Question

[Riverwind]

I had an idea, and I'm wondering what the interest would in it. A virtual Sumble.

With thanks to Ravenswood Kindred, this is the outline of what's involved but I would be writing the opening. We'll follow this format as much as possible.

The ancient and holy rite of Sumble is, for all intents and purposes, a formal series of toasts. This rite was so widespread that it survives to this day in such places as wedding traditions, award ceremonies, banquets, as well as around the Thanksgiving dinner table.

This rite is one the most loved in today's practice of Asatru. A horn is passed from participant to participant, who raise a toast in their turn. It is a moment when each person has the attention of all gathered, to honor a favorite ancestor, a patron deity, share a special bit of news, or announce a noble intention.

The format that we usually follow is this -

* The Sumble is formally opened by the Godhi.
* The first round of toasts is offered to the Gods, the Aesir and Vanir (The Godhi's toast is offered to the Allfather).
* The second round is offered to the ancestors, heroes, or family members.
* The third round is an open round.
* The remainder of the Sumble is varied depending upon the will of those gathered.
* The Sumble is formally closed.



I envision this happening this way. I'll start a thread with the opening, the blessing and the offering to the Gods and Goddesses (with the appropriate wording to allow others to substitute their Deities). After that, participants can simply hit reply with their toasts, blessing, news or whatever in their own fashion. When everyone who wants to has posted, I'll close with short post ending it. I want to stress one thing, nobody here is obligated to participate if they don't want to or don't feel comfortable doing so. I expect everyone will be honest and not participate just because they want to spare my feelings. I appreciate the sentiment, but I would be far happier with lack of interest than I would be with the knowledge that someone did something they were not comfortable with to make me feel good.

[Summerhawk]

Oh, I am soooo in on this!! What a cool idea!!

[Riverwind]

Just sort of popped into the empty space between my ears.

[Shesawaya]

Ah, I bet this is what they were doing in the video with the horn that they drank from????

It sounds like a great way to start a lot of positive energy flowing and maybe we could keep it open so we could continue adding "toasts, blessing, news or whatever" when they occur in our lives - or do you plan on following the structure of the different rounds?

[Riverwind]

I'll have to chew on that one

[Catherine]

Sure, I don't see why we shouldn't do something like that.

[Healthy Habits]

Is this done on a certain day, or through out a few days?

It sounds like a positive, as I wondered who/what I would toast to - there is so much to be thankful for, many who I miss, and puts the Deities on the "front burner" in busy lives.

[Summerhawk]

and puts the Deities on the "front burner" in busy lives.

Yes!!!

[Riverwind]

Is this done on a certain day, or through out a few days?

Well, a Sumble in "real time", one that is held among a group of people that are physically all in the same spot usually takes an hour or so, depending on how long people talk, how many, that sort of thing. This one will take as long as it takes everyone to post that wants to. I would imagine a day or so.

[Summerhawk]

It sounds like a great way to start a lot of positive energy flowing and maybe we could keep it open so we could continue adding "toasts, blessing, news or whatever" when they occur in our lives - or do you plan on following the structure of the different rounds?

This is just my thoughts on this, if you choose to go a different direction I'm cool with it.

Why couldn't we do this as a close-ended thing, but plan on doing it at regular intervals? Like once a month? It would give us all something to look forward to, something to plan for, and it would give us a chance to do something as a group regularly. It could be every two months, or 2nd full moon, new moon...whatever. It's set up nicely so those of us who don't have Deities can just honor "Spirit", or "Universe", or whatever. And if there is some reason that we simply can't be involved this time, there's always next time. It would take a small commitment from each of us to take one day, or evening to honor our higher power, ancestors, friends, loved ones and set the mundane stress aside for that day/night. You know what I mean? So if someone says, "Could you do this on x night?" ..."Nope. Sorry, but I have plans then. I'm getting together with friends."

[Riverwind]

I don't see why we couldn't do it once a month or two. And for those among us who don't follow a specific deity, they can add whatever they want at that time, and when we get to the ancestors, well, we all have those. I'll write something up and post it as an example so everyone can get an idea of what I see happening.