|
Mother-Night
Evan McCallum
The place of the ritual should have an altar near the north of the area, and a Yule tree decorated for the season. Beyond the altar hang a banner of the Odin rune in black cloth with silver or gold markings. Place a rune-banner for Freya to one side of the Odin rune and one for Thor to the other side. (Suitable images representing the three Deities may replace the banners.) Decorate all banners (or images) and the entire ceremonial area festively, for Yule.
Those who follow the Old Ways may want to decorate the Yule tree to reflect Yggdrasil, the World Tree. To do so, trim the tree as usual, but with particularly Norse features such as an eagle on top (representing Odin as giver of wisdom and victory). A little below the base of the tree, put a cave with the Earth Dragon, images of the three Norns, a pool (a mirror will do) and a cauldron. Stags may be in the snow about the base of the tree, and squirrels in the branches. A manger scene is also appropriate (placed in straw against the trunk of the tree) with Mother Frigga and the newborn Child of Promise, along with domestic animals. Three male wanderers (representing Odin, Thor and Loki) may bring gifts to Frigga's Sacred Child. Valkyries on the backs of winged horses may be in the higher branches, with winged female figures (representing Valkyries, also called Swan Maidens). Place many stars and lights in and around the tree.
On the altar should be harness bells and seasonal decorations, an incense brazier, a sword or dagger and a drinking horn in its center. Have a jug of mead or ale available beneath or beside the altar. Have a twig or small bundle of leaves as an aspergillum, to sprinkle the mead for consecration. You may want to have copies of the rite for the participants. If possible, each participant should have a part. Have a wassail bowl of eggnog for the celebration after the rite.
Light the ritual area only with fire. Have candles or torches on or beside the altar, to be lit during the ceremony. Place one at each Quarter and before each rune-banner. Before beginning, light a small taper on the altar in order to light the other candles or torches and to aid reading. When using altar candles, there should be many red and green ones.
If using banners or standards to symbolize the gods and goddesses of Valhalla, or heroes of the people, place them about the edge of the ritual area. Seasonal carols (particularly those of pagan origin) are appropriate background music. If possible, assemble songbooks of pagan Yule carols and modern songs. If available, a bull's horn or other appropriate musical instrument should signal the start of the rite.
Besides the Godi (Priest), it is best that a Godia (Priestess) lead the ritual. If a woman of the Folk is not available, place flowers before the banner of Freya, and the Godi (or any other) may speak the words of the Godia.
When all is in readiness, assemble the folk. (If there is room, the Godi and Godia may lead a Procession of Honor, ending before the altar.) The Godi lights the candles or torches beside the altar.
Opening
When ready, sound the summoning horn (if used) and assemble the folk. After a silence of twenty-five heartbeats, the Godi rings the harness bells and says:
O Great Odin, Azure-Cloaked Wanderer from the far, ancient lands of our people, Lord of the Shining Ones who do protect our land, our folk and our families, we call to Thee to be with us here. We call to Thee across all of time and all the worlds of the gods. Your people are still here, O Wise One. Come to us again, and give us to drink of Thy cauldron of life and of inspiration that we may prosper once again. Come to us now and be with us here to celebrate this joyous season! Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
Godia:
O Leader of the Wind-Riders, You who weave fates and destinies and before whose magicks men and gods do bow, co-ruler with our great Valfather, Odin of the shining Lands of the Gods, we call on Thee, O Freya the Fair One! Be with us here in this rite to celebrate this joyous season! Hail Freya!
All:
Hail Freya!
Godi:
O red bearded thunderer, friend and protector of our people, laughing and hearty, generous and good, we call on Thee, O mighty Thor! Be with us here in this rite to celebrate this joyous season! Hail Thor!
All:
Hail Thor!
Calling the Far Realms
The Godi calls for a period of silence of at least thirteen heartbeats, as all put themselves in a calm and meditative state. Godi then says:
Great Odin, we do now work this rite in Your honor. Be with us here, we do ask.
Godia:
O fair and magical Freya, we do now work this rite in Your honor. Be with us here, we do ask.
Godi:
Strong and sturdy Thor, we do now work this rite in Your honor. Be with us here, we do ask.
Godia (or other so chosen) turns briefly to the East and salutes, saying:
O winds of the East, blow soft, cool, and sweet upon our people. Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
Godi (or other so chosen) turns briefly to the South and gives salute, saying:
O Warm sun of the South, shine brightly upon our people. Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
Godia (or other so chosen) turns briefly to the West and salutes, saying:
O blue waters of the West, flow cool and giving of life for our people. Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
Godi (or other so chosen) turns briefly to the North and salutes saying:
O lands of the North, give rich crops and calm souls to our people. Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
The Blot Rite
The Godi fills the drinking horn from the jug of mead, then hold it for the Godia. She takes the dagger and touches the point to the mead, saying:
Great Odin, accept this as sacrifice in honor of You, in honor of our gods, and in honor of ourselves. Place Your blessing within, so that we may draw upon your wisdom, that your folk may prosper and gain victory in all that they do. Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
Godia puts down the dagger, and half fills the Blot-Bowl. She takes the bowl and dips the aspergillum into the mead, and briefly sprinkles each of the worshipers (this may be symbolic when it might damage delicate clothing), saying:
You are blessed in the Name of Odin.
When all have been blessed, the Godi takes the bowl and aspergillum and similarly blesses the Godia. Then he replaces all upon the altar, turns to those present and says:
At this time, as in times far past, are those of us who follow the Old Ones blessed and consecrated in their sacred presence. May the strength, power, magick and wisdom, the courage and the steadfastness of the gods themselves remain forever within each of us. Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
Runes of the Mother Night
After a pause of 25 heartbeats, sound the ceremonial horn (if used). The Godi (or other so chosen) rings the harness-bell and says:
This is the season of the Newborn God, and of hope born anew. The lady of the skies is his mother, and the one who builds the world is his father.
Watcher of the East:
All animals and all magickal creatures at this time come in pilgrimage from across this Mid-Earth to honor the Mother, the Allfather and the Sacred Child.
Watcher of the West:
At this time and in this place must we be thankful for family, for friends and for our good people, and for the fine gifts of the season.
Hail to the Blessed Mother!
All:
Hail to the Blessed Mother!
Watcher of the West:
Hail to the God-Child of Promise!
All:
Hail to the God-Child of Promise!
Honoring the Mothers
Sound the bull's horn (if used). After a pause of 25 heartbeats, the Godia says:
At this time and at this place we dedicate this ceremony to Frigga, the Goddess of fertility, birth and devotion to children. As a devoted mother, She tried to protect Her son, Balder. Failing, She gave us Her total effort to return him from the dead. As fate decreed, Balder returned from Hel-heim after Ragnarok, to lead the Aesir and those of Midgard in a world cleansed and new. We at this time have the task of being our own Balder and our own Heimdal to lead our own people forward. Let it be known that each Odinist woman who does conceive and bear a child could be the Frigga of a Great One to come!
Godi:
In ancient times across our lands, the beginning of a new year was, symbolically, the birth of a new child, for the new year is a fresh, new time of opportunity and promise. The old year was seen as the chief of the Old Gods of eons far past, come to carry of the old and outworn to the lands beyond the sunset.
Godia:
Let us re-establish our own days of worship and of celebration. Let us return to our old ways, bringing Honor and respect to our High Gods! At this time we look to the future and verily, the future mirrors the past!
Godi:
Very soon shall come the first day of the New Year. On this night we honor those who made tomorrow possible, the mothers. For human life without mothers is impossible. Those women who have become mothers have created the basis of all future life of our people. Their children, and their children's children, shall be sages and heroes, farmers and workers. They shall carry our folk beyond the farthest stars.
Only women have the ability to procreate, protect and nurture human life. Men assist the function of procreation, and their egos must be nurtured so that they fulfill their role. Yet for the final guiding hand, the mother leads the way.
Know Ye well that men and women have different roles in the story of life. Each has an indispensable place in society. Women build the family, while men provide for and protect the family. And men cooperate with other men to protect the greater family. Each with the other can interchange somewhat their callings, if necessary. Yet they are not alike enough for "egality"* to have any meaning.
Men cannot have babies, and in the main, women do not make good warriors. And verily, their manner of thought differs. Both are uniquely fitted to their own special place in the world, and in the society of our people.
Godia:
In ancient times, the women held the keys to the household. They managed the household stores to assure that there was enough food and clothing for the future. They succored their babies and taught them the first lessons of character. All learned the foundations of their lives from the mothers. Though we may not remember, our attitudes towards others and ourselves we learned from our mothers' teachings. The foundations of our society, drawn from within our hearts and souls, is based on mothers' wisdom. The deepest part of our social and economic well-being starts with mothers' thoughts and attitudes.
Godia:
Watcher of the East, what are your thoughts?
Watcher of the East:
This time, just before the start of the natural new year, is the appropriate time to honor the mothers of our people. This is the time to look ahead to our future generations who shall tread this good Earth for ages to come. The future living and breathing success of our society depends on the quality and numbers of our people. Women and men who have keenness of mind and desire to have children are the basis of a competitive and prosperous society. We must impress upon all who follow the ways of the High One's of the Valhalla, the great import, the great value, the wondrous beauty of motherhood. We must bring this to all our folk in the Gimli of the new times to come.
Godia:
Watcher of the South, what are your thoughts?
Watcher of the South:
Women and men work together to rear their young in an organization we call a society. Societies thus were formed that like-minded folk might safely and securely raise their children and later find suitable mates for them. Without children society is useless. There is no extension of our lives without them. Thus to cherish, love, support and protect our womenfolk is vital to the future of our families and of our children that shall be.
Godia:
Watcher of the West, what are your thoughts?
Watcher of the West:
We know full well that the mothers determine the attitudes of the young in a society. It is necessary that our folk assure that each woman is secure in a positive attitude towards her own future and the futures of her children. Mothers who have economic security and protection from physical and mental harm have a good start in passing a winning attitude to their children.
Godia:
Watcher of the North, what are your thoughts?
Watcher of the North:
The years of maturity for both women and men are not necessarily those years when mind and feelings are mature enough to raise and support children. Thus, for the best family the grandparents must aid as they can. The grandparents should help the young mother and father with the great responsibility of parenthood they have taken upon themselves. The parents, in turn, will aid the grandparents in their later years.
Godia:
Watcher of the East what are your thoughts?
Watcher of the East:
Grandmothers are the best of people. They are women who guided the young mothers into their productive years, and who hold forth a helping hand when it is needed. They have that most precious of possessions: the experience of guiding and protecting children, and the foresight to avoid problems. Let us be thankful for grandmothers.
Godia:
Watcher of the South what are your thoughts?
Watcher of the South:
Grandfathers are the best of the generous. They are the helping hands that guide the young fathers in supporting their families. Grandfathers are the fathers that inspired their sons to joyously take life's challenges, and to become fathers and providers for their wives and children. They can also be the source of added wealth that is needed in building a young family.
Godia:
Watcher of the North, what are your thoughts?
Watcher of the North:
It is the paternal grandmothers and grandfathers that establish the standards by which the husband should care for his wife. It is the maternal grandmothers and grandfathers that establish the standards by which the wife fulfills her many duties. It is of great importance that the families of both husband and wife have similar ideals of productive and loving marriage, for this is their legacy.
Godia:
On this night we honor our mothers and the future mothers of Gimli, the world to come. Know well that the social position of each mother must ever be an essential part of the way our folk shall live in the Gimli that shall be. Mothers work for the future of our people. Their thoughts and feelings guide them in their everyday approach to life. Men oft times think in abstracts and need the guiding advice of their mates to remain practical. We must ever know that women are, visibly or invisibly, the partners in any social decision. For they understand the motives, fears and faults of their mates.
Godi:
We may think of men in battle as brave and courageous. Yet, women brave the ordeal of childbirth, that our people may live. These women must ever have a special, honored place, for they provided the maternal strength of our people. Mothers give the gift of those Great Ones who shall be our heirs and our pride. Mothers provide the winners, the producers the future leaders, the thinkers, the planners, the workers, the wives and the mothers and more. When you think of the future, think of Mothers. For they are our bridge to the stars!
Sumul
After a silence for 25 heartbeats, (the Godia’s "well" being the ceremonial drinking horn. Standing to the east of the fire-circle, she holds the horn up towards the rune-banners and says:
Hail to Ye, Great Ones of the Shinning Lands! We are gathered here in Your honor, and in our own, to celebrate this great gift of the Gods. We ask that You place Your blessings upon this mead of inspiration, that some of Your noble powers may thus pass into we who salute you and remain. Grant Your blessings and be with us, Odin of Wisdom! Freya of Power and Magick! Thor, of Strength! Accept this libation as our offering. Hail Odin!
All:
Hail Odin!
The Godia pours a bit of mead in the fire (or, if indoors, in a special libation bowl, to be later poured beneath a tree) and says to those gathered for the rite:
In ancient times our people would gather on nights such as this to seek the inspiration of the Gods, to speak holy words, or words of joy, and then to drink in the honor of the Great Ones. I bid each of you to speak, to give salutations, or to give laughter. Then honor the high Gods and Mothers with this horn. Now, ye blessed of Valhalla, let us all do as I do first.
The Godia holds the horn aloft, speaks briefly in honor of her patron deity in her own words, ending with "Hail Odin!" or "Hail the Mothers!" before drinking. She then steps before the first person to her left, holds out the drinking horn, and says:
I give you the wisdom of Odin.
The follower takes the horn, holds it aloft and either gives a salutation to a deity, recites an appropriate poem, and speaks in honor of the Mother-Aspect or whatever else is appropriate. When finished the follower calls out "Hail Odin!" or "Hail to Mothers!" and drinks.
The follower then hands the horn back to the Godia, who takes it to the person on the left to repeat the process, working deosil about the circle. Each time that the horn returns to the starting point, the Godia speaks and then drinks in honor of Odin. As the drinking horn empties refill it. When the Godia determines that it is time for this part of the rite to end, she takes a final drink and pours out any remainder as a libation.
Closing
When it is time to end, the Godia or Godi has all stand in a silent meditation for a moment. The Godia or Godi then holds out the sword in salute before the rune-banner(s) saying:
The time for our rite is ended. Let us give thanks for this time when we may be with the gods. As we go our ways, may the spirit of far Valhalla and the High Ones of the shining land, go ever with us, with our children and with our people. Hail Odin! (salute)
All:
Hail Odin! (salute)
The Godia or Godi replaces the sword upon the altar, and says:
This rite is ended. Go Ye ever in the Way of the Gods and live their blessing. Have a joyous Yule and a prosperous New Year!
Now is the time for feasting, drinking the wassail (or eggnog) and singing. It is traditional for the Godi or Godia to offer horns (toasts) in honor of Odin (victory and power), Thor (strength and power), Njord and Frey (good years and peace) and Bragi (solemn vows for the coming year).
You may wish a light hearted visit from "Father Thor," who gives symbolic gifts to all in the rite. Father Thor may be dressed in a Santa suit with workboots, red beard and braided hair, a Viking cloak and a horned helmet. He should carry a sledgehammer and a sack of gifts: cakes or cookies shaped as stars, boars, various runes, hammers, anvils, or whatever else you like.
1989, Evan McCallum. | 
