Yule rolls on...

 So this past Monday, December 26th, was my kindred's 5 year anniversary. It amazes me that so much time has gone by and that somehow Stormlight is still kicking around, when it seems like many groups don't last. Certainly none of the other real world groups I have been in have lasted this long before (insert stubborn heathen joke here) and Stormlight kindred has undeniably had its share of ups and downs. Yet somehow we are still around, together, and strong.
   Stormlight Kindred began in late 2006 when my friend and I both became interested in heathenry at about the same time and had been traveling across the state to attend another group's events. Finally we started talking about starting our own group and then everything happened pretty quickly. In some ways maybe too quickly as I ended up the gythia-by-default at a time when I wasn't necessarily ready or looking for that responsibility, but such is life sometimes. The name of the group is our attempt at a kenning for lightning, a joke on the fact that I am fulltrui with (dedicated to) Odin and she to Thor, although it is probably appropriate on many levels. In some inexplicable way the dynamic between our three members just works in a way that I have never experienced with another group before, although because of that, our strong family orientation (we are out numbered by children in the group) and our rather esoteric interests for a heathen group it is unlikely we will ever see any rapid growth of membership. And that's okay. Honestly our few attempts to add new members haven't worked out very well, so I am perfectly happy to keep things the way they are for a little bit.
  For Yule we gathered on the kindred anniversary and held a faining to Odin and  Frigga, with a round honoring the kindred itself as well. Odin was called on as the Jul Vater but, following standing kindred tradition, was offered little gingerbread men impaled with toothpick spears. Frigga was offered grain and the ancestors and land spirits were given chocolate chip cookies. A small feast was held where the members, children and family enjoyed food and fellowship.
  And so another Yule rolls on....