Harrowman Ealdham

I made this incognito shrine as a gift for a friend of mine whose family is very Christian. It is made from an Altoids tin, so it is rather well hidden if you lay it around in your room. I hope this inspires some of you who have to worship in secret.

In modern Heathen circles I sometimes see that Höðr is honored and worshipped. Although he is a member of the Æsir, it is explicitly stated by Óðinn in disguise that he is not to be honored at any gatherings because of his part in the murder of Baldr. "One of the Æsir is named Höðr: he is blind. He is of sufficient strength, but the Gods would desire that no occasion should rise of naming this God, for the work of his hands shall long be held in memory among Gods and men.”

These words all have their origin in the same religion, do you know what religion? Holy Yule Blessing God Hell Easter

Here is a Christo-pagan spoken charm from Lincolnshire used to cure ague recorded by Mabel Peacock in the early 1900s: “Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Nail the Devil to this post. Thrice I smite with Holy Crook, With this hammer I thrice do knock, One for God And one for Wod, And one for Lok.” Modernized English by- Ariana Carrasca This charm was meant to be said while hammering a nail into a horseshoe that would be hung on a wooden post. “Wod” in this context is a later variation of the name for the God Woden who was worshipped in pre-Christian England. “Lok” was speculated to be a later spelling for the being Loki, but most linguists who analyze the text all agree that Lok was more likely referring to luck (Middle English: lok) rather than a being of chaos.

Beautiful 30" drinking horn based on the Taplow horn, by Hopkins Forge. It’s made of bronze and silver with some 6mm garnets on a Watusi cattle horn.

Upcoming Holy Tides: Yule - about January 24th, 2024 (modern Wolf Moon) Easter, Sigrblot - about April 22nd, 2024 (modern Pink Moon) Time Reckoning: Worth noting a few things about time reckoning. Obviously we are working on reestablishing a traditional lunisolar calendar. Some basics worth knowing: (1) the year is reckoned with lunar months (2) a lunar month takes place from about the first perceivable sliver of moon after the new moon until the following sliver after the new moon and accounts for about 29.5 days (3) every three years the calendar is corrected to fit the solar year by adding an additional month after Midsummer (this year being a correction year and the next coming in 2026) (4) when you celebrate a Holy Tide, Yule for example, you count three months from then to get to the next Holy Tide (5) when adding the correction month it is not counted as a normal month and is skipped over in counting to reckon Holy Tides (6) Holy Tides take place on the same named moon each year (e.g Yule takes place on the modern Wolf Moon every year) (7) Celebrations can take place between 1-3 nights on average and are best suited to the day just prior to the Full Moon, the day of, and the day after. The reason being the energy is most potent during that time. It is especially obvious the day prior (Meaning the time closest to the actual 100% full moon) (8) With modern reckoning we can judge precise times of the 100% Full Moon and if it happens at 2am for example celebration should start the day prior. These are very rough guidelines that I've found helpful in developing my own at home reckoning so thought I would share. Note: this will be updated periodically to ensure accuracy and correct any potential mistakes as well as provide upcoming Holy Tides.

Chapter 2 of Kjalnesinga Saga contains an extended description of Thorgrim Helgason's temple at Hof: “He had a large temple built in his hayfield, a hundred feet long and sixty wide. Everybody had to pay a temple fee. Thor was the god most honoured there. It was rounded on the inside, like a vault, and there were windows and wall-hangings everywhere. The image of Thor stood in the center, with other Gods on both sides. In front of them was an altar made with great skill and covered with iron on the top. On this there was to be a fire which would never go out—they called it sacred fire. On the altar was to lie a great armband, made of silver. The temple Góði was to wear it on his arm at all gatherings, and everyone was to swear oaths on it whenever a suit was brought. A great copper bowl was to stand on the altar, and into it was to go all the blood which came from animals or men given to Thor. They called this sacrificial blood [hlaut] and the sacrificial blood bowl [hlautbolli]. This blood was to be sprinkled over men and animals, and the animals that were given in sacrifice were to be used for feasting when sacrificial banquets were held. Men whom they sacrificed were to be cast into a pool which was outside by the door; they called it Blótkelda (Well of Sacrifice).”

There are a lot of things that we say in everyday speech that call back to more ancient/Pagan times. The word “bless”, which is usually associated with Christianity, comes from the Old English “blēdsian”. Meaning to concentrate with blood. In Germanic Paganism, the blood of an animal sacrificed in a ritual context was transferred to a ritual bowl called a Hlót-tán (ON: Hlaut-teinn), then was sprinkled onto the icons of the Gods, the worship site, and the attendees of the rite. According to our sources, the bowl was usually made out of copper or was carved into a big stone. Photo credit: from Survive The Jives video: “The Spirit of Yule”.

I’ve met many new Pagans who don’t know where to start in their worship. I usually ask them what kind of life they live. For if you live a life a Goodness, Truth, and Beauty; you already honor the Gods and their divine laws. Do not fret over getting everything right at first. As long as you worship with a good heart and pure intent, the Gods will accept your act of piety with love.

I hail to my courageous forefathers who sailed the Atlantic Ocean to establish a country free of tyranny. It’s sad to see what the product of their blood, sweat, and dedication has become. Picture: A depiction of Hengist and Horsa that Thomas Jefferson proposed to be the US seal.

Sigurd and Fafnir by Christian Sloan Hall

Here’s an updated form of a prayer I made for Thunor based on a Rigvedic prayer to Indra. Come, Thunor, and delight thyself with these offerings, Thrasher of Thursar. To the Land-Warding Lord, we offer song, and libations. O Son of Grim, Slayer of the World-Serpent, Raging Red-Beard, find glee within our gifts. Offerings have outpoured themselves to thee, Thunor. Strong, and Warding Lord, send to us great might and strength, Oh War-God, worthy of our wish. O Guardian of the Hearg, he who has a heart that bears no evil, hurl thy hammer at all wights who wish harm upon us. Hold thy reigns as thou ride thy glorious and golden chariot. Give us, Son of Earth, much wisdom and many blessings. Grant us high fame, Son of the Spear-Shaker, and save us in our time of need. We hail the famed wielder of the fiery axe, the Son of Fyrgen, the Thundering Friend of Frith. To the famed Hammer-Holder we hail! In your fastness and fortress, may you reign forever!

“You become what you give your attention to,” -Epictetus Center your mind around the Good and ultimately you will embody it.

Whether you are on Earth, Jupiter, outside of our galaxy, our outside of our realm as a whole; truth remains the truth. The Gods and their laws remain unchanged in the vastness of the cosmos. Everything remains subject to their divine will.

I received this solid bronze statue of the Thunderer as a birthday gift. It is a powerful image that will serve my worship well!

This is the Coat of Arms of the Lower Saxony village of Woltershausen, Germany. The figure is clearly Woden and legend claims he haunted an ancient road between Winzenburg and Hildesheim called the Rennstieg which run just north of the village Woltershausen. Locals called him the Wodansreiter (Woden rider) and he was known to be able to change his form into a raven and a ghost who inhabited the nearby castle of Hödecken.

Here’s an updated form of a prayer I made to Eir based on a Greek Orphic hymn to Hygieia. O venerated and beloved valkyrie. Healer of all. Hear me holy, heavenly, healing dís. By you the ills of mankind are eradiated. Because you heed us; every home flourishes, every wound heals, and all arts thrive. The world deeply needs you loving Eir! Only the evil thursar hate you. Dweller of the evergreen and healing hill of Menglöð. A haven for man, and of health. Daughter of the Drighten who gifts the nine herbs. Eir we ask you sway the sorrow of sickness!

The lame rides a horse, | the handless is herdsman, The deaf in battle is bold; The blind man is better | than one that is burned, No good can come of a corpse. Havamal, stanza 71, translated by Henry Bellows. As someone who suffers from a nerve condition, this stanza has always resonated deeply with me. No matter your handicap; you serve a purpose. The Gods gave you this life you live for a reason. All in the cosmos has divine purpose. Painting by Karen Winters