I have been fascinated with blacksmiths
since I read a novel about the Aurthurian legends (“In the Shadow
of the Oak King” by Courtway Jones). It features blacksmithing as
a major theme of the book and really sparked my interest in the
subject.
Blacksmith Gods was really interesting
to read. I thought it did a great job of not only examining
Blacksmithing as a phenomenon, but also looking specifically at how
different cultures acknowledged it in their deities.
The book starts off with a general look
at blacksmithing, which I think helps put it in perspective.
Blacksmithing isn't something that is as common today as it has been
in the past. Most of us don't know a professional blacksmith, or
even someone who has any experience with smithing. Much of the metal
we use in our daily life is mass-produced: stamped out and cut by
machines instead of molded into shape by a smith.
And yet, as Pagans, we can be quite
strongly drawn to the practice of smithing. I have read quite a lot
of books that highly recommend taking a class in smithing or working
for a time as an apprentice smith, in order to forge your own blades
for magical work. I haven't pursued this myself, although I would
love to! I definitely think there is something to be said about
making one's own tools, and typically the blade is one of the tools
that is the hardest for the average person to create for themselves.
The bulk of the book is divided into
sections by location, so deities from a particular area are grouped
together. This let me grasp the themes that a culture associated
with smithing better. Many of the deity descriptions include stories
or legends involving that deity and smithing. I always love reading
legends, I think that in many ways it makes things more real for me
than just reading a description. Also included are stories about
smiths or smithing that don't feature a specific deity. These I
think are very powerful for expressing the essence of the smith as a
person and great for helping us to get in touch with the heart of
what smithing is.
I also really enjoyed the suggestions
for how to take a fondness for smithing or blacksmith deities and
transform it into part of your practice. I think that sometimes it
can be hard, especially for something that you may not be able to
actually do as part of your regular life (like blacksmithing) to find
a way to honor the practice and work with it in more symbolic terms.
If, like me, you are enchanted by
blacksmithing or the image of the smith, this is a wonderful book to
read. I was introduced to many new deities, some I had never heard
of. I also got to read stories about deities I was already familiar
with, deepening my understanding of them.
If you don't know much about
blacksmithing, but think it might be interesting, this book is a
great starting point that can spark your interest and give you ideas
about where you might like to learn more. It will definitely give
you a broad base for relating to deities that deal with
blacksmithing, and an insight into the mystery that is smithing.
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