Gyro Night – a Heathen practice?

No, this isn’t a post that has anything to do with Mediterranean cuisine. Gyro Night refers to an Orcadian folk observance in the Orkney archipelago (part of Scotland today), which seems to be part of the Wild Hunt tradition (and with it connections to the reward/punishment traditions found in the Santa Claus mythos) marking the end of winter and the transition into the preparations for spring in connection to a troll-woman. The folkloric tradition is recorded late, and yet I suspect it’s much older and part of heathen pre-Christian traditions. Traditionally it would have been held at a timing that should somewhat correlate to observances at Imbolc, or Candlemas (and thus in the heathen diaspora timing-wise somewhat analogous to Charming of the Plough/Disting).

The Orkneys were home to both Celtic peoples as well as later settlers from the Norse. So there was some level of syncretization. The oldest permanent settlement in the isles is at the Neolithic Era, Knap of Howar (dated to 3500 BCE) on Papa Westray island. Although there are items found in the archaeological record that date back much, much older. Many modern Orcadians have been found to genetically descend from the Norse who settled the islands in the 8th Century.

Island of Papa Westray in the Orkney Archipelago, Scotland

Hard Knocks – Oaths and Doors

Forsa Ring, Photo by Marianne Hem Eriksen*

The Forsa Rune Ring (Forsaringen) used to be on the parish church in the Central Swedish Province of Hälsingland. This iron oath ring (17 in / approx. 45 cm wide diameter)  has been argued by some to date to the 9th Century, though other scholars argue late Medieval era. Scholar Sophus Bugge, interpreted it as being Christian, but scholar Aslak Liestøl argues that Bugge’s reading of lirþir (clergy) was incorrect, and that the legal inscription should read liuþir (the people), and thus removed the Christian context. Scholar Stefan Brink has provided a more recent 21st century translation, one that points to it being a heathen relic that stipulated what was necessary for cultic practice in maintenance of a holy temple, or the Old Norse vé[1]  (or the Old Swedish vi as it appears in the following translation):

A prayer for Lussi

Das festliche Jah Christkindel by Hans Trapp im Elsaß.

Hail to Lussi,

The Warder against the dark.

A beacon shining in the night

to shelter and safety.

Bringer of warmth and light.

May you bless

and illuminate all our paths.

Heathen author Diana Paxson & Son Attacked By Man With Knife

Diana Paxson (b 1943) is a well known author of fictional Historic and Mythic Fantasy, as well as religious and magicoreligious books written to both a pagan and heathen audience. In addition to her prolific writing, Diana also is the founder of the Society of Creative Anachronism, an elder in The Troth, and was a former First Officer in the Covenant of the Goddess. She posted to Facebook informing people of the very close call she had. A sceenshot with transcription follows below:

Check in 1:

This may take several posts, as I am reporting on the I-phone and dealing with interruptions.

First, my son Ian and I are back from the hospital and sore but functional.

As many of you already know, on Friday evening ian and I were both wounded when Byron DeCles, a member of our extended family, broke through the front door, slashing wildly with a small knife. Ian had 8 or 9 cuts, 5 needing sutures, requiring a few sutures. The most dangerous hit his left ear but did not touch the ear drum. I got 2 needing a few sutures, a shallow slice on my neck and one that nicked the left temporal artery, resulting in a remarkable amount of blood on the floor.I am now coming to terms with the fact that although my wounds are shallow, they were in very vulnerable places, and am very grateful for Divine Protection.

Ians shoulder was injured when Byron threw a 2×4 we had been using to brace the door at him. He then ran off. The police put out an alert and there are warrants for his arrest. Also phots from our security camera. While Ian grappled with Byron, I held a wad of paper towels to my head with my left hand I managed to dial 911 with my right. The police came quickly, and I got my first ambulance ride.

To be continued…

Diana Paxson, Facebook, December 10, 2023

---

The shocking news was also covered by her local news outlet, Berkeley Side, local police issued a shelter in place order then lifted it. Berkeley Scanner writer Emilie Raguso reported an update on December 12, 2023 that the suspect Byron DeCles had been arrested and charged with suspicion of attempted murder in relation to both victims. “According to preliminary information, he is related to the victims and has a history of mental health issues.”

One of my first exposures to the Germanic Gods came through her fictional book, The Wolf and Raven which I read as a teenager. I’ve also met her previously when she visited Texas some years ago where she was hosted by the Kindred I was a member of at the time. I’m horrified by this news. I wish her and her son a speedy recovery, and that they have continued safety in the days ahead. I pray that the perpetrator is caught so he will no longer pose a danger to others. May Hlin watch over you both until he is caught. May the Goddesses of Lyfjaberg help you and your son as you recover. May Tyr bring you justice.

_{Updated December 12, 2023 at 6:23pm C with the arrest update}

Eating Crow

Looks like there’s a brouhaha blowing up online around the Troth.

Someone who is trans posted the upsetting realization someone they counted as a fellow heathen and friend was a racist transphobe, they were attacked by that person. They were I think in need of venting in what they thought was a safe online space, the r/heathenry community on reddit.

Not reading the room, a Troth Elder (reddit u/thatsnotgneiss, others have identified this as Lauren Crow, President and CEO of the Troth, recently interviewed by CourtTV as an expert during discussion of Richard Allen and the Delphi Murders) replies in comments by not addressing the situation, nor in expressing commiseration or to reassure there’s inclusive spaces. No, she posts to nitpick vocabulary choice, it was rather pedantic. 🤦‍♀️

And it starts to snowball from there.

Prompting this TikTok calling her out:

The original thread is locked down, prompting the creation of this r/norsepaganism thread in another subreddit. Around the time it posts, she posts in r/heathenry an apology.

The blow up makes me feel like this was a straw that broke the camel’s back. That supposition seems to be correct, as when I read through comments in this thread there’s some other incidents brought to light.
The Troth presents as an inclusive organization, so this level of tone-deafness has made a lot of people upset.

I’m not a member of the Troth, now or at any time in the past. But for a marginalized person who had been attacked to be ‘schooled’ on a term, when they were dealing with the aftermath of a situation that had been shocking is in incredibly poor taste. There’s a time to be petty vocabulary police, and a time to show kindness and concern for someone’s well-being.

Immediately, I see some among the 2500 or so membership of the Troth expressing their displeasure, some in a wave of cancel culture demanding removal from leadership. How this shakes out in the Troth long term, only time will tell.

I want it to be clear, anyone who approaches the gods with respect is welcome, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. Although I reserve the right to ignore the assholes. And to the person who was attacked  /u/bytheleavesaroundus, I hope you are genuinely ok and hope you’re not harassed as this blows up.

Beware the Fakes

Did you find an awesome statue of Odin with a price to good to be true? Maybe some cheap jewelry? There’s a reason for that: theft. The internet is plagued now with online shopping sites like Temu, Wish, Shein, Aliexpress, and far, far more. If the website url seems odd, or gibberish or some mash up of a real word then random junk, you’re being scammed. If product description fails to tell you materials used, you definitely are. These sites take other designs, artwork, goods and recreate inferior knock-offs without any financial compensation to the original artist or business. They then sell the fakes reaping profits while the original artist loses out on sales, impacting their livelihood. These sites also now have access to your credit card information, and personal information… everything they need to steal from you sooner or later too.

Online Store with stolen photos (scraped from the official store) selling cheap knockoffs

Sunwait 2023 Begins

Happy Sunwait to those celebrating it!

Sunwait Art by AnglesDottirArts

This modern celebration that began in Sweden counts down towards the Winter Solstice and the Yuletide season. You can learn more here:

Sunwait – A Countdown to Yule

The Mjolnir Project (US) Shuts Down

Back in 2006 Dan the Blacksmith of White Hart Forge (in Oak Grove near Portland, Oregon) set out on a mission he called the Mjolnir Project, to gift hand forged Thor’s hammers to Heathens/Asatruar on active duty in the military so they were reminded that they were not forgotten back home. While there were many US soldiers who were recipients, there were also some military members from various international militaries who ended up with one too (Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, etc.). In fact, Dan partnered with blacksmith Martin (of Metalmorphose) in the United Kingdom to help him meet demand. He also sold hammers to those who either weren’t in the military, or were no longer active duty but veterans. There was even some “Mjolnir Project” apparel, proceeds of which helped offset material and shipping costs for the gifted hammers.

Earlier this year on July 3, 2023 Dan announced that while he hasn’t put down his blacksmith’s hammer, he no longer has the time thanks to a promotion at his primary job to keep the Mjolnir Project active and thus is shutting it down. While the US branch is shuttered, Martin (UK) is still keeping the project alive here. US service men and women, please reach out to him directly it sounds like for now Martin plans to continue to support active duty US military as he can.

I’m about 2 months late on learning about this development (Facebook algorithms are atrocious). I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge Dan’s good contributions and service to our community at large. Thank you sir for 17 years of hammers for our troops. If you received a hammer you may want to hop to his Facebook page and comment on his shutting down post to send one last thank you.

For posterity I’m including a screenshot of his farewell, and a few photos from his official Facebook page for the Mjolnir Project, including recipient appreciation photos of their gifted hammers, and Dan at work in the Forge. So if the Mjolnir Project page disappears from Facebook, there’s an alternative record highlighting his good works.

Dan’s Notice on Shutting Down the Mjolnir Project on Facebook

Freyja in Germany?

The strongest evidence we have of the Norse Goddess Freyja comes to us, unsurprisingly perhaps, from Scandinavian sources. But did you know that we may have a representation of her found in the archaeological record from Germany?

TikTok is the Tip of the Iceberg

On the surface it can be viewed by some that TikTok is being unfairly criticized for some similar privacy concerns that exist on other social media outlets. While that is true, a key nuance many are overlooking is just what a huge difference it is with geo-politics when the app is owned by a Chinese company.

This is a map of how China views their world.

China is hemmed in by geology and their neighbors, their one area of growth is to the Pacific. Their best access to the Pacific is in a narrow sea lane from the Yellow Sea, to East China Sea, to Phillipine sea then out to the wider Pacific Ocean. This means they are hemmed in by countries allied to varying degrees with the United States (many home to US military bases): Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Taiwan.

It’s rare when you see non partisan members of the U.S. legislature united in the same concerns. According to CIA intelligence reports, China has been told to prepare to take back Taiwan by 2027. Their Naval expansion is already alarming and still planning to grow.