2021
Ondheim Leadership Update
As of July 7, 2021, with great regret we must inform our membership of the resignation of Joseph Bloch, and Karen Bloch from Ondheim Theodish Fellowship. After a dispute with other tribesmen, Joseph refused to bring the matter to thing or arbitration and called for the removal of the other person without having the matter heard before the folk or arbitrated on by William Lord. When his demands were not met he chose to resign and leave the Fellowship. In Theodish belief, leadership is service, and we are all responsible for and accountable for our actions, but we have systems in place for due process that must be followed. NO ONE is above that, including the leadership itself.
Mayday 2021 Abanning
On Saturday May 1st, 2021, the folk of Ondheim Theodish Fellowship gathered together at the home of Lord William and Lady Diane, as well as several guests. The day began with a lunch of sandwiches and quiche, followed by kubb, archery, axe throwing, and other games enjoyed by the adults and many children alike. While that was going on, Rikard Karl demonstrated weaving on a loom of his own construction, with various members of the tribe taking a turn creating a cloth.
Karen Karl held a workshop on needle felting, which was a great success. At least one participant immediately ordered her own supplies to start felting on her own, and many unique and fun objects were created by those in attendance.
Carrying forth what has become a tradition of performing dramas and plays at our events, a comedic play, written by our own Rikard Karl, was performed, “The Children of Loki”. Telling the story of the loss of Tyr’s hand to the wolf Fenrir, the play was both fun on its own merits and useful as an educational experience. Many children of the tribe also participated, and it was adjudged to be a success all around.
One of the main events during the day was the Sigrblót, held in honor of Odin in order to ask for victory for the tribe and its members in the coming year. In addition to the usual animal effigy (a ram was used in this case), several weapons were ceremonially offered to the Giver-of-Victory in the ancient manner, by first blunting and bending them so they can no longer be used in Midgard, and then offering them to the God. William Lord offered a spear he himself crafted, while Joseph Thane offered a ritual dagger which had itself been gifted to him many years before. The Sigrblót was a powerful ritual, and positive omens were observed thereafter.
After the Sigrblót, dinner was served; a huge feast of chicken, potatoes, perogies and fried kielbasa, vegetables, and hearty bread. Much fine talk and good cheer was had as the feast carried on. Once all had had their fill, the results of our raffles were held, as many members of the tribe had brought items of their own make to be raffled, benefiting the tribe’s coffers. Once all the goods found their homes, the folk gathered in hall for sumble.
Sumble is one of the main focuses of any major Theodish gathering, and sumble this night was up to that reputation. While many toasts to Odin were made during the first round, in honor of the God to whom the blót was offered during the day, many other Gods and Goddesses were also welcomed into the Hall and honored with toasts. The third round came alive with both song and business, as Joseph Thane sang a comedic Irish Ballad, Rikard Karl sang a version of “If I Had A Heart” while accompanying himself on guitar, and Joanna Thrall sang a ballad to Odin which all learned later was improvised on the spot (doubtless divinely inspired). Joseph Thane showed all the first proof copies of the first three books to be published by the tribe’s imprint, The Theodish Press, while presenting the first received, a copy of Egil’s Saga, to William Lord. Karen Karl presented Eirik Thrall with a shadow box she crafted honoring his grandparents, both of whom had recently passed away within days of one another, signed by all those present, and the emotion felt rippled through the hall at the gift. Joseph Thane also heard the hold oath of Rikard Karl, expanding the Web of Oaths of the tribe, and bringing in our first freed thrall into the collective Luck of the tribe. Such a thing is a momentous occasion, and the mood of the hall was suitably grave.
After the conclusion of Sumble, the Gods Plate was offered to the gods and land-wights, dessert was served, and much drink, fine talk, and goodwill was shared by those assembled, before most left well after midnight.
The day was a fine one, and a worthy celebration of the Gods and the Folk. Ondheim Theodish Fellowship continues its trajectory towards ever-greater and ever-worthier deeds.
Ondheim Launches Online Bookstore
Ondheim Theod is pleased to announce the opening of our online bookstore on our website. We have a number of titles on topics including contemporary religion, history, history, mythology and folklore, magic, and a special section for kids.
A portion of all sales will go to benefit our tribe, and many more titles will be added in the coming weeks. Enjoy!
Yule 2021 Abanning
On Saturday January 30th, 2021, the folk of Ondheim Theodish Fellowship gathered together at the Home of Lord William and Lady Diane. The event began with a demonstration on fire creation using ferrocerium rod and steel using char cloth led by Chris Thrall. The workshop was informative and went extremely well. Though they did not know it at the time, all of the households in attendance were gifted their own kits of ferrocerium, steel, and char cloth in sumble by Chris thrall and his rooftree. Then lunch was served with a hero sandwich, macaroni salad, potato salad, chicken salad, and snacks. All paired with a warm mulled mead kept hot all day in answer to the freezing temperatures.
The day was packed with events, including a workshop on nalbinding taught by Richard Thrall, who not only learned the craft, set up the workshop and taught it, but also crafted traditional wood needles to distribute to the folk to learn with. It really was a fascinating look into how hard our ancestors had to work to make their own cloth. Doing traditional crafts like this is a great way to feel connected to our past in a world where such traditions are lost in a consumer society.
The next event was a Mummer’s play, written, directed, and narrated by Richard Thrall, and many of the folk played parts. It was The Otter’s Ransom, a stylized retelling of the story of how gold gained the kenning “Otter’s ransom”, it was extremely well written and incredibly well performed by the folk. Truly a pleasure. These types of ritual dramas have become a tradition among our folk, and are a very good way to connect with the lore and worldview of our ancestors which is an integral part of our spiritual path.
Following the ritual, we moved back into the hall for feast. From baked ham (representing the sacrificial pig) to chicken and potatoes, to shepherd’s pie, the folk feasted until all were properly stuffed and the Ancestors and Gods plate was pied high with food to share with them. There was much merriment and celebration in the hall.
Noelle, who has been a friend and guest of the tribe many times at events and classes in the past few months also chose to forego her worth and sell into thralldom to hopefully earn her place among the folk, going for the rather inflated cost of three lucky pennies to William Lord. May she find the strength and perseverance to build her worth and earn her freedom… William Lord himself took a knee in hall, and before his Folk, as well as the Gods and Ancestors, reaffirmed his vows to his wife, Lady Diane and gave her a custom sterling key bearing the othala rune and the Ondheim Bear totem, the outward symbol of her place as the Lady of the tribe. It was a great day, and a worthy celebration of the Faith, Folk, and Families of the Ondheim Theodish Fellowship!
May the Gods see you…
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