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I've been reading "Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers" and wanted to share some of the inspiration I've found in it. The following is a Norse myth explaining how the gift of mead was given to man:
Thus it was not that in the beginning the gods warred amongst themselves. The older gods , the Vanir, strove mightily with the Aesir, the young gods who sought to supplant them, but neither could gain advantage. Then tiring of the ceaseless battle did they agree to meet and make peace among themselves. And in this way did they decide to heal the rift between them: a large earthen vessel was brought, and each leaned and spit within, the fluids of all being mingled, until it was overflowing. Then, unwilling to let this mark of their peace perish, they spoke together, and deciding, reached out with their power and shaped what they had given into a man whom they called Kvaser, the all-knowing - one so wise that there was no question that he could not answer. And when he spoke, all were touched by the power of his voice, wherein lay the power and sacredness of the gods.
For long did Kvaser walk the heavens, the symbol of the peace of the gods. But there came a time when, straying far, he was taken and bound by the dwarves who loved him not. By them he was slain, and taking three jars, they ran his blood into them, mixing it with honey. Thus was made mead, and such was it’s power that any who drank of it became skald and sage. And the Dwarves kept it jealously, sharing it only among themselves. But news of the mead came to the giant, Suttung, and in him great desire was born to have the mead for his own. After long planning and coming in stealth, he stole the three vessels of dwarven mead and hid them in the place called Hnitbjorg. And calling on his daughter, Gundlad, he spoke to her, telling her to guard it well and let no one come near.
But the leader of the young gods, Odin, hearing what had occurred, set out to find the mead, and many adventures fell upon himbefore he came at last to Hnitbjorg and the giantess, Gundlad. Using his power, Odin disguised his countenance so that she knew him not, and in a sweet voice he spoke to her, and her heart went to him, for she had been long alone. Taking him by the hand, she lead him to her couch, and there they lay for three days and nights, where he satisfied her greatly. And being most wonderously happy, she offered him to slake his thirst, three draughts from the vessels that Suttung had bade her to watch.Taking her leave to drink once from each, Odin put his lips to the mead in the first, then the second, and then the third. And he commented to her that it was most wonderful. But at the moment so did Suttung come. Looking into the vessels, he found them empty, for Odin, desiring to take the mead to Asgard, had consumed it all.
Seeing Suttung’s rage and taking on the guise of an eagle, Odin fled. And seeing this, Suttung too took up the guise of an eagleand flew after him. Long they flew, Suttung ever close behind, until at last they came to Asgard. And the gods seeing Odin come, made haste to gather vessels and place them outside. And coming close, Odin spewed the mead out of him and into the jars. But so hasty he was with Suttung close behind that three drops fell to earth. And men, wandering upon the Earth, cam upon them. Wondering to themselves what this might be, they put their hands to it, and lifting it to their lips, tasted the mead made from Kvaser’s blood and the honey of the bee.
Thus this is called “the share of the poetasters” and from it doth all poetry and song come. Hence, songship is called Odin’s prey, and Odin’s find, Odin’s drink, the drink of Aesir, and poets are known as the bearers of the mead of Odin.
Here are some other interesting outlooks and alternate sayings that could be good to incorporate in our stories:
boiling = fermentation, when the yeast starts to bubble
bryggjemann = translates to brewing man, but is used to refer to the spirit that makes their drink “boil”. So bryggjemann actually refers to the yeast and fermentation process, but on a spiritual level.
Many tribes take one of two approaches when it comes to fermentation.
Some tribes are afraid to scare away the bryggjemann, and insist on silence and soft prayer to aid the fermentation.
Other tribes believe that brewing must take place at night, but also believe that this is when evil spirits are more abundant. These tribes may sing and play musical instruments to entice the good spirits to bless their brew. Alternatively, they may sing and stomp and dance very loudly in an effort to scare away the evil spirits so that the good spirits can do their work.
Before the culturing of yeast strains, many tribes would have sacred fermentation vessels. They would fill the vessel with wort, and let it sit. Once the bryggemann came, the pot was said to have “learned to boil” and would then be place by other vessels that were intended to be used for fermentation. Similar procedures were also done with porous or carved sticks.
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