Remembering Pavlova
Today is the 95th anniversary of Anna Pavlova’s (1881-1931) death. She was a ballerina of the Imperial school and she brought ballet to pretty much every corner of the earth. She traveled everywhere with her own company; and because of her, British, American, and even Australian ballet was re-invigorated. I began to dance because I read a biography of her, “Dancing Star: The Story of Anna Pavlova” by G. Malvern. She ignited a fire in me that never really dimmed even though it has been a very long time since I danced. She taught me about discipline and now to seek transcendent beauty, the sacrifices required, and all those things carried over into serving my Gods. I owe a debt here that I cannot begin to express fully in words, let alone repay but I am so tremendously grateful. Hail to this woman, fragile and fierce, made of fire and steel. who sometimes by will alone forged a way forward in the most brutal of arts. Hail to Anna Pavlova on this the anniversary of her death.
Anna Pavlova: A Tribute at the Hotel Des Indes by Amy Growcott: Read on Substack.
Here is more information on Pavlova’s life and art.
I had the privilege of seeing her swan costume (I was surprised the jewel in the center of her breast is green! I’d always thought it would be red) and shoes when they were on display at FIT a couple of years ago. These things are so ephemeral yet they speak, they tell the stories of a dancer’s life and passion. These bits of material culture matter. Here are her shoes:
Note how intensely darned they were, as well as the high heel. Pavlova pretty much helped to invent the first international pointe shoe company when she hired Salvatore Capezio to make shoes for her company.
I have poured out offerings, set out vodka, bread, and salt, lit candles and sweet incense. Of all my ballet lineage, she is the one who set my feet on that path and she is the dancer who formed me, though I never met her in life, the most. May her name ever be remembered and may she eat honey from her ancestors’ hands on this the day of her death.
Wodinic Wednesday Q&A
Hey folks,
Rough pain day today so I’ll keep this short: today is Woden’s day so as an offering to Him I’m taking questions here in the comments. Y’all know what to do. I’ll answer as soon as I can, and most likely before midnight tonight.
hope y’all are well.
A good resource for those Polytheists who head cover (and a thoughtful article about doing so).
I often cover my head for religious reasons. I don’t *have* to, but my ancestors pushed it heavily for a time, and I have found it to be a very healthy choice for me. It protects my head (all the energy centers therein), cuts down on external stimuli including psychic stimuli, and helps me remain spiritually focused and clean. I love it. Sometimes I do a full scarf — usually one of the easier tichel styles, sometimes a cap, on occasion a baseball cap. Currently my favorite baseball cap says “Ea-Nasir copper: Quality Control Department (1). LOL. Since I shave my head to honor the military dead, I too had a problem with head wrapping for a long time. The wrap was flat and would not stay in place. Wrapunzel was a godsend. They are very helpful, and their shapers and headbands over which one can secure scarves are godsends. Anyway, check out this blog if you’re looking for better ways to do this.
As an aside, if anyone knows how to handle full head wraps without problems in a very, very hot, sweltering classroom, I would welcome advice. My Muslim students are helpful, but many of them are more comfortable with the heat than I and also their style of overing is not what I do. Check out the blog if you’re interested.
Note:
- Ea Nasir was a Sumerian copper merchant and thanks to him and his very dissatisfied customer Nanni, we have a cuneiform text that is a complaint about Ea Nasir selling sub-par copper. LOL. I don’t know why, but lately he’s been turning up everywhere. It amuses me. It’s like the first yelp review.
Wodinic Wednesday Q&A
Hi folks,
Happy Wednesday. To honor Odin, a God Who ever seeks knowledge, I’m opening up my blog, as per my norm, to reader Q&A. If you have questions about devotion, Heathenry, polytheism, ballet, late antiquity, runes, etc. — anything you think I might be able to address– feel free to post in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer your questions and if I can’t, to point you in useful directions. I’ll keep this open until midnight tonight.
Hail to Odin, Seeker of Knowledge, Sanngetall, Gangleri, Hail to the Master of runes.
Write a poem ^_^ — See the link below.
Win a signed copy of one of H. Jeremiah Lewis’s (Sannion’s) books. All you have to do is write a poem as per the link above. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Give it a shot. As a friend of mine always says: you gotta be in it to win it. 🙂
Belated Wodinic Wednesday
I forgot to post yesterday — the school term begins Monday and it’s rather crazy at my house as I prepare for classes. I figure better late than never though, so here is the first [belated] Wodinic Wednesday. If you have any questions for me on any topics that I deal with, particularly Heathenry, religion, late antiquity, polytheism, devotion, runes, ballet, opera, Odin, etc. etc. y’all know what I write about usually 🙂 ), feel free to post in the comments. I’ll keep this open until tomorrow morning and I promise to try to answer and if I can’t, to try to point you in the right direction for research.
I do this in honor of Odin, Sanngetall, Seeker of knowledge. May He ever and always be praised.
happy new year, folks.
Divination for the New Year
Hi folks,
For the new year, I”m offering several slots for divination — haven’t done this in awhile. If you are interested, please email me at krasskova at gmail.com. I am offering:
four 3 slots for soul map readings. This is a Northern Tradition practice that allows one to examine each part of one’s soul — in our tradition, the soul is a matrix made up of multiple parts. Readings like this allow one to see if one is in alignment with the Gods and to focus in on parts that may need a bit more attention. Price: $120 (discounted from my usual $150).
2 Lithomancy readings — a type of divination that looks at the twelve astrological houses and provides a slice of one’s wyrd right now, also showing where problems lie and what might need addressing. Price: $40
2 Rune readings – querent may ask one question. Price: $20.
Let me know if you’re interested by putting “New Year Divination in your email heading.”
Happy New Year, folks.
Gangleri's Grove 