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!

Invocation to Þorr (sung)

Hrungnir's slayer

Mjollnir's master

I call thee

Champion of the everyman

Asa-Þorr

I call thee

Oðinn's son

Thunderer

I call thee

Father of Magnus

Father of Moði

I call thee

Mighty one, join us

In your honor

A horn of mead is lifted

Asa-Þorr, be with us

Offering prayer to Ancestors

Ancestors, accept our offering

As we have invited you to our feast

Bestow your favor upon us

In the days to come

Offering prayer to Freyja

Freyja, bride coveted by dwarves and giants

Beauty of untold legend

Goddess of love, Sessrumnir's mistress

Accept our offerings and prayers on this day

We raise these offerings to you

Lady of Folkvangr

That you may bless our works this year

As you have surely blessed this Spring

We ask your blessing, Freyja

For these joyous days ahead

Filled with growth and renewal

Hear us, mighty goddess!

Ostara Invocation Prayer

The Wheel Turns

Blossoming and blooming abound

The earth awakens and life is renewed

The world rejoices and life is abundant

Freyja, we call you, beloved goddes

She, from whom Brisingamen was stolen

And the world turned cold with her woe

Join us in the sacred space (place)

We ask you, goddess, to join us in our feast

Let this first day of Spring

Echo the joy of that one

When Brisingamen was returned to you

Divine beauty, seid-mistress

Freyja, who brings fertility

Join us in our celebration

Of this, the first day of Spring

Ancestors, join us

On this happy day

Let us celebrate together

Those who have come before

With we, who join here now

We ask that you share our fest

Share in our celebration

We invite you to our table

Forefathers of all our houses

Getting Started

This first post is to let readers know what to expect. This blog is entirely religious in nature and will contain poetry and thoughts concerned with religious topics. I will post songs, invocation chants, poems, and other random thoughts that have to do with the gods, the celebration of the seasons, or any other topic that I feel is appropriate. In time, I hope to have many faithful reader who love to ask questions and leave feedback. I am open to opinions, but no lewdness or crude language, please. I will begin shortly with my first official post, and will put up the short faining that I wrote for our spring celebration.

Thank you!

Liudfrith