Mother's Day is for most people a happy day in which they honor their mother with flowers, gifts, and a day full of laughter and wonderful memories old, and newly made . My mother passed away 7 years ago after a decade long battle with the disease M.S., which slowly took away her mobility and her will to live. It was horrifying to watch as that terrible disease slowly ate away at her body, her mind and her spirit. She fought as hard as any warrior written about in the Eddas, but some battles just are not meant to be won.
Those nightmarish years are starting to fade now from my memory, and the remaining memories I have of her are wonderful moments that were captured in time, and stored in my heart. I will never forget her smile, the juicy fruit gum she always carried in her purse, or her perfume. Most of all I will remember her for the generous amounts of love and forgiveness she had in her heart for my brother and I no matter how stupid we acted, or how many things we did wrong. She was a wonderful person who only received half the life she deserved.
That is why on Mother's Day I will honor her memory with two heartfelt rituals. In the morning I will go up to my mother's grave and perform a short ceremony there for her. The main ritual for my mother I hold on my ancestor's altar, ( which I have pictures of on my facebook page The Temple of the Triad ), which is loaded with pictures and personal items that belonged to her, along with items from other ancestors. I spend quite a bit of time before the ritual looking through old photo albums reconnecting with those wonderful moments that we shared together. And these pictures help one's memory, because no matter how much you loved someone, and how much you think you remember about them, these pictures bring back not only the moment that they were snapped, but also the moments that surrounded it. Occasionally, I can even remember the entire day that it was taken, and that is truly wonderful. I light candles that give off a lilac scent because that was her favorite, and also pour some lilac potpourri into a scrying bowl in her honor. What I say during the ritual is very personal, and not to be shared here. I will tell you however, that I toast her not with mead or ale, but with a daiquiri. That was her drink of choice. My mother was a wonderful person and to borrow a phrase from Stan Lee, " Nuff Said".
After I finish the ritual for my mother I wait a little while, and then get my altar for All - Mother Frigga ready, to honor Her. ( Pictures of this altar are also on my "Temple of the Triad", Facebook page ). Mother Frigga is one of the most wonderful of the Gods or Goddesses to honor. She is acessible, warm, and very comforting to invoke. Mother Frigga is never intimidating, and I have never felt anger from Her. She has a quiet wisdom, that she can impart to you with just a smile, or a nod. I think she is fantastic !
When raising my horn to the Great Lady, I usually fill my horn with wine. Unfortunately, I do not have an answer as to why. It just feels right to do so ! I sing her praises in toast after toast for all she does, and has done for us, over untold generations. I thank her especially for taking care of the little ones who are taken from us before it is their time. In the warm embrace of Mother Frigga they suffer no longer, and can be happy in an eternity of childhood. I say much more than this of course during the ritual, but I do not share personal things that I say to the Gods and Goddesses. I think that it is enough to say that what I say comes from my heart !
Mother's Day will, until the day that I die, be a day of quiet sadness, and of happy memories. A day to honor the life of a wonderful woman, and a day to honor a brave womans death. A day to honor a Goddess who is the benchmark for all mothers, and the guardian of the children who died too young. It is a day of smiles, and of tears. A day of regrets, and a day of apologies. It is most of all a day to honor those who honored us with the gift of life...... mothers !!!!
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
Those nightmarish years are starting to fade now from my memory, and the remaining memories I have of her are wonderful moments that were captured in time, and stored in my heart. I will never forget her smile, the juicy fruit gum she always carried in her purse, or her perfume. Most of all I will remember her for the generous amounts of love and forgiveness she had in her heart for my brother and I no matter how stupid we acted, or how many things we did wrong. She was a wonderful person who only received half the life she deserved.
That is why on Mother's Day I will honor her memory with two heartfelt rituals. In the morning I will go up to my mother's grave and perform a short ceremony there for her. The main ritual for my mother I hold on my ancestor's altar, ( which I have pictures of on my facebook page The Temple of the Triad ), which is loaded with pictures and personal items that belonged to her, along with items from other ancestors. I spend quite a bit of time before the ritual looking through old photo albums reconnecting with those wonderful moments that we shared together. And these pictures help one's memory, because no matter how much you loved someone, and how much you think you remember about them, these pictures bring back not only the moment that they were snapped, but also the moments that surrounded it. Occasionally, I can even remember the entire day that it was taken, and that is truly wonderful. I light candles that give off a lilac scent because that was her favorite, and also pour some lilac potpourri into a scrying bowl in her honor. What I say during the ritual is very personal, and not to be shared here. I will tell you however, that I toast her not with mead or ale, but with a daiquiri. That was her drink of choice. My mother was a wonderful person and to borrow a phrase from Stan Lee, " Nuff Said".
After I finish the ritual for my mother I wait a little while, and then get my altar for All - Mother Frigga ready, to honor Her. ( Pictures of this altar are also on my "Temple of the Triad", Facebook page ). Mother Frigga is one of the most wonderful of the Gods or Goddesses to honor. She is acessible, warm, and very comforting to invoke. Mother Frigga is never intimidating, and I have never felt anger from Her. She has a quiet wisdom, that she can impart to you with just a smile, or a nod. I think she is fantastic !
When raising my horn to the Great Lady, I usually fill my horn with wine. Unfortunately, I do not have an answer as to why. It just feels right to do so ! I sing her praises in toast after toast for all she does, and has done for us, over untold generations. I thank her especially for taking care of the little ones who are taken from us before it is their time. In the warm embrace of Mother Frigga they suffer no longer, and can be happy in an eternity of childhood. I say much more than this of course during the ritual, but I do not share personal things that I say to the Gods and Goddesses. I think that it is enough to say that what I say comes from my heart !
Mother's Day will, until the day that I die, be a day of quiet sadness, and of happy memories. A day to honor the life of a wonderful woman, and a day to honor a brave womans death. A day to honor a Goddess who is the benchmark for all mothers, and the guardian of the children who died too young. It is a day of smiles, and of tears. A day of regrets, and a day of apologies. It is most of all a day to honor those who honored us with the gift of life...... mothers !!!!
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
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