A handout for our March 2013 meeting:
The poem appears in its entirety in Codex Regius, and most of it (1-27) can also be found in AM 748 I 4to (a fragmentary manuscript from ca. 1300 best known for having the only extant text of Baldrs draumar). It is in the second manuscript that the poem is called Skirnismal; in Codex Regius, it is called For Skirnis (Skirnir’s Journey).
Though most members would not begin their personal Yule celebrations for another few days, on December 18, 2011 Keeper of Seasons Hall met to celebrate the opening of the Yule season and hold its last official holiday observance of the year. As with previous years, we celebrated indoors, and in 2011 Debbie and I hosted the event at our home. Continue reading
The handout for our discussion of Ullr, November 2011
Updated May, 2013, with thanks to Niklas of Enkoping, Sweden for suggestions about the Lunda figurines and Ullr’s wife.
Approaching Ullr
Literature:
Grimnismal (Dronke translation): Continue reading
One of the handouts available at the talk I gave during this year’s Pagan Pride Day in Albuquerque:
Glossary for The Basics of Asatru
(and other forms of Heathenry and Paganism inspired by pre-Conversion Germanic religion)
Æsir: One of the families of gods. Some of the better-known include Odin, Frigg, and Thor.
Alfar: Elves. Often called alfar to avoid people confusing them with fantasy, Lord of the Rings style elves. Believed by some Heathens to be deceased male ancestors.
Asatru: Literally, “faith in the Æsir,” though it isn’t strictly limited just to worship of the Æsir; all wights allied with the Æsir and humanity may be worshipped. It is the reconstruction and revival of the pre-Conversion religion(s) of the Germanic peoples.
Æ, æ: Ash. In modern Icelandic, pronounced like English “eye.” Continue reading
With the solstice falling near a weekend, Keeper of Seasons Hall met on June 21 to hold its 2008 Midsummer’s Blót. As in the previous year, we met early in the day to avoid the worst of the season’s heat. Though summer storms had been visiting the area recently, we had nothing more severe than cooling winds during the ceremony; the day was clear and bright. Erich and Celeste had earlier scouted the Bosque for a new location for this year’s blót, a well-shaded site on the banks of the Rio Grande that offered a spectacular view of the river and its surroundings. In this holy place Erich led the blót, announcing our purpose in gathering and hailing the powers of the season; afterwards, each person present made personal hails, and the remainder of the mead was poured into the river in offering. Continue reading
Hallowing
Donar, God of the Garðs, Guard this stead for Winternights.
Heimdall, sounder of the Horn, Hold us ever in your sight. Continue reading
Gathering:
Blot horn blasts thrice, that the participants
may gather. Continue reading
Midsummer’s Blót was held June 20th on a sweltering New Mexico afternoon. Sunna’s gold rays struck heavily on our walk to the site. We were, as usual, along the banks of the Rio Grande, which, despite a period of very dry weather, were lush with native grasses. We walked along the worn path seeking a site we have used many a time. A site where the trees shelter a shady spot of clearing with a well placed groove leading to the bank and a strip of tree-shrouded grass large enough to stand on comfortably at the very edge of the river. After passing the site inexplicably and coming back around from another path to the strip of grassy bank, we set up for the blót. Continue reading
1. Warding and Gathering
<Blot horn blasts thrice>
We hail you Heimdall, heaven-bright warder –
See us in safety, as sacrifice we hold,
Donar, Goat-driver, god of the Garths,
hallow this place, and hold it in might all-holy. Continue reading