Fort Wayne Heathens Quarterly Newsletter

Spring 2015

Waes thu Hael, Good Health!

Invocation to Ostara
- Angela "Ember" Cooke, 2004

Winter was a time for getting together with our

kith and kin to exchange memories, laughs, and
gifts. For a moment we were able to forget the bleak

The year yearns listlessly for light

Now warmth returns relieving night
Ostara brings Her fertile fare

weather and simply enjoy the holiday that it provid-

The precious egg, the wild hare

ed. Many of us celebrated Yule and all the pleasant-

To start again the song of Spring

ries and spiritual revelations that time presented to

And to our hearts fair blessings bring.

us.

Old Winter now retires to rest

The passion of His storms attest

Now Spring, the rebirth of the land, looms just

The floods that fuel fresh buds' renew

around the corner! Fort Wayne Heathens is also ex-

To Winter's effort Spring gives due

periencing that renewed vigor and sense of direc-

So now He slumbers, satisfied

With what His watchful works provide.

tion. There are many important updates within this

issue on event schedules. There are also many entertaining and well written stories, recipes, and more.

In This Issue

So enjoy the issue and have a wonderful Spring!

Introductions

Event Updates

Spring Recipes

A piece by Katherine
Vanover

A story about Ostara by

John T. Mainer, coauthor of Kindertales.

Information on FWH
programs

Local Business List

Rune Night

Yule 2014

Lore Night

Lore Night at Bon Bons Coffee House

Upcoming Events for Fort Wayne

Heathens
Lore Night - February 14th

Rune Night - February 28th

Lore Night - March 14th
Ostara
Rune Night - March 28th
Lore Night - April 11th
Rune Night April 25th

More Information: http://www.fortwayneheathens.org/

apps/calendar/

Norwegian Stuffed Eggs

Lamb Shepherds Pie

From food.com

(Gluten and Dairy Free)

Ingredients:

Mark Pope, 2015

8 hard-boiled eggs, peeled

Ingredients:

1/4 cup chopped smoked salmon

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1 tablespoon sour cream

3 tablespoons grated swiss cheese

1/2 teaspoon dill

Directions:
1. Cut the eggs in half lengthwise.

2. Remove the yolks and set egg whites aside.

3. In a bowl, mash the yolks. Add in the
chopped smoked salmon, butter, sour cream,
cheese and dill; mix together well.
4. Stuff the egg whites with this mixture.

Ready the Field

Katherine Vanover, 2015
Sunna stirs on these cold mornings, illuminating a slumbering winter earth.
Jords sleep is restless, limbs yearn to stretch, to release.
Jord, Nerthus, Earth Mother prepares her body for spring.
We measure our plots, plan our crops, we ponder Fehu and our ability to bring our winter ideas into the
light of spring, into the harvest of late summer. We plan, we work, we reap.
The earth lies verdant and ambivalent, containing both the potential for growth and for decay. Planted and
ignored, our crops wither and rot, taken back into the churning void of potential. But, with work, with
care, we tease form from the formless. Our plans become produce and we pluck fruit from the vines of our
labors. With right action comes Wunjo not the boon of luck but the blessings of earned favor. We take
our bounty we can, we dry, we preserve, we savor our Wunjo that it may last us again through the long
darkness of winter and the cycle continues.
As we prepare for spring, we reappraise our fences. Have we enclosed enough space to grow? Have we
built them strong enough to protect? It is a time for considering the Utangard, the Innangard, the inside
and the outside, the kin and the outsider, the domestic and the wild. Now is the time to reinforce your
fence, before tender shoots emerge, vulnerable and weak, before lambs wobble forth on legs unsteady. Be
prepared to protect. We do not deserve what we are not willing to defend. In the sharp light of the returning sun, take measure of your friends and foes. You are preparing for growth.
Ready your land. Break down the hard soil. Wrestle stones from the dirt. Remove the impediments. Dig
deep, plunge your fingers into the loam, the roots will only reach as far as you till. We can only welcome
into our lives that for which we make room. Clear the space, it will be filled. You are preparing for growth.

Are we prepared to water the seeds we want to plant? When Sunna reaches her peak and the view
of our works is clear to all to our gods, to ourselves, our community, our family, our innangard
will we stand proud of our labor, or shrink away, ashamed of our negligence?
What you plant will sprout. What you water will grow. What you grow will be harvested. There
is work to be done. The earth is awakening. Examine your fence, clear your stones, plant your
crop. You are preparing for growth.

Ostara, and the Dance of the Bunnies

John T Mainer of The Heathen Freehold Society of B.C and The Troth, 07
In the dawn of the age of man, when the tribes of men were new formed, and taking their
first halting steps upon Midgard, Ostara was often seen bringing the springtime to field,
forest and fen. The tribes of men watched with amazement as Ostara would walk upon the
earth, and it would rouse to wakefulness behind her. As she walked did the first shoots
push aside the snowmelt rubble and greet sweet Sunnas sunshine, as she smiled the first
flowers would blossom, and the air turn sweet and fresh. At her side flew a white bird,
graceful and joyous. Always the song of her companion bird would call the spring birds
from the far south, to return again to the northlands, and with them bring the ocean breezes that fire the hearts of young men.
The tribes of men were thankful to Ostara, and wished to give thanks to her in a way that
was pleasing to her, and for this, they watched the rabbits. All winter long, Ostara sleeps,
for she cannot abide the touch of Ymirs get, and flees the coming of the snow. When Sunna
turns her face again to the world, and the snows and
Frost Giants retreat back to their mountain fastness, the
rabbits call Ostara to wake. In the spring, the rabbits
dance. Upon the earth in wild abandon, the rabbits wassail hard, and in their joyous measure stir the sleeping
Ostara, for her return brings the spring.
Year on year Ostara waked to the dancing of the rabbits,
year on year her graceful companion bird would watch
the dancing rabbits, and hunger to join their measure. In
a year known only in song as the year of the rabbit, came
the great change. In that year was grown a rabbit of heroic proportions, a champion of his breed who scoffed at
foxes, and defied falcons in his strength. His eye was taken with the gentle bird of Ostara, for her grace and beauty called to him as no she rabbits could. Come the spring
in the year of change, he danced for her. He danced with
the wild abandon of his breed, he danced with the fire
that Freya grants to lovers, and the rage Odin grants the
doomed.

Artwork by Amanda Clark

It was a dance of dances, from a champion fired by a love

that could not be, and it cast a spell more powerful than any spaewitchs rune. While
Ostara laughed at the display, her companion watched transfixed; her bird eyes fixed like a
hunting falcons, her head bobbing with the measure. No longer able to contain herself, she
flew from Ostaras shoulder and lit upon the ground. At first stately in feathered grace, then
swiftly in wing fluffing abandon she danced with her feathered suitor. Round and round
they danced, as wild as any Alfar circle, as lit by Freyas fire.

No longer smiling, Ostara watched her companion dance with her furred lord. It was clear her
bird had lost its heart to this rabbit prince. Striding forward to the circle, Ostara halted the
dancers with a glance. The rabbits trembled before the gaze of the goddess, but the champion
stood forth fearless in his love, the white bird at his side. Ostara smiled softly, and the bird
bowed deeply and sang a song of love; love for a friend of long centuries, love of a woman for a
man; love that would trade eternity for fulfillment. Ostara heard the song, and her heart was
moved. She knelt and kissed her companion, and when she rose again, there was only a shining she-rabbit in a pile of soft feathers.
When Ostara walked away, the rabbit champion took his new won love into the warren, and
her new home.

As the snow retreated, the rabbits began to dance again, to wake Ostara. In the wake of the
Year of Change, Ostara woke sadly. She walked upon the world alone, and her coming brought
no life; for her heart was heavy. The tribes of man were worried, for the spring brought no life,
and the priests and wise woman said to watch the rabbits, for they held the secret of this dire
spring. The fastest and best hunters coursed the land, not to kill, but to watch the rabbits for
the secret of the dire spring.
When Ostara reached the lands of the champion, and her lost companion, she beheld all of the
rabbits in a dancing circle, and in the center two rabbits stood before a mound of feathers. As
Ostara neared, the dancing rabbits parted, bowing her in. As she gazed with sadness on the
aging of her now mortal former companion, the two rabbits stood aside showing Ostara the
secret they concealed. Inside the nest of feathers were a dozen eggs, one of which was busy
trying to hatch a wiggling little bunny.
As the bunny burst forth with a triumphant cheep! Ostaras heart melted like the departing
snow, and she began to laugh, picking up this flop eared chick, she danced a merry measure
with her rabbit folk. As she danced the spring burst forth, the field erupted with flowers, the
trees grew bright with new growth, and the sky full of song from the returning birds.
The hunters carried word of this back to the several tribes of men, and it was whispered
amongst the wise how not only the dance, but an offering of eggs won Ostaras heart and
brought forth the spring.
Henceforth Ostara was honoured by the tribes of man with offerings of eggs in spring time.
Here ends our tale for today. The story of her new companion, Ostaras Bunny, is one for another day, but a tale worthy of singing none the less.
John T Mainer, March 08 2007
Kindertales: Stories Old and New for
the Children of the Folk Paperback
June 25, 2008
by Freydis Heimdallson (Author), John
Mainer (Contributor)

Fort Wayne Heathens Programs

Hoosier Heathen Veterans
This program helps veteran Heathens in Indiana get free resources on VA
information, satr information, networking assistance with local satrars and heathens, and a free Mjlnir pendant. All you have to do is fill

Contact Information
Contact us for more information regarding these programs. We are always looking
for people to help, and for people to help us.

out the form, verify that you have served in the US armed forces, and we'll
mail you a package via the USPS. Veterans have earned this when they
chose to risk their lives defending and insuring this country's freedom.

Email us at:
fortwayneheathens@gmail.com

http://www.fortwayneheathens.org/hoosier-heathen-veterans
Indiana Kindred Registrar Project

Visit us on the web at:

fortwayneheathens.org

The project is meant to ensure that there is an up to date and reliable list
of Indiana Kindreds. This was done in the hopes that satrar who have
thought they were alone in their beliefs, can come together and forge
bonds of kinship with other Hoosiers who are true to the sir and the Vanir.

Find us on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/groups/
fortwayneheathens/

http://www.fortwayneheathens.org/indiana-kindred-registrar

Breldiar Shoppe
201 Grandstand Way
Fort Wayne, Indiana
(260) 210-2374
http://www.breldiarshoppe.com/
Caltapa Tree Shops
13405 Main St
Grabill, Indiana 46741
(260) 627-3012
http://www.catalpatreeshops.com/

Elderberry Tree House Shoppe

7714 Lima Rd
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46818
(260) 489-6707

http://elderberryths.com/
Or Contact the Fort Wayne Heathens Facebook
group for local artisans who do leather working,
bone, wood, and stone working, woodburnings,
weaving, sewing, blacksmithing, jewelry making
and more!