Idhunna’s Day: March 20

March 20th in the Norse Tradition is the day of the goddess Idhunna who is the personification of the light half of the year. Also known as Idhunn, Iduna or Idun (Germanic), She is a Nordic-Icelandic goddess. The consort of Bragi (the Poet God), she was widely worshiped during the Viking period (700 AD) and earlier until the Christianization around 1100 AD. Some historians say that She is strongly connected to the Norse Tree of Life, the Axis Mundi, Yggdrasil. On this day, She brings joy to humankind by appearing in the form of a sparrow. Her name means “the Renewer” because she is a goddess of healing. Associated with the Viking Runes Eihwaz and Gyfu (the gift), She bestows the gift of rejuvenation and holistic balance.

As the Keeper of the Golden Apples of Immortality, Idhunna is the bearer and guardian of the magickal fruit of Aesir (the principle group of gods of the Norse pantheon). This is the fruit of life and eternal youth for the gods of Asgard, supplying them with immortality. Because of this role, she is known as the “Goddess of Eternal Renewal” and the “Goddess of Youth”. As you can imagine, Idhunna and her apples were in high demand.

Because these powers were coveted by the giants, Loki was blackmailed into abducting Idhunna, giving Her to the giant Thiassi (father of the goddess Skadi) as a form of payment for the construction of Odhinn’s Valhalla (the Hall of the Slain). It tuned out that the Golden Apples were useless to the Giants because the power did not lie in the apples themselves, but in Idhunna; unless they were given directly from Her healing hands, they had no regenerating power. Because it was Idhunna who helped sustain the life-force of divinity, after some time without the Golden Apples, the gods began to age. Ironically, Loki was the one who rescued her and her apples and they were returned to the Aesir.

A sweet fruit of the soil, the apple is a long-time symbol of the wisdom of the Universe. Representing our Earth, when cut sideways, the apple reveals the five-pointed star, symbolizing humankind and it’s ages, vitality, health, wisdom and more. This life-sustaining fruit of heaven is guarded by Idhunna who maintains the vitality and health all of the Norse gods. This is Her gift to them, and if you ask, this can be Her gift to you as well.

Ideally, perform this mini-ritual on March 20th, but you an always perform this on a Monday, which is Her day, if your schedule doesn’t work out. This is designed to leave your old life behind, to renew with the Spring, and bring healing to your life.

Decorate your altar with the colors of silver and green (Her colors) and if you are in an area where there are apple blossoms on the trees, sprinkle a few of those on your altar as well. In lieu of apples made form gold, purchase some Golden Delicious Apples from the grocery store. You will also want to give her an offering of seeds; any will do, as these are a symbol of initiation as seeds contain the concentrated power of potential that is ready to burst into form. Other supplies you will need will be a knife to cut the apple, a candle (silver or green would be perfect), a plate to cut the apple on and a bowl for the seeds.
To call to Idhunna, light the candle and say:

“Goddess Idhunna, Lady of Light,

At this time of growing bright;

Lady, visit me as the Sparrow,

May I start a new life on the morrow.”

With the knife, cut in the side of the apple the rune Gyfu, which you can easily make with an “X”. Meditate upon what gifts you wish to receive form Idhunna, be they health, vitality, renewal, regeneration, or anything else that you desire. Literally see these gifts coming to you and hold these thoughts firmly in your mind.

Cut the apple cross-ways exposing the Star of Wisdom inside and say:

“Ancient fruit of Universal wisdom,

Keeper of the Pentagram,

Growing on the Tree of Life

Renew me now and free me from strife.”

Take a bite or two of the apple and as you state the sweetness, take in the sweetness of your new life. Literally “taste” the success and happiness that is coming your way.

Finally, place the seeds in the bowl and say:

“Idhunna, I Thank You for Your gift,

On the morrow, my life I uplift.

I put the past behind, I am healed and whole,

I have potential like the seeds in this bowl.

My life is mine, but with Your aid,

My garden is tilled by hoe and spade.

Thank You for Your vitality,

My thanks to You and Blessed Be.”

These are you offerings to Idhunna, and do take the time to care for them on a regular basis. If you can, plant the seeds outdoors and care for them daily. If your region has not yet thawed, then plant the seeds in a pot of earth and when able to, transplant the sprouts outside.

Make sure to place some of the apples outside for the animals and the nature spirits!

Sources:

Exploring the Northern Tradition by Galina Krasskova

Norse Magick by DJ Conway

Northern Magick by Edred Thorsen

Pagan Book of days by Nigel Pennick

Rites of Odin by Ed Fitch

Rune Mysteries by Silver Ravenwolf and Nigel Jackson

Hello!
I thought that I would quickly state that you can easily take advantage of the “after Christmas clearance sales” going on right now to protect your house and yourself from negative energy.
Just keep an eye out for bells. In years past, I have bought “Christmas Bells” that are meant to be hung on the doorknob. Each and every time the door is opened and closed, the bells ring, thereby dispelling any negatively. If you are not able to find the bells that are designed to hang on a door knob, you can use any of the sleigh-like bells and attach a colored ribbon to them and simply hang them on your doorknobs throughout the house.
If you don’t feel like having them on EVERY doorknob in the house, then make sure that there are bells on the doors that are used to enter the house. That is the most important because the ringing of the bells (higher vibration) breaks up any negative energy (lower vibration) that might be entering your home. This negative energy could be riding piggyback on a person that enters the house or even through the mail that you bring in form the mailbox!
Using bells on your front door is nothing new. This is where the idea of the doorbell came from. In shops of old, there were bells that would tinkle every time a customer entered and exited the store. Shopkeepers adopted this idea from the magickal concept of keeping a bell on your door to ward off negatively because they didn’t want anything to harm there prosperity (sales).
So, as you are out-and-about, make sure to peruse the clearance section. I’m sure you’ll be able to find some bell and ribbon for next to nothing and you will be able to protect yourself all year long!

Christmas can be a touchy time of the year for the Pagan Community. Due to a long history of persecution from the religion that stole the Pagan holiday, many Pagans look unfavorably on Christmas. It doesn't help that after Thanksgiving (if you're lucky) everywhere is decorated with the capitalistic decor of Santa, Frosty, and Lights. It gets worse yet when December hits and every store you step foot into plays Christmas music, and usually of the Christian kind. And of course, people have an innate ability to act very foully during a holiday designated to treating people well. All of this said and done, the holidays are what you make of them. Far from a time to unwind, with the constant stress of deadlines and relatives that you only see on holidays for good reason, it's important to enjoy the little things. Whether the people you meet over the holidays are your brothers, sisters, best friends, or an annoying cousin from out of town, be appreciative of them. Sometimes telling yourself that the people in your life have only the best of intentions can make dealing with the stress of the holidays that much better. Also, remind yourself that everyone is just as stressed as you are right now. But most importantly, take some time to treat yourself. If you received gift cards or cash you could buy yourself a gift. It doesn't have to be extravagant, but something that you want that you may not normally buy for yourself. Perhaps lay in bed someday and read a book or watch a favorite movie. The holidays can be a pleasant time of the year if you attempt to balance it. Thank you all for a wonderful year and Happy Holidays.

   John Doe 1970-2009. Your life is defined by a hyphen. It doesn't matter what you've done, where you've been, who you've met or what you've seen... it won't be remembered. Sure, your immediate relatives will remember you, but once they're gone and only their children remain, or once your children and grandchildren have also faded into the sands, who will remember you? Who will care? Any pictures you've taken of yourself and posted all over your Facebook, unimportant, subjective material. Is this some cruel, sick, morbid joke I'm playing? Or some kind of pessimistic outlandish view on life? No, it's the truth. If you think truth is jaded, then perhaps the world you live in is just that, jaded. And the truth of the matter is, you're unimportant.

   There are plenty of studies out there, psychological and philosophical, that study and attempt to define self-importance. What is it that defines ourselves as unique? Why do we assume that we are better in some way than the rest of not only humanity or the other species that inhabit this planet but the inanimate as well? And why do we feel some sort of self-entitlement to have a special mind, spirit, and soul? Why should there be more than the flesh?

   The soul is an idea fabricated from man's struggle with his own mortality. The soul grants man an escape from death, and coincidentally, life as well. If we have a soul, then there must be something more after the physical, which thus began the creation of heaven fantasies and even hells. Is this unconfirmed and almost irrational hope healthy for the individual ego? Does it matter, have I not already stated how unimportant we are?

   The planet existed perfectly fine before us, and without our viral tainting of it, it will survive just fine without us. Nature is an intricately developed ecosystem that balances itself and creates a constant state of renewal. Certainly scientists claim that someday the sun will engulf us, just as the sun will some day be engulfed by the Milky Way, but it is unlikely that man will witness these events. To be quite frank, the entire planet could explode into space dust, and there would be hardly a ripple throughout space. We certainly are unimportant to the universe.

   Why am I telling you, the reader, all of this? Is it my plan to pull you down into some depressed hole that I currently reside in? Far from it. As soon as you realize how unimportant you truly are, the sooner you can attempt to enjoy the life you have. Does this reason seem unusual, twisted, or tainted? It is a belief shared by many, and it has just cause. If you realize that you will inevitably die, and that the world will get along fine without you, and that no matter how much material wealth (including people or relationships) you acquire, that it really won't matter, the sooner you can become what spiritualists call enlightened. In fact, Tibetan monks are known for sky burials (putting their deceased on pillars so that birds can eat their flesh) and creating instruments from the bones to further impress the unimportance of the material.

   To become enlightened isn't some ethereal means of removing yourself from the very thing that you are by denying human needs. It's a state of understanding. Understand how important the people in your life are right now, because they won't be here tomorrow. Understand that you will never be more beautiful than you are at this very moment, because in the next instance you will be a completely different person. Know that time isn't some enigmatic puzzle to be solved, but a blessing, that allows you to truly appreciate existence, because you know that it is temporary. If the sky was in a permanent state of sun-setting, then the site would become less beautiful to the beholder... it would become stagnant. Humans need change.

   So know that as the cemetery gates rust and crumble, the weeds grow tall, and the stone that holds your hyphen is worn into rumble, that there is no permanence. You are living now, and trust me, you are alive, which means that now is the time to live. If you wait until tomorrow, you will be gone forever as a shadow fades into the night. And for all you know, this is it. There could be no afterlife, and certainly if one follows Occam's Razor, there is not. Don't waste your life suffering for some chance.

   Exercise:
   Go to your local cemetery, preferably during the day (since it is illegal at least in Michigan to visit after dusk). As you walk past the cemetery gates, look around you. Look at all of the pale, faceless souls. The stone memoirs only remembered by the groundskeeper (and sometimes barely even by them). Lay down in front of a tombstone and close your eyes. Imagine that you are laying in your tomb, encased in wood and surrounded by dirt. Feel the damp, stagnant air. Imagine your body, laying there, motionless, for years. The wood around you decomposes as bugs and roots slowly work their way through. And like the wood that houses you, your body too is decomposed by bacteria, insects, and roots, until you are no longer recognizable and eventually, you become compost. You return to the dirt in which you came from. That is death. As hard as this imagination drill may be, if you are successful, you will have a new appreciation for impermanence and life.

(IMDb.com)

   Last night I watched the movie Paranormal Activity written and directed by Oren Peli. The movie is a fictitious documentary of a haunted girl Katie and her idiotic boyfriend Micah. First, I'd like to mention that I don't understand why directors/writers feel that in order to make the documentary style film seem more realistic they have to have an annoying character (i.e. Matt Reeves 2008 film Cloverfield). Most films of this sort are overshadowed by this annoying individual, however, Paranormal Activity is defined by it. The film overall was well acted, the camera work fit the genre, and the VG (video graphics) were excellent. The film jumps right into the plot when Micah buys a dinosaur of a video camera to catch evidence of his girlfriend's supposed paranormal activity. Micah approaches the subject with an air of disbelief, intrigue, and blatant disrespect. Even though they are warned by a psychic/ghost hunter that it appeared to be more than a ghost and that they need to not encourage it and get it dealt with professionally (and Katie's pleas as well), Micah makes what appears to be all the wrong choices and decides that his research and experimentation will some how magically deal with the entity. The ending itself was a little far-fetched but still plausible (probably with much more and longer oppression). It's almost as if horror film directors come up with a good idea and don't know how to end it (i.e. Geoffrey Sax's 2005 film White Noise starring Michael Keaton). The film does attempt to share the possibilities of paranormal occurrences but unfortunately will be viewed as a work of fiction to the majority and not a warning. All of that said, this film is worth viewing.

   So what does this movie have to do with my column, The Sentient Sentinel? Well, as some of you are aware I am an Occult Specialist, so I have more than a passing interest on the subject. The problem that the main characters in this film are faced with is who to turn to? The ghost hunter explains that he is not equipped for such a case and recommends a demonologist that they end up not calling until it's too late. However, both of these men are doctors of some sort and therefore are believed to have knowledgeable opinions. However, what most people don't know is that an Exorcism can only be performed by an ordained priest with authority from the Vatican for that particular case, which means, hardly any real exorcisms have taken place. Especially with the skepticism in regards to religion and paranormal activity today, traditional exorcists look for any and all alternatives before requesting such a procedure. Also, thanks to the entertainment industry's recounting of these tales in books and movies, they can and have gone incredibly wrong.

   There are of course others who claim to do exorcisms, but you should be very wary. There's an entire movement of charismatics who perform deliverance on a daily basis. Deliverance is a not so fancy term for an exorcism. Sects of Christianity who are not apart of the Vatican and therefore could not obtain the rites of exorcism thought if they changed the name that it wouldn't count as an actual exorcism, therefore their need for permission was waved and yet they could still 'help' individuals in need. However, most people who perform deliverance believe that demons afflict everyone on a daily basis and "cast out" ridiculous amounts of evil entities from individuals.

   Of course, despite popular belief, Christianity is far from the only religion afflicted by evil spirits. I could write a book on all of the different evil entities, what religion they reside in, and how that particular religion deals with their own source of evil. However, since Witchmoot is a Pagan Blog Community, I will focus on Paganism. Yes, even the happy-go-lucky children of the Earth sometimes run into afflicting spirits. There are many different spells out there that claim to deal with troublesome entities. These spells may only be targeted at ghosts or may encompass or specifically be for a 'demonic' type. Whether a spell or exorcism is used, they're really the same means to an end. The individual's body is infected by a spirit (evil or good irrelevant) and the practitioner attempts to treat the infection.

   So who to turn to if you have trouble with paranormal phenomena? Well, there is surely a plethora of "Ghost Hunters" around your area that dedicate a certain amount of time (professional is a subjective term in paranormal regards) to researching these cases, but if they even offer a solution, it really is not their specialty. A parapsychologist and/or a demonologist are few and far between and really are the most controversial members of the paranormal industry. I have become aware of a couple of supposed Demonologists in Michigan, but I have not checked out their workshops since they charge $35-$40 per lecture, which I refuse to pay. Plus, every demonologist I am aware of are Christian. The head of any religious community may be willing to stop by and bless your person or residence, and often times they offer 'blessed' substances for personal 'blessings.' However, from my experience, religious figures are also unequipped to deal with such occurrences and often times will turn people away due to fear.

   So you have just been rejected by the only place you know to go, what now? Well, luckily, there are a few "Occult Specialists" out there that do 'specialize' in dealing with these sort of things. What makes one an Occult Specialist? Unfortunately there is no dictum for it. Through personal research and experience (and sometimes chance) people become Occult Specialists. Credentials are hard to come by so trusting a supposed Occult Specialist can be difficult, especially since true Occult Specialists tend to be frowned upon by the 'brighter' spiritualists (meant to include religious figures, despite their lack of spirituality at times) due to their darker nature and the subject of their work.

   There, unfortunately, is no listing for Occult Specialists and they can be rather hard to come by. Other than myself, the only people I am aware of that are capable of dealing with such cases are the Strigoi Vii, who have been known to set up websites that provide contact information. Once again, most people frown upon their community, so I present you with the same conflict as myself, how desperate are you? If you are truly afflicted, are you in enough torment to ask for help, even if it is from someone you may fear as much as the entity itself? For more knowledge on the Strigoi Vii, look into the work of Michelle Belanger.

   In summary, Paranormal Activity is worth seeing due to it's realistic portrayal that is often times exaggerated due to Hollywood's demand for cheap thrills and chills. Whether one has an active interest in the paranormal or a passing moment, this film offers entertainment to the full spectrum of adult viewers. And like other movies in it's genre, the fictitious documentary thoroughly draws the audience into the lives of the characters.