Volume 1 - Issue 1 - May/June 2003

The Irminsul Newsletter is a new form publication of the Assembly of The Elder Troth, an independent Australian or-ganization dedicated to the promotion of Germanic Heathen-ism as a viable alternative to the nihilism of post–modern western society. Our aim is the reawakening of ancestral wis-dom in the individual and in the community. The newsletter continues in the spirit of the Irminsul Journal.

Through this publication we will celebrate the common-

wealth of cultural heritage shared amongst the modern Ger-manic peoples, dispersed world-wide. The newsletter is of-fered to all who are interested in the study of Mythology, Magic, Religion, Philosophy, History and current events.

In the light of Globalisation it is imperative that we who are

proud of our Germanic culture, and are determined to not only see its survive but thrive, support the claims and efforts of all ethnic cultures to their freedom of expression in lan-guage, religion and self-determination.

The Irminsul newsletter will not publish any mate-

rial that condones or promotes bigotry, discrimina-tion, intolerance, or hatred based on age, colour, gender, language, national origin, race or sexual ori-entation.

All submissions to the Newsletter will be considered. The

views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of the Assembly of The Elder Troth, its' Directors, or mem-bers.

Articles published in the Irminsul Newsletter are subject to

Australian and International Copyright laws. Quotations used from this publication in accordance with the aforementioned Copyright Laws must be correctly attributed.

Subscription to the hardcopy Irminsul Newsletter costs

$30.00 AUD for Six Issues published on a bi-monthly basis, mailed within Australia using standard postage. If you would like Express Post delivery, the annual cost is $50.00 AUD. For overseas subscription, the cost is $40.00 USD postage by Airmail. Subscription to PDF electronic distribution are $15.00 AUD.

Submissions for the newsletter can be sent to: Assembly of The Elder Troth Irminsul Newsletter PO Box 140 North Richmond, NSW 2754 Or may be e-mailed to: webmaster@aetaustralia.org

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Contents: Tiller Talk - Editorial (Rurik Grimnisson) 3 The Ravens’ Caw - Editorial 3 (Dirk Schmitt) Wod - The Wild Huntsman - Story 4 (Carl and Theodor Colshorn) Trelleborg - Investigation 4 (Dirk Schmitt) Migrant Linked to Stonehenge - Article 5 (Associated Press - London) An Indo European Heartland? - Book Extract 5 (Rurik Grimnisson) Einar’s Saga - Historical Fiction 7 (Rurik Grimnisson) How is your sex drive, honey? - Article 8 (BBC News) Nine Herbs Charm - Advertisement 9 Rune-Net - Advertisement 9 Advertise with the Irminsul Newsletter 10 Schmitt Services - Advertisement 10 Assembly of The Elder Troth 11 Contacts & Information Page

Cover Illustration: Picture stone found at Tjanvide, on the Swedish island of Gotland. This stone is now kept at the Statens Historiska Museet at Navavagen, Sweden. The top scene shows Odin astride his eight-legged horse Sleipnir approaching Valhalla. The bottom scene depicts a Viking warship.

E-copy preferred (e-mail, diskette, CD), however, printed materials will be considered.

Editor: Dirk Schmitt Editor in Chief: Rurik Grimnisson

T iller Talk

Greetings reader, it has been a while

since the Irminsul has been to print. Since its last appearance the AET has moved yet again through another stage of evolu-tion. We trust that you will appreciate the new format reflect-ing a more relaxed approach to celebrating our heritage.

We ‘live in interesting times’ confronted by power

struggles. Not only for control of the world economy but also for the minds of the diverse populations attempting to come to terms with threats to their cultural identity and social sta-bility. The western world flogs the old warn torn bloodstained banner of Judeo-Christianity to rally the folk behind them to justify their fear of the Moslem world’s resistance to their hegemony. A sad and cynical state of affairs.

Yet we mustn’t forget that Islam for all its apologists is

just as imperialistic as Christian capitalism. Not as much in-terested in material resources but very much so in unifying the ‘souls’ of the world in worship of Allah, by any means. Truly there is very little difference between these two branches of Abrahamic monotheism. The fundamentalist forces of both would deny you the right to live in troth with our holy Wights, on pain of death if they could enforce it. History has a habit of repeating itself. But there is no need for scape-goating or jingoistic nationalism

Those who recall the time of the Vietnam war remem-

ber the fracturing of our communities caused by polarisation of political opinion. Let us not permit our kindred sense to be divided by the spin-doctors, without and within our Folkway, nor allow our reconstruction to be diminished by selfish fear reflecting from the many veils of Skuld. Certain times we must agree to disagree and in this choice of tolerance we ex-ercise our much cherished freedom and independence, and honour the same with our kith & kin.

Enjoy our Newsletter. By sharing knowledge, opinion,

lore, legend and humour, the arts and the sciences, the experi-ences of our personal wyrd we are uniting to rejoice in our lives, our freedom. Thus we enhance the Folk-Geist.

“…those who give to each other will ay be friends,

once they meet half way”. Wassail!

eâÜ|~ ZÜ|ÅÇ|ááÉÇ Steersman AET

T he RavensÊ

Caw

A warm welcome to you dear reader. The AET has, over

the past few months undergone some rather dramatic changes. These we feel are all for the better. We now work as friends, towards a common goal, but more than that, we also wish to provide to you, and all Asafolk, a forum of expression, which lends itself to a balanced view of the world.

Neither political correctness, nor radical ideology will you

find here, instead, some fine balanced viewpoints, intelligent dissertations, humorous stories, poetry, and more. What is essential here, is that we get out of the staid and stolid way of the world to some degree and breath life into the folkway.

In a balanced view, both studious work on our ancestral

lore, as well as ideas and concerns that we must deal with in our everyday lives shall be addressed. Balance, is of course, the keyword here.

Likewise, this publication is little without the input of the

folk. You… yes, you. It’s not simply a small cadre of writers who will stimulate your mind and entertain you, but it is as much for you to tell us what you would like to see, and read about. In this way we can add value to your experience as well.

We are here as much to build community and continuity

of expression, as anything else. Reading the Irminsul News-letter will bring you closer to other Asafolk, and by seeing what is happening in your world, and your community, you can bring yourself closer to other folk, whether it is through the process of expression of your own thoughts and ideas, or simply interacting with your local folk after being inspired by something to be found in these pages. In essence that is what we are really here for. We are here to build community… and that is the core of the matter.

So, come with us now… on a journey into the world of

Asafolk, like you, and dissimilar from you. Read, enjoy and most of all, remember that this publication is as much yours as it is ours. We need your input and thoughts to bring to you something that you will value, not only today, but in years to come.

Let us build, grow, learn and laugh together, in Frith and

Troth. Ver thu Heil

Dirk Schmitt Editor Irminsul Newsletter

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Wod T he Wild Huntsman

Carl and Theodor Colshorn The dogs of the air often bark on a dark night on the heath, in the woods, or at a crossroads. Country dwellers know their leader Wod and pity the traveler who has not yet reached home, for Wod is often malicious, seldom kind. The rough huntsman spares only those who remain in the middle of the path. Therefore he often calls out to travelers, "In the middle of the path!" One night a drunk peasant was returning home from town. His path led him through the woods. There he heard the wild hunt with the huntsman shouting at his noisy dogs high in the air. A voice called out, "In the middle of the path! In the middle of the path!" But the peasant paid no attention to it. Suddenly a tall man on a white horse bolted from the clouds and approached him. "How strong are you?" he said. "Let's have a contest. Here is a chain. Take hold of it. Who can pull the hardest?" Undaunted, the peasant took hold of the heavy chain, and the huntsman remounted. Meanwhile the peasant wrapped his end of the chain around a nearby oak tree, and the huntsman pulled in vain. "You wrapped your end around the oak tree," said Wod, dis-mounting. "No," responded the peasant, quickly undoing the chain. "See, here it is in my hands." "I'll have you in the clouds!" cried the huntsman and re-mounted. The peasant quickly wrapped the chain around the oak tree once again, and once again Wod pulled in vain. Up above the dogs barked, the wagons rolled, and the horses neighed. The oak tree creaked at its roots and seemed to twist itself sideways. The peasant was terrified, but the oak tree stood. "You have pulled well!" said the huntsman. "Many men have become mine. You are the first who has withstood me. I will reward you." The hunt proceeded noisily, "Halloo! Halloo!" The peasant crept along his way. Then suddenly, from unseen heights, a groaning stag fell before him. Wod appeared and jumped from his white horse. He hurriedly cut up the game. "The blood is yours," he said to the peasant, "and a hind quar-ter as well." "My lord," said the peasant, "your servant has neither a

bucket nor a pot." "Pull off your boot!" cried Wod. He did it. "Now take the blood and the meat to your wife and child." At first his fear lightened the burden, but gradually it became heavier and heavier until he was barely able to carry it. With a crooked back and dripping with sweat he finally reached his hut, and behold, his boot was filled with gold, and the hind quarter was a leather bag filled with silver coins.

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Trelleborg Danish Viking Fortress

Investigation by Ulfrikr

On the western coast of the Island of Zealand, close by the town of Slagelse one can find the excavated Viking Age fortress of Trelleborg. Archaeological dating processes have put the date of construction around 980CE, during the reign of King Harold Blatand. The site covers six hectares of land, and it is estimated that when in use the fortress could house around 450 men.

The above image only shows the foundations, with the fortress having an oaken log palisade around the top of the hill, gate houses at each of the four entry points, and water in the moat that surrounds it. There were also wooden defenses installed in the moat itself, most probably sharpened stakes to deter possible attackers.

The single entrance to the fortress was the Western gate, having a drawbridge to allow access over the moat. The for-tresses location was strategically placed to allow access to the confluence of two rivers (no longer there), but it was also situated far enough away from the rivers to shield it from prying eyes.

The term fortress if probably actually a bit of a misnomer, from the layout of the site, it would more likely have been a fortified encampment, rather than what we would consider a fortress in modern terms.

For those lucky enough to get to Denmark to take a look, there is much to do. You can feel replicas of Viking artifacts, including the weapons of the age. There are regular activities during the warmer months, including re-creations taking place. There is also an onsite museum to wander around. The site is open from 10am to 5pm and costs 40 Dutch Kroner for adult entry.

Migrant Linked to Stonehenge STONEHENGE, the mysterious ring of ancient monoliths from the dawn of Britain's civilisation, could be the work of a central European immigrant. Archaeologists say an early Bronze Age archer, whose grave was discovered near the stone circle last year, may have helped build the monument. And tests on the chemical com-ponents of his tooth enamel show he grew up in the region that is now Switzerland. "The archer would have been a very important person in the Stonehenge area," Andrew Fitzpatrick, Wessex Archaeology's project manager in charge of Stonehenge, said. "It is fascinat-ing to think someone from abroad - probably modern-day Switzerland - could have played an important part in the con-struction of Britain's most famous archaeological site." The 4000-year-old remains were identified as an archer be-cause of flint arrowheads found by his body and other arti-facts from the Beaker Culture that flourished in the Alps dur-ing the Bronze Age. It was likely the man came from an area now in Switzerland, though it might have been in southern Germany or western Austria, said Wessex Archaeology spokesman Tony Trueman. The archer, dubbed the King of Stonehenge by the British press, lived around 2300 BC, about the time the great stone circle was formed in Amesbury, 120km south-west of Lon-don. The 100 or so artifacts found in his exceptionally rich grave, about 5km from Stonehenge, indicated he was obviously a prominent man, Mr. Trueman said. Though it could be coincidence the man lived close to Stone-henge about the time the great stones were put in place, ar-chaeologists suspected he was involved in building the monu-ment and as an important dignitary may have been involved in its creation. -ASSOCIATED PRESS (London)

An Indo European Heartland? The areas that later became known as Switzerland, southern Germany and western Austria were at the estimated time of Stonehenge's construction occupied by the Celtic culture. And the word 'culture' is the key - not race, for DNA tests of the 5000 yr old 'Ice Man' found in the mountain border regions of Italy and Austria is very similar to that of the 'Xinjiang Mum-mies' in China, also known as Cherchen Man. Pringle (2002) in her Secrets of the Red-Headed Mummies, writes that DNA samples taken from the 'Xinjiang Mummies' in China, prove that Proto-Europeans roamed the Tarim Basin as early as the 11th c. BCE. (1) The DNA test results confirm these ancient folk had the same genetic lineage as most mod-ern-day Swedes, Finns, Tuscans, Corsicans, and Sardinians.

Testing of cloth, a Celtic-style plaid found with the bodies revealed it to have a weave that exactly matched cloth found with the bodies of 13th c. BCE salt miners in Austria. Radio-carbon-dating tests of artifacts - footwear, wraps and hats, as well as grain found in other excavations in the area show that the ancestors of Cherchen Man roamed the northwestern cor-ner of China as early as the 21st c. BCE, the height of the Bronze Age (around the estimated time of Stonehenge's erec-tion). Victor Mair, a professor of Chinese in the department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Penn-sylvania who over-saw the project from 1993 to 1999, came to a conclusion regarding a European homeland for the Indo-European people. The territory stretched in a wide swath across central Europe, from northern Denmark to the north-western shore of the Black Sea. But its heart, some six thou-sand years ago, lay in what is now known as southern Ger-many, north-eastern Austria, and a portion of the Czech Re-public. Under pressure from his colleagues, who cited Indo-European linguistic references, especially the origin of the word 'loom' which is held to have come from east of modern Europe, Mair unhappily re-drew the map for publishing, placing the home-land of the Indo-Europeans in a broad arc stretching from the eastern Ukraine and southern Russia to western Kazakhstan to conform to current theories. But personally he insists that his original conclusions, based on DNA evidence (that also includes the Ice Man of northern Italy) and radio-carbon dat-ing of multifarious artifacts are correct . Of this DNA group cited above - Swedes, Finns, Tuscans, Corsicans, and Sardinians, only the modern Swedes can be ethnically identified consistently with the Indo-European lan-guage culture. The language of the Finns is definitely of the non-Indo-European origin, and the status of the Tuscans is still being debated. While the Corsican and Sardinian lan-guages are considered Indo-European, as ethnic groups they are genetically related to indigenous 'Old Europeans'. But if the Indo-Europeans arose out of a central European axis of races as is hypothesized from Mair’s DNA results, then Gim-butas’ so-called invasion of Europe (4,400 BCE >) by Kurgan hordes out of southern Russia and eastwards (still held by the majority of academics as being the homeland of the Indo-Europeans), was not that of unrelated peoples but of a diver-gent culture arising from a shared proto-European matrix. It was a re-settling and then a radiation from the Central European heartland. It was a return of the earlier European nomads through their descendants, who had earlier travelled from the fringes of the Mediterranean to the Baltic and dis-persed eastwards from there into Asia, and southwards into Russia. During their nomadic millennium isolation or per-haps, even before their Diaspora they developed a linguistic template, classified as separate from that of the Ligurians, Iberians, Basques and Finno-Ugrics; perhaps through contact with or the absorption of now unidentifiable ethnic groups, and perhaps through the influence of environment. Whatever factors came into play it seems logical, by my extrapolating of Mair’s findings to suggest that the Proto-Indo-European language-culture developed through relative isolation from

(Continued on page 6)

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the Old Europeans and was spread not only eastwards through Russia into China but back into Europe completing the cycle of an ancient Diaspora. Adding to the controversial theories of the origin and disper-sal of the Indo-Europeans is Colin Renfew’s recent hypothe-sis that also casts doubts on the hither–to accepted theories, although his own premise seems to disregard both paleo-linguistic and archaeological evidence and contradicts his earlier theories of the Indo-Europeans being nomadic. (2) Ren-few (1999) says that the Indo-Europeans origin is to be found on the southern shores of the Black Sea, in Turkey and spe-cifically in Anatolia. He proposes that the Indo-European language matrix developed among those who had domesti-cated both plant and animal species. Language was spread into Europe along with the change from hunting-gathering to farming. This movement was from Anatolia, to Crete then Greece starting around 6000 BCE finally reaching north-western Europe, Scotland and Ireland by 3,500 BCE. Renfew holds that there was very little migration, rather a gradual population increase as a result of better food produc-tion. With the increase of population came commerce, cul-tural adoption and surges of loan-word borrowings. To ex-plain the cultural independence of the non-Indo-European speaking peoples such as the Basques and Etruscans (?) he hypothesizes that may have held out as isolated enclaves for such a long time because their denser Mesolithic populations had independently invented agriculture or they had an abun-dant subsistent food source in shellfish. Renfew suggests that the spread of such I-E languages such as Tocharian to the east as far as China was the result of trade movement along the Silk Road and cites, as an example in reverse to support his language diffusion theory, that although the Indo-Europeans did spread eastward their language and culture have been long been replaced in these areas by that of the Turks and Chinese. Extracts from 'The Indo-Europeans'; Hel's Gates: Rûna of the Teutonic Underworld. © 2002 Rurik Grimnisson (1) H. Pringle (2002) Secrets of the Red-Headed Mum-

mies . F rom the ‘Mumm y Congre ss ’ . www.geocities.co,/j_chandler21/mummies.htm.

(2) Norman Berdichevsky, Contemporary Review (Feb 1999), Archaeology and Language, The Puzzle of Indo-European Origins, Colin Renfrew (1999)

(Continued from page 5) TyrvaldsÊ Collected Mead Recipes Basic Small Mead Source: Cher Feinstein (crf@pine.circa.ufl.edu) Ingredients: 2-3 cloves 2 sticks cinnamon 2 thin slices ginger 2-4 teaspoons orange peel 2 pounds honey yeast 1/4 cup vodka or grain alcohol Procedure: In a 1-gallon pot, simmer cloves (lightly cracked), cinnamon (broken), and ginger. Add orange peel. The amount of or-ange peel will vary depending on type of honey used. Use less orange peel with orange blossom honey, for example. Simmer. Add water to bring volume to 3 quarts. Return to simmer. Add honey, stirring constantly. Do not boil! Skim off any white scum. If scum is yellow, reduce heat. When no more scum forms, remove from heat, cover pot, and leave over-night. The next day, strain to remove as much spice particles as possible. Pitch yeast. Replace pot cover. Twelve hours later, rack mead to 1-gallon jug, leaving dregs of yeast. Top off jug, bringing to base of neck. Take a piece of clean paper towel, fold into quarters, and put over mouth of jug. Seal with rubber band. Ferment for 36 hours, replacing paper towel whenever it becomes fouled. Refrigerate 8-12 hours. Rack to new jug and put back in refrigerator for 12 hours. Add 1/4 cup vodka to kill yeast. Rack to fresh jug. Refrigerate 3-4 days. Bottle. Comments: This is a quickie mead, drinkable in 2 weeks, however, it does improve with age. Aging at least a couple months is recom-mended. This mead is excellent chilled. Specifics: Primary Ferment: 2 days Secondary Ferment: 2 weeks (Look forward to another Mead Recipe in next issue… Ed.)

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EinarÊs Saga An historical fiction by Rurik Grimnisson © 2003

PROLOGUE The Isles of Orkney were settled in the days of Harald Fair-hair, King of Norway. Previously the Isles were the sheltering of Vikings but Harald insisted they were his Fiefdom and demanded allegiance from the first Jarl Sigurdh. Over the years the succeeding Jarls resisted Harald. Thereupon the King sailed against the Isles with a large fleet and forced them to give up their allodial rights. But no taxes were de-manded, for the land had been viciously ravaged. In the time of Eric Bloodaxe, the renegade son of Harald, the Jarls switched allegiance to Eric who had left Norway to establish his own power in Ireland and England. The sixth Jarl, Sigurdh the Stout, who inherited his position from his short-lived antecedents, was known as a great war-rior and a powerful man. Olaf Haraldsson was now King of Norway. Whilst returning home from the Scillies, his fleet ran for storm-shelter into Osmundvoe harbour on the Orkney island of Hoy, where fate would have it, Jarl Sigurdh lay at anchor with only three ships. Sigurdh was taken prisoner. King Olaf was a fanatical Kristjan and demanded as ransom that Sigurdh be baptised, under threat of execution as a rebel. The Jarl was to proclaim Kristjanity in all the Orkney Islands and swear allegiance to the Norwegian King. Olaf took Sigurdh's favoured son Hlodver, grandson of the Scottish King Malcolm II and affectionately known as ‘Hundi’ (little hound) back to Norway, as a political and religious hostage. Hundi remained under Olaf’s fosterage until the time of Knut's proclamation of sovereignty over Norway. Knut, King of Denmark had inherited the throne of England from his father Svein and was now the most powerful ruler in the North. He became popular with the Norseman who had become to hate their King Olaf for his brutality: his forced conversions to Kristjanity and the usurping of the Norwegian Jarls’ and Karls’ ancient legal and religious rights. A civil war now raged throughout Norway, sometimes as provincial bat-tles and at other times as isolated family resistance. When Knut realized that diplomacy was not going to win him his prize of Norway, he made contact through his agents there to gather men to join him in overthrowing Olaf. He planned to invade with a mighty fleet sailing from England, Scotland and the Orkney Isles. When Knut first claimed Norway Hundi, who had many friends at Olaf's Court, was secreted away. Olaf was told that he had died. The Norwegian king, being distracted by the threat of Knut’s intentions, appeared to accept this news with-out any inquisition; for Hundi had been ill with the coughing sickness and was not expected to survive. A weighted and sealed coffin was buried after an elaborate Kristjan funeral service, attended by Olaf and his High Court. Hundi's hide-away was to the south in Alvsbor. This province lay close to the border of Denmark. It was hoped that Hundi

could be restored to health and kept hidden until Knut's ex-pected invasion fleet had worked its way around the West Coast, ensuring his safe rescue. The Danish Overlord Knut hoped that this daring plan would guarantee the appreciation and fealty of Sigurdh to himself. He had no desire to keep Hundi as a hostage. He wanted to confirm the Orkney allegiance through gratitude. The rescue of Hundi would add to his honour and respect as a King of the greatest empire ever known in the northern world. 1. THE CHOOSING Where the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas mingled it had been a warm summer. Life was pleasant enough in this time of civil war and impending invasion. It was now the late Fall season in the shallow estuaries, where men call the land Uddevalla. Although ice was forming in some perpetually shaded dales, game was still plentiful. Fingers of lush land jutted between turbulent creeks filled with salmon. The deciduous forests, whose floors were still covered with succulent berries, shel-tered the sleek elk while the open woodlands fattened the partridge and grouse for the coming winter. Einar Thorrfinson had arisen with the dawn. Today would be a fine hunt, he mused with mixed feelings of exhilaration and apprehension. He had dreamed in the last watch of the night, the time when those who are fated for a straw-death most often give up the ghost, of a great buck with heavy antlers. It seemed to stand at the shoulder taller than any other he had seen; the beast had turned to face him and dropped to its knees, its eyes large amber pools of reflected light. In his hand he held a mighty war hammer with which he smote the stag on the offered forehead. At the moment of impact the compelling eyes transformed into mælstroms of bloody water. He caught his reflection in their black abyss centres, and feel-ing he was being sucked in, awoke with a start. Standing in the early morning chill Einar watched the steam rising from his piss. His thoughts flitted to his wife who still lay warm abed, sleeping. Astrid would be pleased if the hunt would provide enough venison for some early winter smok-ing. The sound of a protracted yawn accompanied by a fart broke his reverie. Einar turned his head to see his young charge, Hundi, blinking like an owl against the glare of the sun, now rising through the morning mists like a burnished helm of bronze. Suppressing a grin of amusement Einar walked back to the house to string his bow and belt his hunting knife - both hung on the stave wall inside the doorway of the log cabin. Before entering he called in a mock-gruff voice over his shoulder to Hundi, 'Get a move on "little hound" if you want to eat before the hunt'. The lad yelped in pleasure, adjusted his trews then bolted to the stoop water-bucket slopping hand-fuls of icy water over his head and face. After a light breakfast of cold porridge and skymilk to sustain them, they passed through the yard carrying their weapons, not forgetting to slide the slip-rails back into place. There

(Continued on page 8)

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would be Hel to pay from Astrid if he left the Garth fence open, thought Einar. They forded the bubbling creek across the narrow footbridge - the fallen trunk of an ancient Yew tree - climbed the low ridge to the west of the homestead pausing among the slim Birch, which had lost most of their leaves. Whilst drawing deep lung-fulls of cool air, the hunters peered down into the dim lit glade of Oak and Beech, cling-ing to their last golden leaves. This stand marked the begin-ning of the forest preparing for its winter sleep. From hereon there would be no talking. All concentration was on the seri-ous business of stalking game. The two cut manly figures as they strode forwards through the bracken. The elder was tall and bearded, solidly built, a single golden braid snaking down the back of his fringed raw-hide jacket. The younger was as tall with the promise of more height and size. His hands and feet were large on his rangy frame. His wet hair rusty, untameably shaggy clung to the wide shoulders of his leather vest like clotted blood.

* * * To be continued...

(Continued from page 7)

They will select one couple who will be asked to keep a nightly record of the effects or otherwise of the ancient brew.

The findings will be published in November to coincide with UK Chemistry Week, which will highlight the role of chemis-try if daily life.

The society has already placed an order for a dozen bottles of mead to help the couple on their way.

Mead is an alcoholic liquor made by fermenting a mixture of honey and water.

The drink has its roots in Babylon more than 4,000 years ago. While popular with newly-weds, it was also hailed by soldiers who poured it on wounds in the belief it helped them to heal more quickly.

"Mead was not just drunk as a wine but was believed to have magical powers revitalising and healing," said Jerome Schooler, who runs Britain's largest mead maker, Lurgashall Winery in Sussex.

"As a result of this, Mead was the elixir to prolong life. Peo-ple thought if they drank it they would be immortal."

Researchers at the Royal Chemistry Society are hoping their study will unearth some of the science behind the myth.

"There is some serious science in it," said Claire McLoughlin of the society.

"Mead was believed to increase virility and fertility and as in many myths and legends there is a basis in science because mead is rich in B vitamins and also rich in amino acids which are the building blocks of protein so do increase stamina."

Couples who are interested in volunteering to take part in the study can email the society at emsleyb@rsc.org

8 Irminsul

How is your sex drive, honey? Life was simpler thousands of years ago. In Biblical times, the secret to a happy marriage was nothing more than a honey-based alcoholic drink.

Newly-weds were encouraged to drink mead every night for one lunar month after they tied the knot.

The fruits of their so-named honeymoon would then appear nine months later, in the form of a bouncing baby.

Sex life

Now scientists at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London are setting out to determine whether there is any truth in the ancient myth that mead is, indeed, the key to a healthy sex life.

Researchers are seeking the help of prospective honeymoon-ers willing to drink mead every evening for 30 days after they exchange their vows.

Mead was believed to increase virility and fertility

Dr Claire McLoughlin

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/2949742.stm Published: 2003/05/30 11:40:15 GMT © BBC MMIII

Nine Herbs Charm

Swanhilda, a Vitka and Seiðkona, has been

working as a healer for over 20 years. She is now offering to the wider community, the Norse Nine Herbs Charm. The herbs and their preparation are true to the original formula of the Viking Age. All are organic and either from Europe and/or grown by Swanhilda from imported seeds.

Each ingredient is “Rune Sung” as it is pre-pared. The final blend is placed in a hand made leather drawstring pouch then charged for its healing and protection work by invocation to our own holy Wights.

Each charm is made to personal order according to the clients requirements. You have a choice of emu skin (according to availability) or fine calf suede pouches.

Cost: $24.00 AUD (Aust./N.Z.) $24.00 USD all other orders (Includes Postage) All orders to: Swanhilda PO Box 5345 Rockingham Beach WA 6168 Payment by Money Order only should be made

out to: L. G. Bennetts Other specific charms are also available… en-

quiries welcome.

Rune-Study Networking Guild

International network for students of the Runes

www.mackaos.com.au/Rune-Net Rune-Net was formed by a group of rune students who have been studying as a network for over 10 years, and individually for up to 25 years. The pur-pose of Rune-Net is to promote the study of our runic heritage. We have a number of texts on-line to make Rune-Net studies accessible to all at a minimal cost. Nearly half of our members are in Australia, with the rest in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Germany.

Although we try to avoid a dogmatic approach, pre-ferring that individuals find their own paths by their own work, we are focused on a solid and factual foun-dation upon which to build. Unfortunately, the major-ity of rune manuals available in the shops are virtually devoid of such a foundation. We became frustrated with the general lack of reliable research available in the popular New Age books and their make-it-up-as-you-go-along attitude. This prompted us to organise a study guide, materials, and discussions based on the best academic & historical sources.

We have organised Rune-Net as an international net-working and support structure for students of the Runes. We have our own publishing network for runic books of quality and credibility (such as our latest books the Runic Primer & True Helm,). We also have Rune-Net gatherings & workshops (members only), and hold a Feast for all Heathens and Pagans in Win-ter (June in Australia) Winter Feast.

Fees are US$11 due each June. US$16 for new mem-bers which will cover you until June 2004. (Australia A$20 renewal, new member A$30)

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Membership of the Assembly of The Elder Troth The AET is an Australian organization unique in its national corporate structure. Membership obtains federal recognition of your Northern Tradition beliefs and legal warding from discrimination and harassment whether from individuals or collectives. This security is upheld and qualified by a minimal legal constitution to which members are conditionally bound. The AET’s interests are wide-ranging, not exclusively reli-gious and definitely non-dogmatic. We are a networking and supportive folk-body. We pragmatically recognize that for cultural integrity to be maintained in this time of Globalisa-tion we must affirm our commonwealth of heritage - spiritual, ethical and material whilst encouraging the individual to achieve full potential in all areas of life. Continuing survival, not only for us but also for all humanity, depends on our in-terdependence with the bi-sacral realms of the natural world and the numinous, just as it deed for our ancestors. As a member you are free to form or to affiliate with any community organization of your choice, with qualifications. We require that the philosophy and actions of these associa-tions be not in contravention to the United Nations Bill of Human Rights or the laws of the country of residence. Co-membership of associations that publicly or privately pro-claim or support discrimination based on race, colour, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or unsustainable ecological exploitation is unacceptable. Membership Fees: Affiliated Member: $15 per year Provides membership of the AET, including Membership Certificate, granting legal coverage as a member. Full Member: $60.00 per year Provides membership of the AET, including Membership Certificate, granting legal coverage, as well as the bi-monthly Irminsul Newsletter and annual Irminsul Journal mailed to you as hardcopy. Subscriptions Only: Irminsul Newsletter hardcopy only [six issues] $30.00 Irminsul Newsletter e-copy only [six issues] $15.00 Irminsul Journal hardcopy only [annual issue] $25.00

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Assembly of T he Elder Troth Contacts & Information Page

The Assembly of The Elder Troth, Rune-Net and the Order of the Blue Falcon are working together to provide resources for Ger-manic Heathen study and practice.

An official Publication of the Assembly of The Elder Troth © 2003

Assembly of The Elder Troth ABN: 51 103 040 802

PO Box 140

North Richmond, NSW 2754 Australia

It is a long way To the home of a false friend,

Even if it stands close by the road.

A straighter way leads to the true friend,

Though he lives far away.

Havamal 34