August (Harvest) the 19th 2010
Freyfaxi (Loaf Fest)

Freyfaxi marked the beginning of the harvest in Iceland. Dedicated to the God of the harvest, it was a time for celebration with horse races, martial sports, and of course a Blot to Freyr and a feast. Thor, as hallower and defender of the fields, is also honored as is his fair wife Sif whose golden hair reminds us of the corn. Traditionally, three stalks of the first grain are bound together into a sheaf and kept as an amulet of fortune. Oftentimes, this sheaf, bound by a wise woman, was left in the field as magical protection for the crop. The penultimate sheaf is kept for the Yule feast. The last sheaf is left on the field for Odin's horse Sleipnir.

On this day I try to remember all of those friends of mine that work hard to keep there jobs there family lives and still find the time to grow gardens and raise livestock. I try to remember all of the small family farmers and ranchers that work to provide needed materials to there local communities, and in modern time with food and fuel shortages all over the world and yes even here in Vinland we should all be working our own gardens and livestock. Now I know that not all of us are capable of this and many of us are restricted by living conditions and financial needs, but we can all try to support friends that grow and raise there own as well as trying to, at least once in a wile, purchase from local farmers markets.

On this day we hold blot to Freyr. We remember Thor and Sif. We will raise a horn to the gods, to Midgard and all that both provide for us.

Hail to the Gods and Goddesses, Hail to Folk, Hail to the Land.
--
Vincent Enlund
Chieftain, the Wanderer Kindred
Chieftain, the Asatru Alliance
vikingjack@wandererkindred.org
www.wandererkindred.org
www.asatru.org

Better gear than good sense a traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man, far from his home.

Hail Folks!
Here is the long awaited Wanderer Kindred Winter Finding Community Frith Moot in the mountains of east-central Arizona. We are hoping to make this a great heathen community building event for the Arizona and surrounding areas. There will be many individual heathens and several independent Kindreds in attendance as well as members and kindreds from several of the National Organizations, like the Asatru Alliance, the Troth and Asatru Folk Assembly.

This event is not being financially sponsored by any National Organizations. This event is being hosted by the Wanderer Kindred for the purpose of building a better local heathen community. The event is being supported by the Asatru Alliance through web site postings and public community support and hopefully some of the other National Organizations will follow suite and let there communities and members in the area know what we are doing as well.

If you like you can go to the website and see all of the info and details their.
http://www.wandererkindred.org/frithmoot/index.html

The date for this event is set firm on September 10th, 11th, and 12th (that is Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

For anyone interested in coming early - please let us know.  We could use the bodies to help, set up and tear down.

Because this is a free community event no one group is sponsoring the feeding of everyone so you will need to bring food for the days that you are there. There will be group dinners that will be run in a potluck style.

Friday night Feast will involve a dinner offered up to the Norns.

Saturday night Feast will be for the Odin Blot.

We have several seminars, classes, demonstrations, round table discussions, children’s games and adult activities already scheduled that you can read through on the website
www.wandererkindred.org/frithmoot/event.html

If you have anything you would like to give a presentation on or host a discussion please let us know ASAP so we can schedule it.

August (Harvest) the 9th
Day of Remembrance for Radbod

On this date we honor Radbod a king of Frisia, witch was an early target for christian missionaries. Just before his baptism ceremony, he asked the clergy what fate was of his befallen ancestors who died loyal to Asatru. The missionaries replied that Radbod’s Heathen ancestors were burning in Hell, to which the king replied: “Then I will rather live there with my ancestors than go to heaven with a parcel of beggars.” The baptism was cancelled, the aliens expelled, and Frisia remained free.

On this day of remembrance I try to keep in my mind the memory of my ancestors and not just the very ancient unnamed but the more recent that I know of that even though they may or may-not have been Asatru, the work very hard to keep my ancestral and family traditions both alive and a active part of our family life. Jarl Radbod is the prime example of the personal principal of, that just because I do not see things the way that you say they are does not mean that my beliefs are wrong.

On this day drink a horn in memory of Jarl Radbod.

Hail the Folk of Midgard,
--
Vincent Enlund
Chieftain, the Wanderer Kindred
Chieftain, the Asatru Alliance
vikingjack@wandererkindred.org
www.wandererkindred.org
www.asatru.org

Better gear than good sense a traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man, far from his home.

July (Haymoon) 29th
Stikklestad Day

Olaf the Lawbreaker (“St. Olaf”) was killed at the battle of Stikklestad on this date in the year 1280 R.E. Olaf acquired a reputation for killing, maiming, and exiling his fellow Norwegians who would not convert to Christianity, and for carrying an army with him in violation of the law to help him accomplish his oppression. Today honor the Asatru martyrs who died rather then submit to gray slavery. Also honor the warriors who brought justice to the Lawbreaker.

On this day I try to remind myself of all of the gray slavery that others try to push on us every day. Remind yourself that the laws that control what you do and how you live for your own good because others know what it is better for you then you do is gray slavery. People that push you to do thing that you would not do because its "better for everyone" and "its not a big deal" is gray slavery. These are just small examples of Slavery that others and governments push on us to every day. We may not be able to change the government or all of the laws of the world that we live in today, but we can take responsibility for the events and actions of our lives and what we will do with the freedom that we control. To day I will do something that reminds me that I am a free man.

Remember we are free folk. Live true, live well, live free.

Hail the Folk,
--
Vincent Enlund
Chieftain, the Wanderer Kindred
Chieftain, the Asatru Alliance
vikingjack@wandererkindred.org
www.wandererkindred.org
www.asatru.org

My name is not my own,
I barrow from my ancestors,
I must return it unstained.
My honor is not my own,
I barrow from my decedents,
I must give back to them unbroken.
My blood is not my own,
it is a gift to generations yet unborn,
I should carry it with responsibility.

Just a heads up that I am on my way out to Althing tomorrow for the week. There will be lots of Viking Games, Seminares, Lectures and probably a hole lot of Mead. I hope everyone has a great week and has had a great 4th.

Hail to the Folk,

Vince

As some you know I post my ideas on many of the Asatru holidays that are a part of many heathen calendars. I always have people complain about one thing or another, hear and there, but for the most part for every one person that complains I get a 25 compliments so I never paid it much mind and just try to be understanding of everyone's opinions and right to speak there mind.

That being said my Midsummer post really pissed one guy off (straw that broke the camels back I guess), and he sent me one hell of an email. off of the boards. Again just one guy and just one email, but in spirit of Grith, witch is one of the reasons that I post these anyways, I am posting my official Disclaimer.

My personal Disclaimer on my monthly Holiday postings.

I try to be as accurate as I can for the hole of everyone that reads these but be general enough that everyone has an understanding of the message that I am trying to convey. I try to include as many viewpoints on a holiday posting as possible without letting them get to long winded or overly Academic (believe it or not, most people think academic writing is boring to read). I am not a historian or an archeologist. I am not even a very good writer for that matter.

Everyone that reads these little posts of mine should always remember that they are just very general posts, with very generalized information and "suggestions" from my point of view and should only be taken that way. They are meant as a reminder of the holidays and suggestions for folks that may be new to the old ways or just interested in hearing other peoples ideas for the day. They are a means for me to physically and mentally celebrate and remember the days, even if my day gets to busy to do anything else during the day. They are not automated and never will be. Every year I try to make them a little bit better and maybe a little bit more accurate, without making them very much longer. Sometimes they are filled with misspelling (I am dyslexic after all), and sometime I add the wrong info because I want write each one myself as a part of my personal ritual. If you already do something for these days that has become your tradition then you probable already have the right Idea and should keep doing what you are doing.

My personal opinion is that the Gods, Goddesses, Land Vetor and Ancestors all know what year it is. They all know what our day to day lives are like and the differences that we live with throughout our years hear in Midgard. They all know the massive history that we share and the hurdles involved in applying them back into our lives. I do not think that they are so worried about the little details that we tend to differ on, and sometimes bicker about (not that I don't want to know the differences, I am just saying).

The importance of all of these days is our ability to remember and celebrate the old ways, the ancestors, our Traditions, and the Gods and Goddesses as they are affected and important to each of us. Asatru is individual for every heathen and the ways, or times, that we celebrate our Heathenry should be just as individual as each of us.

That is why I post these.

Hail to us, and all of our Traditions, and all of our History. Let us Keep them Alive.
Vince

July 4th is Independence Day
it is also Founder's Day for Asatru Alliance Folk

Aside for the fact that I think on this independence day we should all reflect carefully on everything that our four fathers fought and died for. On all that we no long have under the leadership that the US has had for the last few decades, as well as on all that we have now that our for-fathers never dreamed of. Today we should remember all that was given by generations before us to give the people of this country independence and a voice in their own freedom.

On this day we in the Asatru Alliance honor the unselfish personal sacrifice and unswerving dedication to our Folk exemplified by the founders of modern era Asatru, Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson and Thorsteinn Guthjonson of Iceland, Else Christensen,  Stephen McNallen and Valgard Murray in the US, H. Rud Mills of Australia, Garman Lord, and John Gibbs Bailey (just to name a small few that I know off the top of my head). Today we remember their drive to keep the old ways, cultures and traditions of our ancestors alive and prosperous for all of us.

On this day reflect on just what YOU can do to promote the growth of our ancestral religion, not only in others but more importantly in yourself, and protect our sacred heritage and traditions for all of our future Folk.

Hail the Folk, Hail the Gods, in Grith and Frith.
--
Vincent Enlund
Chieftain, the Wanderer Kindred
Chieftain, the Asatru Alliance
vikingjack@wandererkindred.org
www.wandererkindred.org
www.asatru.org

Better gear than good sense a traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man, far from his home.

June (Midyear) 20th
Midsummer

This is the longest day and the shortest night of the year: Now Sunna begins its ling decline, sliding into the darkness which will culminate six months from now at Yule. Identifying the sun with the brightness of Baldur, we celebrate in honor of both. Hold blot to Baldur and High Feast. This was the traditional time for holding the AlThing in ancient times. There are many archeologist that believe that today was the reason our ancestors created Durrington Walls.

The summer solstice was second only to Yule in importance to many of the ancient Europeans. It is also a time for general merriment and, in the Scandinavian countries, many of what we know as the traditional May Day rituals, such as May Poles and Morris Dances, were celebrated at Midsummer rather than in May. This was the traditional time for holding the Althing in ancient times, so, in Iceland, the day is dedicated to Tyr, the God of Justice and Order. As we pass through the longest day and the shortest night of the year, it is also appropriate to meditate on the good things of life, all of things that make you happy every day. Asatruar remember Balder at this time and also honor the Sun (Suna) itself.

We will be holding a Balder Blot, evening feast, burning a sun-wheel at Sumble, holding some practice events for the upcoming Althing Viking Games as well as several other traditional summer type rituals for the children, and then at sun up we will give honor to Suna and share a breakfast feast.

Hail to Balder, Hail to Tyr and may your Midsummer be grand and bountiful.

In Grith, Frith and Friendship,
--
Vincent Enlund
Chieftain, the Wanderer Kindred
Chieftain, the Asatru Alliance
vikingjack@wandererkindred.org
www.wandererkindred.org
www.asatru.org

My name is not my own,
I barrow it from my ancestors,
I must return it unstained.
My honor is not my own,
I barrow it from my descendants,
I must give it to them unbroken.
My blood is not my own,
but a gift that I carrie,
to generations yet unborn.

June (Midsummer) 9th
Day of Remembrance for Sigurd the Volsung

He is the model Germanic hero. His wooing of the Valkyrie Brynhild, the winning of the treasure of the Nibelungs, and the constant theme of Odinic initiation that weaves itself throughout his story are priceless parts of our Asatru heritage, that provide endless material for contemplation and inspiration for action.

On this day I try to remember many of the great Germanic heroes from history and how the stories have effected modern literature and movies around the world. Remember that despite negative propaganda from political rants we share a rich and powerful heritage, admired around the world, that has had a direct and positive effect across many nations, Not just Europe.

Hail to the Heroes of the folk.
--
Vincent Enlund
Chieftain, the Wanderer Kindred
Chieftain, the Asatru Alliance
vikingjack@wandererkindred.org
www.wandererkindred.org
www.asatru.org

Better gear than good sense a traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man, far from his home.

June (Midsummer) 8th
Lindisfarne Day:

On this day in the year 1043 Runic Era (793 CE) three Viking ships raided the Isle of Lindisfarne, officially opening what is generally called the "Viking Age". Toast these warriors who began the resistance of an alien religious invasion of the Northlands and sought revenge for the slaughter of thousands of Danish and Saxon Men, Women and Children by Charlamange. Thus the legend of the feared and mighty Norse began, and their legacy would shape Northern Europe as it emerged from the Dark Ages.

Many explanations are given for why the Norsemen struck at this place and time. Population pressures in Scandinavia are often given, as is the lack of arable land in Norway and Sweden. In his book “The Vikings: A History” (2009), author Robert Ferguson proposes another explanation. Between the years 773 and 792, Frankish ruler Charlemagne launched at least six separate campaigns to subdue the pagan Saxons. Many of these people, rather than live under the “White Christ,” chose to flee their homeland; no doubt they sojourned north to live among their fellow pagans in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, telling bloodthirsty tales of the Frankish subjugation of their countrymen over religion. [In the autumn of 782, for example, Charlemagne ordered the beheading of 4500 Saxon leaders guilty of practicing pagan rites after their conversion to Christianity.] Mr. Ferguson theorizes that perhaps some of the early Viking raids were purposely aimed at religious sites. Note that some of the Lindisfarne monks were “drowned in the sea,,,” perhaps in a brutal imitation of baptism.

One of the most learned men to be produced by the British Isles was Alcuin, a Saxon scholar, poet, ecclesiastic and teacher. He had been lured to the court of Charlemagne, king of the Franks and the soon-to-be-declared “Emperor of the Romans, to assist in the so-called “Carolingian Renaissance.” One of his most enduring acts was persuading Charlemagne to abolish the death penalty for paganism in 797. Alcuin told the Frankish ruler, “Faith is a free act of the will, not a forced act. We must appeal to the conscience, not compel it by violence. You can force people to be baptized, but you cannot force them to believe.” He would make some interesting observations on the events to come.

The Scandinavians, contrary to popular belief, focused more on farming and trading than raiding, and in the period immediately followed the Lindisfarne raid, began to lay claim to the mostly uninhabited islands to the north of mainland Britain. While these islands did not afford the gold that Lindisfarne and comparable monasteries could, they provided the Norse with an even more precious commodity—free land. The over-population in Scandinavia at this time had begun to affect the free farmers, forcing them to find new land away from home. The perfectly situated islands in Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides offered land, protection and the promise of a new life, as well as a strategic staging ground for raiding and trading across the north Atlantic.

On this day Let us try to remember that governments are not always right and usually not looking after your best interest but rather theirs. Let us try to remember that, no matter what your opinion of this event, our history is ours to keep and remember for the future generations, weather good or bad. Let us remember that sometimes you do need to fight back. Let us remember our ancestry, that so many have tried to distort or erase.

Hail the Folk
--
Vincent Enlund
Chieftain, the Wanderer Kindred
Chieftain, the Asatru Alliance
vikingjack@wandererkindred.org
www.wandererkindred.org
www.asatru.org

Better gear than good sense a traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man, far from his home.