parties. Contact the ORV at P.O.Box 2022, Sandusky, Ohio 44871-2022 for more details.
Already recognized by the State of Ohio as a religious corporation, the ORV is now in the process of completing and filing paperwork for non-profit religious church status. Any assistance is greatly appreciated- please contact Wulfgaest at [email protected].
Finally, Heimgest and Osferth have done me the great honor of appointing me as OR Area Reeve for the West Coast of Vinland. I look forward to playing a role in this exciting chapter of the history of our Folk and Faith.
Hnikar AORV
� 1997 [email protected]
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