part1

1.In light of the previous post and the predictably boring comments made by the Bishop of South Sydney about the emerging church not taking propositional truth seriously, I would like to suggest that this is crap. Nevertheless I've been loving "Colossians Remixed" by Walsh and Keesmaat and particulalry their take on truth. Truth is troth...fidelity to time, people and place. In scripture truth "comes to us", it is active and organic, it is personal, relational and social
2.Asatru is the re-awakening of the pre-Christian faith of Northern Europe and the old Germanic tribes. It's the tradition which the Germanic tribes from England, Holland, Germany and Scandinavia lived by. Though Asatru is a widely accepted term for our traditions, within the tradition itself, it is a much debated term. Some feel Asatru is exactly who and what they are, some feel that it does not quite fit with their lives. The term itself, means "True to the Aesir" and some feel that this limits the scope of what and who we are true to. Wulfsgeist Kindred is true to the Aesir as well as the Vanir, the disir, innerhar and the wights as well, so how does the term Asatru "fit" our own outlook? We'll it does and it doesn't. When speaking to those who are not within the heathen community, we use the term Asatru as a sort of umbrella term. "We are Asatru" means little to someone who is Christian, and it gives us an opportunity to expand and explain more fully for those who wish to know more. However, when dealing with those within our community, we tend to use the term Germanic Heathen or just Heathen, at times.
3.light

Old Ways and Old Gods: Part I

1) Who is Troth? (2)

Troth is personal loyalty.

2) What does Asatru mean? (2)

Asatru is the Norse/Germanic religion of Heathenry.

3) How do they relate to Ancient Runes? (4)

Runes were used in Norway as a way of writing.

Total of 8 points.

The World Tree: Part II

1) How many worlds are there in the runic tradition? (1)

Three, the underworld, the mortal world and the upper world.

2) What is another name for the World Tree? (1)

Axis mundi.

3) What is the significance of the World Tree? (3)

The World Tree connects the underworld, the mortal world and the upper world.

Total of 5 points

Rune Poems: Part III

1) What are the Eddas? (2)

The Eddas are poems relating to Norse mythology, German tales also, that were preserved in Iceland.

2) How many poems does the Elder Edda have? (2)

The Elder Edda contaiend pagan poems, forty in fact.

3) Briefly explain the tale of Voluspa in 100 words or less. (5)

Voluspa is the first poem in The Edda. It tells of a seeress and is very important to those studying Norse mythology. She explains how the world was created and how she learned about it. She goes on and tells of the beginning of the world all the way to the end.

4) What is the Hávamál? (2)

The Havamal is documented in the Poetic Eddas and is the words of Odin.

5) What is said in the Runatal section? (2)

I know that I hung on a windy tree
nine long nights,
Wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows
from where its roots run.

It talks of Odin’s self sacrifice.

6) Where can this poem be found? (1)

I know a sixth one if a man wounds me
with the roots of the sap-filled wood:
and that man who conjured to harm me,
the evil consumes him, not me.

This is found in the Ljooatal section of the Havamal.

7) What is another name for the Younger Edda? (1)

The Younger Edda is also known as the Prose Edda.

8) What are three main rune poems? (2)

Voluspa is one of the three main poems. I wasn’t able to find the other two.

9) What is the Vaksala Runestone? (2)

It is one of forty runestones made in the 11th century by Opir.

10) Where can it be found? (1)

Uppsala, Sweden, in a parish.

11) What did the message on it say? (2)

It says that Ingulfast made this runestone on the widow and daughter of the dead.

Total of 27 points


Your View: Part IV

Choose one of these rune poems I will list – tell me what this poem means to you, what do you understand best about the poem, how it can show you your blind spots and your weaknesses and even your goals. Make sure it is no longer than 200 words. (15)

Sun is by sea-men always hoped for
When they fare far away over the fishes’ bath [sea]
Until the brine-stallion [ship] they bring to land.

Well, the poem is talking about fishermen taking fish from the sea and bringing them onto land, probably to sell them. It tells of how thoughtless we humans can be, thinking only of ourselves and not the other creatures we share Earth with. The fishermen took the fish from their home the sea to make money for themselves. Money is definitely a weakness that many have trouble handling. Though the men just wanted to make a living, they took living creatures from the sea, not thinking of how they would feel if the same thing happened to them, taking it for granted.

Total of 15 points

Sources:

http://www.thetroth.org/
http://en.wikipidea.org
http://www.arild-hauge.com/enruner.htm

Welcome to your first assignment in Ancient Runes for the new year! If you have any questions please feel free to PM me with them.

Old Ways and Old Gods: Part I

1) Who is Troth? (2)
a demi-god. He is the son of Trothad. He gained the freedom of the Fancarian Lands.
2) What does Asatru mean? (2)
faith in icelandic
3) How do they relate to Ancient Runes? (4)
Both refer to the idea of keeping true to the Germanic religion.
Total of 8 points.

The World Tree: Part II

1) How many worlds are there in the runic tradition? (1)
9
2) What is another name for the World Tree? (1)
Ygrasill
3) What is the significance of the World Tree? (3)
it connects the worlds.
Total of 5 points

Rune Poems: Part III

1) What are the Eddas? (2)
folk-tales that relate to norse mythology.
2) How many poems does the Elder Edda have? (2)
40, in the 11th century.
3) Briefly explain the tale of Voluspa in 100 words or less. (5)
it is the tale of the creation of the world by a seeress. She tells the story of the world
4) What is the Hávamál? (2)
a poem of a edda
5) What is said in the Runatal section? (2)

6) Where can this poem be found? (1)

I know a sixth one if a man wounds me
with the roots of the sap-filled wood:
and that man who conjured to harm me,
the evil consumes him, not me.

Ljooatal

7) What is another name for the Younger Edda? (1)
Prose Edda
8 .What are three main rune poems? (2)
old english old icelandic and Norwegian rune poems
9) What is the Vaksala Runestone? (2)
one of 40 rune stones.
10) Where can it be found? (1)
Uppsala, Sweden
11) What did the message on it say? (2)
it says that the rune stone was made on the ‘beheast of the wido and the daughter of the deceased.’
Total of 27 points


Your View: Part IV

Choose one of these rune poems I will list – tell me what this poem means to you, what do you understand best about the poem, how it can show you your blind spots and your weaknesses and even your goals. Make sure it is no longer than 200 words. (15)

Wealth is a comfort to every man
Although every man ought to deal it out freely
If he wants, before the lord, his lot of judgment.

Gift is for every man a pride and praise,
Help and worthiness; and of every homeless adventurer,
It is the estate and substance for those who have nothing else.


Ice is very cold and exceedingly slippery;
It glistens, clear as glass, very much like gems,
A floor made of frost is fair to see.

Sun is by sea-men always hoped for
When they fare far away over the fishes’ bath [sea]
Until the brine-stallion [ship] they bring to land.




Wealth is a comfort to every man
Although every man ought to deal it out freely
If he wants, before the lord, his lot of judgment.

This to me says that while every person love money, and the luxery it brings, we all should share what we have with others. By doing so we will get our rewards when we die. I understand the concept of sharing what we have and being rewarded, because it’s actually happened to me. It shows how some of us become greedy.
Total of 15 points

Entire Assignment worth 40 points

Make sure to cite your sources - no copying answers from the site - I will be checking.