Thursday, October 24, 2024

Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 2024

Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 2024

Winter Nights begins on the first full moon after the Autumn Equinox and lasts three days during which three blots, or sacrifices occurred: Alfablót, Disablót, and Haustblót.

Alfablót and Disablót were believed to be celebrated more privately while Haustblót was a community event. There is some suggestion that Disablót was also celebrated publically, and in some parts of the world, it still is. I, however, have chosen to make this a private celebration. Alfablót and Disablót are both celebrations of our ancestors, local spirits, and deities, each focusing on a different group. Alfablót celebrates our male ancestors, spirits, and Álfar, while Disablót celebrates our female ancestors, spirits, and Dísir. Haustblót, on the other hand, is more of a thanksgiving to celebrate the abundance of the final harvests, give thanks, and honor the spirits and deities that made such a bountiful harvest possible. One last hurrah before the cold sets in and the earth withers.

The themes and symbols represented by this holy tide are the harvest, abundance, cycles, family, heritage, and sacrifice. This is a time to give thanks, celebrate the fruits of our labors, and request continued protection and abundance. With these themes in mind, I created the base altar featured below. Please know that this is the base, not the complete altar. Each night I added new items and conducted short spells and rituals not featured for privacy reasons. I've included an expanded note about this at the end of the post to give you a better idea of what you won't see pictured and why.

Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 20

1. Harvest Candle Holder with Green Candle- This harvest candleholder has previously graced my Mabon altar for many, many years, but I now find it fitting for my Winter Nights altar, as this is also a time of thanksgiving and celebration of the harvest. It represents the bounty of the season with its pears, apples, grapes, and berries. The earthen tones and colorful leaves represent autumn and the changing of the seasons as the Wheel turns yet again toward winter. Like most years, I placed a green candle in the holder to represent abundance, specifically agricultural abundance as green is associated with plants, luck, and wealth. Green also represents the Earth and the gracious gifts She bestows upon us during the harvest, for without Her nurturing soils, we would not have nutrient-rich foods. Nestled around the candleholder are grapes, which are currently finishing up their growing season. These grapes represent abundance and prosperity, as well as merriment and good tidings, as they would traditionally be turned into wine, especially mulled wine. (Where did I get it: Goodwill & Dollar Tree; Cost: $3)

Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 2024

2. Incense Holder with Cone Incense- Incense has been used across cultures to communicate with the gods and send messages to the Otherworld for centuries. It is one of the best ways to trigger a magical response in your brain and let it know it's time for ritual. Furthermore, incense is commonly used as an offering, a gift to those we wish to commune with. For all these reasons I have incense on my Winter Nights altar. I picked a scent that resonated with me, that felt 'right' for the season. Each night of Vetrnætr I lit new incense to carry my prayers, stories, and thoughts to those I was speaking to. I used it to cleanse and clear the space around my altar and to summon the spirits of those I wished to honor each night. (Where did I get it: Five Below; Cost: $3)

3. Autumn Leaf Candle Holders with White CandlesThe leaf candle holders are an ode to the season and the changing leaves that herald autumn. Their orange color represents attraction. In this case, it is used to attract the Sun and keep Him burning bright within the sky for a little while longer so the rest of the crops may ripen. In conjunction with the candles, which represent the Sun who is slowly waning in the sky, they work together as a sympathetic form of magic to give the Sun continued strength. Candles are also traditionally used to light the way so souls may find their way home. I included these extra candles to call forth my ancestors and my spiritual guides so I may thank them and regale them with tales of my life. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree; Cost: $2.50)

Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 2024

4. 
Jera, Othala, and Algiz Runes- Since this is a Nordic holiday, no altar would be complete without some runes. Jera is the rune of the harvest, representing reward, fruition, commitment, and fertility. It signifies the cycle of life, from birth to death, and abundance to come. As Winter Nights is a celebration of the final harvest, it only makes sense to pay tribute to the harvest through Jera. Othala, however, is the rune of heritage, inheritance, and home. It represents your family roots, your genetics, and your spiritual heritage. This is incredibly important during Winter Nights, as both Alfablót and Disablót are celebrations of our ancestors and heritage. Finally, Algiz is the stag rune. It represents hunting, as well as honor, nobility, and, maybe most importantly, protection. As the Wheel turns, our ancestors would have relied more heavily on hunting as a source of food and would have called upon their ancestors and gods for protection through the harsh winter months. With this rune, I invoke the same protection upon my home, calling for those within to be protected and never go without, even if times are hard and the weather is harsh. (Where did I get it: Won; Cost: Free)

Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 2024

5. Fox Skull- The fox skull represents my animal guide or otherworldly familiar. She has been a staunch companion and ally for many years, and this skull is used as a spirit home for her during my magical workings and spirit flights. She is honored here during Vetrnætr as one of the feminine spirits I celebrated during Disablót. She took center stage on my altar each night, as she is an important part of my practice. I honestly couldn't do what I do without her. Not pictured are her offerings, which shall remain private. Not only does she act as my guide, but she also aids me in communicating with other spirits. She helps to ferry my ancestors into our realm for communication and is present on this altar for the same task.  (Where did I get it: Gifted; Cost: Free)

6. Offering Bowl- Blót means sacrifice, and that is exactly what is to occur during Winter Nights. Each night I made a sacrifice and offering to say thank you to those who have helped me. What I sacrificed each night was different, dependent upon the spirits I was thanking, but it was made nonetheless. The bowl I used is an earthen bowl gifted to me by my best friend on my birthday last year. What better way to use it than to give thanks? (Where did I get it: Gifted; Cost: Free)


Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 2024


TOTAL COST: ~$8.50


Like my other altars, most of the items I use are found, made, or purchased for around $1, although if the items must be purchased by you, then the cost will be higher. This altar is more expensive than some of my previous altars because I wanted to include some new items I purchased this year. I hope you find this sort of breakdown helpful, especially for those of you looking to create Instagram-perfect altars on a budget!

Vetrnætr/Winter Nights Altar 2024

It's important to note this is not my full altar for Winter Nights. Each night I added new things, the majority of which are very private. This includes pictures of my ancestors, notes, letters, and personal belongings. It also includes some of my ritual tools and sacrifices and offerings I gave. These are private and between me and the spirits I work with, hence their absence from these pictures. I encourage you to do the same with your altar. Remember, part of witchcraft is "to remain silent." This doesn't mean not sharing your knowledge and craft, but being wise in what and how you share. Not everyone has your best interests in mind.

I hope everyone has a blessed winter and that it is nothing but light in the darkness.



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Monday, October 21, 2024

Magical Properties of Fuchsite

Magical Properties of Fuchsite



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Monday, October 14, 2024

How to Celebrate Vetrnætr/Winter Nights for Modern Heathens

How to Celebrate Vetrnætr/Winter Nights for Modern Heathens

Winter Nights begins on the first full moon after the Autumn Equinox and lasts three days. This places Winter Nights starting on October 17th and ending on October 19th, 2024. Using the Eddas, archeological research, and historical records, Winter Nights included three blots, or sacrifices: Alfablót, Disablót, and Haustblót. 

Alfablót and Disablót were believed to be celebrated more privately while Haustblót was a community event. There is some suggestion that Disablót was also celebrated publically, and in some parts of the world, it still is. I, however, have chosen to make this a private celebration. Alfablót and Disablót are both celebrations of our ancestors, local spirits, and deities, each focusing on a different group. Alfablót celebrates our male ancestors, spirits, and Álfar, while Disablót celebrates our female ancestors, spirits, and Dísir. Haustblót, on the other hand, is more of a thanksgiving to celebrate the abundance of the final harvests, give thanks, and honor the spirits and deities that made such a bountiful harvest possible. One last hurrah before the cold sets in and the earth withers.

Modern Heathens can celebrate Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) in various ways that honor both traditional Norse customs and contemporary pagan practices. As with any celebration, your rituals, feasts, and sacrifices should be personal. If there is an ancestor you do not wish to work with and celebrate, don't. You are not required to include problematic ancestors in your rites and rituals. If you are unable to have a bonfire, light a candle or turn on a video of a fireplace burning. Don't eat meat (like myself) or drink alcohol, and therefore don't feel comfortable buying it as a sacrifice? Offer a hearty mushroom and root vegetable stew or grape juice instead. Your celebration methods are valid, even if they aren't "historically" accurate. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

With that said, how can you celebrate Winter Nights? I have broken this list down into what you can do each night, starting with Alfablót and ending with Haustblót. There is significant overlap between Alfablót and Disablót as they are very similar holy tides, so I have grouped them up for this list and made a note if an idea is better suited for one or the other.


Alfablót and Disablót

Honoring the Álfar and Dísir


1. Honor Your Male & Female Ancestors with Offerings 
Honor your ancestors by preparing a special meal and offering food and drink to them. You can create a small altar with photos or symbols of your ancestors and leave offerings such as mead, bread, or seasonal foods. Hold a blót (sacrificial rite), symbolically offering food or drink to the gods, spirits, and ancestors, and share a portion with them. 
Offering Ideas: Mead, bread, smoked meats, hearty vegetable stew, or honningkaker (honey cake/cookie)

2. Light a Sacred Fire or Candle 
Light a fire or candles to represent the transition from light to darkness as the days grow shorter. Fire is symbolic of protection and warmth, driving away the cold and spirits of the dark season. Sit around the fire for storytelling, sharing tales of ancestors or myths from Norse sagas. 
Alternative Ideas: If you cannot light a fire or candle, use an oil warmer or space heater, or pull up a video of a fireplace.

3. Peform Rituals for the Álfar & Dísir 
Honor the Álfar, protective male spirits or ancestors, and the Dísir, protective female spirits or ancestors. This was traditionally done with offerings of food, drink, or symbols of respect. A quiet, reflective ritual for each can be held to seek their guidance and protection throughout the winter months.
Ritual suggestion: Cleanse and clear a space for your working. Set up a simple altar with images of your ancestors, spirit guides, and deities. Light a candle and invite your ancestors to join you in your ritual. Ask them for guidance and protection and to send you messages through the flame of your candle. Focus on the candle flame and record any visions or insights you receive. Leave an offering of thanks for their assistance and guidance.

4. Cast Runes during Disablót
Practice divination by casting runes to gain insight into the coming winter or to seek guidance for the season ahead. Ask questions about your future, challenges, or personal growth during the dark season. Divination is particularly powerful during Disablót because such a practice was considered "women's work" and because the Dísir include the Norns (the Fates) and Freya (goddess of divination and magic).
Runic Spread Suggestions: Three Norns Spread (Past Actions, What Will Likely Happen, Influencing You Now) or Runic V (7 rune spread).

5. Meditation and Quiet Reflection 
Set aside time for meditation or quiet reflection on the shifting seasons, your connection to nature, and your place in the cycle of life and death. This can be done outdoors or at an altar, focusing on the themes of transformation, survival, and rebirth.

6. Reflect on Cycles of Death and Rebirth 
Use Vetrnætr as a time to reflect on personal transformation. As winter symbolizes death and renewal, consider meditative rituals focused on releasing old habits, behaviors, or aspects of your life that no longer serve you, and setting intentions for growth.
Ritual Idea: To break a bad habit, combine chili powder, ginger, ground cinnamon, and rosemary to create an incense. Light a black candle and a charcoal disk. Add your incense to the charcoal disk. Take a flammable image or other flammable representative of your bad habit (such as a written description or cigarette) and tear it up. As you do so, visualize the bad habit leaving you for good. See yourself happy and healthy without the habit. Place the destroyed habit on top of your charcoal disk and incense and say, "I release this my bad habit of [insert habit name here]. I banish it from me to be rid of it forever and always. I am transformed and free, so it shall be." End your ritual by cleansing yourself with smoke or water. Allow the candle and charcoal to burn out completely. Bury the spell remains away from your home or throw it in the trash away from your home.


Haustblót

Celebrating the Final Harvest


7. Seasonal Feast with Family & Friends
Prepare a feast with seasonal foods, particularly hearty dishes like meat, root vegetables, and grains. Traditionally, this time marked the end of the harvest, so incorporating harvest themes into the meal is symbolic. Invite family, friends, or members of your kindred to share in the meal, fostering community, warmth, and gratitude.

8. Perform a Group Ritual Outdoors
If you have access to natural settings, consider hosting an outdoor ritual. Offer libations (such as mead or ale) and seasonal fruits or grains to the land spirits (landvættir), asking for their blessings during the winter months. Make a group sacrifice to say thanks to the land and gods for providing you and yours with such abundance and ask for their blessing and protection in the coming harsh, winter months.
Offering Ideas: Mead, ale, smoked meat, honey, apples, stew, bread, grains

9. Seasonal and Ancestral Crafting
Engage in seasonal crafting as part of your celebration. Making handmade items like rune sets, wool garments, or seasonal decorations can connect you to the traditions of your ancestors, who prepared for the harsh winter with practical and creative work. This is the perfect time to can, smoke, and otherwise prepare foods to store through the winter months.
Craft ideas: Make runes, can seasonal vegetables, prep freezer meals, tan hides, dry apples and oranges to make a garland, or decorate pinecones with peanut butter and seeds for wildlife.

10. Craft Seasonal Charms or Wards 
Create protective charms or wards to safeguard your home and family during the darker half of the year. These can be made from autumn herbs, plants, or natural materials gathered during the season, such as dried leaves, acorns, or pinecones. This is also a great time to redo any protection wards you may already have. Take them down, perform a cleansing ritual, then put them back in place. Remember, wards trap things inside so you want to occasionally take them down to let any built of negativity or unwanted energy leave.
Charm Ideas: Create protective bind runes and draw them in protection oil on your doors and windows or create them out of sticks and hang around your home.

11. Set up a Seasonal Altar 
Design an altar for Vetrnætr that incorporates symbols of autumn and the coming winter. Use candles, seasonal herbs like mugwort or yarrow, and animal totems associated with the season (like ravens or wolves). Add offerings to the gods or ancestors. 

12. Storytelling and Saga Share
Storytelling is a way to pass on wisdom, entertain, and bond with others during the long nights. You can gather with loved ones or your kindred and take turns reading or telling stories from the Eddas or other mythic tales. This is also a great time to just talk and visit, sharing stories from your life and learning about the lives of others. If you are celebrating alone, why not read a book or watch a movie?

14. Hold a Sumbel or Symbel
A sumbel is a drinking ritual in which a horn or goblet of mead or other alcoholic drink is passed around. A series of toasts are made, usually to the gods, ancestors, or heroes followed by boasts of great deeds performed throughout the year, and oath-making for the future year. As with all things, be careful of the words you choose, as any oath made during this time will turn the wheels of fate. A sumbel is a ritual that celebrates and strengthens the community but can also include a blot or sacrifice to the gods if a sacrifice of mead is also made to them. (I plan to post a complete guide to symbels/sumbels in the future so keep an eye out for it!)
Other drink suggestions: Beer, ale, wine, cider, juice, sweetened milk, or tea

15. Hail the Gods and Goddesses with a Ritual Sacrifice
During Vetrnætr, you can honor specific gods or goddesses who are associated with the season, such as Freyr (for fertility and harvest), Hel (goddess of the underworld), or the Norns (weavers of fate). Include offerings and prayers in their honor during your ritual. Winter Nights is composed of three blots, or sacrifices. This sacrifice can be an offering of blood (fresh meat, prick your finger, etc) or a sacrifice of something of value to you, such as food, money, or your time.



Again, how you celebrate Winter Nights is entirely up to you, but it should honor those you have loved and lost and give thanks for the blessings you have received. I am excited to celebrate my first Winter Nights this year (which happens to fall right at my birthday, ha!). Remember, plan early and thoroughly so you don't feel rushed and out of sorts when it comes to celebrating. This does not have to be an elaborate or over-the-top sort of celebration. Quiet and thoughtful is just as powerful as loud and raucous.





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Monday, October 7, 2024

What is Vetrnætr or Winter Nights?

What is Vetrnætr or Winter Nights?

The Norse, like all peoples, celebrated seasonal and astrological changes. What these celebrations were and how they were celebrated has been largely up for interpretation, relying on the Sagas, archeology, and surviving traditions to inform scholars and modern Norse pagans. In Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga by Snorri Sturluson, three great sacrifices are mentioned.

Þá skyldi blóta í móti vetri til árs, 
en at miðjum vetri blóta til gróðrar, hit þriðja at 
sumri, þat var sigrblót.

There should be a sacrifice at the beginning of winter for a good year, 
and in the middle of winter for a good crop, the 
third in summer day, that was the sacrifice for victory.

While not mentioned specifically by names like Sigrblót, the beginning of winter sacrifice is believed it be Vetrnætr or Winter Nights, while the mid-winter sacrifice is Yule. While most modern pagans are familiar with the lore and traditions of Yule, Winter Nights is less well known, especially by those practicing a Wiccan-inspired Wheel of the Year. So, what exactly is it?

Northern latitude countries, such as Iceland, Sweden, and Norway, experience much harsher winters that tend to come sooner rather than later compared to more southern latitudes like the United States. This pushes their slaughter season forward to mid-October instead of mid-November. The final three days of Haustmánuðr (Autumn Month) and the beginning of Gormánuðr (Slaughter Month), often marked as the first full moon of October or 28 days after the autumn equinox, were dedicated to celebrating the beginning of slaughter season and the final harvests.

We know Winter Nights lasted three days and what happened during these three days by analyzing the Sagas. In Valla-Ljóts saga 3 there is mention of hinar þriðju vetrnætur, “the third Winter Night,” suggesting that Winter Nights lasted at least three days. While further literature is contradictory, there are plenty of references to Haustblót occurring during Winter Nights. In Eyrbyggja saga 37 we see the following passage:

"Annað haust eftir að veturnóttum hafði Snorri goði haustboð mikið og bauð til vinum sínum. Þar var öldrykkja og fast drukkið."

...at winter-nights, Snorri the Priest had a great autumn-feast, and bade his friends thereto. Ale drinking they had thereat, and folk drank fast and were very merry with ale.

Gisla saga 15 further supports Haustblót being part of Winter Nights in its description of Thorgrim's Haustblót celebration.

Þorgrímr ætlaði at hafa haustboð at vetrnóttum ok fagna vetri ok blóta Frey ok býðr þangat Berki, bróður sínum ok Eyjólfi Þórðarsyni ok mǫrgu ǫðru stórmenni. Gísli býr ok til veizlu ok býðr til sín mágum sínum ór Arnarfirði ok Þorkǫtlum tveimr, ok skorti eigi hálft hundrað manna at Gísla. Drykkja skyldi vera at hvárratveggja, ok var strát gólf á Sæbóli af sefinu af Seftjǫrn.

Thorgrim intended to have an autumn gathering at Winternights and welcome winter and sacrifice to Freyr, and he invited his brother Bork and Eyjolf Thordarson and many other prominent men. Gisli also prepared a feast and invited his kin from Arnarfjord and the two Thorketills. There were no fewer than half a hundred men at Gisli’s home. There was to be drinking at both houses, and the floor at Sæbol was strewn with sedges from Seftjorn.
Here we not only see Haustblót 's inclusion in Winter Nights but also get a glimpse into how the holiday would have been celebrated. These celebratory practices are further discussed in Óláfs saga helga 107:

Þat haust váru sǫgð Óláfi konungi þau tiðendi innan ór Þrándheimi, at boendur hefði þar haft veizlur fjǫlmennar at veturnóttum. Váru þar drykkjur miklar. Var konungi svá sagt, at þar væri minni ǫll signuð Ásum at fornum sið. Þat fylgdi ok þeiri sǫgn, at þar væri drepit naut ok hross og roðnir stallar af blóði ok framið blót ok veittr sá formáli, at þat skyldi vera til árbótar.

That fall, the tidings were told to King Olaf at Thrandheim that the freeholders had held a feast attended by many at Winternights. There was much drinking there. The king was told that there was minni-ale blessed to the Æsir according to the old custom. The story continued that cattle and horses were killed and the altars reddened with blood, and a blót carried out, and the prayer performed that had to be made for better seasons.

Here we see that not only was Haustblót celebrated with communal feasting, drinking, a toast to the gods (sumbel), and general merriment, but also marked by a ritual sacrifice, in this case of cattle and horses. Prayers were performed over these sacrifices in hopes of ensuring a quick winter and a bountiful harvest in the coming year. I have said it before and I will say it again, our ancestors relied heavily on their harvests to ensure they survived through the winter. A failed crop or loss of livestock ensured a family's demise, especially if their community didn't come to the rescue. These sacrifices were made to the gods as a thank-you for the abundance they had received and to ensure they wouldn't go without in the coming year.

There are also indications that sporting contests were also held during Winter Nights. Both Eyrbyggja saga 43 and Hallfreðar saga vandræðaskálds 2 mention annual leikmóts or sporting contests being held at or around the time of Winter Nights, suggesting that not only did the community celebrate with feasts, drinking, merriment, and sacrifices, but also with contests and games. The most commonly mentioned game in the sagas is knáttleikr, a game similar to hurling or shinty that could be played on either land or ice.

But what about Disablót and Alfablót? Again, there are contradictions in the texts, but in general, most agree both of these celebrations and sacrifices occur on or around Winter Nights. In Víga-Glúms saga 6 it says:

Þar var veisla búin að veturnóttum og gert dísablót og allir skulu þessa minning gera. Glúmur situr í rúmi sínu og gengur eigi til. Og er á leið kveldið er menn voru komnir þá var eigi svo mikil gleði sem líklegt mundi þykja fyrir fagnaðar sakir og vina fundar er þar voru margir saman komnir. Og þann dag er menn höfðu komið til boðsins hafði Glúmur eigi út gengið í móti mönnum og bauð engum að sitja hjá sér eða í hans rúmi.

A party was held there on a winter's night and an oath was taken, and everyone should remember this. Glúmur sits in his bed and does not move. And as the evening wore on, when the men had arrived, there was not so much joy as might be thought for the sake of rejoicing and the meeting of friends, where many had gathered. And on the day when the men had come to the invitation, Glúmur had not gone out to meet the men and did not invite anyone to sit with him or in his bed.
Egils saga 44 further corroborates that Disablót was held near winter's beginning with "much drink." Most famously, however, is Disablót's mention in the Heiðreks saga. In this story, King Álfr of Álfheimr holds a great Disablót celebration where his daughter, Álfhildr conducts the rites. Álfhildr is kidnapped while she is "reddening a horgr with blood" which suggests the ritual sacrifice during Disablót was performed by women. Other passages, such as the Ynglinga saga suggest men were capable of performing these rites as well, but disa is often connected to Disir making it a time to celebrate feminine spirits, deities, and ancestors. Whether or not women performed the rite is not particularly important as long as the Disir are being honored and celebrated.

By August Malmström - Alf Henrikson (1985) Ända Från Vendelkråka. p. 23, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4476524
By August Malmström - Alf Henrikson (1985) Ända Från Vendelkråka. p. 23, Public Domain


Alfablót, like Disablót is mentioned as being in the autumn in Austfararvísur, where Sigvat, a traveling poet, is denied hospitality as the family is holding Alfablót:

'Gakkat inn,’ kvað ekkja, 
‘armi drengr, en lengra; 
hræðumk ek við Óðins 
— erum heiðin vér — reiði.’ 
Rýgr kvazk inni eiga 
óþekk, sús mér hnekkði, 
alfablót, sem ulfi 
ótvín, í bœ sínum.

Do not come any farther in, wretched fellow’, said 
the woman; ‘I fear the wrath of Óðinn; we are 
heathen.’ The disagreeable female, who drove me 
away like a wolf without hesitation, said they were 
holding a sacrifice to the elves inside her farmhouse.

This passage also gives us a glimpse into what Alfablót was, "a sacrifice to the elves." Alfar translated to "elves" but is also believed to be deceased ancestors, as Frey/Freyr, who is also mentioned in Gísla saga 15 is the lord of Álfheimr, aka lord of the dead in their mounds. Furthermore, in the district of Geirstaðir, harvest sacrifices were made at the burial mound of the Norwegian king, Olaf, in hopes of bringing prosperity and good harvests. This further suggests Alfablót's connection with celebrating and honoring the dead. Today, some modern Norse pagans honor protective land spirits during Alfablót while others choose to honor their male ancestors. The sagas suggest both are accurate so it's entirely up to you what to honor during this time. The same is true of Disablót, but Disablót's clear connection with the disir suggests it is both a celebration of female ancestors and feminine spirits and goddesses alike.

Not only do these above passages suggest that Disablót and Alfablót were held during Winter Nights, but they also suggest both of these sacrifices were held privately with family and close friends, unlike Haustblót which was celebrated by the community at large. Neither Disablót nor Alfablót was necessarily a celebration, but something that you did during Winter Nights to honor ancestors, gods, and land spirits. Being a blot, we know a sacrifice of blood would have been made and perhaps followed by a small family dinner with drink. Some have suggested Alfablót is similar to Samhain, but there are very limited similarities between the two. While both celebrate the dead, there were no carved gourds, costumes, or such rituals during Alfablót.

By Henrik Sendelbach, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=257834
The Stentoften Stone, bearing a runic inscription that likely describes a blót of nine he-goats and nine male horses bringing fertility to the land. By Henrik Sendelbach, CC BY-SA 3.0


This year (2024) Winter Nights begins on October 17th and concludes on October 19th. The order in which you celebrate these three blots is entirely up to you, as nothing suggests their order in the sagas. I have chosen to celebrate Alfablót on the first night followed by Disablót then Haustblót. Much like our forefathers, I plan to spend the first two nights privately celebrating those we have loved and lost while simultaneously celebrating and thanking the spirits of the land for their continued protection and support. All of this will crescendo on Saturday with a larger celebration and feast with family and friends. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on ways to celebrate Winter Nights, my sacrifice suggestions, feast recipes, and altar inspiration! Until then!



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Thursday, October 3, 2024

Book Review: Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic by Amy Blackthorn

Book Review: Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic by Amy Blackthorn
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amy Blackthorn is certainly a growing household name among green witches and pagans. She has written several amazing books on incorporating plants into your magical practice, from protection to wellness to recipes. Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic: Spells, Rites, & Rituals for Living an Aromatic Life seems like a culmination of all of her hard work, crescendoing into a must-have guide, recipe book, and ritual journey in one.

Like many occult books nowadays, Blackthorn's Book of Scared Plant Magic is divided into two sections: Creating Relationships with Plants and Deeper Connections. The first section is a hodgepodge of information on developing relationships with plants, plant families, botanical divination, and ritual mindset. The information is excellent but incredibly disjointed. This made it difficult for me to read chapter to chapter as the information didn't flow well. If I am being completely honest, the information didn't always flow well within a chapter either. There were random asides and a bit of rambling at some points. While I love the information Blackthorn presents in all her books, I do not like her writing style. I know others adore it because it sort of feels like having a conversation. It's not for me though.

Despite my qualms with her writing style, the information is sound, in-depth, and unique from what I have found in many other occult books. I am so thankful for new information, ideas, and insights as it is exhausting reading about the same thing time and time again. The information is not Wiccan-inspired (thankfully) and rooted in sourced material and personal experience. Blackthorn is big on building your own personal practice and associations, as I am. I appreciate this approach, especially in light of the rampant cultural appropriation in our community.

Blackthorn discusses building relationships with plants in great detail in the first half of the book, from growing them yourself to cooking with them to making flower essences to traveling to the Otherworld to speak with them. She offers her approach to entering into a trance, which some of you may find useful, especially if you are struggling to reach an altered state of consciousness in the first place. She also offers detailed instructions and exercises along with tips, recipes, and spells woven in, allowing the reader to practice as they learn. I always enjoy this approach, especially for new witches or those looking to transform their practice. This is especially true for creating flower essences and using essential oil bottles like tarot or oracles cards. Yes, you read that correctly--essential oil bottles for divination. This approach is fascinating and has my mind reeling on what other objects I could potentially use to divine. I know we are all accustomed to runes, tarot, oracle, and even bones, but essential oil bottles? Or the plant itself? Fascinating!

As for flower essences, I think they are highly underutilized in the witch community. While I slightly disagree with Blackthorn on its appropriate uses, I do believe we are sleeping on some potent magic, especially if you are allergic to a plant you want to work with. There is a short discussion of homeopathy, but Blackthorn fails to definitively state that homeopathy does not work medicinally. There are no concrete studies supporting their use in medicine, with most pointing to any change in health being due to the placebo effect. Magically, however, flower essences are useful. According to animism, all living things have a spirit or energy. That energy can 'rub off' on things around it, particularly water. Even if a plant never physically touches the water, you can set a glass of water on top of the leaves, roots, or flowers or next to a living plant to allow the plant's energy to infuse into the water. Similar techniques are used to make crystal elixirs, especially for those that are toxic or break down easily in water.

My absolute favorite part of Blackthorn's Book of Scared Plant Magic, however, is the Botanical Listings A to Z. I love this sort of information! Like love, love it. Blackthorn presents correspondences, history/lore, and an abundance of spell ideas to incorporate the listed plants into your magical practice with a heavy emphasis on using their essential oil. Each listing ends with an essential oil recipe to help you get started. My only complaint is that the chapter was so short! I realize this is due to the constraints of the book, but I could always use more information on plants. Reading how others work with plants in their own practice provides valuable insights into how I can better work with them on my own. It also sparks my creativity, leading to new spells, rituals, and recipes for an abundance of needs.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and know I will make reference to it time and time again, even if I am not a super huge fan of the writing style. This is a must-purchase for any and all witches, new and old alike. Even if you are not super into working with plants, I promise there is information and insights in this book that will make you a better witch. You can order your copy of Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic: Spells, Rites, & Rituals for Living an Aromatic Life now, wherever books are sold!




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