Greetings Welcome to the SIXTEENTH issue of Thunder, a journal dedicated to the thunder gods of Northern Europe.
The thunder issues got a bit haywire at the end of 2000 so to make up this is a double size issue, and will only be counted as one issue for subscribers.
We were very remiss in the last issue for excluding the notes to the fictional story 'Swan's flight from Hlidskialf', it is always our intention clearly separate work on the original myths from modern retellings and fiction, so better late than never the notes have been included in this issue.
For a change we have some heathen artwork inspired by Egyptian designs. Appologies for Freya and Isis who appeared to have been roled into one goddess on this occassion. The child is Hnossa (treasure), who should be right at home among the splendours of the piramids.
This story explores two areas of Northern Mythology. Firstly the variety of afterlife recorded in the sagas. The idea of sharing the halls of the gods after death (e.g. Valhall) is well known but the underground family hall (hall and hell being the same root word) is less familiar. The Icelandic Sagas record this existence as joyous and pleasurable, clearly not the mouldy underworld met in the later myths of Balder with its strong Christian overtones.
Many readers may be surprised by a benevolent Hela, but if the underworld can be pleasant so can its queen. Her character is developed from my reworking of the tale of Loki's children (Daughters of Svarang) and fits well with the possible connection between Hela and the protective goddess of German folklore, Holda.
Swanhild herself becomes a protective ancestral spirit, known in the sagas as 'disir', a goddess protecting her young family. The possibilty of the merging of mortal and god is not recorded in the historical literature but I think the huge halls of Asgard may have been used as a metopher for this aspect of the afterlife.
The second element covered by the tale is the difference in ethics between our time and those of the Dark Age period. Ketil's character must have been a common one, honourable to his dependants and kin but ruthless with folk considered strangers. This fictional story gives Thor the headache of trying to reconcile the varied folk who look to him for protection.
The following ceremony notes are based on discussions at a recent Thorshof gathering and a debate at the Wycombe Moot. Thorskegga has attempted to draw various ideas together and suggested some basic ceremonies which could easily be adapted for individual needs. The later Life Rite ceremonies will be covered in future issues. Ideas from readers would be very welcome.
Thorskegga Thorn
A heathen naming ceremony would only be used if either one or both parents are intimately familiar with the tradition, so the inclusion of a 'priest' is inappropriate. It is sensible that one or more friends or relatives be asked to assist with the ceremony. If the celebration is hosted by the parents they should encourage offers for assistance with preparing and serving food for the feast.
The following is an example of a simple naming ceremony. To keep these notes simple I have given the child the name Erick Alfred (could be worse!) Refer to the notes below for further considerations:
Preparation:
Set aside an area of the room as an altar to the Norns. Use a blessing bowl filled with spring water to represent the well and branches of ash or yew for the world tree. If available a spindle, a skein of yarn and wooden rune staves, suitable artwork and other Norn symbols would be appropriate. The ceremony requires use of a blessing twig, this can be a leafy tree branch or a bunch of fresh herbs. Birch, ash, hyssop or lady's mantle would be appropriate for namings (avoid yew, it is toxic).
Ritual
Family and friends gather in a circle with the mother and father standing beside the altar.
Male friend or relative: Carries incense or a candle around the gathering, requesting the blessing of the gods and elves. A hammer hallowing can be used if desired.
Father: 'I call the Norns to attend on this special day. Urd, Vervandi, and Skuld be welcome at our hearth and share our feast. We give you a gift of mead.'
Female friend or relative: Fills a cup with mead and places it on the altar.
Father: Explains reason for gathering, praises wife for enduring the nine moons of bearing the child.
Mother: Thanks father for caring for her through the nine moons.
Male Friend or relative: 'What name have you chosen?'
Mother: 'Erik Alfred'
Male Friend or relative: 'Bear witness Urd Vervandi and Skuld. The child is named, spin his destiny as a long strong thread and fix the strand high among the stars.'
Female friend or relative: Dips blessing twig into bowl and blesses child. 'Urd, Vervandi, and Skuld give your blessing to Erik. Frigg protect Erick through his tender years. Holda give Erik your protection. Let him grow strong and comely. Let him know good health and joy. Let him thrive in wisdom that he may know his own mind.'
Parent's Oath
Father: 'Holy Norns, gods and goddesses and elf folk bear witness. I promise to protect and provide for Erik through his years of childhood as best as I am able.'
Mother: 'Holy Norns, gods and goddesses and elf folk bear witness. I promise to feed and comfort Erik through his years of childhood as best as I am able.'
Male friend or relative: Takes blessing twig and blesses parents. 'Give your blessing on (Mother's name) and (Father's name). Let them know contentment and joy despite the testing times ahead.'
Mother: Explain why the child's name was chosen and its significance. 'I ask everyone gathered to greet Erik Alfred.' Carries child around gathering, all friends and relatives greet the child by name and touch him gently.
Spirit Parents (optional)
Mother: 'I declare that should I suffer death or serious illness before Erik comes of age, I would trust Linda to look to his welfare. Linda do you accept this burden?'
Linda: 'I am willing to stand as Erik's mother in spirit. I give a gift of silver as a token of my pledge.' Mother: Blesses spirit mother with blessing twig..
Father: 'I declare that should I suffer death or serious illness before Erik comes of age, I would trust Henry to look to his welfare. Henry do you accept this burden?'
Henry: 'I am willing to stand as Erik's father in spirit. I give a gift of silver as a token of my pledge.'
Father: Blesses spirit father with blessing twig.
Giving of Amulets:
Mother: 'Do any others have a silver gift for Erik?'
Female Friend or Relative: Collects silver tokens and wraps them in cloth and ties the bundle with cord.
Male Friend or Relative: Blesses bundle with blessing twig. 'May this bundle represent our love and blessings on Erik Alfred.'
Horn Passing
Female Friend or Relative: Fills horn and hands to father. She holds the bundle before him so he can lay his hand on it while giving his blessing. .
Father: 'I would ask all kin and friends to join us in giving Erik our personal blessings.'
Female friend or relative: Fills horn or cup and presents to the father.
Father: Adds his own blessing on child and mother, horn passing follows, relatives and friends can give blessings in the name of their own patrons. The horn should end with the Mother:
Mother: 'On behalf of Erik I thank you for your blessings and gifts. This bundle will be kept near his crib so that your good wishes will be near him in his early years. When he is nine years old I will entrust them to his keeping.'
Father: 'Remember the Norns are with us, so give them an offering that they my join us in our celebration. And now let the feast commence.'
After the feast and before the Norns and deities are thanked for their attendance, a bag of runes can be passed for the folk to enquire of the future. If desired the mother can draw a rune for the child.
Choosing a name
If poorly chosen a child's name can cause no end of problems during its childhood, so think carefully before you burden a child with an outlandish Norse or Anglo-Saxon name. A list of possible names drawn from Germanic, Celtic and Classical sources is listed later in this issue.
Timing of Ceremony
The mother will need time to recover from the birthing. But if the naming ceremony is to have any relevance it should mark the introduction of the child into the larger family and kindred of the parents. Therefore a date between 9 days after birthing and before a full month has passed is desirable.
Gifts
We have suggested using silver amulets and pendants as they represent both wealth and protection, and most heathens we know rattle with them anyway! If the child follows one of the pagan paths in maturity they will have a head start, and if not they will have a unique reminder of their welcome into the world.
Anyone unable to provide silver can give fragrant dried herbs such as lavender or rose petals to be placed in the bundle. Slips of paper with blessings written on them could also be added. Traditional English naming gifts (Yorkshire) are coins (for wealth) salt (for protection) and an egg (for fertility).
Gifts for immediate use for the parents and child can be presented after the ceremony. And on a less nostalgic note, up to date parents may wish to announce the child's personalised e-mail address!
Blessing Water & Twig
This should be as natural as possible. Water collected that day from a local natural spring is ideal, failing that use bottled spring water or fresh rain water. Ask the Norns/Goddesses blessing on the water either when you collect it or when you pour it into the blessing bowl. Spring water applied by sprinkling with a leafy twig or bunch of herbs (Hyssop, birch leaves and lady's-mantle are very appropriate. An evergreen herb such as rosemary can be used for a winter naming ceremony)
Single Parents / Lesbian Families
The ceremony given above can be very easily adapted to either of these situations.
Religious Dedication of Infants
Every heathen and pagan we have spoken to on this subject is adamantly against the enforced initiation of infants in the parent's faith before the child knows its own mind. Thus the emphasis of the ceremony is on protection rather than dedication. And no promise is made by the parents to seek to influence the child in this respect.
In the UK children do not have religious freedom until they reach the age of 18. We would strongly recommend that you check that you have the parents consent before formally bringing any minor into a religious group.
We have debated long and hard on the problem of at what year does a child 'come of age'? The options are puberty (which in modern Western society is clearly too young), sixteen, eighteen and twenty one. Concerns that have been raised are that youngsters of sixteen still show aspects of immature behaviour (we can say this without guilt because we were all lazy little gits at that age) and therefore should not be admitted as full adults. While the age of twenty one, when mature and considerate behaviour is normally evident, is too late for this ceremony to have much meaning.
We would therefor recommend that if you want to use coming of age ceremonies that you discuss this among your kindred and either agree an age at which any such ceremony should be performed, or make a decision for each child in turn. This example of the ceremony requires the kindred to agree that the child has become an adult, so it would be wise to discuss the child well in advance to ensure that there is no dissension.
This ceremony also strongly implies that the new adult is mature enough to lead a religious ceremony, this may be another matter for serious consideration.
Gifts presented should encourage the young adult's potential, either tools for their own interests or items of ceremonial use. We like the idea of giving unfinished, undecorated gifts which can be personalised by the individual as desired. Examples being ceremonial staffs, rune wands for divination or a drum for magical work. The ceremony can be performed at any time of the year, though the child's birthday is an obvious date to choose. This ceremony could also be worked into one of the seasonal celebrations.
If possible the mother and father should lead the ceremony, even if they are not followers of the Northern Tradition themselves. The religious blessings can be passed to other members of the kindred if desired. In some cases the child may not want their parents involved at all, in which case the parent's role can be taken over by senior members of the kindred.
Any coming of age ceremony should be tailored to the individual, the following diverse examples are adapted from a basic ceremony which is shown in bold type. If the applicant has a patron deity, that god or goddess should be the focus for the celebration.
First Example
In the following example, young Hilda is close to Frigg and deeply interested in costume and embroidery. It is assumed that the ceremony is being held as a separate event. Hilda is given the opportunity of adopting a new name among the kindred, she declines in this case.
Preparation:
An alter can be set up for Hilda's patron goddess Frigg with the blessing bowl and blessing twig. Frigg's special plants are flax, white orchids and the plants of the marshlands, one of these being used for the blessing would be very appropriate. A suitable beverage, wine perhaps, is required for drinking toasts and the blessings.
Ritual:
Father: Hallows the sacred area and calls the gods and goddesses to attend. A hammer hallowing can be used if desired.
Mother: Pours some wine into the horn. 'I call welcome to Frigg, far seeing goddess of the hall where the herons fly.' Takes sip and pours the rest into the blessing bowl, uses blessing twig to bless the circle.
Mother: Today we honour Hilda who has reached the age of sixteen summers. Come forward Hilda and stand before your friends and kin.
Father: 'By the laws of this land you are now of age, able to agree ties of marriage and bring forth new lives. But age does not mean wisdom. A man or woman never ceases to learn. Are you ready to prove that you are worthy of the burden of your years?'
Hilda: 'Yes.'
Father: 'Then answer my riddle:
In courtyard flagged with stone, two armies clash
Battlemaids in cloaks of red and white charge in anger
Valkyries lie fallen, the honoured dead
No nobler cause, than to defend their king
What famous battle do I see?'
(A hard riddle is more impressive, providing it is answered correctly, the father can slip a token to his daughter in the early part of the ceremony. In this case a small chess piece would give the answer.)
Hilda: 'You see a game of chess.'
Father: 'This child speaks well. Linda (this can be any respected member of kindred - same sex as the youngster if possible), would you accept her as a woman of this kindred?'
Linda: 'What worth do you bring to us?'
Hilda: (Lists her skills in sewing and needlepoint. If possible one or more examples of her work should be produced.) 'Do you all accept me as a woman of your kindred?'
All: 'Yes'
Mother: 'Now you are entering womanhood, do you wish to take a new name among our kindred?'
Hilda: No. I will keep the name you gave me.
Mother: (using blessing twig) 'May Frigg's blessing be with you, Hilda of Owl's Hall Kindred. Be strong, be whole and be wise. I give you this ancient symbol of a woman's might (either girdle hanger or keys to the house), wear it with pride.'
Father: 'The days of your childhood are gone, feast and be merry with your fellows but do not sit idly by while your friends and kin labour. Give us your pledge that you will endeavour to be a worthy woman of our kindred.'
Hilda: 'I will strive to be a worthy woman of this kindred. Frigg hear me and aid me.'
Mother: 'I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love (this can be any suitable gift).'
Father: I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love (again similar gift).
Linda: We acknowledge you as a woman of this kindred. We give you this gift as a token of our welcome (a kindred gift should be appropriate to the new woman's interests. In this case a sewing box filled with threads would be ideal).
Hilda: Thanks all the givers of gifts, hugs or clasps hands with everyone in turn.
Mother: Fills horn and passes to Hilda. 'I pass this ceremony to you to complete.'
Hilda: Raises horn to Frigg and speaks from her heart. Followed by horn passing. When horn returns to Hilda.she thanks gods and goddesses for their blessings and pours the remaining wine into the blessing bowl.
Second Example:
This second example is a coming of age ceremony for Kate, who is passionately interested in martial arts and traditional European sword fighting. Kate's parents do not follow the Northern Tradition but have agreed to perform the non-religious aspects of the ceremony. Linda and Erik are performing the blessings. Kate's patron is Thrud (Thors daughter and valkyrie), as Thrud is a relatively minor goddess the ceremony is focused around both Thor and Thrud.
Preparation:
An alter dedicated to Thor is set up with any items linked to Thrud. Representations of fire such as candles and incense should be included. For the blessing twig appropriate plants are oak, rowan and poppy stems. A blessing bowl is required and a suitable beverage, in this case ale, is required for drinking toasts and the blessings.
Erik: Performs hammer hallowing to mark the sacred space.
Linda: Pours some ale into the horn. 'I call welcome to Thrud, maid of power and daughter of thunder. Welcome also to Sif, golden goddess who knows what is to come.' Takes sip and pours the rest into the blessing bowl, uses blessing twig to bless the circle.
Mother: 'Today we honour Kate who has reached the age of sixteen summers. Come forward Kate and stand before your friends and kin.'
Father: 'By the laws of this land you are now of age, able to agree ties of marriage and bring forth new lives. But age does not mean wisdom. A man or woman never ceases to learn. Are you ready to prove that you are worthy of the burden of your years?'
Kate: 'Yes.'
Father: 'Then answer my riddle:
A shining lad dances, with sure quick steps.
Loud he laughs under leaden skies
Sunlight finds him silent, in sound slumber
Brightest child of deep dwelling dwarf-kind
Friend to the short ones, terror to the high ones
Tell who this glowing lad could be.'
Kate: That is Mjolnir.
Father: 'This child speaks well. Linda (this can be any respected member of kindred - same sex as the youngster if possible), would you accept her as a woman of this kindred?'
Linda: What worth do you bring to us?
Kate: (Describes her martial training and shows some moves) 'Do you all accept me as a woman of your kindred?'
All: Yes
Erik: 'Now you are entering womanhood, do you wish to take a new name among our kindred?'
Kate: 'Yes. I wish to be know as Thordis.'
Linda: (using blessing twig) 'May Thrud's blessing be with you, Thordis of Owl's Hall Kindred. Be strong, be whole and be wise. I give you this ancient symbol of a woman's might (either girdle hanger or keys to the house), wear it with pride.'
Erik: 'The days of your childhood are gone, feast and be merry with your fellows but do not sit idly by while your friends and kin labour. Give us your pledge that you will endeavour to be a worthy woman of our kindred.'
Thordis: 'I will strive to be a worthy woman of this kindred. Thrud hear me and aid me.
Mother: 'I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love (this can be any suitable gift).'
Father: 'I acknowledge you as a woman of this household. I give you this gift as a token of my love' (again similar gift).
Linda: 'We acknowledge you as a woman of this kindred. We give you this gift as a token of our welcome' (a kindred gift should be appropriate to the new woman's interests. In this case martial arts equipment or clothing would be ideal).
Thordis: Thanks all the givers of gifts, hugs or clasps hands with everyone in turn. (As in the child naming ceremony everyone should say her new name in recognition).
Mother: Fills horn and passes to Thordis. 'I pass this ceremony to you to complete.'
Thordis: Raises horn to Thrud and speaks from her heart. Followed by horn passing. When horn returns to Thordis, she thanks gods and goddesses for their blessings and pours the remaining ale into the blessing bowl.
Third Example
Mark is very interested in heathenry but has yet to adopted a personal patron. He is very good with computers and has helped with the kindred website. Mark does not wish his parents to be involved in his coming of age ceremony and has asked the Erik and Linda to lead the ritual. He has asked that the ceremony be held on a hilltop that the kindred consider sacred.
Preparation:
An alter is made from a pile of stones or a sturdy piece of wood. No blessing bowl is required as offerings can be poured straight onto the altar.
Ritual:
Erik: Hallows the sacred area and calls the gods and goddesses to attend. A hammer hallowing can be used if desired.
Linda: Pours some mead into the horn. 'I call welcome to the gods and goddesses, I call welcome to the alfar of this place.' Takes a sip, uses blessing twig to bless the circle from the horn and pours the rest into the altar.
Erik: Today we honour Mark who has reached the age of eighteen summers. Come forward Mark and stand before your friends and kin.
Erik: 'By the laws of this land you are now of age, able to agree ties of marriage and bring forth new lives. But age does not mean wisdom. A man or woman never ceases to learn. Are you ready to prove that you are worthy of the burden of your years?'
Mark: 'Yes.'
Erik: 'Then answer my riddle:
Bitten by the dragon I bear wounds this day
But in thirty days I will be whole
Wolves howl beyond my garth, I shiver
But the silver shield at my back gives me comfort.
I am friend and guide to the wanderer
Who treads a lonely road
Who am I?
Mark: 'You are the moon.'
Erik: 'This child speaks well. Henry (this can be any respected member of kindred - same sex as the youngster if possible), should we accept him as a man of this kindred?'
Henry: 'What worth do you bring to us?'
Mark: (Tells of his skills and if possible shows an example.) 'Do you all accept me as a man of your kindred?'
All: 'Yes'
Linda: 'Now you are entering manhood, do you wish to take a new name among our kindred?'
Mark: Yes. I wish to be known as Thorvald.
Linda: (using blessing twig) 'May the gods' and goddesses' blessing be with you, Thorvald of Owl's Hall Kindred. Be strong, be whole and be wise. I give you this ancient symbol of a man's might (pocketknife or silver armring), wear it with pride.'
Erik: 'The days of your childhood are gone, feast and be merry with your fellows but do not sit idly by while your friends and kin labour. Give us your pledge that you will endeavour to be a worthy man of our kindred.'
Thorvald: 'I will strive to be a worthy man of this kindred. Holy gods and goddesses hear me and aid me.'
Henry: We acknowledge you as a man of this kindred. We give you this gift as a token of our welcome (a kindred gift should be appropriate to the new man's interests. In this case a internet domain name would be ideal).
Thorvald: Thanks the kindred for their gifts, hugs or clasps hands with everyone in turn. As he has had adopted a new name everyone should greet him as 'Thorvald'.
Linda: Fills horn and passes to Thorvald. 'I pass this ceremony to you to complete.'
Thorvald: Raises horn to the gods, goddesses and alfar and speaks from his heart. Followed by horn passing. When horn returns to Thorvald he thanks gods and goddesses for their blessings and pours the remaining mead onto the altar.
Although obscure in the mythology, the goddess Thrud is becoming more popular among modern heathen groups.
Household
Aesir
Names
Thrud - Norse name meaning 'strength'
Thor's beloved.
Attributes
Thrud is numbered among the Valkeries, goddesses of war, protection, fate and death.
Appearance
Thrud's appearance is not described in the myths. Valkeries in traditional art wear typical female costume of the period. Based on her parentage she would have red/gold hair.
Hall
Thrud is not given a hall of her own. She has links with both Thor's hall Bilskirnir and Odin's hall Valhall.
Family
Thrud's father is Thor, Norse poetry emphasises the god's love for his daughter. Her mother is not named and is probably Thor's wife Sif.
Treasures
None recorded in myths.
Symbolism
The symbols of the valkerie are the spear, weaving sword and the drinking horn.
Sacred Animals
None recorded in the myths.
Miscellaneous
It is possible that Thrud the Valkerie and Thrud the daughter of Thor are two separate goddesses.
A dwarf comes for Thor's daughter in the Eddic myth 'Lay of Alvis', Thor tricks the dwarf into reciting poetic kennings until the sun rises and turns him to stone.
In modern heathenry, Thrud can represent the female aspects of the Thundergod, with the dangerous blend of physical power and magical ability. If she is considered the daughter of Sif she would also inherit knowledge of the future, and act as a warrior Norn.
Loki scurried through the halls of Valhal to heed the summons of an impatient blood brother. Odin's private chamber was unexpectedly barred before him, the Warfather himself blocking the threshold. Loki fought for balance on the rush-strewn flagstones. 'Why did you want me?' he asked sulkily, moody for the interruption to his sport among the goddesses of Friendly Hall.
'I need your counsel' Odin replied briskly. 'How long would it take to build a stone wall, the width of the tallest pine and twice as high, around the land of Asgard?'
Loki gaped, caught off guard by the question, his brain struggled to measure the distance around the gods' dwellings. There were many estates in Asgard and all of a good size, even by the standards of a god. Beside the rambling Valhall, there was Fensalir with its lakes and gardens, Thrudvang with its towering hall and endless fields, Friendly Hall with its orchards and weaving sheds, Folkvang and Himingbiorg. To build a wall around all that, why it would take 'A very long time.' Loki answered.
'So,' the Warfather encouraged 'You don't think it could be done in the time it takes a woman to bare, birth and wean her bairn?'
'No, I don't think that would be possible,' Loki replied, 'not a wall of stone so high and wide'.
'Thank you.' Odin replied and slammed the door, leaving Loki alone outside and little the wiser to the purpose of the question.
………………..
These were peaceful times in Asgard, the Aesir and the Vanir had settled their differences and lived contentedly together among the golden fields. The gods' enemies were far away beyond the boundaries of Middle - Earth, and only Thor concerned himself with the rough trolls and giants and rode his chariot on the border roads to keep the foes of men in the Outlands.
The complacency in Asgard was marred by the arrival of giant leading the stockiest stallion the gods had ever seen, standing fifty hands at the shoulder, and a young man of mortal build. The giant, a rough fellow clad in untrimmed ox hide bellowed for Odin from Asgard's gate. For a stranger among potential foes he showed great confidence and paid no heed to Heimdal who dutifully barred the giant's way.
Odin strode proudly to the gate to meet the newcomer with his brothers Vili and Ve beside him, 'Greetings Hrimthurs' he cried.
The giant spoke again in his rumbling voice 'I have come, as we agreed. Do you have the virgin girl by which our bargain can be measured?'
Ve pulled a young woman forward 'Here.', Odin's brother held a woman of Middle-Earth, she averted her eyes from the giant in fear, but her beauty was clear beneath her black locks held by a crudely beaten band of gold.
'Is this your bondsman?' Odin inquired, nodding at the young man holding the stallion's reigns.
'Oh yes.' The giant beamed proudly 'This is Fal. He is a good servant and I trust him in all things. He has fathered many a bastard rutting with my house maids. He will be quick to report if you have cheated me.'
'You will not be cheated in this wager.' Odin responded, hurt by the suggestion. 'Let the two of them be joined, and join me at my table for your welcome feast, for you will be eager to start work soon I am sure.'
'Oh yes,' the giant responded 'I am eager to claim my pay.'
There was much speculation among the gods and goddesses as to the giant's business in Asgard and the nature of Odin's bargain, but the warfather keep his knowledge to himself. Hrimthurs ate heartily from the platters of meats and bread served at Valhall's tables and spent much of his time admiring his view of the goddesses from the top table.
Fal returned after an hour, grinning from the pleasures of his sport 'It is done master.'
'Was she a virgin then?' demanded Hrimthurs.
'Oh yes,' Fal replied and brandished the girls blood stained linen shift for his masters inspection.
'Excellent.' The giant acknowledged as Fal helped himself to a joint of meat from his master's trencher.
'Go back to her boy! She must bear you a child or this rascal' the giant nodded towards Odin 'will find some excuse to break our bargain.' Fal grinned and accepted a full horn of mead and returned to the girl's chamber chewing on his supper.
Soon after the feasting the giant got to work. The halls of Asgard shuddered as he delved deep into the earth below the existing boundary walls. Hrimthurs' magnificent horsedragged great boulders straight from the packed earth. Despite the size of the excavation, the work progressed fast, and the foundations of the new wall were both cleared and laid when the girl's belly was swollen by Fal's child. Both giant and horse proved incredibly strong and the walls rose at an alarming rate.
The birthing came ever nearer but Odin was greatly fearful that he might be forced to pay the giant after all. He summoned Loki to his chambers. 'You were wrong Loki.' He said bluntly. 'Hrimthurs has nearly finished. You must prevent him from completing the wall.'
Loki was puzzled 'But surely you want the wall completed?'
'Started yes, but not completed, the price would be too high.' Odin answered, scowling with concern.
'What did you promise him?' Odin passed over a carved tablet which recorded the Warfather's promise to Hrimthurs. Loki read it and stared.
'Stop him!' Odin commanded.
Loki had no wish to tangle with the giant, but as Hrimthurs relied so heavily on his stallion he thought a different approach would work well. The giant was encouraging the horse to pull one of the last great blocks into position. The horse paused and his nostrils twitched as a familiar scent reached him. The unmistakable, unignorable smell of a female on heat.
The stallion reared and jerked aside. The traces snapped and the great stone block and its oak sledge tumbled back down the step path. The giant howled in fury and frustration as the horse galloped straight down the slopes and vanished into the misty forest below.
'Odin!' Hrimthurs bellowed 'Where's my horse?'
The Warfather glanced up from his battle charts, feigning annoyance at the interruption. 'How should I know?'
'You will not get away with this. This is a deliberate attempt to delay the building past the birthing.'
'Don't be ridiculous!' Odin retorted 'Get another horse if you cannot control the one you brought.' He looked at the panting girl on the bottom step of his high seat. 'You might wish to hurry Hrimthurs, you have very little time.'
Hrimthurs cursed and turned to leave but stopped as the girl cried out in pain. Eir ran forward to attend the girl and hitched up her skirts to examine her. 'You are too late Hrimthurs.' said Eir 'The child's head is emerging.'
'Hah, you have lost' cried Odin in triumph.
'No!' Hrimthurs tore his hair in anger as Fal's child gave its first lusty cry. He rounded on Odin, eyes blazing in accusation. 'I want you to make a holy oath Odin, swear that neither you, nor any other god or goddess, servant or elf of Asgard, had any hand in the loss of my horse. Swear that and I will leave peaceably and without payment for my work.' Odin hesitated and Hrimthurs was convinced of his suspicions. 'Then I will claim my payment now.' The giant strode purposefully out of the gate of Valhall. Odin shouted for his warriors to follow him and ran in pursuit of the long legged giant.
Hrimthurs strode directly to Freya's hall of Folkvang. Goddesses from friendly hall and farmers from Thrudvang ran to see what was happening. Alerted by the commotion Freya came to the door of her hall to be confronted by the determined giant. 'Pack your dresses and jewels Freya' demanded Hrimthurs. 'You are coming back to the Outlands with me.'
'Well' laughed Freya 'I have heard some terrible courting speeches, but few as bad as that.'
'I am not courting woman, You are mine, you belong to me.'
'Pardon?'
'Read this' Hrimthurs tossed her the wooden tablet carved with runes.
Freya glanced at the tablet, then clutched it in both hands, noting every word, she rounded on Odin who had just arrived in the giant's wake. 'How dare you?'
'What's wrong?' asked Idunn?
'That, traitor, has bought the services of that giant, by bargaining with the lives of three goddesses.'
'Who?' asked Idunn her voice shaking with anger.
'Sol, Bil and myself.'
'The bargain is sworn Freya, even you must agree that you are bound by it as much as Odin!'
'Surely not.' Freya searched the crowed for an ally but the Aesir averted their eyes, unable to approve breaking Odin's oath.
Hrimthurs reached forward and clutched Freya's shoulders with his heavy hands 'Enough talk woman, now come with me.'
'Enough of this!' Freya shouted, shaking herself free of the giants grip. 'If you are so sure of yourself giant, you can explain yourself to Thor.' Freya's last word rang through the nine worlds causing every As in Asgard to wince.
'Huh!' laughed Hrimthurs 'He's not here.'
'Think again lofty' the Thundergod replied shoving the giant away from the Vanadis. 'Can I assist you in removing this giant Freya?'
'As pleasurable as that would be Thor, I am not sure that would be appropriate under the circumstances.' Freya sighed 'Odin asked Hrimsthurs here to build a wall around Asgard. He kept very quiet about the price he promised in return but now that Hrimthurs has come to claim his reward the truth is known.' Freya passed the Thundergod the tablet. 'I can only assume that Odin was confident that he had set an impossible task and would never have to pay.'
Thor frowned at the tablet, and looked towards Freya 'You knew nothing about this?'
'No' Freya replied glaring at Odin.
'Did Loki have a hand in this?'
'Yes.' Odin replied with releif, 'I asked his advice, he said Hrimthurs had no chance to complete the wall.'
'But was he aware of this?' Thor waved the tablet.
'Er, no.' Odin replied with great reluctance.
'Look.' Interrupted Hrimthurs 'Freya you are coming with me. If Odin didn't tell you about our agreement that is your problem.'
'No.' said Thor 'It is his problem, and yours. Odin cannot promise what is not his to give. You must agree on a new payment, but leave the goddesses out of it. Never fear giant, Odin has enough treasures to pay you!'
The giant bristled 'I could take this knaves lands, his treasures, the shirt from his back and his tricky tongue from his head, but I WANT the goddesses. I will not leave with anything less.'
'No.' Thor repeated.
Furious, the giant swung his fist at Thor, the thunderer stepped aside and the ground shook as Hrimthur's blow connected with Freya's threshold. 'You certainly know how to lose my sympathies giant!' laughed Thor dodging another wild swing. One of the pillars of Folkvang shattered from its footing in a shower of splinters.
'Shut up and die you interfering bastard.' Hrimthurs howled, trying to stamp his foot of the thunderer's head. Thor grabbed the giants foot as it descended and hurled him over, and sprang to the giant's chest wielding the broken pillar. The giant died screaming obscenities. The gore splattered thundergod glared at Odin 'You are very, very lucky.'
Silent, the Warfather turned and trudged back to Valhall.
…………..
Time passed and Odin's treacherous bargain was, if not forgotten, a wound that smarted less.
Loki returned to Asgard leading the giant's mighty horse and a foal, remarkable in itself for it pranced on no less than eight legs. Although quiet of late, Odin was delighted by the arrival of the remarkable beasts. Ever an admirer of fine horses Odin greeted Loki warmly 'Well done, well done, I will take those two to my stables.'
Overhearing Heimdall snorted from the door to his hall at Asgard's gate. 'What makes you think you have any claim to these beasts? I know well what has been happening in the forests below Asgard since we last saw Loki. I would not deny him his well earned reward for his services to Asgard.'
Gods and goddesses were gathering to hear the exchange and seeing Freya Loki smiled and led the horses to her. 'Freya I realise that you suffered from Odin's bargaining, I want you to have Hrimthurs' stallion to give to whom you will.'
Freya smiled 'Thank you Loki, I will give him to Freyr, he will add good seed to the horses of Vanaheim.' Loki turned to Odin who was watching the exchange miserably.
Loki nodded to the foal, 'You really want this horse don't you.'
'Yes.'
'You can have him on one condition.'
'What?'
'Release me from my oath of brotherhood.'
Odin frowned, then shrugged. 'Very well, I release you. I no longer look to you as kin or expect any service from you.' The Warfather put his arm around the foal's neck and proudly led away his new possession.
Loki surveyed the gathered folk of Asgard and laughed 'Well goddesses, now I am a free man, who will offer me the shelter of their roof?' The goddesses of Friendly Hall giggled and whispered among themeselves. One came forward, plain but practical Sigyn, the housekeeper of Bilskirnir.
She smiled 'I might be able to find you a corner somewhere.' Loki hugged her fondly
'A corner of Bilskirnir eh? That might suit me very well indeed.'
(This retelling of the famous myth of the Building of Asgard's wall is very close to the surving Eddic version. Who is responsible for promising Freya, the sun and the moon to the giant is not clear, but Loki is blamed and has to save the day. It fits within the pattern of the Loki myths for him to be at fault, but I have choosen to pin the blame on Odin, a god with an equal reputation for untrustworthy behaviour.
Thor's ability to magically appear when the gods call him is from the original tale, and in this version of the myths his ability follows on smootly from his tuition from Freya in the previous chapter 'Mistress of Magic'
Thor appears here in his role as god of justice. The attempt to reason with the giant makes more sense to me than the original version which simply has Thor thump the agreived giant into the ground.
I have place this story chronologically before the tale of Loki's children. This means there is no wolf chasing the sun, day and night do not exist and therefore nor does time. To get round this I am using the 'nine months' of pregancy as a measure of time.)
This fictional story was writing for the opening ceremony for the Halloween Festival in London last year and performed as a drama by Hearths of the Hammer Kindred
Good folk I greet you all at this time known to many as Samhain,to others as Winter Nights or Ancestors Night. I am Wulf Hengestsson,a storymaker or spellsmith,as we were known-and the story I bring is The Tale of Aelfstan.
Samhain, or Ancestors Night marks the end of Summer and beginning of Winter. It is a time when folk remember their Ancestors in the Otherworlds and when the veil between the worlds is so thin that, with a little magic, you could pass through it. Amongst my people there is a word called WYRD. To our ancestors, and us, it means fate,or that which will be. WYRD is like a weave woven on a loom-it catches everything in it's threads, even this tale, and every weave needs it's weavers. Amongst my people the weavers are known as NORNS. Three they are; the Past, Present and Future. May the Norns of this tale set to their weaving.
Many years ago this land was beset with raiders from Pictland and Ireland. The Roman legions no longer defended the shores, and the Britons looked for help from the Saxons. First came their warriors led by Hengest. Then, with others came their families, to settle land offered as payment for the warriors' services. The raiders all but ceased their attacks, for Hengest's warriors outfought them at every clash. For reasons now lost in time, the Britons now refused to pay the Saxons, who now fought to gain what was rightfully owed. Many battles were fought in the years that followed. We join the young warrior Aelfstan as he prepares for his first battle.
Aelfstan was sixteen summers old on the morning of the battle. He was hotheaded and impulsive, but honest and hardworking with a kind heart. His two brothers, both older were already famed warriors; Redraca the eldest led their settlement's warriors in battle. Bordstan, the second eldest was the settlement's strongest warrior
Three sisters also had Aelfstan, and each brought him a charm for the coming day. First came Earn, the eagle, with a gift of a carved cat statuette. Next came Hafoc,the hawk, with a gift of a fine jewel. Last came Ilfetu, the swan, and her gift was a ring wrought from silver. Charms were used by our ancestors in general life as well as battle, and such charms were the gifts given to Aelfstan. Gifts given, the sisters left to fetch the Priestess of the village for her blessing on their brothers.
Ferthread, Heart Wisdom, she was named. The rune carved bones spoke to her, every herb was in her knowing, she was blessed by the Gods and Goddesses. Thrice she wielded the hammer over them, asking the protection of the Gods and Goddesses for the coming battle. As the hammer passed over them, each muttered an oath, and Aelfstan offered a prayer to Freya, Goddess of magic. The blessing done, Ferthread led the brothers out to their fellow warriors to begin their journey westward.
West they journeyed for half a day, and at each settlement more men joined them. Many Britons resented the newcomers, and had pledged to drive them back over the seas, while the Saxons were not prepared to yield lands they had fairly earned. In these times when the two met, battle was inevitable, and so it was now. The Saxons faced their foes, barring their way, and as they formed a line began their battle chant of 'UT,UT,UT' In a moment the Britons surged forward and hit the Saxon line at a run.
The three brothers fought together, guarding their companions as they traded blows with the opposing Britons. Abruptly the two sides moved apart. The Saxon line still held, and their losses were few, but many Britons lay slain and the remainder retreated to the woods under cover of a hail of arrows. All along the Saxon lines the Thanes urged their warriors to hold back, but Aelfstan stepped out and began to follow the retreating foes into the woods.
An arrow pierced his arm, but he pulled it from there and stepped deeper into the woodlands. Aelfstan was lost within the woodlands. He had lost sight of his foes and friends and the numbness from his wound was spreading. His brothers had told him of the poisons the Britons used on their arrows that caused madness before death, and although he knew he was poisoned, he could only wander on hoping to find help.
Eventually he came to a clearing. At that moment he heard a voice from a short way away, saying; 'Aelfstan follower of Freya, I ask your help' Moving closer, Aelfstan saw no man or woman, but a cat. No ordinary cat, it was as tall as his waist and had eyes like glowing emeralds. A faint shimmering surrounded it, only broken by the metal bar of a trap that held its leg in its grip. Aelfstan had heard tales of the Cat Alfar-the giant cats that accompanied the Goddess Freya, but even now he doubted his eyes.
The voice came again, but this time with a note of impatience, saying; 'Yes I am real. Remove this iron from my leg and I will help you'. Using the last strength in him, Aelfstan set the haft of his Axe against the trap and freed the Cat Alfar's leg, then slumped to the ground. The Cat fixed Aelfstan with it's gaze and said; 'I thank you Aelfstan. My name is Gelared. My magic can but slow the poison in you, so I will send a calling for one who can do more'
Gelared's sending wove through the ancient woodlands. It looked like a thread of pure silver, and it sought otherwordly help in the depths of the woods. It was Samhain, that day when the Alfar, or Elfin People, could walk the mortal lands. For that day only can they do this, or be trapped turning to dust the following day. Thus it was that the sending found Arafel, an Alfar princess who was herb-gathering in the mortal lands, and led her to him.
Arafel, the daughter of the King and Queen of the Alfar. Fair was she, yet strong in magic and wise in herblore. Gelared bowed his head in respect and asked for her help. Arafel knelt by Aelfstan and began to weave her magic. The magic of the Alfar is powerful, but it's effects can be strange in their outcome. Aelfstan's youthful good looks drew Arafel's thoughts to love, and maybe a little love magic was caught in the healing spells she wove, for when he opened his eyes he could think of nothing but the beautiful woman beside him.
The poison magicked from his blood, Aelfstan was healed and again stood tall. He begged Arafel to stay with him, for already he could not bear to part from her. In turn she said that while she felt love for him, she could only spend one day of a year in the mortal lands, or death would claim her, but maybe he could go with her to the Alfar lands?
Aelfstan was torn between returning to his kinsfolk and going with Arafel-he turned to Gelared for his counsel. Gelared regarded him with one eye open, saying; 'I can only help you on your chosen path. Any warning I might give would surely be ignored by one so youthful and in love. But know this-your choice now will change your life' So Aelfstan chose, and his choice was to go with Arafel and ask leave of the Alfar King to dwell in his lands.
After a short journey they came to the border of the Alfar lands, and the father and mother of Arafel were there to meet them. Carrack was the King of Alfar in those lands. He was tall and proud and his eyes were as starlight on a clear night. Fayak, the Raven was his Queen, as dark as he was fair, as carefree as he was stern. Aelfstan knelt at their feet with Arafel at his side, spoke of his love for their daughter and his wish to be with her. Arafel spoke not, but caught her mother's eye with a silent plea.
Carrack began to speak his refusal, but Fayak took him aside and began to whisper to him. She reminded Carrack of how, many centuries ago, they had fallen in love, and how her father had set him three tests of worthiness to gain his blessing. Surely their daughter's chosen one could have the same chance. Strong-minded though he was, Carrack's love for his Queen was stronger, and he consented to the tests. Fayak and Arafel drew to one side, but Gelared stayed close to Aelfstan as he stood to face the Alfar King.
Carrack made a summoning magic. This, he told Aelfstan,is a test of your strength and cunning. Defeat this creature of your Ancestor's lands, and the test is passed. The Troll was tall, fierce,and it's magical journey had left it in a foul temper. It's beady eyes fixed on Aelfstan and it lumbered forward to attack him. The two clashed in battle, but Aelfstan could not slay the Troll, for it fought with great skill, and it's long arms kept him at bay.
After a short while the two separated, and Gelared whispered to Aelfstan; 'Trolls are known for their greed. The jewel you have, drop it at his feet, then strike him' Aelfstan dropped the jewel in front of the Troll. It's eyes widened at the sparkling gem and it bent to pick it up…….. just as Aelfstan brought down his Axe. Carrack motioned with his hand, and the dead Troll rose and shambled off.
He turned to Aelfstan and told him of the second test, one of skill. Carrack would drop a single hair to the ground that Aelfstan must catch, however Aelfstan's eyes would be clouded by magic, so he could not see. Again, Gelared whispered to Aelfstan, saying; 'The cat charm you have, hold it up to me, and I will weave magic of my own' Aelfstan did so, and Gelared breathed magic into it, so it's eyes opened. Then Carrack enspelled Aelfstan's eyes, but Aelfstan found he could see through the cat charm's eyes, and as the hair fell, he easily caught it.
Then Carrack told him of the final test, one of wisdom. The test was to answer a riddle, and this was the riddle Carrack asked;
'I am both burden and wealth to a warrior,
Great Lords hold me but for a moment,
And I am gone in a word.
I have no beginning and no ending,
yet I will not last forever.
I promise love, yet I am cold
and children yet I am barren.
And while I may bear a name,
it is never my own'
Aelfstan thought desperately, for he could only answer once. At his side, Gelared shook his head, for he did not know the answer. As Aelfstan puzzled over the riddle, his hand touched a coldness, the ring his sister had given him. His fingers ran over the carved runes in the metal, and suddenly he knew the answer, for rings were given by lords to their warriors as gifts and tokens of loyalty, and were also a symbol of marriage. He turned to Carrack and gave the answer 'A Ring, Great Lord'
Carrack smiled and told him he could enter the Alfar lands and had his permission to wed Arafel. And so Aelfstan, Arafel and Gelared followed the Alfar King and Queen into their realm. The next five years passed quickly for Aelfstan. He grew from youth to man, and while he lived the Alfar way, he grew a beard in the fashion of his people, and kept to his Saxon garb.
By now, he and Arafel were inseparable, but one thing had come to trouble him, and he had to tell her of it. Aelfstan missed his kinsfolk and yearned to see them. As he told her this, Arafel realised there was one thing she had forgotten to tell him, unused as she was to mortal folk. As she began to speak, Aelfstan smiled and stilled her words with a finger to her lips, saying he would return within the day. And with that he set off. Aelfstan had not travelled far before he met Gelared.
The Cat Alfar counselled him saying; 'Do not leave the Alfar lands, much has changed since you left your kinsfolk-it would be wisest to return to Arafel' But Aelfstan would not be dissuaded, so Gelared reluctantly agreed to go with him to the border of the lands. Aelfstan emerged from the woods into the mortal lands, and to his ears came the sounds of Saxon voices and clashing swords. Moving forward, he saw a small band of Saxon warriors at the crest of a hill. Approaching them he asked of the battle. One of them turned to him, and he was shocked to see the man wore the cross of the Christian Britons. The man told him that they fought for Harold Godwinson, the King of England, and their foes were Normans, invading from France. The names meant nothing to Aelfstan, so he asked of his brothers. The man looked puzzled and replied that there had been two famed warriors who bore those names, but they were dead nigh five hundred years.
Thus was the truth revealed to Aelfstan, for five years in the Alfar lands were five hundred in the mortal realm. His family was gone, his people changed, and now he realised what Arafel had tried to tell him. Thus his wyrd was woven. Aelfstan raised his axe high - he could at least stand by his people's descendants and fight at their side. Words welled in his heart, even as a chill wind caught the hilltop;
'Fifty of my fathers have fallen in this land:
In earthy bed, their bones and flesh,
Or scattered ashes have added to the breadth
Of this hallowed homeland.
How can I honour them?
By runic stone, or story told
To bairn and babe before the hearth?
For today they rest, unremembered by name
Or noble deed, deep in the earth
Of an unknown howe.
Who can now tell
Their wisdom and worth, the wyrd that unfolded
To draw them to dust, the doom of the Sisters?
What skald has the skill, the skull-craft to shape
The call to companions, comrades of yore
Words of worth-ship, at the Winter-Nights'
The wind grew, and his Alfar-touched eyes saw shapes form within it… Three women veiled and mysterious, surrounding him, chanting; 'We remember, We will tell' Then the Norns pulled him back from the battle, even as he tried to reach it, for it was not his fate to die on the battlefield of Hastings in 1066. They drew him back into the Alfar lands, but his words still echo in this land a thousand years later….
And that is the Tale of Aelfstan. I am told by Gelared that he lives, still,in the Alfar lands with his beloved Arafel, watching our mortal lands change from the forest's edge.
Ingjald held a farm called Hvol near Snaefellsnes in Iceland. He was the best fisherman in the region. Ingjald's farm was tormented by a troll woman and shape shifter called Hetta who killed many of the livestock. When Ingjald tried to deal with her she ran away and he chased her up the mountain. Hetta promised to make up for her harm but telling him where the best fishing bank was. She recited this poem:
Row past the mountain of fjords
And into the troubled sea
There you will find glittering cod
If you find your way to Grim's Bank
Lie at anchor there.
Thor has love for Frigg.
Row snub-nosed shiverer
By the headland in Hrakhvamm.'
Ingjald accepted this advice and rowed out the next day, it was autumn. He rowed much futher than he expected but he found the bank and the fish were indeed plentiful. Later clouds came over and the weather turned. The wind strengthen and it became very cold, snowing with frost.
Nearby Ingjald saw another fisherman pulling in fish with ease, he had a red beard. Ingjald asked his name and the stranger replied that he was called Grim. Ingjald asked if they should go back to shore but Grim refused to move until he had filled his boat with fish.
The storm worsened, and soon Ingjald could not see the stern post of his fishing boat. All his fishing tackle was washed overboard and he struggled to keep the oars. He feared that Hetta's sorcery was keeping him at sea. He called on Bard, the first settler and god of Snaefellsnes to aid him. Ingjald got colder and colder, he pulled his fur cloak around his shoulders. Water crashed into the boat and froze there. Ingjald prepared himself for death.
At midday back at Hov the farm folk heard a deep voice at the window chanting:
He rowed out in his boat alone
skin -cloaked Ingjald
eighteen hooks he lost
skin - cloaked Ingjald
and a forty yard line
skin-cloaked Ingjald.
May he never return again
skin cloaked Ingjald.
The folk knew this was Hetta boasting and feared the Ingjald was doomed. When Ingjlad was nearly dead from cold, he saw a grey robed figure with a boat of hide rowing towards him, it was Bard. Bard told him to get into his boat and take the steer board, commenting that Ingjald had done very badly to get tricked by Hetta. Grim had disappeared.
Bard rowed strongly and Ingjald got safely home, extremely tired but alive. When Ingjald told his tale the folk of Hov thought that Grim must have been Thor.
Source Bards Saga (translated by Sarah M Anderson), The Complete Icelandic Sagas, Leifur Eiriksson Publishing, 1997.
(Notes: Bard's Saga is a wonderful mix of Northern mythology and local folklore of the Snaefellsnes area. Bard's father King Dumb is the inhuman son of a giant and a troll wife. Brand leaves his settlement to become a god and land spirit for his family. And is often invoked for help, as he is in this story.
Band's Saga also includes an account of the robbing of a lords burial mound with encounters of the dead man and his dead ship crew which is well worth a read. The explanation of the Grim character as Thor is convincing as the passage is very similar to the account of Thor fishing for the world serpent, and is almost certainly inspired or copied from the well known myth.
Thor's role in this story is rather baffling as it is not explained at all. Is Thor acting in league with the troll wife? Or does Hetta know it is unwise to visit Thor's favourite fishing bank? This story gives Thor the manner of a troll himself, not greatly surprising considering that this is one of the later Sagas recorded in the fourteenth century. It is comparable with the Norwegian folktales Tor Trollbane which shows him in an equally negative light.)
Notes from the Midgard Web Lore Book, Compiled by Thorskegga Thorn from long experience in re-enactment with thanks to Melissa, Dave Rushworth and Suzy and Sarah Thurstan
A warm cloak is very practical for camping, late night/winter outdoor rituals and anyone interested in living history. Here is a simple guide to how to make them. There are three patterns of various complexity.
Fabrics
If historical accuracy is not an issue, use any warm wool-like fabric that drapes well and does not crease easily. Plain material or simple checked patterns are most effective, avoid busy patterns. You will need between 2 and 6 yards depending on your own height and the type of cloak chosen. If you are trying for a convincing dark age look, you need to find genuine woolen fabric. Re-enactment suppliers are the cheapest source of natural fibre fabrics. Heavy linen cloth is also an option.
You also need to be careful with colours. Very bright colours were only available to the wealthy if at all. Jet black and heraldic purple should be avoided. Earthy colours, dull greens, yellows, browns, blues and mauves were much easier to obtain.
Cloak Pins
You cannot beat a well made reproduction cloak pin, because they work. Modern dress pins are very weak, they are only designed to hold their own weight, so don't expect them to hold up 5 pounds of cloak fabric without shattering. Again re-enactment suppliers are the best source.
A Simple Cloak.
The very simplest cloak is a rectangle of fabric held on by pinning the top two corners together at the neck. The only sewing required is to hem the top and bottom to stop the fabric fraying. As an alternative the top 1 ½ feet of the fabric can be folded over and the cloak can be pinned at the fold. The overlap can then be pulled over the head as a simple hood.
A Semi-circular Cloak
A bit more technical now! For this you need a fabric wide enough to reach from your neck to your ankles, so probably at least 54 inches for a woman and 60 inches for a tall male. The length of the cloth will need to be twice this distance - so just over 3 yards. Lay out the fabric and fold it as shown in the diagram. From the fold you need to make a quarter circle. I do this by measuring the cloth width using a tape measure and marking regular points with pins. Then simply cut along the line of your pins. The cloak is worn by wrapping the straight edge around the neck. Hem over any exposed edges to prevent fraying and line with other fabric as desired.
Dark Age folk probably used a worn out cloak as lining so the result would have been very warm. The spare pieces can be used to make a hood if required.
A Three Quarter Circle Cloak
If you want a cloak that really keeps out the drafts, that you can shelter several people under on a cold night, this is the one for you. It takes a lot of fabric, about 5 yards and again you need a wide material so it is long enough to keep you warm. Firstly cut out a semi circle approx 5 feet by 10 feet as for the previous pattern. Then cut out a quarter circle 5 feet by 5 feet. Now sew the two pieces together to produce the three quarter circle, sewing machine recommended for this bit! Cut out a square or circle shape from the neckline so that the cloak hangs neatly from the shoulders (see diagram). Hem around all the exposed edges.
Decoration
The edge of your cloak can be decorated with any of the following:
Embroidery (craft stencils are great for marking out the designs)
Tablet Weaving Appliqué Fur (second hand fur coats are an affordable source)
Textile Paint (avoid for authentic costume)
Vigthor Victor! Shing in Spring.
Slayer of Winter's etin - ice sting,
Your might awakens your Mother - bride,
She blooms in bliss, sowing you ride.
Holy Thunder! Midsummer storm,
Lightning ripening gold growing corn,
Bringing bounty to flock and field,
Common man's patron, his staff and shield.
Old Man thunder Harvest - maid's spouse,
Come down to me, feast in my house,
Flying o'er fields in buck drawn wain,
You make fertile the ingathered grain.
Father Thunor in gift filled wain,
Come at Yule tide, give snow not rain,
Ride o'er roof tops red and laughing,
Bringing good cheer to every sibling!
Beloved Asabrag, Almight being,
Greatest of gods. Deep souled, all seeing,
Through every season from first to last
You stay ever true now as in the past.
I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,
From the seas and the streams;
I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.
From my wings are shaken the dews that waken
The sweet buds every one,
When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,
As she dances about the sun.
I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And again I dissolve it in rain,
And laugh as I pass in thunder.
I sift the snow to the mountains below,
And their great pines groan aghast;
And all the night 'tis my pillow white,
While I sleep in the arms of the blast.
Sublime on the towers of my skiey bowers,
Lightning my pilot sits;
In a cavern under is fettered the thunder,
It struggles and howls at fits;
Over earth and ocean, with gentle motion,
This pilot is guiding me,
Lured by the love of the genii that move
In the depths of the purple sea;
Over the rills, and the crags, and the hills,
Over the lakes and the plains,
Wherever he dreams, under mountain or stream,
The Spirit he loves remains;
And I all the while bask in Heaven's blue smile,
Whilst he is dissolving in rains.
The sanguine Sunrise, with his meteor eyes,
And the burning plumes outspread,
Leaps on the back of my sailing rack,
When the morning star shines dead;
As on the jag of a mountain crag,
Which an earthquake rocks and swings,
An eagle alit one moment may sit
In light of its golden wings.
And when Sunset may breathe, from the lit sea beneath,
Its ardours of rest and of love,
And crimson pall of eve may fall
From the depth of Heaven above,
With wings folded I rest, on mine aery nest,
As still as a brooding dove.
That orbe'd maiden with white fire laden,
Whom mortals call the Moon,
Glides glimmering o'er my fleece-like floor,
By the midnight breezes strewn;
And wherever the beat of her unseen feet,
Which only the angels hear,
May have broken the woof of my tents thin roof
The stars peep behind her and peer;
And I laugh to see them whirl and flee,
Like a swarm of golden bees,
When I widen the rent in my wind-built tent,
Till the calm rivers, lakes and seas,
Like strips of the sky fallen through me on high,
Are each paved with the moon and these.
I bind the Sun's throne with a burning zone,
And the Moon's with a girdle of pearl;
The volcanoes are dim, and the stars reel and swim,
When the whirlwinds my banner unfurl.
From cape to cape, with bridge-like shape,
Over a torrent sea,
Sunbeam-proof, I hang like a roof,
The mountains its columns be,
The thriumhpal arch through which I march
With hurricane, fire and snow,
When the Powers of the air are chained to my chair,
Is the million-coloured bow;
The sphere-fire above its soft colours wove,
While the moist Earth was laughing below.
I am the daughter of Earth and Water,
And Nursling of the Sky;
I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores;
I change, but I cannot die.
For after the rain when with never a stain
The pavilion of heaven is bare,
And the winds and sunbeams with their convex gleams
Build up the blue dome of air,
I silently laugh at my own centotaph,
And out of the caverns of rain,
Like a child from the womb, like a ghost from the tomb
I arise and unbuild it again.
Part one - Dice Games Dice games in the Early Middle Ages were probably very simple, the excitement stemming from gambling rather than the game itself. Dice seem to have been used mainly on their own for a simple contest comparing who received the highest scores. They were also used for the only native racing board game of Northern Europe, backgammon.
The simplest form of die has only two sides, this can be a shell, a coin, a flat pebble or a specially made gambling stave. Gambling staves were marked on one side and a number of them were tossed together, the number of marked sides showing when they fell being the score. Roman staves were inscribed with words such as 'victor' or 'bad luck'. These gaming staves are reminiscent of both the rune staves used by Norse traders and the rune staves used for divining the future.
A very old form of die is the astragel, the sheep's ankle bone. It has four long flat sides and two rounded ends, so it is in effect a four sided die. Astragels were used heavily throughout the ancient world, the illustration here shows the four sides and their scores. The six sided dice we use today with opposite sides adding up to seven (1 and 6, 3 and 4, 2 and 5) have been in use since 900BC, and were used with board games of the backgammon type since the Roman period. The early dice were made of wood or bone. Loaded and misnumbered dice have always existed alongside more honest gambling equipment.
The various Germanic peoples were famous for their gambling. The invading Goths who threatened the Roman Empire were heavy gamblers and many risked their freedom in dice games with Roman commanders. One soldier said of the Huns 'They are quick to anger, but easily appeased with a game of dice or a stake on a race of chariots.''
An interesting reference to gambling in Early Greenland was recorded by the first Bishop 'In Estribygd the men use holy time to play the game Leif Ericson brought from his travels and would God that he had not. For it is of evil chance. They spin a stick upon an axis and the man it points at when it rests go all the coins that each have contributed.' It is possible that Leif learnt this game from the American Indians
In 1020 King Olaf of Norway and King Olaf of Sweden met to decide the ownership of the district of Hising by the casting of dice. Both kings threw double sixes and were forced to throw again. They both threw double sixes a second time. However one of Olaf of Norway's dice slit in two so it showed seven pips on its surface and he was declared the winner.
Sources:
The History of Table Games up to 1900 - Thorskegga Thorn, privately published 1993.
Gambling - Alan Wykes, Aldus Books Ltd 1964.
Board and Table Games from Many Civilisations - R C Bell, Dover Publications 1979.
The Sports and Pastimes of the Peoples of England - Strutt, 1801.
Fabric for historical projects
Herts Fabrics (visits by appointment only / mail order) 11 Brickfield Hatfield Hertfordshire AL10 8TN 0707 265815
Fabrics and Costume Patterns
Petty Chapman (mail order only) 26 Halifax Old Road Birkby Huddersfield West Yorkshire HD1 6EE 01484 512968
Reproduction Anglo-Saxon and Viking Jewellery
Weyland Iron (mail order only) A E Mason 176 Victoria Street Stoke on Trent Staffordshire ST4 6HD
Midgard's Web London Moot
Midgard's Web run quarterly Saturday afternoon pub moots at the Bricklayers Arms on Gresse Street near Tottenham Court Road Tube Station in central London. The moots run from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. Various activities are organised for each moot. The next dates are as follows: 14 April 2001 14 July 2001 13 October 2001
Thorshof Workshops
Thorshof workshops/debates are held at 106 Oakridge Road, High Wycombe, Bucks. As the meetings are held at a private address please warn us before attending for the first time.
24th February 2001 12.00noon for 1.00pm Natural Amulets. Discussion on the uses of crystals, stones, fossils, animal teeth and horns and other natural amulets in ritual and magic bothpast and present. Bring your favourite toys!
17th March 2001 12.00noon for 1.00pm Soap Making workshop.
12th May 2001 12.00 noon for 1.00pm Traditional Cookery workshop to be held in the hof.
9th June 2001 12.00 noon for 1.00pm Incense Making workshop.
11th August 2001 12.00 noon for 1.00pm Freya. Discussion and craft workshop in honour of the Vanadis. Poetry, carving, songwriting, storytelling etc positively encouraged.
29th September 2001 12.00 noon for 1.00pm Wild Food workshop. Meet at the Falcon pub in Wycombe High Street for a trip to gather wild foods from Wycombe's woodlands. Followed by a wild food feast at Thorshof.
10th November 2001 12.00 noon for 1.00pm Textiles / Embroidery workshop.
15th December 2001 12.00 noon for 1.00pm. Skadi. Discussion and craft workshop in honour of the Norse Winter Goddess. Poetry, carving, songwriting, storytelling etc positively encouraged.
The Heathen Forum Conference
10th March 2001. This is an excellent venue for meeting other members of Midgard's Web. Tickets are limited to 80 so book early to avoid disapointment. Tickets will be £6 as before, cheques to go to Mike Robertson at 29 Desmond House, East Barnet, Herts, EN4 8JA. Please help to publicise this event.
May celebration for HOTH Kindred
The HOTH Kindred May celebration will be held in High Wycombe town park on the first May bank holiday. Weather willing, the festivities will include live music, dancing, the Thorshof parade giants, frolicking around the May pole, a picnic and not forgetting a May ritual. The ceremony will be open to members of the local pagan moot.
Beltane Bash
Sunday & Monday Weekend of the Second May Bank Holiday 2001, Conway Hall near Holborn Station, London. One day ticket £8, two day ticket £14. Two completely different days of free entertainment and free lectures and workshops, large craft market, tea and coffee bar. Sunday's festivities start with a pagan street parade (police escort and all) lea by the local parade giants Morrigan and Bran of London and Old Man Thunder and Old Dame Holda of Thorshof, with musicians morris dancers and every suitably dressed pagan that wants to join in. All are welcome, the theme is a May celebration so wear greenery or masks if you want to take part. Thorshof and the Thorn household will be providing entertainment in the hall on the Sunday with music and a formal dance led by the parade giants.Thorshof will also be running various workshops at the event, details and times to be circulated nearer the event. Organisers: Caduceus Jewellery, 35 Carnarvon Road, Leyton, London, E10 6DW. Send SAE for advance programme.
Wycombe Moot
Wycombe Moot is a regular general pagan moot meeting in the Hogshead Pub in Wycombe centre on the first Tuesday of every month. The moot is run by the local heathen group Chiltern Kindred comprising of the Thorshof, Dragonslair and Gewickhamheim Hearths. Regular ceremonies are held in the area.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & SUBMISSIONS
United Kingdom: Thorskegga Thorn, Thorshof, 106 Oakridge Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 2PL. UK Subscription is £3 for four issues. Please make cheques payable to 'Thorskegga Thorn'. Thunder is also available on the WWW at www.thorshof.org or search for 'Thorshof'. Thorshof can be contacted by e-mail on skegga@thorshof.org Other countries please write for details. All artwork in this issue is by Thorskegga Thorn and under her copyright. This issue was produced on Word 95.