Originally, I had planned on going to Sierra Madrone Grove’s solstice ritual, but the date they chose was my 22^nd wedding anniversary.  Just wasn’t going to fly.  So this was another solitary ritual for me.  I was still rather nervous, but I think that comes from performance anxiety.  Still don’t have the entire thing memorized, but did have parts of it memorized, so that went ok.   The Gods don’t really care if I do everything ‘perfect’ – at least it doesn’t seem that they do.

This High Day was Norse-centric, so a different set of honoring poems were needed.  I’d also found a couple of songs that worked better for me for honoring the Earth Mother and the Ancestors, so I used those. 

The Gatekeeper for Midsummer was Heimdall, with Sunna as the honored deity.  I really wish I had a bonfire going, so that I could have used a nice sun-wreath as an offering, but I don’t have access to that at this time.  So I used some of my beloved chunk amber resin (which I thought appropriate – and is one of my favorite scents). 

The omens that I received were interesting, to say the least.

For the question as to whether my offerings were accepted, I pulled Nauthiz – Need or Necessity.  This was interesting, indicating to me that the Gods needed or wanted something else from me – as this rune is linked to the Norns and Fate (ørlög). Asking for clarification I pulled (or rather it fell out of the bag) Ansuz.  Ansuz is the rune of communication, and of Odin.  To me, this indicated that my offerings were accepted, and that the Norse Gods not only liked this contact but also wanted more.

For the question as to what gift was offered to me, I pulled Gebo – the Gift or Giving.  A gift for a gift, like for like.  Based on what I pulled for the prior question, I feel this means that the Gods want an ‘equal’ relationship.

And for the final question of what else the Gods required of me, I pulled Fehu – Wealth and Prosperity.  In this case, I don’t really think that they want me to give them money .  More, I believe that they are telling me that this connection they want will be prosperous for both of us and that I will be charged with ‘sharing the wealth’ of what I find. 

Altogether, a positive omen for my working, as well as a request to deepen and continue my contacts with the Norse Gods.  Needless to say, I will be meditating on this prospect to see what happens.  (436 words)

Runes Pulled: