Thursday, January 30, 2014

A Bit of Blanzeschwetzerei...

Blanzeschwetzerei (also known as Blanzegschwetz or Blanzeschwetze, all of which roughly mean "plant talking") is an esoteric practice within Blanzeheilkunscht.  Through this practice, one can communicate with the spirits of the plants, thus allowing for one to glean information about how a plant might help to heal, etc.

While many posts about individual herbs on this site make references about the general nature of the herbs as perceived through Blanzeschwetze, the upcoming Grundsaudaag holiday avails itself to the description of Blanzeschwetze in the context of journeywork.

Grundsaudaag is the time when many Braucherei practitioners, regardless of their religious identity, create a Butzemann. The word "Butzemann" literally means "scarecrow," but in Braucherei (and Urglaawe), there is a semantic meaning of spiritual activation of the scarecrow. The more generic term for a scarecrow is "Lumbemann," which does not imply activation.

All living organisms have some sort of soul construct, and plants are certainly no exception. Upon death, the soul's elements break apart or break down at different rates (much like bone decomposes much more slowly than flesh). The plants have eternal elements within their souls that depart to other realms in a manner similar to that of humans. Other portions of the plant spirit will remain "static" or in a slow state of decomposition within the decaying physical form of the plant.

The construction and activation of the Butzemann make use of the static plant spirit elements. The activation involves communication with the departed spirits of deceased plants. The interaction takes place in two Urglaawe rites called the Kannsege (Ceremony of the Corn) and the Butzemannsege (Ceremony of the Butzemann).

The Butzemann,when he is activated, serves as the "father" of this year's crops. The "mother" is the land itself, which is why there is no "Butzefraa" in traditional Braucherei practice. The Butzemann watches out for his children throughout the growing season. He is given a name. clothes, and offerings, and he remains in his perch, conducting spiritual patrols and security actions on behalf of the growing crops. 

At any point between the autumn equinox and Allelieweziel (Halloween), the Butzemann must be released from his duties and be respectfully burned. To get an idea of what happens to a Butzemann who is not burned in a timely manner, read The Legend of Delbel der Butzemann

Full Braucherei activation rites in any religious context for a Butzemann include some Verbots (elements that cannot be written), but it is possible to accomplish the mission without those elements. Thus, below is an adapted Urglaawe Kannsege and Butzemannsege ritual. 

Der Kannsege 

(Adapted for use outside of Braucherei guilds; there is no Verbot on any section of this rite.)

The Butzemann should already be constructed out of plant remnants from the prior season. If you use only one type of plant for the construction (e.g., corn), you may edit the calls to relate only to that specific plant. In my case, I use many different plant remnants, so the calls refer to "plants."

Before the Butzemann is completed (or sewn up, if applicable), I insert a heart (cut from paper or cardboard) and various prayer slips (with my own expressions of goodwill and prosperity) and rune slips (with any combination (or all) of Ingwaz, Jera, Othala, Fehu, Ansuz, Berkano, and Laguz).

A knowledge of runes is most helpful. Appropriate runes can be intoned or envisioned at any time throughout the rite. However, for the purposes of this adapted rite, I only am mentioning the runes that are central to the function of an Urglaawe Kannsege.

There is an element of otherworldly travel involved in this adapted rite.

---------- Incantation ----------

Daer Bau, Desi Luft
(This Earth, This Air)
Daer Bau, Desi Luft
Daer Bau, Desi Luft

Ich bitt vun de Ziewe die Erlaawing, fer die hallich Scheid neizuschteige. 
(I request of the deities the permission to step into the heavenly partition).

Ich schteh mit eem Fuus uff em Hatzholz un schteig mit zwettem in die Weschtbledder nei. 
(I stand with one foot in Hatzholz (Midgard) and step, with the second, into the West Leaves).

Ich ruf zu de mitleidiche Blanzeseele reizukumme, fer ihre Nochkummer auszuhelfe. 
(I call to the compassionate plant spirits [change if using only one plant, e.g., corn spirits] to come to the aid of their descendants).

Ich bin die Brick. 
(I am the bridge).
Ich bin die Brick.
Ich bin die Brick
[Repeat in multiples of three as often as you feel is needed]

----------- 

At this point, you do not want to close out your connection to the West Leaves, but you can speak freely in Deitsch or English.

Here is where you can state in more detail to the spirits what your purpose is (for them to meld with the static spirits in order to awaken them within the plant material of the Butzemann, to give the breath of life to the Butzemann, etc).

Your promise is to name and to take care of the Butzemann, to honor his purpose, to make offerings to the spirits within him, to aid him in the care of his "children," etc.  This is an oath and you must abide by your words.

Most important: you must promise to relieve him of his duties at an appropriate time and to help the melded spirit within him to return to the otherworld. This is an oath. It must be kept. He must be burned between the autumn equinox (Erntfescht) and Allelieweziel (Halloween).

----------- Butzemannsege -----------

Ich geb zu dir der Ochdem. Loss dei Megge aufaerweckt sei.

(Breathe onto the "mouth" of the Butzemann).

Intone the "Ansuz" rune (known also as "Antwatt" in Deitsch) and draw the rune with your right thumb over where the mind's eye would be on the Butzemann. If skilled in otherworldly experience or in runes, do this repeatedly until you sense that you have received the rune back in response from the now-activated spirit.

Alternate: Intone the Ansuz, Berkano, and Laguz runes while drawing the runes upon the Butzemann. 

Now give a name to the Butzemann. There is a traditional naming convention. Please see http://tinyurl.com/crjohmm for more information. The only thing I would add is that a first-generation Butzemann would have the appellation of "der Nei" follow his name (if his name is Arnold, he'd be 'Arnold der Nei').

Be sure to keep a record of his name. You will need it when he is burned. In fact, consider calling him by his full name frequently. The naming serves as recognition of, and respect for, the plant spirits as beings.

Der Butzemannsege watt gschlosse.
The Butzemannsege is closed.

----------- Closing -----------

After the activation rite is completed, it is important to serve as a bridge back.

Ich bedank mich zu de Ziewe un de mitleidiche Blanzeseele. Ich schteh noch zwische em Hatzholz un de Weschtbledder, fer die zerickzuschteige. (I thank the deities and the compassionate plant spirits. I stand still between Midgard and the West Leaves for them to go back).

Ich bin die Brick. 
(I am the bridge)
Ich bin die Brick.
Ich bin die Brick.

Der Kannsege watt gschlosse.
The Ceremony of the Corn is closed.

------------
Copyright 2014
Robert L. Schreiwer
Published by Deitscherei.com
Bristol, PA