THE TWELFTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 31
The twelfth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Wisdom.
What is wisdom? Perhaps it can be summed up in the word “understanding.” It takes only a little wisdom to understand superficial things, while understanding the subtle patterns and flow of events requires much more. Wisdom can come in a flash of inspired initiation but for most of us, most of the time, it is the product of gradually processing information and experience, and casting golden truths from that refined ore. However you define it, Wisdom is very important - without it, we are impotent, but with it we can enact our wills in the world!
Let us be Wise!
This day I will pour a libation to Odin, the very embodiment of Wisdom-seeking.
I will seek Wisdom this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Eleventh Day of Yuletide - December 30
THE ELEVENTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 30
The eleventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Loyalty.
Elder Germanic society was based on a web of Loyalty - to family and tribe, to a chosen leader, to the Gods and Goddesses. The same applies to us today. We should give Loyalty and expect it of others, reciprocating in a dynamic exchange that grows continually stronger. Loyalty is intimately connected to many other values; it requires Steadfastness and Truth in our oaths, and without it the Community falters and dies. Where there is no Loyalty, there is no honor.
Let us be Loyal!
This day I will pour a libation to Wiglaf, the warrior who stood with Beowulf when all others fled in terror.
I will be Loyal this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The eleventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Loyalty.
Elder Germanic society was based on a web of Loyalty - to family and tribe, to a chosen leader, to the Gods and Goddesses. The same applies to us today. We should give Loyalty and expect it of others, reciprocating in a dynamic exchange that grows continually stronger. Loyalty is intimately connected to many other values; it requires Steadfastness and Truth in our oaths, and without it the Community falters and dies. Where there is no Loyalty, there is no honor.
Let us be Loyal!
This day I will pour a libation to Wiglaf, the warrior who stood with Beowulf when all others fled in terror.
I will be Loyal this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Tenth Day of Yuletide - December 29
THE TENTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 29
The tenth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Steadfastness.
Steadfastness - from the Old English meaning, literally, “staying fast to one’s place” - is vital for success on both the personal and the group level. It is often easy to exert immense effort for a short period of time, but soon we tire, our tenacity wavers, and our will to persevere fades away. A lack of Steadfastness undermines our attempts to diet, to complete a book manuscript, or to fight year after year for a cause that matters to us. Conversely, Steadfastness can give us victory in all these things, great and small alike.
Let us be Steadfast!
This day I will pour a libation to all those who have persevered in the modern Reawakening of the Germanic Way.
I will be Steadfast this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The tenth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Steadfastness.
Steadfastness - from the Old English meaning, literally, “staying fast to one’s place” - is vital for success on both the personal and the group level. It is often easy to exert immense effort for a short period of time, but soon we tire, our tenacity wavers, and our will to persevere fades away. A lack of Steadfastness undermines our attempts to diet, to complete a book manuscript, or to fight year after year for a cause that matters to us. Conversely, Steadfastness can give us victory in all these things, great and small alike.
Let us be Steadfast!
This day I will pour a libation to all those who have persevered in the modern Reawakening of the Germanic Way.
I will be Steadfast this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The Ninth Day of Yuletide - December 28
THE NINTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 28
The ninth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Truth.
Lies and deceit undermine our personal lives, our relationships with friends and spouses, and, ultimately, the community of which we are a part. Conversely, when we tell and live the Truth, we build bonds that strengthen and reinforce the good in our lives. On a personal level, the Truth we exhibit adds power to our reputation and our individual spiritual might. While telling the Truth is often painful, lies are an even greater burden to bear.
Let us express the Truth in our lives!
This day I will pour a libation to Var, the Goddess who hears all oaths and promises, that she may strengthen my ability to say and live the Truth.
I will tell the Truth this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The ninth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Truth.
Lies and deceit undermine our personal lives, our relationships with friends and spouses, and, ultimately, the community of which we are a part. Conversely, when we tell and live the Truth, we build bonds that strengthen and reinforce the good in our lives. On a personal level, the Truth we exhibit adds power to our reputation and our individual spiritual might. While telling the Truth is often painful, lies are an even greater burden to bear.
Let us express the Truth in our lives!
This day I will pour a libation to Var, the Goddess who hears all oaths and promises, that she may strengthen my ability to say and live the Truth.
I will tell the Truth this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Eighth Day of Yuletide - December 27
THE EIGHTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 27
The eighth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Individuality.
Individuality balances yesterday’s value of Community. The genius of our people has been to combine these two seemingly contradictory ideas in a dynamic system that encourages cooperation for group goals, but at the same time respects the uniqueness and freedom of the individual. A look at the sagas reveals men and women with strong, stubborn, irrepressible personalities - who, at the same time, were fiercely loyal to kin, friends, and leaders.
Let us honor our Individuality!
This day I will pour a libation to Odin, the very epitome of the unique, individual, evolving Self.
I will assert my Individuality today.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The eighth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Individuality.
Individuality balances yesterday’s value of Community. The genius of our people has been to combine these two seemingly contradictory ideas in a dynamic system that encourages cooperation for group goals, but at the same time respects the uniqueness and freedom of the individual. A look at the sagas reveals men and women with strong, stubborn, irrepressible personalities - who, at the same time, were fiercely loyal to kin, friends, and leaders.
Let us honor our Individuality!
This day I will pour a libation to Odin, the very epitome of the unique, individual, evolving Self.
I will assert my Individuality today.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Seventh Day of Yuletide - December 26
THE SEVENTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 26
The seventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Community.
The joy of Yule springs overwhelmingly from Community. We feast with our family and good friends, exchange gifts, send cards and make telephone calls to the important people in our lives. While we are all unique individuals, we are nevertheless enmeshed in relationships with others. These relationships all bear benefits (love, someone to talk to, financial help) and duties (reciprocation, upholding the family’s honor, physical protection). Community also includes the ancestors, who look on from beyond the grave and nourish the souls of their descendants.
Let us strengthen the bonds of Community!
This day I will pour a libation to my kynfylgja, the personified repository of my family’s spiritual might, to honor the organic Community of my living kin and my ancestors.
I will be mindful of my Community this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The seventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Community.
The joy of Yule springs overwhelmingly from Community. We feast with our family and good friends, exchange gifts, send cards and make telephone calls to the important people in our lives. While we are all unique individuals, we are nevertheless enmeshed in relationships with others. These relationships all bear benefits (love, someone to talk to, financial help) and duties (reciprocation, upholding the family’s honor, physical protection). Community also includes the ancestors, who look on from beyond the grave and nourish the souls of their descendants.
Let us strengthen the bonds of Community!
This day I will pour a libation to my kynfylgja, the personified repository of my family’s spiritual might, to honor the organic Community of my living kin and my ancestors.
I will be mindful of my Community this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Sunday, December 25, 2011
The Sixth Day of Yuletide - December 25
THE SIXTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 25
The sixth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Moderation.
Now, with the Yule season at its height, surrounded by good food and drink, is a strange time to be reminded of Moderation! There is something about this holy tide that lends itself to excess, and it is certainly not our suggestion that you be ascetic during Yule. Nevertheless, exercise reasonable discipline where you can. No one respects a glutton. Moderation, however, does not mean lack of zeal or of commitment! It means being in control of our desires, conserving our energies, and channeling our will and in such a way as to successfully attain our goals.
Let us be Moderate!
This day, I will pour a libation to Frigga, our divine mother, for the stabilizing and Moderating influence of home and hearth.
I will be Moderate this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The sixth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Moderation.
Now, with the Yule season at its height, surrounded by good food and drink, is a strange time to be reminded of Moderation! There is something about this holy tide that lends itself to excess, and it is certainly not our suggestion that you be ascetic during Yule. Nevertheless, exercise reasonable discipline where you can. No one respects a glutton. Moderation, however, does not mean lack of zeal or of commitment! It means being in control of our desires, conserving our energies, and channeling our will and in such a way as to successfully attain our goals.
Let us be Moderate!
This day, I will pour a libation to Frigga, our divine mother, for the stabilizing and Moderating influence of home and hearth.
I will be Moderate this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The Fifth Day of Yuletide - December 24
THE FIFTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 24
The fifth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Hospitality.
Being Hospitable has all the benefits of being Generous. It has, however, an added dimension of vulnerability - you are vulnerable, for you have let someone into your home, and your guest is likewise made vulnerable to you. The implication: trust. Giving and receiving hospitality builds even better bonds than Generosity, and is something to be sought after and treasured.
Let us be Hospitable!
This day, I will pour a libation to the land wights, the beings inherent in the land on which my home sits, for our mutual Hospitality.
I will be Hospitable this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The fifth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Hospitality.
Being Hospitable has all the benefits of being Generous. It has, however, an added dimension of vulnerability - you are vulnerable, for you have let someone into your home, and your guest is likewise made vulnerable to you. The implication: trust. Giving and receiving hospitality builds even better bonds than Generosity, and is something to be sought after and treasured.
Let us be Hospitable!
This day, I will pour a libation to the land wights, the beings inherent in the land on which my home sits, for our mutual Hospitality.
I will be Hospitable this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Fourth Day of Yuletide - December 23
THE FOURTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 23
The fourth day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Generosity.
The open-handed and open-hearted have the best lives. The misers are indeed miserable; they are cut off from the flow of energy inherent in the Germanic concept of Fehu (mobile energy, wealth). Sharing with others demonstrates our spiritual power even as it benefits the recipient - both win in the exchange!
Let us be Generous!
This day, I will pour a libation to Jord, also known as Erda, from which we get the word “Earth” - for all the bounty she has bestowed upon us.
I will be Generous this day.
Steve McNallen
http://runestone.org
The fourth day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Generosity.
The open-handed and open-hearted have the best lives. The misers are indeed miserable; they are cut off from the flow of energy inherent in the Germanic concept of Fehu (mobile energy, wealth). Sharing with others demonstrates our spiritual power even as it benefits the recipient - both win in the exchange!
Let us be Generous!
This day, I will pour a libation to Jord, also known as Erda, from which we get the word “Earth” - for all the bounty she has bestowed upon us.
I will be Generous this day.
Steve McNallen
http://runestone.org
Thursday, December 22, 2011
An Asatru Experience at Sunrise on the Winter Solstice
As we revive our ancestral faith of Asatru, we need to be open to experiences that give us new insights and nourish our souls.
I've just had such a moment, and I want to write about it while the memory is still fresh.
The Winter Solstice happened at 9 PM or so last night, local time. This marks the true "new year," the rebirth of the sun, whom we perceive in her numinous aspect as the Goddess, Sunna. Today's dawn was the first rising of the new-born sun, and I intended to ceremonially greet it as it rose over the horizon.
I had spent the pre-dawn hours doing my various spiritual exercises, loading the dishwasher, checking the news online, and the other typical activities that fill my time after awakening. When the moment of sunrise came, Sheila and I were on the deck, facing eastward, a horn of mead in hand. As the first rays shot over the horizon, unrehearsed words poured from me. They went something like this: "Hail, Sunna! Hail the new year! You are reborn from the depths of winter, and so are we reborn! We are new, limitless, full of potential! You, who penetrated the chamber at Newgrange a few hours ago*, give your rebirth and renewal to us!"
I was instantly in an altered state. The light of the rising sun on the wall of the house seemed to have a special quality to it, and I had the overwhelming feeling that the sun's rays were re-making everything on which they fell, creating them anew. I walked inside, and paused in awe at a wall flooded with light. I stood in the light, and slowly turned, irradiated with a feeling of power, wholeness, newness. I sat quietly for a few moments as the feeling faded.
That's it. The simplicity of my description cannot begin to communicate its power or its impact on me, personally.
Yule can be a time of transformation. I had consciously told myself that I wanted it to be so - that I wanted to burn away the fatigue, the stress, the disappointments, the weakness, that congeals about us as we move though our days. I wanted rebirth.
On some level, I got it.
Asatru must not be just about wearing a hammer or saying the right words. We must seek inner spiritual experience, as well. Only in this way will we change our lives, empower our faith, and awaken the Folk of Northern Europe to their spiritual inheritance.
*This is a reference to the ancient tomb at Newgrange, part of the religious complex overlooking the valley of the River Boyne in Ireland. Every year, at sunrise on the morning of the Winter Solstice, a beam of light enters the inner chamber and lights up the interior for seventeen minutes. The rest of the time, it is in deep darkness.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
I've just had such a moment, and I want to write about it while the memory is still fresh.
The Winter Solstice happened at 9 PM or so last night, local time. This marks the true "new year," the rebirth of the sun, whom we perceive in her numinous aspect as the Goddess, Sunna. Today's dawn was the first rising of the new-born sun, and I intended to ceremonially greet it as it rose over the horizon.
I had spent the pre-dawn hours doing my various spiritual exercises, loading the dishwasher, checking the news online, and the other typical activities that fill my time after awakening. When the moment of sunrise came, Sheila and I were on the deck, facing eastward, a horn of mead in hand. As the first rays shot over the horizon, unrehearsed words poured from me. They went something like this: "Hail, Sunna! Hail the new year! You are reborn from the depths of winter, and so are we reborn! We are new, limitless, full of potential! You, who penetrated the chamber at Newgrange a few hours ago*, give your rebirth and renewal to us!"
I was instantly in an altered state. The light of the rising sun on the wall of the house seemed to have a special quality to it, and I had the overwhelming feeling that the sun's rays were re-making everything on which they fell, creating them anew. I walked inside, and paused in awe at a wall flooded with light. I stood in the light, and slowly turned, irradiated with a feeling of power, wholeness, newness. I sat quietly for a few moments as the feeling faded.
That's it. The simplicity of my description cannot begin to communicate its power or its impact on me, personally.
Yule can be a time of transformation. I had consciously told myself that I wanted it to be so - that I wanted to burn away the fatigue, the stress, the disappointments, the weakness, that congeals about us as we move though our days. I wanted rebirth.
On some level, I got it.
Asatru must not be just about wearing a hammer or saying the right words. We must seek inner spiritual experience, as well. Only in this way will we change our lives, empower our faith, and awaken the Folk of Northern Europe to their spiritual inheritance.
*This is a reference to the ancient tomb at Newgrange, part of the religious complex overlooking the valley of the River Boyne in Ireland. Every year, at sunrise on the morning of the Winter Solstice, a beam of light enters the inner chamber and lights up the interior for seventeen minutes. The rest of the time, it is in deep darkness.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The Third Day of Yuletide - December 22
THE THIRD DAY OF YULETIDE -December 22
The third day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Courage.
Courage is all around us in many guises. It is the man or woman who intervenes to drive off a mugger or a rapist. It is the mother cat who gives her life that her kittens might live. It is the scholar who holds an unpopular political opinion and doesn’t back down. It is the internal power to get out of bed and face each morning when everything seems futile, hopeless, and painful. Courage means mastering our fears and doing our duty, regardless of the cost.
Let us be Courageous!
This day, I will pour a libation to Tyr, who gave his hand and bound the wolf.
I will be Courageous this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
The third day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Courage.
Courage is all around us in many guises. It is the man or woman who intervenes to drive off a mugger or a rapist. It is the mother cat who gives her life that her kittens might live. It is the scholar who holds an unpopular political opinion and doesn’t back down. It is the internal power to get out of bed and face each morning when everything seems futile, hopeless, and painful. Courage means mastering our fears and doing our duty, regardless of the cost.
Let us be Courageous!
This day, I will pour a libation to Tyr, who gave his hand and bound the wolf.
I will be Courageous this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Second Day of Yuletide - December 21
This second day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Justice.
Treating others fairly forces us to see the world as it is, not as we would wish to see it. We grow beyond our own emotion-laden perception and see things from the standpoint of an abstract ideal. Likewise, we grow when we insist that others treat us fairly. By serving Justice, we rise to the heroic within us and build a good reputation among friends and foes alike.
Let us be Just!
This day, I will pour a libation to the givers of law and the bringers of Justice who have served the Germanic folk throughout our history.
I will be Just this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Treating others fairly forces us to see the world as it is, not as we would wish to see it. We grow beyond our own emotion-laden perception and see things from the standpoint of an abstract ideal. Likewise, we grow when we insist that others treat us fairly. By serving Justice, we rise to the heroic within us and build a good reputation among friends and foes alike.
Let us be Just!
This day, I will pour a libation to the givers of law and the bringers of Justice who have served the Germanic folk throughout our history.
I will be Just this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The First Day of Yuletide - December 20!
Sunna begins her return! Let us greet her with the flame of love, as we light a candle - perhaps one on the Yule log decorating our living rooms!
This first day of Yule, we remember Industriousness.
Yuletide is (in theory!) a time of relaxation and recuperation. The rest of the year, however, is a time of work, of projects awaiting completion, of chores. Stressful? Yes, but a job well done, an idea made tangible, can also be a form of stress reliever. Accomplishment gives us peace of mind, inward calm, and a sense of worth.
Let us be industrious!
This day, I will pour a libation to Sunna, to give good speed to her return.
I will be Industrious this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
This first day of Yule, we remember Industriousness.
Yuletide is (in theory!) a time of relaxation and recuperation. The rest of the year, however, is a time of work, of projects awaiting completion, of chores. Stressful? Yes, but a job well done, an idea made tangible, can also be a form of stress reliever. Accomplishment gives us peace of mind, inward calm, and a sense of worth.
Let us be industrious!
This day, I will pour a libation to Sunna, to give good speed to her return.
I will be Industrious this day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Asatru Morning Rites - Part One
Many religions have specific rites to begin each day. Asatru has no such formal practice, but over the years I have evolved a set of personal rites along these lines. Readers may find them helpful as they develop their own.
I do my morning rites in three parts, the first of which I will present here. I'll cover the other two parts another time.
Doing rites in the early morning has changed the way I see the world around me. I muse that, poetically, the world is re-created with each dawn: You can stand in the darkness and watch, minute by minute, as the world is reborn. First, the horizon in the east takes shape...then the trees around you gradually assume their forms, first as dim shadows which, gradually, become more defined...branches and leaves become visible against the ever-lighter sky... forms emerging from the darkness. Each day is a new start, a new beginning, a new world emerging from the void.
And the sky! Darkness still reigns in the west, stars faded now but shadow prevailing, in contrast to the light forming in the east. You can truly see the new day, an entity unto itself, new and unworn, coming toward you over the horizon! This scene never fails to move and inspire me.
I face east, stand with my arms raised high to my sides - the stance of the Elhaz rune - and say these words:
Hail to the Day! Hail to the sons of Day!
Hail to Night and her daughter!
Gaze on me gently standing here;
Give your blessings on my battles!
Hail to the Gods! Hail to the Goddesses!
Hail to the all-giving Earth!
Wisdom and lore grant me, so long as I live,
And healing hands.
(Adapted from Poems of the Elder Edda, by Patricia Terry)
As I finish this, I hold my hands in front of me and say words to the effect of "Help me to heal myself...help me to heal my people, the sons and daughters of Europe...help me to heal the Earth." I then add the names of specific individuals to whom I wish to send blessings.
Simple, yes? By understanding the setting of the rite, and the background of the verses, you can deepen your experience.
Ideally, I perform this rite just before dawn, facing east. This makes sense, of course, when greeting the day! I am fortunate in that I have a spectacular view of the Sierra Nevada as I stand on my deck and face eastward, and the panoramic beauty spread before me makes the ceremony especially profound. But other times, as when I leave for work long before the sun peeks over the horizon, I recite the words while I drive to work (Taking care not to have a run-in with the local deer or other critters). The important thing is to do it, and feel it, every day or as regularly as you can.
The two stanzas above are from the ancient "Lay of Sigrdrifa," which you can find in the Elder Edda - also known as the Poetic Edda. They lend themselves naturally to morning exercises. In the story, Sigrdrifa (who is actually the valkyrie Brynhild) has just been awakened by Sigurd, the great hero of the Volsung line, when she speaks these verses. She then goes on to initiate Sigurd into the mysteries of the runes and other esoteric subjects. This context applies to you and I, as well. Our destiny, if we choose it, is to awaken from our spiritual slumber and pursue wisdom! Perhaps this simple ritual can help you listen to your inner valkyrie as you go about your day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
I do my morning rites in three parts, the first of which I will present here. I'll cover the other two parts another time.
Doing rites in the early morning has changed the way I see the world around me. I muse that, poetically, the world is re-created with each dawn: You can stand in the darkness and watch, minute by minute, as the world is reborn. First, the horizon in the east takes shape...then the trees around you gradually assume their forms, first as dim shadows which, gradually, become more defined...branches and leaves become visible against the ever-lighter sky... forms emerging from the darkness. Each day is a new start, a new beginning, a new world emerging from the void.
And the sky! Darkness still reigns in the west, stars faded now but shadow prevailing, in contrast to the light forming in the east. You can truly see the new day, an entity unto itself, new and unworn, coming toward you over the horizon! This scene never fails to move and inspire me.
I face east, stand with my arms raised high to my sides - the stance of the Elhaz rune - and say these words:
Hail to the Day! Hail to the sons of Day!
Hail to Night and her daughter!
Gaze on me gently standing here;
Give your blessings on my battles!
Hail to the Gods! Hail to the Goddesses!
Hail to the all-giving Earth!
Wisdom and lore grant me, so long as I live,
And healing hands.
(Adapted from Poems of the Elder Edda, by Patricia Terry)
As I finish this, I hold my hands in front of me and say words to the effect of "Help me to heal myself...help me to heal my people, the sons and daughters of Europe...help me to heal the Earth." I then add the names of specific individuals to whom I wish to send blessings.
Simple, yes? By understanding the setting of the rite, and the background of the verses, you can deepen your experience.
Ideally, I perform this rite just before dawn, facing east. This makes sense, of course, when greeting the day! I am fortunate in that I have a spectacular view of the Sierra Nevada as I stand on my deck and face eastward, and the panoramic beauty spread before me makes the ceremony especially profound. But other times, as when I leave for work long before the sun peeks over the horizon, I recite the words while I drive to work (Taking care not to have a run-in with the local deer or other critters). The important thing is to do it, and feel it, every day or as regularly as you can.
The two stanzas above are from the ancient "Lay of Sigrdrifa," which you can find in the Elder Edda - also known as the Poetic Edda. They lend themselves naturally to morning exercises. In the story, Sigrdrifa (who is actually the valkyrie Brynhild) has just been awakened by Sigurd, the great hero of the Volsung line, when she speaks these verses. She then goes on to initiate Sigurd into the mysteries of the runes and other esoteric subjects. This context applies to you and I, as well. Our destiny, if we choose it, is to awaken from our spiritual slumber and pursue wisdom! Perhaps this simple ritual can help you listen to your inner valkyrie as you go about your day.
Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org
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