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Mead Lovers Digest #0900
From: mead-request@talisman.com
Errors-To: mead-errors@talisman.com
Reply-To: mead@talisman.com
To: mead-list@talisman.com
Subject: Mead Lover's Digest #900, 5 February 2002
Mead Lover's Digest #900 5 February 2002
Forum for Discussion of Mead Making and Consuming
Dick Dunn, Digest Janitor
Contents:
Re: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ?? (Clogar)
Mead and ceremonies/rituals ("redrocklover")
Re: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ?? (pagan@ihug.co.nz)
rituals and mead, huh ? ("Micah Millspaw")
Re: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ?? (Tom Murphy)
Ritualistic use of mead ("Stevenson, Randall")
RE: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002 (David Chubb)
Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002 (Steven Sanders)
Mead History - Satanic Rituals ?? ("Kenneth Irwin")
Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002 (Jplane1@aol.com)
Mead drinking vessels (Chris Carson)
Re: Drinking Vessels ("Lindi Edens")
Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002 (MLCrary@aol.com)
Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002 (Lofty@aol.com)
Meadllennium V Results (Ron Bach)
Re: Satanic Rituals?? ("Dan McFeeley")
Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002 (AmberIsis@aol.com)
re: Mead Drinking Vessels ("Linda")
NOTE: Digest appears when there is enough material to send one.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
From: Clogar <clogar@concentric.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 23:38:43 -0500
> OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but
> never asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals
> or witchcraft ?
The process of juice and/or nectar turning into wine is considered
a miracle in many religions, including Judaism. When you say
"witchcraft," I'm assuming you mean what most people now call
"wicca" and, while I don't study it, I do know that there are many
visible wiccans that drink mead. I don't think it has anything to
do with that religion, but you'd be better off asking a few
practicing Wiccans about it.
> I've read some things that have hinted that it played some part or
> still does. This is not meant to offend anyone just mere curiosity.
> If you're all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me.
OK, I think you're just trolling now. Most people drink mead
because 1) they like the taste or 2) it reminds them of a time gone by.
What you just said is akin to going on a wine list and saying, "Hey,
I hear they use merlot in satanic rituals - are all you people that
drink merlot Satanists?"
On a more personal note: modern Satanism is a joke used by con
artists to gain power over weak-willed people. Sure, there are ancient
religions that worship dark powers, but what you call "Satanism"
certainly isn't one of them. Go on reading Anton La Vey, and maybe
sprinkle on a little Aleister Crowley for a kicker - but don't go
thinking that drinking a glass of mead is going to turn you into
an evil Harry Potter anytime soon.
------------------------------
Subject: Mead and ceremonies/rituals
From: "redrocklover" <spiritflight@kachina.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 22:09:48 -0700
Here's what I've been taught on the subject of mead and magick,
ceremony, and rituals:
Wine has always been a useful tool, either symbolically or literally, in
the practice of magick, ceremony, and ritual. My mentor taught me very
young that mead was empowered by the bees to promote fertility in all
things. The ancient Celts thought that honey was dropped by the goddess
and collected by the bees for this purpose. I've known quite a few women
to loose their inhibitions to mead more than any other alcohol. MY
mentor made "Medclyglin" using magickal and medicinal plants from her
garden. At Beltane, the last day of April, I sprinkle mead in the
gardens (no, I don't pass it through my kidneys first!) and around
things I wish to be fertile. I believe it strengthens the plants and
presents a gift to the plant spirits for gifts received. Celtic and
Norse brides were given large amounts of mead to ensure conception.
Celts usually made it with the juice from a hazel tree or added just a
pinch of mistletoe leaf. Offerings to St. Brigitte are also made with
mead, as she turned a vat of water into mead. The offering may be made
by some in the hopes of gaining her recipe for "Instant Mead". There
used to be a ceremony called "Blessing the Mead" held in England in
Gulval, Dartmoore. It was also done in Wales when my mentor was a kid.
The ceremony was held on St. Bartholomew's Day August 24th) and usually
performed by a Catholic priest. St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of
the honey crop.
I've not known Satanists to use mead, though I have known them to use
other wines, and distilled spirits. I assume some probably do use it as
an offering.
Brightest Blessings!
Matthew
PS: Check out "Lightworkers Grove" mailing list on Yahoo Groups if you
get into pagan magick/ritual/ceremonial stuff. It's new and needs some
good folks to share posts.
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
From: pagan@ihug.co.nz
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 01:40:28 +1300
Hooooo, boy.
Okay, as a Pagan I guess I'm reasonably qualified to answer this.
And the answer is...No.
Many Pagans and Wiccans (witches...good types, it's a nature religion with
a strong ethical code) may drink it and/or use it in rituals because of
it's long history. It has some "emotional weight" to it as an old and
environmentally grounded drink. However there is no specific role that mead
fulfills. People drink it 'cause they like it.
As to Satanists my sources are a little more sketchy. As far as I know all
their rituals etc are an inverse to that of Christianity. No role for mead
in Christianity, therefore no role in Satanism. I suspect the drink of
choice for ritual work would be stolen communion wine.
Mead has a long and noble history, connected to cultures as diverse as
Ethiopia and the Vikings. To connect it to a particular religion or
religions, I think, is to do it a real disservice.
I'm a Pagan. But I drink (and make) mead for one simple reason:- I like it.
On this list you'll find people from many countries, diverse sociological,
economical and religious backgrounds. What we have in common is that we
love mead.
Pagan Hayes
drinking for the pleasure :-)
____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but never
asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals or
witchcraft ? I've never seen the subject discussed (maybe it's taboo) but
I've read some things that have hinted that it played some part or still
does. This is not meant to offend anyone just mere curiosity. If you're
all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me. To quote Jerry
Seinfeld....."not that there's anything wrong with it...."
Jeff Woods
Camp Hill, PA
------------------------------
Subject: rituals and mead, huh ?
From: "Micah Millspaw" <MMillspa@silganmfg.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 07:20:47 -0600
>Jeff Woods of
>Camp Hill, PA
asks
>OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but never
>asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals or
>witchcraft ?
I think that I speak for everyone when I say ...
I use mead in all of my rituals; satanic or otherwise. I used to use
California Chardonay but now that seems so passe'. Plus the mead
mixes with blood so well.
Micah Millspaw - tipping cows and meads in Wisconsin
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
From: Tom Murphy <freyason@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 05:38:19 -0800 (PST)
Jeff Woods wrote:
> OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but
> never asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic
> rituals or witchcraft ? I've never seen the subject discussed
> (maybe it's taboo) but I've read some things that have hinted
> that it played some part or still does.
> This is not meant to offend anyone just mere curiosity. If
> you're all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me. To quote Jerry
> Seinfeld....."not that there's anything wrong with it...."
>
> Jeff Woods
> Camp Hill, PA
Jeff -
As far as I know there is pretty much no connection to either
Satanism or Witchcraft. (And yes, the two are quite different, for
reasons of being on-topic, I won't go into them here, you can get good
non-biased info at http://www.religioustolerance.org).
The Viking drank mead in great quantity. We have records to prove it.
They usually drank out of drinking horns, or wooden cups. They often
toasted their Gods with a drink of mead or beer. The sagas have
information about the Earl of Hakon blessing the mead by making the
sign of the hammer over it. (Symbol of Thor.. Mjolnir)
If you'd like more info, feel free to e-mail me. :)
Tom
------------------------------
Subject: Ritualistic use of mead
From: "Stevenson, Randall" <rstevenson@ldi.state.la.us>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 09:16:17 -0600
I'm commenting on this because I have done some research. I am not a
Satanist or a witch. I do know several witches and other pagans, even
some Satan worshippers. I am a Christian -- a rather tolerant one, I
might add. Religious studies is another "hobby" of mine.
Satanist may use mead occassionally, but the main drink of their rituals
is animal blood. According to Genesis, after Noah's flood, God gave man
the right to eat animal flesh, but only if he drained the life blood on
the ground, since the life blood belonged to God. This is also the
reason that in the New Testament, one of the few requirements for
Gentile Christians was that they not eat the meat of unbled animals (not
butchered). Satanists drink animal blood in defiance of these
pre-Judaic laws.
Witches and other pagans may use mead occassionally as well, but it is
not a drink commonly found at their rituals. They usually use wine,
honey, water, salt and bread in their rituals. Their rituals are rather
freeflowing and very adaptable, so mead, if available, can be easily
worked into a celebration of a sabbat or fire festival. I have actually
prepared a batch of mead for some local pagans to use in celebrating
Beltaine (May 1) this year. Heathens (those that follow the Norse gods)
do involve a lot of mead drinking in their religious practices and
beliefs.
In the ancient world (Greece and Rome in particular) children were
considered gifts from the gods and could be refused. In Greece a baby
was accepted by his father by the father placing a little honey and a
little bread in the baby's mouth -- at that time the child had some
rights as an accepted human. In Rome, as was exemplified by Ceasar
holding his child by Cleopatra, the child was accepted by the father
holding the baby. Often deformed or unwanted children were simply taken
to the rubbish heap on the outskirts of the town and left to die from
exposure.
When children reached the age of majority, the Greeks tended to
recognize this with a ceremony that involved bread, water, and mead.
I hoped that answered Jeff Woods' questions. If not, Jeff, please feel
free to contact me.
Wassail,
Randall
------------------------------
Subject: RE: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002
From: David Chubb <dchubb@virpack.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 10:32:22 -0500
>------------------------------
>
>Subject: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
>From: "Jeff Woods" <woodsj@us.ibm.com>
>Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 12:50:00 -0500
>
>OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but never
>asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals or
>witchcraft ? I've never seen the subject discussed (maybe it's taboo) but
>I've read some things that have hinted that it played some part or still
>does. This is not meant to offend anyone just mere curiosity. If you're
>all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me. To quote Jerry Seinfeld....."not
>that there's anything wrong with it...."
>
>Jeff Woods
>Camp Hill, PA
Mead has been drunk all down through history and has regularly been called
"The Drink of the Gods". While yes it is commonly drunk in rituals practiced
by Witchcraft, Wicca, Druidism, etc. it is no more different than the
catholics drinking wine during communion. There is no special significance
to drinking mead over other beverages.
It is also server during handfastings (A type of non-binding wiccan
marriage, typically for a Year & Day) as a libation to toast the couple's
union under the eyes of the God & Goddess.
There are even some churches that have been know to serve Mead as Communion
Wine.
MM, MP, MMA,
WyrdOne
- ------------------------------
<BigSnip>
- ------------------------------
>Subject: Re: mead drinking vessels
>From: "Dan McFeeley" <mcfeeley@keynet.net>
>Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 11:32:14 -0600
>
>Pamela Spence wrote an article in _American Meadmaker_ (Spring 1987) titled
>"Tote Your Own Horn" that gives some tips on making your own drinking horn.
>She advises readers to check with local cattle farmers or rural
veterinarians
>around de-horning time. Although the inner material of the horn will come
>out with boiling or drying, the ordor is apparently rank. Best to keep the
>horn in the garage while either boiling or drying. Once the inner core
>dries, insert a long wood screw in the center and pull it out. Allow the
>horn to set for a month or so, after which the smell should subside.
Boiling
>the horn for an hour or so should soften any residual tissue left behind,
>allowing it to be removed with a soft cloth.
>
>I've never tried this myself so I can't vouch for the methods. If anyone
>tries this, post and let us know how it turned out.
You will want to seal the Horn with a Food grade Coating on the inside.
(That is unless you like the ever present taste of fingernails in your
drink). Most places use a thick clear plastic lining that goes on like
polyurethane but is water proof and heat resistant.
If you go to Rennaisance Faires that willoften be vendors selling Drinking
horns in various sizes and such. Break up a conversation and ask them what
they use to seal the insides.
I have been able to find Raw horns that have had the insides removed and
mostly prepped (All the needed was a little sanding of the insides to make
them smooth) at Tandy Leather (Which is out of busniess now) and some
"western" stores. Usually you have to ask the person behind the counter if
they have any.
- --WyrdOne
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002
From: Steven Sanders <geigertube@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 08:46:21 -0800 (PST)
- --- mead-request@talisman.com wrote:
> Subject: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
> From: "Jeff Woods" <woodsj@us.ibm.com>
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 12:50:00 -0500
>
> OK, here's a question that I've been curious about
> for a while but never
> asked. Does mead play some historical role in
> satanic rituals or
> witchcraft ? I've never seen the subject discussed
> (maybe it's taboo) but
> I've read some things that have hinted that it
> played some part or still
> does. This is not meant to offend anyone just mere
> curiosity. If you're
> all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me. To quote
> Jerry Seinfeld....."not
> that there's anything wrong with it...."
>
> Jeff Woods
> Camp Hill, PA
You are probably going to get about a zillion posts of
the knee-jerk "Satanism is NOT witchcraft!" type.
(Although the Witch-cult theory that Margaret Murray
described, that Wicca/and or modern witchcraft sort of
sprung from is almost exactly like modern satanism.)
But anyway, to get back on topic, mead is often times
used in modern ritual, and quite probably was used in
ancient ones. If I understand the whole viking thing
correctly, most of their rituals were celebrations of
some sort, and mead definately played a part. It was
big with the Picts too, but we dont have that much
solid evidence regarding them. If I remember things
correctly (my books seem to have evaporated) the celts
pretty much obliterated their culture. But the celts
drunk it too. Im not very sure on the celts and ritual
drinking of mead, though. There is a hist-brewing list
at http://www.pbm.com/mailman/listinfo/hist-brewing
that should be a good resource or this question.
steven
=====
My moon based death ray
panics the people of earth.
Mock my theories now!
http://www.studiosputnik.com
------------------------------
Subject: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
From: "Kenneth Irwin" <kirwin@wittenberg.edu>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 11:49:18 -0500
Jeff asks:
> Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals or witchcraft ?
The one-word answer would have to be "yes", but it requires a lot of caveats.
First off, Satanism and Witchcraft are two very different religions.
Satanism is actually a Christian heresy largely invented in the 20th
century. Witchcraft broadly covers a number of different practices with
roots going back for centuries, but is often used specifically to refer to
Wicca which has largely evolved in the last two centuries but claims much
deeper roots. This is not an appropriate venue for the myriad debates on
the relative historicity of Wicca, but I believe it would be fair to
summarize the difference between Satanism and Wicca this way: Satanists
overtly and proudly worship the Principle of Evil in a specifically
Christian/anti-Christian context; Wiccans adhere to one rule above all
others: "If it harms none, do what you will". (Note, that does not mean
just "harm none", but rather, "if someone could be harmed, you better have
a darn good reason and do some thinking about it first".) I think some
Satanists deliberately foster the confusion by the use of words like
"coven" and symbols like the inverted pentacle; Wiccans also organize into
covens and often use the *non*-inverted pentacle (pointy bit at top). The
inversion of the pentacle in Satanic circles is akin to the inversion of a
Christian cross: not to be confused!
for an intro to satanism, try:
http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html
for a wiccan point of view, see:
http://www.wicca.org/
So, um, you asked about mead... I'll address only the witchy side of that
question as I don't actually know any Satanists. For the record, I identify
as a witch, but not a Wiccan (which has more theology than I do); I am more
generally neo-Pagan, which for me has at least as much to do with
philosophy as with religious practice. I'll use the term "neo-Pagan" below
to include Wiccans, some others who identify as witches, and others whose
religious beliefs and practices share some commonalities with them. The
genetics are too messy. [It is worth noting that the word "witch" in
English has been used to translate very many different words with different
meanings from around the world. Certainly not everyone who identifies as a
witch identifies with Wicca or its variants, cousins, etc.]
Mead is probably the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world, and as such
has had a while to accumulate a lot of history. It was a pretty common
beverage in Europe until around 1500 or so, when beer really started taking
over. (I'm doing this from memory and can't quite recall why the decline.
Probably the advent of the use of hops which made it easier to preserve
beer. Some sources I've run across say that hops were largely not used in
brewing until 1400 or so. I don't know how true that is.) So if we're to
assume for whatever reason that alcohol was involved in Ancient Rituals,
modern neo-Pagans are inclined to emulate this; it doesn't necessarily have
to be historically true, just believed to be. Even not subscribing to the
emulation-of-Ancient-Practices model, pagans tend to get into a bit of
historical research and discover how lovely mead is. So if they want to
incorporate some beverages into ritual, it may well be mead.
Some other notes: we're all familiar with the idea the the "honey moon"
comes from mead in ancient marriage ceremonies; this could include some
pagan rituals. In his book "Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers", Stephen
Harrod Buhner suggests that Odin's "Mead of Inspiration" was heather mead
with the "inspiration" coming from the narcotic effects of a fungus that
grows on heather. Odinists, who can fall into the neo-Pagan category, but
who might not like the word witch, would that idea and run with it.
There's an awful lot of variation in the practices of modern witches, but
you will certainly find those who use mead in their practice. It may be
used for purposes of intoxication to stimulate visions or ecstasy; or to
honor the interconnectedness of nature (pollen -> bees -> honey -> yeast ->
people food); or simply because its tasty and why have ritual drink if it
isn't tasty. A friend of mine says that she doesn't sing in ritual because
she wants to offer her best to the Goddess, and that singing isn't on her
"Best" list; for those who rank mead-making among their "Bests", including
mead in ritual may be a way of personalizing the experience.
That's not nearly as eloquent as it was meant to be, but I hope it helps
answer your question,
Ken
> Subject: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
> From: "Jeff Woods" <woodsj@us.ibm.com>
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 12:50:00 -0500
> OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but never
> asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals or
> witchcraft ? I've never seen the subject discussed (maybe it's taboo) but
> I've read some things that have hinted that it played some part or still
> does. This is not meant to offend anyone just mere curiosity. If you're
> all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me. To quote Jerry Seinfeld....."not
> that there's anything wrong with it...."
> Jeff Woods
> Camp Hill, PA
Ken Irwin kirwin@wittenberg.edu
Reference/Electronic Resources Librarian (937) 327-7594
Thomas Library, Wittenberg University
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002
From: Jplane1@aol.com
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 12:00:50 EST
In a message dated 1/29/02 7:47:29 PM Pacific Standard Time,
mead-request@talisman.com writes:
<< OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but never
asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals or
witchcraft ? I've never seen the subject discussed (maybe it's taboo) but
I've read some things that have hinted that it played some part or still
does. This is not meant to offend anyone just mere curiosity. If you're
all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me. To quote Jerry Seinfeld....."not
that there's anything wrong with it...."
Jeff Woods
Camp Hill, PA >>
Jeff,
I have an answer to your question. According to mythology, Valkyries
were warlike goddess maidens of Odin who was a member of Aesir. Aesir was
the name given to the family of gods of the teutonic pantheon.
Valkyries were:
1. body guard to Odin
2. choser of the slain
3. sexual companions of Vikings
The Valkyries would help the bravest dead heros cross the bridge
(BiFrost) between Midgard and Asgard (heaven), to enter the Hall of Valhalla
where all of the immortalized warriors would feast of wild boar and drink
mead. It was understood that these men would again go forth to do battles
lifetime after lifetime. In between they would feast and drink in Valhalla.
Hope this helps clarify things.
Blessings,
Joan
------------------------------
Subject: Mead drinking vessels
From: Chris Carson <chris@webesota.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 12:59:33 -0600
Several posts have dealt with mead drinking vessels, and I wanted to share
my approach.
I have a cyser that I'm getting set to bottle and age soon. It's my first
attempt and my wife and I are both looking forward to trying it!
I did a lot of research, and decided to build a foot-powered lathe. Then I
was going to cut down the tree that held the hive from which I collected
the honey, and use that wood to turn authentic bowls, the plans for which I
found in an ancient text faithfully reproduced on this mead-making Web site
I found, www.zenmead.org
Then I realized that I bought the honey at Sam's Club, and that I'm kind of
a klutz, and that the ancient text was probably made up anyway.
So, when we try our mead, we're going to use glasses. If it's good, we'll
use bigger glasses for the next bottle.
Wassail!
chris carson
Eden Prairie, MN
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Drinking Vessels
From: "Lindi Edens" <lindiedens@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 14:10:17 -0600
Subject: Re: mead drinking vessels
From: "Dan McFeeley" <mcfeeley@keynet.net>
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 11:32:14 -0600
Joe Killon wrote:
I realize that in years past, there have been any number of containers
used to drink mead. Are there any specific mead drinking vessels today
recognized as "mead glassware" or "mead drinking vessels"?"
"To which Lindi Edens replied:
I know that when we do a Norse ritual, we always use a drinking horn.
I guess back then they used the horn of the Aurochs, but now we just use
a cow horn (more accessible).
There are horn dealers online, or you can make your own. Do a search
on the web for "Drinking horn". You will find many places."
Just FYI, I never wrote this. :) Credit belongs to someone else for that.
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002
From: MLCrary@aol.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 05:18:10 EST
Hi, Meaders,
Jeff Woods asks about mead in withchcraft of satanic ritual. First, I
hope he (and the rest of the readers) are aware that witchcraft usually
refers to Wiccan ritual, which has many variants but is a nature/goddess
oriented religion. Satanism might be called the flipside of Christianity,
since Satan is a Judeo-Christian figure. Despite many perceptions to the
contray, Wiccans are not Satanists, nor are Satanists witches or Wiccans.
Many Pagans are neither Wiccan nor Satanist, and most Pagans consider
Satanists to be anti-Christians, not Pagans, since Pagan religions tend to be
non -evangelical and have no problem with other religions.( For a
comprehensive discussion of this topic, read Margot Adler's book "Drawing
Down the Moon", a scholarly and absorbing look at Paganism in America.)
Some Pagan groups use whiskey for their rituals, since 'water of life'
is called for, and that is said to be the original translation of the Gaelic
word for whiskey.. We know that honey and therefore mead was widely available
from very ancient times, so it seems reasonable to assume that mead would be
used to celebrate a goddess/god, and to aid in reaching an altered state
useful for many types of ritual. Perhaps someone else will cite a source.
On a related topic, in a previous post, someone mentioned that the
Celts did not really use a solar calendar, citing as support the fact that
major festivals were Candlemas(Feb 2), Beltane (May 1), Lammas or Lughnasa
(sp?) (Aug 1) and Samhain(Oct 31). I suppose that any of this depends on
whose research one chooses to believe and how far back we want to go. The
Celts didn't make it easy for us since they transmitted most knowledge by
oral tradition and did not write things down. However, the 4 festivals noted
are all on 'cross-quarter days,' those days which are midway between the
solstice and the equinox. I think this argues for a solar calender as well as
awareness of lunar cycles. Just to cover all the bases and honor all
ancestors, (including the ones I may not know about), I will continue to brew
May Meads with sweet woodruff, and to consider solstices, equinoxes, cross
quarter days, new moons and full moons to be lucky times to brew or bottle.
This gives an abundance of lucky days, and the possibility of interesting
names for my meads as well. Moon over Millenium and Solstice Strawberry are
both quite nice, and if the celestial influences helped, why fight it? :-)
Marcia
Unicorn
Unchained Meadery
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002
From: Lofty@aol.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 13:43:33 EST
In a message dated 1/29/02 11:07:11 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mead-request@talisman.com writes:
> Subject: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
> From: "Jeff Woods" <woodsj@us.ibm.com>
>
Subject: Mead History - Satanic Rituals ??
Mead Satan Rituals- the answer is no. There really isn't any history of satan
worship. Satan worship only exists in the minds of the diluted. No group has
applied to a tax exempt status.
In Wiccan or the old ways; mead made after the 7th full moon (june-july) and
aged for a year and a day. It was the liqueur of choice for weddings.
Lofty-philly.
------------------------------
Subject: Meadllennium V Results
From: Ron Bach <bachian@juno.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 16:00:30 -0500
Thanks to everyone who sent entries in to Meadllennium V. The
competition was a complete success with 76 total entries including some
sent all the way from Alaska!
The results are posted at www.cfhb.org
Ron Bach
Meadllennium V Organizer
Orlando, FL
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Satanic Rituals??
From: "Dan McFeeley" <mcfeeley@keynet.net>
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 15:30:51 -0600
On Thu, 24 Jan 2002 , in MLD 899, Jeff Woods wrote:
>OK, here's a question that I've been curious about for a while but never
>asked. Does mead play some historical role in satanic rituals or
>witchcraft ? I've never seen the subject discussed (maybe it's taboo) but
>I've read some things that have hinted that it played some part or still
>does. This is not meant to offend anyone just mere curiosity. If you're
>all in Satan worshipping it's OK with me. To quote Jerry Seinfeld....."not
>that there's anything wrong with it...."
It might be tough to show documentation for the historical use of mead in
Satanic rituals or witchcraft given that these practices were persecuted
by the Christian church during those times. Any genuine documents would
have been kept hidden and may be difficult to verify in modern day times.
There's a few people on this list with either Wicca or Pagan backgrounds,
maybe they can chip in a few posts on this subject.
I would tend to think that Satanism would lean more to the use of wine
than mead, since many branches of Satanism were reputed to be a
parody of the Christian church. Whether or not Satanism really
existed during the Middle Ages in the form in which it was portrayed
by the church at that time is questionable, IMHO.
Witchcraft is a much broader area, however, and very distinct from
Satanism. It's difficult to say what was a witch, or witches, during that
time. They certainly weren't agents of absolute evil or minions of
Satan, as they were portrayed during the period of church perseuction
which lasted for nearly three centuries. "Witchcraft" would have been
the remnants of European folk beliefs prior to the Christian era, loosely
associated with Western magical tradition which itself was a very loose
syncretism drawing from the cultures of ancient Persia, Babylon, Egypt,
Rome, along with Celtic or Germanic beliefs. In that sense it is older
than Satanism, whatever that may have been, since it was in existence
in Europe before the dawn of the Christian era. There was nothing really
organized or systemic about what was or wasn't witchcraft during
those times. Just about every Medieval village had its "wise woman"
or "wise man," someone who made amulets or charms, had some
skill in herbal lore, or would practice some form of divination. Some
may have used mead, others may not have. Much might depend on
the country or region, whether mead was widely used as a beverage
by the populace at large, and so on. Symbolic value of mead in
rituals probably had more to do with European folklore adhering
to beekeeping and honey than Western magical tradition. Amy
Ransom's _The Sacred Bee_, although dated at 1937, is a good
source.
As far as modern day witchcraft and wizardry goes, it was revealed
in _Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban_ that Hagrid enjoyed
mulled mead, four pints at a clip! :-)
<><><><><><><><><><>
<><><><><><><><>
Dan McFeeley
mcfeeley@keynet.net
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead Lover's Digest #899, 29 January 2002
From: AmberIsis@aol.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 23:02:55 EST
Dear Curious -
first there is a huge difference between witchcraft/Wicca, of which I am a
3rd degree priestess and coven leader and Satanic Worship (which is perverted
Christianity). Witches do not worship Satan--they don't even believe in him.
But the early Christians pictured their idea of Satan (a fallen angel) to
look like the horned lord (Lord of the hunt, underworld, dance). They
"demonized the gods of those they were attempting to supplant. But aside
from all that I know nothing of Satanism but many of the Craft (Wicca,
Witchcraft, and other neo-pagan religions) are interested in Mead as the
oldest alcoholic beverage in the Northern areas of Europe (and still very
important in many middle eastern areas such as Egypt and North Africa) for
its relationship to "the old ways". Most Pagans, but not all revere Mead and
Wine as the "food of the Gods" and as one of the oldest forms of altering
consciousness. Any other questions feel free to contact me at
AmberIsis@aol.com - I got interested in making mead as a magical sacrament!
------------------------------
Subject: re: Mead Drinking Vessels
From: "Linda" <lc.otter@charter.net>
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 14:04:22 -0600
>Joe Killon wrote:
>>I realize that in years past, there have been any number of containers
used
>>to drink mead. Are there any specific mead drinking vessels today
recognized
>>as "mead glassware" or "mead drinking vessels"?"
>
>>To which Lindi Edens replied:
>>I know that when we do a Norse ritual, we always use a drinking horn. I
>>guess back then they used the horn of the Aurochs, but now we just use a
cow
>>horn (more accessible).
>>
>>There are horn dealers online, or you can make your own. Do a search on
the
>>web for "Drinking horn". You will find many places.
>
>Pamela Spence wrote an article in _American Meadmaker_ (Spring 1987) titled
>"Tote Your Own Horn" that gives some tips on making your own drinking horn.
>She advises readers to check with local cattle farmers or rural
veterinarians
>around de-horning time. Although the inner material of the horn will come
>out with boiling or drying, the ordor is apparently rank. Best to keep the
>horn in the garage while either boiling or drying. Once the inner core
>dries, insert a long wood screw in the center and pull it out. Allow the
>horn to set for a month or so, after which the smell should subside.
Boiling
>the horn for an hour or so should soften any residual tissue left behind,
>allowing it to be removed with a soft cloth.
>
>I've never tried this myself so I can't vouch for the methods. If anyone
>tries this, post and let us know how it turned out.
One thing you have to be careful of if you boil the horn, boiling makes the
horn very very soft. So, if you boil a horn and it crumples when you pick it
up, don't worry, just straighten it into the shape you want it and possibly
have a form inside to help it keep it's shape.
I don't know how much horn swells or shrinks when it gets wet, but leather
can swell and shrink by as much as a full 1/4 of the size of the entire
piece. (In other words, don't put a breakable form inside the horn and make
sure it's about the same size as the inside of the horn before wetting it.)
- -Linda-
------------------------------
End of Mead Lover's Digest #900
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