Hearthside

Tonight is Mother’s Night, or at least it is when I celebrate it within my hearth. Bede recorded it as being the Eve of December 25th, or Christmas Eve. However, it likely shifted to that date after the introduction of Christianity. Some modern heathens celebrate Mother’s Night on the Eve of the Winter Solstice, and some celebrate it on December 24th. Others don’t celebrate it at all. So what is Mother’s Night? It is the celebration of the female ancestors, or Disir. It is similar to, or may be the same celebration as Disting of Disablot, which doesn’t seem to have a set date in the sources. Some modern heathens celebrate both separately, with Disting usually falling somewhere between January 31st and mid-February. Others celebrate one or the other, and some celebrate neither. The truth is modern heathens don’t really agree much on what holidays to celebrate other than the major 3: Sigrblot, Winter Nights, and Yule. (And often with the addition of a 4th at Midsummer.) It is up to the t...

It seems like some heathens focus a lot of energy on the gods, and not on matters closer to home, the ancestors, the landwights, and housewights. A healthy hearth practice recognizes that there are other beings besides the gods who demand our respect. Working with your housewight(s) is a rewarding relationship that is worth fostering. Being aware of other beings in your environment helps you understand your environment better and will help your life to be healthy, happy, and whole.  I know… it sounds like a bad sales pitch, but there really is truth to it. Getting to know the spirits of place is always rewarding. Ritualizing the routine of maintaining a gifting cycle gives it meaning and can make you feel more purposeful. Being respectful to the beings around you and engaging in the gift cycle with them will build your luck and the luck of your family/hearth.  Housewight is a rather broad term that can refer to a number of beings that you may share space with in your home. The...