Our work for Asatru sometimes takes Sheila and I all over the country. Last weekend, we were guests at the Folkish Summer Hallowing, hosted by the Irminfolk in Pennsylvania. We were overwhelmed with their hospitality from the moment of our arrival Friday afternoon until our departure on Sunday.
On Saturday I gave a talk in which I stated that we European-descended folk are an indigenous people. Our "Holy Land" is not the Middle East, but Europe. In the long discussions that followed, I emphasized once again the need for community. Indeed, community is very much on the mind of the Irminfolk, just as it is with us.
Another special guest at the event was our long-time friend and musician Robert Taylor. His band Changes, consisting of Robert and his cousin Nicholas Tesluk, entertained us with beautiful and stirring songs in the "apocalyptic folk" genre. It had been many years since Robert and I saw each other, and we spent a lot of time catching up on our lives. The band Grafvolluth, led by Paul Guhring, provided an overwhelming sonic experience of the Odinist black metal variety.
One of the best things about the gathering was an opportunity to meet Folkbuilder Pat Hall and a slew of other AFA members. Sheila and I were once again impressed with the kind of men and women the AFA is attracting. Pat and her partner, Hunter Yoder, gave a workshop on hexology - the spiritual and magical use of hex signs, both the traditional ones found in Pennsylvania Dutch culture and innovative ones that incorporate runes and other Germanic symbols. Their web site, http://zaubereigarten.com/, has samples of their wonderful art.
Irminfolk is a vibrant organization, with many young married couples, and babies everywhere. Sheila and I made many friends, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship between our two organizations.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
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