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This Christmas we decided to explore our ancient European roots and learn about Yule as our ancestors celebrated during the winter months. The energy surrounding the winter solstice is very powerful. Rightly so- as it is the culmination of the entire year's momentum. The awakening fertility of spring, the monumental growth of summer, and harvesting the fruits of labor in the fall all come to completion at the winter solstice. Sunna needs her rest and the dark days in northern climates beckon us to do the same. We must live in the continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth in order for the burst of energy in the spring to be sustainable. Now that it is January Sunna has been reborn and can begin to slowly gain the energy needed for the growing season.
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We also have been going through a spiritual awakening ourselves. Not only within us, but also around us on our land and in our home. It is our desire to bring back good omens, and positive, protective energies. Without spirituality inside the hearts of men, there is a great gap. This gap separates us from truly living. If we are not strong spiritually it leaves this gap wide open for our most darkest fears to begin to cultivate. From some this may be Christianity or Paganism. No matter what your spiritual path is, it is important to have one!
Thus, we have been filling that gap, and it feels so warm and welcome- the missing link in our lives. I am a fan of Hunter Yoder's barn stars and hexes. This Distelfink we now have hanging in our kitchen, often seen in Pennsylvania Dutch folk art.
So what does this all have to do with the little gnome looking creature called the tomten? After reading "The Tomten" and "The Tomten And The Fox" by Astrid Lindgren to our children I was called very strongly to read more about these little house elves. I watched a video on YouTube about house deities. Tomten is a little bearded figure in Scandinavian culture who takes care of the grounds of each families farm. They are said to be the male ancestors of the family bloodline. While everyone is asleep on the homestead it is the tomten who is awake. He quietly makes his rounds, keeping an eye on the barn animals, the land, and the humans who live there.
("The Tomten" By Astrid Lindgren)
(Illustration by Harald Wiberg )
This, to me, is not unlike the landvættir or land wights of ancient Norse mythology. These entities inhabit all things in nature- trees, rocks, streams, animal burrows etc... The land wights can be helpful or not depending on how we treat them. I believe that they truly do exist, however their presence is not made apparent to us because we have forgotten them. The absence of spirituality in modern day culture that I have mentioned in previous posts lends way to a slightly empty feeling I have had when I stand about my land. Helpful wights have fled our spaces because we have forgotten them. In contrast, traveling deep into the woods feels very magical with a strong presence of inhabitants of more than just fur and feather. In their absence dark energies begin to creep and prey upon our own fears and nightmares. But no more. I am calling back and honoring our allies. I am offering them frith, peace, and comradery. I don't believe this will be a quick and easy process, but by taking the time to listen and leave offerings I think that a dialogue can be re-opened. This is very important to us as we begin to reform our property from lawn to homestead. If we can awaken this blood memory within ourselves we can begin a positive healing in our land and in our hearts.
A return to home.
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