Layers: a Reflection on Reflections

I like layers. I like layers in my cakes, and in my people. I like layers in stories, in clothes, and in bedding. I like layers in my house, and layers on my walls. I like layers in my mind, layers in my brain, and layers in my soul. I like how one can make different layers transparent to see beneath, and then drop back to the topmost layer and enjoy the smooth simplicity of the outside layer. I like the layers of a rainbow, and the layers of an onion. I like layers in my masks, and layers in my ideas. I like layers in my gods and in their stories, and I like the new layers I discover when I live with them. I like layers in my arguments and my metaphors. I like layers in my poetry and in my music. I like how layers can be semi-transparent, so the layers beneath peek through and harmonize. I like layers in hair, in comic books, and in nail polish. I like the layers of fractals, each containing the whole of itself. I like layers in stones and layers of sand. I like the layers seen in MRIs and CAT scans. I like layers in my bindrunes. I like carving into the layers and watching the edges darken and lighten within my invasion. I like layers in my mind and layers in my pottery. I like layers that agree and layers that bring discord. I like layers in my friendships and layers in my memories. I like layers in actuality and layers in archetypal thought. I like layers in parfaits and layers in conversations. I like layers in my drinks and in my dreams. The planet itself is built of layers, each doing an integrally important function both above and below itself, surrounding and surrounded. The world itself is built of layers: Nifelheim and Muspelheim, Asgard and Vanaheim, Svartalfheim and Ljossalfheim, Midgard and Jotenheim, and Hel. I like layers in my plants. I like layers in my letters and in my words. I like layers in my candy and layers in my protections. I like layers in my explanations. I like layers in the images I watch and layers in the air I breathe. I like layers; they sooth me. I like the sensation of slipping through layers of thought and memory. The layers of a drum beat carry me where I will and the layers of myself guide me to where I need to be. Around me, layers shift like landmines waiting to emerge violently into life. Like the heart of an artichoke, each spine yearning to slice the fingers that tighten around the whole, I am lost within layers.

Your Daily God

"sin" of the day: envy
( Go and catch a falling star... )

This is more interesting than your average livejournal quiz. Lets map us all! All it asks for is general area. I suppose, eventually, we could slide across huge webs of interests and friends until we find the most obscure people.

I'm trying to get all my Livejournal friends' locations plotted on a map - please add your location starting with this form. Username:

Now I need to go make some more friends on other continents.

@}---,----'----- * * * -----'----,---{@

Now that random nonsense is out of the way, I'll recap the weekend. Saturday was definitely an Odin's Day; I spent the morning sleeping, the early afternoon at a Blot to the Einharjar (the battle-slain), and the evening at a Samhain circle dedicated to Hel and Baldr, for which I wrote the invocations and devocations. I now have Baldr on the brain; he's such an elusive god. I always felt vaguely uncomfortable around him since he was so similar to Jesus, and he rarely seems to be thought of in the Asatru and Pagan circles I move in. He seems the embodiment of frith, although he is not the embodiment of sensibleness. I placed him in Hel, though given that none of us are sure where we are on the Ragnorak timetable that might have been out of place. Hel herself was reportedly worshiped very rarely in the past, a fact which I find interesting but not unexpected. According to Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson (HRED), Hel was thought of first as a place and only later as a person. She is pale as ivory above, her skin flawless and pure, and blue-black on her lower half. HRED pointed out that her appearance may very well be in response to the lividity of blood in a corpse; in the six to twelve hours after a death, all of the blood sinks to the lowest part of the body and turns it into a vivid blue-red-black. The color is... incredibly disturbing; I've seen it in photographs. The rest of the skin goes a waxy-pale due to the lack of blood. This revelation was like a lightening bolt in my brain; it made such sense! The evening was capped by my doing rune readings for many people, crafting a bindrune for A., one of thewronghands's roommates, and lots of conversation (with a little moral indignation thrown in for good measure). I was able to meet a few people who had simply been names up until then as well, and the group was nicely small, a fact I appreciated.

Sunday was given over to Odin's wife, the wide eyed, long eared goddess Frigga. I cleaned, and then I cleaned some more. I was only awake for thirteen hours, and yet an incredible amount was packed into a very short span of time. Amazingly, my usual cleaning resentment didn't rear it's ugly head this time; indeed, I remained quite pleasant and happy for most of it. The quiet was just what I needed, I think, and I found the process of seeing things that were once dirty become clean very soothing. I also cooked quite a lot of food (including rice balls of three different flavors), so hopefully my diet can go back on track this week. Sometime soon, my plants need to be repotted for wintering-over; I should also pick up some chips or peatmoss for insulation through the cold as well. The annuals have done their difficult work and lived their short life; it is time for death and rest. The perennials are ready for sleep as well; I cut back my Goblin Flowers almost to the root and brought in most of the lavender I want to keep; I'm waiting for the longer stalks on the porch to grow flowers so I can make them into wreathes for people. Once the long pots are emptied, I need to dispose of the dirt somehow (I wonder if my mom needs any) and clean everything up for the winter. Perhaps next time I get into the cleaning zone, I will remember to begin with a quick Blot to Frigga; I'd like to render more tasks in my life meaningful through the incorporation of the deities who most regard what I am doing.

And today... well... today has had it's ups and downs. I think I'll give this one to Loki; he always does like to make me live in interesting times.

Verse: Baldr and Hel

As background, I participated in a pagan circle on the 1st which was themed as a journey into Hel. As such, we invoked Hel and Baldr at the beginning; I wrote bits of inviting and thanking that I'm going to share, mostly because seraphim_jaguar wants to have a record of them. The verse is so-so, but I managed to slip in some interesting ideas, I think.

Invocation and Devocation to Hel:

All Hail Hel
Daughter of Loki
Sister of the monstrous wolf
Binder and boundary of the dead
Lady of the Glistening Feilds
Guardian of the sleeping peace
Though your name was not sung before
We sing it now.
Come eat with us.
Come drink with us.
Come show us the truth of your face.

Our Thanks, Hel
Unpitying and unmoving.
Leave if you wish, stay if you will.
Our thanks for the knowledge you leave with us.

Invocation/Devocation to Baldr:

All Hail Baldr
Son of Frigga and Odin
Heart of peace, blessing of frith*
All things but one swore to protect thee
All tings but one wept for thee
Mistletoe lead thee to Hel
An ancient wight kept thee there.
Come eat with us.
Come drink with us.
Come bring peace within us.

Our thanks, Baldr
Bright and shining one.
Leave if you wish, stay if you will.
Our thanks for the peace you leave within us.

*Frith can be roughly translated to "peace," but it's not the peace of a hive mind; rather, it is the peace of many disparate people who cooperate and respect each other even in disagreement.