September 19th, 2017

SIPA hosted their annual Mabon ritual this weekend, which was being led by a group of Ár nDraoícht Féin druids, which was really cool!

The ritual was held at Giant City State Park, and we had perfect weather - warm, but not humid. We also had a really good turn-out, with around 50 participants, including a lot of first-timers.

We had a visit from a very persistent racoon, who was intent on climbing into the trash can.

The sacred space was in a big clearing and encompassed a tree, cauldron of water, altar, and fire pit.

We were asked to bring water from our watershed, so I did, as well as our favorite glass for the sumbel toast. I brought along my chalice, which has been a bit under-utilized as of late.

The ritual was fairly Celtic in format, but was focused on honoring the Norse pantheon.

After the ritual, I found this stick insect hanging out in the shelter!

June 6th, 2015

This morning, I read one of the books I bought with Destiny the other day.

Title: The Rune Poem
Translated and Annotated by: Jim Paul
©1996

Paul has a doctorate in medieval literature, and his ongoing translation and re-translation of this ancient poem into English makes for an interesting look at one of the oldest connections to the Futhark runes we have.

As Paul explains, this particular rune poem is from the Germanic tribes of pre-Christian Europe (similar poems also existed in Iceland and Nordic countries). The oldest written copies have all been lost; currently, the only historical record of the original poem comes from a transcription by a Christian monk, which had in turn been transcribed by a series of other monks before him, like a scholarly game of telephone. As a result, some of the original Pagan passages have more Christian overtones. If you have read Beowulf, you've probably encountered this same problem. That being said, thousands of years later (the poem is believed to have first been recorded circa 1000 CE, and had likely existed for centuries before that), the poem still retains both its simple, fluid verse and reference to the magic and daily life of the Anglo-Saxons.

The book begins with a brief introduction to the history and magic of the runes. Then, beautifully illuminated pages show both the rune and the accompanying three lines of verse with Paul's annotations to explain their significance. It's hard to see in my room's poor lighting, but all the colors are metallic, and the surrounding borders draw clear inspiration from art contemporary to the poem.

This is not probably not a book for those already well-versed in runic readings, origins, or meanings. It's really more of an introductory text, almost bearing resemblance to the alphabet books one might read to children. However, if, like me, you've never read the original rune poetry before and aren't necessarily looking for a more expansive book, then this could be one to add to the collection. Also, as I pointed out, it might not be bad for younger individuals interested in runes, either. The large illustrations are attractive, and the language is very straightforward throughout the text.

Overall, it's not a particularly academic text, but I knew it wouldn't be the first time I picked it up. I just wanted a nice translation of the rune poem to read, and Jim Paul's book certainly delivered.

June 11th, 2012

It came to my attention last night at about 10:30 that yesterday was the beginning of the Celtic Tree Month of Oak. For whatever reason, I was thinking that was next weekend. As such, I shall do my little spiel today, yes?
The Oak month is Duir in Celtic, and may have meant "door". Many scholars theorize that Duir was the root word of Druid. The Oak is a tree or shrub in the Quercus genus, and has about 600 different species. Oak is native to the northern hemisphere, and can be deciduous or evergreen, ranging from temperate climates to tropical. The flowers are catkins, and the fruit is the omnipresent acorn, also known as a cupule.
In Greek mythos, the oak is Zeus' sacred tree, and at his oracle in Dodona, an ancient oak forms the temple's central structure. The priests of Zeus would interpret the god's word by listening to the rustling of the oak's leaves. In Baltic mythology, that is, the myths of the Lithuanian region, the Oak is sacred to Perkons, god of thunder, like Zeus to the Greeks. Even the Celts followed the relation to thunder - Taranus, the thunder god, was associated with the tree. The Norse continued the association: Thor's tree was the Oak. Some scholars speculate that this was because the Oak is the largest tree native to Europe, and therefore was most frequently struck by lightning. Regardless, the Oak has a strong connection to the weather, particularly storms.
In magick, the Oak is an extremely versatile wood. It can be used in spells for strength, prosperity, good fortune, fertility, money, and success. According to legend, catching a falling Oak leaf before it touches the ground ensures good health in the coming year. Also, and acorn carried in the pocket will bring success to a business meeting. The ashes from a burned piece of Oak will protect one against lightning and fire, although on the other hand, Oak could be used to draw a storm during drought. The burning of the leaves has a purifying effect, and can be used as an alternative to incense. Oak is also closely tied to masculinity, making it a traditional wood for carving masculine tools: the athame, staff, etc.
*A note to the wise: Oak, like other trees, is said to be the home of the Fey. Oak is a powerful and sacred tree, so any wood, leaves, etc. taken from a tree must be repaid with a sacrifice of some kind. Water and/or natural fertilizer is a good place to start, but tokens such as hair, stones, etc. are also acceptable.
Acorns make excellent snacks, although other parts of the tree are less edible. The White Oak in particular provides acorns that may be sweet enough to be eaten raw. (The White Oak can be identified by the rounded edges of the leaves.) However, the acorns can also be boiled or roasted, then dried. As such, the acorn can be eaten like a nut, dipped in syrup to make candy, or ground into flour. Acorns contain natural, healthy fats, and are rich in protein.