In Heathen traditions, not only is a hearth goddess honored around this time of year, but also often the Idise of the family or kindred. (Though some kindreds honor the Idise in the Autumn.)
The Idise (of Germanic tradition) or Disir (of Norse tradition) are simply put; the ancestral Mothers and other feminine spirits who watch over us. For Ozark Pagans, a more familiar term might be Clan Mothers, though it’s not just Mothers in the mix. These are the feminine spirits and goddesses who are attached to us, and are not limited to blood kin.
The comfort of knowing one’s Idise are watching over in times of need, is a great comfort that can only be compared to say, guardian angels in the more mainstream traditions.
In other Pagan traditions I’ve been in, there wasn’t really a comparable category of beings. In Druidry, we had the Three Kindred: Deities, Ancestors, and Nature Spirits, though those categories could get a bit fuzzy in definition, and as time went on I began to question who exactly were included in these categories. As I wrote in “Guardian Kindred & Other Spirits”, the Druidic terms seemed to be all-inclusive, and might include beings or powers that may not exactly be in our corner. That led me to creating the term “Guardian Kindred” to denote those beings who were inclined to be in our favor.
However, in this, my second foray into Heathenry, I’ve realized that in order for a deceased forebear to be an “Ancestor” they have to be evolved, and thus benevolent. In Urglaawe, Himmelgegend is the realm of spiritually advanced ancestors. So I think that this is where our prayers to the Ancestors go. I’ve known a lot of people who have issues with the Ancestor veneration aspect of Heathenry/Paganism, because of trauma and dysfunction they had with their parents or grandparents. This type of ancestor has to undergo a lot of soul work with Mother Holle, and may be awaiting reincarnation in Unnergegend, or are being transformed in Her great Mill, which grinds the soul into all its separate parts. Because of this, they are not available nor ready to be venerated as an Ancestor, but I think getting to that point is the goal, and is something Mother Holle and her kin are working with us to bring about.
So rest assured, the Idise are a category of being that we can freely pray to and share our lives with. One might even find it easier than reaching out to the deities. How? Just start talking to them, pour them libations, and reach out to them through our hearts, and with our minds through meditation.
Ozark Pagan Mamma 