The Ordeal of Odin

It is said that Odin hung for Yggdrasil (the World Tree) for nine days and nights in his quest for the Runes. As a Rune reader, I choose to acknowledge this period between Auguest 17th and the 25th, as it is held my many Heathen traditions. I make this period in a variety of ways;  a daily ritual, reading of the Edda’s, and a fast (if possible). In intresting way to observe one day is in silence (or as much silence as possible). This is an opportune time to create a new set of Runes. For today, I’d like to share the tale of Odin’s ordeal:

The Web of Wyrd

137.
I trow 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 heaven.

138.
None refreshed me ever with food or drink,
I peered right down in the deep;
crying aloud I lifted the Runes
then back I fell from thence.

140.
Ere long I bare fruit, and throve full well,
I grew and waxed in wisdom;
word following word, I found me words,
deed following deed, I wrought deeds.

141.
Hidden Runes shalt thou seek and interpreted signs,
many symbols of might and power,
by the great Singer painted, by the high Powers fashioned,
graved by the Utterer of gods.

143.
Dost know how to write, dost know how to read,
dost know how to paint, dost know how to prove,
dost know how to ask, dost know how to offer,
dost know how to send, dost know how to spend?

144.
……..
Thus Odin graved ere the world began;
Then he rose from the deep, and came again.

Translated by Olive Bray
Edited by D. L. Ashliman

Beauty

Beauty

Simple and Glorious
Strong and Sensual
Natural and Wild

Rolls, Curves,  Scars
Angles, Shadows

Uncovered,
Am I still beautiful?
Or is this body
I’ve been given
Unworthy
As it is?

Should I find beauty
In the eyes?
In the face?
In the spirit?
In the soul?

The separation is unnecessary

The tangible and intangible
Meld into eternity
Seen in the eyes
Seen in the soul
It simply is

Beauty

Poetry and Prayers: Marcion

I have a section of my Book of Shadows that I call Poetry and Prayers. There are no rituals here, no explanations; just writing I find inspiring, thought provoking, or spiritual in some matter. Some are specifically Wiccan, others not. Today, I wanted to share something from the Gospel of Marcion (oft called the Gospel of the Lord) – a noncanonical Christian text. It is in some ways similar to the canonical Gospels, espically Luke.

But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloke, withhold not thy coat also. Give every man that asketh of thee: and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. and as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise

Gospel of the Lord III:27-32

Winter Pick-me-ups

Winter can be a pretty terrible time – it’s cold, wet, and you end up getting a cold at some point. I have some remedies for that winter cold – or at least some delicious things that will have you feeling a little better.

One of my favorite bagged teas

Generally, I use a teaspoon to measure out my ingredients – but that’s up to you really depending on your taste.

Red Tea

1 part Hibiscus
1 part Rose (petals or buds)
1/2 part Lavender

Use dried versions of the herbs listed in a strainer, tea ball, or cheesecloth tea bag and steep for about 3 minutes. This makes a beautiful burgundy colored tea with a warm floral sent. Sweeten with honey or sugar, and add a little lemon juice to brighten it up if you like. It’s a wonderful drink to snuggle up with when it’s cold out and is also great to drink during your moontime as these flowers give off a calming fragrance and each have useful health benefits.

Sore Throat Soother

1 part ground/powered Slippery Elm
1 part honey (local is best)

Add these two to the bottom of your mug; poor hot water over and stir to dissolve the honey and to disperse the slippery elm.  No matter how finely ground your slippery elm is, it’s going to be a little gritty/grainy but it’s okay. Slippery elm sooths inflammation and mucus membranes – helping to calm a cough and heal a sore throat. Honey also has soothing properties – and local honey can actually prep your immune system for specific strains of bacteria in your area.

Spiced Milk

6-8 ounces of milk (or if you prefer, almond or soy milk can be used)
3-5 cloves
1 small cinnamon stick
1 inch of fresh ginger, sliced into disks

Combine everything in a small saucepan and heat gently just until it begins to steam. Pour into a cup though a strainer to separate the herbs (the cloves and cinnamon can be used one more time if you let them dry completely; the ginger, however, is done) and enjoy! If you’d like, add a little honey. This is a great drink to really warm you up in the winter – clove, cinnamon, and ginger contain chemicals that stimulate your body to heat up just a little bit.

Hope you enjoy, and stay warm!

A Pre-Imbolc Ritual

Something I like to do every year before Imbolc (or Candlemas) is to physically clean and bless my candle holders. The physical cleaning is a little different for each – depending on the material/shape/size. I personally don’t cast a circle or anything like that for the physical cleaning, though you certainly could.

My "Goddess Area" seen through some of the candle holders being blessed.

I like to do the ritual blessing as near to the full moon before Imbolc as possible. Here what I do: I gather all my candle holders and a bright smelling oil like lemon or peppermint. Then, I cast the circle as usual and take a few moments to soak up the feeling. I trace a pentacle in oil on each candle holder, while saying something along the lines of “I purify thee, and sanctify thee, in the name of the reborn God and the renewed Goddess“. When I have finished with all, I close the circle put the candle holders away until I need them – also, I wipe the oil off if it might ruin or react with the material.

Generally speaking, I do this separately from my Esbat ritual – but certainly could do it as a part of a larger ritual.

Full Wolf Moon

At this time of year the Full Wolf Moon urges us to reconnect with our primal perceptions and understandings. This is the dead of winter – at time where instincts and understanding meant life or death to our ancestors. This is a time to honor our instincts and our primal selves. The chill of winter does not yet ease, so you must remain vigilant.

 

More Green Man

While I’m thinking about the Green Man/Horned God. I thought I share what is perhaps my favorite song dedicated to the God. “Hymn to Herne” by S.J. Tucker – her voice is perfect for this!

And for your reading pleasure, the lyrics:

You can say your prayers
Work your rites
Burn your little candles
Day and night

You can shimmy till dawn
To the pounding drums
But you best be ready
When the Horned One comes, yeah

If you wake to the sound
Of a hunting horn
dance a ring
In the gathering storm

If the Solstice time gets
Your panties in a wad
It’s just the coming
Of the Horned God

He will call you out
Make you sweat
Give you a blessing
That you’ll never forget

So revel in the chase
And let your heartbeat run
Blessed are the children
Of the Horned One

Blessed are the children
Of the Horned One

Hunter who tracks
Outside of time
Guardian lord
Of ancient rhyme

Brother stag
In the musky glen
And consort of the Goddess
In her woodland den

We call you forth
As we make our way
Walking in your power
Every day

Guide us true
In our hunt this night
and maybe even later
In the Great Rite

He will call you out
Make you sweat
Give you a blessing
That you’ll never forget

So revel in the chase
And let your heartbeat run
Blessed are the children
Of the Horned One

Blessed are the children
Of the Horned One

If you wake to the sound
Of a hunting horn

Dance a ring in
The gathering storm

Revel in the chase
And let your heartbeat run

But you’d best be ready
Little one
You’d best be ready
When the Horned One comes

He will call you out
Make you sweat,
give you a blessing
That you’ll never forget

So revel in the chase
And let your heartbeat run
Blessed are the children
Of the Horned One

Blessed are the children
Of the Horned One

Affirmations

Something I’ve been getting into using recently are affirmations – which are simply phrases said over and over again. It’s a kind of magic, really, if you ask me. Saying something (like “I am successful in everything I do”) over and over again, day in and day out, actually creates changes in how you think, act, and live. Generally, affirmations are stated in the positive (“My body craves healthy food”) instead of the negative (“My body does not crave junk food”) and I’ve heard three different reasons behind this. The first is that the universe doesn’t understand “not” or other negatives and basically these are ignored (so the above example becomes “My body does crave junk food”). This one seems a little weird to me – how does the universe not “understand” something? Hell if I know.

The second is that when the affirmations are said over and over again the negatives get lost in the repetition and the affirmation “morphs” into something else whereas a positive affirmation stays the same.  This makes a little more sense but it’s not nearly as logical as the third. Let’s take the example I’ve been using about junk food – if you were to repeat the phrase “my body does not crave junk food” over and over, day in and day out, what will you be thinking about? Junk food! The thing you’re trying to stay away from. Now, if you use “my body craves healthy foods” you’ll be thinking about healthy foods – makes a lot more sense, doesn’t it?

At the moment, I’m using affirmations to help be integrate my spiritual life

The mini wrist mala I use with my affirmations

back into my day to day life – something I’ve been having a lot of trouble with. Let me share my little ritual: At every meal, before I start eating, I recite my affirmations (often internally) using a handmade mini-wrist mala. The first is “my spiritual life is an integral part of my daily life”. I say this nine times, then go on to the second affirmation that I use: “my daily life is an integral part of my spiritual life”.

Do you use affirmations?

Moontime Talk

Warning
This post is about menstruation – if you don’t like that, don’t read it

Growing up as I did – an American in the Midwest – I had the impression that menstruation (which I now refer to in general as Moontime) was gross, bad, and inconvenient. It was unspeakable and bordered on wrong, even if it was a totally natural process. So, in wanting to change that idea, I’ve decided to share my Moontime ritual. Yes, a ritual created to celebrate the cycle rather then make  it disgusting.

Moontime Ritual

For this, you will need one red candle (a votive is best), some incense that you are partial to – don’t worry about the properties just use your favorite. This is to be done for several days, starting the first day of your Moontime and ending the day after your flow has stopped. Before you start you will need a drink, preferably red, and some sort of bread like food. Again, it is more important that you enjoy these then what metaphysical properties they hold. Feel free to play some music or wear your favorite outfit – the idea is to to surrounded by things that make you feel comfortable, strong, and totally beautiful.

My favorite winter Moontime ritual setup: Dragon's Blood candle, Lotus incense, chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa

 

Light the incense and candle and meditate a moment on who you are: all the feminine qualities you possess and display; the masculine qualities that you also possess without giving up your femininity; how you love and care and create. When you are ready, say simply but with conviction:

I am a woman of the Earth
A daughter of the Lord and Lady
A daughter of the physical and spiritual
And I am blessed

Hold the cup before you, and continue:

For I am the waters of life
For mine is the blood that flows

Take a sip and hold the bread before you and continue:

For I am the one who nourishes
For mine is the power to sustain

Continue to contemplate while you finish the food and drink. Repeat this once a day until the day after your moon time. This helps us to stay connected to our body – teaching us how to listen.

Book of Shadows?

I’ve decided to add a new category to this blog: Book of Shadows. Posts in this category will include information either taken directly out of or based on entries in my personal Book of Shadows. Now, I know a lot of folks say you cannot/should not share your Book of Shadows or even let other people look at it. I only follow this to a degree – the information I’ve gathered and processed from outside sources is something I freely share; personal information or the like will remain with me. I think it’s important to share some of my knowledge, but I know it’s unfair to myself to share it all. In the spirit of sharing, I’ll leave you with on of my favorite poems:

THE WITCH ALONE – Scott Cunningham

Beyond the town, beneath the moon
Beside the standing stone
There lives a woman, fair of faith
We call the witch alone

She sings to sun and moon and stars
And gathers herbs and weeds
With which she fashions ancient charms
And other magic deeds

She worships not at altars built
By hands of mortal men
But in the misty glade
Beyond the farthest glen

What need has she of flashing swords
Of crystals glowing bright
Of censors and of colored cords
That grace the Wiccan rite?

Her tools are fashioned from the earth
And wind and fire and rain
Her rites are dances wild and free
That call the gods amain

When spring and summer pass to fall
And twilight fills her eyes
She’ll lie upon the browning grass
And smile as she dies

For though she leaves her mortal shell
Of flesh and blood and bone
She knows she does not die but lives
On, as the witch alone….

~Take care and Blessed be