Yule 2007

On Saturday, December 15 the Ulfhethnar Kindred held its annual Yule gathering, and as usual we had a great turnout.  The event was held at Jessica's home in the Sacramento area and Jessica did an outstanding job as hostess.  There was plenty of food for the many guests throughout the day and the evening feast was fantastic. 

People started arriving in the afternoon, and everyone socialized, ate delicious snacks, many of which were brought by our guests, and enjoyed the company of kinsmen and kinswomen, some of whom we'd not seen in quite some time.  As the day progressed and the sun went down, it was time to begin the feast.  We had a smoked pork roast, ham, bratwurst, smoked sausages, Jessica's popular puffed potato pastry,  home made sauerkraut, and many other assorted dishes that everyone contributed.  It was a fine meal.

Following the feast we held a discussion on Thor and his relevance to Yule.  Everyone participated, and it was a good opportunity for some of our guests to learn about our religion.  Once the discussion was completed, and everyone was on the same page as far as what we would be focusing on, it was time to conduct Blot. 

Jon served as Gothi, and conducted the Thor Blot.  It was a very powerful rite, and the burning sun-wheel in the circle added to the intensity.  When it ignited on it's own during the invocation, we knew Thor was present.  The energy was flowing, and many great toasts were made by those in attendance.  We had many first time participants, and they seemed to be open to the experience.

Later in the evening, we held a Sumbel, and again many great toasts were made. The horn made many rounds, and one of the highlights was Jon's original poem in honor of Thor.

It was a great event, and everyone had a good time.  It was nice to see so many people turn out for our gathering.  Hopefully we can keep the momentum rolling into the new year.

Sacramento Oktoberfest 2007

As a kindred, the Ulfhethnar try to gather as often as possible in between the seasonal spokes to enjoy each others company and keep up our bonds of kinship.  Usually these gatherings aren't documented here, but on occasion we take a few photos to post in order to give our readers a more full picture of our activities.

The Sacramento Oktoberfest, held at the Turn Verein Hall, is an event we've been attending for at least 10 years now as a kindred.  Many of our members have been going even longer.  It's a great event, probably one of the better Oktoberfests in Northern California.

At this years Oktoberfest, we met up with a few friends from other groups and had a great time.  As usual, the hall was packed and the food and beer lines long.  But we were undaunted in our quest for fine German Oktoberfest beer and German food. 

We all drank a lot and ate well.  A few of us even "chicken danced."  No, those pictures won't be exhibited!

Winter Finding, Sept 2007

For the Fall Equinox, the Ulfhethnar Kindred held its Winter Finding gathering in the Sacramento area.  We had a good turnout, and welcomed a few guests to our event.  A good time was had by all.

We spent most of the afternoon socializing and cooking the feast.  In preparation of the feast, Jim and Jessica had made a trip up to Apple Hill to purchase fresh apples and other fall harvest produce and goods.  The food was great.  We had a big pork roast smoked over apple wood, freshly made apple sauce, potato pastry stuffed with cheese, and home made apple crumb pie. 

After the meal, we held a brief discussion on Idunna, the goddess we would be invoking for the Blot.  The discussion was interesting, and we all seemed to have different takes on this enigmatic goddess and her role in our religion.  It was great to share ideas and contemplate a goddess we have rarely honored with Blot.

Jim conducted the Blot, and it went well.  The energy was flowing, and many great toasts were made. 

Following the Blot, we continued the revelry well into the night.  It was a fun and well needed gathering.

Summer Solstice, June 2007

For our Mid Summer gathering, we chose to head up to the Sierras for an extended weekend getaway in the Tahoe National Forest.  It turned out to be a great choice, and everyone had a fantastic time. 

Shawn, Kathleen, and Terry made it up to the shores of Weaver Lake on Wednesday to set up camp and ensure we had a suitable location for our intended purposes.  The site was awesome, mere feet from the shore of the beautiful alpine lake.  The rest of the group arrived between Thursday and Friday, and we were pleased with the turnout.  Though we would have liked to have seen more folks come, the remote location and necessity of having 4 wheel drive to get there limited our numbers a bit. 

During the days, we all enjoyed the scenic nature of the location and took advantage of the lake on which we were camped.  We all enjoyed the water, spending many hours swimming, fishing, and relaxing on our inflatable "VIP lounge."  Some of us explored the area on foot, and Jessica even paddled across the lake in our little boat to explore the other side's natural wonders, which included a waterfall.

Thursday we held a feast, enjoying a pork roast slow cooked and smoked for hours, as well as many sides donated by everyone.  After that, we began a discussion on Sif, the goddess we would be invoking on the night of the Solstice.  It was very informative, with everyone sharing their insights.  Following the discussion, we conducted the Blot.  The energy really flowed, so much so that it seemed to throw Jim off a little while he was conducting the rite. 

Probably the most memorable event of the weekend was the Hammer Consecration, which was held Saturday afternoon.  Months before the weekend was planned, Terry had been called by a friend to help clear out a tree that had been felled by lightning.  When Terry arrived, he found out it was a White Oak.  He saved a few rounds, from which he carved a large Thor's Hammer as a gift to Shawn and Kathleen.  It was a beautiful piece of work, carved and burned with runic inscriptions.  Our Solstice gathering was the perfect place to consecrate it.

Up on a hillside over looking the lake, Shawn led the rite.  Besides Terry, only official members were invited into the circle.  Shawn invoked all the Gods and Goddesses, and our ancestral lines, to join us and witness the rite.  One by one we stained the Hammer with our own blood, and asked the divine energies present to imbue it with their energy, mingling our life energy with theirs to create a very sacred religious object.  It was a very powerful and moving experience, and the energy of the gods was strongly felt.

On Saturday, we held another feast.  This time Shawn and Kathleen provided racks of ribs, which were outstanding.  We also had steaks and many other dishes that everyone contributed.  From all this a very large offering plate was made for Baldur, who we would be giving Blot to later in the evening following the feast and group discussion.

The Baldur Blot went well, bringing with it a sense of introspection that many of us felt in the hours following the rite. Many great toasts were made in Baldur's honor, and his presence was felt in the circle. 

That night after the Blot, we held Sumbel around the campfire and had a great time.  Many eloquent and thought provoking toasts were made, and we all enjoyed ourselves. 

The weekend was a great success.  Everyone had a fun time, and we were able to conduct many powerful rites.  We all felt invigorated, and eager to see what the next cycle has in store for the Ulfhethnar Kindred as we start the journey toward Yule.

Walpurgisnacht/May Day 2007

The Ulfhethnar Kindred chose to hold its Walpurgisnacht and May Day gatherings once again at Lake Chabot.  The weather was great, and a good time was had by all at the scenic campground in the East Bay hills.

The kindred met up at the park on Friday, and spent the evening setting up camp and sharing laughs.  We stayed up late drinking and socializing, catching up on the latest happenings in each others lives while sitting around the campfire.

On Saturday, more friends arrived and we spent the day socializing and doing various things around the camp.  Some of us explored the surroundings, some of us read, but mostly we took the opportunity to relax and enjoy the company.  When evening came around, we started getting into the frame of mind to perform the Odin Blot.  We cooked up lots of food for the evening feast, and a discussion on Odin was held.  Our group was small this time, so the discussion was pretty brief.  Everybody was on the same page and eager to get the rite going.

Jim performed the Odin Blot, and Odin's energy was felt throughout the circle.  Some great toasts were made, and everyone felt invigorated at the rite's conclusion.  Following the Blot, we again formed up around the campfire to relax and enjoy our friend's company and our surroundings.

In the morning, it was time to perform a Frigga Blot in celebration of May Day.  Our kindred always gets a good response from Frigga during blot, and this Blot was no exception.  Frigga's warm energy enveloped the circle and was felt by all.  We all felt good after the Blot, and considered the weekend to be a great success even though many of our kinsmen weren't able to attend.

Ostara, March 2007

For Ostara, the Kindred gathered at Lake Chabot in the hills above Castro Valley.  Lake Chabot has long been a favorite gathering place for the Ulfhethnar Kindred, and it was nice to return there.   Though it had been raining in the days leading up to the event, we were greeted by beautiful weather, and we all had a great time.

Most of the afternoon was spent socializing and preparing the evening meal.  As usual, there was plenty of food to go around, and we all enjoyed ourselves.  Jim took advantage of the downtime to set up the Blot site and hallow the ritual circle.

After the feast, we held a brief discussion on Freya, and discussed the runes we would be using during the Blot.  One of our guests, Terry, felt a strong pulling to use elhaz during the Blot and Shawn and Jessica also had a lot of great input into the rune discussion.  Once everyone was on the same page, we broke to meditate briefly before the ritual.

Jim served as Gothi, and the Blot went well, with much energy flowing through the circle.  Many great toasts were made, and we all felt Freya's presence.  It was quite invigorating.

After the Blot, we all relaxed and socialized over more beer and food.  It was a good time and we all looked forward to the next event.

Social Gathering, Feb. 2007

For various reasons the Ulfhethnar Kindred wasn't able to work out all the logistics for our annual snow shoeing trip up to the Sierra's, but since we still all wanted to get together we decided to just get together socially at an English pub in the Sacramento area. 

We all met up at the Streets of London Pub in Folsom to discuss business and enjoy each others company.  We had a great time, shared a lot of laughs, and planned some upcoming events. 

We are all looking forward to another busy, active year for the kindred.

Yule, December 2006

Once again, the Ulfhethnar Kindred's Yule celebration was a great success, due largely to all the great friends that attend our annual Yule Fest.  Our Yule gathering is one that we look forward to hosting all year long.

The Ulfhethnar Yule gathering was held at the Conrad's home in the Sacramento area, and as usual Conrad and Christine were excellent hosts.  As in years past, the event was attended by many guests who are not regular attendees of Ulfhethnar gatherings, along with some close friends from another local kindred, the White Oak Kindred.

The event started in the afternoon with socializing and a well stocked snack buffet prepared by Christine and Jessica.  The "pigs in a blanket" and devilled-eggs were a huge hit, as was the smoked salmon provided by Dave, our friend and a veteran of our Yule gatherings.  The food was outstanding, and many of us were wondering if we'd have any room left for the evening feast.

As the afternoon progressed and more guests arrived, the evening feast was held.  It was a delicious meal featuring Ham, potato pastry, red cabbage, Swedish meatballs, and many other assorted delicacies.  Everyone enjoyed the food, many of us returning for seconds and thirds.

Once the meal was finished, it was time to begin focusing on the reason for the event - the Odin Blot.  Everyone gathered together for a discussion on the Holy Day and Odin's connections to Yule.  Jim initiated the discussion, and many in attendance added their thoughts.  A lot of great points were brought up and discussed, helping everyone to focus on the aspects of Odin we would be focusing on during the Blot.  Once everyone was on the same page, a brief break was taken so everyone could meditate and get into the right frame of mind before heading outside to form the ritual circle.

Jim conducted the Odin Blot, and it was a powerful experience for many in attendance.  The energy was flowing, and Odin's presence was felt as we stood around the blazing fire that Conrad had built.  Many great toasts were made in Odin's honor as the horn was passed around the circle.  It was quite motivating to hear such eloquent words, especially from those with very little ritual experience.  Their openness to the experience and their comprehension of the pre-Blot discussion really helped in channeling the energy and making the Blot a great success.

Later in the evening, the kindred conducted a Sumbel.  Jon invoked the Gods and Goddesses, ancestors, and other beings of our religion to bear witness to our toasts.  It was a great Sumbel, and many great toasts were made.

The rest of the night was spent socializing and enjoying the good company of kinsmen, some of whom we knew we would not see again for a few months.  It was a great night, and a lot of fun.

Bowman Lake, August 2006

In August, the Ulfhethnar Kindred gathered in the Tahoe National Forest on the shores of Bowman Lake for a weekend of outdoor recreation and relaxation.  We also invited along some friends we thought might like to get to know the kindred better in a manner more relaxed than that of our more structured Holy Day gatherings.

We all had a blast, and we all joined in with the many great activities available in the Sierras.  We swam in the beautiful lake and also fished.  Many of us took the opportunity to target shoot.  And we all enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of the scenic location.  Nights were spent eating great food and enjoying beers around the campfire.  It was a nice break from our hectic lives.

On Friday night we conducted a Sumbel and it went extremely well, with many well spoken and thought out toasts.  The delicious mead was donated by one of our guests, Ed, the gothi of another local kindred named the White Oak Kindred.  They are a great bunch and we've often enjoyed their company at our gatherings and hope to continue to do so in the future.

Another old friend, David, arrived on Saturday with his girlfriend Jen and their children.  Their company was thoroughly enjoyed and a lot of laughs were shared.  They expressed their enjoyment and we hope to see more of them as well.

Sunday came all too quickly, and we were all sad the weekend was over.  It was a great gathering, and even though no Blot was conducted it was still a great opportunity to spend time with our extended family.

Summer Solstice, June 2006

For the Summer Solstice, The Ulfhethnar Kindred again went out to Half Moon Bay.  We all love the particular beach where we gather, and we feel that is has really become hallowed ground through our years of regularly gathering there.

As usual, we spent much of the day socializing and having a good time.  We ate quite well as the meat barely fit onto two grills.  There was plenty to share, and it was delicious.  After the meal, Jim and Elektra set up the Blot site, which came out extremely well due to Elektra's sense of decoration.  She even climbed up the steep hillside to collect flowers for the horg!

Before the Blot was conducted, we held a lengthy discussion on Balder, the god we would be honoring on this occasion.  This is a kindred tradition, and we all get a lot out of it.  It's always nice to hear other's input, and it always helps us all to start focusing and to get on the "same page," so to speak.  Once the discussion was completed, we all took about 15 minutes to mentally prepare in solitude.  Some of the group jumped into the cold ocean in a symbolic cleansing before returning to the circle to begin the rite.

Jim conducted the Balder Blot and it was powerful.  The energy was flowing through the circle, and many great toasts were made to Balder.  The food offering was ignited, and it kept burning for many hours - well after it should have went out in the foggy, damp night; a sign Balder enjoyed our company.

Following the Blot, we all gathered around the campfire for Sumbel.  As usual, it went for many hours.  Listening to each others toasts always brings us together and it can be quite the bonding experience.

The following morning we all packed up our gear, made the difficult hike up the steep hill back to our cars, and headed to breakfast to extend our time together just a little bit longer.  The food was great, and more laughter was shared before we all went our separate ways. 

Social Gathering, May 2006

In May, the Kindred got together in Santa Cruz to celebrate Conrad's birthday.  We're a tight group and regularly get together in between the seasonal spokes to have a good time and celebrate at what we call our "social gatherings," though usually we don't post photos from these gatherings.  But we happened to have a few photos from the event and decided to display them because we had such a good time.

Jon, Heather, Conrad and Christine road their awesome bikes down to Santa Cruz from Sacramento, and the other kindred members planned to meet them there.  But before the others arrived, the two couples went out on a sailboat cruise and had a blast.  When they returned Shawn, Kathleen and Jim met up with them at the hotel, and then the Ulfhethnar headed into town for a night of revelry. 

It was a great night, and a great way to celebrate Conrad's birthday.  We went out for dinner, then wandered over to a local bar that Christine knew from her time at UCSC.  It was a good choice and the crowd was fun.  We shared a lot of laughs, which continued well after closing back at the hotel.

Walpurgisnacht/MayDay 2006

The Ulfhethnar Kindred had quite a busy weekend for Walpurgisnacht/May Day.  Besides celebrating the Holy Days, a Naming Ceremony for Shawn and Kathleen's new baby was planned.

On Walpurgisnacht, the Kindred got together at the Conrad's home and spent the day socializing and preparing the large feast that would be enjoyed later in the evening.  We all had a great time and once the feast had been eaten we started preparations for the Odin Blot, which would be conducted by Jon.  As usual, we had a lengthy pre-Blot discussion to mentally prepare ourselves.  Once everyone was ready, the circle was formed and Jon conducted the rite.  As usual, he did a great job, and the energy levels were really high.

The next morning, before the May Day Frigga Blot, we all gathered for a very special occasion - the Naming Ceremony for the Clary's newborn Daughter.  Shawn and Kathleen, the proud parents, would be conducting the ceremony.  They did a great job, and it was quite moving to see Honey Rose Clary presented to the Kindred.  We were all very happy for Shawn and Kathleen.

A few hours later, Jim conducted the May Day Frigga Blot.  We all gathered in the warm sun, and celebrated the life affirming aspects of Frigga and May Day.  The Blot went well, and it was a nice way to conclude the weekends festivities. 

Ostara, March 2006

For Ostara, the Ulfhethnar Kindred went out to Jackson to spend the weekend at Matt and Nicole's beautiful property.  The plan was to spend the day traversing Matt's famous "Ropes Course," and then perform a Freya Blot in the evening.  We all felt it was going to be a great weekend, but it turned out even better than we expected.

The "Ropes Course" that Matt has constructed was awesome - as well made as any I'd seen in my military days.  And it was a blast to go through.  The first segment was roughly 200 feet across the canyon, about 70 -80 feet up at its highest point.  A pulley apparatus was attached to a climbing harness, and then, one by one, we slid down the cable and across the canyon.  It was fast and fun.

The second segment was a two-rope bridge stretched between 2 massive trees, about 40 feet up.  The idea was to traverse out along the bridge and then jump off, sliding down the cable to the ground in a manner similar to rappelling.  It was also a lot of fun.  Matt has plans to add more segments, and we can't wait to try them out!

After that, we started cooking up the feast and socialized.  We were also expecting more guests, friends from another local kindred we'd invited to the gathering.  After they showed up and everyone had eaten we held a discussion on Freya.  Many good points were brought up by everyone in attendance, and we all felt ready to conduct the rite.  We then headed outside to a massive fire pit to conduct the Blot.  Jim performed the Freya Blot, and it went well.  Many in attendance commented that they felt the energy of her presence. 

Following the Blot, we conducted a 3 round Sumbel, and many outstanding toasts were made to the gods and goddesses, ancestors, family and kin.

Then everyone went back inside and had a great time until quite late.  It was a fun evening of laughter and discussion. 

Snow Trip, Feb. 2006

As we had the previous few years, we decided to head up to Big Tree's State Park for our annual Snow Trip.  We reserved lodging in Angels Camp, and were excited to be heading back to the snow for some snow-shoeing and the usually powerful Skadi Blot.  However, things didn't go as planned.

Our annual snow trip is one of our most looked forward to events of the year.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate.  We arrived at Big Tree's all set for snow shoeing, only to find no snow.  Considering it's been a very stormy winter here in Northern California, we were quite surprised and let down.  But the Ulfhethnar Kindred is good at enjoying ourselves, so we decided to just make the best of it.  We hiked, swam in an icy river through a cave, and shared a lot of laughs.  Unfortunately none of us really felt the calling to perform the Skadi Blot, so we decided to forego it this year.  To force through a Blot when everything seems off is usually not the right thing to do, and with the absence of snow everyone was having a hard time tuning into Skadi's energy.

The trip did provide a much needed break from our otherwise hectic lives, as well as give us a chance to hang out with our kinsmen once again to share laughter and good times.  A kindred is more than just Blots and Sumbels, after all.  It is a family, a tribe.  And just being in each other's company can be quite rewarding. 

Yule, 2005

Once again, The Ulfhethnar Kindred held its annual Yule celebration at the Conrad's home in Sacramento.  It was a large, fun celebration complete with lots of food and refreshments.  Conrad and Christine are great hosts, and everyone was made to feel right at home.

We had a large turnout, and many of our guests had never participated in a Blot with our kindred, so we really wanted to make sure the event was special.  People began arriving in the early afternoon, and we had a lot of food waiting for them.  After socializing for a few hours, the evening feast was held.  The dinner was delicious, and many of the guests brought dishes to contribute to the feast.  Everything was outstanding.

After eating, Jim led a discussion on Thor, the god to whom we would be giving Blot, and talked about the ritual format we would be using so that the newcomers would know what to expect.  The discussion was great and quite informative, with many people joining in.

After the discussion, we all formed the circle around a burning Thurisaz rune in the back yard.  It was a large circle, as we had many people participating in the Blot.  Jon served as Gothi, and did an excellent job.  It was a very powerful rite, and the energy generated was quite noticeable.  We all felt invigorated afterwards.

Later in the evening, Conrad and Christine opened up the Sumbel.  Many excellent toasts were made and we all felt strong bonds of kinship.  After 3 rounds, the heavy rains forced us inside, where we continued the Sumbel around the fireplace.

We were quite pleased with the event, and it was nice to make so many new friends that will hopefully join us in future gatherings. 

Winter Nights, October 2005

For Winter Nights, the Ulfhethnar Kindred attended "Winter Nights in the Redwoods," an event held by the AFA.  The location was spectacular, and the event was well organized.  We had a great time honoring the ancestors and gods and goddesses of our folk.  It was also nice to make quite a few new friends. Steve McNallen and his wife Sheila always do a great job of making everyone feel welcome, and the food they served was outstanding.

The Blots were great, and it was nice to see so many people in the circle.  There were also discussions and other events.  The grounds were great, and everyone was put up in small cabins.

For our kindred, the weekend together also gave us a great location at which to perform an Induction Rite for our two newest official members - Shawn and Kathleen.  At the conclusion of the rite each kindred member shed blood, which was then mixed in the bowli to signify our united whole.  This mixture was then dabbed on each members forehead.  After that gifts were given to the couple and they were welcomed in as full members.

Winter Finding, Sept. 2005

In late September, we gathered at Conrad's and Christine's to celebrate Winter Finding.  It was a relatively small, low key gathering that was fun and relaxing nevertheless.  And since Winter Finding is a "harvest" festival, we naturally had to have a large feast.  We ate and drank well, in typical Ulfhethnar fashion. 

After the feast, we had a brief but informative discussion on Frey.  After everyone was on the same page, Jim conducted the Frey Blot.  It went well, if not smoothly, and everyone contributed some outstanding toasts.  We all felt energized afterwards, and it was nice to get reacquainted with Frey.  It had been quite some time since we'd honored him with Blot.

Following the Blot, we all relaxed and socialized into the evening.

Scottish Games, Sept. 2005

The Ulfhethnar Kindred met up at the Scottish Games in Pleasanton for a day of cultural fun.  We were also hoping to network and meet some potential new recruits. 

We had a great time, enjoying all the various activities on hand across the fair grounds.  The Highland Games, the Highland dancers, music, and food were all appreciated by our kindred. 

We also ran into quite a few old friends, which gave us all a chance to catch up.

Look for us out there next year.

Summer Solstice, June 2005

For the Summer Solstice, the Ulfhethnar Kindred again gathered at Half Moon Bay.  As usual, we used the same secluded beach we've been gathering at for years.  Its not a named, maintained beach but rather a stretch of California coastline surrounded by cliffs.  Though the trail down to the sand can be steep and treacherous, the privacy makes it well worth it.

We spent much of the day socializing and swimming in the cold ocean.  It was a lot of fun.  We also cooked up some food and enjoyed a meal together.  In the evening, we held our pre-Blot discussion.  Jon, who was conducting the Blot, had felt a calling to do a Thor Blot.  Though not the normal deity we would honor for the Summer Solstice, Asatruar know not to ignore such signs.

The discussion was informative and helped us all to get into the proper mood for the rite.  We then separated to contemplate what was discussed and to meditate on Thor.  We then formed up at the circle Jon had prepared and Jon conducted a very powerful Blot.  Everyone felt the surge of energy signifying Thor's presence, and we were pumped up.

In the evening we held a Sumbel around the campfire.  At one point Shawn, Jon, and Jim all ran out into the dark, cold ocean - a tradition started by Shawn the previous year.  Eventually, the Sumbel ran its course and ended.  But most of us stayed awake late into the night drinking the last of the beer (no one wanted to carry it up the hill in the morning) and socializing.  It was another fun gathering.

Yosemite, June 2005

On June 4th, the Ulfhethnar Kindred gathered for a special occasion at Yosemite National Park.  We were gathering for the official induction of Conrad and Christine.  Their induction was originally supposed to be held the previous year, but a forest fire at Yosemite had forced the induction to be postponed.  But since the couple wanted the rite to take place on the top of Half Dome, they were willing to wait a year.

Yosemite was magnificent.  The winter's heavy snowfall had the parks rivers and waterfalls flowing heavier than any time in recent years and to be there to witness it was quite an experience.  For those of you familiar with the Mist Trail, it could aptly have been renamed the Monsoon Trail. 

However, the biggest obstacle we had to face was getting up to the top of Half Dome.  Though the cables had been installed, the poles and slats had not.  The cables ran down the granite face like ropes.  Most people opted not to attempt the climb, and many who did only made it up part of the way before giving up and heading back down.  But we are Asatruar, and we weren't going to be deterred!

It was a tough climb to the top, and the cable and granite face were slick in some areas, but we made it up to the top.  Usually, it's quite crowded both heading up and at the top, but because the cables, poles and slats hadn't been completed, it was pretty deserted at the top.

The kindred spent a couple hours on top of Half Dome relaxing and enjoying the views.  Finally Jim arrived (he had started the hike later in the morning) with the ritual tools and it was time to conduct the induction.

The Induction Rite went well and we all felt our strong bonds of kinship.  Conrad and Christine were inducted and each official member shed blood, which was was mixed in the ceremonial bowli.  We were each then dabbed on the forehead with our combined essence, signifying that new blood was now in the kindred.

After hiking back down the mountain, we all headed to a hotel just outside the park to celebrate.  We were all exhausted from the 18 mile hike and were looking forward to some food and beer! 

Walpurgisnacht/May Day, April, 2005

For Walpurgisnacht and May Day, the Ulfhethnar Kindred gathered at our home away from home: Lake Chabot.  It's such a convenient and scenic site that we always enjoy ourselves there. 

We all met up at the campground on Saturday and had a lot of fun.  We laughed heartily watching the children, Erik and Finn, chasing the local wild turkeys.  It was a fun afternoon.  We ate and drank and laughed and shared a large evening meal before preparing for the evening Blot.  As is our tradition, we held a good discussion on Walpurgisnacht and why we feel Odin ties in well with this holy day even though a female deity such as Freya is usually honored.

Jon conducted the Odin Blot which, unfortunately, was interrupted by an ill timed visit from a park ranger checking in to see if we had our parking permits!  Though distracting, we did manage to conclude the Blot before breaking away to talk to him.  Still, our focus was broken and the energy usually generated by our Blots was significantly reduced. 

After the Blot, we held a Sumbel.  Shawn conducted the invocation, and the lengthy ritual began.  As usual, the horn was passed many times around the circle and we all had a good time listening to each others toasts.  After many hours we called it a night.

 In the morning, we held another discussion on Frigga and then Jim conducted the Frigga Blot.  It was held under some trees on a flat section of the grassy hillside.  It was a nice, warm and sunny morning to honor Frigga.  It was a good blot and everyone felt Frigga's presence.  It was a great way to end the gathering.

After leaving the park, we all met up at our favorite Castro Valley restaurant - Doug's.  We enjoyed a huge breakfast and said our farewells.

Ostara, March 2005

In March, the Ulfhethnar Kindred celebrated Ostara at Lake Chabot.  Though the rain had been very severe the days leading up to the gathering, it stayed dry most of the day of the event.  We all met up in the early afternoon and set up camp.  We cooked up a good portion of chow, and enjoyed the day laughing and socializing.  It's always a good time when we get together.  After the meal, we held a pre-blot discussion on Freya, the goddess we had gathered to honor.  As usual, the discussion helped us all to focus our energy and prepare for the blot.

The Freya Blot, conducted by Jim, went well and everyone offered up great toasts.  Feeling inspired, the horn made its way around the circle three times as we all had plenty we wanted to say and share with Freya.  It was a good blot and we all felt invigorated.

Following the Blot, we held a brief sumbel.  Sumbel is one of our kindred's favorite activities, and we all felt moved to hold one even though it was relatively early and many of us were not spending the night at the campground.  The sumbel went well, and it was nice to hear each others words of inspiration.

Finally, as the rain started really coming down, we all headed up to Joe's house for an evening of fun and merriment.

Snow Trip/Skadi Blot, Feb. 2005

In February, 2005 The Ulfhethnar Kindred headed up to Big Trees State Park for our annual snow trip and Skadi Blot.  It was a great event and the turnout was the best we've seen for our snow trip in quite some time.  Like last year, Jon reserved a condo for us and we took full advantage of the amenities.  The first night there we all stayed up late celebrating.  We all ate well and drank from the keg that Conrad and Christine brought up for the occasion.

On Saturday morning we got up, grabbed our gear and headed up the mountain to Big Trees State Park, which is spectacular and well worth visiting for those of you who have never been.  Our group snow shoed quite a ways before deciding to head off trail and up a steep ridge.  Though the park wasn't very crowded, we preferred to find a totally isolated area from which to conduct our blot.  Throughout the journey, many in the group took the opportunity to enjoy snowball fights and wrestling around in the deep snow.  It was a good time.

Once we selected a location, we all took a break to enjoy ourselves while Jim prepared a blot site.  During this time, the snowball fights escalated and by the time Jim was done with his task almost everyone was covered in snow.  We all then ate a small lunch and held a pre-blot discussion on Skadi, the goddess we regularly honor as a kindred every February.  The discussion was relatively brief and to the point, and many present shared their thoughts and ideas.

During the Skadi Blot, the men of the kindred again went barefoot in the snow - an Ulfhethnar Kindred tradition in honor of Skadi's courage in facing down the gods of Asgard while seeking weregild over her father's death.  The Blot was conducted by Jim and was powerful.  Skadi's presence was felt. 

Following the blot, we headed back down the mountain to resume the revelry at the condo.  Again, we stayed up quite late and had a great time.    

Gathering Summaries

2002 - 2004 Gathering Summaries

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