Heathens Break Ground at First Heathen Temple
Big news! Today, the Spring Equinox, in honor of the anceint ways, the Asatruarfelagid broke ground on the new heathen temple that they are building in iceland.
"GROUNDBREAKING FOR HEATHEN TEMPLE Excerpted from mbl.is
Members of the Ásatrú society [in Iceland] conducted a special solar eclipse ceremony this morning combined with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ásatrú temple set to rise next year. ...
"The good weather is entirely due to us," explains [Ásatrú leader Hilmar Örn] Hilmarsson in a humorous tone. "We ordered the weather from the gods especially for this event." According to Hilmarsson, over 300 people came to Öskjuhlíð, a woodland covered hill in central Reykjavík, this morning to observe the eclipse.
The Ásatrú ceremony began at 08:38 when the solar eclipse began, symbolic rituals were performed such as the lighting of candles and sacrifices were made to the gods, of beer and water.
"When the eclipse was at its peak a fire was lit in the place where the temple will rise and the victory of the sun and light was celebrated with poetry readings, song and music. Drums were beaten and trumpets sounded," explains Hilmarsson who adds that the Eddic poems contain beautiful solar references. "The timing of this eclipse is extremely important and laden with symbolic meaning."
At the close of the solar eclipse ceremony, Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson took to the shovel for the groundbreaking for the new temple and the gathering was sanctified by Hilmarsson. "It was a magical moment and I still have goosebumps," he says, adding that the event exceeded all his expectations.
Full article: http://www.mbl.is/english/culture_and_living/2015/03/20/pagans_light_fire_during_solar_eclipse/" (1)
This is very exciting! What do you guys think?
1.Norsemythnews