[Main Blog Post] First Two "All Father" Drafts

[jprussell]

Alright, after a lot of poetic stagnation, I've pulled two drafts of an "All Father" prayer for the Heathen Rosary out of, well, somewhere (let's hope it's from the mead that made it to Asgard, and not that which was "lost" upon the way!). Even more than usual, I'd very much appreciate your thoughts on these, as I can tell neither is "there" yet, but in working out the "Hail Idun," your input was invaluable.

Oh, and I also realized I hadn't posted my "Tree Creed" which I've been using in my daily prayer for nearly a year now, so I've put that in here too.

Again, thoughts very much welcome!

Comments

All-Father and Idunn poems

[(Anonymous)]

Jeff, these are such beautiful poems / prayers! I haven't studied or written much in the strict forms of poetry you use here, but your work seems very effective to me. One minor comment: in the "Father of Three", second verse, you use "him" in reference to Woden, but in the rest of the prayer you seem to be addressing Allfather directly. So should "him" perhaps be changed to "you"?

Commenting on your term "Fallfather." That's a really nice name, and alliterates well! It isn't a direct translation of Valfoder, which would be Wael-father in Anglo-Saxon, but father of the fallen, as opposed to the slain, is a pleasing development, I think. It expands his role from receiving only warriors, to all those who have fallen through whatever means.

I hope you'll be inspired to further refine these prayers to your satisfaction and the benefit of us all!

Winifred

Re: All-Father and Idunn poems

[jprussell]

Thank you for the kind words!

That's an excellent point on "Your" versus "His" - that would indeed make it more immediate and personal, which is much of the point here.

I had to double check based on your comment, as I didn't intend to use "Fallfather," though I did consider it, though I did use "Fallhall" in place of Waelhall/Valhalla. Honestly, that might have been a misunderstanding of the etymology - I thought "fall(en)" was a more-or-less straightforward derivation from the same etymology as val, but I haven't studied Old Norse (or Old English) as closely as I should. It may have been a happy accident, though. I've come to think that Valhall as "only for those fallen in battle" might be a slight misunderstanding. For one, I've read indications that some earlier depictions of (at least parts of) Helheim were more pleasant than the only-gloomy, dreadful place that Snorri tells of. I think maybe I read that in Kvilhaug? I might have to review my notes. The other thing I read of this sort was in Kris Kershaw's One-Eyed God, which pointed out that the good part of the afterlife was likely for "all dead men of the tribe," but since all of those men would likely have been warriors, the sense of "hall for fallen warriors" became dominant. This might be a bit of wishful thinking, but when I read that, I was filled with a great sense of relief. Given my wider esoteric study than only the Germanish lore, I'm coming to think that there are more options in the afterlife than merely "dreary, unpleasant place" and "exclusive club for those who died bravely in battle in service of Odin," but thus far, it's a mostly intellectual suspicion, not based on much personal spiritual insight.

Once again, many thanks for the encouragement, and I'll keep plugging away!
Jeff

Re: All-Father and Idunn poems

[k_a_nitz]

Rough German version of the "Three Drinks" All-Father:

Drei Getränke zum Allvater.

Ein Getränk vom wagend hindurchgedrungen Tod
Drei Nächte liegend mit holden Mädchen,
Siegreiche Dichtkunst zur würdigen Dichter.

Ein Met aus Gedächtnis, anständig gewann
Durch das furchtlos ausgepflückte Auge,
Verdienter Denkvorrat für herzliche Denker.

Ein Zug aus dem Schicksal, teuer gekauft
Mit dreimaldrei Nächten auf dem Baum dürstend,
Runen für beratfertigen Zauberer zu gewinnen.