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2009 Workshops Workshops planned for this year include: God Post / Thor Story Post Svan will instruct us in how to make god posts for our homes. We will also be making a community god post. We will also be working on a Thor story post for the main blot. Oaths and Oathing, followed by Roundtable discussion on oathing in Sumble, moderated by Ratatask This workshop explores the importance of oaths and the oath-taking process from a heathen world view. We will discuss sumble and other sacred rituals to reveal the importance of oaths as things that bind society together. We will also explore the different types of oaths and some of the terms used in the Anglo-Saxon law codes both for the oath-taking process and for the consequences of oath-breaking. We will follow this discussion with a round-table talk about different types of oaths and the responsibilities that we have when witnessing others' oaths during sumble. Thor in Daily Life, moderated by Laurel Many of us have encountered Thor outside of Blot and Sumbel, and oh, the stories we could tell. Well the time has come to do so. Bring stories of Thor in your life or come and listen to the stories of others. Building Community: A Roundtable Discussion, moderated by Tanya Community is a very important part of Heathenry, but what do you do when you don't have one available? You make one! This will be a discussion on how to build a community, and the difficulties that can come from it." Pacifism and Heathenry, why these don't have to contradict, with Ratatask Warrior in Communal Societies with Tei In most of society, warriors are viewed as the ones who fight. Fortunately though, a true warrior almost never does. This discussion with delve into the oft-times overlooked roles of the warrior in society, from first aid to pacifist warriors. Urglaawe with Robert Lusch Schreiwer This workshop will focus on "Urglaawe" or the "primal faith." Urglaawe is a Heathen faith based upon surviving pre-Christian elements that were brought to the Americas by Pennsylvania German settlers. We will be discussing long-standing belief, practices, and rituals that were sheltered by the age-old healing practice of Braucherei. We will also discuss some of the Deitsch customs and folklore and their relevance in modern life. The Teutonic Cake That Wasn't with Laurel Mendes German's (yes, once there was an "S") Chocolate Cake did not originate in Germany. The original recipe for "German's Chocolate Cake" was sent by a Dallas, Texas homemaker to a local newspaper in 1957. Origin aside, this delicious cake will be one of the featured desserts at our Saturday Night Feast. Come and learn to bake the cake and make the gooey, sticky, YUMMY frosting. Beer Brewing with Andy Mendes More workshops & more info on these workshops to be announced shortly. If you would like to lead a workshop or class, please contact Ratatask. 2009 Rituals * Seidh The seidh rite of seeking visions for the folk was old at the time of Erik Saga. It fell out of favor and use when Christianity became the dominant religion in Scandinavia. In 1989, Hrafnar began to work on recreating this rite. Laurel Mendes was a part of that process. Today, there exists a wide variety of groups practicing the recreation of this ancient art, in as many varied ways as there are goups. Laurel will present one face of this practice in workshops throughout the weekend, and in a seidh rite Saturday evening. ** Sumble (Old English Symbel; Old Icelandic sumbl) is one of the few Norse rituals recognizable in the Lore. In essence, a Sumbel is simply ritualized rounds of toasts made over a mead or ale-filled horn or cup. Many modern Heathens incorporate at least three rounds: the first round honors the Gods (the Aesir and Vanir); the second round honors the Ancestors (the Alfar and Disr); and the third round is often open for boasts, toasts, and oaths. Words spoken over the Sumbel horn are considered sacred. Not only are those words woven into the speaker’s Wyrd (similar to fate), but the Wyrds of all those present are woven together. One finds examples of Sumbels in great poetic works such as the Lokesanna (Old Icelandic), Beowulf (Old English), and Heliand (Old Saxon). ***Blot The word “blot” is generally agreed upon as meaning “sacrifice.” While it is likely that our Ancestors offered animal sacrifices, modern Heathens make sacrifices of mead, ale, honey, or milk, among other things (mead and ale are the most common offerings). In its simplest form, a Blot involves dedicating a horn of mead (or an item) to a God or Gods and then offering it. The offering may be made my pouring it on the ground, into a bowl, into a Fire, into a body of water, etc. Blots are performed as a way to share our bounty with the Gods. Additionally, our Norse Ancestors understood that a gift demands a gift. We receive much from Gods, and it is right that as we receive, so should we give. Each Blot reaffirms and solidifies our connections with the Gods.