Words From the Alsherjargothi
In October we celebrated Winter Nights at Sigrheim for the very first time. What an amazing event it was! This was the biggest event yet at Sigrheim and it felt amazing to have so many of our Folk there together in the Home of Victory!
It is very hard to explain to those that weren't there, but this was one of the most powerful gatherings the AFA has ever hosted. I have spoken many times of that moment when this faith becomes "real" to someone. The greatest thing as a Gothi is to see this moment happen in the eyes of one of the Folk .... better yet to feel like you were a part of facilitating such a moment. There were many of these moments from at Winter Nights.
There will be much more written about the event, but I have to share something really special that I got to do this year. As many of you know, there is a very old cemetery at Sigrheim with graves from as far back as the 1850s. You may also remember that I interred my mother's remains in this cemetery in July. We all invite our Dísir to be with us in the Dísir blot, our Dísir are always with us... but this year I was able to stand with one of my Dísir in very different and very special way. We made our circle in such a way that to incorporate my mom's grave in the circle with us and I was able to stand in Blot by her side. I can't do it justice and I can't share the feeling, but I do want to share that it was extremely special for me, and my soul is better for it.
Lots of us had "the magic" happen at Winter Nights this year.
Hail the Ericksons!
Hail the Dísir!
Hail Týr!
Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi, Asatru Folk Assembly
