Tales Of The Old Norse Gods And Heroes Formerly An Independent Asatru
Live With Odin's Wisdom, Freyja' s love, and Thor's protection !
  • Blog
  • Ravensheart's Poems ( 1-434 )
  • Ravensheart's Poems ( 435-? )
  • Ravensheart' s Fiction ( 1-80 )
  • Ravensheart's Fiction ( 81-? )

Feast Of The Hunters

11/23/2011

 
I originally celebrated this as the Feast of Ullr, but the last few years I added the great ski huntress Skadhi to the celebration and ritual. Skadhi and I have one thing very much in common, we both hate the sea shore. In my younger days I hiked 1, 800 miles of the Appalachian trail, and climbed mountains so I feel that she, and I have similar tastes in the environments we feel comfortable in . I am also fair skinned, as most Scandinavians are, and burn to a crisp on a beach. The other reason I added Skadhi is that Freyja has given me the "hint" over the years that She feels that the Goddesses are short - changed here in Midgard compared to the male Gods. My rituals and articles tend to over - compensate for this shortfall. Skadhi, however, does not need me to promote her deeds. She is a warrior supreme who does not even fear the mighty Gods of Asgard. After the Gods killed her father, Thjazi, the Eddas recount her actions this way : " Skadhi then took up helmet, byrnie, and all weapons of war to avenge the death of her father Thjazi. " Either out of fear, or respect for her brave actions, the Gods offered her compensation instead of battle. If the Gods and Goddesses honor Her with the utmost respect, than how could I possibly not include Her in my Feast of the Hunters ?!  I noticed recently on - line that others have also combined the two great hunters into one ritual, though they hold their ritual, and feast, at the beginning of the New Year. To each their own.   

Ullr is the son of Golden - Haired Sif, and the step - son of Thor. This great bow hunter lives in Ydalir, and it is upon his ring that warriors place their oaths upon. He is a great warrior as well, and fully deserves to be honored in any ritual that honors great warrior - hunters.

The main objective of the ritual, which of course is held before the feast, is to seek blessings for any weapons that are used for hunting. These weapons once blessed by the two great hunting Gods will then be more sucessful in the winters upcoming hunting season. This ritual is also used to ask for personal success in our lives. Life really is a little like a hunt. We find what we want ( the prey ), we track it down ( examine different paths in life to this end ), we target the game ( a career or goal ), and then we shoot for it, and make the prize ours. I ask more for personal success because I am not a hunter. In a modern world I personally do not need to kill animals to feed myself, and to kill for sport seems against the natural laws of our world, that govern the balance of nature. Besides, I do not believe that Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson, my mentor, would approve of killing wildlife for sport. 

For the ritual I place every weapon I have. Don't worry none of mine are sharpened ! They are, however, museum replicas, and therefore very authentic. These include three swords, a dirk, a seax, a Danish axe, two spears, ( I cross them ), and a shield. In front of the altar I place a simple bow to represent the two great archer - hunters I am honoring. When I am speaking to the great archer Gods I hold up the bow in their honor   On the back of the altar I place a beautiful picture of a deer, to represent the hunters game, that I took while hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I don't only ask these great God to bless my weapons, and maybe give me a little success, but also thank them for the wild game animals that inhabit our forests, and ask them to protect them from  disease, and over - hunting, so that future generations can enjoy their splendor, and if it is their desire, a really good hunt. I also take this opportunity to ask Skadhi and Ullr to help those who do not have enough to eat . For in a modern world  no  one should have to go hungry ! Remember to use your own words ! The Gods and Goddesses do not want to hear you repeat something that you read in a book. Say it from your heart and the Gods and Goddesses will be truly honored.   

The feast that takes place afterwards should reflect the wild hunt as well. If wild game is available, such as deer, duck, geese pheasant, grouse, or rabbit it should be placed on the table with other foods that are found in the forest such as berries, mushrooms, wild onions, etc.... DO NOT PICK WILD MUSHROOMS YOURSELF ! Go to a store and buy them. Many mushroom species look very similar, but are very poisonous. Mead, or ale should be available of course as well for the feast. And it is expected that you will invite Skadhi and Ullr, so put out a plate for each of them as well. 

I love rituals that are followed by a huge feast. While the ritual enriches your soul as well as honors our great deities, the wild game of the feast brightens our spirits, and gives us a commonality with our ancestors, and our Gods and Goddesses. The wild hunt is in our blood, and has been passed down from the earliest men to walk in Scandinavia to the present day modern hunter. The Gods and Goddesses, represented well by Skadhi and Ullr, show us that we have one more thing in common with our great deities, the wild hunt.     

Hail Great Ski Huntress Skadhi !
Hail Great Archer - Hunter Ullr !

Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !          
OrderInTheQuartz link
11/22/2011 11:22:05 pm

Very beautiful. I really love this ritual idea.

Glenn
11/23/2011 07:15:03 am

Despite what the Christians think and say about our religion our rituals are beautiful and convey a positive vibe for our Heathen "holidays" and festivals. Every year my Christian friends give me crap about not celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. I just look them right in the eyes and tell that our Yule celebrations, Feast of the Hunters, and Spring Equinox celebrations are just as wonderful as anything they have ! And of course we do not commercialize it as they do ! Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and pilgrims ? Yeah, lot of religious meaning in all that ! I guess they have also forgotten that the pilgrims were just the beginning of a long line of intruders that committed genocide against the indigenous peoples of North America. And they say we are crazy ! I don't think so !

- Glenn


Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.