Tales from the Ironwood

This article appeared in nearly full-form in my dreams of the morning of Saturday 18 April 2020. I glanced up at the clock and it displayed 3:15. When works such as this appear to me, I am always confronted with the dilemma of whether to get out of bed and begin typing furiously at my computer or wait until the morning properly arrives. Having chosen the latter and having my effort limited to recollection and editing, I can only wonder if the final result is superior or inferior to the dream itself. ********* When someone comes home to Ásatrú from Christianity, as I did, it quickly becomes evident that the two represent entirely different ways of envisaging the world. Beyond that, there are stark differences in how one behaves and speaks about the religion that they practice. It certainly could be said, “In Ásatrú, there are no ‘Thou shalt nots.’” An important concept that is taught to each child in Sunday School is that of the Ten Commandments. Personally I don’t recollect learni...

Over the past couple of weeks, in light of the global pandemic of Coronavirus, I've been recommending that Ásatrúars celebrate Ostara in their homes and share photographs. Let all see that the world still turns, that life goes on, and indeed that Ostara returns. During this time, the current article began to take shape in my mind. I write these words while under a somewhat self-imposed quarantine, but otherwise quite comfortable in my home on the morning of 23 March 2020.  ********* Oddly enough, as I consider the holiday of Ostara this year, my mind returns to fond memories of the Christmases of my childhood. One special memory is that of my family gathering around our Zenith TV to watch the Dr. Seuss holiday special, How the Grinch Stole Christmas . Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel wrote a book by the same title and published it in 1957. I was unaware of the story however until it appeared in cartoon format in 1966. The cartoon, that was vastly superior to the various live-action r...

"Kvasir’s Blood" was written on 8 and 9 February 2020. With the article only halfway written on the 8th, I sipped Dansk Viking Blod mead in the evening. It served as a worthy and useful inspiration. May all find inspiration through Grimnir’s gift. ********* When Germanic Heathens gather, there is typically mead about. The newcomer to Ásatrú has likely read that mead plays a significant role in many of its rituals. It may be splashed with an evergreen sprig upon those gathered or it may be sipped or even quaffed from a hefty drinking horn. But what is this drink, sometimes called the oldest alcoholic beverage? Despite various reports about the growing popularity of mead, it can be somewhat difficult to find locally.[1] I recall walking into a fairly well-stocked liquor store and asking if they sold mead. “What is that, beer?” I was asked in response. I tried again in an upscale winery. With an air of snobbery, the proprietor replied, “Wine made from honey? Some people w...

"Becoming Odin" was written on 12 January 2020 although the key ideas have been forming in my mind over the past couple of years. I recall many of these thoughts taking shape while touring Columcille Megalith Park during the spring of 2018. ********* For Ásatrúars the two primary texts are Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda and the anonymous compilation known as The Poetic Edda . It has long been my contention that Snorri’s thirteenth-century work contains secret messages and meaning for those who understand or are able to decipher the text.[1] The first part of Snorri’s Edda contains the well-known Gylfaginning (“The Tricking of Gylfi”), one of the most important early accounts of the Norse gods. On the surface, Gylfaginning recounts the tale of a wondrous visit to Asgard (ON: Ásgarðr ) by King Gylfi of Sweden. Once in Asgard Gylfi poses a long series of questions to its rulers, High ( Har ), Just-as-high ( Jafnhar ), and Third ( Thrithi ) --three of the many names of O...

As I explain in the opening of "Swearing Oaths," the text for this article formed in its entirety during my dreams on 6 May 2018 and were recorded upon waking. Recalling what seems a rather odd phenomenon, I realize that I have had articles, songs, speeches and even solutions to complex problems at work form in my dreams. Upon its completion, I became more certain than ever that Snorri was purposefully deceptive when composing his Edda . ********* While I often have vivid dreams, they are rarely useful or revealing especially with regard to my spiritual faith, Ásatrú. It was therefore strange and exciting when I awoke one morning with a clear and practical explanation of a key story from our lore. I have long believed that the authors of the Eddas obscured important messages through their use of poetic form.[1]  The mysteries that lay hidden beneath the surface of the texts are however difficult to discern. Authors who recommend that we not only read the lore, but familia...

My initial thoughts on Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda  were completed in May 2017. While some of the ideas contained therein were not yet fully formed, my insights remain core to my understanding of Snorri's text. For those who seek the mysteries, Snorri's Edda is a wonderful place to explore. ********* One of the most important texts available to Ásatrúar (and others interested in the study of Germanic spirituality, Norse mythology or Icelandic literature) is Snorri Sturluson’s Edda , sometimes referred to as the “Prose Edda” or the “Younger Edda” to differentiate it from mythological and heroic poems normally referred to as the “Poetic Edda” or “Elder Edda.” [1] Sturluson’s thirteenth century work is composed of three parts of which Gylfaginning (“The Tricking of Gylfi”) is the most popular and certainly the most influential. It is this section, which recounts the fantastic tales of the Norse gods, that has been rewritten and retold by numerous authors through the ye...

"The Tale of the Krampus" was written on 12 October 2017. It was originally intended to be read to attendees of the Krampusnacht celebration held by my fellowship. That celebration never occurred due to inclement weather. The work was rewritten shortly thereafter in poetic form by Gothi Joseph and served as the script for a dramatic presentation that was held during the Yuletide in January 2018. ********* Listen now to a tale, a tale of winter’s past. It is a tale as old as our common memory; a tale handed down by our Folk of an ancient journey. On a cold winter’s night, beneath the grey of the frigid sky, the God Thor set out to travel to the East, to the land of his greatest foes, to Giantland—to Jotunheim . He set off in a chariot pulled by his powerful goats, Tooth-grinder and Tooth-barer. On this journey he chose to allow Loki to accompany him. In these days Loki was often mischievous but was renowned for how clever he could be. He had not yet become the archenemy of...