Welcome to An Lánurú … or Will It Be Ragnarök?

Our Tradition honors both the Celtic and Norse deities and practices.  We also acknowledge the importance of cosmic events in our lives.  On April 8, 2024, those of us in the United States will experience a total solar eclipse, the likes of which we will not see again for 20 years.  I was curious how our Celtic and Norse ancestors viewed such events in their culture.  The answers were intriguing.

Celtic:

Our Celtic ancestors were the first to record eclipses both in ancient times and Common Era.  The oldest known record of an eclipse was discovered on a cairn in County Meath, Ireland, and dates back more than 5,000 years ago.  The ancient Celts understood that, scientifically, the eclipse was an alignment of the Sun and Moon.  It even appears that they were able to predict the eclipse, which is unsurprising given the very detailed astrological documentation kept by the Celts throughout millennia.

Culturally, the Celts viewed an eclipse as an opening of the door to the spirit realm where the Tuatha dé Danann and the sidhe-folk dwell as well as those who departed from this realm.  This was a time to communicate with those beyond that separating veil.  As such, they didn’t fear the eclipse.  They used this event as an opportunity to commune with their dearly departed and their deities.  Some even speculate a Festival of Lights was created for this event.

Norse:

Our Northern European brethren believed that an eclipse was a time when two wolves would catch up to and eat the Sun and the Moon.  Who were these wolves?  None other than Fenrir’s sons, Hati and Sköll*.  According to legend, there are certain events that must happen to begin Ragnarök.  The catching and devouring of the Sun by Sköll and the Moon by Hati (Hróðvitnisson) is one such event.

As a culture, the Norsemen, also sometimes referred to as the Vikings, understood that both the Sun and the Moon were needed for life to flourish.  They believed that if the wolves ever caught their prey, Ragnarök would begin.  So at the approach of every eclipse, the Northern folk would hoot and holler to the sky to chase away Hati and Sköll.

Other Cultures:

Many other cultures have similar legends that involve the Sun being eaten by otherworldly beings.  It’s fascinating when cultures around the globe and far back into ancient times have similar tales relating to astrological events.

Here in the United States, we will approach the day with caution and wonder as some of us will only experience this event once in our lives.

May your Eclipse Day bring joyous celebration and communing with those beyond the gateway and much hooting and hollering as we try to avoid Ragnarök!

Blessings,

Lady Kaltem

*Some sources believe that Sköll is really Fenrir himself, as it is Fenrir who is prophesied to eat the Sun and contribute to Ragnarök.

For Urd

An underlying tenet of all magick is the willingness to make choices. Choices as they relate to magick are twofold. One, we choose the type of magick that we will work, including an analysis of the ethical ramifications of that work. Two, in doing so, we are also required to make choices about the modifications we will make in our mundane lives. Without mundane action, the spell goes unsupported. Our magickal efforts will fall flat. In order to be successful, choices cannot be avoided. Therefore, just as valuable as the writing of the ritual and gathering of the tools is the consideration of our mundane plans. The contemplation of the other necessary actions that we must take to support the goal of the magickal working must be a focus of our preparation. When this is done, many questions may arise: how do we lay out the daily steps to facilitate the needed change? Do we have time for it? Are we ready for the change? Are we committed? Are we truly ready to make this choice? What other choices will we make to get there?  

When all of these questions are considered, it can get overwhelming! That spell just got really complicated! Can’t someone just answer all of this for us?

As I was recently reminded, No, they cannot. Only we can answer these questions for ourselves. Only we can make the choices of our lives. Our Gods cannot do that for us. They cannot show us our Fate, for the choices that we make create it. 

As witches, we all know this. Yet, if you are like me, without reminders we get stuck. Why?  

So, it seems that certain parts of our lives are fixed—unchangeable. Our parents, for example, we did not choose them. The body we were born into, we did not choose it. These fixed parts of our lives have a significant impact on the ways that we move through and experience the world. Some create barriers, while others opportunities. These fixed things shape our reality, and at times, reality is crippling (times like now!). Reality is distracting. Although this is true, we should take caution in focusing too much on the fixed aspects of our lives. Too often we get confused by the unchangeable aspects and wrongly draw this conclusion: Our Fate is out of our hands. We are powerless! There is nothing we can do! We confuse the fixed aspects of our lives as our Fate. In doing so, we forget about the power of choice, the power of everyday action. 

As if succumbing to this confusion isn’t enough, we can also fall into another trap: the illusion of the perfect choice. We get stuck in an on-going analysis of what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong. It is maddening and it can paralyze us. We then get stuck in the pain of evading the decisions needed in life due to the fear of making the wrong choice. And indecisive pain can last for a very long time. Sometimes decades. As a result, we feel powerless. We feel out of control of our Fate. We feel out of control of our lives. We have deluded ourselves into believing that it is so. 

In my recent visitations with those Older and Wiser than me, I was reminded that there are no right choices. There are no wrong choices. There are just choices. There is only what is. So be brave, feel empowered, and make your choices. Spin your work. Claim your Fate. And remember, the Gods will help you and remind you when needed. And more will be revealed. 

- Written by Aurora, HPS 2nd Degree

In the Light

At the time of this writing, our year has gone sideways due to the novel coronavirus that causes Covid 19. Our plans have been up ended. Our daily routines have transformed. Many of us have taken this time to catch up on things long overdue. Many of us have reevaluated what we want our daily life to look like moving forward. Many of us have set forth to reenvision, recreate, and reenergize ourselves and the world we live in.

The fullness of the Sun leaves no one alone. The height of summer lets no one fully rest. The brightness brings clarity to all. Whether we like it or not. Whether we want it or not.

The Wheel turns ever onward, ever onward, ever on.

May our ancestors teach us. May we be wise enough to understand. May we be courageous enough to adapt. May we have the innocence to great each day as it comes. May our deeds become those of heroes.

-Rath, HP CoBV

In the Dark is the Beginning

Blessed Yule to One and All.

At the time of this writing, the sun’s return has already begun. Some of us have gathered with our nearest and dearest. Some have marked the Turning of the Wheel. Some have already begun to shape our future. Some have done all these things.

The stillness can be felt within the earth. The darkness envelops us even as it begins to recede. The slow time is here.

May we not wish for Spring too quickly.

It is in the stillness that we can feel our own heartbeat. It is in the darkness that we can see our desires. In the slowness, is rest. Without these things, we have no peace. Without these things, we have no ability to be fully present. Without these things, we will run ever onward, without contemplation, without purpose, without connection.

In the stillness, we find the urge to move on purpose, rather than because. In the darkness, we reach out for meaningful connection, rather than random touches with strangers. In the slowness, is fullness, rather than fleeting grace. With these things, we can choose, we can embrace, and we can deeply live.

In the Dark is the Beginning.

-Rath, HP CoBV

Samhain

Turning in, moving into sacred space with our beloved dead, and solemnly enjoying each other’s company. Winternights is a windy, quiet, holy time of year. How fast the wheel turns, how much we need to slow down to reflect on the changes. Last night the Western New York clan celebrated our Samhain. The table was overflowing with food while laughter, surprise and light-hearted conversation filled our home. Downstairs we had a table set out for our dearly departed where friends could escape to connect with their loved ones. Deep into the night we sat, convening with Spirit and observing the season in the traditional way.

Which Season is Your Season?

What is your season? Toward the end of December, we often hear others use the expression “next year is going to be my year!”, when they refer to goals they would like to meet, or expectations that have yet to be fulfilled. Typically, though, I find myself looking at the cycle of the seasons that happens within each year.

Is there a season that sticks out for you as being one where you are most productive? More likely to achieve goals? Most ready to go after a problem and find a solution? In my own life, I have found a pattern that has occurred noticeably for me over the past few years. I go through summer with a goal in mind, but am unable to focus my energies enough to get the tasks accomplished. Suddenly, in late August or September, a moment of clarity happens for me and the path to success comes into view. Goals that seemed unattainable a few weeks or months back are now easily manageable. The fruits of the Second Harvest are available to me as long as I put in the work.

The realization of patterns like these is exciting and faith-affirming. The seasons of the Earth follow a cycle just as we do ourselves. The Autumn Equinox is the perfect time to look at cycles and patterns that your life follows. I am reminded of the wisdom that the rune Jera holds within it: the Wheel follows patterns and cycles, and we are rewarded with a good harvest according to the work we have put into our lives.

Instead of putting pressure on yourself to make each subsequent year your best year yet, be reminded that the Wheel turns and follows a cycle. Your year will have ups and downs, but you will certainly reap the benefits of what you have sown. JERA

Lady Eir, HPS, Coven of the Grey Lynx

Your Witchcraft is Political

Your witchcraft is a synthesis of the way you understand the Universe, how it works, and all of its individual parts. Your witchcraft is based on your experiences, and studies. Your witchcraft is a reflection of how you feel is the appropriate way to interact with the world. Your witchcraft has conclusions about what is best for you and your environment. Your witchcraft also has a certain artistic expression. Your witchcraft therefore is political.

Please allow me to explain. Philosophy can be broken down into 5 main areas. Metaphysics. Epistemology. Ethics. Politics. Aesthetics.

Metaphysics. What is the nature of the Universe, and what is my place in it?

Epistemology. How do I know what I know? How do I come to the conclusions I have?

Ethics. What is right action? What should I do with my understandings? How do my understandings express themselves in my daily life? What is the witch’s way? What do I value?

Politics. What is is extension of personal right action to the community one lives in, and is a part of?

Aesthetics. How does art express my understandings?

The challenge many people have in the witchcraft community (if there is such a thing) is that: while we have many of the same values and conclusions about right action, we may put them in different perspective and different order of importance. For example, the values of personal autonomy and supporting ones community. There are times when in order to support our community, we must sacrifice our personal autonomy by agreeing to be at the park for Pagan Pride Day at a given time, to do a given job, which may or may not be a job we want to do. Similarly, the values of inclusiveness and safety get balanced in various ways, at various moments.

A witch’s ethics and politics can therefore be seen as the manner in which that witch prioritizes their values. We all have values. Those values apply to us personally, and by extension our politics. So yes, your witchcraft is political.

-Rath, High Priest of the Coven of the Black Vulture

Not all Magicks are the Same.

I was recently contacted by a magickal person about adapting the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. The idea being to take a well known and somewhat fashionable framework, and adapt it to the querent’s preferred cultural framework. This as a concept is not that unusual.

How many versions of various folk magick chants for burn healing are there? I can think of at least three coming from all up and down the Appalachian Mountain Range. Folk magick lends itself to local variances and cultural frameworks. It is of the folk, meaning of the people who use it. Quick, fast, simple. Distinctly Not Fancy.

Ceremonial magick is not folk magick.

So we spent some time talking to the querent about the whats, whys, hows, and such about the LBRP in large scale terms, as well as in the minutiae that makes such a work powerful. Ultimately, the querent came to the conclusion that the LBRP is simply in a different magickal language than the individual wants to speak.

What is your magickal language?

-Rath, HP CoBV

Peace of Mind

“I who am the beauty of the green Earth, the white Moon among the Stars, and the Mystery of the Waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me.”

It’s hard to speak to the peace that can occur as you realize that your faith in the gods is not in vain. As I sit here in the front room of our home where we teach our 101's and where I regularly study, I am gently reminded of the patience and love that the gods have for us. It could only be the sunshine, it could only be the birds singing, and even if it is only that, they are both physical manifestations of our beloved Deity.

I am grateful for Their presence and feel light in my heart knowing that They are with me.

“For if that which you seek you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. “

Blessed be

Ivy

Between the Holidays

So here we sit between Beltaine and Solstice and what has your focus been? I have for many years looked to carry the energy from one holiday to the next. You put all of your energy into the spellwork or lifework according to the station of the holiday on that specific day, but do you revisit that energy in between, do you self-check your progress or do you just wait to see what the next step will be for the upcoming holiday? As witches, we live our work and work to progress our lives. Relying solely on the energies of the holidays to get us through to the next holiday is lazy witchcraft and lazy spell work. So my challenge to you all is to take the time and look back at Beltaine. Look at what you worked for and see how far you’ve come with it. Start making the adjustments now to prepare for the coming energies of the Solstice. The colors of Spring are upon us. Like an empty canvas, let your magickal imagination paint the future you want to behold, and at Solstice, be thankful for it.

Lord Eldraun

Coven of the Albino Bat

At the Crossroads

When Hecate meets you at the Crossroads, you must make a decision or one will be made for you. These words are both scary and empowering. Here, we are reminded that inaction is a choice, and that choice has its consequences.

As Witches, we know that we have the ability to make changes in our lives as our Will allows. Ritual, magick, spellwork, and divination are our tools. Why, then, is the power of choice such a difficult idea to accept? I encourage you to realize that it does not have to be.

Instead of feeling intimidated by the choices in your life, try to look at them as a series of opportunities presented to you. Seek guidance from Deity or from divination tools if you feel drawn to do so. Remember Hecate’s wisdom and feel the power that is held within your choices.

Lady Eir, Coven of the Grey Lynx

Ostara

The spring has not yet come here in Western New York but She is definitely trying to manifest. Our weather has been swinging from frigid cold to above 40 degrees making it hard to settle into the historic rhythm that we are used to. When I lived in Harrisburg, PA, March and April were warmer months. Snow was almost unheard of at this time of year. Since I moved into the Buffalo area, my experience of the weather has shifted.

Ostara, or the vernal equinox, occurs this year on March 20 at 5:58 p.m. As the wheel has turned, the energies of the Earth Mother will start flowing. In my mind, I turn again to Uruz and the vitality of nature. Ostara marks the celebration of the earth warming up beneath the snow. Snowdrops poke their tiny heads out of the soil and act as a quiet reminder of the life that is to come.

This spring, slow down. Watch the birds, and pay attention to the changes. All too often I feel that we try to rush ahead into summer, looking for freedom from the chill. Not me, not this time. I will be watching the signs of Nature and staying aware of the changing features of Mother Earth. What will She be wearing tomorrow?

Ivy

HPS and Witch

Perfect Love and Perfect Trust

I once told a student that Perfect Love and Perfect Trust is when you stand in a circle with a bunch of people, blind-folded and naked, and you know that one of them has a knife… but you trust that not one of them will hurt you.  But this is only a portion of what the phrase Perfect Love and Perfect Trust means in the Craft.

No matter where you go or what you do, people will lie to you.  They will lie either to make themselves look better in your eyes or to serve some sort of agenda.  Regardless of their personal rationale, this is not someone you should trust… in a circle… blind-folded and naked… with a knife.

Too often we want our friend back, so we are willing to turn a blind eye to their betrayal and their further deceptive patterns.  However, this often and usually bites us in the bum time and again.  Then we spend too much time either being angry at them for their betrayal or tearing ourselves down for our stupidity in trusting them again.

What does this do to a coven?  It makes it hard to connect energetically and inserts a negative vibration in the energy of at least two of the people in the coven, which can weaken what would otherwise be amazing energy work.  In a working coven, you must be able to completely allow yourself to be open to the energy of those you are with.  (This is not to say the energy working will not be successful, it just won’t be as powerful as it could be.)

“But, Lady Kaltem, people can change!”  Of course they can.  Witches do it every single day.  However, once someone betrays your trust, how do you ever trust them again?  By watching their future patterns for years.  Did you catch that?  Years.  That’s how long it takes to gain someone’s complete trust back.  Can you imagine standing naked in a circle*, blind-folded or not, with someone you do not trust for years?

This is the 21st century, and many witches are still in the broom closet.  This makes Perfect Trust more important than ever.  It is so difficult to find a coven that you resonate with energetically, and one lie—no matter the “size” or the reason—can destroy the Trust of the coven and thereby the flow of energy during a group working. 

* Please note:  The Knotted Ash Tradition does not maintain a standard of skyclad practice.  Our members are free to practice as they wish in their own homes, but as a whole, we require that all participants in our group rituals be clothed.

Oaths, Egregores, Coven Raiding, and Loyalties

Occasionally, someone on the Paths reaches out to those of another line, tradition, etc.  They may do this for any number of reasons.  Ultimately, any ethical teacher will eventually ask if that person has sworn any oaths.  When that question comes will vary by the situation.

The reason for such a question is two-fold:
1. An Oath is a pledge sworn before one's people and one's Divine source that has inherent within it a suspended curse.  So we respectfully interact with someone who has sworn an Oath to others with that in mind.
2. Oaths sworn to a coven, grove, hearth, harrow, and so forth bind the individual into that group's egregore (collective mind).  Someone choosing to leave a group for any reason will need time to dissolve those bonds, if possible over time, so that any practice with a new group is not unduly affected by that person's prior relationships. 

Not all spiritual/occult/magickal/Craft groups have such concerns with their membership.  But some DO. 

This Clan does NOT recruit members from the public at large and likewise does NOT engage in "coven raiding" (verb. meaning recruiting candidates from other groups).  Coven raiding can only bring disharmony at best and will harm the recruited person in any case.  We find friendships within our community at large to be far more beneficial as well as honoring of the Paths we all walk.

Honoring the loyalties of others is one of our Tradition's highest values. 

-Rath, HP CoBV

The Veil is Thin

Whether they be your ancestors of the Craft, your ancestors of your blood, or your ancestors of your people ... they will speak, if you will but listen.

Sometimes with voices strong and bold, sometimes with mere whispers ... they will speak, if you will but listen.

When you ask them or your Gods and Goddesses for help, for change, for power, for evolution ... they will speak, if you will but listen.

Are you open to the change you seek?

Will you embrace the Turning of the Wheel?

- Rath, Alexandria Virginia

Spring Renewal

The warmth of spring has come early to our section of Western New York and brings with it a sense of renewal and breaking free from the cold, preserving ice.  Someone reset the Goddess's alarm clock and we are waking up much sooner than expected.  Science tells us that this is not a good thing, and with good reason.  Mother Earth's climate is changing.

Here at the Albino Bat covenstead we have started to see change come in more positive ways.  Seeds that were planted last fall are now beginning to break through the soil and stretch their way to the sun.  The warmth of inspiration and the fresh, new growth is riding high, encouraging the sap in older trees to flow more abundantly.  

Seven years ago, at a time of great upheaval, I leaned my soul shocked, empty shell of a body against a slumbering Oak.  The Oak, still and patient, shared with me a small secret of hope.   Although the tree looks bare and dead, the stirring of life still remains underground.  A reflection of my soul.  The strength of my blood.  The sap of this Oak.  The promise of renewed vitality.  

Uruz.  Uruz.  Uruz.  

Rune of the aurochs, of strength and vigor, and overcoming impossible odds.  

Hygge - Creating Calm

"Hygge - a Danish word that means a sense of wellbeing, a comfortable feeling, coziness, and pleasure in the simple things in life."  Clare Youngs, Scandinavian Needlecraft

The Danish have a long tradition of creating moments of comfort to bring an extra touch of contentment to their lives.  This practice is a way to combat the cold environment that they live in.  I've started including a bit of hygge into my life and have found that it adds a little light to my commonplace chores.    

I find the love of the gods in this practice.  We as witches, pagans and heathens already have a sort of hygge.  When we talk about every single act of or day being sacred, this is a form of hygge.  

My hygge right now lies in Tim Horton's coffee, medium double double, a jasmine scented candle lit over our hearth which reminds me of a Christmas gift that my sister gave me 15 years ago, and our cat sitting on my lap in a favorite blanket.  All gifts from the gods, all bringing comfort and contentment.  

Skol and good health to you!

Ivy

A gift for a gift

"Holy water, sacred flame,  Bridget we invoke your name! Bless my hands, my head, my heart, source of healing, song and art."  Diane Baker

 I'm working on writing a public ritual for the Buffalo pagan community.  The goddess Frigga is at my side while I prepare this holiday for our guests.  As hostess, it is my honor to offer the welcome cup to Brighid.  Our home holiday will center around the Aesir and the blessing of our work items by Thor, but our open holiday will be dedicated to the "Fiery Redhead" of martial arts, smithcraft, and creativity.  

To the Norse people, hospitality was a way of life.  No one could be turned away.  The table and welcome cup were always full and there was always room for one more in the household; a place for guests coming in from the cold.  Odin in His guise as Wanderer, could be the guest who knocked on the door late at night, and who would turn Him away?  It was understood that if the guest was treated well, they were to be respectful to the host and the host's family.  

Gebo is the rune of gift exchange and the promise of mutual respect.   Exchanging gifts creates an energetic bond between people and families, and can form kinship.

Kindling the need fire

I kindle this flame as Sunna gives light to the world.  Thor on top of this house, Frigga and Odin at its center and the eight strongest ALGIZ surrounding!

When I was a young witch, I fell in love with a prayer to the goddess Brighid.  This prayer was said under the breath of the woman who stirred the coals early in the morning to kindle the cooking fire for her family.  I used to say it daily as I lit our gas stove to make dinner for my family.  When Eldraun and I started building the lesson structure for the clan and chose to work with the Nordic deities, I changed the prayer to reflect our honoring of these gods.     

Algiz is the seventh rune in the second group of eight runes (called an "aett") in the Elder Futhark.  A common use of this rune is for protection.  The rune (seen below) can represent the intimidating horns of the Elk or the footprint of the Valkyries in their form of a swan which both relate to warding, consecration and blessedness.