TOP ASATRU NEWS STORIES OF 1997 (2247 R.E.)
Added 1 January 1997 was a banner year for the faith, with great progress being made on a number of fronts. Millions of people who had heard nothing of the revived worship of our ancient and living gods, heard of it in 1997, and the year saw our numbers grow even as closer international bonds were formed.
In such a year of highlights, it would be difficult to arrange them in any sequence based on importance. Each had an importance that is hard to measure against another. Cumulatively, they arose from a rising culture composed of people dedicated to Folk and to Faith, and in turn fed the growth of our vibrant Nation of Odin.
*********************************************************** International Asatru/Odinic Alliance Formed
A bond of faith exists between those who honor the ancestral gods. Across the years there has been a great deal of cooperative effort which in 1997 culminated in the formalizing of these ties. The Asatru Alliance, the Asatru Folk Assembly and the Odinic Rite joined together in founding the International Asatru/Odinic Alliance. Particularly noteworthy were the efforts of Valgard Murray of the Asatru Alliance and it was with respect not only for these efforts, but for his selfless dedication to the gods across many years, that he was honored with the prestigious title of Allsherjargothi.
*********************************************************** An Ancient Kinsman Honored
The startling find of the Kennewick Man remains in 1996- a 9.000 year old Caucasoid in Vinland- has not only challeged long-standing theories of the peopling of this continent, but also has stirred controversy. When a coalition of Indian tribes sought to claim and bury the remains, with no further scientific inquiry to be permitted, using common ancestry and their ancestral religion as justification within the provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the Asatru Folk Assembly took legal action. As adherents of an ancestral faith, they noted that scientific research to date indicates that the remains are of a Caucasoid individual, and not Mongoloid, as are the Indians- in fact it was initially thought that the remains were of a 19th century White settler. Their position is that scientific study must be done to determine the relationship of the remains to modern populations, and that, if as is clearly the case, Kennewick Man is our kinsman, the AFA will rebury the remains with religious honors.
In July, Reinhold reported here (a week before the story appeared anywhere else) that the Army Corps of Engineers had given the Indians secret access to the remains to perform religious ceremonies. Given the weakness of their claims, it was an outrage that the Corps had shown such preferential treatment, but rather than make a negative issue of it, the AFA chose to instead request the right to honor Kennewick Man. In August, Asatru ceremonies were performed by the AFA, Steve McNallen serving as Gothi, in a park near where the remains were recovered and over the remains of Kennewick Man in the repository. The ceremonies were moving and powerful, with great respect for an ancient kinsman.
A positive by-product of the holy ceremonies has been widespread coverage in the media, allowing more and more people to learn of our faith. From big city papers like the Washington Post to the small town press, from overseas and from every region of the U.S., on international media like CNN, the image of Asatruar calling on the gods was printed, pictured, and broadcast. Many have returned to the faith of our ancestors, and many others have been fired with an enthusiasm to learn about the kinsmen who walked this land 9,000 years ago.
*********************************************************** Odinic Rite Vinland Branch Founded
Long a force for the faith in Europe, headquartered in England and with branches in Germany, Austria, and France, in 1997 the Court of Gothar of the Odinic Rite granted approval for the founding of the Odinic Rite Vinland. Under the leadership of Osferth OR, the ORV has quickly become a vital force, growing rapidly and forming strong bonds with the Asatru Alliance and the Asatru Folk Assembly. From the publication of the Book of Blotar to an intensive Hofsgothi Programme, the ORV has offered a wide array of items to those who honor the gods. It was my great honor to have been asked to read the message from Osferth OR to the Althing.
*********************************************************** Hundreds Attend Althing in Utah
The 17th Althing was held in the mountains in Utah in September, sponsored by the Asatru Alliance. Asatruar from Alliance Kindreds and from overseas enjoyed a deeply moving event, filled with religious ceremonies, feasting and companionship in the woods and around campfires. The Alliance continued to grow as a number of formational Kindreds were accepted into full membership. Most significantly, the By-Laws of the IAOA were accepted at the Thing. Valgard Murray of the Asatru Alliance, Steve McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly, and Heimgest DCG of the Odinic Rite (who had come from England) formalized the unity which the ancestral faith and honor had created.
*********************************************************** Else Christensen Freed
Else Christensen, the highly respected Folkmother whose Odinist Fellowship had helped blaze the trail of the faith's revival, was released from prison in December. After having served a sentence for charges which many felt to have been fabricated, the U.S. Government decided it was necessary to deport her to Canada (she is a Canadian citizen but had lived in Florida for many years, where she owned a home). Initially they planned to send her to Ontario, where she knew no one, but Asatruar organized a successful campaign to have her sent instead to British Columbia, where she is the guest of the Hyatts of Wodan's Kindred.
*********************************************************** A Marriage!
At Althing 17 in Utah, Steve McNallen, a founder of the Asatru revival, and Sheila Edlund were married. The firelight ceremony was conducted by Valgard Murray, with music and dance provided by Michael and Annabel of the Wulfings.
*********************************************************** "Pre-Thing" Gathering
In June, in Nevada County, California, what had been foreseen as a Regional Thing evolved into a gathering of Asatruar from across the U.S. The spirit of unity and purpose set the tone for the Althing which followed. Much of the work on the IAOA was conducted at this gathering in the Sierras.
*********************************************************** Ireland Rededicated To The Gods
Asatruar in northern Ireland held a ceremony on Blot Hill early this year in which they rededicated Ireland to Thor and to the Celtic gods. Stinar OR writes, "A great, cold, clear day- views over Scotland and the Irish Sea, and an additional ceremony of linkage to Kinsmen the world over; in Scotland, England, France, Germany, Scandinavia (with an additional link to Uppsala), Vinland and Australia particularly". Asatruar in Belfast were also presented a workshop on the runes given by Heimgest DCG and one on the faith by Stinar OR.
*********************************************************** Religious Freedom Restoration Act Declared Unconstitutional
The U.S. Supreme Court declared the RFRA unconstitutional this year. The RFRA had provided protection of the religious freedoms of prisoners, and had helped imprisoned Asatruar to overcome institutional opposition to their worship. The concern is that with the RFRA no longer in force, those of non-establishment faiths such as Asatru will face impediments not presented to those of mainstream religions.
Still, Asatru continues to meet the needs of many prisoners. The Odinist Prison Project, numerous Kindreds, and the Asatru Alliance all provide religious assistance to prisoners. Odinic Rite Vinland has also begun a prison outreach as a result of the numerous inquiries received. The efforts of the Arizona Kindred have been especially noteworthy. Within prison, Scott Tolley and the Woodpile Kindred, with assistance from the Hvitfolk Kindred on the outside, have made an Asatru Information Clearinghouse available to other prisoners, leading to the formation of many new prison Kindreds.
*********************************************************** Odinic Rite Great Moot
In November, the Odinic Rite held its annual Great Moot in England. Odinists from across Europe attended the inspiring event. This is a time of expansion and new frontiers for the OR, with branches being formed throughout the world, such as the ORV mentioned above.
*********************************************************** The Rise of a New Culture
The rise of cultural expressions of the faith continued. Music joined poetry as a form of honoring the ancient gods at sumbel and in blot. The Asatru press reached new levels of brilliance- Vor Tru and The Runestone expressed the intellectual and spiritual quests of our faith, as did the excellent publications of the Odinic Rite. The Tribe of the Wulfings deserves a special mention for the increasing cultural impact its members have had- from the Asatru sculptures of Heidnischwerk to the Swedish tour of Blood Axis to the traditional music at the Althing to the contributions of Robert Taylor to cultural journals around the world.
*********************************************************** Runes Under Attack
The runes are more than letters, of course, they are symbols of wisdom and mystery, a truth hard-earned by Odin. They are essential components of our faith. Yet in many nations, they are under attack. Many are illegal in Germany, where a victory and a folly were witnessed in 1997. The victory- an Asatruar named Freki was finally acquitted after many years of legal persecution for daring to display the odal rune on an Odinist bumpersticker. The folly- the German government ordered the destruction of millions of postage stamps when it was discovered that the elhaz rune was printed on the margins. Proposed legislation in Sweden has also targeted our holy symbols.
*********************************************************** For our faith, 1997 was a memorable year, one which laid the foundation for the future. The efforts of so many kindreds, hearths and individuals which are not mentioned here were part of the mosaic of progress made in 1997. Day to day efforts, ceremonies to the gods, living honorable lives, writing letters to the local paper, teaching their children our ancestral ways, giving generously to their kinsmen in need or as tokens of respect and friendship. Mentioned or not, I hail each of you.
For me, it was equally memorable for many reasons, among them the start of the Folkish Asatru Page. Thanks to all who have contributed, and to all who have expressed their support. It is a joy and an honor to update this. Special thanks to Ragnar, my coeditor since August. Updating can be quite an effort with his server, and I appreciate his assistance. And heartfelt thanks also to Annabel Lee of the Wulfings, who has agreed to become a coeditor as well soon. We all travel quite a bit, but with three of us maybe at least one will be around to keep things up-to-date!
Hnikar AOR
ULFHETHNAR KINDRED YULE GATHERING 1997
Added 3 January The Ulfhethnar Kindred of the Asatru Alliance gathered for Yule this year to give blot to Thor. As this is the time when the Wheel of the Year has finished its cycle, and the new year is ready to start, the kindred gathered first to set up our calendar for the upcoming year of Gatherings, Feasts, Blots and Things.
After our kindred business was finished, the Ulfhethnar tore revenously into the feast that had been in preparation throughout the day; two hams basted in apricot juice, green beans in a mushroom cream sauce, a mushroom lasagna, candied yams with marshmellows, then followed by a dessert of chocolate cream pie and a Yule Log cake.
In the Winter darkness we gathered to give blot to Thor in the garden of one of our founding kindred members. The stalli set upon a raised earthen mound, with a torch lit "gate" bordering the trail to its top. A ritual fire was lit before the stalli, which held both bowli, mead bottle and horn, and was decorated with a display of Thor's holy symbol, the Hakenkreuz, made of split wood and pine cones that would later be offered to our ritual fire.
Gothi Bruce McKeeman raised the shield wall around our blot site and Gothi Robert Ward raised his hands in welcome to Thor- Hammer God, Thunder God, God of the Folk.
Once the mead was offered up to Old Red Beard, with the assistance of Gythia Jessica Costa, the assembled folk of the Ulfhethnar Kindred and guests were given the Blessings of Thor.
Next, the split wood and pine cones from our stalli were offered to the sacrificial flame to strengthen Sunna's fire.
After a round of toasts to Thor, the mead was offered to both the Spirits of the Air, Trees, Waters, and Animals of the surrounding land, and to our Blot Fire, extinguishing it for the moment, just like the sun on this day of the longest night of the year, but it came back just like Sunna does when she brings Spring with her on her yearly journey.
Following our Thor Blot, we remained assembled as the Gothi, with hammer raised, invoked Thor's protective strength, the blessings of the Norns, and Frigga's motherly care of our folk's children for Alexander, the son of a prospective kindred member.
Following this blessing the kindred held a very informal sumbel, where young Alexander demanded to participate by passing the mead horn from one kindred member to the next. After finishing several rounds of the horn, which left three empty mead bottles, the kindred members who didn't have to get on the road home enjoyed each other's company and good spirits.
Robert Ward
AFA OPPOSES PLAN TO BURY KENNEWICK MAN SITE
Added 3 January The Asatru Folk Assembly has stated its opposition to plans which would bury the site where the Kennewick Man skeleton was recovered in 1996. The Army Corps of Engineers has nearly completed plans to drop enough rock and dirt by airlift to cover the site in Columbia Park with four feet of debris, and work could begin as early as next week. While the Corps announced the measure as a means of site preservation, the effect would clearly be the opposite of the stated intent. Scientists who are also plaintiffs in the case have announced their opposition as well. Yet another opponent was quoted as comparing it to burning a library. I do not know at this point what the position of the Indians will be.
Hnikar Link: The Tri-City Herald report
� 1997 [email protected]
Get your own Free Home Page