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[ofdirtandbone]

How to honor Freyja Regularly

- Keep your heart open and love regularly.

- When doing divination keep your runes close

- Keep your runes on you whenever your travels bring you somewhere

- Whenever you see a cat smile and greet them even if it seems cold. She loves them.

- Keep amber, nuts and sweet things near you and thank her whenever you eat them

- keep a strong demeanor, but a loving one.

- Be there for those who don’t feel like they are worth it. She is one of the strongest goddesses for them to be close to as she often tries to find comfort for those who are dying on the inside due to mental problems or health problems.

[ofdirtandbone]

💥struggling polytheist tips💥

from the bean who brought you beginner polytheist tips, here’s some for the experienced and struggling —

💢 first and most importantly, make yourself the priority. step back. stop pressuring and guilt tripping yourself. sometimes this means not making offerings, doing rituals, or just being generally active with your faith - they will forgive you 

💢 remember that they are busy. modern polytheism is on the up and up, sometimes they simply won’t have time for you but you are not forsaken. 

💢 don’t compare yourself to others. everyone’s path and relationship with deities is unique and incredibly personal. criticizing yourself won’t help anything. 

💢 when you’re able to, say thanks. just thanks. Pour out some water, whisper apologies, something to recognize them as still apart of your life 

💢 too busy/no energy when you’re awake? try in your dreams or keep a log if nothing seems obvious. signs might be there that aren’t totally blatant 

💢 plan ahead. the less time pressure you put on yourself, the more energy you’re likely to have to finally Do The Thing™. I like to plan my Things around holidays and moon phases but it can be anything whenever 

💢 godphone out of minutes? write them notes. not letters (i mean, unless you wanna but i find them to be exhausting). Leave them in a box, a bowl, tie them to a plant, privately post them to your blog, burn em up, whatever works 

💢 give them flowers. A simple, universal, “miss you, love you, hope you’re doing well" 

💢 dismantle and reorganize your altar. clear out your doubtful, struggling energies from your personal space. you can wait to set it back up or do so slowly over time 

💢 do you work with spirits? they might be more readily available than your very busy deities if you need a spiritual fix this one helps me a lot

feel free to add your own tips and help out your fellow polytheist~

[ofdirtandbone]

My working altar~ 

The left is dedicated to Thor, the right to Freyja ♡ 

(please keep caption)

[ofdirtandbone]

Bone Magic Series: How to Ethically Acquire Animal Remains

So now that we have covered many of the historical and modern uses of animal remains, how do you go about acquiring them? The good news is, you have several options to legally and ethically acquire bones, furs, feathers, teeth, and claws, you just have to know where to look! I understand not everyone has access to large expanses of woods to find animal remains or trekking through a forest looking for bone may not be your thing. I get it! And because of the internet, it’s now easier than ever to acquire animal remains, even for those that are against killing animals, like myself.

Nature Walk

This is how I have acquired most of my animal remains, most of which came from my dad who is an avid hunter (well he used to be) and therefore out in the woods a lot! He stumbles on animal remains all the time and brings them all home. I’m fortunate enough to be given many of the things he finds, and I use them as decor and in my magical practice. You simply need to venture out into the woods and keep an eye out. If you are hiking common trails, especially in a park, you’re likely not going to find anything because others have been there before you. Besides, you’re not supposed to take anything from parks, but I know people do anyway. Find a wild place, where few people travel and walk the local wildlife trails. Deer wear some pretty clear paths through the woods; these are great places to start. Don’t be surprised if you don’t find anything on your first walk. You’ll likely take a lot of walks before finding anything, but that’s part of the fun!

Roadkill

This is an easy way to get animal remains, but not a very pleasant one! Furthermore, there are several downsides to using roadkill remains. First, you run the risk of coming into contact with an infectious disease, including rabies and even leprosy! A word to the wise, if you live anywhere near armadillos, like I do here in Georgia, leave their remains right where you find them! They are notorious for carrying leprosy and no one wants to be a lepper, although you’d certainly have that old world witchy vibe going on. Second, many of the bones may be broken or otherwise harmed. Its the side effect of being hit by a car! Third, the animal remains will need to be cleaned of any remaining flesh, and the process doesn’t always smell very nice. I’ll cover that move in the next post. Please make sure you follow all local laws regarding roadkill. It is illegal in some areas to touch roadkill, but I won’t tell.

Hunting/Hunters

If you are a hunter, you can save the remains of the animals you have killed. If you aren’t a hunter but don’t mind that someone else did the killing, the check out the local animal processing business. Hunting season is year round, meaning something is in season all the time, so hunters are constantly bringing in animals that need to be processed. In Georgia, you can pick up white-tail deer, turkey, wild boar/pig, rabbit, waterfowl, and even bobcat and coyote remains if you get lucky. After they have processed the animal, there are bones and pelts left over. Some of the processing businesses will sell these; some may even give you parts for free! Some smaller businesses are just happy someone is taking it off their hands because a lot of times the unused remains end up in the trash.

Butcher Shop/Grocery Store

There is a couple of option here. One you can buy meat with the bones still in the meat and remove them yourself, or you can ask the local butcher if they have any leftover bones you could buy. Yes, they usually sell the bones here because people like to use them in cooking stock. Keep in mind that cooked bones are more brittle than uncooked bones, but you are more than welcome to use cooked bones. I’ve seen several witches do it with good results.

Online Stores

Not interested in getting your hands dirty? Not to fear! There are tons of great shops online that ethically acquire animal bones, usually from animals that died of natural causes. Do some research on the companies though. While they may advertise that they ethically and legally sourced the animal remains, you can’t be too careful. Be wary of exotic animals and always make sure to check whether or not the animal is listed as endangered. It is illegal to own any remains of an endangered animal unless there is proper paperwork detailing it came from healthy populations or it is from before 1973.

So what shops do I recommend? Curious Nature sources all of their remains from roadkill, zoos, or a byproduct of another industry, such as farming. They purposely try to learn as much as they can about where the remains come from, to ensure they are ethically sourcing their product. You can read more on their stance here. One of the best stores and a personal favorite of mine is The Skull Store. Like Curious Nature, they actively search for ethically and sustainably sources animal remains, not to mention they work with conservation programs, wildlife rehabilitation, and education programs. They never commission an animal to be killed; instead, they purchase animal remains from sustainable sources such as zoos, farms, indigenous peoples, and old collections. Furthermore, they work with law enforcement and wildlife enforcement agencies to help catch poachers and smugglers. You can read their full policy here. This is one of my favorite online sources as they take action in the wildlife community. Another shop I love is Of Moth and Moon. I’ve ordered from their shop and received some amazing little curiosities. It’s a small family business and all of their animal remains come from nature, owl pellets, roadkill, natural deaths, or are the by-product of an industry or pest control. You can request items to come strictly from nature, roadkill, or natural death if you don’t want to support an industry that profits from killing animals.

Your Pets

Yes, you can get animal remains from your pets, while they are still alive and well I might add. My cats shed fur, whiskers, and nails all the time. Any of these could easily be used in magical practice. Sometimes a pet may lose a tooth or need to have one extracted. You can ask the vet for that tooth! My chickens constantly shed feathers. I am completely covered up in feathers right now! When your pet passes, you can also opt to have them preserved or use their bones in your practice, if that doesn’t bother you too much.

***

No matter how you decide to acquire your animal remains, please never kill an animal simply to harvest something from it. That’s highly unethical and the spirit of the animal will not be pleased. Please follow all local laws and regulations regarding animal remains. I think by now most American witches know they aren’t supposed to be picking up feathers, but use your best judgment. If you do come across animal remains in nature, approach it with respect and caution. Disease is a big factor, but the spirit may still be hanging out around. If you sense that it is, ask if you may approach and touch the bones. If its a no, simply thank the animal for its time, leave an offering and move along. If it does allow you to touch it, make your intentions clear and known and ask if you may take a bone or several with you for your magical workings. As of yet, I haven’t been told no! You may find the bones are empty, especially if they have been there a while. I would still approach respectfully.

How do you find animal remains to use in your practice?

Interest in the rest of the series? Here’s what’s to come!

Bone Magic Series

Introduction

A Brief History of Animal Remains in Magic

Bones and Skulls: How to Use Them in Magic

Furs and Pelts: How to Use Them In Magic

Feathers, Fangs, and Claws: How to Use Them in Magic

How to Ethically Acquire Animal Remains

Cleaning and Preserving Animal Remains

Working With the Spirits of Animal Remains: Crossing Over & Contracting

Feeding Your Bones

Throwing the Bones + Build Your Own Bone Tarot

[ofdirtandbone]

Frigg and Sigyn sitting down around the hearth fire to crochet and gossip

Sol and Idunn giggling in the kitchen baking apple pies decorated with pie crust suns

Freyja and Mordgud working out at the gym together as gal pals do

Sif and Sigyn trading parenting tips over coffee at the local coffee shop

Mordgud dragging Hel to go see the latest nerdy movie trending for an all female cast

Hel and Eir gently comforting Sigyn when time catches up with her and memories weigh her down

Eir making hot tea for all the goddesses for the weekly book club meeting

Frigg redecorating the homes of the other goddesses whenever the mood strikes and they’re willing

Sol and Jord out in the kitchen garden, tending to the herbs and poisons, as they are apt to do

Jord and Mordgud walking late into the twilight just to watch the stars come out and the sky to dance

just goddesses without boundaries doing what they do

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The Nine Worlds

[ofdirtandbone]

Runehack: Runes as Motivators.

Have new years resolutions but constantly break them? Use your runes to help keep you on your path. Write them on your body, stick a post-it note with it on the mirror, say it under your breath. Here are a few ideas for attaching resolutions to runes (by no means a complete list):

Fehu: Balancing your budget, remembering to donate.

Uruz: Exercising, eating a healthy diet.

Thurisaz: Becoming more forceful (for those who think they might be “doormats”).

Ansuz: Organization, breaking negative thought patterns.

Raidho: Following your own will, finding your path, to enjoy the journey of life.

Kenaz: Working on your creativity, developing more knowledge.

Gebo: Remembering to think of others, to give more than you receive.

Wunjo: To embrace gratitude and joy, to work toward your best self.

Keep reading

[ofdirtandbone]

The Vegvísir

A common sight amongst Norse Pagan blogs at the moment is the Vegvísir, the Icelandic Runic Compass.

It’s easy to see why. It’s a very cool, unique design. The runic aesthetic probably appeals a fair bit to those who follow Norse Paganism, Asatru or Heathery. It appealed to me enough that I’ve got it inked into my arm.

However, the Vegvísir actually has nothing at all to do with Old Norse tradition. It’s likely much younger than the Viking Age, and probably came about after the Old Faith died out.

The only source we have for the Icelandic Protection Symbol is the 1880 Hund Manuscript. This text has a lot of Christian influence, and many of the things in it are not actually Pre-Christian. There is no evidence of the Vegvísir being used in the Viking Age, and it was likely invented and imported afterwards. That said it’s roots are likely Nordic, and it may have stemmed from the Helm of Awe (Ægishjálmr).

So is using it in tandem with Asatru or Heathery wrong?

Well, modern Norse Paganism is largely Reconstructionism. There isn’t a whole lot to go on regarding tradition and religious practices, and with such an incomplete picture many things are substituted in.

In this sense the Vegvísir is the perfect symbol for modern Heathens. Taking something which stems from that culture and bringing it into modern practises of the tradition. It’s a newer symbol for a newer iteration of the faith, while keeping the spirit of the old alive.

Just don’t use it for racism. It’s a PROTECTION symbol.

[ofdirtandbone]

Me normally: “The gods should be approached with the utmost respect and reverence, as one would approach an honored ancestor. They gave us our shape and breathed the breath of life into us; it’s the least we can do.”

Me giving an offering: “Alright you ugly creepy one-eyed Gandalf-hat-wearin-ass Crypt-Keeper-lookin-ass geriatric fuck, run in here and get y'all wine”

[ofdirtandbone]

What are the old Norse/Germanic holidays and when do they fall???Btw beautiful blog.

Here is a simplified wheel of the year.

And here is some more in-depth information from The Asatru Alliance

SnowMoon/January

Snowmoon 3,

Charming of the Plow: This is the date of an agricultural ritual performed in Northern Europe from ancient times. Grains and cakes were offered for the soil’s fertility, and the Sky Father and Earth Mother were invoked to that end. Meditate upon your dependence on the soil, and crumble upon the earth a piece of bread as you call upon Odin, Frigga and the Land Spirits to heal the Earth and keep it from harm.

Snowmoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Raud the Strong: Raud was a landowner in Norway who was put to death by (St.) Olaf Tryggvason for his loyalty to Asatru by having a snake forced down his throat. Rauds lands were then confiscated in the name of the king and his monks. Raise a horn in honor of Raud and all of his kinsmen who gave their lives, rather then submit to the enforced love of the kristjan empire.

Snowmoon 14,

Thorrablot: This holiday began the Old Norse month of Snorri. It is still observed in Iceland with parties and a mid-winter feast. It is of course sacred to Thorr and the ancient Icelandic Winter Spirit of Thorri. On this day we should perform blot to Thorr and invite the mighty Asaman to the feast.

Horning / February

Horning 2,

Barri: This is the day we celebrate the wooing by Ingvi Freyr of the maiden Gerd, a symbolic marriage of the Vanir God of Fertility with the Mother Earth. It is a festival of fertility, the planted seed and the plowed furrow. For those of you who garden, this is the time to plant seeds indoors, to later be transplanted in the summer garden.

Horning 9,

Day of Remembrance for Eyvind Kinnrifi: Olaf tortured him to death by placing a bowl of red-hot embers on his stomach until his body burst open. Eyvind’s crime was a steadfast loyalty to the Old Gods. A good day to reflect on kristjan kindness.

Horning 14,

Feast of Vali: This feast originally celebrated the death of Hothr at the hands of Vali. This late winter festival relates to the triumphant return of the light of the sun over the dark days of winter. Today it is traditional celebration of the family. A time for the customary exchange of cards and gifts with loved ones. It is also a time for the renewal of marriage vows and an occasion for marriages.

Lenting / March

Lenting 9,

Day of Remembrance for Oliver the Martyr: He was an adherent of Asatru who persisted in organizing underground sacrifices to the Gods and Goddesses despite decrees by St Olaf the Lawbreaker forbidding such activities. Betrayed by an informer, he was killed by Olaf’s men while preparing for the Spring sacrifice in the village of Maerin Norway. Many other men whose names are lost to us were also killed, mutilated, or exiled for taking part in such sacrifices.

Lenting 20,

High Feast of Ostara: This is the Spring Equinox. The end of Winter and the beginning of the season of rebirth. Today we honor Frigga, Freya and Nerthus with blot and feast. Pour a libation of mead onto the Earth; celebrate the rebirth of nature, Asatru, and the new hopes of our Folk.

Lenting 28,

Ragnar Lodbrok Day: Ragnar was one of the legends most famous Vikings. On this day in Runic Year 1145 he raided Paris. It just happened to be Easter Sunday. Today toast Ragnar and read from his Saga.

Ostara / April

Ostara 9,

Day of Remembrance for Jarl Hakon of Norway: As ruler of the western part of the realm, Hakon restored the worship of the Old Gods and cast out the alien religion. In the process, the common folk regained political liberties which were erased under the kristjan yoke, and the flame of our Troth burned brighter in an era of gathering gloom. It may be that Hakon’s defense of our ancestral ways helped encourage the survival of our traditions in Iceland, where they eventually became the seeds of modern day Asatru. On this day reflect on how the actions of the individual can impact world events and the future of Odinn’s Nation.

Ostara 15,

Sigrblot/Sumarsdag: Today we celebrate the first day of Summer in the Old Icelandic calendar. In Iceland it had strong agricultural overtones, but elsewhere in the Nordic world, it was a time to sacrifice to Odinn for victory in the summer voyages and battles.

Ostara 22,

Yggdrasil Day: On this day we realize the great significance that the World Tree plays in our culture, heritage, and native spirituality. It is from the World Tree that we came, and it shelters and nurtures the Asatru today, and will offer refuge to the Folk come Ragnarok. Trees are the lungs as well as the soul of Midgard. Plant a tree today, nurture it, and protect it. In this act the Folk must abide.

Ostara 30,

Walburg: this is better known as Walpurgisnacht or May Eve. Walberg is a goddess of our folk combining some of the traits of Her better-known peers. Reflect on this day on Freya, Hel, and Frigga as the repository of the glorious dead, and you will have an idea of Wulburg’s nature. On this day pour a horn of mead upon the earth in memory of our heroes.

Merrymoon / May

Merrymoon 1,

May Day: The first of May is a time of great celebration all across Europe, as the fields get greener and the flowers decorate the landscape with colorful confusion. Freya turns her kindly face to us after the night of Walburg. Celebrate the birth of Spring and the gifts of Freya on this day.

Merrymoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Guthroth: One of the upland minor kings. Guthroth had to the audacity to make a speech opposing the policies of Olaf Tryggvason, who at the time was busy killing people who did not want to become kristjans. For exercising his Gods given rights to worship his tribal Gods, Guthroth was captured and his tongue was cut out. Use your tongue for the Gods today! Sing their praises and recite some heroic poetry, tell someone of the Gods glory, and call a kinsman to keep in touch.

Merrymoon 20,

Frigga Blot: Today we rejoice in the warmth and splendor of Spring. A traditional time for a Kindred campout, perform blot to honor the AllMother and thank Her for the health and vitality of the Family, Kindred and Tribe.

Midyear / June

Midyear 8,

Lindisfarne Day: On this day in the year 1043 Runic Era (793 CE) three Viking ships raided the Isle of Lindisfarne, officially opening what is the Viking Age. Toast these brave warriors who began the noble resistance of the alien invasion of the Northlands and sought rightful revenge for the slaughter of the Saxons by Charlamange.

Midyear 9,

Day of Remembrance for Sigurd the Volsung: He is the model Germanic hero. His wooing of the Valkyrie Brynhild, the winning of the treasure of the Nibelungs, and the constant theme of Odinic initiation that weaves itself throughout his story are priceless parts of our Asatru heritage, that provide endless material for contemplation and inspiration for action.

Midyear 21,

Midsummer: This is the longest day and the shortest night of the year: Now Sunna begins its ling decline, sliding into the darkness which will culminate six months from now at Yule. Identifying the sun with the brightness of Baldur, we celebrate in honor of both. Hold blot to Baldur and High Feast. This was the traditional time for holding the AlThing in ancient times.

Haymoon / July

Haymoon 4,

Founder’s Day: On this day we honor the unselfish personal sacrifice and unswerving dedication to our Folk exemplified by the founders of modern era Asatru, H. Rud Mills of Australia, Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson and Thorsteinn Guthjonson of Iceland. On this day reflect on just what YOU can do to promote the growth of our ancestral religion and protect our sacred heritage and traditions.

Haymoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Unn the Deep Minded: Unn was a powerful figure from the Laxdaela Saga who emigrated to Scotland to avoid the hostility of King Harald Finehair. She established dynasties in the Orkney and Faroe Islands by carefully marrying off her grand daughters. As a settler in Iceland she continued to exhibit all those traits which were her hallmark-strong will, a determination to control, dignity, and a noble character. In the last days of her life, she established a mighty line choosing one of her grandsons as her heir. She died during his wedding celebration, presumable accomplishing her goals and worked out her orlog here in Midgard. She received a typical Nordic ship burial, surrounded by her treasure and her reputation for great deeds.

Haymoon 29,

Stikklestad Day: Olaf the Lawbreaker (“St. Olaf”) was killed at the battle of Stikklestad on this date in the year 1280 R.E. Olaf acquired a reputation for killing, maiming, and exiling his fellow Norwegians who would not convert to Christianity, and for carrying an army with him in violation of the law to help him accomplish his oppression. Today honor the Asatru martyrs who died rather then submit to gray slavery. Also honor the warriors who brought justice to the Lawbreaker.

Harvest / August

Harvest 1,

Freyfaxi: Freyfaxi marked the time of the harvest in ancient Iceland. Today the Asatru observe this date as a celebration of their harvest with blot to Freyr and a grand Feast from the gardens and the fields.

Harvest 9,

Day of Remembrance for Radbod: On this date we honor Radbod a king of Frisia what was an early target kristjan missionaries. Just before his baptism ceremony, he asked the clergy what fate his befallen ancestors who died loyal to Asatru. The missionaries replied that Radbod’s Heathen ancestors were burning in Hell-to which the king replied: “Then I will rather live there with my ancestors than go to heaven with a parcel of beggars.” The baptism was cancelled, the aliens expelled, and Frisia remained free. Drink a horn this day in memory of Radbod.

Shedding / September

Shedding 9,

Day of Remembrance for Herman of the Cherusci: Few mortals have privileged to serve our Folk as did Herman, a leader of the tribe called the Cherusci. We he defeated Varus’ three Roman Legions in 9 C.E. he blocked our amalgamation into the Mediterranean morass. Herman was very aware of his duties not only as a member of his tribe but also as an Asaman - indeed the two were probably inseparable with him. Shedding is the ideal time to give him praise, because the crucial battle for which he is remembered was fought during this month.

Shedding 23,

Winter Finding: The Fall Equinox; Summer and Winter balance for a moment and the cold, old man wins - for now. Brace yourself for longer nights and the onset, eventually, of the cold and darkness of Winter. Do blot to Odin for inspiration to get through your personal lean times, whenever they may strike. This is the traditional time for Fall Fest and the Second Harvest Feast.

Hunting / October

Hunting 8,

Day of Remembrance for Erik the Red: Praise the stalwart founder of Greenland, and father of Leif, the founder of Vinland. Erik remained loyal to Thor even when his wife left the Gods and refused to sleep with her Heathen husband. Pause in memory of Erik today; drink a toast to his honor. No doubt he gets enough warmth in Har’s Hall to make up for his wife’s coldness.

Hunting 9,

Day of Remembrance for Leif Erikson: this is a day that even the U.S. Government admits who should dedicate to the man who beat Columbus to the shores of Vinland by over 500 years. Don’t let it slide quietly - write your local newspapers and share the word of the Norse colonies with neighbors and friends.

Hunting 14,

Winter Nights/Vetrablot: In the Old Icelandic Calendar, winter begins on the Satyrday between Hunting 11th and 17th. Winter Nights celebrates the bounty of the harvest and honors Freya and the fertility and protective spirits called Disir, that She leads (often the Disir are seen as our female ancestors). Give glory to Freya and pour a libation of ale, milk, or mead into the soil an offering to the Disir and the Earth itself.

Fogmoon / November

Fogmoon 9,

Day of Remembrance for Queen Sigrith of Sweden: When Olaf the Lawbreaker had been king of Norway for three years, he asked Queen Sigrith of Sweden to marry him. She agreed, but when he insisted that she give up her ancestral Gods Sigrith replied, “I do not mean to abandon the faith I have led, and my kinsmen before me. Nor shall I object to your belief in the god you prefer.” As usual Heathen tolerance was met with kristjan imprecations and a blow to the face. The wedding was off - depriving Olaf of political power that could have sped the christianization of Scandinavia. As it were, history tells us that the Heathens held on for over 300 more years in the Northlands. Hail Sigrith, defender of Asatru, and women of stubborn virtue!

Fogmoon 11,

Feast of the Einherjar: The chosen heroes who sit in Odin’s Hall are the Einherjar. Today we honor those dead kin who gave their lives for Family and Folk. If you have friends or family who died in battle, visit their graves today, if that is not possible, drink a libation in their memory.

Fogmoon 23,

Feast of Ullr: The Feast of Ullr is to celebrate the Hunt and to gain personal luck needed for success. Weapons are dedicated on this day to Ullr, God of the Bow. If your hunting arms were blessed by the luck of the God of the Hunt, your family and tribe shared the bounty with a Blot and Feast to Ullr.

Yule / December

Yule 9,

Day of Remembrance for Egil Skallagrimsson: Odin was his God, and the blood of berserks and shape-shifters ran in his family. His lust for gold and for fames was insatiable. Yet the same man was passionately moved by the love of his friends and generously opened handed to those who found his favor. The same brain that seethed with war-fury also composed skaldic poetry capable of calming angry kings. Can it be by accident that Egil worshipped Odin, the great solver of paradoxes and riddles? Indeed all Asafolk - but especially those who follow the one-eyed God of battle and magic - can learn much from the life of this amazing man.

Yule 21,

Mother Night: As the night before the Winter Solstice, this is the time when the New Year is born. We honor the beginning of Sunnas return and the breaking of Winter’s spell. This is a time to honor Thor and Freyr, celebrate by Blot, Sumbel, and High Feast. Burn a Yule Log and jump the flames for luck and purification.

Yule 22,

High Feast of Yule - Beginning of Runic Year - Sacred to Thorr and Freyr

Yule 31,

Twelfth Night: This culminates the traditional twelve days of Yule. Each day of which is a month of the preceding year in miniature. Reflect on the past year. Take stock and lay a course for the future. Make New Years resolutions in the old way by swearing your oath on Freyr’s boar or on your Hammer.

[ofdirtandbone]

Ways the Gods Can Contact You

This is one of the most frequent questions I receive. Otherwise, I would not make this post. Worship is incredibly personal, and Gods usually contact you in ways that you don’t expect, or ways you didn’t realize until you look back on the past.

These methods listed are common ones that I often hear from others. Do not limit your communication to these steps.

You feel a very close connection with Them, even without legitimate reason. Some people feel a connection to Their area of rule (i.e. sea god for feeling close to the ocean). If you’re like me, you’ve felt drawn to a God and you don’t even know why. This could be the Gods trying to reach out to you.

A God sends you strong gut feelings. Before I devoteed to Hades, I gave Him offerings during every Sabbat. I can’t tell you why; I just felt like I needed to. One day, I thought of making an altar for Hades, and I immediately put aside all other thoughts and responsibilities, determined to create that altar. If you’ve experience similar gut feelings, that may be a God speaking to you.

Your favorites overlap. It sounds silly, but it’s an experience I’ve heard about from a lot of people. For example, if you’ve always felt connected to dogs, and feel drawn towards Aries, you might look up the correspondence of dogs and realize that Aries has a close relationship with dogs. A quick disclaimer: This doesn’t always happen, and it’s possible to feel attracted to a God you have little connectivity with.

Your environment responds to you when you speak with the Gods. During my first ever Wiccan ritual, the God spoke to me by raising the candle flame higher than any I’ve ever seen. I’ve felt the wind shift when I spoke to the Gods about change in my life. Changes like these could be signs of response, especially during a prayer or ritual.

You feel a response, similar to the last one, but more esoteric. Examples may include feeling a warm blanket on your shoulders, feeling yourself relax while speaking to the Gods, touching hands, or even smelling a certain scent from no obvious source.

You hear a response. In some cases you may actually hear a voice in your head when a God speaks to you.

The Gods come through divination, such as automatic writing, scrying, tarot, pendulum or omens. Certain signs or repeated animal sightings may also be a method of contact.

The Gods communicate through dreams, visions, meditation or hedge crossing.

Anything I missed? Please add on. And remember that these are simply examples. Listen to your instinct, and you’ll know. It may take some time.

I wish you a fun and rewarding path, lovelies! .+(´^ω^`)+.

[ofdirtandbone]

Freyja 

She is married to the shadowy figure Od, who traveled frequently and one day did not return. Freyja wept for her missing husband, and it is said that she wandered the worlds looking for him. She is a goddess of battle, magic, love, and sex, and she gets first pick of those who fall in battle. Both slain warriors and women can go to her hall after death.

[ofdirtandbone]

aesthetics → hel

Hel (“the Hidden” from the word hel, “to conceal”) is the Norse Goddess of the dead, ruler of the Land of Mist, Niflheim or Niflhel located in the far north–a cold, damp place that is home to frost giants and dwarves.

[ofdirtandbone]

“Take me back to the old ways…”

My instagram: Lunaintheforest

[ofdirtandbone]

Celebrating the Holidays as a Heathen in a Christian World

During this time of year, I feel like it’s pertinent to bring up the topic of celebrating holidays as a Heathen among non-Heathens. There’s a lot of emphasis placed on all the different holidays that exist, both within Heathenry and in the pagan community in general, and information on how and when to celebrate them. I feel like this tends to come with a lot of pressure to celebrate those holidays in certain ways (often as “pagan” as possible), particularly for those who are new to this path. This is of course not always the case, but it’s something that I was pretty strongly affected by as a “baby” Heathen, so I thought I’d make a post about it.

I will tell you that I–a Heathen of several years who is fairly settled in her religious beliefs and practice–celebrate Christmas. I don’t celebrate the birth of Christ or any such thing, obviously, but I do celebrate the holiday on December 25th. I make Christmas cookies, eat Christmas dinner, give and receive presents, do Santa Claus traditions with my younger sister–all “normal” things most Americans do at Christmas. All of this does not make me less of a Heathen.

I find it much easier to celebrate a holiday that I grew up with than one I tried to adopt as an adult, though my Christmas has evolved (at least internally) a great deal since I was a Christian as a child. I think of the holiday differently than my Christian or atheist friends do, and my priorities are different than theirs. For example, rather than celebrate Christ and his birth and life, I give thanks to Freyr for the bounties of the year, to Holda for the blessings of home and family, and to Odin for the lessons I’ve learned and the wisdom I’ve gained. I regard our Christmas tree as a symbol of the Earth’s power to grace my home–an evergreen to remind us of the life that slumbers in the winter and will return in spring. I value the spirit of hospitality and connection to family more greatly than a Church service. These are all the same things I would do if I celebrated Yule, but observing Christmas instead makes it easier and smoother for me to appreciate and act on those things because I live in a society where Christmas is the default, and that is what the rest of my family celebrates. These things are much more important to me than following any standard Heathen or pagan practice, or staying true to the traditions of my ancient ancestors. I am able to adapt the existing holiday to fit with my own values, and there is nothing wrong with that. (After all, Christmas and Yule have a lot in common in the end.) To me, holidays are about the spirit, not just a certain date or name.

This is, of course, not meant to belittle anyone who puts great value the keeping of purely Heathen holiday traditions, or who belongs to a community in which celebrating Yule is the norm, or anyone at all. I just want to share my experience as a solitary Heathen in America, and hopefully reassure any fellow Heathens who struggle during this time of year with not feeling “pagan enough” or finding it hard to transition away from the norm of their community or family. You can celebrate Christmas as a Heathen if you want to. It doesn’t make your belief any less valid.

Whatever you celebrate, I hope that all of you have had a wonderful, safe, and blessed holiday season ♥ God Jul, and Merry Christmas!