The cadence of footsteps that herald the All-þing Symbel draws near, but before that I have news! Soon our very own Eksagthi will be giving us a review on mixed Northern religious beliefs as well as my own continuous updates to the site. I know we have been slacking lately, but that – I feel – is changing.

Enjoy the activity, feel the presence of spring upon us and feel the wheel turning as the þurs and Dvergar work their Seiðr upon the blessed lands of Midgard.

Spaerunn

HAIL MYNN BRODERS OK MYNN SISTERS! Hail from the lands of Midgard and Hail from the Halls in Asgard!

Today is a most wonderful day for the Erulian and Asatru alike! Today is an auspicious day because of a double entendre within a double entendre. The word “thurs” in germanic culture refers to both the Jotuns (Giants and Chaotic forces of Legends) and Thor himself (for his mother was a Giant and he is the warder of the Gods and Men from those Giants). This being said: Today is THURSday, and today is our Holiday “Thursblot”. It may be a small thing of note, but for some reason it gives me pause to grin at irony.

The Thursblot is a sacrificial feast is held at the end of Hel’s Moon (December 27th – January 23rd) and is, for the Erulian, a powerful holiday indeed. While many other Asatru will raise a glass to Thor and his power today as to drive the Rime Thurs (frost giants) back from the land so that spring may return quickly, the Erulian understands the balance of the worlds. As stated before, we hold both Thurs and Aesir in our hearts, worshiping both with the respect that those powerful forces deserve.
For the Erulian today it is a reminder of respect to the Thurs, and to give sacrifices in respect of their awesome power. The Erulian respects change and knows that without such a force the world would grow stagnant. While the Aesir protect the laws and its people, the Thurs shove things in motion.
Today we raise a glass to both great powers.

Thurs (Kiplward@gmail.com) asked a good question concerning the story of Fenrir recently, asking for “qualification” of the story. Specifically that particular version of the story was told to me by my grandmother when I was very young. This was her way of explaining to me why “wolves howl at the moon”.
When I got older, I did my own research into the Fenrisulfr and found the differences between the two stories. While not drastically different, there were some minor divergences from the “classic” myth told by Snori Sturluson. In Kevin Crossly-Holland’s book called “The Norse Myths”, he depicts the tale of Fenrir in Myth #7 based off of Snori Sturluson’s works.
One major difference in my grandmothers tale and the tale told by Snori is that Fenrir is not bound to the moon in the end, he is bound deep within the earth by a chain attached to Gleipnir named Gelgja that is thus attached to a giant boulder called Gjoll. The boulder is thus drove into the earth a mile underground and another boulder named Thviti is dropped on top of Gjoll. My grandmother included the names of the chains and stones in her tale as well, however it was not within the earth, but on the moon.

If you need more information on Fenrisulfr I would suggest looking him up online as there are hundreds, if not more, of resources available. Bellow are a few links.

Wikipedia entry (NOT A BAD STARTING POINT)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenrir

Encyclopedia Mythica (GOOD RESOURCE FOR BASIC INFO)

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/f/fenrir.html

An Icelandic adaptation
by Tigernan Smiðrsson

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
You are Midgard´s strong center;
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
By many names we call you;
Irminsul and Yggdrasil,
Mimameith, strength my will;
You link the worlds without, within,
That we the way between may win,
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
You are Midgard´s strong center.

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Nine worlds gleam from your branches;
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Great Odin won your glory;
Self sacrificed to self, in pain
Nine nights he hung, the runes to gain;
From Hella´s depths to Asgard´s height,
You hold them in enduring might;
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Nine worlds gleam from your branches.

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Beneath your leaves we shelter;
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
With gifts we deck your branches;
May offerings now given here,
Bring fortune for the coming year;
Lif and Lifthrasir, are alive,
The Age´s ending will survive,
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Beneath your leaves we shelter.

Hail my friends! An update, finally! >.<
I must ask you to forgive me, those who follow this posting, but life and many other projects have recently gotten in the way and I have had little time to pay attention to this site. I know I missed two updates for celebrations, and I will make sure there is plenty of updates (as in the entire site updated) as soon as I get back on track.

But today I will be speaking of our Twelfth Night Celebration! Also known as the Wild Hunt. This is a festival of twelve nights that traditionally began on the full moon in Ylir (the month of Yule). This year is particularly special since we will be having a blue moon before the month is out. But I digress...
This holiday is a very serious holiday at which ends with the sun beginning its rise to power once more. Yule itself signifies the height of the darkest time (shortest hour of daylight) during the year and the brightest hope re-entering the world.
At this time, Wodhannaz (or Odin or Woden if you prefer) is the leader of this Wild Hunt, charging across the sky on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir; a very awe inspiring vision. Adding to that awe is the the one who rides along side him is the wild-eyed maiden dressed in pure black that is said to follow him, the ravens banner held high in her hand as a host of dead follow the wake of their charge. This woman is the goddess Helja and takes on the name of the ancient earth mother Holda Bertha.
Finally, on the twelfth night of this celebration, the god Engnus (or Freyr if you prefer) rides down into Erudinor on the back of his shinning boar, baring Balder the beautiful, god of Light, back into the world once more from his stay within the lands of the dead since Vitrablot.

Now many have wondered at this, considering in the ancient story Balder stays within the lands of the dead until Ragnarok. To explain that, I will draw your attention to another such story of Loki (representing fire and heat) when he cuts off Sif's hair (representing plowing the soil) and then having to go to the dwarves (the earth spirits) and makes hair of gold (planting wheat). This is a yearly cycle, a representation of the need to till the land and plant crops, something that is on-going.

The story of Balder dying and being reborn is another such story. It is the death of light, having it slip past us in the dark half of the year, and then having him return to us at the end of the Wild Hunt, ever so slowly with the help of Egnus (the earth father), to renew the world.

Tradition: Yule
In ancient times, Germanic and Norse children would leave their boots out by the hearth on Solstice Eve, filled with hay and sugar, for Sleipnir’s journey. In return, Woden would leave them a gift for their kindness. In modern times, Sleipnir was changed to a reindeer and the grey-bearded Woden became the kindly Santa Claus (Father Christmas).

As of today I acknowledge the celebration of a mixture of traditions. I place my boots out by the door in case any wight wishes to leave me a gift; I leave out cookies and milk for both friends and spirits who may find their way to my doorstep; I knit a wreath together and place it upon my door to represent the cycle of the world coming to a whole; I gather with my friends and my family and give gifts upon Solstice as a reminder that in this time of cold we have little, and yet give to each other all that we may in hopes to be more “open handed” in the years to come; and most importantly I give thanks and gifts to the gods and ghosts in the coldest of times – for if we do not remember them, then who will?

Whatever you do for the holidays, remember to tell each and everyone close to you that you love them and wish them well, and if you are able, be as “open handed” as you may. In these dark months, sometimes its what makes the difference.

The celebration of Vitrablot is an interesting celebration as it observes both life and death. It comes at the end of our harvest season and at the end of our calender year. The “ljot dagr” (light days) are over as we enter the “dokk dagr” (dark days) of the new year. We prepare to face the cold nights of winter and have (hopefully) stored up reserves to last through the frozen months where the hunting will be more and more difficult.
Thus Vitrablot (also called Winternights), in observing all of these things, is the last real celebration for a long time in the Erulian traditions. With life leaving the land, and the dark days ahead, we see the stark dichotomy personified in the world around us of life and death. This is why this celebration is commonly a respectful observance (or worship in the case of the Erulian) of the goddess Halja.
In common day, Vitrablot is celebrated as All Hollows, or Halloween. The simple practices of handing out candy and dressing in costumes all come from much more ancient traditions: placing food out in respect of the dead should they come to visit, placing other treats to ward away the bad spirits as well, dressing like the dead to blend into the other wights so they do not notice you and take you away, etc.
Tonight is a night to observe the dead and the living together, the inexorable wheel that turns our life like a plough turning the soil that our bodies inevitably must fall into. This is not a matter for worry and sadness, this is a matter for celebration and a true reminder that life is a matter worth living for and that our joys must come even in the face of death.

TRADITION: Balder’s Arvel
All things begin in darkness, and so too does the new year. This is also the day in which the Erulians attribute to being the time in which Balder was slain by Loki (once again an example of the light leaving, and dark being present). One tradition we have created is Balder’s Arvel (Arvel meaning many things such as: remembrance, celebration, funeral, wake, etc.)
There are a few chief participants beyond the celebrants. Before the actual celebration the High Priestess and Priest for the event will take on the rolls of Lady Halja (goddess of the underworld) and Lord Hermod (the herald and messenger of the gods).
All those who come to the celebration are painted or in outfits that depict the land of the dead (thus we dress as heroes, ancestors, or even the darker spirits such as goblins, ghasts, or any Wight). The celebrants will act as the host of the dead in Erudinor (the halls of the dead).
To pick “Balder” we have an archery contest (sometimes its darts) and the one who wins ithe competition gets to wear a wooden arm band that has been blessed as the embodiment of “Draupnir” (Odin’s ring given to his son at death) and an arrow scepter. The winner of the archery contest will then be washed clean of any makeup or simply change out of costume and should have extra clothing to change into, clean and beautiful aka Feast Gear.
This is when the real Feast begins as those who are not of the land of the dead should not eat of the food laid out for the dead least they stay there in Erudinors Halls. As we must remember, Hel keeps what she has. This feast is our way of both morning Balders death in the lands of the living and welcoming him in celebration to the lands of the dead.
After the feast we light candles all around or light one large bonfire as a representation of Balders funeral pyre as we hold forth our own lights and warmth as Balders must now depart.
This is where the true ceremony begins. As Balder and Halja sit at the head of the table anointed as the Lord and Lady of the Dead, the Herald then announces the completion and Balders true ascension amongst the dead. Hermod steps forth as he has traveled nine nights to the land of the dead to retrieve Balder at the behest of Odin. Hermod carries with him a small necklace of a horse with eight legs representing Sliepnir.
He then beseeches Halja to give back Balder to the Gods and to the world of the living. Balder interjects and replies only with:

“Let Halja keep what she has.”

Heimdall is then given Draupnir to carry away from the table and thrown into the funeral pyre to give back to the Gods.
The celebration ends soon after with Balder reciting a poem to Hermod that promises his return and the renewal of the world:

“I know friend that the flowers in the middle Garth, that bloomed where ere I walked; Balder bright in the living lands hang lifeless on the stalk.
The folk I loved and who loved me, woeful weep in the lands of light; from the Aethling Aesir of Asgards hall, I am sundered by the night.
But I shall rise to walk again, and where I stand the flowers bloom, when baring wisdom whence I have been, and the world-wyrd finds its doom.”

While this song is taken from the movie “King Arthur”, it is highly indicative of Indo-European Celtic folk songs. While listening to this song, I have also come to liken it to many Erulian paths. Erulians are from the mountains, from the lands far removed, and their souls – the fylgia – even farther removed in the lands of Erudinor deep in Heljaheim.
Though I will explain this much further down the line, there is also a connection to dwarves (mythically speaking) with the Erulians that seem to connect in this song, but that will be posted in the “Theories” section. Go take a look.

And now, for your pleasure, Zan singing “The Exile Song”.

We Will Go Home, from the King Arthur soundtrack

…and thus heralds the end of the Ljot Dagr (or Light Day/s) half cycle of our year. This, is also the end of our full calender year. For those of you interested, the moons of this last year have fallen properly with the dates given on this site and we will be ending our year on a full moon once again. ^^

This month is important as it is the last moments we have to take stock of what we have and shore up our reserves as the new year is fast upon us and thus so comes Winter and the beginning of the Dokk Dagr (or Dark Day/s). While we do not live in an ancient culture dependent solely on our own hands for farming and such, we should be mindful of the way things were done in our world with the cycles of the moons. This was a process for healthful living.

Amongst all of this, I thought I would give to you an intresting article from Iceland to show you were not the only ones thought of as “odd”. Hell, an entire content of people are viewed as “wierd”…*chuckles* There is no imbeded function for this link, so you will have to go to YouTube directly to watch.

Have fun!

Fairys and Such in Iceland

Part of the Hildina Ballad; This song is from Foula known as ‘da Dansk’ meaning ‘the Dane’. It was was recorded in Foula in July 1774; here presented in a Norse Orthography – in the Norn language, one of the many offshoot languages within the Germanic whole that settled in Shetland.
The last native Norn speaker in Shetland is said to have been Walter Sutherland from Skaw (Skagi) in Unst, who died about 1850.
Linguist Jakob Jakobsen, notes: ‘…even rather late in the 18th century, Norn songs and ballads survived in the mouths of the common people.’
GEORGE LOW, FOULA 1774: George Low got this ballad from a man who “has the most knowledge of any I found”: William Henry, a farmer in Guttorm, in Foula. Low notes: “I cannot answer for the orthography. I wrote it, as (the) old man pronounced it; “ It was not possible for Low, too, to get a literal translation.
For the full Version of this Ballad, and more information about the story behind it and the Norn Language, visit:

We will name him, Wyrdfara, got a brilliant tattoo on his arm just recently, one that made me proud. I hope it will inspire all of our readers as well.

The Aiegs Yelmr or “Helm of Awe”. A symbol of power and divine strength, of great magic and fate. It is a heavy burden for any to wear it, but even greater are the gains from the challenge. Huzzah to you, Loki-kin called Wyrdfara!

~Spaerunn Helgardar