please Join me

All Hail Idunna!

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:53:00 -0600

I leave tomorrow for Winter Witch Camp where we will be celebrating sweet Idunna and Pome Magic. I am mostly packed and ready to go. Excitement is filling the air as the Snow Ponies cover the landscape in deeper and deeper layers of white.

I will report back when I get back home. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the three Visual Blessings we will be using at camp.

May we all dare to dwell in beauty, balance and delight.

Happy Bridget’s Day

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:49:12 -0600

It is that glorious time of year. Bridget’s Light calls Sunna higher into the sky. The poetry of life slowly emerges from slumbering deep within their earthen beds beneath the snow and ice.

Anne Hill has announced the fifth annual online poetry festival in honour of Brighid.

Debra Oak invites us to:

“Feel free to copy the following to your blog/facebook/website and spread the word. Let poetry bless the blogosphere once again!

WHAT: A Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading

WHEN: Anytime February 2, 2010

WHERE: Your blog

WHY: To celebrate the Feast of Brigid, aka Groundhog Day

HOW: Select a poem you like - by a favorite poet or one of your own - to post February 2nd.

RSVP: If you plan to publish, feel free to leave a comment and link on this post. Last year when the call went out there was more poetry in cyberspace than I could keep track of. So, link to whoever you hear about this from and a mighty web of poetry will be spun.   I also invite you to join this great event. Let us weave a web of poetry. Let us honor Bridget. Let us delight in the power of our words transforming our lives and the world.

Please leave a link on the ‘comments’ of my blog site to your poem/s.

May abundance and joy fill our lives full to overflowing!”

Please leave a link on my blog site too!

Blessings of Idun

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 14:52:50 -0600

The Winter Witch Camp Teaching Team is working and playing with a wonderful group of Mysterious Ones this year. To help folks to stay in the loop with what we are thinking and feeling we offer the following materials. I do hope will join us this coming February.

Idunna’s Ongoing Story

An Introduction

As with so many giddens, Idunna has many names. A few of her favorite names are: Idunna, Iduna, Idun, Idhunna, Idunn, Ydun, She Who Renews, The Ever Young, The Rejuvenator, The Orchardist, Beloved of the Poet, The Tongue of Magic, The Apple Blessed, The Healing Pear and Bee Sister.

Iduna is a gidden of pomes (apples, pears and quinces), both domestic and wild. She is also a gidden of orchards, horticulture, needlework, renewal, longevity, health, the never-ending spiral of the seasons, stable nurturing marriage, curiosity, intellectual pursuit, yoking and other magical song skills. Ydun celebrates and delights in all humans who dare to consciously live in their full power, brilliance and creativity.

Idun often appears as a dark haired, dark eyed beauty, with a sturdy athletic build. It is said that she prefers to wear brightly colored comfortable and well made clothes. Idhunna often keeps her hair tightly braided and wound around her head in order to keep her incredibly long tresses out of her way as she works. The Orchardist keeps a pair of Felco pruners with her wherever she goes. Her hands may be stained and a bit rough from working in the rich dirt of her wild and domestic orchards and gardens, yet Idunna’s touch can be as tender as a newly opened apple blossom. Bees are often be found dancing in circles around this Woman of Power while she yokes the pomes and her other beloved green-bloods.

Idun’s Early Years

Ydun was born of the Wild Apple Dreams of Kazakhstan. Some say that her mother is the Primal Apple Mother from whom Idun sprang on the first blooming of the first apple blossom. It is also said that The Apple Blessed is related by blood and imagination to the Dark Elves and to Njord’s ‘older brood’, his first born children. The Dark Elves have publicly declared Idun their ‘Daughter’. It was also the Dark Elves that gave Idunna her ‘First’ name. Some say that Ydun is a half-sister to Freyr and Freya. In other words, Idun is half of the Vanir and half of the Wild Apple Dreams. All in all, it is safe to say, that Idunna’s kin dwell throughout the full growing range of the Pome Family.

Idun spent her childhood in the Apple Forests of Kazakhstan learning and singing, working and dancing, laughing and crying with the many other sacred children of the Pome People. In those sacred forests, she learned the sacred arts of the voice; the seven sacred voices, the singing of the essences of all beings, the songs of shaping-with (co-creation), the blessing songs of healing, the singing of the sun, stars and moon into the sky, the songs of love and compassion, the songs of transformation and power, the songs of mating, the songs of the birthing hut and the songs of dying. Idun learned the sacred arts of the orchard and garden, both domestic and wild. She learned the magical charms of herbs and fruits. Ydun became a master horticulturalist and devotee of the green-bloods. Idunna also learned the sacred arts of the horse and rider . She learned to become one with all of the Equus folk. Idun learned to breath in the breath, beat with the blood and dance in the rhythm of Horse Magic. Idunna also studied the deep arts and magics of the Bee. She learned to read the honey volumes on the shelves of the Honey Library. Idun learned to dream the Honey Dreams of the Hive and to follow the Honey Roads in both the light of the Sun and the light of the Moon. The Rejuvenator as well, learned the magic of the womb, of the Moon and the power to give and take life. She learned the mysteries of women's ways of regeneration, of continuity, of fertility and of the Primal Mother Giddens. Iduna came to fully understand the magics inherent in the cycle of beingness; copulating, imagining, birthing, maturing, dying, etc. Ydun learned the divine pleasures of women loving women. And at the end of her studies, Idhunna was declared a maestro of the Great Mystery, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.

Idunna’s Travels

Not many seasons after Idun had been thoroughly trained by her beloved clan elders and teachers, she decided to visit her godparents and other kin in the Far North of Midgard. Along the way, Idhunna planned to study the wild and domestic pome orchards that grew in those far lands.

One late Autumn morning, after helping her family with the last of the year’s apple harvest, Idunna gathered baskets of magical apples and bags of sacred apple, quince and pear seeds. She packed two of her beloved horses with these bundles along with other travel gear. Idun then went to her clan hall and bid her hearth-clan a fond farewell, reassuring them that she would send word back regularly through the Bees. Ydun’s clan blessed her and sent other blessing with her to be delivered to their kin in the Far North. On her way out of the clan hall, Idunna gathered her drum and her lute, loaded them with her other gear and was on her way.

Ydun, while traveling through the rich lands surrounding Lake Ladoga visiting the Wild Fruit Communities that thrived there, met the great love of her life, the beautiful poet Bragi. From their first kiss under an apple tree filled with the ripe Fruit of Promise, they knew that they would intricately weaving their lives together. Right then and there they named themselves beloved spouses, devoted feres and adventurous partners of beauty and abundance. Idunn and Bragi eventually decided to set up their primary home and gardens within the walls of Asgard. It was in this new home that Idunna’s Folks gathered with Bragi’s Folks to celebrate and honor their marriage. It was in this new home, that Idun planted her sacred pome seeds to grow another sacred orchard of golden apples, ruby pears and yellow quince.

Though Bragi and Iduna have moved beyond their original home and gardens, their great love for each other continues to flourish wherever they choose to name home. Their love fills all of the Worlds with horticultural blessings, with lush abundance and plenty, with deeply stirring song and poetry, with exuberant beauty and rampant joy.

The Kidnapping

How Loki Put the Gods in Danger
(One of the Stories)
http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=colum&book=odin&story=danger

There are many stories circulating about the ‘Kidnapping of Iduna’. As we all know, every witness to any event has their own version of what ‘actually’ happened. It is very often quite hard indeed, for any of us to synthesize the accounts of any happening into a coherent narrative. That being said, let us look at some of the main characters involved with this event.

Some say that Loki was a handsome trickster whose aim was to reawaken the Gods to the proper balance of life, death and rebirth. Some say that he was a living example of a cloying manipulator who makes one bad decision after another who was caught in a never ending cycle of avoiding the consequences of his choices. Some say that Loki was the embodiment of what we call today the "border-line personality". Some say that he is a feral child of the Giants, injected into a world that never wanted him, in which he can only respond with self-referential behaviors. Some ask, “Was Loki simply a tool of Multiversal Change?”

Other questions of import around this event have emerged. Why did Asgard turn it’s back on the natural cycles of life, death and rebirth? Did they think they were beyond the one constant of the multiverse? Did they think that Change had no purchase upon their lives? Did they think that they had an inherent right to eternal unchanging health and vitality?

What was Idunna’s role in the ‘Kidnapping’? Was Idun the helpless victim, as she is so often portrayed? Was Idunna a woman and a gidden in her full power and understanding, who never once allowed the control of the apples to be transferred to another? Was she a foolish young wife, whose trusting naivety led her into captivity and her clan into danger? Did Ydun have another agenda entirely that has been clouded over by years of misinformation?

And what about Thjazi? Some say he was only a vicious barbarian. Some say he is actual kin to Idunna and was hosting a clan member’s visit. Some say that Thjazi’s greed controlled his heart and mind. Others say that his cosmic nature demanded that the balance of the cycle of life, death and rebirth, thrown off by the Aesir, had to be restored. Some say that his death was yet one more stroke by the domesticated to the Heart of the Wild. Some wonder if Thjazi has been reborn into our time to again remind us of the balances of the multiverse now being shattered by our own choices?

What are the lessons still to be learned from this ‘Kidnapping’? What are the joys that are emerging as we reclaim our power to live balanced lives of abundance and beauty while embracing Eternal Change?

Afterwards

After all of these years, how are Idunna, Bragi, Loki and the rest of the players moving into the twenty first century?

Idhunna continues to remember the deep teachings that she received during her ‘Kidnapping’. Idun is still growing into a deeper understanding of the teachings of her childhood, such as, all beings (Mysterious Ones and otherwise) must change, grow and die. Idun has still never tired of reminding us all, that the apples are not tools to be used in the feeding of an endless insatiable hunger for immortality, but rather a gift from the Heart of Change. She continues to hold her sacred pomes as fruit of healing and restoration that are freely available to all who embrace the mysteries of living a fully engaged life.

Both Bragi and Iduna have come together in their current understanding of Loki’s rude behaviors throughout his years of association with Asgard. They have come to see Loki’s behavior as a wake up call for the whole of the People, (Mysterious Ones and otherwise). No matter how noble, how clever, how creative, how honorable, how right thinking a group is, when that group becomes totally self-referential, that group simply devolves into a standard cult and disconnects itself from the heart of loving compassion and the simple delights of living fully engaged with the whole of the Cosmos. Such a group soon petrifies into a sad parody of itself.

Idun and Bragi both wish Loki well in his new studies in the Halls of Healing. They pray that as he learns to heal others, Loki will dare to also choose healing for himself.

Ydun, Bragi and many more of the Mysterious Ones are continuing to joyfully and shamelessly embrace this central mystery, ‘The only constant of the Multiverse is Change.’ And through this practice, more and more Folks are committing themselves to the emerging Cultures of Beauty, Balance and Delight.

Idunna spends much of her time these days inspecting and nurturing the wild and domestic pomes (apples, pears, quince, etc.) growing throughout Midgard. She has been see walking through farmers’ markets around the world, secretly blessing not only apples and pears, but also all other types of fruit and it’s growers as well. It has been said that if one looks at a display of fruit with one’s Witch’s Eye one can see Idun’s glowing mark on the skin of those fruit filled with her blessing. It is also said that if a human takes even one bite of Idunn’s blessed fruit, healing will flood throughout its body.

Iduna keeps close touch with the Horse and Bee peoples. She, Epona and the Melissa often share a pot of tea together while discussing the ways of the Worlds and the welfare of Pomes, Horses and Bees.

As has been mentioned, Ydun is one of the Mysterious Ones who are quite devoted to the emerging Cultures of Beauty, Balance and Delight. She keeps apace with all horticultural aspects of this new culture, inspiring and encouraging all devotees of the Green-bloods with sprouting innovation and sweet scented dreams.

Messages from Idunna, Samhain, 2009

“The Apples have a life of their own. No one owns the Apples. They invite you into a compassionate relationship with them. Let me remind you, there will always be Apples. There would still be Apples even if all of us, Mysterious One and human, should disappear tomorrow morning. Apple beingness is certainly not dependent on human existence. The Apples know that they are an essential part of the fabric of life. Like us, they are not just weavers of life alone, but of the fabric itself. We are all the shapers and that which is shaped. We are all the makers and the made. We are all the generators and the generated. We are all the weavers and the weave. Will the humans remember this mystery soon? We hope so.”

The Pomes/Apples and Idun shape-with (co-create) the magics that imbue The Golden Apples of Life (Power, Life, Youth?) We are invited to taste this magic, not to steal it.

Death can be the taste of strength/power/change that the Apples offer us.

The Pomes are the fruits of the only multiversal constant, eternal change.

Other Important Information About Idunna.

Celebrations

Bragi throws a hugh birthday party for Idunna on the second full moon after the Spring Equinox.

Idun and Bragi renew their vows on the second first quarter moon after the Autumnal Equinox.

When the first apples, pears or quinces bloom in your region, it is a good time to celebrate the Apple Blessing, offering a cup of hard cider and a slice of apple cake to Idun and all of the Apple Peoples.

In the middle of your region’s apple harvest, it is time to host an Apple Harvest Feast featuring as many apple dishes as you can manage.

Idun holds a special place in Her heart for:
Apples, quinces and pears
Ancient, well maintained orchards
Lush, rich gardens of lavish bounty
Beautiful well designed functional tools
Permaculture
All pollinators
Beautiful, lovingly tended homesteads
The arts of fine cooking and brewing
Pie
Emeralds, chrysoprase, pearls, jet, amber, brown diamonds, yellow topaz and green sapphires
Motorcycles and work trucks
Gentle weather
Poetry readings
Healthy, vital beings who dare to fully and shamelessly live their own authentic lives
The fabric arts, particularly embroidery
Comfortable, well designed beautiful clothing
Sensible shoes
Dancing through the night until dawn
Human communities who cherish and actively nourish compassion and beauty
Abundance and plenty for all

Among others, Ydun is a Friend to the following clans:
The Clan of the Dark Elves
The Lodge of the Living Dirt
The Ancient Order of Orchardists
The Apple Clan
The Quince Clan
The Pear Clan
The Horse Clan
The Flight of the Butterfly
The Clan of the Honeybee
The Rose Clan
The Hummingbird Charm
The Clan of the Healing Drums
The Clan of the Caduceus
The Pie Clan
The Clan of the Human Being
The Yoikar’s Exaltation
The Needleworkers’ Guild
The Pride of Poetry
The Lute Guild

Happy New Year 2010 !

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:04:01 -0600

The First Full Moon
Donald L. Engstrom-Reese
December 31, 2009 - January 1, 2010

The last full Moon,
Is the first full Moon.

A Blue Moon shines shamelessly on an axis of change,
A point of fractal formation,
A dream of restoration.

A zephyr breathes messages of courage and consequences,
Softly stroking the ears of all who dare to hear.

A new transient marker takes shape on the Ocean of Time.

This night,
This face of this full Moon
Is called upon to witness
The wonders of what was, what is and what may be.

Choices are becoming plain to all who open their eyes
And then ...
Open them once again.

The last full Moon,
Is the first full Moon.

The determination of the awakening peoples,
Ripples across the surface of the Waters of Rebirth

Their willpower and resolve
Rustle the grasses growing on the restless Shores of Evolution.

A renaissance is undulating through tattered gardens
Of despair and venomous kisses.

The compost has been turned.
Rot has transformed trash into blessing.

The leaves of Yggdrasil sing out in response,
Not in hope,
But in the knowledge that it is time,
The Fruits of Regeneration are ready to harvest.

We need only grasp our lovers’ hands,
And choose to swirl and spin to the Rhythms of Multiversal Change.

Let us dance together under this Blue Moon,
Toasting our choices to live in joy,
Toasting our choices to live in beauty,
Toasting our choices to live alive, awake and aware!

Let us always remember,
That the last full Moon
Is the first full Moon.

A Midwinter Visit at the Roadhouse of the Dead

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:51:13 -0600

This year I decided to go to the Roadhouse of the Dead for a Winter Solstice visit. I had only visited the Roadhouse during the Halloween and May Day holidays. It came to me this late November, that it would be a good thing to visit that wonderful place on other high holidays throughout the year.

I invite you to read about my most amazing Winter Solstice Party to date.

Visiting the Wyrd

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:35:29 -0600

A Brief Exploration of the Wyrd with Donald Engstrom-Reese

You are invited to join Donald Engstrom-Reese and other members of the Twin Cities Reclaiming community to begin an exploration of the wyrd, time and choice, informed by the worldviews of our Northern European ancestors. Donald and other Reclaimers will also present a brief overview of the 8th annual Winter Witch Camp in western Wisconsin and will try to answer any questions that you may have about the Reclaiming Tradition.

Donaldʼs bio: I describe myself as an artist, gardener, Heathen and Witch. I have been consciously involved with Mystery and the Spirit Peoples for over thirty years. My roots spring from the balance between the wild and the domestic, art, gardening, Queer Spirit, Hedge Witchery, runes, hiking, deep dreaming, shamanic visioning, cooking, clan-hold magics and the exploration of the sacred realms of sex and pleasure. I am committed to the building and nurturance of the emerging Cultures of Beauty, Balance and Delight. I suspect that it is high time that we choose to take on the continual acts of creation needed to build these sustainable ways of life. I know in my bones and blood, that we all have the power to bring these emerging cultures into our daily lives. I also know that we are all Shapers-with (Co-creators) of the Multiverse. I am no longer willing to wait for some nebulous future revolution to begin to live a life fully awake, aware and rooted in the Earth, embracing pleasure, love and wonder.

In short, after all of these years of spirit work, I only, truly know these two things;
Change is the only constant in the Multiverse.
Love and compassion are central to everything.

Information

Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: Eye of Horus Bookstore
2717 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN

Our Winter Solstice Dinner

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:51:55 -0600

Mark and I celebrated the rebirth of the Sun with a grand Winter Solstice Dinner.

First we decanted the cherry vodka we laid up in July just for Winter Solstice night. Its beautiful color, scent and taste perfectly held the last year’s Summer Sun. The first taste was a toast in honor of that old Sun. The second toast was to the health and happiness of the new born Sol. The third toast was to our love for each other.

We then began to cook our dinner. We had scallops wrapped in bacon, braised brussels sprouts with onions and mushroom, delicate long grain rice, a pear/squash sauce and Champaign. We again toasted ourselves, our hearth-clan, and our Good Green Earth. With each delicious bite we thanked the Multiverse for the Wonder of It All.

By the time we had eaten our last freshly baked chocolate chip cooky, we knew our spell had been set. We knew that we had renewed our deep power to choose to live in joy and beauty no matter what weather may come our way this next year of 2010.

May we all dare to shamelessly live lives of beauty, balance and delight.

Bless the Bees!
Bless the Bears!
Bless the Cherry Trees!

Geomantic Prayer Beads

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:10:22 -0600

It always delights me to the core to see how Folks manifest into Midgard, new inspirations from Mystery. Here is a wonderful new expression of Pagan Prayer Beads brought to us buy our dear Reyasdottir. I encourage you to spend some time with Reya’s Geomantic Prayer Beads and feel the power that they offer to us. What sites in your own home area belong on your Geomantic Prayer Beads? I am looking forward to seeing how this new form of prayer beads will be interpreted by others.

May we all dare to claim our inherent right to thrive in beauty.

Happy Yule!

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:02:44 -0600

May this season fill us all with wonder and delight.

Bless the Bees!
Bless the Bears!
Bless the Living Heart of Midgard!