Havamal, Part 7

 Blessings Darlings!

Sorry about the late posting today - the post got eaten by the electronic Aether.

So let's move on to ..... Gold.....

The half wit does not know that gold
Makes apes of many men:
One is rich, one is poor
There is no blame in that.



How much did the average Norse person know about apes? Is this a translation issue? 

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But I know one thing that never dies,
The glory of the great dead




So well known, those two stanzas! Still they bare repeating. Bodies die. Great deeds don't. VERY great and stories about you will live on. Great enough, people will name their children for you, and your name will live on.  Screw up bad enough, the stories will remain but you will remain a laughing stock forever.

Fields and flocks had Fitjung's sons,
Who now carry begging bowls:
Wealth may vanish in the wink of an eye,
Gold is the falsest of friends.


Notice - we don't know the names of the sons. 



But .... were begging bowls a feature of the Norse poor?  They were and are a feature of Buddhist monks, and could be a translation issue.  Still, back in the Great Depression as it played out here in the US, people had to bring their own bowls to soup kitchens......

In the fool who acquires cattle and lands,
Or wins a woman's love,
His wisdom wanes with his waxing pride,
He sinks from sense to conceit.

Odin sounds like the 99% here.  Remember, 1% - you didn't get there alone.  You had companions, luck, and likely privilege.  Remember.

Now is answered what you ask of the runes,
Graven by the gods,
Made by the All Father,
Sent by the powerful sage:
lt is best for man to remain silent.


Is this 'keep the conceit of the previous verse to yourself'?  Is this "to know, to dare, to try, to KEEP SILENT"? Is this "you have the right to keep silent, now work on the ability to keep silent'?

For these things give thanks at nightfall:
The day gone, a guttered torch,
A sword tested, the troth of a maid,
Ice crossed, ale drunk.

Perhaps this answers my questions about the previous stanza. Keep the conceit to yourself, give thanks for what you have.  Remember.

Hew wood in wind-time,
in fine weather sail,
Tell in the night-time tales to house-girls,
For too many eyes are open by day:
From a ship expect speed, from a shield, cover,
Keenness from a sword,
but a kiss from a girl 
Drink ale by the hearth, over ice glide,
Buy a stained sword, buy a starving mare
To fatten at home: and fatten the watch-dog.

Back to common sense.

Trust not an acre early sown,
Nor praise a son too soon:
Weather rules the acre, wit the son,
Both are exposed to peril,


While you're at it, don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

A snapping bow, a burning flame,
A grinning wolf, a grunting boar,
A raucous crow, a rootless tree,
A breaking wave, a boiling kettle,
A flying arrow, an ebbing tide,
A coiled adder, the ice of a night,
A bride's bed talk, a broad sword,
A bear's play, a prince' s children,
A witch' s welcome, the wit of a slave,
A sick calf, a corpse still fresh,
A brother's killer encountered upon
The highway a house half-burned,
A racing stallion who has wrenched a leg,
Are never safe: let no man trust them.


Trust yourself. Verify all else.

Frondly, Fern

Personal Pre-set Spells

Blessings Darlings!

We now come to the second type of spells I want to go over - pre-set spells, activated by word or motion and intent.  These are the spells done by wand-work in the Harry Potter series .... or maybe the power-filled rings/fire sticks, etc, of the Dresden File book series.

For these you set up a the magic, empower it and an object, and have a 'trigger' on it that you set off with that word/motion.  They are set up by the individual who later squeezes the trigger. 

Given the stories of magic that have survived, it might be possible to do some really fancy work with these.  Like Moses' staff level of magic (and, damn, what WAS Moses' real name?)  I can't do that level of magic, that's for sure.

But I CAN do lower level stuff. 

Shielding falls into this category for me. For this blog post I'm assuming that you know how to do at least basic shielding.  For beginners, it takes TIME to set up a good shield.  Ground. Center. Draw in magical energy (do you tap it, do you raise it? Ah, a post for some other day there!)  Ooops, gotta decied what they shield is going to protect you against!  What shape does it take? What material?  Okay, now to energize it .... and how long does the energizing last?

But every time you go thru' that process, you are leaving a mark in the Other Worlds.  With each repetition of the same type of shield, that mark gets a stronger and clearer form.  Over time, to do the same working - but with more power behind it - all you have to do is say/focus on one word and give it a shot of intent and power.  One moment .... and your house is protected for a two-week vacation  One touch .... and your car avoids both tickets and yet is seen by everyone clearly so no one even dinks your door while opening theirs. 

Or it just ups the power, which isn't bad either.  I've mentioned my healing cauldron. Well, it's part of a healing altar.  Darn near every day (not today, ironically) I work at that altar, lighting a candle and doing healing magic.  Every day that Flame and energy gets added to a form in the Other Worlds.  As is "Tho' this candle burns no more in this world (snuff candle) it shall burn forever in the Worlds Beyond.".  And I do the magic to actually ADD another candle flame to the ever-growing design of candles in the Healing Area I have going on the Other Side.  Growing power - and a more clearly beaten path TO that area of power. 

Frondly, Fern

Wine Not Whine

Blessings Darlings!

I'm not sure if this is a Foodie post or a Witch post.  Please vote for which it is after you read it!

I'm being prayed for.  A pastor on Twitter has asked his 50 followers to pray for my deliverance from the seducing spirits he feels I follow.  Since his followers are undoubtedly FAR more obedient than my 1900+ followers are ... some of them might be praying.

No problem.

Being Pagan, I did a working for him last night.  I offered sacrifice to my God/dess/es, an idea suggested by my High Priest [waves at her High Priest]. It was a sacrifice for his deliverance, too.

The pastor is Southern Baptist trained, so he might not drink wine.  So my ritual included me drinking wine.  And eating dinner. See?  I told you there was some Monday Foodie stuff in here somewhere!

Fresh green salad. Warm custardy quiche, made by the Spawn.  A glass of wine, probably a full 3.5 oz.  All savored.  All ingested with intention.  All going back to the earth afterwards.

From the Gods, to the Earth, to us.  From us, to the Earth, to the Gods.  A gift for a gift.

Oh, the intention? So glad you asked!  I prayed to those Seductive Spirits, those Bountiful Blessing Gods and Goddesses that I follow, that they help him removed the bile' from up his hiney so he can savor a glass of wine or two.

So mote it be, as we are wont to say.

Frondly, Fern  

The Rede

Blessings Darlings!

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill - an it harm none, do as you Will.

Okay. What does it mean, and in what circumstances? Does it apply to the Will (capital W, as in Higher Will) or will (lower case w, as in whatever you choose to do)?  What is 'harm'?  Can you 'harm none' in ANY situation? CAN you do anything that goes against your Higher Will, anyway?

Yeah. All the usual questions about the Wiccan Rede.

How about THIS for an interpretation - "do what ever you want, as long as it harms no one.  But since NOTHING you do harms no one at all ... do whatever you want and just take responsibility for your choices.  And if you claim you harm none - you lie to yourself."

Frondly, Fern

Squash Plant Pests

Blessings Darlings!

Lately lots of folks have been blogging about their plans for their upcoming gardens, and sighing about he bug-based problems they encountered last year.  I know that my neighbors and I had LOTS of problems with our squash from bugs, both from them simply sucking the life out of the leaves and from them turning the vines to mush.

Now, unlike my  neighbors, I DID get a really good crop before the bugs toasted the squash plants.  But my squash season ended earlier than it had to.  I don't want a repeat of that.

This year I plan on dealing with the insect problems better than I did last year.  Which is why I've been researching the problems and solutions NOW.

VINES TURNED TO MUSH

The biggest problem, which killed the plants totally, was that the vine turned mushy not far from the roots.  So mushy that the vine literally detached from the roots!

Cause:
I knew that this was a result of squash vine borers in the stem mucking about first, and now know that the mucking about allowed the vine to get infected and turn to goo.

This year's approach:
First, I'm going to plant the vines farther apart - I had them too close last year so I had a hard time finding and treating ANY problems, as well as a hard time harvesting!  

The vine borers like the first foot or so of the vine, I will check it often for signs of rot.  If there IS rot I'm going to cut into the vine and squish the borers, then work on re-rooting the vine farther along it's length.  Like about a foot farther down it's length.  To do this I'll anoint the vine with rooting hormone and mound earth over that part of the vine, topped with some compost or plastic to help keep it moist.  Once new roots form I'll cut off the vine on the 'old root' side of the new roots, to try to keep the rot away.

University of Illinois - where I was an agriculture major - says that the ONLY pesticide that squash borers are not immune to is carbaryl (I have NO clue what that is), and to try applying it once a week.  I'm not trying that myself.

SUCKING BUGS ATTACKING LEAVES

We had a really nasty infestation of these, but while they reduced harvest they didn't kill the entire plant.

Cause:
 We had two different insects at work here in the Mid Atlantic:  regular old squash bugs as well as stink bugs.  They act the same, they are treated the same, they even look pretty much the same - both 'shield bugs' type.  They have different colored eggs, but they are the same size, both lay 'em under leaves, and both lay them in the same pattern.

This year's approach:
First, since I've already determined to have the plants farther apart, I'll be able to check the leaves for egg masses better.  Once found, I'll squish those egg masses!  I may put boards down for the bugs to gather under and squish them there, too.  Yes, both types of insects CAN smell bad when squished.

I might also try diatomaceous earth on these buggers and see if that helps.    Pyrethrins are my back-up plan, if needed. 

BACTERIAL WILT

This wilt can kill a plant in 6 weeks, sometimes even before it fruits at all.  It's not a problem I've had ... yet.  But I'm preparing.

Cause:  
 A bacteria - but it's carried/spread by cucumber beetles.  Smalllish, striped beetles.  If you don't have the beetles you won't have the problem.

This year's approach:
Keeping alert for the beetles will be the first thing.  If I see them I'll probably do the diatomaceous earth, or if needed go for rotenone.  

 These are the main threats to your garden's squash supply.  With out them, two hills of zucchini will feed a small army.  With them, you may not get any zucs, let alone any more nutritious hard squashes. 

Frondly, Fern.

Garden Time!

Blessings Darlings!

Now that it's February it's time to start your garden.

Yes really.

Time to map out what you want to plant, and where, in your garden.  And in what order: if you plan on planting some spreading vine type plants (squash, sweet potatoes) you can put early harvested crops (spinach, lettuce, radishes, turnips) in the path of those vines.  You'll have eaten and/or stored the food by the time the vines reach that part of the garden.  

Order a few seed catalogs to look over vegetable varieties and get an idea of what area they take up by the time they're harvested.

It's also time to start seeds.  I've started herbs and onions so far - not that they are starting well.  Being low on money I'm using OLD seeds, and only the thyme is doing really well,  Still, one parsley seed is up, a bit of oregano, one red onion.  There's still time for them .... and it's not like my house is kept at 70 degrees as they'd like!

I'll be starting more seeds today, Gods willing and if the creek don't rise.

I don't use grow lights or any fancy set up.  I'm using a sunny room, south and west exposures.  I'm starting the seeds in potting soil and using egg cartons instead of pots.  They are set in old baking pans. I'm REALLY low tech here (oh, the irony!).

In a month or so they'll be day tripping on the deck on warm days to start hardening off.

Considering all the challenges my gardening faced last year (clearing sod, wet spring, drought in summer) I had GREAT crops.  I'm hoping to do as well this year .... AND have better deer protection!

The garden is a fundamental part of everything in both the preparedness / prepper / survival / survivalist line AND in the broke / cheap / cheap eats / broke line as well.  Start now.  You won't regret it.

Frondly, Fern

Havamal, Part 6

Blessings Darlings!

Welcome to this week's installment of  my free-associating to the words of the Havamal.  For those new here - the Havamal is from the Prose Edda of the Norse, and is attributed to Odin.  I'm not using either the best translation or the best ordered version ... but I was sure this one was public domain.  I've found other translations online since then, better, but I'm going to use this one thru' since I started it.  The better versions are mentioned in a great comment in, I believe, the first part of the series.

On to the text!

Little a sand-grain, little a dew drop,
Little the minds of men:
A11 men are not equal in wisdom,
The half-wise are everywhere 

Well, YEAH.  I'm giving up on reading the 'calls to the editor' part of my local paper. 

It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The fairest life is led by those
Who are deft at all they do.
It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
No man is able to know his future,
So let him sleep in peace. 

It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The learned man whose lore is deep
Is seldom happy at heart. 

Is my confusion over the difference between 'half-wise' and 'middle wise' a translation problem?

I have to admit my personal prejudice is in favor of being of greater not lesser wisdom.  And that I see 'cunning and clever' as being different than wisdom.  Maybe more like being smart-asses, or con artists.  But the "The learned man whose lore is deep Is seldom happy at heart" line makes it clear that even my educational elitism is what's being addressed here.  

 

Then again, I see happiness as a choice, not something conferred or chased away by eduction, brains, wealth, etc.

Brand kindles brand till they burn out,
Flame is quickened by flame:
One man from another is known by his speech
The simpleton by his silence.
Early shall he rise who has designs
On anothers land or life:
His prey escapes the prone wolf,
The sleeper is seldom victorious. 

Early shall he rise who rules few servants,
And set to work at once:
Much is lost by the late sleeper,
Wealth is won by the swift, 

Ah, Procrastination, my old friend!  Friend?  No, more like a foe I've made strong over the years, fool that I tend to be.  

A man should know how many logs
And strips of bark from the birch
To stock in autumn, that he may have enough
Wood for his winter fires. 

Preparedness.  Yes, I'm there.  If anyone reading wants links to the web sites that help you figure out how much of what food you need to stock to have a year supply... let me know.  Logs, food, water source - know how to supply and DO supply your own basic needs.  Then...

Washed and fed,
one may fare to the Thing:
Though one's clothes be the worse for Wear,
None need be ashamed of his shoes or hose,
Nor of the horse he owns,
Although no thoroughbred. 

As the eagle who comes to the ocean shore,
Sniffs and hangs her head,
Dumfounded is he who finds at the Thing
No supporters to plead his case. 

Once you've met your own needs yourself, you can go to the AlThing proudly.  Still, if you are there asking for something .... you need to also check with others to see if they agree with your view.  Never assume the support of others.  

It is safe to tell a secret to one,
Risky to tell it to two,
To tell it to three is thoughtless folly,
Everyone else will know. 

Often words uttered to another
Have reaped an ill harvest:
Two beat one, the tongue is head's bane,
Pockets of fur hide fists. 

You have the right to remain silent.  Do you have the ability?  Freedom of speech lets you say what you want.  It does NOT mean that what you say has no repurcussions.


And, for your preppers --- OPSEC! (operational security, for the rest of you).

Moderate at council should a man be,
Not brutal and over bearing:
Among the bold the bully will find
Others as bold as he. 

Again ... don't be a douche.

These things are thought the best:
Fire, the sight of the sun,
Good health with the gift to keep it,
And a life that avoids vice. 

Not all sick men are utterly wretched:
Some are blessed with sons,
Some with friends,
some with riches,
Some with worthy works. 

The halt can manage a horse,
the handless a flock,
The deaf be a doughty fighter,
To be blind is better than to burn on a pyre:
There is nothing the dead can do. 

It is always better to be alive,
The living can keep a cow.
Fire, I saw, warming a wealthy man,
With a cold corpse at his door. 

A person can be old. A person can be ill.  A person can have physical/mental/emotional disabilities.  But being helpless and worthless is not one of them.  As I told my mother, a decade ago when she started losing her sight and felt she couldn't help a cousin care for the cousin's grandson .... "You put the bottle in one end and change the other .... and the baby lets you know if you got it wrong!"  [and thanks to Melilot for the line, BTW] 

A son is a blessing, though born late
To a father no longer alive:
Stones would seldom stand by the highway
If sons did not set them there. 

He welcomes the night who has enough provisions
Short are the sails of a ship,
Dangerous the dark in autumn,
The wind may veer within five days,
And many times in a month. 

Okay, I don't get why these lines have been put here in the version I'm using.  Do they flow better in more normative versions?  At any rate - you descendants are likely the only ones who will honor your .... but do all descendant have to be biological? Nah, says I.

And it finishes with prepping.  Okay. Fine. Short sails, maybe, allow you to tack, to move where you want to go despite where the wind alone would have you go?  Is that it?  I dunno.

And so ends Part 6.  Tune in next Wotansday for Part 7!

Frondly, Fern