Campmoot & First Blétsung
This past weekend I was luckily and happily able to attend a "campmoot", and my first blót (blétsung). The Campmoot, held at Camp Yomechas in Middleboro, Mass. was organized and hosted by Amber-Wolf Kindred, a local New England Ásatru kindred based in Fall River, Mass.
On a very spring-like Saturday morning (following a week of cold and rainy weather), I arrived at the campground. After setting up my site, I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon visiting with new friends. At 4 o'clock P.M., the gathered Folk were called to assemble for Blót.
This blót, honoring Freyja, was Amber-Wolf Kindred's first public blót and so being, I felt especially honored to be among their guests. The blót began with discussion of different elements and expressions of Freyja, ways in which the those gathered relate to her, usw: "Bold", "Powerful", "Lusty", "Fierce in Battle", "a Self-possessed Lady", "Beloved of Kin", "Skilled in Magic", and more I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment. Gifts of large, juicy strawberries and a rich and a "lusty" blueberry wine were given to Freyja. Sumble followed with the first round given to Freyja, the second to various Gods, Goddesses, ancestors, and wights, and the last round for boasts.
Following the blót we shared an abundant and delicious pot-luck feast of lamb chops, chicken legs, shish-kabobs, reindeer stew, hot-dogs, hamburgers, chouriço, salads, tortilla chips and salsa, with cheesecake for dessert. Camp food was never so good; no one left this table hungry!
Following this sumptous feast, hours into the night were passed by the fire in good Heathen company. This shared fellowship was especially dear to me. As my work schedule is somewhat odd... VERY early morning hours, and working EVERY weekend (unless I'm on vacation), it's a very rare occasion I'm able to get together with other Heathens face-to-face, rather than via the cathode ray tube. In fact, other than two people, one of whom I met just recently at a local coffeeshop (Éalá, Anna!), and another whom I met at a bookstore roughly 13 years ago (!), this was really my first in person interaction with our Heathen community.
After a restful night snuggled in in the tent, Sunday morning broke even sunnier and warmer than Saturday... almost "summery"! The remainder of Sunday morning was passed leisurely breaking camp, visting the others' sites and saying farewells, before hitting the road home.
While not specifically an "ASH" event (with maybe some slight differences in "format"), I truly and deeply enjoyed this chance to share fellowship with my Heathen "cousins".
Hail the Folk! Hail the Gods!
On a very spring-like Saturday morning (following a week of cold and rainy weather), I arrived at the campground. After setting up my site, I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon visiting with new friends. At 4 o'clock P.M., the gathered Folk were called to assemble for Blót.
This blót, honoring Freyja, was Amber-Wolf Kindred's first public blót and so being, I felt especially honored to be among their guests. The blót began with discussion of different elements and expressions of Freyja, ways in which the those gathered relate to her, usw: "Bold", "Powerful", "Lusty", "Fierce in Battle", "a Self-possessed Lady", "Beloved of Kin", "Skilled in Magic", and more I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment. Gifts of large, juicy strawberries and a rich and a "lusty" blueberry wine were given to Freyja. Sumble followed with the first round given to Freyja, the second to various Gods, Goddesses, ancestors, and wights, and the last round for boasts.
Following the blót we shared an abundant and delicious pot-luck feast of lamb chops, chicken legs, shish-kabobs, reindeer stew, hot-dogs, hamburgers, chouriço, salads, tortilla chips and salsa, with cheesecake for dessert. Camp food was never so good; no one left this table hungry!
Following this sumptous feast, hours into the night were passed by the fire in good Heathen company. This shared fellowship was especially dear to me. As my work schedule is somewhat odd... VERY early morning hours, and working EVERY weekend (unless I'm on vacation), it's a very rare occasion I'm able to get together with other Heathens face-to-face, rather than via the cathode ray tube. In fact, other than two people, one of whom I met just recently at a local coffeeshop (Éalá, Anna!), and another whom I met at a bookstore roughly 13 years ago (!), this was really my first in person interaction with our Heathen community.
After a restful night snuggled in in the tent, Sunday morning broke even sunnier and warmer than Saturday... almost "summery"! The remainder of Sunday morning was passed leisurely breaking camp, visting the others' sites and saying farewells, before hitting the road home.
While not specifically an "ASH" event (with maybe some slight differences in "format"), I truly and deeply enjoyed this chance to share fellowship with my Heathen "cousins".
Hail the Folk! Hail the Gods!