The Winter Finding further reflects All-Father's journey to wax in knowledge and wisdom concerning the fate of the Gods and men at Ragnarok and how to better prepare all for this cataclysmic event! Just as Odin sought the mead of inspiration, "Oedreher", the winning of the sacred Runes by hanging on the windswept tree; "yggdrasil" and pledging one of his eyes to extract and consume a draught from; "Mimir's Well", all in a concerted effort to better protect and prepare the Gods and men from the inevitable doom. So too may each of us seek the sacred knowledge and wisdom required to defend and protect our noble Gods and Folk and our holy Faith which was nearly lost to us a millennium ago. Let us all endeavor to ensure that such will never be the sad case again. If we are to protect and defend our holy faith, Gods and folk, let alone restore it to its former majesty and thereafter advance it, then we cannot, must not simply pass the buck to others, simply and naively assuming that there will always be someone else to do what must be done! That is a losing attitude! We must all be accountable, each one of us today. We must seek the knowledge and apply it to our lives by experiencing said knowledge and thereby converting knowledge to wisdom by living what we learn. We must learn to articulate what we say and write about our faith. We must represent our faith and its virtues with any and all whom we find ourselves either seeking to educate, or may become engaged in discourse with - be it a Christian Pastor, a Rabbi, an Imam, a Scientist, or a Philosopher. We must endeavor to do so in an intelligent and disarming manner. Let us, each man and woman, resolve to become who we were born to be and fulfill our destinies, both individually and collectively as a folk. Else wise, we are naught but loosely connected souls, bandying about tired old clichés left to us by ancestors of stalwart spirit whom perished millennia ago.

I do not want to be loosely connected with those whom are not certain of their place and destiny. I desire naught less than the true and genuine bonds of kinship with folk of like, whom seem determined to pursue a restoration of our beloved ways of auld and to establish a solid connection to one another and to our Gods as did our hearty and noble ancestors so long ago when faced with overwhelming adversities!

Are you willing to stave of the slavering wolf? Won't you join me, ye of true and valiant dispositions? Let naught the doughtiest of storms dissuade ye, nor turn your hearts...

For somewhere between the strength of the mighty oak and the resilience of the willow tree, burns the soul of the Germanic Tribes, and his name is ODIN!

Perform the Blót of Winter Finding and meditate upon and Galdr the following Runes:

Uruz ( ), Thurisaz ( ) , Raido ( ) and Othala ( ).

I remain in Frith with thee.

"Let naught the wolf overtake the sun, nor moon. Let naught Fenris break free of his fetters. Let naught despair settle into your minds this night. And when the wolf doth break free, let courage be found residing in your hearts!" - Casper Odinson Crowell, Ph.D.

"Ek Heiti IJlfhethnar"
(I am called wolfskin Heathen)

by Casper Odinson Crowell, 1519-CCG
Allsherjargothi, SONS OF ODIN, 1519 VINLAND

Lurking in the grove of asps, like some ghostly mists which eludes the unsuspecting eye.

The solitary wolf waits and watches with the tempered patience of a skilled hunter.

He lays in wait, eyes of gold fixed steadfast upon the unsuspecting prey, oblivious to the fate which awaits him.

Ravens wheel above in the steel gray sky, eagerly awaiting the hunter's assault... Bloody runes splatter 'cross the canvas of icy white.

The heat of spilt innards melts the snow as the frenzied attack reaches its zenith, the stalked and the stalker entwined in some macabre dance of life and death, orchestrated by nature's law. The Ravens, now grimly assembled upon the boughs of barren trees, begin to caw the songs of victory.

The light of life expires in the glassy black eye, as razor sharp teeth stained crimson, rip and tear at the flesh which was living only moments ago.

Sated now, the wolf breaks to run through the snowy woods, dashing through the trees, reeving as thread through the eye of a needle.

In the distance, the mournful howl of the pack may heard and suddenly, the great wolf is slow of step and falters!

Great is the pain as his hind quarters and jaw retract and constrict. As he begins to morph, an eerie howl escapes his snarling lip;. The howl becomes a word and the word a name., "ODIN!"

Odin! I shout as I stand erect now, draped in the hide of a wolf! There, in the snow laden woods, bathed in blood and gore,

I glance about only to spy the carnage of the long day's battle.

Spent and lifeless bodies litter the icy plain.

Severed limbs strewn about here and there.

The blood stained snow now gives way beneath the weight

and warmth of severed and spilt bowels, congealing in small pools of sanguine offerings.

Others do I spy, men of my own Clan. Garbed in wolf furs and two dawn the Bear shirts!

Acknowledging one another, we raise our blood drenched swords to the sky and begin to howl the morbid songs of victory.

Offering up to Odin the souls of those valiant slain whom adorn the sacred field of honor!

This day will mighty Har receive well so many in Valhalla. Gazing empyrean, I hear my own voice, raspy and distant as that of that of a stranger, escape my throat;

"Father, Ek heiti Ravenulf. Ek heiti Harulf. Ek heiti Othinns Sonr, ok Ek Hlfhethnar!"