Ravencast - The Asatru Podcast

This episode may likely be our most controversial one. Patrick McCollum is a pagan Chaplin working with the Cherry Hill Seminary (http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/). He works with about 2,000 Pagan Prisoners in California and has run into a gauntlet of administrative outright discrimination. Many of those prisoners are Asatruar, who are looking for some means to worship. We pop a few prison myths about racism and whether we should act at all. I can not think of a podcast that we have done that was not as important as this one. We would like to thank the Pagan Spirit Gathering for helping us make this interview happen. PSG is going on June 20-27, near Salem, Missouri. Have a look at http://www.circlesanctuary.org/psg/ For more info on this have a look at the Wildhunt Blog at http://wildhunt.org/blog/2010/02/patrick-mccollums-case-hits-the-mainstream.html For what folks can do, write or call your Congressman or the authorities in California. Jerry Brown, the California Attorney General - http://ag.ca.gov/, The Govnernator - http://gov.ca.gov/, Mathew L. Cate, the Secretary of the CDCR - http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/About_CDCR/cate.html Download Standard Podcasts

Joe Marek, founder of Gladsheim Kindred in the Washington DC area, was kind enough to allow us to record his very insightful class at East Coast Thing this year. Joe's class touches on a subject that Dave and I find very important, reputation. Not just personal but group reputation. Joe touches on key points anyone looking for a group or looking to start a group should have in mind. There is alot here that speaks to the reputation within the Asatru community and the general community at large. I'm sure you'll find it as though provoking as we did. enjoy!Download Standard Podcasts

We have received an outstanding response to our most recent post on the Rosaring by Christine Foltzer. As such we have a little treat to share...... Christine's class notes as a downloadable PDF. Enjoy!Download Ebook

Dave and I felt that a discussion of Ullr was just the thing to liven up a chilly New England January. With that in mind we pulled from our archives a fantastic class presented by Christine Foltzer at this past summer's East Coast Thing. The class centers around the Rosaring, an archaeological site thought to be sacred to Ullr. I know that this is a subject completely fascinating to me and I hope you do as well. Enjoy!Download Standard Podcasts

This is our last podcast for 2009, dedicated to Frey and Njord for the 12th Night of Yule and mostly we just wanted to wish everyone the best of blessings for the New Year. 12.FREY'S DEATH. Frey took the kingdom after Njord, and was called drot by the Swedes, and they paid taxes to him. He was, like his father, fortunate in friends and in good seasons. Frey built a great temple at Upsal, made it his chief seat, and gave it all his taxes, his land, and goods. Then began the Upsal domains, which have remained ever since. Then began in his days the Frode- peace; and then there were good seasons, in all the land, which the Swedes ascribed to Frey, so that he was more worshipped than the other gods, as the people became much richer in his days by reason of the peace and good seasons. His wife was called Gerd, daughter of Gymis, and their son was called Fjolne. Frey was called by another name, Yngve; and this name Yngve was considered long after in his race as a name of honour, so that his descendants have since been called Ynglinger. Frey fell into a sickness; and as his illness took the upper hand, his men took the plan of letting few approach him. In the meantime they raised a great mound, in which they placed a door with three holes in it. Now when Frey died they bore him secretly into the mound, but told the Swedes he was alive; and they kept watch over him for three years. They brought all the taxes into the mound, and through the one hole they put in the gold, through the other the silver, and through the third the copper money that was paid. Peace and good seasons continued. Yingling Saga, HeimskringlaDownload Standard Podcasts

Heilsa All! We talk about the Return of Sunna and what we do for our main Yule night rituals. 3. “Hail, day! Hail, sons of day! And night and her daughter now! Look on us here with loving eyes, that waiting we victory win. Sigrdrifumol, 3 Download Standard Podcast

Heilsa All! We talk about Sunna and get to the core points of the Yule holiday with our 10th Yule Night podcast. XI. Then said Gangleri: "How does he govern the course of the sun or of the moon?" Hárr answered: "A certain man was named Mundilfari, who had two children; they were so fair and comely that he called his son Moon, and his daughter Sun, and wedded her to the man called Glenr. But the gods were incensed at that insolence, and took the brother and sister, and set them up in the heavens; they caused Sun to drive those horses that drew the chariot, of the sun, which the gods had fashioned, for the world's illumination, from that glowing stuff which flew out of Múspellheim. Those horses are called thus: Early-Wake and All-Strong; and under the shoulders of the horses the gods set two wind-bags to cool them, but in some records that is called 'iron-coolness.' Moon steers the course of the moon, and determines its waxing and waning. He took from the earth two children, called Bil and Hjúki, they that went from the well called Byrgir, bearing on their shoulders the cask called Sægr, and the pole Simul. Their father is named Vidfinnr. These children follow Moon, as may be seen from the earth." XII. Then said Gangleri: "The sun fares swiftly, and almost as if she were afraid: she could not hasten her course any the more if she feared her destruction." Then Hárr made answer: "It is no marvel that she hastens furiously: close cometh he that seeks her, and she has no escape save to run away." Then said Gangleri: "Who is he that causes her this disquiet?" Hárr replied: "It is two wolves; and he that runs after her is called Skoll; she fears him, and he shall take her. But he that leaps before her is called Hati Hródvitnisson. He is eager to seize the moon; and so it must be." Then said Gangleri: "What is the race of the wolves? Hárr answered: "A witch dwells to the east of Midgard, in the forest called Ironwood: in that wood dwell the troll-women, who are known as Ironwood-Women. The old witch bears many giants for sons, and all in the shape of wolves; and from this source are these wolves sprung. The saying runs thus: from this race shall come one that shall be mightiest of all, he that is named Moon-Hound; he shall be filled with the flesh of all those men that die, and he shall swallow the moon, and sprinkle with blood the heavens and all the air; thereof shall the sun lose her shining, and the winds in that day shall be unquiet and roar on every side. Prose Edda.Download Standard Podcast

Heilsa All! We talk about Runes and Magic with regard to Divination in our 9th Yule Night podcast. All-father, leader of the wild hunt, Har You who gained the wisdom of the runes, Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us and bringing the power of the runes to Midgard. 138 I wot that I hung on the wind-tossed tree all of nights nine, wounded by spear, bespoken to Odin, bespoken myself to myself, upon that tree of which none telleth from what roots it doth rise. 139 Neither horn they upheld nor handed me bread; I looked below me - aloud I cried - caught up the runes, caught them up wailing, thence to the ground fell again. 144 Knowst how to write, Knowst how to read, Knowst how to stain, how to understand Knowst how to ask, Knowst how to offer, Knowst how to supplicate, Knowst how to sacrifice? During this time of the Year we seek knowledge of our future We seek to know our Wyrd And find our fate. Hail Odin! Hail the Aesir! Hail the Vanir!Download Standard Podcasts

Heilsa Folks! We are talking about Skathi and Ullr in our 8th Night in celebration of Yule. Hunter's Goddess, Snowshoe Goddess, Goddess of Cold Counsel Goddess of Revenge, Loki's Agony, Scathing Goddess Wise god-bride, Ski Goddess, dweller of the rocks You who have helped us provide for our families in this coldest of times We honor you during this darkest and holiest time of the year ski-god, bow-god, hunting-god and shield-god. God of Oaths, Listener at the Flames, Dweller of Ydalir You who have helped us provide for our families in this coldest of times We honor you during this darkest and holiest time of the year Hail Skathi! Hail Ullr! Hail the Gods! Download Standard Podcasts

We are talking about Thor in our 7th Night in celebration of Yule. Wielder of Mjollnior, Warder of Midgard, Warrior of the Aesir Protector, Fighter, Defender Jotun Bane, Dawn of Trolls, Fisher of Serpents We Honor you for all that you have done for us this year. You who have protected us in this winter. Who insures our good and safe travel Hail the son of the Earth! Hail Red Beard! Hail Thor! Download Standard Podcasts

Heilsa All! We are talking about our 6th Night in celebration of Yule and about Eir. Hail Eir! Hail the Handmaden of Frigga! Good Goddess of Speedy Healing! “Hail to the gods! Ye goddesses, hail, And all the generous earth! Give to us wisdom and goodly speech, And healing hands, life-long. Sigrdrifumol, 4Download Standard Podcast

Welcome to our 5th Yule Night podcast where we talk about Community. (1)Within the gates ere a man shall go, Full long let him look about him; For little he knows where a foe may lurk, And sit in the seats within. 2. (2) Hail to the giver! a guest has come; Where shall the stranger sit 3. (2) Swift shall he be who with swords shall try The proof of his might to make. 4. (3)Fire he needs who with frozen knees Has come from the cold without; Food and clothes must the farer have, The man from the mountains come. 5. (4) Water and towels and welcoming speech Should he find who comes to the feast; If renown he would get, and again be greeted, Wisely and well must he act. 6. (5) Wits must he have who wanders wide, But all is easy at home; At the witless man the wise shall wink When among such men he sits. Havamal, 1-5, Transcribed and Edited by Ari Odhinnsen, Northvegr.OrgDownload Standard Podcasts

Welcome to our 4th Yule Night podcast where we talk about Aegir. Sigurd, earl of Hlader, was one of the greatest men for sacrifices, and so had Hakon his father been; and Sigurd always presided on account of the king at all the festivals of sacrifice in the Throndhjem country. It was an old custom, that when there was to be sacrifice all the bondes should come to the spot where the temple stood and bring with them all that they required while the festival of the sacrifice lasted. To this festival all the men brought ale with them; and all kinds of cattle, as well as horses, were slaughtered, and all the blood that came from them was called "hlaut", and the vessels in which it was collected were called hlaut-vessels. Hlaut-staves were made, like sprinkling brushes, with which the whole of the altars and the temple walls, both outside and inside, were sprinkled over, and also the people were sprinkled with the blood; but the flesh was boiled into savoury meat for those present. The fire was in the middle of the floor of the temple, and over it hung the kettles, and the full goblets were handed across the fire; and he who made the feast, and was a chief, blessed the full goblets, and all the meat of the sacrifice. And first Odin's goblet was emptied for victory and power to his king; thereafter, Niord's and Freyja's goblets for peace and a good season. Then it was the custom of many to empty the brage-goblet (1); and then the guests emptied a goblet to the memory of departed friends, called the remembrance goblet. Sigurd the earl was an open-handed man, who did what was very much celebrated; namely, he made a great sacrifice festival at Hlader of which he paid all the expenses. Kormak Ogmundson sings of it in his ballad of Sigurd: -- "Of cup or platter need has none The guest who seeks the generous one, -- Sigurd the Generous, who can trace His lineage from the giant race; For Sigurd's hand is bounteous, free, -- The guardian of the temples he. He loves the gods, his liberal hand Scatters his sword's gains o'er the land-" Hakon the Good's Saga , HeimskringlaDownload Standard Podcasts

This is our 3rd Night in Celebration of Yule; We focus on the Ancestors. Hear me now all those of Heimdal's kin, Both those dwelling in Midgard's meadows and Hela's halls, We are the receivers of your Wyrd. Cattle die, kindred die, we ourselves also die; but the fair fame never dies of him who has earned it. Cattle die, kindred die, we ourselves also die; but I know one thing that never dies, - judgment on each one dead. Hail to the Ancestors! Hail to the Desir! Hail to the Alfar!Download Standard Podcasts

Heilsa All! Day Two of Yule 2009: Odin and the Wild Hunt Odin, All-father, Sig-Father! Leader of the Wild Hunt! Bring us wisdom and weal in this darkest of seasons. Fjölnir, Wise One Gangleri, Wanderer Grímnir, Masked One Jölfuðr, Yule father Jólnir, Yule figure Óski, God of Wishes Rúnatýr, God of Runes Síðgrani, Long Beard Sigðir, Victory bringer Leader of the Gods, Chooser of the Slain, Bearer of Gungir, We honor you for the breath of life. We thank you for your gifts of the Runes We praise Odin! Hail Odin! Hail Odin!Download Standard Podcast