The importance of Feast in Asatru

Posted on April 16, 2009 by mohnkern

The Importance of the Feast in Asatru

Recently, a Pagan Wiki I do some writing for posted a web page about the importance of food in the pagan belief structure.  It’s interesting  because as I sat down and thought about it,  having a feast, or at least some point where we “break bread together” is almost always part of events that I run.  I’d originally thought that I’d been doing this out of convenience.  (I typically hold events weekday evenings at just after the dinner hour, so it made sense to put out food so people weren’t trying to figure out food and get to rituals.).  But as I thought about it further, I realized that it actually was “part of the process” which makes up our ritual time together.  In some ways its as important a part of our gatherings as the ritual itself.

So lets take a look at historically what feasting meant to those labeled as “Vikings” and a bit about some of the traditions surrounding feasting in the past.  To conclude, I’ll spend a little bit of time talking about how it fits within the belief structure.

We can turn to Sturlson’s Heimskringla, or the Chronicle of Kings as an excellent resource. As opposed to some of Sturlson’s other works, the Heimskringla has a lot of specific historical information in it.  It allows us to see more about the social interactions of people than we see in his other works.

Perhaps one of the most interesting sections of the Heimskringla is the declaration of King Hakon regarding Yule feasting.  Hakon decreed that feasting for Yule was to happen on the same day as the Christian Holiday (Christmas), and that every man was required to brew malt into ale.  Yule was to be kept “holy” as long as the Ale lasted.  This shifted the date of the Yule festival off of December 14th to a different day.

The change of this date of the Yule feast is an indication of something that has always been a truism within the Asatru belief structure.  Specific dates are rarely important.  Because of the pragmatic nature of the religion,  rarely do we find that ritual days are always tied to specific days of the calendar.  While Hakon declared the feast of Yule to be on a specific day, it was done so not for any spiritual purpose, it was done for praticality.   By moving the Yule feast from its previous date to the new one, The month effectively had one holiday where everyone celebrated, rather than two, where Christians celebrate one day, and “pagans” celebrate on another.

In addition, as we look at this change in dates we realize that the Yule feast may not entirely be about deity worship.  By combining the two festivals together we allow community, regardless of faith, to be built together as a unit. 

 

 

 

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The Hammer Rite

Posted on April 16, 2009 by mohnkern

What is a Hammer Rite?

Thor’s Hammer, Mjolnir is the tool with which Thor continually fights the Jotuns, it’s the means of bringing his goats back to life, and also traditionally used to bless a bride at a wedding. In other words, the Hammer is an object of protection, and a bringer of fertility and new life. A representation of the Hammer is commonly worn by members of the Asatru religion.

The “Hammer Rite” is simply a way of establishing ritual space. This space is not as distinct as what one finds in traditional wiccan circles. Rather, the Hammer Rite is more of a calling to indicate to ourselves, and to the gods, that we’re about to perform a ritual. Some have described it as a “ringing of the bell.”

When one performs a hammer rite, one doesn’t create an inside and outside, or even a “ritual geometric shape.”  The purpose of a Hammer Rite is to establish that a given “space” is being used for ritual.  It’s the recognition that we’re calling upon the gods and goddesses to be with us, as we exercise our will upon the universe.

 

If you begin all your ritual practices with this rite, hopefully it will become a “matter of course” and you won’t have to remember to do it. Like breathing, it should become a part of what you do.  It also gives you a brief time to focus your intent on the work you are about to be involved in.

Performing a Hammer Rite

There are many different ways, with several different items that can be used to do a hammer rite (though virtually all of them require a hammer).

  • Some groups use two hammers and call upon two points (Fire and Ice, or North and South).
  • Other groups call upon four points, though this gives the space more of a wiccan feeling.
  • Other groups use one hammer, and call upon two points.

Ultimately it’s a matter of preference.

The easiest way to do a hammer rite is to go to one of your two points, and trace an an upside-down “T” shape in the air in front of you, while chanting something appropriate like,

“Hammer of Thor, Hallow and Hold This Holy Stead”.

 

and then do it on the oppose it point.

Some people worry about which direction they should trace the Hammer in. If doing things from right to left or left to right worries you, work out to your own satisfaction what it should be, but personally, I’ve never lost any sleep over it. I tend to make the Hammer sign from left to right, mainly because that’s the direction writing goes in. Taken from The Raven Kindred Blot Ritual

After you’ve done one point, then you do the other. That’s all there is to it.

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On Hospitality

Posted on April 16, 2009 by mohnkern

Today another “guest” in our household, who has been here for approximately three months departs.  It was with little (one day) warning, but we knew the day would come.  He has found a Girl Friend to move in with, in a nearby state, and has been unable to find jobs here.  He departs, with our well wishes in his future endeavors.    He says he will come back and visit us when his life is more “stable.” and my wife will likely see him in a month when she takes a trip to Ohio where she will be nearby.

He’s constantly told us that he’ll “Pay us back.”  While cash returned is always a good thing, that’s not the point of hospitality.   Even the possiblity of having to rely upon him in the future (unlikely, but always a possibility) isn’t it either.  Hospitality reaps its own rewards both in this life, and for whatever is to come.

Our fellow house mate, also a “heathen” impressed upon him that indeed, paying us back was hardly necessary.  However, we do have an “expectation.”  Just as we’ve opened our doors to him in his time of need, if the situation is ever reversed, we expect him to open his doors to someone else.  Maybe its the idea of balancing the universe, or repaying a karmic debt.  Our expectation is that just as we have treated him, that is how he should treat others.

Over the years, my wife has tolerated and even embraced this concept of hospitality.  There have been many (at least 4, probably more) people who have come into and out of our household.  Some have stayed, and become members of our family.  Others have left to form their own.  Some have left, and have returned.  We hold a special place in our hearts for each one of them.  They enrich our lives, and we hope we’ve enriched theirs.

No doubt, as the economy takes its time to improve, there will be others that cross our hearth to stay for a time.  We welcome those who do with open arms, hoping that the gifts we give will somehow make the universe a better place.

 

—Scott Mohnkern AKA.  The Modern Heathen

 

 

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