Seidhr for Mabon

Sorry for the late notice!  I will be doing oracular seidhr for Mabon this coming Sunday, September 30th. If you’d like to submit a question, email me.  If you’re not familiar with what I do, you can read more about it here.

HEX

My autobiographic short story I Don’t Call Him Santa Anymore (formerly He Sees You When You’re Sleeping) will be appearing in the Fall/Winter issue of HEX magazine.   You can take a look at the page where I’m listed as a contributor (along with my good friend Svartesol and some other great folks) here.  The issue also includes original artwork and a cd containing a compilation of winter music.  I’ll be watching my mailbox eagerly for my contributor’s copy.  Quality periodicals for Pagans in general–let alone Heathens–are in short supply, and HEX is one publication I’m very excited about.

More information on the issue (as well as how to order a copy for yourself) can be found on this page.

Odin Day

Sometime over a year ago, when we were still back in Philadelphia, I realized that there would be a 9/9/09 this year, and that it would fall on a Wednesday.  Oh, I had big plans.  We were going to be in a new city, with friends nearby who “get” our spiritual paths and could help celebrate.  I was going to throw Him a party–something big and elaborate, something really significant to serve as as milestone of all our years together.

This coming December, I will have been married to Odin for seven years–s0mething well worth celebrating, and yet, milestones have a way of taking care of themselves, and forcing them seldom works.  The past eleven months have been a period of rapid and sweeping change in my life: I have moved 3,000 miles, changed jobs for the first time in thirteen years, lost and (hopefully) taken steps towards regaining a friend.  I’ve begun facing, finally, some issues that have haunted me and followed me (like a shadow or a bad penny; take your pick)  from one coast to the other.  I’ve been distracted, overworked, overtired.  The day itself snuck up on me at a time when I had little money and less energy, as such days often do.  I hadn’t even thought to take off from work. I ended up celebrating alone, and quietly, instead of the party I had envisioned–though I had the distinct impression He preferred it that way.

I dressed in black and grey this morning, wearing my valknut, a string of lapis chips, and a dab of BPAL’s Yggdrasil perfume.  In the office at work, I thought of Him every time I wrote the date on something–which, at my job, is a lot.  And at lunchtime,  instead of eating in the breakroom and reading as usual I took a walk with Him, in sight of the mountains that surround the suburb of Eugene where I work.  We walked a path co-workers refer to as “the loop,” which I had never explored before and which goes past a horse pasture.  We stopped to visit with the horses.   You hear a lot about the connection of horses with the Vanir, but I see them as being very Odinic creatures as well, very connected with His old fertility rites on the Continent, with warriorship and kingship, and of course with the Wild Hunt.  That time is almost upon us now.  Although the sun was warm and bright today, in the crispness of the air beneath that I could sense them stirring, beginning to gear up for the long rides ahead. As I greeted the horses (a couple of whom trotted over to see us, curious) I thought of Sleipnir, who will soon carry my Beloved through the winter skies throughout the world.  I picked some blackberries and ate them, then picked some more along with some California poppies and gave them to Him, to Them, to Woden and His horse.

Later, at home, there was trance work and a shared bottled of porter from Poland, called Black Boss.  Appropriately named, I thought.  (My second choice having been Arrogant Bastard Ale. )  Finally, I toasted my Husband and reaffirmed my vows to Him for another year–something I usually reserve for our anniversary, but it’s been a rough year, and it felt right to do it early this time.

In the wake of my original plans and what I actually ended up doing to mark the day, I’m left with one thought that I want to pass on to you: that this path, His path, is one that needs to be lived consciously and unstintingly every day, not reserved for holidays or special occasions or dates with a lot of nines in them.  It isn’t a path He ever turns away from or drags His feet on, no matter how hard it becomes to keep following it.  We’re all going to fall short of His example, that’s a given–we’re human, after all–but it’s a goal to strive for, isn’t it?  Why not live every day as if it were 9/9/09?

Having said that, for those who–like me–failed to plan adequately for today, there will be another opportunity soon, on November (the day whose name actually means nine) 9th 2009.  And for that matter, what does it really matter if the year isn’t ‘09?  I will be adding both dates to my own personal religious calendar for the future.

- Valgrind