Tuesday, June 21, 2005

The Eight Great Festivals Of Asatru

The Eight Great Festivals Of Asatru Cover Yuletide (December 20-31) - This is a time for honoring the clan, both living and dead, and for celebrating the rebirth of the Sun in the depth of winter. It is marked by feasting, gift giving, visiting friends and kin, and remembering those family members who have died. Yule marks the death of one year and the birth of another, as a turning of the endless cycle.

Charming of the Plow/Disting (around February 14) - Disting is sacred to the female ancestors, to Freya, and to Vali, God of vengeance and rebirth. The earth was traditionally prepared for planting at this time, and local assemblies, or "Things," met to discuss legal matters and to give the people a chance to get together and socialize.

Easter (around March 21) - Easter, or Ostara, is named in honor of the Goddess of the Dawn. Her tokens are eggs, rabbits, and all things concerned with the coming of life with the coming of warmer weather in the springtime.

Walburga/May Day (April 30-May 1) - Walburga is a Goddess Connected With the dead who sleep in the burial mounds awaiting rebirth. Her mood is somber and foreboding, in contrast with the next day, May Day, when the theme shifts to rebirth, life, and fertility.

Midsummer (June 21) - The Sun stands at her highest stead on this, the longest day - ready to begin her gradual withdrawal towards the cold and darkness of Yule. We send her our praise and loving support at this, the moment of her highest glory. Major assemblies of the Folk, such as Iceland's Althing, were held at this time.

Freyfaxi/Thing's Tide (around August 23) - The powers of fertility are honored toward the end of August, as the beginning of the harvest season draws nearer. Frey, God of fertility, is give honor at this festival.

Harvest (around September 23) - At the autumn equinox, we give praise and thanks to the group of Germanic deities known as the Vanir, whose specialties are fertility, plenty, and pleasure. The best known Vanir are the twins Frey and Freya, but there are others among their ranks as well.

Winter Nights (October 13-15) - We exchange Blessings with the essence of the female ancestors, considered collectively as the Disir. They give us their blessings as the season of cold closes in on the world and life retreats into hiding. We honor the Disir, knowing they look on from beyond the grave with loving concern for their living human kin.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Order Of The Golden Dawn - The Invoking Pentagram Ritual Of Water
Asatru Free Assembly - The Lessons Of Asgard
Aleister Crowley - The Heart Of The Master
Annie Keary - The Heroes Of Asgard

Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Asatru Poem A Carving

Asatru Poem A Carving Cover A Runestone did, stand in the Hof
Deep the carvings, upon its face
A worthy spot, where all could see
Its message old, its meaning plain

Know how to read, Know how to write
Wise words hard gained, from Elder Kin
They prod us to, much Knowledge learn
And use our minds, in worthy ways

Know how to carve, know how to stain
In stone and wood, in steel and bone
The Holy Runes, from Odin's grasp
Holding power, in form and stroke

Know how to ask, know how to Blot
To worship give, and blessing get
A rightful plea, and grateful thanks
Confirm respect, for Old Ones High

In all of these, and more besides
The Staves hold keys, to Lore and thought
A healing charm, a warding mark
A craftsman's glyph, a grave mound's stone

The magic though, contained within
These simple lines, upright and slash
Lies in the Wyrd, of Tribe's Orlay
And Runestone's words, reminders are

Books in PDF format to read:

Anonymous - Asatru And The Paranormal
Michael Ford - The Book Of Cain
Reeves Hall - Asatru In Brief
Miac - Asatru And Odinism
Sepharial - Astrology And Marriage