September
17th: GOG's
Fall Equinox Ritual to Frigga
Hillary did a fine job leading our Fall Equinox Ritual, which honored
the Norse Goddess FRIGGA, Beloved All-Mother, Spinner of Fate.,
weaver, creator, comforter, quiet power behind the throne of Odin. The ritual
was powerful and just a little scary at times. 21 people participated. Laura
started us with a chime, and Deb Sandrock and Norma started a soft motherly
heartbeat drum rhythm that continued through the ritual. Sharon invoked
Frigga as Earth Mother with a great call-and-response invocation, Norma
led a quiet meditation on our own harvests. Nora invoked the directions
and center pointing out craft stores and furniture stores along the way
and always returning to the center. Ed invoked the well of Wyrd as that
which all things collapse into, and that which spins all things out. Norma
channeled Jenniforensic and invoked fire. Carol gave us our World Tree,
reminding us that it's a living thing, breathing, taking in water and light.
Deb Sandrock led us up to Heimdal's demense and then asked the Norse guardian
to open the gates. The gates were opened. Patty invoked Thor and acknowledged
the outsiders and escorted them outside. Our bard, Jenne, then invoked Saga
with a beautiful song, as many of us chimed in, and asked Her to lend us
eloquence. Misha gave us our ancestors, bringing us all the way back to
the beginnings of humanity, where only the ones who cooperated survived,
or only the ones who were selfish enough to kill off the others. Mike brought
our Nature Spirits in all around us. Marc invoked Goddesses and Gods, and
talked about how the Gods we know are only the ones that our ancestors told
stories about. And the ones that they forgot are unknown to us. Then Hillary
invoked the star of the evening, Frigga, and also Her handmaidens. She told
us how Frigga is as powerful as Odin, only quieter, and how she knows all,
but won't tell, as She is the weaver of all. There was a good bit of heartfelt
praise, songs, poems, objects, flowers, fruit.... We drum and sang for a
main sacrifice. Our omens were from the Robin Wood Tarot, as interpreted
by our seer-suckers Nora, Sam, and Kristen: we received the two of swords-
Frigga is well pleased, the ritual was properly performed; the page of wands-
good things coming to us, bright and shiny things; and the 8 of wands- journeys,
going places. The omens were deemed good, and the waters of life consecrated
and passed out. After the ritual we feasted, and Norma weaved hair braids
and Hillary taught us how to weave friendship bracelets for Frigga.