Things are improving on most levels. I'm still battling fatigue and depression but that is a lifelong thing and I don't anticipate any change there any time soon so I muddle on. I found a book that put a lot of what I believe in perspective for me. It's called Travels through Middle Earth: the Path of a Saxon Pagan. It pretty much sums up where I am spiritually. Or at least where I want to be. I especially love his take on magic and its variations. I also got his other book Wyrdworking: the Path of a Saxon Sorcerer. I just started reading it so I can't say yet what I think of it.
I'm not really into using all the Anglo-Saxon vernacular. I mean, I call an altar an altar and a ritual a ritual. I can appreciate others who want to use the old language but I just don't think it's right for me. Maybe some terms that don't really have a corresponding definition, but for the most part...I plan on just using the terms I'm most familiar with.
The Wyrdworking book has the Anglo-Saxon runes, which contain more than the Norse runes. I have other books on the Norse runes so that I'll have to figure out later. But on the whole, the Saxon path seems more me than any other path I've encountered so far.
After reading Teo Bishop's post on his relationship with the space he uses for his altar and to keep his tools and books, I got to thinking about my altar as well. I have most of my tools and such in my bedroom, in the armoir and headboard bookcase so that's not likely to change, but the altar itself...well, that made me think a lot. It's always been so cluttered with stuff because I can't decide what not to have on it. I also use lots of candles because I like the effect. But it was all about what I liked and what I wanted on the altar and nothing about what I thought the gods might want on there. So I took it all apart and put back on there what I thought was most essential. I used animal and other representations of the gods because I don't have statues (those seem to run from $50-$80 at the cheapest) and because I'm one of those who needs something to focus my attention on when I pray or worship. Or do ritual.
So here it is. In all it's simplicity and plainness. And I think I like it better. The spinning wheel represents Frigg, the quartz crystal Thunor, the wolf Wodin, the cat Freo and a tip of an antler represents Ing. Tom has an antler rack but it's pretty large and too big for the altar. In the future I intend to make my own statues and such out of clay or draw them but for now this is what I'm using. I also have an incense burner that has a sun face that I will use to represent Sunne and a picture of the moon above the altar to represent Mona. I have pictures above the altar of goddesses and one of a yule tree, another of the Northern Lights but I'm not sure they are the goddesses I worship so for now, they're just decoration. Aside from the picture of the moon.
And of course the dragon oil burner I'm using to hold my votive candles. It wouldn't be complete without that. The jar on the left has raw barley in it, the white bag holds my crystals and stones, the red bag my tarot cards and the box under it my Animal Oracle cards. I don't know that I want any runestones since I don't plan on using them for divination but it might be nice to make a set just to have.
I'll have more to say after I've gotten more comfortable with this path but for now I like where I am. I like it very much.
I'm not really into using all the Anglo-Saxon vernacular. I mean, I call an altar an altar and a ritual a ritual. I can appreciate others who want to use the old language but I just don't think it's right for me. Maybe some terms that don't really have a corresponding definition, but for the most part...I plan on just using the terms I'm most familiar with.
The Wyrdworking book has the Anglo-Saxon runes, which contain more than the Norse runes. I have other books on the Norse runes so that I'll have to figure out later. But on the whole, the Saxon path seems more me than any other path I've encountered so far.
After reading Teo Bishop's post on his relationship with the space he uses for his altar and to keep his tools and books, I got to thinking about my altar as well. I have most of my tools and such in my bedroom, in the armoir and headboard bookcase so that's not likely to change, but the altar itself...well, that made me think a lot. It's always been so cluttered with stuff because I can't decide what not to have on it. I also use lots of candles because I like the effect. But it was all about what I liked and what I wanted on the altar and nothing about what I thought the gods might want on there. So I took it all apart and put back on there what I thought was most essential. I used animal and other representations of the gods because I don't have statues (those seem to run from $50-$80 at the cheapest) and because I'm one of those who needs something to focus my attention on when I pray or worship. Or do ritual.
So here it is. In all it's simplicity and plainness. And I think I like it better. The spinning wheel represents Frigg, the quartz crystal Thunor, the wolf Wodin, the cat Freo and a tip of an antler represents Ing. Tom has an antler rack but it's pretty large and too big for the altar. In the future I intend to make my own statues and such out of clay or draw them but for now this is what I'm using. I also have an incense burner that has a sun face that I will use to represent Sunne and a picture of the moon above the altar to represent Mona. I have pictures above the altar of goddesses and one of a yule tree, another of the Northern Lights but I'm not sure they are the goddesses I worship so for now, they're just decoration. Aside from the picture of the moon.
I'll have more to say after I've gotten more comfortable with this path but for now I like where I am. I like it very much.
In my short lived life, I've learned that every single path comes to a crossroad. Thank the Goddess for that. My Spirituality has changed and transformed in so many ways and if it stops is when I would worry.
ReplyDeleteI love that. It may be that I find another crossroad or two on my journey. And I'm sure there is a lot of scenery along the way I'll need to stop and pay attention to as well.
DeleteThe Saxon path seems to make sense for a lot of people in the US- since it represents the most prevelant ancestry, I suspect. And of course there must be a dragon. The home is not complete without a dragon somewhere!
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people are reaching back to their roots looking for something that they can relate to. I have Native American roots as well, Chiricahua Apache, but I don't feel a connection there like I do to my Celtic/Anglo Saxon heritage. But I think people should look to where they feel the connection rather than where their ancestors were. One of the things that has held me back from embracing Asatru has been the unfortunate racist connections, however in the minority they are. I'm not a fan of limiting people's spiritual choices at all as long as they are sincere and not part of a trend.
DeleteAnd yes, dragons are a necessity in any household. :)
:) It looks nice. Glad you are finding things that work for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy. I was waiting for the other foot to drop before declaring it since once I settle on something, I almost immediately want to break up with it but it hasn't happened. I think I'm finally home. At least for now.
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