About this Event
THE TOMTE HOUSE- A DAY RETREAT
In the imaginary world of the old Scandinavian small holding society the landscape was infused with the otherworld and the supernatural. Elves and trolls lived in the roots of trees, inside rocks or mountains, in rivers, lakes and under the floorboards of the homestead. It was understood that the crops and cattle would be happier and healthier when the spirits were given gifts and people would offer drink and food to the elves at auspicious times of the year in order to establish good relations throughout the seasons, especially during the winter months. This was called a “Blot” practice.
Traditionally the first being to turn to when times were hard in the homestead was the “tomte,” his name also translates as "land.” A tomte is described as being short, often with a white beard and he wears a red beanie hat, his looks are similar to that of the garden gnome. According to one local Swedish tradition he would never be taller than 60 cm (23 inches) in height. A tomte could live for thousands of years and had knowledge of all the ancestors that had lived in the area. He is sometimes referred to as a “nisse”which is a word that may be spring from the Old Norse “niðsi,” meaning "dear little relative.” He is the embodiment of the Animus Loci (the local spirit).
Living well with the landscape was to create a braid of relations between the homestead and the tomte.
On the 1st of December, we are are opening the doors to our old Victorian home and you are invited to join us for a day retreat of Norse Myth and Rune Magic. The main time frame is between 10am and 4pm; after 4pm we will have a blot winter ceremony and glögg (hot spicy wine) lasting until about 5pm.
The outline of the day retreat will be learning to understand the thousand-year old history of the runes, understanding rune readings, hearing Northern myth cycles (to the sound of the lyre and flute), plus discovering ancient magical runic talismans and learning how to read them. We will also journey to the Sacred Tree, Yggdrasil, using chanting (Galder) and “Seidr techniques” with sound and visualisations. The end of day ceremony will focus on reconciliation and ancestry, which will include ancestral blot-ritual to the Tomte, the Anima Loci.
There will be large pots of hearty and filling vegetarian stew for lunch. The house will be filled with the scent of cinnamon from warm spicy dark meads and hot wines (glögg). It will be a day of Northern tradition and culture with a small and supportive group.
We can host up to maximum 15 people in our house, so please consider booking soon to avoid disappointment.
This event is actively LGBTQ supportive and diversity is enthusiastically encouraged.
The price includes a hearty vegetarian lunch, plus all tea, coffee and refreshments and Swedish glögg!
Your host:
Andreas Kornevall is an author, storyteller and ecological activist. He is Swedish and a member of the 'Forn Sed' (Old Customs Association) in Sweden which works closely with ancient Norse culture, traditions and spirituality, unearthing old legends, forgotten folklore and endangered Norse languages.
Through his charity he has planted over 200 woodlands in the United Kingdom and he has recently been voted by the University of Southern California as one of their 100 spiritual exemplars.
"Andreas Kornevall offers a powerful immersive experience of travelling into Norse mythology and Runic divination, food for both soul and intellect. Understanding Runic script as mythic symbols opens a door into the archetypes that inform all human existence, and Andreas' deep knowledge and love for his subject is truly inspirational."
Professor Angela Voss, Christ Church University
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
BN1 6EB, Rugby Road, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom
GBP 103.63
