Isa to HagalazDeath's shadow doth creep
As she comes claws bared, lash Cold ice Isa to Hagalaz She does Frozen remnant of life seeded with the sting of Her hailstones Slashing, cut, no grinding Surgeon She Doth creep Death's shade Ecstacy one's mind Entranced, hail melts Hel's waters mine More about Hela October Diety of the Month: An insightful piece about Hela. Gorgeous as the night shrine to Hela here. |
Honoring HelaIf you are interested in honoring Hela I will defer you to Raven Kaldera's Pagan Book of Hours or his site Northern Shamanism. He has much information about her. If you are uncomfortable with his site (as some are due to I can only guess he discusses some oft considered taboo subjects) here are some recommendations I have gleaned from the pages of some of his writings:
-Set up an altar with pictures of deceased loved ones, dried flowers, momentos of death. Leave fruit offerings until they totally dessicate. The altar should primarily be made of all recycled material. -Recycle. -Make a compost pile and use it faithfully. -Donate to a charity that deals with the environment, the elderly, the deformed, the infirm, the mentally ill, the cast out (animal rescues included). Hela takes them all. |
Hela's Gift
The following verse was written for Hela after Her kind respite. If it makes no sense to you, then you haven't been there. If it does, my sympathies.
Hela’s Gift
Hagalaz drops in shower stand, waters mingle
flood gates rush torrents
She comes Death whisper I recognize her now.
Met long ago turned back I
Angst pleading, forgive I knew not
Cold touch ‘It’s fine, your eyes were Elsewhere,
your entrance is guaranteed.’
And Elsewhere comes in fury flame passion
the pain of bite like a glove riddled mind
Twist form shape stretch
Ankle hung bled, vomit strewn slashed
sliced holes filled with dirt trees grow
Painted red.
Walls shift sound pain
Dark closet corners
Shake with tides.
Then by Elsewhere I am buried
‘Your body died long ago’ I hear
but for an hour or the space between heartbeats
Hel’s halls I had tread, the Corpse Mother I had met yet thrice
my entrance had been guaranteed.
But again, ripped and torn
furious fire tornado hail skull
She comes Death whisper I recognize Her I know
But turn back again I, not now not more,
you have no need of me I say last fight.
Impassive glare, You Go says Elsewhere
so go I, no might now uncaring surrender
to black cold marble I lie
agonal gasp of the road kill coyote.
She-Corpse pokes, explores, entrails kiss.
Loon laughter mine this is not the first it is already gone.
Stops she does cold soft stare
‘Why?’ My current real is not this, it is ripping, stripping
pain of the soul but ‘Why stop?’ We talk, soft laughter.
And cold Death song, “I have no need, there is pain enough.
No one will find you here
not flea,
not mead,
not ram.
You may have peace tonight”
and Hel’s black halls I wake and see my home has become.
And on cold, black marble beige rug I lie
Wyrd wings folded
Curled into Black Witch feet I cry
Peace for a night.
Hela’s Gift
Hagalaz drops in shower stand, waters mingle
flood gates rush torrents
She comes Death whisper I recognize her now.
Met long ago turned back I
Angst pleading, forgive I knew not
Cold touch ‘It’s fine, your eyes were Elsewhere,
your entrance is guaranteed.’
And Elsewhere comes in fury flame passion
the pain of bite like a glove riddled mind
Twist form shape stretch
Ankle hung bled, vomit strewn slashed
sliced holes filled with dirt trees grow
Painted red.
Walls shift sound pain
Dark closet corners
Shake with tides.
Then by Elsewhere I am buried
‘Your body died long ago’ I hear
but for an hour or the space between heartbeats
Hel’s halls I had tread, the Corpse Mother I had met yet thrice
my entrance had been guaranteed.
But again, ripped and torn
furious fire tornado hail skull
She comes Death whisper I recognize Her I know
But turn back again I, not now not more,
you have no need of me I say last fight.
Impassive glare, You Go says Elsewhere
so go I, no might now uncaring surrender
to black cold marble I lie
agonal gasp of the road kill coyote.
She-Corpse pokes, explores, entrails kiss.
Loon laughter mine this is not the first it is already gone.
Stops she does cold soft stare
‘Why?’ My current real is not this, it is ripping, stripping
pain of the soul but ‘Why stop?’ We talk, soft laughter.
And cold Death song, “I have no need, there is pain enough.
No one will find you here
not flea,
not mead,
not ram.
You may have peace tonight”
and Hel’s black halls I wake and see my home has become.
And on cold, black marble beige rug I lie
Wyrd wings folded
Curled into Black Witch feet I cry
Peace for a night.
When Hela finally pried me off the floor and convinced me to my bed I stumbled down a juxtaposition double vision my home Hel hallway and slipped into sheets so much colder than usual. It was a heavy black quiet suited to soothing fever mind.
And then, as though out in the hall, I could feel see Loki and fever rose and all I wanted was smell Him near me. But stopped Him Hela did, I could feel Him stretching around Her but not hear, but hear Her I could and she said, "No, you can’t. If you do she will never trust me again". And even though all want was Loki soft sweet I knew she spoke true. He stretched once more and then left with my barest tinge of regret.
Hela gave me peace that night. Yes. But do you want to know the real truth to Hela’s Gift? The deepest truth into the womb and under the blanket is this:
Hela gave me trust.
And when She comes back, as again means She will, I can return the gift trust in kind.
And then, as though out in the hall, I could feel see Loki and fever rose and all I wanted was smell Him near me. But stopped Him Hela did, I could feel Him stretching around Her but not hear, but hear Her I could and she said, "No, you can’t. If you do she will never trust me again". And even though all want was Loki soft sweet I knew she spoke true. He stretched once more and then left with my barest tinge of regret.
Hela gave me peace that night. Yes. But do you want to know the real truth to Hela’s Gift? The deepest truth into the womb and under the blanket is this:
Hela gave me trust.
And when She comes back, as again means She will, I can return the gift trust in kind.