Spring & Summer 2007 | Issue 1

Feeding Our Roots

Days of the Week

Seasonal Recipes

Kitchen Medicine & Magic

Birth!

Harvestman a conversation with Steve von Till

Reclaiming Our Birthright a conversation with Author  sally Fallon

The Allure of Brisingamen

Weisst du zu Ritzen? folk magic of the Pennsylvania  germans

In the Garden artist Madeline von Foerster on plant lore

Norse hamanism another Perspective Welcome to the first issue of HEX Magazine. We are honored by your presence. This publication is a community effort—for you to read and create (see back page for submission info). Within these pages you will find many who believe they have a message…for the novice, who has only recently returned to their roots…for the academic, who has read and re-read the Eddas and contemplates the runes daily…for the cook, who adds their prayers, magic, and love to our daily bread…the mystic, the child, the warrior, the healer. We hope you find your voice represented. If not, please don’t hesitate to share it with us. Anyone with a perspective, experience, or knowledge relevant to heathen life—past, present, or future—has an open invitation to drop in and enjoy and even participate... Hail! Common Sense Notice HEX is meant to be a voice for modern heathens, and represent their wide and varied viewpoints. Characteristic of a strong-minded people, there will, at times, be differences of opinion. We are all led by our own wills, and have understandings of the world informed by our own life experiences. It then stands to reason, not everything Gratitude published by HEX represents the views of the HEX e would like to express our gratitude to all editors and staff at large. Our call is to relay perspectives whose loving support has allowed us to with open minds and hearts, and trust those reading W undertake such an ambitious project. We honor this publication to decide their own truths. HEX is here the divine guidance that has directed us, and this fair earth to celebrate the aspects we share—the honoring of our which inspires us. Much love & respect goes to our families ancestors and their reflection in our children, a love of the (particularly Herr Hunterfield, Herr Hochwatter, Arrowyn’s old ways, and an eye wary to this modern age so focused little apple, and Magda’s little chickens) for having the on ‘progress’ at any price. strength, and greatness of heart, to share us with the world. Loving gratitude is extended to the heathen community— Healthcare Information Notice the rich soil which enables this tree to bear fruit. To Much power is to be gained by walking the well- Arrowyn’s father, who fertilized the soil when he gave up worn path of self-reliant healthcare. But with power, comes his life force, much love always. And a special thanks to responsibility. Please use common sense and knowledge of Juleigh Howard Hobson, for giving this publication the your body to guide you. The information published in HEX perfect name. A hearty HAIL goes to ALL who have is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. contributed their life blood to this Harvest! This is your task. Continue to expand your wisdom, trust your intuition, and thrive! Editor/Creative Director: A. von Rautmann Editor/GRAPHIC & Web Weaver: Arrowyn Craban Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is Editor/Contributing Artist: Markus Wolff sometimes filled with blood from people killing, Printed by: Negative Perfection, Portland, OR stealing, shouting and doing the things historians usually record, while on the banks, unnoticed, Email to: [email protected] people build homes, make love, raise children, sing Please visit our website: www.hexmagazine.com songs, write poetry, and even whittle statues. The Cover Art: SIF by Markus Wolff, 2007 story of civilization is the story of what happened ©2007 HEX Press on the banks. Historians are pessimists because All contributors retain rights to their own material. they ignore the banks for the river. ~Will Durant HEX MAGAZINE  Contents 3 Feeding Our Roots Rant from the Editors 5 Days of the Week 7 Seasonal Recipes 11 Kitchen Medicine and Magic 17 Birth! 23 Harvestman A Conversation with Steve von Till 26 Reclaiming Our Birthright A Conversation with Sally Fallon 31 The Allure of Brisingamen 36 Weisst Du Zu Ritzen? Folk Magic of the Pennsylvania Germans 42 In the Garden Artist Madeline von Foerster on Plant Lore 46 Norse Shamanism Another Perspective 56 Glossary  HEX MAGAZINE Contributors

Erik Baumann Arrowyn Craban Cody & Pattie Dickerson

Alison Grandmason Ensio Kataja

Teresa Luedke Katherine Mathis A. von Rautmann

Rima Staines Valúlfr Vaerulsson

Jeroen van Valkenburg Madeline von Foerster Markus Wolff HEX MAGAZINE 

Feeding Our Roots ~ a rant from the editors

s soon as you name something you destroy part A of its vital essence. That being said, words have power and are useful for communicating ideas. For all practical purposes, we call ourselves Heathens, meaning we honor the beliefs and practices of Pre-Christian Europe. If you look up ‘Heathen’ in a dictionary you will get various responses, mostly explaining it as “irreligious; unenlightened; rude; ignorant; uncultured; one who does not believe in God.” Which is a pretty religio-centric point of view. Actually, we believe Heathenism to be full of culture, learning, and spiritual beliefs. As opposed to not believing in God, we believe in the existence of many Gods and Goddesses who keep us company, guide, and protect us. We trust our ancestral knowledge, and give testament to the old ways. You might ask why we do this, Externsteine photographed by Erik Baumann why look backwards for answers? The Externsteine are a distinctive rock formation located near the town Isn’t it so much easier to just have of Horn-Bad Meinberg in northwestern Germany. The formation consists one God to answer to? Shouldn’t of several tall, narrow, columns of rock which rise abruptly from the we just keep moving ever onward surrounding wooded hills. It is generally assumed that Externsteine and forward? What about all of was a center of religious activity for the Teutonic peoples and their the conveniences of our modern predecessors prior to the arrival of Christianity in northern Europe. age? Haven’t advances in medicine The relief of the “Descent from the Cross,” carved in the 12th century, and agriculture, manufacturing and is shown above. The bent tree below the cross has been suggested to telecommunications, improved represent the Irminsul (Old Saxon “Great Pillar”). Apparently it is our world? buckling under the burden of Christianity, as the sun and moon look on weeping. What happens when it inevitably springs back?  HEX MAGAZINE

We don’t deny the age we live in, but we consistent- the evidence does not support this statement. People who ly find ourselves in opposition to the views and beliefs maintained their traditional diets of natural, organic, unpro- adhered to by modern, industrial culture. Industrialized so- cessed, cultured foods lived to a ripe old age of 100-150! ciety pays heed to ideologies that we find contrary to our They were content and healthy, they had no physicians. survival, including a devotion to materialistic rather than They had upstanding morals and lived their lives without cultural or spiritual values, progress at any price, quantity shame. They had no need to covet what their neighbors over quality, convenience rather had, their doors had no locks. As than conscious responsibility each group of people consumed for our actions. All degenerative One immediately wonders if there is not the homogenized and refined moral values which cause waste something in the life-giving vitamins foods and culture of the industrial and pollution, and which en- and minerals of the food that builds age, a process of decay began. He courage arrogance and isolation, found that even over one genera- and eventually a loss of soul. not only great physical structures tion the number of cases of birth There has been a trend to within which their souls reside, but defects, mental illness, depression, conquer and assimilate, which builds minds and hearts capable of tooth decay, and degenerative we have observed marching on diseases multiplied exponentially. from the Roman Empire. A mod- a higher type of manhood in which After all, we are what we eat. ernization process that spreads the material values of life are made Technology is a tool and like a cancer (indeed cancer is secondary to individual character. must be used properly, to sup- unheard of in indigenous cul- port the growth and integrity of tures). It puts the wants of the ~ Weston Price D.D.S. the people who it serves. It should few over the needs of the many. not replace the wisdom of our It takes our language, our stories, our beliefs, our foods, and traditions, or our spiritual and cultural values. The misuse our land. It steals our belief in ourselves, our hearts, minds, of technology has wreaked destruction on our land and our bodies, and then our souls. people. Our ancestors knew that everything is connected. It has been consistently shown that as each group of As the soil is poisoned, the trees cut down, and our crops people gives up the traditions of their ancestors, they invite blighted, so our souls are suffering. Our ancestors knew that the deterioration and destruction of physical and mental the best way to fight disease is to remain healthy! The roots health, social structure, spirituality, the land and resources of our soul tree have withered and so we are sick. There is they depend on, and general well-being. no miracle cure, no savior is coming to absolve us! Let us instead feed our roots by honoring the traditions and beliefs We have been taught that before the law and order of those whose blood is the sap that fills our veins. Let us of city states, the morality of Judeo-Christian religion, and drink from that well and be nourished! the advancements of Western medicine, people were sick animals who lived short, miserable, and violent lives. This ~ HEX magazine is not true. If you study the findings of Dr. Weston Price, who traveled extensively around the world observing the last vestiges of truly indigenous culture, you’ll find that HEX MAGAZINE  Days of the Week Ensio Kataja

I have been thinking about the days of the week. In Western cultures, the week commonly consists of five weekdays and two days of weekend. The Germanic gods, runes, and myths have left their traces in the very names of the days. This tells something of their enduring, Hidden power. In the Christian era, most of the older heathen day names were replaced with numbered day names (for example, Þórsdagr, Thor’s day, became Fimmtudagur, ‘fifth day,’ in Modern Icelandic). I will concentrate here on some relevant traditional knowledge related to original day names, mixed with my own subjective speculation. onday ‘Moon’s Day,’ Mánidagr, gets its name from Mani (Old Norse máni, Old English Mona), the Germanic Moon god (in the Germanic tradition, the moon is always masculine), and son of Mundilfari and Glaur. M The Germanic myth tells how Mani pulls the moon through the sky and is chased by the wolf Hati. Lunar eclipses are the result, when Hati, Mánagarmr (’devourer of Mani’), comes close to succeeding. At the time of Ragnarok, Hati catches his prey, breaking it in his jaws. Monday is thus the appropriate day to pay attention to the moon cycles, the tides, and emotions, which have their own flow, rising and descending. Concentrate on the Mystery of laguz L: see its effect and meaning in the context of your own inner cycles and changing life conditions. Delve deep into the world of your subconscious waters, feelings and intuition. Dive deeper and explore also the terrifying, darker and Hidden areas. Think about water and its relationship with the moon; read the rune poem of laguz. uesday Týsdagr in Old Norse, receives its name from Týr (in Old English, Tiw, Tew, or Tiu). Týr is a god associated with battle and war, but also with order, justice and law. Tuesday is thus good for dealing with legal matters, and putting all kind of things in order. Concentrate on the Mystery of tiwaz. Remember how Týr placed T his hand in Fenrir’s mouth, think deeply about the concepts of order and self-sacrifice—what they are and what they mean to you. Is your life generally ‘in order’? What areas in your life and in yourself you would like to reorganize? The T rune is also the lot of troth (faith, loyalty, kinship). It is said that a man who does not flinch and surpasses others is said to be “as brave as Týr.” Spend time with your friends and family. Although it is important to plan things and to work methodically, don’t forget to also take action, instead of just endlessly planning. Follow Týr and victory will be yours. ednesday Óðensdagr in Old Norse, Wodnesdæg in Old English, is the day of the Germanic god Woden, more commonly known as Odin. Speech is the appropriate word for Woden’s Day. On Wednesday, dwell deeply W in the Mystery of ansuz A and see where that leads you. On some future Wednesday, I also recommend that you undertake the following Working—be intensely conscious of what you say, how you speak, and be aware of what others say and what they really mean as well. Try to say what you mean and mean what you say, but also learn to use words creatively, according to your Will and goals. Hone your skills in the use of language(s) but avoid the inane, unconscious, babble that only degrades your very being.  HEX MAGAZINE

hursday Þórsdagr in Old Norse, Þunresdæg in Old English, is the day of Þunor, commonly known in Modern English as Thor, the Germanic god of thunder. Concentrate on the Mystery of thurisaz t. Become aware of your T temper and changes in mood. Learn to use this knowledge consciously. Learn to defend yourself physically, but make sure you don’t ever sink to the level of a mindless bully. Dedicate this day to the god Thor. Learn why he was very much the favorite deity of Scandinavians, but also think about his important role in the Aesir’s war against the thurses, the forces of unconsciousness and primordial nature. riday Friádagr in Old Norse, frigedæg in Old English, from the Germanic compound frije-dagaz, is Freyja’s (and/or Frigga’s) Day. Friday is thus good for explorations of sexuality and workings of seidhr. Dedicate this day to F Freya through all possible actions. Concentrate on the Mystery of fehu F; this rune is feminine, and connected to Freya, who is a goddess of love, beauty, fertility, wealth, and war. The reconstructed Germanic word *frijaz means ‘beloved, belonging to the loved ones, not in bondage, free,’ from the Indo-European root *prei-, and Germanic *frijon, ‘to be fond of.’ It has been suggested that the original meaning of *frijaz was probably something like ‘from one’s own clan,’ from which the meaning ‘being a free man, not a serf’ developed. Consider also the word *frijj, ‘beloved, wife.’ Friday offers a complex Mystery—what does this tell you about Freyja’s nature as well as of the binding and freeing of things, objects, and even people? What about Frigga—Seeress, protectress, goddess of married women and of the home, who complements Freyja’s functions (perhaps a more appropriate rune for Frigga is perthro P instead of fehu F)? Think about what freedom really means. Don’t pursue its meaning only in the shallow contemporary sense, but rather as it relates to our tradition. aturday ‘Dies Saturni,’ or ‘Saturn’s Day’ is the only day of the week to retain its Roman origin in English. However, my personal opinion is that Saturday (laugardagur in Old Norse, the traditional day for washing and bathing in S Scandinavia—pointing to the Mystery of laguz L), could also be associated with Loki. Thus, it is a day suitable for pranks, and for changes in general. More specifically, Loki, the Lord of all Fools, rules over April’s Fool’s Day, and if you ask me, any day when you experience a maelstrom of not-so-happy events that in the end force you to laugh. Loki is a Trickster who can easily upset people with no sense of humour. During Saturday, then, meditate on the importance of not taking everything, including yourself, so seriously all the time. Meditate also on the role of conflict, strife, and change, and your personal capacity to handle such things. Instead of seeing Loki as some dualistic archvillain or a creature of monstrous evil, I suggest you entertain the thought that he is actually Odin’s shadow side, who helps to keep the multiverse in equilibrium. With enough Lokean conflict, strife, and change, life will at least never be too boring. Those brave and foolish enough may invoke Loki on Saturday. The runes I instinctively associate with him are kenaz C, thurisaz t, and ansuz A. If there is any bit of a rebel and a trouble-maker in you, you will understand why. (I wanted to keep this text on Saturday short, but see how long it became; obviously, Loki made me do it...) unday Sunnundagr in Old Norse, gets its name from Sunna, or Sunne the Germanic sun goddess. In the poetic Edda, Alvíssmal says, “It is called Sól among men and Sunna among the Gods. On the Day of the Sun, embrace the higher being in yourself by meditating on the Mystery of Sowilo.” Understand why the S rune represents S both a guide and a goal sought after by the runester. Make plans for the coming week and concentrate on your primary goals. If you feel you are stuck in a frozen situation, the light of the archetypal sun can melt even the thickest ice and set you free. The holy solar wheel spins and keeps things in dynamic motion. Follow the path of the serpent on Sunday and you will find many a Hidden thing. HEX MAGAZINE  Seasonal Recipes Aunt Hannah’s Lebkuchen 4 eggs 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 1 3/4 cups sifted flour 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 cup wine or coffee 3/4 cup chopped nuts 3/4 cup raisins

Beat the eggs until thick and piled softly. Add the sugar gradually, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, salt, baking powder and spices together. Sift onto the egg mixture alternately with the wine (or coffee), beating only until blended after each addition. Stir in the nuts and raisins. Pour batter into a greased (bottom only) 13” x 9 1/2” x 2” pan. Bake at 350° F 30 to 35 minutes.

This traditional cake recipe was taken from the: Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbook Culinary Arts Press, Reading, PA Schmorgurken mit saurem Rahm und Dill Stewed Cucumbers with Sour Cream and Dill To serve 4-6

6 medium-sized firm, fresh Cucumbers (about 3 pounds) 3 teaspoons salt 2 tablespoons butter 1 sm. onion, finely chopped onions 2 tablespoons flour 2 cups whole milk 4 tablespoons sour cream 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Parsley 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Dill, or substitute 1 teaspoon dried dill weed  HEX MAGAZINE

With a small, sharp knife, peel the cucumber skins in strips and cut them in half length-wise. Seed them by running the tip of a small spoon down them, from end to end. Cut the cucumber halves crosswise into 1-inch pieces and place them in a large bowl. Sprinkle them with salt, tossing them about with a spoon to spread it evenly. Let the cucumbers stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1hr, then drain off all the liquid and pat them dry with paper towels. In a heavy 10- to 12- inch skillet, melt the butter over moderate heat. When the foam subsides, add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they color lightly. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour turns a golden brown. Watch for any sign of burning and regulate the heat accordingly. Pour in the milk and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 or 2 minutes, until the mixture thickens slightly. Add the cucumbers and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. When the cucumbers are tender but not pulpy, add the sour cream, parsley and dill. Taste for seasoning. Serve in a heated bowl.

This dish is of the same ilk as warm potato salad. It’s easy to make and great for a cool summer night after the cucumbers start going crazy in the garden. The recipe is adapted from one found in, Recipes: The Cooking of Germany, Foods of the World Time-Life Books, New York 1969.

Whey and Cream Cheese Makes 5 cups whey and 2 cups cream cheese

2 quarts whole-milk buttermilk, yoghurt, or raw milk

If you are using whole-milk buttermilk, let stand at room temperature 1-2 days until the milk visibly separates into white curds and yellowish whey. If you are using yoghurt, no advance preparation is required. You may use homemade yoghurt or good quality commercial plain yoghurt. If you are using raw milk, place the milk in a clean glass container and allow it to stand at room temperature 1-4 days until it separates.

Line a large strainer set over a bowl with a clean dish towel. Pour in the yoghurt or separated milk, cover and let stand a room temperature for several hours (longer for yoghurt). The whey will run into the bowl and the milk solids will stay in the strainer. Tie up the towel with the milk solids inside, being careful not to squeeze. Tie this little sack to a wooden spoon placed across the top of a container so that more whey can drip out. When the bag stops dripping, the cheese is ready. Store whey in a mason jar and cream cheese in a covered glass container. Refrigerated, the cream cheese keeps for about 1 month and t whey for about 6 months.

This simple recipe will not only give you cream cheese (plain or add fresh/dried herbs, green onions, fruit—the options are endless) but also whey for soaking grains and legumes, in addition to fermenting vegetables and fruits. HEX MAGAZINE 

Salsa Makes 1 quart

4 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced 2 small onions, finely chopped 3/4 cup chopped chile pepper, hot or mild 6-8 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped (optional) 1 bunch cilantro, chopped 1 teaspoon dried oregano juice of 2 lemons 1 tablespoon sea salt 4 tablespoons whey (if not available, use an additional 1 tablespoon salt) 1/4 cup filtered water

Mix all ingredients and place in a quart-sized, wide-mouthed mason jar. Press down lightly with a wooden pounder or a meat hammer, adding more water if necessary to cover the vegetables. The top of the vegetables should be at least 1 inch below the top of the jar. Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for about 2 days before transferring to cold storage.

Salsa is a great way to preserve the summer’s bumper tomato crop. But you may also use this recipe as an outline for ‘putting up’ vegetables as condiments in general. For example, substitute listed veggies and herbs for: cucumber, onion, dill, garlic, and a cheese cloth sachet of pickling spices, to make relish. These will last several weeks or months on the top shelf of your refrigerator. And unlike canning, you will absolutely know by their smell if they have gone the way of ‘bad bacteria.’

Last two recipes taken from: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon New Trends Publishing, Washington, DC For her interview and more information on this amazing and imperative book, please see the article on page 26. 10 HEX MAGAZINE HEX MAGAZINE 11 Kitchen Medicine and Magic ~Teresa Luedke

The hearth was in the midst of the dwelling that hearth was to each member of the household as it were, an umbilicum orbis, or navel of the earth...

William R. Lethaby (1857–1931), English architect and architectural historian

To read a recipe for Gravlox, n each issue, this column will explore commonplace medici- check out the Hex website. We’d nal/magical foods & tools in our 21st-century kitchens—many of the very same resources found at heathen hearths a thou- also love to hear if and how you I sand years ago. By investigating history, Norse sagas, and other incorporate fire, water, and salt folklore, we hope to rediscover some of the lost ancestral knowl- into your Spring rituals, so send edge and power in our own kitchens. This section hopes to deep- in your comments to hex address: en our spiritual connections to, and enhance ritual workings of, [email protected] heathenry as a folk religion as well. Our premier article introduces three elements found in both cooking and creation lore, with ideas for their use in your spring rituals—fire, water, and salt. 12 HEX MAGAZINE

Countertop Stain Remover Medicine and Magic To remove stubborn tea and coffee The modern mind may think of medicine and magic as being in opposition stains from counter tops rub gently to each other, but both share the ability to change reality and alter energy. with fine salt. Yes, this works too, Consider this—you find yourself feeling the symptoms of a cold and decide but it can scratch some finishes. to eat some chicken soup. Like most people, you’ve probably heard it’s good for Use caution. illnesses such as that. Before long you realize that you’re actually feeling better. Gargle for Sore Throats You have just changed your reality by altering your energy! Both the medicine from the nutrients and the magic from your intentions (for starters) were in the My mother used salt soup, and your body has utilized both to as a gargle with warm An honest laborious Country- bring about better health. Nutrients con- water for coughs and tain energy that we know exist, however colds which I find very intention is also a very real energy and effective, and carry on man withgood Bread,Salt, has an influence whether directed or not. this folk remedy with my We see this demonstrated in the scien- own family. 1 teaspoon tifically proven placebo effect.Y ou think salt dissolved in 1 cup of and a little Parsley, will make you will get better and you do. Imagine warm water, gargle deeply the possibilities when consciously using with head tilted back, and this ‘magic’ with ‘medicine’! try not to swallow. Spit a contented Meal with a out and repeat as needed Kitchens—The Heart(h) of several times daily. Follow roasted Onion. the Home up with warm black or Our kitchen is the place “in the green tea sweetened with John Evelyn (1620–1706) midst of the dwelling” and here is where honey and lemon. Or at the stone hearths of old link to stoves of my hearth, we use 1 tablespoon of today. In fact, one source claimed Scandinavians introduced the cast-iron stove to common rubbed sage for the tea. the American Colonies in the 18th Century and from this ‘Norse stove’ sprang the A Spring Intestinal Bath/ American cooking stove of today.2 So their hearth really is our hearth. Cleanse My own kitchen contains objects to keep the household in touch with our Done in moderation, intestinal ancestors, the Gods and Goddesses, and yes, the wights. Frigga is represented by cleansing can be part of a a string doll I made a few years ago, and she hangs near my sink. I tie objects healthy lifestyle; here is simple salt to her skirt as offerings representing blessings or healings I may be working on. formula: She connects me to our family’s ancestral mothers, the ‘dis’ or ‘idis’ whom I greet each morning with a pat and a plea to look over the family that day. On my stove

2 level teaspoons sea salt is a small statue of a cow to represent Audhumla, whom I tip my morning cof- fee to. A small jar of mixed salt and herbs with the words “Are you worth your 1 Quart lukewarm spring water salt?,” also has a place. Leftover foods go into a container on the stove. House

Drink whole quart of formula first wights get first pick of their essence, and then land wights work them over in thing in the morning —do not eat the compost pile. for 1–2 hours after. Rest or exercise Sometimes when I’m doing mundane tasks for my family like stirring bread lightly, stay near bathroom. Salt batter or rinsing dishes I feel like my ancestors are there with me, superimposed proportions are important and upon my body, all of us stirring or rinsing together; sharing the same ‘navel.’ I can be dependent on weight. If can only describe this as feeling like I am part of an echo, an echo created by a elimination is uncomfortable, cut task being repeated countless times over many generations. This echo somehow back on the salt. If ineffective, turns the threads connecting us into a time machine, allowing us to enjoy these increase it lightly.8 mundane tasks of everyday life together. HEX MAGAZINE 13

In this ordinary kitchen is where many of the common tools, supplies, and Salt Glow Body Scrub plants of medicine and magic can be found. In fact, three of these elements When mixed with other simple reach all the way back to the beginning… kitchen ingredients salt can Basic Elements of Cooking and Creation exfoliate and hydrate our skin for —Fire, Water, and Salt a silky soft feel. First rule, do not do 1 this just after shaving. Second rule, By reading (yeah, homework) the Edda of Gylfaginning also called The do not get into your eyes! Tricking of Gylfi, we can learn that these elements, accessed daily in our kitchens, were present at the very dawn of time. Gangleri asked “What was the beginning? Make fresh for each use. Place a And how things start? And what was there before?.”1 scant handful of salt into a mortar and pestle or a sturdy bowl. Use a Briefly the Edda says; Muspelheim was a land of “flaming and burning”1 combination of large and small salt and Niflheim the home of “a spring called grains or just plain, finely Hvergelmir.”1 These two forces begin to in- ground table salt. Add a teract and over time the frost giant Ymir, tablespoon or two of fresh along with the cow Audhumla, emerge. Salt is born of the purest of herbs of your choice, Audhumla then begins to lick “the rime- (especially if you have stones, which were salty”1 and uncovers — . them growing nearby); Buri, “a complete man.”1 Later the descen- parents the sun and the sea or 1 or two teaspoons dents of Buri overcome Ymir and drag him Pythagoras (580 BC–500 BC) of dry herbs; or 5–10 into the center of Ginnungagap where they drops of essential oil; or use his body to create the earth, sea, sky, perhaps a bit of fruit like orange or clouds, rocks, and trees—everything that makes up Midgard. So we find from the strawberry. Shred fresh ingredients very beginning of time, fire, water and in its turn, salt, as the building blocks of a little, then add salt and mix well everything we know in this life. to blend. We can begin to utilize the elements of Ginnungagap, by acknowledging our kitchen sink as a connection to the original spring, Hvergelmir, at the heart Now add something to bind it of Niflheim; and our stove as a link to the hearth fires of old and the original together. Olive oil works well or fires of creation, Muspelheim. perhaps softened butter as The Lacnunga Manuscript L35 advises Fire Lore for a salve “against a scabby 6 “Fire is needful…”4 Today the fires at our hearth have been somewhat tamed. body.” Use just enough to bind With the flip of a switch, electric lights, toasters, coffee pots, water heaters, micro- together, mash all together with the wave ovens, and various other kitchen appliances come to life. All of these ‘fires’ back of a wooden spoon. could be considered descendents of the primal fires of Muspell. Fire was used Stand in the shower stall and rub by our ancestors in rituals and rites and was often considered an honorable way this salt glow all over the body in to see those, who had passed from this life, off to the next one. small, slow, circular motions before Folklore, including charms and rituals from Scotland, show that magic turning on the water to rinse. seemed to be evident in wood and fire and that it should certainly be honored When applying to the leg, start at and treated with respect. Charms were used for all aspects, from gathering the the knees and the heels first; when fuel, to starting the fire in the morning. Women would recite charms and pray applying to arms start at the elbows. in a low tone that the fire may be a blessing to her and to her household.2 See Let the salt do the scrubbing not the charm for “Smooring The Fire”2 on page 13, that could easily be adopted for hand pressure! Find someone to today—perhaps at the end of the day when you finish in the kitchen. help with your back. Rinse well with Several contemporary authors explore the significance of fire in their warm water, no soap needed. Use books, often attributing a magical and spiritual connection. Author and Germanic your favorite moisturizer after towel drying, Relax. 14 HEX MAGAZINE

Brining Meats Heathen, James Hjuka Coulter, describes the Need-fire as “A Holy cleansing Brining is a food preservation flame; used in ritually clearing a sacred space or in magical functions such as process used for hundreds, even healing. (MoHG Notfeuer).”5 I particularly like his advice to bring good luck into thousands, of years to preserve the home by taking soil from the newly plowed garden, or other land, in the cabbage, some vegetables, and spring, and placing it under the hearth/kitchen stove and in the four corners of most meats. Hams have been the house.5 Kate Dooley takes a slightly more modern look into ‘hearth-keeping’ known to last 25 years after being and the ‘need-fire’ by sharing insights and ideas for seasonal and daily practices brined and then smoked.10 We like incorporating the hearth, fire and the goddess of the hearth, Frigga.11 The kin- to brine chicken and pork for the dling of a need-fire, and a ritual taking of soil as a sacred connection to our flavorful, moist and tender results environment, are both practices that could fit well into most spring rituals. it consistently gives to the Water Lore meat. “Water is needful…”4 A standard formula is 1 I met a Lady in the Meads Very needful—our bodies cup of salt dissolved in 2 are composed of about cups of water; and there 70% water. Today water is must be enough water Full Beautiful, a fairy’s child so simple to access that we to completely submerge forget how central it is to meats. For smaller cuts , our lives. If we had to haul like chicken or pork chops, Her hair was long her foot was light buckets full daily to the brine for 1–3 hours, but hearth, we’d quickly devel- for larger turkeys or pork . op a new appreciation for roasts brining can be and her eyes were wild it. Old recipes and spells extended to from 6 hours John Keats often list spring water as to overnight. Always rinse an ingredient. brine from meat before cooking and do not add any In folklore, strong en- additional salt during cooking. ergy has been associated with water. The Norns certainly have shown us water’s 2 Dry meat and allow it to rest for power when they “pour[ed] it up over Yggdrasil so that it does not rot or decay.” 15–20 minutes for a crispier skin. The Old English Herbarium #86.4, tells of an interesting use for spring water Cook by your preferred method, but found under the listing for Wood Chervil: “If any evil man bewitches another brining goes very well with grilling, through ill will, take this same plant’s roots dried, give to eat with spring water 6 smoking, and BBQ techniques. and sprinkle him with that water, he will be unbound [from the spell].” The veneration of water sources were some of the last strong-holds of old Seasoning Cast Iron world heathen/pagan beliefs and are still reflected in such traditions as wishing To season cast Iron skillets and wells. These beliefs were able to exist well into the Christian era, “separate from create a non-stick surface. Place religion, as a form of nature worship”12 and certainly incorporated nature spirits a thin layer of salt all over the and perhaps ancestors. The old world honoring of the water source is certainly bottom of the pot or pan, and something to consider incorporating into our own kitchens. heat on medium, shaking the pan occasionally, until the salt just Salt Lore starts to brown. Discard salt. Wipe Salt or sealt is a six-sided cube called ‘sodium chloride’ by chemists and is pan clean and use as a non-stick formed when an acid and a base interact—a lot like when fire and ice react. pan, repeat as needed. I have been Leechcraft lists 29 instances of salt in folklore formulas, with uses ranging doing this to my skillets for many from salt scrubs, purgatives, bloating, boil treatments, and heartburn; as a part of years and it really works! Toss out salve for warts, stings, bites, and other wounds; for foot problems; and as an in- those nasty coated pans! HEX MAGAZINE 15 gredient to cure insanity and elf sickness!6 Some folk remedies refer to salt that is A Salt Pack for Sore/Stiff white as opposed to the common brown salt. Sometimes the salt is burnt first. Muscles and Joint Pain Salt had a lot of influence on Europeans because some areas had access to Purchase table salt, a couple of the mineral, while others had to import it. It is responsible for many ‘salt roads’ pounds depending on the size of where it was sometimes called ‘white gold.’ One such road was called ‘The Old the area to be treated. Pour Salt Route’ (German: Alte Salzstraße). 2 salt into a knee high stocking Dried and salted fish such as herring Scottish Smooring Charm and close the end carefully and cod were staples of the European diet tying or sewing. Slip this by the 12th century, saving much of the The sacred Three stocking into a sock and population from starvation.2 Many then close the end of the sock as developed a taste for this salty food and To save, well. Remember you want the continue to make it today. pack soft enough to mold to Remember, refined table salt is a poor To shield, the area being treated, but choice for human consumption. It is heat- not so soft all the salt falls to processed and bleached with chemicals to To surround the ends. make it white. Then another chemical, alu- Place sock with salt stocking minum stearate, is added so that the salt The hearth, into the microwave oven flows well without clumping. Instead look for one or two minutes—or for natural salts like sea salts created by The house, convection oven on lowest evaporation from the sun. See several old setting for about ten minutes. world uses for salt in the side bars. The household, Caution: test on inside of Ideas for Modern Ritual arm to be sure it’s not too hot This eve, before using! Place on sore Since spring is a time of beginnings, area of body until salt cools. perhaps rededicating the kitchen stove/ This night, Repeat if needed. hearth each year or solstice could become a part of this holy tides festivities. Creating Oh! This eve, Dried or fresh herbs (about a kitchen altar or incorporating images of 1/8 cup) or essential oils your gods and goddesses, as Scandinavian This night, (10-20 drops per pound housewives did when coming to their new of salt) may be added for husband’s hearth, can help build the ener- And every night, aromatherapy. These can go gy of a heathen kitchen.2 Use the kitchen in with the salt or the oil may hearth-fire (stove), even if electric, to kin- Each single night. simply be placed on the salt dle the holy fires of the home. Put some sock as needed. Again, please fertile garden soil under the stove for the * use caution. Essential oils are wights. Leave offerings to honor your wa- Amen * very potent and may burn ter source and use salt in the spring rites. skin if not diluted properly Take the time to read some lore concern- in a carrier oil such as olive, ing water and wells, fire, salt, and hearths. almond, grape seed, etc. I hope this peaks your interest in folklore, and in turning your kitchen into a *Of course, if you decide place that helps a heathen define who they are. This spring, pull out your favorite to adopt this charm you can folklore sources and see what you can find to help cultivate the medicine and replace Amen with ALU or magic in your home. Let the idea of the intertwined elements of cooking and Hail or whatever else you creation remind you of the power held in our everyday tasks. feel appropriate. Until Winter Solstice, may the gods and goddesses bless your hearth. 16 HEX MAGAZINE

References 1.) Everyman Edda (University of Birmingham: Everyman Paperback Classics, re-issue 2004) 2.) Dale Brown and the Editors of Time-Life Books, Foods of the World; The Cooking of Scandinavia, revised edition (1981). Coincidentally while researching this article a trip to the local Goodwill thrift store yielded this new source of lore for our heathen kitchen. Mr. Brown was introduced to Scandinavia while studying literature in Copenhagen, on a Danish government fellowship, in 1953. He returned many times after that. His love of the country, its mythos and its food, is evident in all the pages. Homework sure can be fun. 3.) Alexander Carmichael, Oliver and Boyd, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations, vol.1 (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1928) 4.) The Poetic Edda, trans. Carolyne Larrington (Oxford Paperbacks, 1999) 5.) James Hjuka Coulter, Germanic Heathenry, A Practical Guide (2003) 6.) Steven Pollington, Leechcraft—Early English Charms Plantlore and Healing (Anglo-Saxon Books, 2001) 7.) http://www.saltinstitute.org 8.) Elson M. Haas, M.D., Staying Healthy With The Seasons (Celestial Arts, 1981) 9.) http://www.cookingwithengineers.com 10.) Readers Digest; Back to Basics, (Readers Digest Association, Inc., 1981) 11.) D. Kate Dooley, The Spindle Hearth (Yarrow Press, 2006) 12.) Karen L Jolly, Popular Religion in Late Saxon England (The University of North Carolina Press, 1996)

Muspellsheim and Northland by Jeroen van Valkenburg HEX MAGAZINE 17 My Storybook Children by Rima Staines Birth

OnAMIE a Saturday, overcast with grey flat clouds, I went to the public library, picked blackberries, and witnessed the birth of Adalé Ophelia. My sister Anna had called me that morning, 9 days before her due date, to inform me that the arrival of the baby was imminent, although it seemed it may be awhile before things would get too heavy. From then on the day seemed electric. I was excited to attend a birth where I myself wasn’t the one experiencing labor. I wondered what my perception would be. I also felt nervous to be witness to something so physically and emotionally intense—especially with the subject being my little sister. I moved through the early part of the day and its chores and errands with purpose and finally called to check in on the situation. Anna said it was still quite relaxed, but with some good, strong contractions. I decided that I might as well go over and hang out so we could ease into the process together. Besides, there is always plenty to do when you are waiting for a baby to come. I jumped on my bike, and was glad for the ride to have some alone time to meditate and give a little 18 HEX MAGAZINE

prayer to Frigga, my patron goddess, birth. Immediately I felt my stomach went back to the phone call earlier. and ask for all the things you ask for jump, but just reminded myself how I cry even now, recounting the in birth. much I trusted birth itself to guide a overwhelming emotion I felt at the On entering the house I could woman through the experience. Also, idea that this baby would not ‘start.’ feel the birth energy thick. A baby this was Anna’s first natural labor, The midwife just kept rubbing her would definitely be born that day! I so I figured the midwife was more body, while the apprentice held the asked if there was anything I could concerned about Anna losing her oxygen to her nose, saying “Come do to help, but my sister declined the mind, than the baby. on, baby, come on, baby.” offer, so I just sat on the couch and The labor quickly progressed “Frigga,” I begged silently, carried on light conversation while to ‘transition,’ the point where every “please, please, please.” she moved about sweeping and woman really does lose her mind Then came a cough and the cleaning the house. Every so often and wonders, “How the Hel did I most wonderful cry you could she would stop to have a contraction, get here, and how do I get out?!” Of imagine. Hail Frigga! Quickly her and they definitely picked up quickly course, birth is one of those times little blue body turned pink. The after I arrived. This made me happy, when the only way out is through, so 2nd midwife finally shows up, just that my presence seemed to help Anna starts really wanting to push. in time to check over the baby and move things toward the ultimate Luckily, she dilated the last 2 cm in 5 compliment us all on a job well goal. With words of encouragement, minutes so it was time. Still no sign done. Adalé Ophelia Beckwith-Foster we praised how productive her of the 2nd midwife. was born and breathing and my spirit contractions seemed to be and how I crouched behind her, was full of joy from this everyday well she was working through them. supporting her upper body so gravity miracle. After my oldest sister picked up could do its part. It wasn’t long Nothing makes you feel your Anna’s 5-year-old daughter, things before the baby’s head was crowning, own life like watching another come really started to move. It’s amazing then was out, with the midwife into this world. how our bodies seem to understand asking Anna to wait and breathe. She what they need to do and when was obviously unwrapping the cord they need to do it. Now Anna from around the baby’s neck had no one around to be (This is quite common, HavingPatt childrenie is something responsible for, so she but still a very serious that you think about your whole life. was free to just get issue if it keeps the From the time you are an infant, you down to the business blood from the instinctively cuddle and attempt to at hand and have baby’s brain for an nurture stuffed creatures and dolls this baby. We could extended period). ranging from polyester to wood. tell the contractions This took only a few For me, motherhood was something were starting to really seconds, and the that I looked forward to when the intensify, so I called next thing I knew, time was right. My husband and I the midwife, who whoosh, out came had our first daughter in a hospital lived up the street. the baby. in Utah. We had talked about the The midwife and Most infants are possibility of a midwife and had apprentice hadn’t been blue when they are born, multiple references for excellent there long before I heard but this little girl was also women that would assist in a home her on the phone with her partner, limp and unresponsive—what they birth, although at the time we were a more experienced midwife, would call a ‘slow starter’ in the not homeowners and the concept telling her she would feel more book Spiritual Midwifery. This is also seemed rather quirky. When we comfortable with her there at the common, but my mind immediately found out she was breach, having a HEX MAGAZINE 19 home birth was out of the question a home with a little land, and once my husband’s birth in this same for me. Far too many complications established, decided that we would hospital, going to make this an easy, could arise and it was my first child. like to have another. When I found comfortable experience? Were they I was really nervous about the whole out we were going to be expecting prepared for any sort of emergency idea and our doctor informed us that again, I was elated. We started to that might come up? I get really the safest way would be through a prepare the home and ourselves nervous about this sort of thing, hospital and cesarean section. So for the experience again. and I was hoping we had that is what we did. There was a lot This time we looked very all the bases covered. We of anxiety surrounding the situation seriously at home birth, arrived at the hospital at and, at the time, I couldn’t imagine but to our dismay, 5:00 a.m. that morning taking any more risks that I needed the nearest midwife and they started to to (although later, I learned that a was 80 miles away prepare me for the home birth could have been entirely and we have a very c-section. When the feasible and totally safe with the small hospital here time finally arrived, right midwife). Coincidentally, she with one OB/GYN. our three-year-old was born on Ostara. It was cold So, ironically, our was hauled off to that year, the snow was almost resources were much grandma’s and we completely gone, except in the more limited with our were shuttled into northern shadows and the daffodils second child, who our the delivery room. The had only been up for about three doctor informed us, would epidural was administered weeks. The entire procedure took also have to be born cesarean and within moments, I lost all about fifteen minutes, after which section due to a hospital policy that feeling from my chest down to my I had a very calm baby girl in my stated any woman who had undergone feet. They then proceeded to clean arms and it was at that moment the a c-section must deliver any following my stomach area, put up a screen dynamic of my life changed. We children in that manner. Once we so I couldn’t see what was going on held the naming ceremony nine days accepted this fact, we continued to (which my husband later told me later and it was then that I can recall move forward with the pregnancy, was a good thing) and started to being overwhelmed with a joy unlike with the multiple doctor visits and cut. Within a few minutes they were any I had ever experienced in life. check-ups, very cautious eating and dangling her by the feet, announced People will tell expecting parents recreational activities and so on. her a healthy baby girl, cleaned her “Your entire life is going to change” She was due to arrive in early off and handed her to me. Another or “You have no idea what you are October. It was a very wet and cold perfect, bald little baby girl. And I’ll in for,” and as cliché as it sounds, it’s October, just a few days after the never forget the look on the nurse’s absolutely true. You start to be so deer hunt had opened. Autumn was faces when my husband asked if we much more conscientious about the in full effect, and I remember how could keep the placenta to plant with things you do, the way to behave and red and fat the berries on the yew a tree later. Apparently, it was the react to things, what you are eating trees at the entrance of the hospital first time that request had been made and drinking, etc. were. My husband and daughter at this hospital. To keep a fairly long story were getting just as anxious as I was. The following day, we were short, after raising her in an urban Naturally, we were a little concerned in the room and I was nursing our environment for two years, we decided as to how our three-year-old was daughter. All four of us were there, that we wanted more for her and other going to handle a new sister. There still in that sort of shock particular children that might follow. So we were a lot of questions for all of to the arrival of a new life that moved to southern Idaho, where we us. Was the hospital staff, some overwhelms everybody close to it. had resided 4 years prior. We bought of whom were actually present at There was a small commotion in the 20 HEX MAGAZINE

room across the hall from ours. There names in traditional fashion and we thus started a very long nine months. had been a very elderly woman in the celebrated with a bonfire and family So, I took great pains to avoid bed, I gathered she had been there dinner. She recently turned over her putting anything bad into my body, for a couple of weeks. She was very first year of life and we look forward my husband bought me a small but ill and had been coughing incessantly to many more. Out here, the children beautiful plaque with a woodcut and was surrounded by family get to participate in their own representation of the triple goddess twenty four hours a day. lives in a very real manner, carved on it, and I prayed. I told They were waiting for whether it’s helping in the Goddess that all I wanted was a her to die. And at this the garden, gathering happy, healthy baby, and if it wasn’t moment, she finally eggs or taking care too much trouble, I would appreciate did pass on and her of the tomte, of the baby having red hair and my two middle-aged sons course. You see so husband’s eyelashes. Instead of and one daughter many possibilities being able to go to the midwife I had were present for it. embodied in their contacted before, who was willing Even when you are young faces. You to work with me on birth plans to expecting a death, also see a thousand include ritual elements, I had instead it is always difficult years of inherited an excellent OB/GYN. He was to see somebody you traits, behaviors and willing to let me do whatever worked have known and loved mannerisms that you for me—to a point. go. I remember thinking that can almost pin down to a it was such a strange situation distant relative or relatives. The He was pretty easygoing, but now, with a brand new life beginning experience of being a mother, on the best hospital in the area was a here in our room and one that had so many different levels, is one of Catholic institution. I didn’t think they finally reached its end directly across the greatest pleasures I have been would say anything, but I followed the hallway. A little while later, my fortunate enough to experience. And my usual practice when dealing with husband took some of our flowers we might even give it another try. Christian organizations—I left the across to the family and the daughter “religious preference” blank in the said “Isn’t it funny…you have a new form, and figured that I’d have to life right there and one that just ended adjust my plans. Being pagan in the here. Funny how life is..” She said it KI wasa overjoyedthe tor findin oute I area where I live is challenging—I with tears in her eyes and an almost was pregnant just a month shy of our believe “buckle on the bible belt” is profound look on her face. The death first anniversary (And yes, my first the way I once heard it described. I of a parent is such an enormous thought was “It must have happened did plan to bring in scented oil and event in the course of a human life at Beltane!”). Unfortunately, just a stone from my altar, figuring if and she was experiencing, perhaps a short while after I informed anyone asked I could pass them off for the first time, that strange and my family, I miscarried. It was as Lamaze tools. beautiful realization that nothing is devastating—my little Siobhan was Then came the snag. My doctor permanent…nothing stays as it is gone before I could meet her. I was decided at my regular appointment forever. But life is also a series of comforted by my mother telling me that it was going to be necessary to cyclical events; repetitions of patterns that this baby would come back to induce labour. He arranged for me that have been occurring for millions me, and after I finished my personal to check in overnight, with induction of years. Even our gods are subject Samhain ritual, I felt…strange. I had to start and hopefully the baby to be to this one primal law and course of just taken a pregnancy test, and it born in the morning. action. But for all of us, this realization was negative. But just in case, I took Well, after 3 cytogels, 2 pitocin was made tangible that day. a test the next morning. Positive. I drips, and rupture of the amniotic Nine days following her birth, took another to be sure. It was also sac, still nothing. Oh, I was having our newest daughter received her positive. I informed my husband, and contractions—but they really were HEX MAGAZINE 21 not doing anything but letting me be delivered via c-section—my doctor gatherings accordingly. I think that have a taste of what I had learned informed me that the uterine muscles in time I will find a way to reconcile in Lamaze class is called “back appeared weakened. How is it that I my feelings with what my mind tells labour.” My mum and my husband can reconcile the fact that my body me—but birthing a baby seems really were trying really hard to assist me, is unable to perform its function? different from using a paper plate. massaging my back and helping me Especially when that function is move around as much as I could so tied to my personal view of my around all the monitors and wires. identification with the Goddess? ARROWYN Just then, the doctor cheerfully comes Common sense and logic tell me When my daughter Manzanita in and informs me that it’s time for a I haven’t failed my faith just because was conceived, my husband and I caesarean, since the baby’s showing I used modern medicine to do what lived in a little shack in Anacortes, some signs of distress. was best for my baby, but my volatile Washington. It was in the woods, So, what can a mother do? Of emotions keep whispering otherwise. surrounded by trees, sunk in a ditch, course the baby was my greatest I grew up with my mother telling me next to a stream with a bridge, and concern, so I went straight down the how a woman “rides the waves” of a Troll that lived under it. It was a hall to be cut open. He was gorgeous labour pain to bring a child into the very very wet and cold autumn. I by the time I saw him – red hair and world, and always thought you would had literally been under the weather his daddy’s eyelashes, beautifully come intensely close to the curtain for months, and I had begged the awake, I was told he was lifting his (some people call it the veil) during fates for something to change my life head within a few minutes of being that time. Instead of this very personal drastically. born. My husband was able to go experience I grew up expecting, My parents had come to down with him and see him being the birth of my son and any future visit, and while we hiked the State cleaned up while they stitched me children is reduced to a typical Forest trails, my mother back together. day surgery, an isolated wasted no time giving In the hospital, I was able to hour in a cold, bright me admonitions. “You sneak a moment alone with my room. I know it seems better not even think beautiful boy to show him the stone selfish, but how do I of trying to raise a and speak a few words of thanks raise a son to have child in that little to the Lord & Lady for my son. faith in something if rundown shack, it However, it just wasn’t the birth I had my own chosen faith doesn’t even have a envisioned—I was only allowed one is shaken? bathroom!” person in the operating room, and I Reconciling a “First off,” I told was so distracted by the anaesthesia faith that celebrates her, “it has an out they put in that I forgot to sing to him nature in all its house, for seconds, first thing, which had been my intent. forms with modern people have been doing Nursing was awkward because of the life is difficult at the best it this way for thousands stitches, and to top it off, everything of times, especially for an of years, and thirdly, I’m not was just so sterile and cold. essentially solitary practitioner. You having any children!” I offer thanks to the Goddess feel bad for using the occasional Oh, the gods laugh at such every day for such a gorgeous son, paper plate at public events or social bold statements! That very night, exactly what I wanted—but I’m also gatherings, but try to make up for it unbeknownst to us, we conceived having a sort of crisis of faith, quite by conserving water and energy and a little girl child, and my whole life different than the experience after my reusing or recycling packaging. You changed drastically . . . try to avoid using the paper plate miscarriage. If my husband and I have Six months later, we moved altogether if you can, and plan your more children, they will also have to down to Ashland into a larger shack, 22 HEX MAGAZINE

and found some really excellent WATERMELON going to fit through visualization techniques, but mostly midwives. My first two trimesters had a hole the size of a CHERRY? How I just grunted and spoke in tongues, been really difficult, but I was taking did this make any sense?! But at that and chanted strange songs. There really good care of myself, mostly point the only way out was through, was a small far away part of my brain because I was terrified of having a I had to go through it. that was embarrassed and thought tough labor. I drank Nettle and Red Jason called the midwife and that everyone must think I was losing Raspberry tea all day long, walked suggested that if she brought over my mind. And perhaps that’s exactly 1–2 miles a day with my dog, and the tub, I could soak for a while and what happened. But the woman who continued my studies of middle maybe relax. She said drink a beer was giving birth knew exactly what Eastern dance, right up until a couple and she would come over. Jason had she was doing to get that baby out weeks before I gave birth. a dream a few nights earlier that my of there as quickly and painlessly as possible, and I wasn’t about to My last trimester was a total labor lasted 4 1/2 hours. But, I had question her. dream, I felt completely protected, been in labor for three days now, like a holy vessel. I felt really dreamy, so obviously it was going wrong They were shocked once again and spent all of my time laughing. somehow! I was on the verge of a a couple hours later when I felt her nervous breakdown. crowning. It was time to push, but I I read everything I could get was really overwhelmed and decided my hands on, my favorite was To my great relief, when the it was impossible, and I couldn’t midwife arrived, I started my active Birthing from Within, which I highly do it. After only nine minutes of labor and all fear, even all thought, recommend. I read as much as I encouragement, she literally flew out just faded away. It was like a wise could stand about cesareans and of me ripping the placenta off my woman woke up inside, and I felt hospital procedures, because even uterus. I bled quite a bit, and I was like I had done this a thousand times. though I was giving birth at home, told I had to push out the placenta to I was terrified of having to go to Being a hot June evening, that stop the bleeding. I was dismayed that the hospital, and wanted to feel when the tub was finally filled, I there was even more work to do, but I somewhat prepared. I also studied had no desire to get in. But it had did it, and all was fine. pain relief techniques and even taken so much time to prepare, I The whole time I was pregnant, made myself a little handbook with felt obliged. The lights were turned I had been convinced (along with beautiful illustrations, in case I forgot down, and I was told to get some everyone else) that I was having a these tools during labor. I planned rest. I thought they were completely boy. So when the baby was placed everything as well as I could. We mad! It was my first birth and the on my belly all bloody and blue, the would have a home birth in a water midwives were settling in for an all- umbilical cord was between her legs tub, and all would go well. nighter, but they apparently under- in just such a way . . . but when I estimated how much I wanted this Then finally I started my labor, gently moved her leg I realized—“It’s then it went away, and then it started baby out. I had never been further a girl!”—and I was secretly glad. My again, and it went away, and after 3 from sleep in my whole life. labor lasted exactly 4 1/2 hours, and days of this I was starting to panic. I had been sitting there her placenta was planted under a My midwives reassured me that it impatiently for about ten minutes, Manzanita bush that was gifted to was just practice labor, but I was when I felt a whoosh between my us. This was the birth of Manzanita terrified that something was wrong, legs. I said, “Um, I think my water Morgana Craban, who has just turned and I couldn’t sleep because every just broke.” Everyone was shocked, 6 on 6/6/6. Even though life has been time I’d lay down I’d have to jump up but I jumped out of the water elated, difficult at times, and impossible at for a contraction. It was maddening! and she measured me at 4 cm! I others, I never have questioned the I decided that I had changed my spent the rest of the time leaning on wisdom of the fates’ blessing. mind. What was I thinking?! I wanted the edge of the tub—so much for out of the deal. How was that water birth. I did use some of my HEX MAGAZINE 23 Harvestman a Conversation with Steve von Till HEX You have been involved in writing, recording, and performing music for over twenty years now. Neurosis has heavily impacted the musical underground and has a very wide and diverse fan base. Neurosis has continued to release material at fairly regular intervals since 1988. They have inspired at least two generations of artists with a very heavy emotional and spiritual approach to music. In 2000, you embarked on a solo undertaking as Steve von Till with the release of As the crow flies and followed it up in 2002 with If I should fall in the field. One thing that I find so striking about SVT is the personal depth of the lyrics. You bring a lot of very intimate and stirring thought forward on topics ranging from the decline of modern ‘civilization,’ mythological themes to the struggle with one’s inner ghosts. The music also has a very traditional feel to it. The unnerving and simultaneously peaceful and haunting melodies weave in and out of acoustic drawls, violin and piano accompaniments, and the clean, well-articulated singing leave a strong impression on the listener and resonate on various levels within. Do you feel like the music captured on these two albums is a reflection of who you are and where you have been? Would it be safe to say that this is a result of your recent and/or current station in life, being both a husband and father and Haunted by the voices of generations a Heathen? past, Steve Von Till’s delicate and intense songs have the rare ability to speak for one SVT Thank you for the while they speak for us all. The music is kind and thoughtful simultaneously universal and personal— words! I like to think that all of my musical output has with each exposed nerve of the artist’s life, always been about who I am and been influenced by it demands that we reveal the same. 24 HEX MAGAZINE

my world view and experiences which are constantly music. You also have a new project Harvestman which evolving yet have always revolved around a center and released the full-length CD Lashing the Rye in March of been part of a rather specific personal thematic quest. 2006. It has a much more ‘free-form’ and psychedelic feel No matter what musical project I am contributing to, I to it, almost ambient at times. It very much, at its core, am always after the emotional core and the spirit of the keeps with the spirit of your previous works and you cite sound. The difference with the solo material is that I various progressive, folk, and noise acts as influences on can break it down into a more intimate almost folk type the Neurot website. Harvestman also recently composed

expression of those same themes that you mentioned. I the film score for Alex Infascelli’sH 2Odio which was feel that the personal songs are more like storytelling. Any released in April of 2006 in Italy. Could you tell us a little given set of songs from a certain time period is definitely bit about the impetus driving Harvestman? an expression of where I am at in the moment of its creation. Being a husband, father, and one who takes SVT Harvestman comes from trying to reconcile great inspiration in the traditional ways of my ancestry my love for traditional European music, drone must of course shape my music by putting my thoughts instruments, melodies, and extreme psychedelic guitar in and feelings through those reference points and filters. context of the mythologies of the European landscape. I have always thought that the intent of British and HEX I can really appreciate the fact that you mention European space rock embodied a certain ancient tribal that your life is in a constant state of evolution, spirit. The harmonic resonance in the drones of Irish and yet remains fixed at the center. It seems to me that this Scottish bagpipe, Hardanger fiddle, Hurdy Gurdy, is very core emotional and spiritual value manifests throughout all heady, deep, and sonically complex. I love manipulating of your music. It has a definite feeling of rootedness and them and combining them with the electric guitar. With stability. You also mention gaining inspiration from the Harvestman my process is to break down the traditional traditional ways of your ancestry. Is this something that music and its elements into their purest sonic essence, has fascinated you for a long time? Something that plays a the original whispers and sparks, then to interact with it large role in your life today? according to my own methods. I realize how difficult it is to describe, but in my gut it all makes perfect sense. SVT Yes. My family was very much into genealogy when I was growing up and I have been HEX Harvestman is something that deserves deep obsessed with ancient Europe as long as I can remember. listening and I think that when this is afforded, I especially enjoy meditating upon the place where history your description makes perfect sense. Is it a project that and mythology are inseparable. Over time I have also you plan to continue on with? come to reflect upon the fact that we are our ancestors. Their blood is in our veins, there is no escaping it. We SVT Absolutely. I have a couple albums worth of are the biological continuation of our family line. I also material nearing completion at the moment and believe that it is not as simple as biology, that there am toying with the idea of performing some of it live. I must be some element of spirit passed on as well. The have to make this music, there is no choice, as with my unknown transfers as well, perhaps as some type of folk other projects, it creeps up and it demands my attention. soul, or family trait. I find strength in this. My life is a part of a river that flows back into time immemorial. Our HEX At what point in your life did you come to find individual existence is a mathematical miracle. Each one yourself on the spiritual path of your ancestors? of us is the product of thousands of years of will, luck, determination, and overcoming adversity. That is powerful SVT I think it was always there. The process of stuff. I hope to live in a way that honors that. putting the pieces of the puzzle together and banishing the modern smokescreen obscuring its HEX Indeed. And I would venture to say that much presence was really quite natural. Since I was a kid, of that atavistic spirit comes through in your experiencing the Germanic and Celtic images and stories HEX MAGAZINE 25 have always felt more like remembering rather than for us to use to look to our heritage for guidance as to learning. I believe it is genetic memory. The folk soul how to forge a spiritual path into the future. boiling the blood and demanding to be acknowledged. Over time, I realized that I was not the only one who felt HEX We have been fortunate in our lifetimes that way and that in fact some people still followed the to witness the beginnings of a spiritual old folk ways and I have had the good fortune to meet reawakening in our people during what could easily be others of like mind and heart to celebrate this rekindling considered one of the darkest ages in history in regards of the fire. Many people have dedicated much of their to culture and tradition. As you mention, modern Western lives to scholarly pursuits, attempts to rebuild community, society doesn’t foster the values and ethics that it once revitalize spiritual practices, and provide other invaluable did. Although many archaic cultural elements exist and resources to support this rebirth. As a young person thrive today, a large number have been discarded and growing up, I wanted to be a part of a more meaningful exchanged for contemporary attitudes of indifference culture than the mainstream modern global non-culture. towards heritage, craftsmanship, aesthetics, interaction I found part of what I needed in independent music with the natural world on an authentic level etcetera. The and art, but the rest came from finding my place in the popular world view is, for the most part, flowing contrary history of my line. As we discussed earlier, we are our to that of our blood. What do you see happening with ancestors and that has definite meaning and demands this spiritual path in the future? inescapable responsibilities. Unfortunately, many young people of European American descent think they need SVT I honestly don’t know and would not dare to to turn to cultures foreign to their own heritage in order predict. I would like to think that since it is to feel ‘cultural’ or ‘ethnic.’ This not only isolates a part in the blood, it must be preserved and would continue of their soul from a powerful wellspring of inspiration, to manifest itself when we need it the most. As with but also becomes another unfortunate act of the cultural everything, sometimes I feel hopeful and optimistic theft of others. I feel it is important for all people to see about such things in this world and other times fairly themselves as ethnic and belonging to the tribes of their apocalyptic. I often feel that the creation and Ragnarok past in order to have a meaningful place in this world. We are probably cosmik constants that we must see as a never have traditions that have survived and endured despite all ending cycle and play our part in our time. that has come to try and replace them. These are the keys ~ Interview conducted by Cody Dickerson

Steve von Till Steve von Till Harvestman As the Crow Flies If I Should Fall to the Field Lashing the Rye 2000 2002 2006

www.myspace.com/heathenpsych www.neurotrecordings.com/artists/svt/index.aspx 26 HEX MAGAZINE Reclaiming Our Birthright: Sally Fallon’s obsession with traditional nu- trition started with motherhood and a love of cooking. In researching the healthiest way to feed her family, she discovered the writings of Dr. Weston Price. This infor- mation became a powerful weapon against the dangerous crusade for a low-fat diet, which is especially harmful for growing children, Fal- lon teamed up with Dr. Mary Enig and went on to write Nourishing Traditions, the cook- book that recalls “the culinary customs of our ancestors.” In 1999, with the publication of the 2nd edition, The Weston Price Foundation was established to further spread the word on our birthright of “physical perfection and vibrant health.”

To start with, could you give our readers a HEX brief summary of Dr. Price’s work? Dr. Weston Price studied fourteen Fallon indigenous cultures. These were isolated, so-called primitive peoples and he found that they had perfect dental health, virtually no cavities, no crowded or crooked teeth, and excellent overall health. The diets of these people were all very dif- ferent. The Eskimos had a lot of animal foods and the tropics had coconuts and lots of plant foods, but he came up with 3 basic characteristics of a healthy diet. For one, there were no processed or refined foods. Secondly, all these cultures’ diets contained animal foods. And finally, this is the most - impor tant and the one that most people miss—no matter what they were eating, what the particular foods were, all were extremely rich in nutrients, high in minerals, but even more importantly the levels of vitamin A and D were 10 times greater than the American diet these days. And these elements came from all the foods that are demonized—liver, organ meat, shellfish, fish eggs, butter, cream, egg yolks, HEX MAGAZINE 27 Reclaiming Our Birthright: A Conversation with Sally Fallon Author of the Politically, Socially, and Gastronomically Revolutionary Nourishing Traditions

insects, and mammals. All foods that have been demonized, This is a really interesting question, be- or those we just don’t eat anymore. Fallon cause these people, no matter where they were on the globe, knew that certain foods were very A major point in Nourishing Traditions is the important for pregnant women, all the foods high in A and HEXamazing fact that pre-industrial cultures under- D. They somehow knew they needed to soak their grains. stood the best ways of preparing and preserving foods to They knew that they needed fats. How did they know? My access the highest amount of nutrients available. theory is that people were more intuitive and that we’ve lost that. Now we have to find things out through science. That’s exactly right. It’s not exactly That’s okay too, but we just want to make sure that we don’t Fallon what Dr. Price got into, but it is a cor- sacrifice science to profit and the food industry. That was ollary. The way these people made their food was aimed at the wonderful thing about Dr. Weston Price. He was in awe maximizing their nutrients, releasing the availability of the of the wisdom of these traditional people and the foods nutrients, and helping with the digestibility of the food. For they ate. And this is a special thing because at the time, example, grain, which has its nutrients very much blocked, during his studies in the 1920s and 1930s, modern man or bound up, is soaked to liberate its nutrients—and slowly thought he knew everything. He thought that traditional cooked to liberate its nutrients. Bones were cooked, to get cultures had nothing to teach him. That he was going to do their nutrients out of them. Many foods were fermented, all the teaching. which increases the nutrient value. So everything they did was aimed at maximizing nutrients, where as everything we Anyone observing a child ‘on’ sugar, catches a do in the modern diet is aimed at maximizing convenience. HEXglimpse of how diet effects mental health. Please And when we make foods really convenient, the nutrient explain the connection between the modern diet and social levels suffer. degeneration in industrialized culture.

You mention that the book was not the place to That’s also a really good question, be- HEXtheorize exactly how this understanding of prep- Fallon cause as an aside, [Dr. Price] talked aration and preserving came to ‘primitive’ peoples. What is about how well-adjusted the people were socially. They got your theory? along. They seemed to have an idyllic life. And one thing 28 HEX MAGAZINE

he recognized after they started eating Westernized foods, gut and brain are connected. The gut is like a second brain. they were not optimistic, they were not happy anymore, So not only do these children have these repetitive asocial and mental illness appeared. Now what’s happening here behavior patterns, but they also have digestive issues. is you’ve pushed out the foods the brain needs, vitamin A, vitamin D. You’ve pushed out iron, you’ve pushed out the So by your gut being your second brain, do you fatty acids that the brain needs, you’ve pushed out the cho- mean that in an abstract or literal sense? lesterol that the brain needs—and you’ve substituted foods HEX lacking what the brain needs to run properly. But even Your gut is always sensing the food worse than that, the things that you are eating, like sugar, Fallon that comes in and telling the body are depleting the body of all of these nutrients. And the what to do with it. If proteins aren’t broken down, the gut other thing about sugar is that it effects fluctuations in the wall is damaged as well. Then you just have a really awful blood sugar. An underlying factor in many psychiatric and situation. The kids, they have to get off all the food allergy behavior problems is that kids feel they can’t concentrate. triggers, things like dairy and grains. It’s really important Well, their brains are starving. The brain needs fat above all. for them to get on fats like cod liver oil and meat liver. Of I’d also like to mention about the traditional cultures, that course, autistic kids tend to be really picky eaters. High gel- their diets were very high in B12, because they ate liver. atin broth is really good for autistic kids. This is a challenge too because, often the reason these children have gotten to B12 is connected with depression, correct? where they are, is that they were never fed home-cooked HEX foods. It was always processed. The parents have to learn to make time to cook. It’s a tragically difficult situation and Yes, B12 is definitely associated with it really is karma knocking at your door. It is our collective Fallon depression, manic depression, com- karma, for allowing these things to be done to our children pulsive behaviors, dementia, and so forth. or caving in to eat processed foods. I don’t want to point the finger at the parents, because we’re all in this together. What foods are high in B12? HEX Something I loved about Nourishing Traditions, HEXis the way the information just felt right. The Organ meats in general, red meat, ideas were very straight forward and grounded, with no Fallon insects, and raw milk. It has to be hyped up new age elements. raw because raw milk has a special carrier pro- tein that helps the body use B12. Unfortunately, our food supply is driv- Fallon en by adherents to the principles of What do you think about studies commodity agriculture. The USDA is firmly into commod- HEXthat understand autism as an acute ity agriculture—soy, wheat, corn, sugar, vegetable oil. They food allergy? firmly believe that they can make anything, any imitation food, from these ingredients and just add vitamins and ad- My opinion is ditives. They love it when people are vegetarians, because Fallonthat autism is the they sell more commodity agriculture. So you need to combination of an extremely scratch the surface of all these weird diets being promoted deficient diet and a high ex- in the new age movement, mostly vegan-type diets. You posure to toxins. Since there scratch the surface and you’ll find the ogre of commodity- is a deficient diet there are no protective fats. If you do type agriculture in the background. a survey of these autistic children you will find the use of soy formula or lots of vaccinations, and it’s just too Since we’re here, do you want to give a bit more much for their little bodies to bear. You end up with a HEXof your thoughts on vegetarian, vegan, and mac- huge amount of damage to the gut and to the brain. The robiotic diets? HEX MAGAZINE 29

Well, I obviously don’t endorse a and they were drinking real [un-pasteurized] milk. Native Fallon vegan diet. I think it is extremely dan- Americans are supposed to be lactose intolerant. So I gerous. People sometimes do better on them in the short really feel instead of saying “you shouldn’t eat this” the term because they have gotten off all the processed foods. emphasis should be on making sure that when you do But it will lead to problems in the long run. Some people prepare those foods, they’re made to be easily digested. can be healthy on a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, but the milk has to be really good, raw milk and the eggs should be European sauerkraut, full of antioxidants and from chickens that are out in green pasture. There are peo- HEXprobiotics, was originally taken from the ferment- ple who can’t even do well on this type of diet. They need ed cabbage of the Chinese. What are your thoughts on red meat. They need fish. kombucha, a cultured tea drink, that is also highly probiotic, and also from the Chinese, as part of our daily Do you then subscribe in some ways to the routine? HEX blood-type diet? I actually thought kombucha was The blood-type diet is one of these Fallon found in Russia, but there are fables of Fallon metabolic typing diets written by men it coming from Korea. The fact that it came from tea would who have never had to cook dinner for a family every- imply that it came from Asia. But kombucha is ultimately day. They make such a fetish out of eating. Who is going a lacto-fermented beverage, and almost all cultures in the to make a different meal for every metabolic type in your world had lacto-fermented beverages. So I think everyone family? Not me. My kids ate what we prepared and that’s should be drinking these. a lesson that children need to learn also. Mom goes to all the trouble to make a good delicious meal, the kids need Why, with all the preserved food that is con- to sit down and appreciate the meal and eat what they are HEXsumed, are fermented foods largely absent from served. But just from a scientific point of view, I don’t think today’s diet? very much of these diets, either. The traditional lacto-fermented foods You mention a smaller pancreas size in those Fallon like sauerkraut and healthy soft drinks, HEXof European descent (as compared to those of you can’t make them on a large scale. They have to be Asian decent) making it harder for the body to process car- made by artisans. And of course, our entire food system bohydrates such as grains. Do you have any other foods is designed to get rid of artisans on a large scale by using you recommend our readers specifically avoid or reduce in industrial methods. I think what we need to do is apply this their diets? Any foods you highly recommend for those of knowledge to small-scale production. So it’s not drudgery. European decent? In Nourishing Traditions there are Well, we really do eat too many car- HEXmany references to traditional Fallon bohydrates now. But Europeans really diets not only bestowing freedom from had a wide variety of foods—grains (correctly processed), disease, but also beauty. One of my fa- meat, fish. They didn’t have potatoes. Those originally vorite quotes is your accusation that our come from South America. They didn’t have most of the modern diet “spoils our god-given Nightshade family, although they did have eggplant. So this genetic inheritance of physical family of plants could cause problems for Europeans, es- perfection and vibrant health.” pecially tomatoes and potatoes, although I don’t personally have any problems with these. This is really the birth- Fallon right of everyone, to be Dr. Price visited an Indian tribe, the only modernized attractive. Not just healthy, but physically attrac- Indian Tribe that was healthy and they had dairy herds tive. The modern age is criticized for putting so 30 HEX MAGAZINE

much emphasis on physical attractiveness. But there is a desire in every child to grow up to be attractive, and of course healthy and so forth. Why do we have that deep- seated desire? Because that’s what we were designed to Rekindle the Ancestral be. We were designed to be physically attractive and see physically attractive people around us. Now of Memories course, we don’t want to discriminate against people who weren’t born physically attractive, because we all have beautiful souls inside. But ultimately we want those souls all to come into physically attrac- tive bodies. And I think the root cause of so much unhap- piness and malaise and addic- tion in our young people today is this feeling that they’ve been cheated of their birthright. They probably couldn’t put it in those words, but they’ve been cheated of their birthright of physical perfection. HEXI agree. ~ Interview conducted by A. von Rautmann

For more information, pick up a copy of Nourishing Traditions— The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats

Contact: New Trends Publishing, Inc. (877) 707-1776) URWEG

Write The Weston Price Foundation: www.urweg.com PMB 106-308, 4200 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC 20016 Askjel Madalhar & Birte Nellessen

or check out: www.westonaprice.org HEX MAGAZINE 31 the allure ofB risingamen hroughout Norse mythology there are references to the Goddess Freyja, famed for her beauty B alison grandmason T and for her possession of the mighty necklace called Brísingamen. The necklace was forged by four a.k.a. wanhilde dwarves and acquired by Freyja in exchange for sexual s favors. While many modern texts refer to this mysterious piece of jewelry, few provide any information as to its function or significance. For that reason, this item has A CUP she gave him, with kindly greeting held great interest for me. I have considered the relevance of this piece of jewelry for several years, and this article and winsome words. Of wounden gold, represents the culmination of my studies. The Brísingamen she offered, to honor him, arm-jewels is mentioned infrequently throughout the older texts, but twain, corselet and rings, and of collars the when it is, there are clues as to its character. Coupled with what we know about Freyja and the lore that surrounds noblest that ever I knew the earth around. her, we will investigate this mystery through translations Ne’er heard I so mighty, ‘neath heaven’s of old texts and examine the significance of the Brísingamen to its divine owner, the goddess Freyja. dome, a hoard-gem of heroes, since Hama bore to his bright-built burg the Brisings’ What sources do we have? necklace, jewel and gem casket. As with all studies of Northern European mythology, there are few sources from which to draw information. One of the things that must be taken into account There are only vague references made about it throughout while looking for clues about Freyja, is that the majority the older texts. The earliest of these is Beowulf, circa 750 of these references were written after the advent of c.e., and the most recent is the Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga Christianity. During this period of time the church had ok Högna, from the 14th century. Though some might a strong hold over the written word, and anything that say that the Brísingamen necklace was a later addition seemed to promote the ‘Old Ways’ would have been to the texts, I have to disagree. While there is no useful seen as criminal. Alterations to the original stories have information as to its significance, just the mere mention been made over time. This has drastically affected the of it in a text written in 750 c.e. is enough to dispel that goddesses’ status, being that Christianity is a patriarchal argument. Here is the first mention of the necklace in religion where women of power are sometimes reduced Beowulf, the earliest Anglo-Saxon text: to common whores or portrayed as evil witches in league with the devil. When researching these texts, we have hrægl ond hringas, healsbeaga mæst þara to keep this in mind, and look behind the Christian þe ic on foldan gefrægen hæbbe.Nænigne judgments to view the true nature of the gods and goddesses they speak of. Freyja must have held great ic under swegle selran hyrde hordmaðum sway because she is represented as both the whore and hæleþa, syþðan Hama ætwæg to þære the witch. So we have to be especially discerning when reading her lore. The most Christian of the writings would byrhtan byrig Brosinga mene, sigle ond surely be the Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga ok Högna, for in sincfæt,— this text, Freyja and Odin are reduced from divine status 32 HEX MAGAZINE

to the status of mere mortals. This does not necessarily most often forged by dwarves, and these items generally mean that the information is invalid, it just means that we have some significant distinction. The most well known must read around the Christian moral gloss to get to the magical tool is Mjollnir, the hammer of Thor. It has main point of the story. attributes that make it more than just a regular hammer. When it is hurled, it creates lightening and thunder upon What is in a name? contact, and then returns to Thor’s hand. The hammer The first place it makes sense to look is in the name enhances his skill as a warrior, and allows him to be itself. The word Brísingamen is problematic, since the the champion of the gods. There is also Odin’s spear, prefixBrísinga- is simply not recorded in the existing Gungnir, known for its ability to be hurled long distances dictionaries, nor is the word Brosinga found in the Old accurately. This is perfect for someone with no depth English Dictionary. The suffix -men does mean necklace perception, as is the case with Odin, who only has one according to the Cleasby-Vigfusson Old Icelandic to eye. Brísingamen, also forged by dwarves, most likely has English Dictionary, but this still leaves us with a mystery. some sort of magical quality as well. It could be also seen Generally we can discern the function of an item based as plausible then that Brísingamen would possess powers on its name, and many mythological items are named specific to Freyja’s attributes. this way, as in the case of Odin’s spear Gungnir, which means ‘the swaying one.’ There are also items, which bear What are Freyja’s attributes? a name proclaiming their possessor, such as Gríðarvölr Looking at what is known about Freyja, we can see which means ‘Gríðr’s wand.’ many avenues to explore, in fact, probably enough to Taking this into account, Brísinga- could denote a write a separate paper on. Of all of the goddesses, Freyja name rather than an attribute. If this is the case, we then is the only one who can stand on equal footing with the need to find out whose name it could be.S ince there is no god Odin. A goddess of the Vanir, and Njorð’s daughter, reference anywhere to Brísinga-, in any form, being a by- she came to Asgard with her twin brother Freyr after the name of Freyja, we could look to the dwarves who forged war between the Æsir and the Vanir. She and her twin it. They are named in the Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga ok were sent to Asgard as ‘hostages’ as was a condition of Högna as Alfrigg (‘mighty-elf’/’the very experienced one’), the truce between the two warring factions. Much in the Dwalin (‘the slow one’/’the sleeping one’), Berling (‘short- same way an arranged marriage between two royal houses beam’), and Grerr (‘the bellower’/’small one’). Following insures peace in the world of men. The word ‘hostage’ this logic trail, there is a possibility that these dwarves denotes incarceration and/or bondage, but from the texts originate from a class or family called the Brísinga. The we see that she was afforded a very high station within necklace is referred to as “The Brísings’ necklace,” even Asgard. She has her own abode, Folkvang and the hall in the Old Norse version, the distinction is grammatically Sessrumnir where her choice of the battle slain reside. In made by taking the word Brísingamen and writing it as battle she acts much like a valkyrie, choosing half of the “men Brísinga.” So, it could be hypothesized that the word slain for herself, with the other half going to Odin. This Brísinga might instead refer to the origin of this particular function points directly to her status in Asgard as being item. However, there is no evidence to positively prove or possibly on equal footing with, or at least second only to disprove this theory, so we must move on. the ‘one-eyed’ god, but the necklace is not mentioned in conjunction with this attribute, so we must look elsewhere. What role does the necklace play? What role does Freyja play? Let us look at the query from a different perspective. When it comes to accessories in the myths and lore, they Her principal function is as a Vanic goddess in are not mentioned unless they have some significance to tandem with Freyr. Their role is primarily associated with their owner. Many of the gods and goddesses possess fertility. Freyr represents the ‘seed,’ if you will, and Freyja certain items that enhance innate abilities, as well as represents the ‘lure.’ In other words, she provides that balance inabilities. Implements with magical abilities are which is necessary for all living things to be attractive HEX MAGAZINE 33 in order to procreate. With flowers she is the nectar that battlefield, which is wrought with aggressive emotions. attracts the bees to assist in pollination. With animals, Because it broke, this could lead us to assume that her she is the scent produced by the female in heat. With anger is somehow in opposition to the necklace’s innate humans this manifests not only through physical beauty, quality. If that is the case, then the above postulation that but also adornment. While we all know that there are it works with her Vanic powers, the power of love and/or other factors involved with this process—sexual attraction, lust, seems reasonable. The gods, when faced with the when expressed poetically, is generally illustrated with extreme reaction of Freyja, were then forced to come up a description of the physical attributes of the object with an alternate solution for retrieving Thor’s hammer. It of affection. More often than not, beauty is one of the was Heimdallr who came up with the following plan: principal characteristics which Freyja embodies. It seems obvious that fertility is her primary function, and I would Þá kvað þat Heimdallr, hvítastr ása venture to say that the necklace is most likely used to Vissi hann vel fram, sem vanir aðrir: enhance this attribute. “Bindo vér Þór þá brúðar líni, Remembering that the primary reference material was written in the Christian era, it would make sense that hafi hann iþ micla men Brísinga! this function would be viewed as sinful behavior. Any such deity would be presented as debase, and stories Látum und honum hrynja lukla of her would probably be censored. However, there are ok kvenváðir um kné falla still several hints in the literature to uphold this theory. en á brjósti breiða steina For example, the Þrymskviða is the one place where Brísingamen is directly referenced and utilized. The story ok hagliga um höfuð typpum. there is about the theft and recovery of Mjollnir. The giant Þrym stole Thor’s hammer and demanded that Freyja be Then Heimdall spake, whitest of the gods, given to him in exchange. When Freyja is approached Like the Wanes he knew the future well: with the request to marry Þrym, she becomes so angry that Asgard shakes and the necklace bursts from her neck. “Bind we on Thor the bridal veil, Let him bear the mighty Brisings’ necklace;” Reið varð þá Freyja ok fnásaði, “Keys around him let there rattle, And Allr ása salr undir bifðiz, down to his knees hang woman’s dress; Stökk þat iþ mikla men Brísinga: With gems full broad upon his breast, And “Mik veiztu verða vergjarnasta, a pretty cap to crown his head.” ef ek með þér í jötunheima.” So, they dress up Thor in wedding garb, much to his Wrathful was Freyja, and fiercely she dismay, and attach the Brísingamen to him in the process. Now, although the Jötnar are known for being rather thick, snorted, And the dwelling great of the gods you can put lipstick and a dress on a pig, and yet it is still was shaken, And burst was the mighty just a pig, and everybody knows it. Even with a wedding Brisings’ necklace: “Most lustful indeed veil, Thor is still Thor. He is not purported to be a shape shifter. So perhaps, the necklace aided in this endeavor. should I look to all if I journeyed with thee Because it is apparent from a subsequent strophe that the to the giants’ home.” deception was not noticeable by sight: This shows us that the necklace was negatively Þá kvað þat Þrymr, þursa dróttinn: affected by the anger within Freyja. It seems then, that the “Standið upp, jötnar, ok stráið bekki, necklace would not be of any use in her function on the 34 HEX MAGAZINE

nú færa mér Freyju at kván mjök fullgert. Freyju leizt vel á menit. Njarðar dóttur ór Nóatúnum.” Dvergunum leizt ok vel á Freyju. Hún Then loud spake Thrym, the giants’ falaði menit at dvergunum, bauð í móti leader: “Bestir ye, giants, put straw on gull ok silfr ok aðra góða gripi. Þeir the benches; Now Freyja they bring to be kváðust ekki féþurfi, sagðist hverr vilja my bride, The daughter of Njorth out of sjálfr sinn part selja í meninu ok ekki Noatun.” annat fyrir vilja hafa en hún lægi sína nótt hjá hverjum þeira. Ok hvárt sem hún lét Þrym, upon seeing him, declares him to be Freyja. Perhaps Brísingamen aids in the illusion of the giant’s at þessu komast betr eða verr, þá keyptu desire. Only when he looks into the eyes of Thor, does he þau þessu. Ok at liðnum fjórum náttum catch a glimpse of the wielder of Mjollnir: ok enduðum öllum skildaga, afhenda þeir Laut und línu, lysti at kyssa, Freyju menit. en hann útan stökk endlangan sal: “Hví eru öndótt augu Freyju? Now on a day went Freyia afoot by that Þykki mér ór augum eldr um brenna.” rock of the dwarfs, and it lay open: therein were the dwarves a-smithying a golden Thrym looked ‘neath the veil, for he longed collar, and the work was at point to be to kiss, But back he leaped the length of done: fair seemed that collar to Freyia, and the hall: “Why are so fearful the eyes fair seemed Freyia to the dwarves. of Freyja? Fire, methinks, from her eyes burns forth.” Now would Freyia buy the collar of them, So, considering that this creation of the Svartalfr and bade them in return for it silver and could possibly make Thor seem to be the most desirable gold, and other good things. They said they of goddesses, imagine how it would enhance the goddess lacked not money, yet that each of them for whom it was meant! would sell his share of the collar for this There is also the possibility that these thing, and nought else…that she should lie a dwarves, while obtaining their payment night by each of them— wherefore, whether for the necklace they were forging, possibly she liked it better or worse, on such wise extracted, each in his turn, an aspect of did she strike the bargain with them— and Freyja’s essence, then infused it into so the four nights being outworn, and all Brísingamen before they gave it to her: conditions fulfilled, they delivered the Þat var einn dag, er Freyju varð gengit til collar to Freyia.

steinsins, hann var þá opinn. Dvergarnir (Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga ok Högna) váru at smíða eitt gullmen. Þat var þá HEX MAGAZINE 35

This passage could be seen in this light due to the the sources we have explored, our journey seems to fact that she only gained possession after payment was illustrate that Brísingamen’s powers work with the function rendered. Often a possession is infused with the spirit of of Freyja as a fertility goddess, and, though only seldom the transaction that acquired it. investigated, I have always thought it to be her most Loki is tied to this piece of jewelry as well, having important aspect. stolen it on at least one occasion. There is the rendition of the Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga ok Högna, where he tells References Odin of the transaction between Freyja and the dwarves: Beowulf (750 c.e.), trans. Howell D. Chickering (Garden Þat er ok sagt, at Loki varð víss, er City, New York: Anchor Books, Anchor Press/ doubleday, 1977) Freyja hafði fengit menit ok svá, hvat hún Rudolf Simek, Dictionary of Northern Mythology, trans. hafði móti gefit; sagði hann þetta Ó ðni. Angela Hall (Suffolk UK/Rochester NY: D.S. Brewer, Boydell & Brewer Ltd, 1993) En er Ó ðinn varð þess víss, sagði hann, at Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda (c. 1220), trans. Brodeur Loki skyldi ná meninu ok fá sér. – Skáldskaparmál (1220 c.e.) – Gylfaginning (1220 c.e.) So tells the tale that Loki knew how Ari Odhinnsen, ed., Poetic Edda (c. 1275), trans. that Freyia had gotten the collar, yea and Bellows – Þrymskviða (period uncertain, poss. late 1200s what she had given for it; so he told Odin or early 1300s c.e.) thereof, and when Odin heard of it he bade Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga ok Högna, trans. Magnusson and Morris (1901) Loki get the collar and bring it to him. Haustlöng (9th century c.e.) (Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga ok Högna) Could it be that the trickster, greedy for the high one’s attentions, realized the properties of Brísingamen and knew that it would make Freyja more attractive, and possibly more important to Odin, than Loki himself? It would stand to reason that if Brísingamen’s power lies in desirability, it would cause others to also desire it. I have found this investigation to be more enlightening and interesting than I had first thought when I began. What have I come to understand through all of this contemplation? First, items forged by dwarves generally have magical properties and are highly prized. Second, these implements, owned by various deities throughout the lore, appear to hold significance to the attributes of their possessors, and Brísingamen, also forged by dwarves would have these same qualities. Looking at the Þrymskviða, the only instance where the item is actually utilized, it apparently allows the mighty Thor to pass as Freyja before a host of giants. The Brísingamen seems to have a ‘glamour’ that heightens beauty and desirability, and given the Vanic qualities of Freyja, it would be well suited to this goddess. Through 36 HEX MAGAZINE Weißt du zu Ritzen?

The German title Weißt du zu Ritzen? originates in the Hávamál of the Poetic Edda, strophe 144. It translates as “Do you know how to write/carve?” Here, Óthin asks eight questions regarding the proper magical use of runes (Old Norse Rûna, or mystery), and illustrates the extremely archaic use of written arrangements in Germanic magic. It also appears here in a variant of Fraktur, a blackletter typeface popular among the Pennsylvania Germans for use in important documents such birth, marriage and death certificates. Do you know how to Carve/Scribe/Write? HEX MAGAZINE 37

here is a small handful of is known as braucherei (literally ‘using’ lasting magical traditions or ‘to use’), or Powwowing (a word T which have survived in one ascribed to the practice of. braucherei form or another hundreds, possibly from an Algonquin Native American thousands, of years down to the dialect meaning ‘shaman’). It is present. In this case, we are interested something that I personally feel is primarily in pre-Christian practice of maximum interest to any student and belief of the Germanic world, of the Germanic mysteries and which can be very difficult to isolate culture, as well as to those seeking in some cases, particularly when it to incorporate authentic cultural comes to the practice of folk magic. expression into their lives and homes. Often, these tend to be aggregations of In looking at the craft of hex, or various traditional mystical and magical hexology (a term coined by Jacob Zook— disciplines. Such is the case with the practice perhaps the best known modern hexenmeister of hexology and brauche (‘using’). The use of responsible for preserving the integrity of hex paint- the term Hex in this situation is to be approached with ing as a form of folk art), as well as other aspects in the trepidation. We commonly think of a curse or spell when magical lives of this amazing community, one is struck by this word is used today, and this likely stems from the fact the beauty and brilliance of the paintings, and the seem- that hex itself is derived from the German Hexe, or witch. ingly archaic symbolism employed The association of this terminology with the geometric therein. You may also notice that barn designs of the Pennsylvania Germans is rather cloudy many of the practices, in spite and explanations range from their suspected use as magical of their overwhelmingly sigils to a simple misunderstanding of the German language Christian theology, have by neighbors, mistaking the German sechs (six) as hex. authentic historical prece- It’s a topic that doesn’t seem to get much attention, and dence in pre-Christian that might actually be a good thing as far as it concerns Germanic and Indo-Eu- perpetuating stereotypes and misinformation. In speaking ropean models. Work- with various people who have grown up within the living ing systems of magic culture of the ‘Pennsylvania Dutch,’ there is grave concern don’t simply appear out for the future of the traditions and lore particular to this of nowhere. Just as lan- unique ethnocultural group. You’ll often hear them referred guage and culture them- to as the Pennsylvania Dutch, which is a misinterpretation selves develop and change of ‘Pennsylvania Deutsch’ (‘German’) that eventually with time through migration, just became a common moniker. The majority of older external religious and cultural Pennsylvania Germans have children and grandchildren influence, supply of resourc- with little or no interest in the folk practices and beliefs es and various other factors, of their parents and grandparents. Luckily, among these so too does the mystico-magical practice of a given peo- descendants, something of a very small renaissance and ple. The people that eventually became the Pennsylvania renewal of interest in hexerei (literally ‘witchcraft’) seems to Dutch are no exception. be occurring, beyond simply using it as a tourist attraction and decorative art. It is my intention here to give a very Map 1: The Rhineland Palatinate area of Germany, shown here in brief overview of the history and practice of hex and what red, borders France, Luxembourg and Belgium. 38 HEX MAGAZINE

In order to better understand this manifestation of folk perhaps more importantly, free life in the New World was magic we need to have a bit of background on who and what enough to bring thousands of Germans, Dutch and Swiss the Pennsylvania Germans are. The majority of them came Mennonites, and Anabaptists. As with most immigrants, over in three major migration periods from what is known they brought with them possessions and knowledge that as the Rhine-Palatinate area of Germany (coincidentally, they deemed to have true value, the most important things also the area of the epic Nibelungenlied and the birthplace they had and could travel with. In this case, some of that of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim). The people knowledge included a peculiar form of folk magic and that live here are descended from a group of Germanic belief whose roots can be traced back at least to the early tribes called the Rheinfranken (‘Rhenish Franks’), with an 13th century, but which no doubt reach back much further admixture of Alemanni.¹ The first period of immigration into history. Still today at the Rheinisches Freilichtmuseum occurred between the years of 1683 and 1710 and consisted (Rhenish Open-Air Museum) there can be found preserved of primarily Dutch and German Mennonites seeking the outbuildings and barns dating from the 16th century religious freedom and liberty of the New World, which embellished with colorful geometrical pattens, some even was being promoted heavily by William Penn throughout built directly into the framework of the buildings. This Europe at that time. The second period occurred between establishes the fact that this is not simply an American folk 1710 and 1728. This migration brought several thousand art anomaly that developed in a collision of boredom and Swiss Mennonites to Pennsylvania after suffering repeated creativity. Neither was it simply something borne out of exiles and displacements in Switzerland, Germany, and a desire to help some communities stand apart from the Holland. Finally granted passage through the Rhine valley, modest Amish in Pennsylvania, who frowned upon the they fled en masse to North America, the majority of boisterous and colorful hex signs as being too “prideful.” these families settling in the Tulpehocken colony in Berks Even today you will be very hard pressed to find a County, PA. The third period was between 1728 and 1776. person residing within predominantly Pennsylvania Dutch By this point in time, the Provincial Council had passed a areas who will confess to having any ‘mystical’ knowledge resolution which required all transport vessels to maintain of the operative use of hex signs as magical sigils. But they records providing the names of the families emigrating to do exist. It is a very tightly knit community and they are Pennsylvania. Although most did not keep records of the very skeptical of outside interest. I have been fortunate exact areas from which these families were coming, the enough to get to know a particular gentleman whose number of persons recorded during this period grandmother was a Berks county powwower reaches over 30,000.² These settlers came to and hexenmeister. For the last twenty years, know the counties of Berks, York, Adams, he has been collecting information about Lancaster, and Lebanon as home. the practice, interviewing practitioners There was a great deal of and collecting incantations and religious and social tension in that ‘prescriptions.’ His grandmother was area of the continent during the very well known in southeastern major periods of immigration. Pennsylvania and this allowed him I often wonder why a people so opportunities that would not have steeped in tradition, folklore, been afforded otherwise. He’s also and Heimat would leave it all a devout Christian and at his request for the uncertainty of the foreign I have agreed to withhold his name New World. But the situation was from print. He indicated to me that extremely grim. The Thirty Years’ War even though the practice of Powwowing (1618 to 1648) had absolutely devastated is in a state of decline, there might be many parts of Germany. Poverty, disease enough interest to keep it alive for a few more and religious tensions fueled mass emigration decades. He described to me multiple occasions to North America. The promise of a healthy and, of its use in recent years and its constant use in the HEX MAGAZINE 39

past as something farmers and ranchers relied heavily upon in times of distress. One of the most well known public sources for this information is a book entitled Pow-Wows; A Collection of Mysterious and Invaluable Arts and Remedies for Man as Well as Animals, written and compiled by John George Hohman. It first appeared in English in 1820, and contains a pragmatic variety of incantations, spells and workings geared towards maintaining health and well- being on the farm and homestead. It becomes apparent Fig. 1: From Hohman’s Pow-Wows that one of the primary sources for Hohman’s Pow-Wows is Albertus Magnus’ Bewahrte und Approbirte Sympathetische und Naturliche Egyptische Geheimnisse fur Menschen und Vieh (Proven and Practical Sympathetic and Natural Egyptian Secrets for Men and Livestock). The first English language edition of Magnus’ work appeared in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1875, although it was written and published in Germany in the 13th century. Other sources include the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Books of Moses, the Bible, Fig. 2: From The Ninth Book of Moses—“Characters on the right side of and traditional oral sources. Similarities between these the Ark of the Covenant of the Most High” forms of continental magic and the magic being utilized and recorded during the same period in Iceland are striking, although in the Icelandic practice we still see very visible traces of their Heathen origin with the use of runes and names of the Germanic gods still appearing from time to time. Both orally and in written form, the knowledge was passed from generation to generation from male to female and vice-versa. Why there is such an insistence on this is unknown. However, it does bring to mind the Germanic paradigm of the exchange of wisdom between Odin and Freya, which is found in even older models throughout the Indo-European spectrum. This exchange still occurs on a small level today, although it’s become extremely rare. It has been common for many brauchers to know their lineage of wisdom, often as far back as eight or nine Fig. 3: The Galdrahöll (Hall of magical songs). Taken from the Huld generations. Each line varies, sometimes vastly, from one manuscript, which was complied and recorded in the late 1800’s by Geir .3 person to the next, and that includes hex construction. Vigfusson in Iceland. Note the presence of runic characters There doesn’t seem to necessarily be any strict format regarding color and symbolism; they tend to take on very self evident. The acorn, for example, can easily be described personal associations according to the individual creating as a symbol of fertility. Even etymologically speaking, the and prescribing them. Frequently occurring symbols include German word for both acorn and the glans of the penis acorns, hearts, oak leaves, six and eight pointed stars and is Eichel. This is obviously a very old idea that has been rosettes, distelfinks (a stylized bird motif representing a preserved down to the present day, and is just one of many goldfinch), tulips, and sunwheels. Depending on who you with regards to hex craft. It’s a very subjective form of ask, you will often receive varying answers regarding the magic, and appears to be much less rigid that its medieval meaning of a particular symbol, although some are quite cousin. It is sympathetic magic, which renders it even more 40 HEX MAGAZINE

subjective and personal to the Braucher. When viewing Pennsylvania Germans refer to the old and rapidly the color blue one person might make an association with disintegrating hex signs as ‘ghosts.’ And with the exception water, while another sees air. Images appear in vivid colors, of a handful of people, most either cannot afford the usually painted directly onto a barn or other outbuilding, high cost of restoration or simply don’t have the interest and more frequently today we see them painted on wooden to do so. Most people you will encounter that hail from disks to be displayed on or within the home. these areas of Pennsylvania will deny any sort of magical I think it can be established that the art of Hexology connotation whatsoever, stating that they are nothing and Braucherei were, and to a small degree still are, more than arbitrarily designed decorations. But it’s not an based on an uninterrupted form of Germanic folk entirely gloomy situation. There appears to be enough magic. There are many skeptics, of course, but it is my interest to keep the custom alive for several more decades, hope to have at least shed some light on its history and perhaps longer. At least we can hope so. As we know development over the years. This is not to say that the from past experience, old traditions die hard. overwhelming majority of people that have and display them do so for reasons of health and well-being. Quite See the follow up article in HEX’s Fall/Winter Issue—Traditional Germanic Healing Arts In America: Powwowing by Jack G. Montgomery. the contrary, for most people it’s simply as a matter of Mr. Montgomery, whose own spiritual path for the last 30yrs. is that of aesthetics, tradition and even a bit of kitsch. The modern Powwow, will soon be publishing a book on the same topic. Notes 1 A. M. Aurand, Early life of the Pennsylvania Germans (Lancaster PA: Aurand Press, 1945) 2 Oscar Kuhn, The German and Swiss Settlements of Colonial Pennsylvania: A Study of the So-called Pennsylvania Dutch (New York: The Aurand Press, 1901 and 1914) 3 Originally appeared in Stephen E. Flowers, Ph.D., The Galdrabók; An Icelandic Book of Magic, 2nd ed., rev. (Smithville TX: Rûna-Raven Press, 2005) 60. Sources Anonymous, Sixth and Seventh Book of Moses (Whitefish MT: Egyptian Publishing Company, printed by Kessinger Publishing, 1997) www.kessinger.net A. M. Aurand, Early Life of the Pennsylvania Germans (Lancaster, PA: Aurand Press, 1945) Richard Beam, ed., The Thomas R. Brendle Collection of Pennsylvania German Folklore Vol. 1. C. (Historic Schaefferstown, Schaefferstown, PA: 1995) Dennis Boyer, Once Upon a Hex (Oregon, WI: Badger Books, 2004) Stephen E. Flowers, Ph.D., The Galdrabók; An Icelandic Book of Magic, 2nd ed., rev. (Smithville TX: Rûna-Raven Press, 2005) www.runaraven.com Edwin Miller Fogel, Ph.D., Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans (Philadelphia, PA: Americana Germanica Press, 1915) Edwin Miller Fogel, Ph.D., Proverbs of the Pennsylvania Germans, 2nd ed., rev. (Millersville, PA: Center for Pennsylvania- German Studies, 1995) Lee Gandee, Strange Experience (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1971) Henri Gamache, ed., Mystery of The Long Lost 8th, 9th, And 10th Books of Moses (Whitefish MT: Printed by Kessinger Publishing, 2004) www.kessinger.net John George Hohman, Pow-Wows: Long Lost Friend, a Collection of Mysteries and Invaluable Arts and Remedies (Mokelumne Hill Press, Reprint edition, 1971) Oscar Kuhn, The German and Swiss Settlements of Colonial Pennsylvania: A Study of the So-called Pennsylvania Dutch (New York: The Aurand Press, 1901 and 1914) Albertus Magnus, Egyptian Secrets: or White and Black Art for Man and Beast (Kessinger Publishing, Facsimile edition, 997) Jacob and Jane Zook, Hexology: The History and Meaning of the Hex Symbols (1962) HEX MAGAZINE 41

THE HEX

Her face was always schmutzig; She had old pins And badges pinned across her shawl.

She looked so sad-like that we thought It must be in her head once That she feels So funny, with her children dead and all.

But she could hex the hens And make the cow-milk bitter, And she could pow-wow so, Nobody in her neighborhood was sick for long.

The children used to run When she doppled down the road And she’d turn after them and almost smile.

But when the older ones was ugly, She stand upon her stoop and grex With words like devils once.

Nobody knowed her; but one night Adam Scheidt came through the dark And said he saw a cat’s eyes shine And when he went ahead, he saw That she was standing by a tree.

It gave him such a shiver That when she died He stayed at home and read the Bible all day long.

I think she was so strubbly just because Her heart was like a dandelion After the wind blows all the fuzz away.

-William J. Meter 42 HEX MAGAZINE

What plants contribute to our world is something beyond measure, or even description. It is common to view plants as nonentities separate and less important than ourselves, In the Garden without comprehending that their existence is the keystone of our own. Their minute alchemy transforms inorganic matter into something we can ingest, transforms carbon dioxide into something we can inhale. In the web of life on Earth, plants provide the most significant strands. My painting, In the Garden, is my love-letter to Kingdom Plantae. Surrounding us are plants with myriad and marvelous properties, each unique species able to fulfill some different exigency of our bodies or spirits. They feed us, shelter us, clothe us, heal us, intoxicate us, and delight us with their beauty and fragrance. Abstractly, they decorate our temples and bodies, inspire our myths, and give us comfort with their very beings. The style of In the Garden is inspired by the tapestries of medieval Europe, a period in which the divide between medicine, botany, and art did not yet so clearly exist. Looking at these tapestries, so richly embellished with botanical images, one is amazed at how carefully the plants are depicted—individual species are readily discernible. An 21 astounding amount of toil is required 14 for such detailed weaving. Because of this source of inspiration, and my interest in the medieval era in general, I thought it would be interesting to explain what some of the plants I selected for the painting meant—their 3 11 symbolism, usage, folklore, and history. With one or two exceptions, the plants in the painting were familiar to medieval Madeline von Foerster Europeans, and can be easily found in art from that era. This article will be continued in the Fall. ~MVF an artist’s lore of plants HEX MAGAZINE 43

3.Forget me not e Myosotis sylvatica A very romantic legend describes the naming of this flower—a knight about to get married, dressed in his armor, was taking a ride along the Danube with his fiancée. The maiden spied a bunch of blue flowers floating on the waves, and asked her beloved to pick them up. As he reached to get them, the knight slipped and fell into the river. The heavy armor hindered him from swimming and he began sinking into the water, but not before throwing her the little blue flowers and beseeching her: “Don’t forget me!” Faithful to her lover’s last request, she wore the flower in her hair until her own death years later. This beautiful plant came to be known as Forget-me-not, and a symbol of undying love. The flower was also beloved in medieval monastery gardens, where it was known as ‘Mary’s Eyes.’ But I chose to include this flower in the painting not for any tale, but because it has always been one of my favorite flowers. Since childhood I have been delighted by the way a sprig of Forget-me-not will stick to one’s clothing if gently pressed against it. While researching this painting I discovered it sometimes, lovingly rendered in tapestry weavings and manuscript illuminations. These encounters caused me to contemplate those long-dead painters and artisans, for whom it was also a favorite flower. This plant is my message of remembrance to them.

11.Blackberry e Rubus fructicosus The black berry, or bramble, has had a thorny reputation in many cultures. In Greek mythology, when Bellerophon dared to ride Pegasus to Olympus, he falls off into a blackberry bramble, which blinds and maims him. He becomes an outcast and is shunned by all for the rest of his life. One Christian folktale maintains that the Crown of Thorns was made of brambles, and that blackberries dark color is symbolic of Christ’s blood. Another tale tells that Satan was cast out of heaven on Old Michaelmas Day, October 11. Blackberries could not be gathered or eaten after that date, since they had been spit upon by the Devil when he fell into a patch of brambles and would be poisonous or bitter. There is a custom against eating blackberries in Cornwall since the plant is sacred to the Celtic goddess Brigid. In Brittany, it was considered a fairy fruit and consequently was untouchable. Blackberries symbolize sorrow, remorse, and the painful side of the affairs of the heart, though they still appear frequently in medieval tapestries and paintings of the Flemish Masters. Despite these various superstitions, blackberry leaves and fruit have been used medicinally for many centuries. An 11th century herbal recommends various parts of the plant for earache, chest pains, wounds, and sore joints. A decoction of blackberries is even prescribed for menstruating women: “For flux of wife, take heads of this wort, so tender, and of them let there be thrice seven; seethe in water to a third part; administer to be drunk fasting for three days, so however, that thou every day renew the drink.” Here is a recipe for a blackberry drink that sounds far more delicious, and perhaps salubrious as well! BLACKBERRY WINE Ingredients:  lb blackberries  lb granulated sugar  gallon boiling water 44 HEX MAGAZINE

Gather the fruit when ripe on a dry sunny day. Wash the berries well to remove any maggots which sometimes get into blackberries. Place the blackberries in a large bowl and pour over a gallon of boiling water. Stir well, then cover the bowl and leave for ten days. Strain the liquid off carefully through muslin making sure that no pips or pulp get through. Add the 4 lb granulated sugar and stir well. Cover the bowl and leave for another three days but stir daily. Cork loosely at first (this is to allow budding gasses to escape), but see that the corks do not pop out and leave the wine exposed to the air for any length of time. When the fermentation is over and no bubbles of gas are seen, then cork tightly. This wine should be ready to drink in six months, though a year is better. The longer it is kept, the better it will be. This is a lovely dark red, sweet wine.

14.Sage e Salvia officinalis Sage is now almost forgotten as a medicinal plant, though it is still revered as a culinary flavoring. But among the Ancients and throughout the Middle Ages its regard was higher still: the very word ‘salvia’ comes from the Latin word ‘salvus,’ meaning “healthy,” and also, “to keep safe, rescue, or heal.” An ancient proverb, “Cur moriatur homo cui Salvia crescit in horto?” (“Why should a man die whilst sage grows in his garden?”), provides us with an understanding of the high esteem in which this plant was once held. A later English proverb has a similar message: He that would live for aye, Must eat Sage in May. This plant, native to the Mediterranean region but widely grown, has been venerated for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Sage was used during the Middle Ages to treat many maladies including fevers, liver disease, and epilepsy. The herb was used in England to make a tea that was considered a pleasant and healthful beverage. One common belief was that sage strengthened the memory, hence a sage, or a wise man, always had a long memory. In the 9th century, Charlemagne had sage included among the herbs grown on the imperial farms in Germany. During the 17th century, the Chinese exchanged three or four pounds of their tea with Dutch traders for one pound of European sage leaves. The chemical components of this plant are known to have antiperspirant, anti-inflammatory, relaxant, decongestant, diuretic, astringent, and antiseptic properties. Backed by more recent studies, sage is now used by natural health professionals to remedy nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, colds, and tonsillitis. Because of its antiperspirant properties, sage is also recommended to relieve sweating caused by menopausal hot flashes. For any who would enjoy cooking with sage as it was done two centuries ago, here is a recipe from The Cook’s Oracle, 1821: SAGE AND ONION SAUCE Chop very fine an ounce of onion and 1/2 oz. of green Sage leaves, put them in a stamper with 4 spoonsful of water, simmer gently for 10 minutes, then put in a teaspoonful of pepper and salt and 1 oz. of fine bread crumbs. Mix well together, then pour to it 1/4 pint of Broth, Gravy, or Melted Butter, stir well together and simmer a few minutes longer. This is a relishing sauce for Roast Pork, Geese, or Duck, or with Green Peas on Maigre Days. HEX MAGAZINE 45

21.Chamomile e Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile, or Anthemis nobilis Chamomile derived its name from Greek, meaning ‘ground apple’ because of its apple-like fragrance. But the name might as well mean ‘comfort’—no plant is as synonymous with soothing and gentle healing. A Modern Herbal even states that it is “a preventive [of] and the sole certain remedy for nightmares.” Chamomile has been used throughout history as a remedy for insomnia, nervousness, colds and fevers, digestive disorders, diarrhea, and menstrual cramps. Ancient Egyptians venerated it as sacred to their Sun god, Ra, for the aid that it gave in malarial fevers. Diocorides and Pliny recommended baths or poultices of chamomile to relieve headaches and disorders of the kidneys, liver, and bladder. It was mentioned, along with plantain, in the Anglo-Saxon Lacnunga, as one of the nine sacred herbs given by Odin to heal the people of the world. “Never a man should lose his life from infection,” the 8th century text states (perhaps a bit hyperbolically), “after Chamomile was prepared for his food.” By 1651 when Culpeper’s Complete Herbal was published, chamomile was so accepted as a folk-remedy that he wrote, “It is so well known every where, that it is but lost time and labour to describe it.” Chamomile might be seen as a rather innocuous plant, due to its humble, low-growing form and ubiquitousness—it is another medicinal herb that might be collected from cracks in the sidewalk. But it is a powerful, if harmless, sedative and sleep-aide. An infusion can be made from 1 oz. of the flowers to 1 pint of boiling water. A Modern Herbal warns that, “Chamomile Tea should in all cases be prepared in a covered vessel, in order to prevent the escape of steam, as the medicinal value of the flowers is to a considerable extent impaired by any evaporation, and the infusion should be allowed to stand on the flowers for 10 minutes at least before straining.” Sweet dreams! 46 HEX MAGAZINE

Odinn’s Self-Sacrifice on Yggdrasil sketch by Madeline von Foerster HEX MAGAZINE 47

Norse Shamanism Another Perspective Valúlfr Vaerulsson Úlfa dróttinn of the Wolfbund 1999 CE Revised 2007 CE Wolf’s Lair

Abbreviation Guide Preliminary Remarks ON Old Norse The purpose of this article is to proffer an in- OS Old Saxon depth perspective on the relationship between Óðinn and Heimdallr, within the general framework of the GMC Germanic term ‘hypostatic’ which will be defined in due course. Go. Gothic In addition to shedding more light on the fragmentary Gk. Greek remains of the Heimdallr myth, it will also be shown that the ancient Germanic religio-magical initiatory tradition IE Indo-European contains many parallels to the north Asiatic shamanistic PIE Proto-Indo-European traditions, the Soma rituals of the Vedic tradition, and Ind. Indic various other Indo-European traditions. Although this is RHP right Hand Path not a study on the origins of technique or religious views, it is interesting to note the following by Prof. Jere Fleck of LHP left Hand Path Maryland U.: “It seems far more likely that such parallelism CE Common Era is due to Germanic preservation of inherited tradition on BCE Before Common Era the one hand, and central and north Asiatic borrowing from, or via Iran on the other.”

In order to show the relationship between these Völ. völuspá – The Prophecy of the Seeress two Norse gods we need to begin with a general view Rig. rigsflula – The Lay of Rig of shamanic and Germanic cosmology and how they Hyndl. Hyndluljóð – The Lay of Hyndla relate to each other. The Vedic traditions of India, and their ‘cousins’ the Persians, will also be examined as they Völ. hin völuspá hin skamma – The Short Seeress’ Prophecy. preserved the oldest texts and concepts of our eastern Indo-European brothers. And while what is being offered Gylf. Gylfaginning – Prose Edda is not the final word on the subject, it will nonetheless Skal. skaldskarpamál – Prose Edda provide an intellectual ‘spring-board’ whereby subjects like this can be further investigated. Words which are italicized are my addition to various quoted texts or for emphasis. 48 HEX MAGAZINE

Shamanism and Cosmology was considered feminine and the Moon masculine. The sky is conceived of as a lid; sometimes it is not perfectly he practitioners of shamanism inhabited a vast fitted to the edges of the earth, and thus, great winds area, from Norway eastwards across Russia, Siberia, blow in through the crack. This compares with the ‘skull and perhaps to the Pacific. I will focus on the T of Ymir,’ which is held up by the four dwarves, Austri, western most of these cultures, the Finno-Ugric, whose Sudri, Vestri, and Nordri. Ymir’s skull becomes the sky languages include Finnish, Estonian, Lappic, Permic, and after Óðinn and his ‘hypostatic’ brothers Veli and Vé, Volgaic. dismembered the primeval giant.1 Shamanism is principally concerned with ecstatic states that result in an apparent loss of control, whereby The Tree and Cosmology the shaman travels to the Upper and/or Lower worlds. n the Eurasian shamanic traditions, there are usually 9 Techniques employed include drumming, chanting, celestial worlds / spheres / plains, but sometimes also drugs, salves, sensory deprivation and in some cases, I 5, 7, or 12. The axis of the earth is normally viewed sex. The purpose of these ‘workings’ range from healing, as an ash, birch, larch, or golden oak, also sometimes as foretelling the future, communicating with the dead, to a mountain [mtn. > possible early conceptual connections causing death. Poets and prophets often became such by with the ON Fjorgyn(n), from the Go. fergunius— sleeping or sitting on graves. Another common feature is ‘mountain’]. This ‘tree’ or ‘mountain’ connects the three the ability to shape-shift. This should sound familiar. separate ‘planes,’ goes through the earth at its ‘center’ or The noted scholar, Mercia Eliade, has the following: ‘navel,’ and through the sky at the point of the North star. “Magical transformation into a wild beast belongs The ancient earth goddess dwells in the tree itself, or by to an ideology that extends far beyond the sphere its roots [reflections of the GMC Urðr?]. of shamanism. Its roots will be found in the hunting- Among our Folk (in the Germanic tradition), this technology rites of the Paleo-Siberian peoples (…)” translates as follows: And further, commenting on shamanism itself; “Nío man ek heima, nío íviði, “The pre-eminently shamanic technique is the passage from one cosmic region to another—from earth to mjötvið mœran fyr mold neðan.” sky or from earth to underworld. The shaman knows the “Nine worlds I know, the nine abodes, mystery (runa) of the ‘break-through’ in ‘plane.’” of the glorious world-tree the ground beneath.”2 This communication among the cosmic zones is and made possible by the very structure of the universe. (…) the universe in general is conceived as having three “Ask veit ek standa heitir Yggdrasill, levels—sky, earth, underworld—connected by a central hár baðmr, ausinn hvíta auri; axis.” flað an koma döggvar, flærs í dala falla, In both the GMC and shamanistic cultures, the Sun stendr æ yfir, grœnn, Urðar brunni.”

1.) Gylf. 8; Skald. 23. - *Our Indic cousins have the following—see if you recognize the common GMC thread—In the beginning of things, an ocean of milk, which was still in an infinite and undifferentiated mass, had become both proto-energy and proto-matter, in which manifestations would emerge. Vishnu, in the shape of a tortoise, is at the middle of this cosmic soup. Upon his back, the ‘world mount,’ Mandara arises. A serpent, Ananta, principle of omnipresence and extension, coils around the Mandara. Indra (Þórr) pulls the head, while the ‘demons’ of Vairocana pull the tail. This pulling action causes Mandara to rotate, stirring the ocean of milk, and the resulting elements of creation spew forth. 2.) Völ. HEX MAGAZINE 49

“An ash I know, heit Yggdrasil The Tree and the Center the mighty tree moist with white dews; liade has this to say: thence come the floods that fall adown; “The symbolism of the center is not necessarily evergreen o’ertops Urð’s well this tree.”3 E a cosmological idea. In the beginning, center, or the site [ON vé] of a possible ‘breakthrough in plane,’ The central column, or pole, and its relationship was applied to any sacred space that had been the scene to the North Star is common amongst peoples of the of a heirophany and so manifested realities (or forces, Northern hemisphere. Amongst the Finns, the central figures, etc.) that were not of our world, that came from tree supported the sky in the same way as the Saxon somewhere else, and primarily the sky. The idea of a Irminsul did. This tree is known as iso tammi, ‘the great center followed from the experience of a sacred space oak,’ and is said to have been planted by three maidens.4 [vé], impregnated by a trans-human presence; at this The column was often viewed as a tree and was to be particular point, something from above (or below) has ‘climbed’ during initiatory rites to gain magical power. manifested itself. Later, it was supposed that manifestation Among the Altaic shamans, they notch or ‘step’ a tree, or of the sacred itself implied a ‘breakthrough in plane.’” post, with 7 or 9 ‘tapty,’ representing the 7 or 9 celestial And.... levels. Certain ceremonies are performed in which ascent “It is a universally disseminated idea connected with to the ‘gods’ takes place via the tree, with the Pole Star at the belief in the possibility of direct communication with its apex. Among these shamanic cultures, the Pole Star is the sky (ie. the gods). On the macrocosmic plane this known as the ‘Nail Star,’ or ‘Sky Nail.’ The Turko-Altaians communication is figured by the axis tree,( mountain, see the Pole Star as a ‘pillar,’ the ‘golden pillar,’ and the pillar); on the microcosmic plane it is signified by the ‘Sky pillar.’ Central pillar of the house, or the opening at the top of It is also noted that among these cultures, the eagle the tent—which means that every human habitation is is related to smiths and these are supposed to have the projected to the ‘center of the world,’—or that every altar, same origins as the shaman. Amongst the Siberians, the tent, or house makes possible a ‘breakthrough in plane’ firstshaman was born of an eagle, or at the very least, and hence ascent to the sky (gods).” was taught the secret knowledge by virtue of his/her The same would apply to your personal Vé, or stall,* parent. This is comparable to the Yggdrasil/Óðinn ordeal. in fact, it applies to you, for you are a ‘tree:’ Remember, the eagle sits at the apex of Yggdrasil, the ‘shaman’s tree’ of self-transformation. The first shaman of “...fundo á landi lítt megandi, the Finnish tradition, Vainamoinen, was also descended ask ok embla ørlöglausa.” from an eagle. This shows a complex connection with the ‘magical cloak’ made of Hawk feathers used by Freyja,5 “...on the land they (the gods) found of little strength, the numerous stories of ‘shape-shifting’ into the form of ash and elm, unfated yet.”6 eagles by the Norse gods and giants, and those used for ‘flight’ by the Eurasian shaman.

*The ‘stall’ is your personal place of sacrifice or worship, it is usually in doors. 3.) Völ. 19 (Yggdrasil > ‘the steed of Ygg (Óðinn)’, is also known by the names - Mímameiðr > ‘Mímir’s tree’ [Flösvin. 20, 24]; Hoddmímir [Vm. 44, 45]; and Læraðr [Grim. 26, Völ. 19]) 4.) These maidens correspond to the Norns 5.) Skald. 56 6.) Völ., trans. Hollander 17 50 HEX MAGAZINE

In ancient cultures, inter-reality communication interestingly enough, this word is found only in a book of between earth and sky, or earth and the underworld, Norwegian law, and as the name of one of the Hebrides was normally used to send forth offerings to either the Island Uist. The only reason I can see for Hollander celestial or chthonic entities (RHP) and not for a concrete choosing abodes, is that, contextually, it made more and personal ascent (LHP); the latter being the goal of sense to him. But this is not the literal meaning! Cleasby the Shaman and Odian.* Only they know how to make /Vigfusson has the following: íviði, n. dubious word > the ascent, to hang from the tree, through the ‘central ‘ogress,’ from > íviðja, ‘an ogress.’8 opening;’ only they transform and transmute a cosmo- This then renders the strophe: “Nine worlds I know, divinatory concept into a tangible mystical experience, the nine ogresses.” This should remind one of Heimdallr indeed, a magio-ecstatic experience. In other words, what being born of 9 mothers: for the rest of the community remains a cosmological concept (RHP), for the shaman, Odian, or hero, becomes “Vaðeinn bornn í árdaga a magical methodology (LHP). For the former, the ‘center rammaukinn mjök rögna kindar of the world’ is a site that permits them to send the nío báro flann naddgöfugr mann prayers and offerings to the celestial and or underworld jötna meyjar við jarðar flröm.” gods, spirits, asf., whereas for the latter, it is the place for beginning a flight in the narrowest sense of the word. “In days of yore a youth was born (Heimdall) Only for the latter is real inter-reality communication of sturdy strength of the stock of the gods between the three cosmic zones possible. at the edge of the earth etin maidens nine 9 Another Look at the Norse World Tree gave birth and suck to the brightest of gods.” Model and the Óðinn / Heimdallr Hypostatic Shifting our focus for a moment, let us consider the Complex word ‘hypostasis’ as it is often used to explain various f we look at the Yggdrasil myth again, an interesting seemingly unrelated entities, who are, upon closer word and related idea begins to emerge: investigation, found to be aspects of a single deity. How I “Nío man ek heima, nío íviði, does this relate to Heimdallr? To answer this, we must look at the Chieftain of the Norse gods, Óðinn, and his ‘birth’ mjötvið mœran fyr mold neðan.” from the Yggdrasil Ordeal: “Nine worlds I know, the nine abodes, “Veit ek, at ek hekk vindgameiði á 7 of the glorious world-tree the ground beneath.” nætr allar níu, geiri undaðr ok gefinn Oðni, sjálfr sjálfum mér Once I began the process of translating this myself, I ran across an interesting word—íviði. Lee Hollander has á fleim meiði, er mangi veit, rendered this as abodes, which in Old Icelandic is ívist; hvers hann af rótum renn.

*The Odian is one who emulates Odin rather than one who worships or seeks favors from him as in the case of the Odinist. 7.) Hollander 2 8.) Old Norse > íviðja ~ Gothic > inwinds, ‘unjust,’ ‘perverse’ ~ Old English and Old Saxon > inwidd, ‘treacherous,’ ‘malice’ ~ biwindan > ‘wind,’ gawindan > ‘bind together,’ kunawindan > ‘to fetter.’ German glosses this term thus: íviðia f. ~ waldbewohnerin > ‘a dweller in the woods,’ ‘a hag,’ ‘hexe’ (a witch, or sorceress); and íviðir m. pl. ~ innenholzer > ‘wood dwellers’ (witches). **Additionally, the word is only found in one other place in the Elder Edda, Hyndloljóð 32, where Hollander renders it correctly as ‘the evil hag.’ 9.) Hollander, 8 HEX MAGAZINE 51

Við hleifi mik sældu né við hornigi, ok vaxa ok vel hafaz; nysta ek niðr; man ek upp rúnar œpandi nam, orð mér af orði orð leitanði, fell ek aptr flaðan.” verk mér af verki verks leitaði.” “I know I hung upon that windswept tree “Then began I to grow and wise to be all of nights nine, and to wax and do well; wounded by the spear and given to Ó ðinn, words came to me— seeking the word, myself to myself, works came to me— seeking the work.”12 on that tree, of which no one knows where the roots run. Óðinn is born / reborn > ‘self-initiated’ shamanically, They gave me no bread nor drinking horn, from a complete complex synthesis of the nine worlds (abodes) > nío íviði > ‘nine ogresses’ > nío jötna meyjar down I looked, I took up the runes, (etin maids nine)! Óðinn/Heimdall now becomes a screaming I took them, then back fell I”10 guardian of this process. He guards the ‘way’ across the Bifrost bridge (runic pathways) against the uninitiated and Before he begins to grow, Óðinn takes up ‘nine the coming of the rime-thurses from Niflheim. mighty songs’ from the giant Mímir, who has a well under a root of Yggdrasil: Heimdall “Fimbulljóð níu nam ek af inum frægja syni, eimdall is called a ‘frame god’ by G. Dumézil, i.e. BölÞors, Bestlu föður.” “a deity that opens and closes a span of time” (í árdaga13), and he closes this span of time at H 14 “Nine powerful songs took I from the famous son the Ragnarök, when he and Loki destroy each other. His of BölÞors, Bestlu’s father.”11 birth was cited earlier, but the circumstances of his rearing are worth noting as well: I believe that these ‘nine powerful songs’ are the lore “Sá var aukinn jarðar megni, imparted by Mímir regarding the Nine Worlds of Yggdrasil (the nine realms of the shaman) upon which Óðinn was svalköldum sæ ok sonardreyra.” self sacrificed unto ‘death’—a ritual death—only to be re- “He was nursed and grew on the sap of the earth, born. What begins with the Ordeal, and culminates with on the ice-cold sea and the sacred boar’s blood.” the runes (mysteries) and the lore of the worlds being taken up, is a description of the process of maturing after “Varð einn borinn öllum meiri, one is ‘born’ / ‘reborn’ > ‘self-initiated.’ sá var aukinn jarðar megni; “Þá nam ek frœ vaz ok fróðr vera flann kveða stilli stórauðgastan, sif sifiaðan sjötum gørvöllum.”

10.) Háv., trans. Valúlfr 138/139 11.) Valúlfr 140 12.) Valúlfr 141 13.) Völ. hin. ská. 8 14.) Gylf. 51 52 HEX MAGAZINE

“Was a mighty one born, matchless in strength, Gothic -dulÞs > ‘a feast.’ The word is also glossed as arbor he was nursed and grew on the sap of the ground; prolifera in late Icelandic by Bjorn Halldosson. If this most high-minded he ‘mongst the hallowed gods, gloss is correct, it takes us back to Heimdall’s association 15 with the Yggdrasill / World Tree motif. “Heimdall may thus in sib with all sires and the sons of the earth.” be raised to the dignity of Óðinn...”20 There are also two place-names, Heimdallarvattn, a lake in Guðbrandsdalr, In space, he is posted at the threshold of the divine Norway, and Heimdallshoug, a hill in Nummedalen world, ‘at the limits of the earth,’ at the ‘edge of the sky;’ (Naumudalr), also in Norway.21 at the lower end of the bridge that leads to the sky.16 Like Other by-names include: Gullintanni, ‘the golden the Roman Janus, he is the ‘watchman’ or ‘sentry’ (vorð r toothed’;22 Hallinskíði, translated by Dumézil as ‘bent goð a).17 stick,’ and by Turville as ‘the one with the learning sticks’ He is also the great synthesizer of the Three (rune-staves?);23 valda-véum, ‘ruler of the Holy Places.’24 Functions: “If one applies the Dumézilian tripartite Another by-name I found interesting is naddgöfugr,25 pattern, he (Heimdallr) appears to share exclusively with which translates literally > adj. ‘stud-glorious,’26 Hollander the 1st Function gods of Óðinn and Tyr the characteristic has ‘the brightest of the gods,’ while Ellis Davidson offers feature of forfeiting a body part (an ear?) He resembles this correspondence: “The strange word used in the Thor - the typical 2nd Function god - in many respects poem, ‘nail resplendent,’ is found also applied to a great as a sentry of the gods, warning them about the dangers giant of the underworld, the father of the maid Menglöð, to their world, and one could even say that his sacred ‘necklace-glad,’ who is believed to be connected with animal, the ram, belongs to the same level of animal Freyja.”27 Again, among the shamanic cultures, the Pole- husbandry as Thor’s goat.” Like the 3rd Function gods, the star is known as the ‘Nail-star’ or ‘Sky-nail,’ and among the Vanir, he knows the future: Turko-Altaians, as a pillar, the ‘golden pillar,’ ‘Iron pillar,’ “þá kvað flat Heimdallr hvítastr ása and the ‘Sky pillar.’ vissi hann vel fram, sem vanir aðrir.” In the GMC tradition, good luck is secured by nails hammered into the door posts, the main beams and “Whereon Heimdall, whitest of the gods supporting structure of the house. In Norse Hofs and he fathomed the future as foreknowing Van.”18 Vés, the High Seat Pillars were the most sacred part of the Temple, and had sacred nails driven into them.28 Also, He is referred to by many by-names, as is Óðinn. His a pole or post was set up, probably oriented toward the name alone reveals several meanings: heim > n. ‘home,’ north with a nail driven into it and called ‘the nail star,’ and dallr > n. ‘a dale’ (valley); Go. > dals, Anglo-Saxon > ‘Nowl,’ or the Pole star. My position here might seem to dæl, GMC > tal.19 However, according to de Vries, dallr is conflict with the fact that Tyr is equated with the Pole star derived from the root dal with the suffix þu- , accounting —“…over the mists of night, it never fails.”29—until we for the long -ll. The root is associated with a Greek term again consider the hypostatic argument, which has already meaning ‘to be luxuriant’ and ‘blooming,’ and with the been stated. Dumézil furthers this idea when he states:

15.) Neckel & Kuhn, Edda Hyndl. 38 & 43; Lee Hollander trans. str. 9 & 20.) Turville Petre 26.) Cleasby-Vig. 16, where the text is rendered in the Völuspa hin skamma 21.) Grimn. 27.) Ellis Davidson 175 16.) F. Jonsson, Edda, Hyndl 35, 25–32 22.) Gylf. 27 28.) ON öndvegissulur 17.) Grimn. 13, Lok. 48 23.) Gylf. 27 29.) OE Rune Poem for Tir 18.) Þrym 15 24.) Grimn. 13 19.) Cleasby / Vig. 25.) Völ. hin skamma 8 HEX MAGAZINE 53

“...the celestial traits of Heimdall are fully justified, for, Heimdallr has also been compared to the Vedic god if he is not strictly the sky, he is the most celestial of the of fire,Agni .33 The similarities would seem to preserve an Scandinavian gods. He is more celestial than Tyr.”30 ancient IE fire-god myth; indeed, even a comparison to The place of his dwelling further attests to this, and the Finnish fire-god has been made. Heimdallr’s by-names provides more clues: of Vindlér and possibly of Lóðurr will demonstrate that he is indeed the ancient IE fire-god. “Himminbjörg eru in áttu en Þar Heimdall Vindlér, or Vindles,34 has been variously defined as kveð a valda véum; Þar vörðr goð a the ‘wind listener’ and ‘the borer.’35 Since the by-name drekkr í væru ranni, glaðr in góða mjóð.” ‘the turner’ is given to the god who brought friction/fire “Himminbjörg is the eighth and there Heimdall, it is said, to man, then it must be synonymous with ‘the borer,’ i.e. Rati - Ratatoksr.36 In the Vedic tradition, the sacred soma rules the Holy Places; the guardian of the gods (mead) of nourishment was concealed in the womb of the 31 drinks in his peaceful Hall merrily the splendid mead.” mountain of the Dasyus (giants ?), who are hostile to the world, but Agni split the mountain open with his ‘tongue.’ Regarding Himin-björg, in ON > himin means His ray of ‘light’ penetrated into the darkness where the ‘heaven’ (i.e. celestial), Go. > himins, OS > heban; and ON liquids of nourishment were preserved, and through him, > björg / bjarg - ‘cliff,’ Go. > bairg - ‘mountain,’ OS > berg they were brought into the light of day, after Trita (Vata or - ‘mountain.’32 So what you have is ‘heavenly mountain,’ Óðinn) had slain a giant monster and found the ‘cows of the cosmic center, everything here revolving around its the sons of the work-master’ (a metaphor for the Saps of apparent axis, with the Pole Star at its apex. It is here that Nourishment (soma/mead). In the Teutonic tradition, there Heimdall’s Hall is situated. This ‘central mountain’ motif, is also ‘a son of the work-master’ who was robbed of his with the progenitor-god of man enthroned thereon, may mead: Suttungr, son of Gillingr. very well be an ancient inherited tradition from Indo- Further, the mead/soma was regarded as ‘holy,’ ‘life- European times. sustaining,’ and the source of ecstatic inspiration. It was The shamanic tradition among the Indo-Europeans ‘holy-mead’ (heilagmjöðr), and it was brought to the earth is principally centered around the mytho-magical figure by an eagle who secured it from the etins/demons; for of the terrifying sovereign. The Finno-Ugric tradition has example, the soma bringing eagle of Indra, the nectar the celestial Jumla (Samoyed Num and Vogel Torum). bringing eagle of Zeus, and Óðinn, in true shamanic form, Num is said to be made of fire, so that the sight of him as an eagle himself > Arnhöfði - ‘the eagle-headed one.’ was more than the eyes could bear. Ultimately, the Finnish Another possible hypostatic by-name of Heimdall sky-god’s name, Jumla, means ‘brightness’ or ‘light.’ In the is that of Lóðurr, mentioned previously.37 Lóðurr is GMC tradition, this compares nicely with Heimdallr, ‘the mentioned only once in the Norse literature > “…lá brightest of the gods,’ a by-name which was shown to be gaf Lóðurr ok lito góða...” > “...being gave Lóðurr, and uniquely connected to the Pole Star. blooming hue...”38 If we then look at the Lay of Ríg, who

30.) Dumézil, Remarks on Heimdall 130 Hattatal 7, Skald. 8 31.) Grimn. 13, Gylf. 27 35.) Old Norse > vinda - ‘to wind, twist, or turn’ 32.) Cleasby / Vig. 36.) Hav. 106, Grimn. 32 33.) Latin > ignis - ‘ignite’ 37.) Brian Branston, Gods of the North (1955) 145 34.) “Hjalms fylli spekr hilmir hvatr Vindlés skata.”—“The Bold King 38.) Völ. 18 quiets men with Vindlés helmet-filler (Heimdal’s head, i.e., a sword).” 54 HEX MAGAZINE

is equated with Heimdallr, we see that special mention a ‘catch-all’ for all kinds of spiritual practices. Whether is made of the ‘tone’ or ‘hue’ of the skin of the various or not this label is valid in a post-modern western sense offspring of Ríg/Heimdall, Thralls—swarthy, Karls— is something for the seeker of a higher state of being ruddy, and Jarls—fair.39 Considering the fact that Ríg and to decide. My intent here is to demonstrate at least a Lóðurr both determine the ‘skin-hue,’ i.e. ‘internal heat,’ temporal framework that seems to have been in place in and that it is generally accepted that Heimdall is Ríg, then the far North in ancient times. There is no substitute for the argument that Heimdall is cognate with Lóðurr stands. Tradition, so it is among the Finno-Ugric peoples, the Sámi In this context, attention should also be paid to the Prose in particular, that our most significant correlations must be Tradition, Snorri has Óðinn, Vili, Vé, as the hypostatic found as they were the people who lived just to the north ‘creator’ deities, i.e. Wodanaz > Master of Inspiration; of the Germanic tribes. One key to its understanding Wiljon > Strong Will; Wihaz > Master of Holiness: or is the concept of the ‘universal tree’ and its central Óðinn, Vili (Hœnir), Vé (Lóðurr = Heimdall, Ríg, Agni), importance to many ancient cultures. In addition to the and with vé meaning ‘sacred,’ you gain the ‘Sacred fire of amount of research that has been done, much more needs Being.’ to be done in the area of practical application. That being In closing, it is hoped that the reader of this said, seek the tree and all things associated with it, and article has come away with another way of looking at a the rest will reveal itself beneath its branches. complex subject. Today the term ‘shamanism’ is used as

39.) The social structure engendered by Ríg / Heimdall is preserved in different areas of the medieval Germanic world: the Angles > adalingus, liber, servus, the Saxons > exilingi, frilingi, lazzi, and the Danish > satrapa, ingenuus, servus.

Bibliography Samuel Berr, An Etymological Glossary to the Old Saxon Lee Hollander, The Poetic Edda (Elder Edda—Codex Heiliand (Herbert Lang & Co., 1971) Regius 1275) (Austin: U. of Texas, 1962) James Chisholm and Stephen Flowers, A Sourcebook of Winfred P. Lehmann, A Gothic Etymological Dictionary Seið: A Corpus of Old Icelandic Texts Dealing with Seið (Neth: Leiden - E.J. Brill, 1986) and Related Words (Rune-Gild, 1998) Neckel and Kuhn, Edda—DieLieder des Codex Regius Cleasby-Vigfusson, Icelandic-English Dictionary, Craige, (Heidelberg: 1962) (Oxford, 1969) Nigel Pennick, Rune Magic (1992) H.R. Ellis Davidson, Gods and Myths of Northern Europe Edgar Polomé, Essay’s on GMC Religion, The Indo- (Penguin, 1964) European Component in Germanic Religion, Institute for Jan De Vries, Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte, vol.2 the Study of Man (1989) Mircea Eliade, Shamanism—Archaic Techniques of Edgar Polomé, Some Comments on Völuspá, Stanzas 18– Ecstasy (1964), Shamanism and Cosmology from: Shirley 19, U. of Texas (1969) Nicholson, Shamanism (1987) and A History of Religious Franz Rolf Schröder, Altgermanische Kulturprobleme, ch. Ideas, vol. 2, trans. W. Trask (1987) XVII ~ Heimdall und Mithras, de Gruyter (Berlin: 1929) Jere Fleck, Oðinn’s Self Sacrifice—A New Interpretation Snorri Sturlusson, Edda (Prose c.1220 CE), trans. Anthony II—The Ritual Landscape, Scandinavian Studies, 43:4 Faulkes (Everyman, 1987) (1971) 385-413 HEX MAGAZINE 55

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This glossary is for the convenience of HEX readers. These definitions are by no means Glossary comprehensive, but are meant to facilitate the understanding of works within this publication.

Aesir: The second race of gods, rulers of Asgard. Niflheim: ‘World’ of ice and snow. Altaic: Of a postulated family of languages including the Njord: God of the sea. Father of Freyja and Freyr. Turkic, Mongol, and Tungus families. Odin: The ‘All-father,’ Wodan, Wodanaz. God of war Asiatic: Asian. and inspiration who traveled between the worlds and Bifrost: Rainbow Bridge. Connects Midgard to Asgard. discovered the runes. Chthonic: Pertaining to the underworld. Rig: The human name taken by Heimdal on his visit to Midgard, when he created the 3 classes of man—Thralls, Freyr: Frey. God of Fertility, twin brother of Freya. Karls, and Jarls (Earls). Freyja: Freya. Goddess of love, fertility, and war, twin Rime-thurses: Frost giants. sister of Freyr. Saxon: An ancient Germanic tribe. Frigga: Goddess of the hearth, fertility, family, and children. All knowing wife of Odin. Seidr: A type of Northern European shamanism, practiced by women in particular. Ginnungagap: The great emptiness out of which all creation came. Soma: A ritual drink of importance in the Vedic tradition. Heimdal: Heimdallr. God of man, guardian of Bifrost. Teutonic: Germanic. Warns of the approach of strangers. Thor: God of strength, order, and law. Protector of Hoenir: Honir. See ‘Vili and Ve.’ Asgard, home of the Aesir. Indo-European: Of or relating to a family of languages Thralls: Serfs, peasants. including most of those spoken in Europe and many parts Thurses: Giants. of S.W. Asia and India. Turko-Altaic: see ’Altaic.’ Irminsul: Saxon world tree, or pillar, separating heaven and earth. Vanir: Older race of gods, rulers of Vanaheim. Jarls: Nobles, kings, holy men. Vedic: Of or relating to the Vedas—any of the four books of the ancient Hindu scripture. Karls: Land owners, farmers, warriors. Vili and Vé: Brothers, perhaps aspects of Odin. Together Lodur: See ‘Vili and Ve.’ these three created the earth and the first humans. Loki: God who essentially represents the forces of chaos. Wights: ‘Supernatural’ beings—i.e. elves, faires, nature Midgard: Middle earth, Earth. Home of mankind. spirits, etc. Muspellheim: Muspell. ‘World’ of fire. Yggdrasil: World tree supporting the 9 ‘worlds.’

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