Week 10: Second High Holy Day Recap

Related to Requirement: #8 – High Days Attended
Required Reading: None.

• How did the rite go in terms of structure? 
• We followed the ADF core order of ritual, with added offering to the outsiders (or rather, the God who watches that boundary).
• What things went wrong during the ritual? What things went right? 
• We had a lot of trouble with pronouncing names.  No one in our grove keeps a Slavic hearth, so Amber did a lot of research and came up with the most appropriate ritual she could. However, none of her sources included an english pronunciation guide. We met before ritual and came up with a workable pronunciation for each god, as that was the best we could do. There was also no water at the shelter we were at, which we should have anticipated, but failed to do. However, there was water at a different shelter, it was just a bit of a hike to get to it.
• Nothing was forgotten, it wasn't freezing, We're starting to get pretty practiced at this whole thing. Set up went pretty quick, despite the wind, and take down was even faster.
• Who were the patrons of the rite, and who was the gatekeeper? 
• Patron: Jarilo
• Gatekeeper: Zorya
• EarthMother: Zeme
• Did you have problems with saying the words without stumbling, or did everything come out smoothly? Did you forget to bring a sacrifice? 
• Everything except the names came out pretty smoothly. I forgot to bring a sacrifice for the open offering section, but Amber brought incense for that purpose, so I was able to still do mine.
• Were you alone, or with a group? If you were with a group, did you say anything or do anything? 
• We were a group. The core 6 of us and a few others. I did the offering to the outsiders in an effort to get over my discomfort with them
• How did the rite go in terms of function and feeling? Did you feel anything during the ritual? Did you experience doubt or confidence? 
• I think it went pretty well. I didn't really feel any connection with the deities, but then I never do in group ritual. I did feel like my ancestors were present, or at least a couple of them. I'm getting more comfortable with this every time.
• Can you describe what happened? If you were with a group, what did the other people say about what happened? 
• We didn't really talk about the ritual afterwards, we were all pretty hungry and chatty. So I don't know how they felt. I don't think I'm settling into the two powers enough. I didn't feel very connected to the group mind. But i was pretty relaxed and as close to trance I can get.
• What omens were drawn (if any), and what did they tell you? 
• We drew Ogham
• Ancestors: Muin. Love, esteem, love doesn't always look like love. The honored dead have blessed us with their true faces
• Nature spirits: Idad. Age, older than comprehension, plants, animals, ourselves all die. Don't pet the squirrels. We can learn from age; wisdom from experience.
• Deities: Straif. Transformation is the essence of life; change to move forward. We have the choice to live and move forward.
• Could you feel the presence of any deities, spirits, or powers? 
• It felt like Grandma Treva and Great-Grandma Helen were around. I miss Grandma Treva. A lot.
• What else about the rite struck you, or do you want to share? 
• The similarities to the King Arthur story are interesting. Sacred twins/ spouses aren't uncommon, but at least this one has Morena getting her vengeance. I don't' feel any call to Slavic, but I totally understand why people do.

Weeks 9: Second High Holy Day

Related to Requirement: #2 – Meaning and Discussion of High Days
Required Reading:

• Our Own Druidry, p. 62 - 74 61-75 (Hearth Cultures & High Days)

• ADF Constitution, Article 4

• The ADF Core Order of Ritual for High Days, 

Optional Reading:

• Our Own Druidry, p. 51 - 75 48-76 (The Very Basics of Ritual)

• A Crane Breviary and Guide Book by Rev. Michael J Dangler: <http://www.lulu.com/chronarchy>

• Appendix 1: Resources and Rituals for the Wheel of the Year

• Step by Step through a Druid Worship Ceremony

• The "Liturgy and Rituals" section of the ADF page

• The Three Cranes Grove, ADF, outline of ritual (with example prayers)

The spring equinox is one of the main holidays of the modern/ neo-pagan calendar. In my area, spring has not reached full flower (or any flower at all this year), but the trees are starting to bud out and bulbs are starting to send up leaves.

Saga evidence shows that the Norse separated the year into two seasons: summer and winter.  The spring equinox signaled the start of the raiding season for the warriors of Scandinavia. They would hold the Sigrblót in Odin's honor at around this time of year (April 14 according to some sources) to ask the gods for victory in the season's raids. Odin, as a warrior and travel, was well placed to ensure the ships arrived safely and the pickings along the coasts (and inland, as far as Paris and Istanbul) would be ripe.

Ostara, also celebrated at this time, is a celebration of the goddess Éostre.  The goddess of spring, dawn, and fertility, Éostre is often associated with eggs and rabbits and may be the source of much of the German influenced traditions surrounding Easter. The Norse equivalent of Éostre could be either Freyja or Iöunn. Iöunn is the keeper of the golden apples that keep the gods youthful and hale.  Freyja, as goddess of love, fertility, and death is also reflected in any celebration of spring.

It is unclear if Germany and Scandinavia both celebrated both holidays or if one festival predominated in a geographical area.  It does appear that the Sigrblót was celebrated more in Scandinavia while Ostara was celebrated more in the more southern Germany.  However, it is more than possible that there was an extensive overlap that celebrated both.