The Sanngetal Working(Odhinn�s Rune Rite)
By: Shawn Rowland/UlfgrimR Odhinnsson
This working is specifically of an esoteric nature, and can be included, or treated as separate, from the faith of Asatru. This working, as it deals with the Runes(mysteries), may be utilized for 9 purposes:
a) Divination of future events based on current patterns.
b) As a tool to understand those life patterns.
c) Divination of dreams/visions, etc.
d) Analysis of the patterns within your Self.
e) Analysis of the forces in your subjective universe.
f) Analyses of the forces in the objective universe.
g) As a medium to question Gods/ancestors/wights, etc.
h) As a channel to direct your desires and goals.
i) As a channel to direct energies for Self-becoming(apotheotic magic)
This working may be done at any time, for any reason, but for those attuned to doing things in line with subtle meanings and sympathetic style�it is best performed around the September-November, and preferably at 9:00 p.m..
I) Set up the Odhinn�s Altar---Dark table, runes, need-fire, galdr-staff, ritual dagger, bell, idol or picture of the All-father, candles and incense.
II) Ring the bell 9x(note: bell needs to be deep, like a gong or a Tibetan Buddhist bell).
III) Need-fire---A participant takes the need-fire(if indoors, one of the candles)and presents it to the Odhinn idol and the other participants and in so doing sings the Anglo-Saxon W�onede Song.
Fyr ic bere ymb fri�gearde,
Ond b�ode men fri� fremman,
L�eg ic bere t� bel�can,
B�ode �lwihta fl�ogan aweg.
�unor w�oh, �unor w�oh,
�unor w�oh �isne ealh.
Fyr ic bere ymb fri�gearde,
Ond b�ode men fri� fremman,
L�eg ic bere t� bel�can,
B�ode utlaga f�ran aweg.
�unor w�oh, �unor w�oh,
�unor w�oh �isne ealh.
�unor w�oh, �unor w�oh,
�unor w�oh �isne ealh.
Fire I bear around this sacred site,
And bid all men make peace,
Flame I bear to enclose,
And bid evil spirits to flee
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site
Fire I bear around this sacred site,
And bid all men make peace,
Flame I bear to enclose,
And bid outlaws fare away.
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site.
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site.
IV) The Recels---This is the burning of the incense as an offering to Odhinn in appreciation for the three-fold Gift of Will, Spirit, and Inspiration, and the Runes in their many variations. The bowl of burning herbs is brought forth to the altar and presented, and again presented to the other participants.
V) The Wending---This is the invocation of Odhinn to formally invite the Masked One to guide the working, and look over our actions. The Odhinn�s Godhi reads: �One Eyed Ase, Grim faced God of Initiation, He who tames the Wolves, Fimbultyr, Runatyr, Hrafnatyr, Gangleri, Oski, Sanngetal, I bid you come to this place and look apon your children in Midgard with a kind and mighty eye so that we may look to your example, and thus hanging from our own Yggdrasill within, learn, grow, and enjoy. Come and be with us, the First Ancestors of all! Hail Odhinn!(everyone says afterwards, �Hail Odhinn!�)
VI) The Reading---The main initiatory passage from Havamal is read aloud. This will mean different things to different folks, it just need be kept in mind the importance of it to the work of the magician in the realm of understanding one�s own self, and the ways of the universe. �I know I hung on that windy Tree
nine whole days and nights,
stabbed with a spear, offered to Odin,
myself to mine own Self given,
high on that Tree of which none hath heard
from what roots it rises to the heavens.
None refreshed me ever with food or drink,
I peered right down in the deep;
crying aloud I grasped the Runes
then back I fell from the Tree.�
VII) The Working---The Odhinn�s Godhi now takes the bowl of runes with a cloth over them and goes to each participant and points the dagger at their chests and says: �Do you accept the wyrd of your knowing? Be it pain or pleasure, indifference or anxiety, a simple knowing or a profound epiphany�do you accept the freedom and the restriction�of this knowledge?� If the answer is no, he bows his head and understands, and goes on to the next participant. This is done until all questions, concerns, etc. are exhausted. If the answer is yes, the participant closes his/her eyes and reaches in the bowl and when he/she feels a rune in accord with his quandary, he/she grasps it and takes it out to examine it and meditate on it. It is suggested that one writes the runes on paper to take further notes on so the rune may be placed back in case another�s question would demand that rune as an answer. If the Odhinn�s Godhi has concerns, he/she is to have one of the participants perform the same actions for him as he/she did for them.
VIII) The Fulls---After the work is done, the blot horn is now filled with the chosen liquid to represent the wine which Odhinn always drinks(of course, actual wine may be preferred, but juice will do just as well). The first round of drink is to Odhinn, the second round is to your Self, and the third round is to drink in the knowledge which you have gained. The left-over liquid is poured into the earth as a libation.
IX) The Leaving---At this point, Odhinn is thanked for His presence and any given guidance or insights, and is welcome to stay or leave as He wishes.
X) Closing---The bell is rung again 9x to formally end the working and go on to the feast.