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Od was the gift of ecstasy provided to humans by the goddesses and gods. It was what separated humanity from other animals, and was our eternal link with the goddesses and gods. An offertory ceremony and a holy forum, the Sumbel was a formal drinking ritual of great power and purpose filled with binding communal oaths before the deities, toasts, hails, poetry, and song. There are many rounds where the horn is filled and passed around the circle and each person expressed themselves, drank from the horn filled with blesséd liquid (an embodiment of the Well of Wyrd where all fates are designed), and passed it on. An average Sumbel might consist of several rounds where during the first round the gods and goddesses were hailed; during the second round the heroes and ancestors were honored; during the third round there were boasts of personal accomplishments and of oaths held; and during the fourth round there were song, poems, and oaths. A Sumbel usually ended by thanking the deities and pouring out the horn's remaining drink, in a manner similar to the ending of a Blót.
The Raven was a fetch, totem, spirit animals were often found in the legends and the art of Heathenry. Magical birds and masters of transformation, they travel swiftly, seeing all through their eyes of wisdom. There were 8,000 year old archeological findings that validated the existence of the ancient faith of Heathenry. Graves from the Heathen Period contained large amounts of highly wrought, symbolic, Germanic jewelry in the form of metaphorical animal shapes. These essential, Power Animals were used as meditational focal points and shields to ward, bless, and heal. Each person discovered their Animal Totem Power Animal fetch, a Spirit Guide in animal shape with powers. Each animal had different traits and powers that they could bestow upon their human supplicant. Common Animal Totems were Bear, Boar, Cat, Dog, Dragon, Eagle, Falcon, Horse, Raven, Snake, and Stag.
Bronze Age rock art in
Scandinavia has ancestral carvings depicting the Heathen Deities, as well as,
the human events and rituals of the Heathens. These organic nature
carvings were Shamanic in nature and seemed to be forerunners of the Runes,
Animal Totems, and Norse myths...
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