Wearing a Hammer

Been awhile since I've web logged...times have been interesting, but that's another topic.

I bought my 1st Mjolnir pendant the afternoon of 9 July 1988 from a silversmith at an historic recreation event (Society for Creative Anachronism gathering near Rapid City, SD). I wasn’t sure what it was, but felt I should wear it.  The smith wasn't too conversant with the symbolism as he was a Celtic Pagan, but liked the design.

Man is by nature a tribal animal. We want to be part of something bigger than our selves, which was at one time necessary for survival.

Most associations these days are formed from our own free will; fraternal or sororal societies, fandom (sports, movie and/or tv show milieus, bands…), special interest crafting groups, tech “geekdom,” biking or walking clubs… Each develops “tribal” dress and symbols, has it’s own dialect that outsiders do not understand.

The Thor’s Hammer I bought and still wear on occasion (I have a different one for every day) is one such symbol. It gives one an immediate point of conversation. It also gave me a goad to start reading the Norse and German folk lore, mythology and history so I might better understand its appeal to me.

A few years later, I was at another SCA event (Pennsic War) and was browsing through a “Viking” merchant’s booth. The proprietor saw my Hammer and asked; “Are you Asatru?” I had no idea what he meant, so we engaged in conversation. I left with a warm feeling, finally I knew there were others who believed and gave worship as did I. He said folks like me, who think they are the only one, were not rare. I had a name to put to what I did. I was working as staff for the event, so my leisure time was limited, we lost contact in those less connected days.

Forward 3 more years, similar setting, another merchant. This time, he had printed materials for sale that were from a few of the then extant Asatru organizations. I ended up with close to a dozen books, booklets and pamphlets. I also have an axe I bought from him. We talked, I got invited to participate in a ceremony he called Sumbel, but again, I was working the event and was unable to accept the invitation.

However, I now had names and addresses, old fashioned "snail mail" addresses and after several months (past the turn of the year) I started writing.  I got back replies and engaged in correspondence. To this day, these folks have my friendship and respect.

Within Heathenry (Asatru, Odinism, the Northern Way, Forn Sed, and so forth), we have a lot of tribal symbols that can identify us to each other.  Though I feel closest to Uller, I still wear the Mjolnir as it is most immediately recognizable.