My tentative first ideas for the Year of Aun #Aun2023

First of all, what is the Year of Aun? To find out, visit the Nordic Animism Youtube channel.

When I was young, I lived in Lincolnshire. A very rural county, not really known too well outside of its borders for anything other than farming. Mostly arable farming, though I did live near many fields of (dairy) cows, a piggery and a turkey farm. Back then, I felt a really strong connection to the land. I appreciate my mature mind might well be embellishing this a little. After all, what did I know back then of spirituality or, indeed, the mundane world at large? I was a socially-awkward teenage boy who'd rarely ventured further than perhaps the 20 miles to the nearest market towns.

Back then, however, I did feel a certain connection to the land as something more than just "the area in which I lived". I felt a connection to the earth, where a good portion of the food I ate was grown. When I fell over and scraped my knees (as kids are wont to do), it was that same earth that my blood fell upon and soaked into. When my elder relatives died, it was the earth into which they were buried. Or, in some cases, it was the air around us into which their ashes scattered. As the descendant of farmers and farm workers, it was that same land that my ancestors had worked for generations. It felt like it was a part of my DNA.

Fast forwarding to the present day, I'm sitting in the spare bedroom of my house before a laptop, working from home. "The new normal", apparently. In my youth. I've tried re-engaging with some of the hobbies I used to enjoy. I've renewed my contact with old friends. But nothing quite seems to quell that feeling of something missing. Perhaps it is that connection to the land that I miss?

For my Year of Aun plans, I think I will focus upon rebuilding that connection to place that I felt as a boy. Albeit this time across the Pennines in the northwest. Lancashire is very similar to Lincolnshire it a lot of ways. Lots of hills and large city-sprawls notwithstanding.

#AUN2023

2023: The Year of Aun

(Taken from the Nordic Animism channel, with Rune Hjarno Rasmussen)

This is something that really resonates with me. Yule and Midsummer are the only real heathen events that my family and I voluntarily get ourselves embroiled in. We also often travel to Scandinavia (mostly, Stockholm) fairly often - or, we did. Thank you, global pandemic!

At first, I was thinking of wanting to get involved and immediately thought of arranging some family trip. Uppsala seemed to be a good choice. Then it occurred to me that international travel has not exactly been reliable, of late. Disappointing and something that still looms in my mind as we have been planning to spend Yule 2022 in Kiruna again. Just before the first lockdown, we managed to spend what would later be thought of as our best Yule ever at Camp Ripan in Kiruna, Lapland (Sweden).

These past few days, though, I have been thinking about The Year of Aun and I've changed my mind a little. I still very much want to get involved and help in whatever way I can. Now, though, I think it more important to have a lot of smaller scale, local events commemorating Aun at historical sites around the globe. Each celebrating in their own way in accordance with their own, local customs. Online, then, The Year of Aun might simply be a website or series of blogs containing media showing how each area has celebrated. Pictures, videos, articles or artwork all commemorating the rejuvenation of this most significant of heathen festivals.

Unfortunately, I am neither an academic nor an artisan. I can't really offer any knowledge or insight into the development of this idea. One lesson I have learned from my years spent identifying as a heathen is that there are a lot of people out there who know a Hel of a lot more about heathenry and its associated fields than do I. Similarly, other than occasionally bursting into song while in the shower, I really don't have an artistic bone in my body and my hands lack any practical skills at all. Because of this, it can feel quite hard to fathom what I can offer this project - other than enthusiastic moral support. If I figure that one out, I'll let you all know.

Though it has been 48 years and, to this very day, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! ;)

Butterflies aren't very heathen

Exciting times here with us. In a few days, we will be camping with fellow heathens from the Northwest Heathens Facebook Group. Because of this, even a curmudgeonly old scrote like me is starting to feel a little pressure to up my heathen game.

Normally, our family's brand of heathenry is very understated. Other than "looking a bit metal" which, in some circles has now come to be interpreted as "looking a bit heathen", we don't really advertise our heathenry or practice overtly. But, as one of the things about this camping trip that will make it extra-special is that it will be heathen-themed, I don't suppose it'll hurt to be a little more "obviously heathen" in what I say and do.

So, what I will likely do is return to my previous habit of greeting the day, from Sigrdrífumál:

Hail day,
hail the sons of day,
hail to the night and daughter of night.
With eyes of kindness
look upon us
and give to us who sit here victory.
Hail the Aesir,
hail Asynjur,
hail to the all-giving earth.
Fair speech and wisdom
give to us famous ones
and healing hands as long as we live.

If I recall correctly, I've actually posted this before, albeit a different translation. It is a good prayer to know as it is fully-attested in the Eddas and works very well as a simple, daily devotion. Useful perhaps to new heathens to help them feel they're "doing something heathen", which I know from experience can be of great value when first starting out upon one's path.