During our celebration of the Harvest Tide we honored the Earth Mother. The message we received was:
Tiwaz – Ingwaz – Hagalaz
I interpreted this to mean that regardless of the coming season of ice and storm we have a community that comes together to create an environment of fertility for future endeavors. Everything will even out, even if it seems a bit unbalanced at times.
The first omen was taken to determine if Crom Dubh would stay his hand for the season, until such time that the harvest could be brought in. We were given Berkano, Perthro, and Jera. As Berkano and Jera indicate good harvest for the year and Perthro indicates fate being in our hands, I consider this a good omen.
After the sacrifice Lugh gave us the following message: Elhaz, Thurisaz, Sowilo, and Othala. I felt a tug when I received this message. It indicates that Lugh stands with us during difficult periods in our lives, especially within the hearth and home. A new day is dawning and dangers will be illuminated, taken out of the dark. All of the Kindred stand with us and as long as we retain our community, we will emerge victorious.
During a special event sponsored by the Grove we honored our Ancestors in Sacred Revelry. The omen taken during this event was as follows:
Othala – Indicating the Hearth and Home, as well as the presence of our Ancestors.
Perthro – Indicating fate and choices made (it also indicates a weight upon the soul, but this is lessened in this case).
Berkano – Indicating new beginnings.
The message that I felt we were being given was that the Ancestors have given us their blessings, their inspiration, and their wisdom. The choices that we make in our lives should always reflect the lessons that were imparted to us by our Ancestors. However, in the end, the choices will always be ours. We can thank the Kindred for their influence, but we cannot necessarily blame them for the bad choices that we make.
On this, a very wet Midsummer Day, we honored the Norse God Baldr. Regardless of the rainy weather, we stood united and this is the message we received from the Brightest and Fairest of the Aesir:
Tiwaz – Indicating Justice and Balance
Laguz – Indicating both a welling up of potential and “flow”
Dagaz – Indicating a New Day Dawning and good things coming.
Altogether this indicated to me that even though the rains were falling and things may look dark and dreary, there is always a new day dawning and there is always the potential for things to turn around and “get better.” Just like Baldr, there is a cycle to everything and everything in its time.
For our Beltane celebration we received the following Ogham omen:
Duir – Oak – Indicating strength of the community
Eadhadh – Aspen – Indicates communication
H-Uath – Hawthorn – Indicates protection.
With the possibility of rough times ahead, we know that we have both the community and the Kindred to look to for protection. We must remember, though, that communication is just as important as the community.
The omen for our Imbolc celebration was taken by the Rev. Amber Ferrebee. Our sacrifice was accepted and we received nGetal “The Reed”, Straif “The Blackthorn”, and Muin “The Vine.”
We interpret this to mean that we are entering a time of transformation. We need to be flexible and to “go with the flow”. In addition we are reminded to have fun, even when the darkness seems to be unending.
Whispering Lake Grove hosted their Yuletide celebration honoring Odin, the Norse All-Father. The omen that was taken was Othala, Eihwaz, and Isa. I interpreted this to mean that there is a definite connection between all of our hearths and homes within the community and that during this dark season it behooves us to remember those connections and while our momentum may be slowed, we can always count on each other.
[Note] Erie was hit with a huge snow storm at Christmas that put us on the news for record breaking levels. While we dig ourselves out, now is a good time to remember our neighbors.
Our Samhain celebration was unique in our presentation. With a somewhat “Sleeping Beauty” theme, we honored our Ancestors at the beginning, and ended our fest by blessing the newest baby in the WLG family. Several omens were taken and this is a compilation.
The Main Omen was Eihwaz (The Yew Tree) indicating the connections between the Folk and the Ancestors, Ansuz indicating communication, and Raidho indicating the journey we take together. This omen was countered by “Maleficent’s” warning that we will be entering into the Dark Season and we need to “bury the hatchet” leaving our personal issues in the Old Year.
During the blessing of the baby, each of the Norns took omens for the babe’s future, and blessings based on those omens. First gift: righteous action. Second gift: to be just and strong. Third gift: to be able to collect things to him and know their meaning and purpose. “Maleficent” gave her blessing (not quite the curse of the traditional story) that he would find friends within the darkness and never be alone.
All in all, the omen and the event were considered a major success!
Our Harvest Tide celebration honoring the Earth Mother, which coincided with the Second Annual Common Ground.
I used the Runes to get the message from the Earth Mother. We received Sowilo – the Sun, Perthro – the Dice Cup, and Isa – Ice. To me this indicates that we cannot avoid the inevitability of the cold season coming. However, we can always look to the sun and see that the warmth will always return. We have each other to help us get through the cold and the snows as the Earth Mother sleeps.
It was deemed a good omen.
I thought I should probably post this here, in case anyone cared to know. As of the Grove’s Annual Meeting in July, I have been installed as the Chief Seer. I will take the Oath of Office in November, although I will serve in that capacity immediately.
Thanks to all of my grove mates that have put their trust in my ability to fulfill this post.
