Offering to the Dwarves

Friday, Dec 31st.

As a worker of metals, I think about the Dwarves fairly often.  They are, in Northern and Central European lore, masters of forging and crafting, as well as having unsurpassed knowledge of and domain over metals and gems in the deep earth.  In my line of work, I use precious metals and gemstones on a daily basis.  It would by respectful, I thought, to make an offering to the dwarves as a token of respect for them, and in some regards a payment for the materials that I use.

In Kveldulfr Gundarrson’s Elves, Wights and Trolls, he makes mention that “The dwarves are the keepers of all the wealth within the earth, and do not necessarily appreciate humans taking that wealth out: most mining communities have legends of ill-willing wights who cut ropes and weaken shoring.  Those who work with metals and stones, as well as hailing the dwarves for their craft, would do well to give them the occasional payment for this sake.”

I intend on making it a yearly ritual, that betweem harvest- time and years end I will give a special offering to the dwarves. This year, it was such that I only just gave the offering, on the last calendar day of the year.

Friday was a day of strange weather.  The snow that had blanketed the ground since early December melted overnight, the temperature hovered in the mid 50′s farenheit. It was overcast and blustery, threatening storm.  A perfect day for work of a magical sort.

I had for my offerings some beer, or course, as well as iron filings, a piece of silver, and two small quartz crystals.  I went down to Meadowbrook park, to a spot at the crossroads of two trails where I have left offerings before.  Here there is a slab of old concrete set level with the earth on one side of the trail, where I would leave the offerings.  A stand of fierce hawthorns is close by, as is the four-trunked Linden from whence I took my staff.

I first hailed Weland, the smith-god, and poured a bit of beer for him as deity of my craft.  Then, I hailed the Dwarves with appropriate words, something like:

Hail the Dwarves,

Masters of smithcraft! 

Might of metal and stone is yours!

A token of payment and offering I give,

For the bright metals,

For the fair gems,

Cut from the earth for my craft.

I laid out the offerings, poured out the beer onto the earth, and continued down the trail after a few minutes of contemplation. I thought about doubling back, but it somehow seemed rude to go back past where the offerings were laid. I hope that the Dwarves accept my small token of appreciation, for all that they do not demand worship from the Middle-Garth. 

So, what would be appropriate offerings for the Dwarves?

What wight doesn’t like beer or mead? In the Dwarves case, since two of their race brewed the Mead of Poetry from the blood of Kvasir, either would make a fine offering.  Of course, a little bit of Silver, Gold, Bronze, or Copper, if you can get it!  Perhaps, skill willing, one could even create an object from metal to offer.  That way, not only the precious material, but the offering of one’s own craft is made.

Iron or iron shavings would seem appropriate, but I would not leave iron in a place where one offers to other land-wights, as most wights cannot stand its presence. Quartz crystals are referred to as ‘dwarf-stone’ in Norwegian folklore, and the smooth planes of the crystals were thought to have been cut by the dwarves themselves.

If offering metal, do be aware that certain kinds can be unhealthy for the environment – I wouldn’t offer anything of pewter, pot metal or lead, for instance, nor would I give modern coinage ( as it contains Zinc, and no silver to speak of).

A cave, hollow, earth-fast stone, or other place that speaks to you of the deep earth would serve well as a place to leave your offerings.  Failing that, I believe one could also toss the offerings into a dark, fast flowing stream; or simply bury them in the ground.

Seeking the Hunt – Observer’s Impressions

Tuesday, Dec. 21st

After Anise and I completed our respective journeys, we discussed our experiences over glasses of mead, a little Strega, and some delicious grape leaves stuffed with rice and lamb. 

It was interesting to hear the impressions of our two observers.  From my perspective, I had sat motionless for the majority of my journey, holding my staff in one hand and a labradorite sphere in the other.  Our observers said otherwise, that both myself and Anise moved and twitched during our time in trance.  They found it somehow uncomfortable to look at us, as if we would appear strange or ‘wrong’ if they looked directly at us.  There was an impression of  rapid movement, almost a shuddering or vibration, when they saw us with their perephial vision.

Both also had a distinct feeling of being ‘pulled’ toward us, and into a trancelike state, if they concentrated on us too closely.  Afterward, they both wished they had applied a drop of protection oil, as it may have guarded against this affect.  It seems that the energy of our journey threatened to pull our companions along as well!

Overall, it was exiting to have undertaken this journey.  I would recommend that an interested person approach contact with the Hunt seriously and with respect.  Be prepared to see things that might be strange or unsettling.  Having an observer or two to watch over the tranceworking individuals is an excellent idea.  Don’t be afraid to try at all, though – only go forth (as in anything) with sufficient knowledge, experience and preparation.

Seeking the Hunt – Faring Forth

On Tuesday evening, December 21st, Anise and I got together at her apartment to ride with the Wild Hunt.  Yes, we had a pretty good idea of what we might be getting ourselves into, so along with us were two of our friends, witches both, who would be watching over us while we were in trance and who were prepared to pull us out if anything went wrong.

Anise had a beautiful altar set up in her living room, with offerings laid out.  I had brought a branch of red-berried holly and a branch of yew (Japanese, I’m afraid, as no Taxus baccata grows where I live).  I had also brought some liqueur Strega and dried Elderberries for Frau Holda, and some beer for Odin. I had a piece of silver in case the Hunters requested further payment.  Anise generously provided me with some cooked meat and fresh water for my fetch.  I also had my silk veil and linden-staff at the ready.

When we were ready the lights were dimmed, candles were lit, and offerings poured. Both anise and I daubed our foreheads with a bit of Protection Oil, just to be on the safe side. Under the white blankness of the veil, I relaxed my breathing and visualized the bright rune Eihwaz before me. I tried not to think about things, to just let them happen, but as always I worried about not being able to go very deeply into trance.

I envision myself in the void, the fog between the worlds.  I call my hound-fetch to me, feel him as a warmth beneath my skin, and also in my minds eye I see him, lean and dark, beside me.  I move forward, fast, through black smoke or clouds.  It looks similar to the way a snowstorm appears when you are driving into it, except with dark swirling smoke instead of white flecks.

I am walking slowly down a path in a coniferous forest in winter.  Snow lies deep on the ground and lies heavy on the needles of pines and firs.  Deliberately, I put one foot in front of the other.  It is bitter cold, but I seem to be bundled in warm garments. Still, it is slow going, and I try not to let the dragging pace pull me up out of trance.

I come into a small clearing.  There is a man before me, mounted on a grey horse.  He must be one of the Hunters.  I approach and lay the holly and the yew branch before him on the snow, and ask to join his hunt, if I may.  I also set the goblet of Strega on the ground, and as I do so I see a woman garbed in white standing under the shadow of the trees.  I get the impression that these two are not Odin and Holda themselves, but the Hunters chosen to be their representatives.

More dark smoke or fog, I am moving at speed – Then I see that I am astride a huge dapple grey horse.  There are others around me, gathering.  Than, darkness again, and I am asked a question: We are going to Hunt.  What shall be our Quarry? Choose.

Needless to say, this took me by suprise!  However, I took a long time thinking about it.  What should the Hunt ride after? Negativity, I guess? Stagnation and rot would be good things to drive away at the turning of the year… I ponder, thinking…

I am floating above a local park.  Someone is floating with me, unseen. I see people walking, a few dedicated joggers out despite the cold.  My companion keeps pointing people out to me for consideration.  ‘No’, I reply, ‘I’m not interested in fighting them.’ I say this about each person that we swerve close to.  I get the feeling that if I chose any of these people, I would have to overcome their soul might, somehow, and I didn’t have any reason to ‘fight’ strangers so. Honestly, I was more in the mood to just observe.

Then, I am standing on a street corner near my old neighborhood.  Again, my unseen companion points people out to me as they drive through the intersection, as they walk along the sidewalk.  There isn’t a feeling of being pressured, just that he genuinely expects me to (I suddenly realize) pick out a soul for the Hunt to harrow! As I realize this, I also become aware that I have slipped deeply enough into trance that I wasn’t ’seeing myself in my minds eye’ being somewhere, as I usually am - I was there. Of course, this sudden knowledge pulls me out of trance just a bit.

I didn’t pick out a soul for the Hunt to ride after.  I am in darkness again, and I sense Frau Holda speaking to me (I don’t hear words, just get sudden impressions).  She really liked the Strega, and would appreciate it being made part of her regular offerings.  I get the feeling that she would like me to work more closely and frequently with her, as there are things she wants to teach me, that it would be useful for me to learn.

She also makes me aware that if I needed or wanted to, I could name a person and cause them to be harrowed by the Hunt!  How, exactly, I’m not sure, only that I would have to have their full name, and I would have to prepare similarly as for going on this hunt-journey.  I don’t know exactly what would happen to an indivual so Hunted.  Nightmares, ill luck, ill health? Not something to consider unless, for good reason, the big guns were called for.

Still, that’s fascinating to know.  Who would have thought it? 

Another brief vision: There is a black stag in a snowy wood, perhaps he could serve as prey? I’m not, it seems, in the mood to hunt or kill tonight.  I feel tired.  I move closer to the stag, who starts and runs.  I shout – ‘The quarry of the Hunt belongs to Father Odin and Frau Holda!’ as it bounds into the forest. Then, I start to rise back to ordinary consciousness.

What a night!

Seeking the Hunt – Preparatory Divination

On Monday December 20th, I got a message from Anise letting me know that she was planning on doing a trance journey to attempt to join the Wild Hunt.  Of course I was going to go, as well!  We had discussed the idea previously, but this was pretty short notice – she was planning the attempt for the very next night, December 21st, the night of the Winter Solstice.

 This year, it was also soon after a total lunar eclipse that occured very early on the 21st.  What better time to contact the powerful, albeit dangerous, forces of the Furious Host? While we were planning quickly, we did not intend on taking this journey lightly.  There was little time to prepare.  Clearly, some divination was called for.

After I got home from work that night, I took up my bag of runes.  After lighting candles on my altar table and pouring an offering to the Gods and Spirits into the bowl, I asked:  ‘Tomorrow I will attempt a journey to catch a glimpse of, to receive a vision of, to perhaps even ride with the Wild Hunt, the Furious Host! How shall I proceed?‘

The first rune I drew was Eihwaz – the Yew tree, the Way between the Worlds.  The journey was possible, the ways were open… Eihwaz would be the key to open the door. Then, I drew Fehu followed by Gebo.  I got the impression that a payment would need to be made to the Hunters in order to facilitate my entry.  As Gebo represents gift exchange and reciprocity, I took that as a positive sign. I might gain knowledge, but it must be paid for.  Therefore, I would make sure to bring appropriate offerings.

I then asked ‘What else should I know?’  The runes I drew were Ehwaz and Othalaz togther, the tiles both pinched between my fingers when I drew them from the bag.  Ehwaz is a rune of partnership and communication, so I took that as a sign that it was best not to attempt this kind of journey alone.  Very practical advice!  As for othalaz, I wasn’t sure what the intended meaning was, but I did get a sense that it referred to keeping a strong sense of center and self.  Knowing who you are and being well-defined in it would serve as an aid and protection.

Lastly, I asked ‘What might I receive?’  The rune I drew was Dagaz – something coming into being, a realization, transformation.  Dawn, the moment when night gives over into day.  I wasn’t sure exactly what that could entail in this context, but it seemed a powerful sign. I gathered the offerings and tools I would need for the following evening, and anticipated my journey.