Kindling the Hearthfire Episode , January 2025

 

Welcome everyone to another episode of Kindling the Hearthfire! I hope everyone had a lovely new year. I am currently starting my second Semester of College, so wish me luck! 

I want to welcome everyone listening in, newcomers as well as veterans; for those who are unfamiliar with the format, let’s give a brief outline to start with. First off, we are going to be introducing a deity for the month, this time around, is Frig from Norse Mythos; next up, we have a Recipe followed by a book review; this time, we are going to be talking about a book recommended by my sister, Caesar’s Messiah. Last, we will review some events in the next three months in our calendar section. So let’s get started!

Today, I’m excited to explore a captivating figure from Norse mythology: Frigg, or Frigga in her anglicized form. Many people might recognize her from Marvel comics or movies. Still, it’s important to highlight that the mythological Frigg is quite different from her on-screen counterpart. 

My journey into Frigg’s world began in high school when I first encountered her in the Prose Edda, a crucial text in Norse mythology. This initial discovery sparked my curiosity, leading me to dive deeper into the Poetic Edda during college, where Frigg’s character is showcased with even richer detail. As the wife of Odin, the revered King and All-Father of the Aesir, Frigg embodies both a compassionate maternal figure and a powerful goddess in her own right. She is the loving mother of Baldur, the radiant god of light, whose tragic fate—set in motion by Loki’s mischief—plays a significant role in the Norse saga. Additionally, she may be the mother of Hodur and Hermod and steps in as the stepmother to many of Odin’s other children from various unions, including iconic figures like Heimdall and Thor.

Frigg’s narrative is deeply woven with magic, divination, and prophecy themes. She holds profound insight into the future and is cherished as a protector of the home, a vital aspect of the Norse ideal of domestic life. Often regarded as the “CEO of Asgard,” this title humorously encapsulates her role as a chief administrator overseeing her household’s and kingdom’s well-being. 

Keys, too, hold a special significance in her story; they appear in various rituals as symbols of her protective nature, representing the safeguarding of home and the passage between realms. The tapestry of myths surrounding Frigg is extensive and richly layered, revealing themes of love, loss, and the complex dynamics of family among the gods. 

For those curious to learn more about Frigg, I wholeheartedly recommend diving into the wealth of lore surrounding her character. Whether through ancient texts or modern interpretations, exploring Frigg’s story offers a fascinating glimpse into the values and beliefs of the Norse people. There’s so much to uncover, and I’m eager to share this journey with others!

Now, on to the recipe section.

Recipe

Potato Klubb (Norwegian Potato Dumplings)

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

1 hr

Total Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Servings:

8

Yield:

8 servings

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

4 cups potatoes, peeled and grated

2 tablespoons grated onion

8 ounces of cooked ham, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup melted butter

Directions

Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, baking powder, and pepper together in a bowl. Place the potatoes and onion in a large bowl and stir in the flour mixture until thoroughly blended. Use floured hands to knead the potato mixture in the bowl until it resembles stiff bread dough. Add additional flour if the dough is too sticky.

Pinch off a tennis ball-sized piece of dough and shape it around a cube of ham, completely covering it to form a ball. Repeat with remaining dough and ham cubes. Set aside any extra ham.

Fill a large pot with water, add 2 teaspoons salt and any extra ham, and boil over medium-high heat. Carefully slide the balls into the boiling water, a few at a time. Loosen any sticking to the bottom of the pot. Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove with a slotted spoon, and drain on a plate. Serve hot with melted butter.

As I mentioned earlier, the book I will be reviewing this time is a recommendation from my sister, Caesar’s Messiah, by Joseph Atwill. Fair warning that she loves conspiracy theories, and this is definitely one of those. Overall, it was an easy read, and I appreciated that he was very upfront in acknowledging that his theory was difficult to believe. The theory boils down to the Christian Religion being a creation of a Roman Imperial Family, the Flavians. The Purpose of Christianity, according to Atwill’s theory,  was suppression. It was designed to replace the nationalistic and militaristic messianic movement in Judea with a religion that was pacifist and would accept Roman rule. 

I won’t say whether he was right; that’s not the purpose of this review section. 

It was an interesting read. Would I keep this on the shelf for future use? Probably not. Was it an interesting thought experiment? Certainly, if you are interested in this part of history, read it with a ton of salt. 

The bibliography was lacking, though there were a few good examples of ancient sources. Ultimately, it does not belong on my shelf, but it was a fun read. 

Now, on to the next section, the Calendar. 

The next three months are a little sparse in terms of Festivals, but here is one that I discovered recently.

Witchcon

Hosted on the Hex Education Network on crowdcast.com from February 7 to 9, 2025, They claim to be the world’s largest livestream magical conference, featuring over 100 Witches and Conjurers from across the globe! Attend your favorite classes live, then watch all sessions on-demand whenever you like!

This has happened since 2021, and all the classes are still up for viewing with the purchase of that year’s ticket. Check it out! The website is in the show notes.

 Some ongoing events might help fill in the gap.

Morning Dedicant Reading Club

        Mondays, 11:00am – 12:00pm Eastern time, 8-9 Pacific am

Visit “ADF DP Study Group” on Facebook or email Vice-Archdruid@adf.org for the recurring Zoom password. 

Weekly Online ADF Ritual (hosted by Virtual Fire (Proto)Grove) 

    First and Third Wednesday and Second and last Tuesday 

Link to Webpage in show notes.

All right, to wrap up, I would like to thank you all for your contributions! I would especially like to thank Bonnie Landry again, whom you heard in the Intro with Fire Burn Bright, a chant written and composed by Diane “Emerald” Bronowicz. All other music and images belong to their creators.

 We’re getting ready to put the next Podcast together here at Kindling the Hearthfire, and if you have any ideas, celebrations, Poems, Songs, Invocations, or anything else that you’d like to hear included in the Podcast, please send 

them to: 

KindlingtheHearthfire@gmail.com

I would also love to see pictures of your celebrations! Post them to the Facebook Group or on Instagram with the #KTH!

The deadline for submissions for the next Podcast is, and Tune in on the 28th  for another Episode of Kindling the Hearthfire! Our Podcast is on Stitcher, iTunes, Podbean, Spotify, and YouTube. Be Well, and may you continue to pray with a good fire!

Show notes:

Intro: Fire Burn Bright, as sung by Bonnie Landry

Book Review:

Caesar’s Messiah, by Joseph Atwill

Tune in Next time: February 28, 2pm PST

Websites and Acronyms:

Recipe:

Potato Klubb (Norwegian Potato Dumplings)

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/142760/potato-klubb-norwegian-potato-dumplings/

Weekly Online ADF Ritual (hosted by Virtual Fire (Proto)Grove): https://virtualfiregrove.org/

ADF: Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship

ADF website: www.ADF.org