It's been a very long time, but I'm glad to be posting here again. Our Sunnauuneda celebration went very well. The games probably weren't as grand as my husband would have liked, but they aren't the focus of the day anyway. I think we had the most spiritual gathering we've had in a while. We went back to having women bear the horn, rather than just passing it, and we skipped over those who had nothing to say, so there were no "empty" horns. Great horns were raised, and it was a spiritual and emotional event. The gods were invited to join us, and I feel like they accepted that invitation. I feel invigorated into furthering what we are doing here, not letting it stagnate. I see a bright future for us.

Things do seem to be turning around, and that bodes well, I think. Gavin lost his old job, but that has made way for a new one. He's still in the same line of work, but the hours are better, it's closer, and he's making more money. It's been less than a week since he started, and we already feel less stressed. My only real worry at this point is that we won't have insurance for a couple of months, but when it's time to sign up, we can now afford to put everyone on the policy and not just Gavin. Things are really looking up. I don't mean to get so personal, but I feel like I need to share the blessings that are coming our way.

On another note, I have been thinking a lot lately about the concept of dowries. When Gavin and I got married, he paid 8 pieces of silver to Ermund as my bride price. I like that tradition, but I have been thinking about how it would work in a more modern sense. 

If our ancestors  had continued to practice their ancient religion into modern times, uninterrupted, I wonder how this custom might have changed. Certainly, I think the tradition would have continued, but I think the gifts might have changed. As a mother of two boys, I wonder what bride-price my boys might pay to their future in-laws. Whether the boys marry heathen women or not, I intend that they give respectful gifts to the parents of their future wives. What might these gifts be? I feel like some form of jewelry would be the most practical. It has value, can be worn, displayed, and handed down along family lines. Rather than silver bullion (which is still very valuable, particularly in today's market), a gift of jewelry can be very personal. Imagine how special an engagement ring or wedding band can be, and think of a proud mother-in-law wearing a beautiful ring or pendant given by an adoring son-in-law as thanks for her daughter's hand. It is something she can be proud of and brag about, and something that can perhaps be passed along to her grand-daughters some day. I think, especially for non-heathen in-laws, a gift of jewelry would seem less like "payment" and more like a "gift". For those heathens that might understand the custom a little better, they would appreciate a monetary gift for what it is. I do not mean paper money, of course, but gold or silver, which will always have intrinsic value. If it was my daughter, I would appreciate either, but I haven't got any, so I think about what gifts my sons might give.

Faining Galdor, Sunnauuenda 2010

Lord of storms, master of Mjollnir

Mighty Æsir, scourge of the Etin-foe

We share our feast with you.

It is you, Thunderer, that chooses where the rain will fall

You decide which men to bless

With these deeds and these offerings

We ask that you share your blessings with us

The summer sky rumbles and echoes

When you swing your holy hammer

We honor you, Asa-Þorr Uuis thû hêl!

Grandfathers, Grandmothers

Those who have gone before

Ancient kin who wait for us

In eternal halls

Kin who sit silently beside us

And guard our earthly steps

Farmers, farriers, warriors

For each step you took

For each step we take

We make this offering to you!

Uuesad gî hêl!

Alfe and idise

Landuuite, hausuuite

Spirits that surround us

We thank you for your gracious hospitality!

Uuesad gî hêl!

Ancestor's Prayer

(Invocation to ancestors, spoken over the plate at Sunnauuenda)

We greet you now, our ancient kin

Your place at our table is set

We ask you, grandfathers, grandmothers

All who have gone before

Come to our table, join our feast.

Bring with you, your might and main

Bring with you, your memories and magic

Share them here and we share our bounty

It is freely given to those who gave us life

Bring us your favor in these bright summer days.

Invocation over Þorr's plate

The Wheel turns

the brightest days of summer

shine down upon these people

The world is green

and rich with life

Days are long and plentiful

and the people can be glad

Þorr, we have honored you

with sport and with mead

We honor you now

with the first choice of our feast

The best of our bounty is yours

Closing Prayer

Mighty Æsir

Horns have been raised

to your greatness

Ancestors, Heroes

Your names and deeds

Are remembered here tonight

Boasts and brags

Have been spoken

at this holy time

Into the well of Urð

New layers are laid

Gods, we have honored

Heroes, we have remembered

We gather here

Bound by love and friendship

And make these offerings.

To the mighty Æsir... Uuesad gì hèl!

To our holy ancestors... Uuesad gì hèl!

And that our oaths will be honored and our deeds remembered... May Urð go ever as she shall!

Harfest

Despite the fact that we had to celebrate late, Harfest went pretty well. The mead was drier than I like, but most everyone seemed to enjoy it. It's the smallest turnout for a gathering we've had here at the house since our very first one, but with the date getting changed at the last minute and all we've had going on in our lives, I think it turned out well. I noticed that a lot of the things I have written have not made their way onto my blog, since I have been kind of neglecting it lately, so I intend to remedy that over the next couple of days.

I realized last night after everything was done that I am not entirely happy with the order of ceremony that we have going on right now. Everything seems a little awkward, not as smooth as I would like. I find myself trying to trim corners and make things flow a little more smoothly. I still like the idea of a Hall outside of our house, which I think would make things flow a little better. We tend to have a pretty big group when we are all here, and having an outside space to put everyone in would make it a lot easier to move around. That will be a long time coming, I think, since we are not in a place to make that happen financially.

As far as the ritual flow, I am still trying to figure that one out. I am considering doing a few walk-through's and trying to figure out a better way to get the ritual flowing. I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out a good way to get husel, sumble, and a faining to all flow together in a way that doesn't feel forced and where I don't stand around making a dumb face and wondering if I have forgotten something.

Tony did raise a horn to my galdors. It meant a lot to me.

Some things went great, some things were confusing. Growing pains, I suppose. We'll get it worked out.

Sumbel Horn to Þorr

This is what I am planning to say at Sunnauuenda during Sumble. This may change a little, but I am pretty happy with it as it is so far. I like the idea of having a horn truly prepared, rather than having a general idea of what I am going to say.

Mighty god, Ving-Þorr: all creatures tremble

Before his mighty fury

With Mjollnir in your hand, no foe can conquer

To he, who shattered Hrungnir's Heart- and head

I raise this horn to your mighty deeds!

Many fearsome enemies have been felled by your hand

Oðinn's son, Fjorgyn's son

He who wades Kòrmt and Òrmt, and both the Kerlaugr

each day to join the gods in council

Bravery you have, and strength also

and the wit to trick Alvis to turning stone at sunrise

Asa-Þorr, man's ferocious protector,

Wæs Þu hél!