Year of Unn 2023
Landscape jewellery is taking part in the celebrations of octagonal cycles that take place across the globe within the animist, pagan, and hippie communities to revive animist knowledge and heal dysfunctional patterns in our societies.
The idea was initiated by Nordic Animism as a Year of Aun referring to the legend of King Aun who for his own preservation sacrifices his sons to the point where all but one are dead and the king himself dies a terrible death of complete disempowerment. Nordic Animism sees the legend as a metaphor for our own society, which sacrifices the future of our children on this planet in order to keep holding on to the unsustainable practices of our times.
To develop the thought of octagonal cycles and healing, Heathen Women United declared the year 2023 to be the Year of Unn, the year of the powerful ninth wave, the year of feminine energy that seeks her descendants are well cared for, the one who offers the positive outlook to sustainable future forward. You can read the full statement below.
Image belongs to Heathen Women United
Jewellery
To celebrate the Year of Unn, I decided to release a number of designs that bare the symbolism of the upcoming year. They will all be available to purchase here on the website, or in my (reopened) Etsy shop.
From simple bind runes to more elaborate designs including baltic amber, all pieces of jewellery are made of solid silver recycled and refined in Europe to follow the sustainability ethos and reflect the opportunities we have in our day and time.
All pieces are hand fabricated by me.
HWU is honored to present an alternative narrative for this octennial cycle.
With the intention of offering a greater voice and space for marginalized groups, and to address the misogyny and destructive patriarchal issues still present in modern Heathenry, we are weaving the Year of Unn the Deep-Minded. Throughout this year, we will focus on the stories of powerful women, their sons, non-binary individuals, spirits, deities, and others that offer guidance, strength, and transformation.
The time is now.
The Earth, spirits, and gods are all speaking to us. It is paramount that we work heal each other, ourselves, nature, and our connection between them now. Through the deep work of unpacking socially constructed biases and building balanced relationships to the land and marginalized people, we can start on the path to decolonization.
We appreciate and respect the work of Nordic Animism in creating the opportunity for the return of the restorative cycles of reciprocity, and answer the call to creatively generate our own expression. By harnessing the power of the Ninth Wave, Unnr the Frothing Surge, and Unn the Deep Minded, we intend to facilitate the healing of communities and catalyze rebirth. While the cautionary tale of Aun is necessary for humanity to reflect upon, Unn did not sacrifice those she loved for personal gain. Instead, she weaved her fair and inspiring threads of compassion, wisdom, and justice across multiple lands, and touched the lives of many faiths.
The Year of Unn adds a harmony to the powerful song of the Year of Aun. Where one is a battle cry, the other is a gentle song calling for change in our hearts and minds. Where one is the remorseless dirge of pain and grief, the other is the soothing chant of healing.
We must raise our voices.
We must listen to the songs around us, so that our raised voices are a swelling symphony for change, for reconnection, for honor, and for respect.
This year, we bring Unn into relationship with Aun to create a full healing cycle, like Ouroboros eating its own tail. We recognize the shadow and honor the weaving.
As a wave is simply one manifestation of a vast ocean, we hope that this offering will empower and inspire the greater movement of the octennial cycle, and bringing forth the necessity to repair deep wounds long overlooked. As one of the nine Sacred Daughters of Ran and Aegir, Unnr the Wave of Power reminds us not to back away from accountability, to stand against sexual violence, discrimination, ignorance, and injustice, or be swept away from the core of ourselves.
Our initial offering will be on February 1st, in honor of Imbolc and the approaching full moon.
Each month we will:
- Share stories of legendary women and gender fluid individuals, both mythological, historical, and contemporary.
- Suggest inclusive rituals, both simple and complex, to aid engagement with the cycles at one's own comfort level and ability, following the lunar patterns.
- Offer articles, books, podcasts, and other media connected to the monthly theme.
- Engage in deep animistic threads of reciprocity with the spirits of the land, elements, and ecological communities.
- Seek a deeper understanding with well-know deities, and introduce lesser-known Gods/Goddesses/Jötunn by delving into their stories through varied perspectives
- Explore important topics, such as economic decolonization, environmental justice, decentering patriarchal history, social justice, particularly concerning where it overlaps with environmental justice, and the voices of the unseen in our landscapes
Full statement of Heathen Women United:
Additional resources
During the upcoming year, I will keep updating this page with additional resources, stories, new jewellery, and experiences as we go and learn.
May the healing begin…
