A Mallet for Thor

 I've been gradually collecting camping equipment, and I finally have all of the basics:

• Tent
• Pegs
• Guy Lines
• Mallet
• Cot
• Sleeping bag
• LED Lanterns
• Compass
• Water Bottle
• Flint Fire Starter (and some tender to practice fire making/tending)
• Kooler
• Small First Aid Kit

Next I'll start focusing on a backpack and cookery.  Not propane--I know there's more control with propane, but I want to learn how to 1) start a fire and 2) cook on an open fire.

I also want a hand saw, a hatchet, and a nice pocket knife, too, for wood and general use.  Later, cold weather gear.

Camping for fun and for spirituality.  I'm at the point of my Seiðr practise that Freyja and my guides want me to go camping and perform utisetis.  

Also learning how to make, tend, and cook with fire are devotional actions for my Hearth Kindreds, and those wild ones who want me to be out in nature more often.

Which brings us back to the basic gear--the peg mallet.  It's basic, not fancy at all.  BUT its a tool that I'm going to be dedicating to Thor.  Originally for my birthday tomorrow, I was going to go to my favorite spiritual shop--The Magical Druid.  One reason was to get an Mjolnir wooden hammer, but I ended up getting a tent for my birthday instead.  

I feel like many of my Kindred are practical.  Like, I do have dedicated tools that are strictly for spiritual workings, but I also have dedicated tools that I use for everyday things and spiritual things, too--like my crockpots, my broom/swiffer/vacuum, my crochet/sewing tools, gardening tools, etc.  

For me, many of my Kindreds prefer my actions over words and things.  

Also being broke, being able to get the most from your items is important.  

I just figured that this mallet would be perfect for Thor (as well as any other hammers).  When I'm not camping, I can hang the mallet up (it has a hook) on the wall and use it for ritual.  I've been researching and attending different Norse rituals--ADF and not--and sometimes Mjolnir is used in the beginning of rituals, either as a boundary marker, to open the gates, and other ways one may use a wand or dagger.  I usually prefer to use crochet hooks, deer antlers, cooking utensils, a drum mallet, a paint brush, or my Spirit Stick.  A wooden Mjolnir would be lighter than a mallet--safer when dropped.  

I was thinking of the properties and associations of the mallet:

• Stability, Protection, and Strength.  It's used to pound tent pegs into the ground, giving stability for a tent--a temporary home/shelter.  The pegs are attached to guylines which are attached to the tent, giving it added strength against the wind and gravity.  All of these tools give protection to the person(s) inside.  
• Thor is a gods of the Storms, Agriculture, Protection, and Strength.  He's known for being very strong, and for protecting Asgard against the Jotun, many which are associated with nature--they're seen as the chaotic forces of nature.  

I could dedicate the mallet, guylines, and pegs to Thor, to be honest.  But I feel that the mallet has more longevity than the other two.  Hopefully I'm less likely to lose the mallet.  The mallet could also be used as a weapon, if need be...pegs, too.  They're pointy.  I'll also be learning knots, so the guylines, too.  XD  (Almost anything can be used for protection, tbh.)

Cool, I've got the mallet, now what I am going to carve into the wood?

ᚦᛟᚱ - Obviously for Thor.  I'll use the Elder Futhark because that's the alphabet that I work with the most.

Algiz for general protection.

I was thinking about Thurisaz, not just because it's His rune, but also because I do a lot of protection work with this rune.  So it can be a rune of conflict, but also one of shelter from conflict.  A shelter of thorns, protecting one from hostiles.  Shields are nice, but sometimes you need to let folks know that this is the wrong house  to fuck wit.  Willin to take that chance?  No, no, you best back off.  We cray up in here.  Sometimes you gotta be crazier than your attackers.

Hagalaz, again another rune that's often seen as a bad rune.  But also another rune that I use as a protection rune--Yes Hagalaz is the storm, but it can also be shelter from the storm.  

Othala for the tent--my temporary home.  Shelter.

Uruz for stability and strength of the tent.  If you know your tent is strong, you're going to feel a little safer--despite that it's just a little thin piece of fabric/plastic between you and nature.  It'll be best for your mental health!  Good for your physical health to protect you from the sun, rain, hail, and snow.

Raido and Ehwaz, the Rider and Vehicle for journey work.  Mjolnir can be your vehicle for astral work, or a broomstick, staff, Spirit Stick, instrument, stone, nothing, whatever.  

I'll talk it over with my guides, see what they think.  Sometimes less is better, but I also like the look of a rune stave on the shaft of this mallet.  At the same time a couple of these may be redundant.

When I figure it out, I may share the mallet if Thor's okay with it.  

Okie dokie yall.  Tomorrow I will officially be--for one year--"the Ultimate Answer of Life, the Universe, and Everything" (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) and the center of the universe (Spore).  Happy Birthday to me and my fellow Aries.  

May you be safe, especially if you're participating in the No Kings Protests tomorrow.  May this weekend be gentle.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes and support!

Face to the Sun.
Trust in Joy.
Follow the Foxes and the Bees...

- Priestess Foxlyn