Paga Samhain, also known as Samhain or Halloween, is an ancient Celtic festival celebrated annually on October 31st. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The festival has its roots in Celtic paganism and was traditionally observed by the Celts as a time to honor and connect with their ancestors. During Paga Samhain, various rituals and customs are performed to pay tribute to the spirits of the deceased and seek their blessings. One of the main rituals involves setting up an altar or a special area in the home to honor the ancestors. This may include pictures or mementos of loved ones who have passed away, as well as offerings such as food, drink, and flowers.
Origins of the Runes
Have you ever wondered about the origins of the Runic alphabet used by the Vikings?
Read on to find out!
1. The runes we recognise today were derived from the Old Italic alphabet, which was used by the Mediterranean peoples of the 1st century CE, who lived south of the Germanic tribes. It is thought that earlier sacred Germanic symbols (such as those found in rock carvings in Scandinavia) were also influential in the early development of the script.
2. The earliest known ambiguous Runic inscription was found on the Meldorf brooch – manufactured in the northern part of what is now Germany, in around 150 CE. However, some experts still disagree as to whether or not the inscription is genuinely Runic, or some form of early Roman script. The earliest unambiguous Runic inscription was found on the Vimose comb (discovered in Vimose, Denmark) and the Øvre Stabu spearhead (found in southern Norway), both of which date back to approximately 160 CE. The earliest known carving of the entire Futhark (alphabet), in order, was found on the Kylver Stone in Gotland, Sweden (400 CE).
3. The script probably travelled from southern to northern Europe via Germanic warbands, who would have encountered the Old Italic alphabet firsthand during campaigns amongst their southerly neighbours. This hypothesis is supported by the association that runes have always had with the god Odin who, in the proto-Germanic period, under his original name Wodanaz, was the Divine model of of the human warband leader. Of course, once the Germanic tribes discovered the runes, it was combined into their very religion as something that Odin himself had attained when sacrificing himself for knowledge.
4. As well as a form of verbal and written communication, the runes served as an important part of Norse magic. Runes are often used during an act called ‘casting’, whereby Norse pagans pick runes that they are drawn to (or throw them down randomly), and attempt to interpret their meanings. In Norse mythology, the Three Norns weave tapestries of people’s fates; runes were, and still are for some, a way of learning one’s fate or making difficult decisions. In Egil’s Saga, runes are also used to help heal a sick girl (who recovers after the use of Runic magic).
5. There are 2 types of runes – the Elder and Younger Futhark. The Elder Futhark, as the name suggests, is the oldest of the Runic alphabets, and is named phonetically after the first six letters in the alphabet (F, U, Th, Ar, K). The latter was then derived from it, in around the 6th century. The Anglo-Saxons and Frisians also developed their own similar but unique versions.
Here are the Elder Futhark runes and their meanings:
The Asatru Alliance
I know that I hung on Yggdrasil
For nine nights long
Wounded by spear
Consecrated to Odin
Myself a sacrifice to myself
Upon that tree
The wisest know not the roots
of ancient times whence it sprang.
None brought me bread
None gave me mead
Down to the depths I searched
I took up the Runes
Raised them with song
And from that tree I fell.
Runes you shall know, and readable staves,
Very powerful staves,Very great staves
Graven by the mighty one who speaks
Carved by the highest hosts
Odin among the Aesir,
Dvalin (sleeper) among dwarfs,
Dain (dead) among alfs,
Alvitter (all-knowing) among etins,
I myself carved some for mankind
The following are not recomendations, Alfather commands you to know the following if you are Asatruar.
Know how to carve, know how to read,
know how to stain, know how to understand,
know how to ask, know how to offer,
know how to evoke, know how to sacrifice.
The Runes go back when time began, we of Asatru have set a date from when the first Futhark was discovered 2253 years ago. This is known as the Runic Era which places us to date in the year 2253 R.E..
Asatruar have always lived in close harmony with the environment, the seasonal and stellar cycles, their Gods and Goddesses, and their ancestors. These forces come together in the mysterious symbols known as Runes. The word Rune means a secret or a whisper. Runes are magical tools for both divination and spell casting.
(Note that the first word below the Rune is the key used to remember its meaning)
This may include pictures or mementos of loved ones who have passed away, as well as offerings such as food, drink, and flowers. Offerings are an important part of Paga Samhain rituals and are believed to nourish and please the spirits. Food offerings may include traditional dishes associated with the harvest season, such as apples, nuts, and grains.
The Elder Futhark of Northern Europe
Fehu (Cattle)
Letter: F
Wealth; Money, mobile property, finacial prosperity
Hagalaz (Hail)
Letter: H
Disruption; Disruption by natural events and uncontrolled forces.
Teiwaz (Tyr)
Letter: T
Justice; Success in competition in legal matters, honour, leadership and authority.
Uruz (Aurochs)
Letter: U
Strength; Physical strength and vitality.
Nauthiz (Need)
Letter: N
Trouble; Needs as opposed to wants, must be overcome hard work.
Berkana (Birch)
Letter: B
Renewal; Healing, recovery, physical or spiritual regeneration, a new growth from old roots, motherhood.
Thurisaz (Thurs)
Letters: TH
Violence; Conflicts and complexities of an aggressive nature.
Isa (Ice)
Letter: I
Blockage; A standstill which may be good or bad.
Ehwaz (Horse)
Letter: E
Loyalty; Status as it relates between you and others.
Ansuz (Aesir)
Letter: A
Inspiration; The multiverse in magical and religious acts, gaining knowledge.
Jera (Year)
Letters: J and Y
Harvest; Hopes and expectations the results of earlier efforts are realized.
Mannaz (Man)
Letter: M
Intellect; Power of human intelligence, rationality, memory, and tradition.
Raido (Riding)
Letter: R
Journey; Travel, both in physical terms and those of life-style direction.
Eihwaz (Yew)
Letters: EI
Enduring; Resilient strength to deflect difficulty or problems.
Laguz (Water)
Letter: L
Passage; Initiation into life as when a heathen child is sprinkled with water and given a name; the primal waters of Niflheimer.
Kenaz (Tourch)
Letter: K
Guidance; Creativity, and the strengthening of abilities in all realms.
Perthro (Lot-cup)
Letter: P
Concealed; Something unknown, or not yet revealed; a mystery in the same sense that an unborn child is a mystery.
Inguz (Ing)
Letters: NG
Gestation; Potential energy that must undergo a period of time in order to gain strength.
Gebo (Gift)
Letter: G
Generosity; All matters relating to exchanges, including contracts and sacrifice.
Algiz (Elk)
Letter: Z
Protection; Shelter oneself, luck through striving, a successful outcome to a quest.
Othila (Property)
Wunjo (Joy)
Letter: W
Satisfaction; Happiness, general success and recognition of worth.
Sowulo (Sun)
Letter: S
Victory; Success or other favourable circumstances.
Dagaz (Day)
Letter: D
Awakening; Daylight clarity a time to embark on a new enterprise.
Copyright © Asatru Alliance, 2013.
Introduction
Runes are an ancient Germanic alphabet. They were used throughout northern Europe, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Iceland from about 100 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E.
Since ancient times, runes have been used for divination and magic, in addition to writing. Tacitus, in Chapter X of his Germania, describes a form of divination used by Germanic tribes:
“To divination and casting of lots, they pay attention beyond any other people.
Their method of casting lots is a simple one:
they cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree and divide it into small pieces which they mark with certain distinctive signs and scatter at random onto a white cloth. Then, the priest of the community if the lots are consulted publicly, or the father of the family if it is done privately, after invoking the gods and with eyes raised to heaven, picks up three pieces, one at a time, and interprets them according to the signs previously marked upon them.”
Runes can be an oracle for one seeking advice. They hint toward answers, but you have to figure out the details. This is when the rune casters intuition becomes paramount.
Runic divination (“casting”) is not “fortunetelling.” Runes give one a means of analyzing the path that one is on and the likely outcome. Those who use the runes tend not to believe in pre-destination. The future changes as we act in the present. By changing ones actions one can change the path one is upon.
Odin, the Norse High God of the Aesir, hung from the world tree, Yggdrasil, impaled on his own spear, for nine days and nights in order to gain the knowledge of runes. When the runes appeared below him, he reached down and took them up, and the runic knowledge gave him power . He later passed on this knowledge to the Vanir goddess Freya. She, in turn, taught him the magic of seidr. Heimdall, the god who guarded the Rainbow Bridge, taught the runes to mankind.
The Old Germanic Runic alphabet or “Elder Futhark” contains 24 runes. The first six runes of the alphabet spell out the word “FUTHARK”. As the runes spread northwards into Scandinavia, some rune symbols were dropped and the alphabet was reduced to only 16 runes.
The Runes are divided into three groups (called Aettir’s). Each group contains eight symbols.
One who aspires to become adept with runes must have some knowledge of the mythology, history, and culture of ancient Europe and Scandinavia.
Meanings of the Runes
There are many versions of the runic alphabets. Each has variations in names, shapes, esoteric meanings and magical uses. Here we’ll be talking about the 24 symbol Elder Futhark.
One should not mix futharks, or the intent or meaning becomes confused. The Elder Futhark, the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, and the Younger (or Scandinavian) Futhark are the most frequently seen versions of the runic alphabets in use today.
The runes are broken into three group (called aettir, the singular of which is aett). This grouping not only helps one remember the runes, but ultimately can have magical significance.
Drinks like cider or mead are also commonly offered. These offerings are left on the altar or placed at the gravesites of ancestors. Another key aspect of Paga Samhain is the practice of divination. It is believed that during this time, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thin, making it easier to communicate with the spirits. Divination techniques such as tarot card reading, scrying, or using Ogham stones were used to gain insights into the future or seek guidance from the ancestors. Bonfires are commonly lit during Paga Samhain celebrations, symbolizing the light during the dark winter months. These bonfires not only provided warmth and light but were also believed to have protective and purifying qualities. People would gather around the bonfires, telling stories, singing songs, and performing dances. In modern times, Paga Samhain has evolved into Halloween, where people dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and participate in festive activities. However, many Paga Samhain rituals and traditions are still practiced by modern pagans and Wiccans who seek to connect with their Celtic roots and honor their ancestors. Overall, Paga Samhain rituals are a way for people to remember and connect with their ancestors, seek their guidance and blessings, and embrace the changing seasons. It is a time of reflection, gratitude, and celebration of life and death..
Reviews for "Reviving Lost Traditions: The Resurgence of Paga Samhai Rituals"
1. Anna - 2 stars - I attended a Paga samhai ritual last week and I have to say I was really disappointed. The whole experience felt highly commercialized and lacked authenticity. The organizers seemed more interested in making a profit rather than providing a genuine spiritual experience. The rituals felt rushed and there was a lack of explanation or understanding of their significance. Overall, I left feeling unsatisfied and like I had wasted my time and money.
2. John - 1 star - I have to say that the Paga samhai rituals I attended were a complete disappointment. The whole event seemed disorganized and chaotic. There was no clear direction or guidance from the organizers, and everything felt like a haphazard mess. The rituals themselves didn't make much sense and lacked any kind of meaningful connection to the participants. It felt more like a tourist attraction rather than a spiritual experience. I would not recommend this to anyone looking for an authentic and meaningful ritual experience.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I went to a Paga samhai ritual with high hopes but was left feeling let down. The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable, making it difficult to fully relax and connect with the rituals. The organizers didn't do a good job of explaining the purpose and meaning behind the different rituals, leaving many of us feeling lost and disconnected. Additionally, the location was not well-maintained and had a poor ambiance. Overall, the experience fell short of my expectations and I would not attend another Paga samhai ritual in the future.