tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586500671044126032024-03-14T04:46:31.755-04:00DIE IWWERLIEFERING<p><i>'S PENNSILFAANISCH DEITSCH HEIDBINDNIS FER DER URGLAAWE</i></p>
<p>'S heidisch Bindnis fer 's Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Volk im Pennsilfaani un in der ganze Welt.</p>
<p>The Pennsylvania Dutch/Pennsylvania German Heathen Alliance for the UrglaaweDer Grinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11769694582676856454noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-16549650320100230262019-06-05T18:29:00.002-04:002019-06-05T18:29:17.505-04:00Today I build an altar...Today I build an altar...<br />
A simple altar<br />
Built in honor of the Shining Ones.<br />
To those who have seen their shrines destroyed.<br />
And their followers persecuted or killed for their beliefs.<br />
This altar stands for the victory of freedom over terror.<br />
Freedom of religion.<br />
Sovereignty of conscience.<br />
Integrity of personal and communal property.<br />
It is built in defiance of the zealots and the missionaries<br />
Who brazenly trod upon the rights and will of others,<br />
And who attempted to remove the influence, memory, and history of the many deities across the continents.<br />
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Today I light a fire in the memory of these deities...<br />
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May the light of this small fire drive away the shadows that the prophets of jealousy placed around our gods and goddesses.<br />
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May connections, knowledge, and wisdom be restored.<br />
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May the names of these hidden deities be spoken by the people again, and may freedom to determine our beliefs be in the hands of the people again.<br />
Today I utter the names of these deities aloud, and my voice shall join a throng of others who are honoring and hailing the hidden deities of their cultures, traditions, and beliefs.<br />
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Jecha<br />
Stuffo<br />
Biel<br />
Lohra<br />
Reto<br />
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Come today and be our honored guests!<br />
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Hail!Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-39320100043164055252019-06-05T18:28:00.002-04:002019-06-05T18:28:13.864-04:00Observance of the Desecrated Shrines<div style="text-align: justify;">
Urglaawe "days" begin at sunset of the night before, so tonight (June 4) at sunset marks the beginning of the Observance of the Desecrated Shrines. This observance is in honor of those deities whose shrines were destroyed, damaged, and disrespected through the actions of missionaries and zealots. The lore of many of these deities was lost in the persecution of those who held to the old ways, and there may be many more deities who are now completely unknown to us.</div>
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June 5 is the feast day of the Christian missionary Boniface, who destroyed the sacred oak of Dunner and desecrated the shrines of Jecha, Stuffo, and Lohra/Lare. We hold our observance on this day to renew our ties to our deities and to assert our sovereignty of conscience and our right to religious freedom.</div>
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This is a pan-Pagan observance, and people of all traditions and backgrounds are invited to take part in the observance, honoring their deities in the manner to which they are accustomed. </div>
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The <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wov-Uwt8UUnFAGUX2pmZchSHdvaKxKhX/view?fbclid=IwAR0vutqM8UZARFQVtgT55ypwdFu0MtQ2IdQBxAlAE4_w9yKH2xZF_lv27lg" target="_blank">Urglaawe ritual format is shared for convenience</a>, but, again, adherents of all traditions are welcomed to follow their own formats and to honor their own deities.<br />
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For the Urglaawe ritual, some potential altar items:<br />
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<b>Jecha:</b> a bow and/or arrow</div>
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<b>Lohra</b>: a book of some educational value</div>
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<b>Stuffo:</b> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OQszmGCTGmiQSGbgttDy0xqsojzuyTIR/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">image from GardenStone's book</a> (<i>Gods of the Germanic Peoples 2</i>, p. 484). The image is a bit peculiar to our modern eyes, and the age of the dedication stone is unknown. It is important to keep in mind that deity portrayals in many cultures often appear strange at first blush, particularly when the context is unknown.</div>
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<b>Biel:</b> a branch from a tree</div>
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<b>Reto:</b> an empty (yet honored) space to be filled as He becomes better known</div>
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Hail the gods! Hail the goddesses!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">GardenStone. <i>Gods of the Germanic Peoples</i> (two volumes). Norderstedt, Germany: Books on </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Demand, 2014.</span></div>
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Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-56435099926403858632018-12-31T10:43:00.001-05:002018-12-31T10:43:36.644-05:00Coins on the Windowsill<div style="text-align: justify;">
A common Deitsch tradition tonight is to put a coin (or coins) outside on your windowsill overnight tonight. </div>
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Some variations specify that the coin/s should be silver. Others specify three denominations (nickel, dime, quarter, etc.) of coin. Some Christian interpretations are that these are for the Magi on their way to Bethlehem (PA? lol), while other interpretations definitely have this related to magic that easily fits in with Berchta making the rounds as a beggar. </div>
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If the coin/s are still there in the morning, bring them back in and "Was hawwich yetz wa ich ganzes Yaahr haawe." ("What I have now I will have all year.") </div>
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If the coins are gone, then the need was greater elsewhere, and you will receive good luck for aiding another.</div>
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Halliches Nei-Yaahr!</div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-17328582052263012792016-11-20T09:15:00.000-05:002016-11-20T09:15:13.415-05:00Delaware Valley Pagan Clergy Contact Form<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let's build a list of Clergy folk in the Delaware Valley Pagan Network. </div>
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Please note that the information submitted will be made public, so please do not share anything that you do not wish to have available publicly.</div>
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<a href="http://dvpagans.blogspot.com/p/httpsdocs.html">http://dvpagans.blogspot.com/p/httpsdocs.html</a></div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-14145631857645133102016-11-20T09:14:00.002-05:002016-11-20T09:14:28.187-05:00Yuletide Sock Drive<div style="text-align: justify;">
From December 17, 2016 (Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits) through January 1, 2016, Distelfink Sippschaft will be collecting new, unworn socks for folks in need. We need all sizes, from baby to adult male. Practical socks, fun socks, fuzzy socks, holiday socks, argyle socks are all needed!</div>
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Stock up stacks of socks and stockings and help to bring warmth to the feet of those in need this Yuletide!</div>
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Contact Robert L. Schreiwer (schreiwer@urglaawe.org) for collection sites. The first location will be at Parade of Spirits/Krampuslauf in Liberty Lands Park.</div>
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Donations will be directed to homeless shelters in the Delaware Valley.</div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-68305509162553125522015-09-15T16:38:00.000-04:002015-09-15T16:38:14.778-04:00GoFundMe for Heathen (including Urglaawe) Presence at World Parliament of Religions<div style="text-align: justify;">
This year, for the first time, there will be a Heathen presence at the <a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/">Parliament of the World's Religions in Salt Lake City, UT</a> (October 15-19). This is a significant opportunity for Heathen leaders to engage and to network with leaders of other religions. This event will increase the visibility of Heathenry in the public eye and set a precedent for inclusion in future endeavors.<br />
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The Parliament will feature the following Heathen presentations:<br />
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"Staving off Ragnarök: A Heathen Response to Climate Change" (Diana Paxson) on Saturday, October 17 at 10:00 AM</div>
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and</div>
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"Rebuilding the Altars: Reconstructing Indigenous Pagan Faiths for Today" (Diana Paxson, Robert L. Schreiwer, Erynn Laurie, Elisheva Nesher, Kirk Thomas, and Gwendolyn Reese) on Sunday, October 18 at 8:15 AM.</div>
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Additionally, there will be a Heathen information booth (#878) with pamphlets and books for distribution and sale. An Urglaawe altar will be present in a shared Pagan Faiths space somewhere in rooms A-G in sections 150 or 151 (clarifying information will be provided as it becomes available).<br />
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All of this costs money, so a <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/heathen-parliament">GoFundMe effort</a> has been set up to help to defray the participants' costs. If you are unable to donate money, please help by passing along the link.<br />
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Thank you!</div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-5432537960142921032015-01-29T03:52:00.000-05:002015-01-29T03:52:02.806-05:00Die Entschtanning Kummt Aa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3bLWgf_9f134GN1vaIe3b6BqlZ2EEhkOvYlSZbU0tPxtZhZkGuxtxUigL2zR5ytA2gRNValN5Go1Yem5GYf2Be8nUBmIwxBbcdyoIGJszVxsz5gdbuDOeLSqqCzkgJ1OkpTVsV7RY3E/s1600/1781865_10201224078558315_1655624715_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3bLWgf_9f134GN1vaIe3b6BqlZ2EEhkOvYlSZbU0tPxtZhZkGuxtxUigL2zR5ytA2gRNValN5Go1Yem5GYf2Be8nUBmIwxBbcdyoIGJszVxsz5gdbuDOeLSqqCzkgJ1OkpTVsV7RY3E/s1600/1781865_10201224078558315_1655624715_n.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></a></div>
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Grundsaudaag - Friggsege - Butzemannsege </div>
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Sunndaag, 1. Hanning, 2015</div>
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14:00</div>
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Schlegelschteddel, Deitscherei</div>
<br />Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-86220532552501929342014-10-07T18:50:00.001-04:002014-10-07T18:50:36.495-04:00Retrospective on the Landnemmung (Landtaking) Rites of Urglaawe<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As of September 26, 2014, the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lusch-musselman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alder Zimmerman Graabhof (Old Zimmerman Cemetery) and the Lüsch-Müsselman Graabhof (Lusch-Musselman Graveyard)</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> came under the full legal control of Distelfink Sippschaft Ziewer, Robert L. Schreiwer. The description of the landtaking rites below emanated from discussions within the Urglaawe Braucherei/Hexerei guilds on Facebook on October 5.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Urglaawe landtaking ceremonies are based partially on Braucherei/Hexerei practices, partially on overarching Heathen ways of relating to the land, and partially on the individual claiming the new land.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I was asked a bit about today's ritual, and I realized that there are quite a few steps to it. In the current era, it is rare that one purchases or acquires land so close to his/her earlier residence that a parade of humans, cattle, wagons, etc. could be timed so that the leaders of the migration are arriving at the new destination just as the last of the participants are departing from the old residence. We have had to adjust that practice to fit longer moves, the lower likelihood of cattle, etc. The advantage to this adjustment is that we can avoid having to worry about days where there are superstitions or even Verbots (bans or taboos) on driving cattle or positioning cattle within a move. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Today I brought with me many items to be included in the ritual, including a Thor's Hammer for burial, several food offerings that have significance in the Deitsch culture and customs and elemental items, which is where the topic starts to relate to the guilds a bit more closely.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The connection of the hearths (or any primary location of fire) plays a major role. In my response to Amy's question, I cited an old Deitsch adage or superstition that homesickness begins when one can no longer see the smoke from his/her mother's chimney or fire. This sentiment is addressed in the transfer of fire. I burned a fire in Bristol this morning. I took the hot embers out, and placed them in an ember box. Ember boxes have a long history of being used to carry "shared" fires within communities, particularly at Groundhog Day. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">In this case, the embers are split at the new site. Some are allowed to cool and are strewn about the new property. The rest are to be used as part of a new fire there (started with birch), thus connecting the two fires. Since I am retaining the house in Bristol, the ember box had a role on the other end, with embers and ashes from the new fire being brought to the fire pit here at home.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Water is one of the easier aspects to transfer. The water from home is poured as part of a verbal claiming of the land, but it is also used to water plants and to clean some objects, etc. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Earth is also easy. Soil is brought from the first property and used in transplanting, etc.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Air is the interesting one. We have discussed in some threads on the Fiber Arts Guild's site the concept of cloth being used as sources of static energy, etc. Here we see something similar. A cloth is dampened at the first location and is hung out to dry (reflecting a permeation of air). The cloth is then taken to the new location and hung out to allow the air to exude over the new territory. If I had a structure at the cemetery, I would have had that cloth in the middle the kitchen or family room. As part of the return, I dampened the cloth in the dew of the cemetery property (there is no spigot there), allowed it to dry, and brought it back to Bristol. It is hanging outside now.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I think most of us can get the concept of the importance of transplanting herbs or crops to a new location. I have no animal herds to take with me (ten indoor cats do not count), but I ensured that the soil I took and spread out had worms and other critters in it as part of the transfer. I also brought some soil back from the cemetery to here. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The best I could do with water on the return was to collect some dew on the wet grass and to bring it back in a bottle. lol</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Some of the herbs I took happened to be conveniently already in pots. The soapwort, in particular, falls into that category. I had a lot of yarrow in pots already, but I would have gone out of my way to dig some of it up if I did not already have it available. I took up four elder cuttings that recently rooted. Elder is extremely important due to its association with Holle. It is not uncommon to find Elder at cemeteries in this region anyway (in fact, there apparently used to be American Elder on the cemetery grounds but the plants are gone now). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I had some Mugwort that grew in a pot this year, and that most definitely has importance in Urglaawe spirituality and Deitsch herbalism. Dotted Mint (Monarda punctata) is one of my favorite plants, so I took some of that, and I had some Catmint from the big cutback I had to do earlier this year. Now it has a nice home at the cemetery. I also had some Boneset, which is great for attracting pollinators (and has some highly effective herbalism properties). Last, but not least, I put some Catnip in the ground. If all the farm cats up there don't get it, it will produce a nice crop next year. All of these herbs (particularly Elder, Mugwort, and Yarrow) carry energy from the land they sprang from and will add it in to the soil at the new location.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Landtaking also includes other aspects: walking the perimeter, scattering ashes and salt, offering a portion of the last meal in the old location to the spirits of the new location, and eating a meal at the new location. If there were a permanent structure at the site, I would have done a house blessing, which can take several hours to do. lol</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The cemetery is now taken and is connected to my home here in Bristol, and the central section is now dedicated Urglaawe land.</span></div>
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Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-41051584512822016232014-08-13T09:21:00.000-04:002014-08-13T09:21:13.287-04:00The First Book of Urglaawe Myths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUa-jTeJju52HSbTrtzcQMWkuzj4frneLXbFJOXv3hJ8ZLuT4JzNTEYunBNcHRd37RdpaTWg3nQwKqkKQwTccglSUWG1zXg1Ht9wIcbPEnG6Ia9h11w0FWWJGxNp8bMXE7JHSs21X9u2G/s1600/THUMBNAIL_IMAGE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUa-jTeJju52HSbTrtzcQMWkuzj4frneLXbFJOXv3hJ8ZLuT4JzNTEYunBNcHRd37RdpaTWg3nQwKqkKQwTccglSUWG1zXg1Ht9wIcbPEnG6Ia9h11w0FWWJGxNp8bMXE7JHSs21X9u2G/s1600/THUMBNAIL_IMAGE.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">After three years of engaging in interview, piecing together the notes from those interviews, and connecting dots in our folklore, we are pleased to present <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4943955" target="_blank">The First Book of Urglaawe Myths</a>. There is, of course, a reason that it is called the "first" book; there are still more notes to pore through! Cryptozoological creatures, deity interactions, and ancestor interventions are all here!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This little booklet consists of eight myths, most of which have been published on the <a href="http://deitschmythology.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deitsch Mythology</a> blog in the past. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">All profits from the sale of this book go to Distelfink Sippschaft's operations, which include engaging with the community to find the myths, remnants of myths, and folklore that is critical to understanding the Heathen mindset in the Urglaawe context.</span></div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-48658756214166665452014-04-15T21:04:00.000-04:002014-04-15T21:45:22.972-04:00Response to the Overland Park, KS, Accused Shooter's Religion<div style="text-align: justify;">
News media outlets are reporting that the <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/14/frazier-glenn-cross-racist-religion/">accused shooter in Overland Park was an adherent of Odinism</a>. </div>
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We abhor the appropriation of any Heathen identity for racist and bigoted agendas. We reject e the abuse of our religion as a justification for hateful and abominable actions. We condemn the violence and hatred that are at the root of this story.</div>
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Let us all hail the victims and remember their names:</div>
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Terri LaManno</div>
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William Lewis Corporon</div>
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Reat Griffin Underwood</div>
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims of this unconscionable act.</div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-73301603209736799422013-11-28T12:50:00.000-05:002013-11-28T13:53:44.758-05:00An Urglaawe Thanksgiving Musing<div style="text-align: justify;">
I saw the post below (at the bottom of this commentary) on the Facebook status update of a friend.
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There are many truths inside this status. There are quite a few folks, many of whom I know personally, who are one missing paycheck away from losing their homes or cars, etc. These kinds of difficulties have many origins, including the current economy. Many aspects of these problems are beyond our immediate or even long-term control, and there are many people who need a hand up (not so much a handout) in order to get back on track. </div>
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Some aspects are self-induced. We live in a culture that, for some odd reason, advances the chaotic force of rootlessness, encouraging people to shun totally any notion of being "too close to people" or having anyone "all up in my business." I can understand this to some degree, but, as a society, we are, to use an old expression, "throwing the baby out with the bath water." Akin to this rootlessness is the utter Blitzkrieg of Black Friday, which is now undermining one of major "connection" holidays of the year with the implied promise of satisfaction being achieved through going shopping. From the Urglaawe perspective, these forms of rootlessness are to be shunned because they destroy the very fabric of our social order. </div>
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There are, of course, plenty of people going through grief, loss, or physical challenges that make the holidays rougher. Some of these are temporary conditions; others are chronic problems that are the largest challenges. Each individual has a responsibility to work through these problems and to attempt not to be defined by them. The wider community has a responsibility to recognize the existence of attempts to surmount these problems and to be supportive towards those who experienced recent challenges and towards those who are working hard to change their own definition of themselves in the face of adversity. </div>
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This comment is meant neither to "rain on the parade" nor to urge everyone to be more appreciative of their life situation. Instead, it is meant as a reminder that we all have a role in changing our society's mindset from rootlessness to a sense of cooperative interdependence from a premise of appropriate compassion coupled with personal responsibility. This may be a utopian pipe dream, but there are no rules that say all dreams have to be small or easy. </div>
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FOR any of my friends who may be alone:
It's important to remember that not everyone is surrounded by large wonderful families. Some of us have problems during the holidays and sometimes are overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are not with us. And, many people have no one to spend these times with and are besieged by loneliness. We all need caring thoughts and loving prayer right now. If I don't see your name, I'll understand. May I ask my friends wherever you might be, to kindly copy, paste, and share this status for one hour to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune. I hope to see this on the walls of all my friends just for moral support. I know some will! I did it for a friend and you can too! (You have to copy & paste this one, no sharing.)</div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-39744719808913750482013-11-26T12:52:00.000-05:002013-11-26T12:52:36.058-05:00Plan Your Yuletide Meals Now!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">While no meal rules cross all denominations of Heathenry or even all kindreds or individuals within a given denomination, this describes Distelfink's Yuletide meal practices.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">In Urglaawe, "days" begin at sundown on the preceding night. Thus, Yule actually begins at sundown on Friday, December 20 and ends at sundown on Wednesday, January 1.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>Friday, December 20:</b> The meal Urglaawer eat at this time consists of goose, which is sacred to the goddess Holle. In Urglaawe, She is among the principle deities, and this meal is religiously important due to Yule's association with Her. Because Yule is twelve days long, though, this particular meal can be done at anytime throughout the Yuletide. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>Tuesday, December 31:</b> Zwelfdi Nacht, or Twelfth Night, starts at sundown. This is the Berchtaslaaf, or the Progression of Berchta. Berchta has a commanded meal on December 31 that consists of any sort of fish (herring is most typical) and gruel, dumplings, or oatmeal (Grimm's <i>Teutonic Mythology</i> vol. 1 p. 273). One may consume other food in addition to the Berchta's ordered feast, if they give portions of their food up as offerings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>Wednesday, January 1:</b> New Year's Day is also Zwelfder Daag, or Twelfth Day, and is the Feast of Frey. Pennsylvania German tradition and Urglaawe rule is the consumption of pork and sauerkraut on that day. Both pork and sauerkraut are sacred to the god Frey and represent blessings and bounty in the New Year. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Macht's immer besser!</span></div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-75259951174876536522013-08-11T13:21:00.002-04:002013-08-11T13:21:54.451-04:00In-Reach Designated Beneficiary of Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The In-Reach Heathen Prison Services program is a joint effort by The Troth and Distelfink Sippschaft to provide books and materials with positive Heathen messages to incarcerated Heathens. Distelfink is currently in communication with inmates and administrators in five correctional facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Distelfink visitation takes place in three facilities in New Jersey.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The Troth's inmate and administrator contact has expanded quickly to fifteen states with volunteers conducting visitation in seven states. Recently, the Western Canadian Steward, John T. Mainer, has opened contact with interested parties to expand prison visitation in Canada, thus making In-Reach an international effort.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The In-Reach program is in need of books and materials to send to administrators and chaplains and to place in facility libraries. As such, In-Reach is excited and proud to be a beneficiary of Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day. Heathen materials will go to facilities with which In-Reach is in contact. Donated Pagan materials will be turned over to allied Pagan networks for distribution to facilities in which they work.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">A list of needed and requested donations is provided in a link in the press release below.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Folks who are in the Philadelphia area are encouraged to join us on August 31!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">FOR RELEASE August 11, 2013 </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Media Contact: Robert L. Schreiwer, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:philadelphiapaganpride@gmail.com"><span style="color: #002fd7; text-decoration: underline;">philadelphiapaganpride@gmail.com</span></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Philadelphia Pagan Pride, Inc., is pleased to announce the return of Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day on Saturday, August 31, 2013, at Clark Park (4301 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143). The event runs from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, rain or shine. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day is a family-friendly celebration of the harvest and reflects a variety of Pagan, Heathen, Wiccan, and other religious beliefs and practices. The day's events will feature a variety of workshops and discussions on religious and cultural aspects from the various traditions.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">We have an exciting array of vendors and performers who will exhibit their wares and their talents. We are accepting additional vendors, workshop leaders, performers, and children's activity ideas up until August 15, 2013. Please visit <a href="http://www.philadelphiapaganpride.org/"><span style="color: #002fd7; text-decoration: underline;">www.philadelphiapaganpride.org</span></a> to participate! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Entry to the event is free, but we do request the donation of a canned food item or other provisions for our beneficiaries. This year, our beneficiaries are the food bank at the Mazzoni Center, Forgotten Cats, and In-Reach Heathen Prison Services. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">In 2012, Mazzoni Center's food bank Mazzoni Center's Food Bank provided more than 11,000 bags of groceries for over 1,200 individuals and families. For more information on Mazzoni Center services, please see <a href="http://mazzonicenter.org/content/food-bank"><span style="color: #002fd7; text-decoration: underline;">mazzonicenter.org/content/food-bank</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Forgotten Cats is a humane trap, neuter, and release organization. the organization also provides adoption services. For more information on Forgotten Cats, please see <a href="http://www.forgottencats.org/"><span style="color: #002fd7; text-decoration: underline;">www.forgottencats.org</span></a>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">In-Reach Heathen Prison Services is a joint effort of The Troth and Distelfink Sippschaft to bring positive materials and messages to incarcerated Heathens. In-Reach also accepts donations of other Pagan materials and distributes them through alliances and partnerships with other Pagan organizations. For more information on In-Reach, please see <a href="http://thetroth.blogspot.com/p/in-reach-program.html"><span style="color: #002fd7; text-decoration: underline;">thetroth.blogspot.com/p/in-reach-program.html</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">A detailed list of needed donation items may be found at:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.philadelphiapaganpride.org/2013/08/donations-info-for-pppd.html">www.philadelphiapaganpride.org/2013/08/donations-info-for-pppd.html</a></span><span style="color: black;">. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Anyone interested in getting involved as a volunteer should contact us by e-mail at:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:philadelphiapaganpride@gmail.com">philadelphiapaganpride@gmail.com</a></span><span style="color: black;">. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.philadelphiapaganpride.org/"><span style="color: #002fd7; text-decoration: underline;">www.philadelphiapaganpride.org</span></a>.</span></div>
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-50359696980497898462013-06-25T06:37:00.003-04:002013-06-25T06:37:33.641-04:00"Heil Dir, Holle"At Trothmoot 2013 in Tehachapi, California, participants in the Holle Sege were treated to a wonderful experience. By Leticia Andreas' Holle Weih, Troth Elder Birgit Knorr shared her song, <i>Heil Dir, Holle</i>, to the group. I remember feeling the power around us rise as she sang her song. It was sublime.<br />
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Since that time, I was hoping that Birgit would make the song available. Thanks to Jan Hijatt and Birgit, <a href="http://youtu.be/PY41_02nJlI">the song is now on YouTube</a>.<br />
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I am also working, with Birgit's permission, on translating the song into Deitsch for use in Urglaawe rituals. I am not sure that I can sing it as beautifully as Birgit does in the video, but music is something that we sorely need in rituals.<br />
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Birgit, Diana Paxson, and Michaela Macha (among others) are leaders in this area, and we at Distelfink hope to use the talent of some of our musically-gifted folks to add to the songs of Heathenry.<br />
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Thank you again, Birgit and Jan, for making this video available.Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-57340376267411318862013-05-21T20:12:00.001-04:002013-05-21T20:12:25.892-04:00Oklahoma Tornado Relief Efforts<br />
Expanded info on Oklahoma tornado relief efforts. Thanks to Destiny Ballard of <a href="http://www.bifrostway.org/">Bifrost Way</a> for this information.<br />
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<a href="http://thetroth.blogspot.com/2013/05/oklahoma-tornado-relief-efforts.html">http://thetroth.blogspot.com/2013/05/oklahoma-tornado-relief-efforts.html</a><br />
Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-44599531655648168492013-03-03T18:34:00.002-05:002013-03-03T18:34:54.111-05:00Hollerbeer Haven IssuesAll back issues of <i>Hollerbeer Haven, Journal of Urglaawe, Braucherei, and Deitsch Wisdom</i>, are now available on <a href="http://www.urglaawe.net/">Urglaawe.net</a> and on <a href="http://site.distelfink.org/Resources.html">Distelfink.org</a>.Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-32065773809434859292013-02-18T11:22:00.000-05:002013-02-18T11:23:00.112-05:00Central PA HeathenCon 2013Central Pennsylvania HeathenCon is fast approaching!<br />
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This is the first year in which we will have workshops and discussions added into our schedule. Our preliminary agenda is as follows:<br />
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<b>Northland Motel and Northland Bowl</b></div>
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1521 Martin Street</div>
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State College, PA 16803</div>
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February 22-February 24, 2013</div>
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<u>FRIDAY</u><br />
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AFTERNOON: Arrival<br />
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6:00 PM - Dinner Out<br />
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8:00 PM - Land-taking Blot/Sege (led by Hearth of Yggdrasil)<br />
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Night - Free Time<br />
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<u>SATURDAY</u> (All workshops in Meeting Room at Northland Bowl)
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8:00 AM - Breakfast Out</div>
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10:00 AM - Blot/Sege (Northland Bowl Meeting Room)</div>
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10:30 AM - Re-enactment and Experimental Archaeology in Heathenry - Annie of Kindred of Mann</div>
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12:00 PM - Lunch In</div>
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1:00 PM - Braucherei in the Urglaawe Context Discussion - Rob of Distelfink Sippschaft</div>
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2:30 PM - Introduction to Traditional Poetry - Eirik of Hearth of Yggdrasil</div>
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4:00 PM - Round Table Discussion - Jo and Jeff of Hearth of Yggdrasil</div>
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6:00 PM - Dinner Out</div>
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Evening - Relaxation and Free Time</div>
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10:00 PM - Nachtsege/Blot led by Distelfink Sippschaft</div>
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<u>SUNDAY</u></div>
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8:00 AM - Breakfast Out</div>
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10:00 AM - Closing Blot/Sege led by Community</div>
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11:00 AM - Checkout</div>
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<br />Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-20530628676690185812012-12-06T07:03:00.000-05:002012-12-06T07:03:11.181-05:00The Season IS the Reason!Every year, at Yuletide, we are are bombarded with complaints about a "War on Christmas" and declarations that "Jesus is the reason for the season."<div>
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There are few things that are as far off track. First off, the "War on Yule" began long before any alleged War on Christmas. The War on Yule was so pernicious that Christmas subsumed myriad Yule traditions and mutated them so much that the average person thinks they were originally Christian traditions!</div>
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Santa Claus as a depiction of St. Nicholas... Seriously? How many reindeer are there in Anatolia?</div>
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Then there is the "Reason for the Season" statement. Honestly, there is such ignorance related to this claim. All indicators are, that if Jesus of Nazareth was indeed an historical figure, he was far more likely born in the late summer or early autumn. The placing of Christmas halfway into Yule is part of a Church strategy of undermining Saturnalia and Yule traditions in order to advance the Church's agenda.</div>
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Thus, Christmas is not the reason for this season of celebration. The reason is the Yule, or the winter solstice, which represents, among many other things, the victory of light over darkness. The new season of winter begins at Yule, but the days begin to lengthen. <b>Therefore, the Season IS the Reason!</b></div>
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Der Graabhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15085180858549757759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-74708702720191870552012-11-14T23:41:00.000-05:002012-11-14T23:41:39.349-05:00BerchtaslaafRecent conversations and circumstances have brought the goddess Berchta to the fore. Urglaawe observes Bertchta's feast day, December 31, as the Berchtaslaaf (Procession of Berchta). This is an integral part of the Yule observance.<br />
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Old lore indicates that we are to eat a meal of gruel and herring. In fact, the lore, as reported by Grimm, states that is ALL we are to eat on that day. Fortunately, we have found Berchta to be flexible when it comes to that report, particularly if the meal is present and is at least eaten a bit.<br />
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We will write more about this radiant goddess as Yule approaches. :)Der Graabhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15085180858549757759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-64755468108280866472012-09-28T17:59:00.000-04:002012-09-28T18:01:00.930-04:00Erntfescht 2012Distelfink Sippschaft and Hottenstein Freibesitz each held their Erntfescht events on the weekend of September 22-23. <br />
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Hottenstein collected 97 pounds of food that went to food banks in Schuylkill and Carbon Counties. The farmers in the fellowship traded some specialty crops with each other (squash for cabbage, apples for grapes, etc.).</div>
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Distelfink collected over 160 pounds of food that were donated to the Berks County Food Bank. Some seeds, particularly herbal seeds, were exchanged among some members. Some perennial herbal seeds were also planted in several garden areas across the Deitscherei.</div>
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Distelfink's event took place at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University. The site was perfect for the Sippschaft's needs, and they hope to have more events there in the future. </div>
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Some photos from Distelfink's event are below.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Die Scheier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Der Aldaar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete and Re-Pete, the Butzemann</td></tr>
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Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-71588147955793818922012-04-24T15:59:00.000-04:002012-04-24T15:59:16.112-04:00A Dictionary of Urglaawe Terminology<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">The first widely accessible <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?type=&keyWords=Urglaawe&x=0&y=0&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=" target="_blank">Urglaawe book</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> is now available on Lulu.com.</span><br /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">This book is a repository of the terms, concepts, symbols and mythological references used in the Heathen path of Urglaawe. The entries include the cultural values, spiritual awareness, and wisdom carried through the centuries in the oral lore of the Elder healing practice of Braucherei, which is also known as Pow Wow. Included in the entries are traditions and customs that are part of the living Deitsch, -- Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch -- folk culture. Adherents to Heathen paths, including Ásatrú, Irminenschaft, Theodism, Forn Sidr, Odinism, and other traditions, will find these entries useful as they provide another voice to the totality of the Teutonic folk experience.<span></span></span>Robert L. Schreiwerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04599003245479689822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-49837220647391284052012-02-06T11:05:00.011-05:002012-02-06T11:37:32.568-05:00Friggsege and Gewwernsege<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdfzPxV7WTfzo40HyVpMfFHGNhQ-PsCuKTHRDl-gtvU1Ub29Oxux4KdMjV1Ndvdt_GVSRBlTW2pYDWhOs60iB5jGtDQJrOemCKhnzik-xFOzT9n9ehoAGMNZrS-QmiuxXVG7e66epDQ_t/s1600/Friggsege+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706059018488721666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdfzPxV7WTfzo40HyVpMfFHGNhQ-PsCuKTHRDl-gtvU1Ub29Oxux4KdMjV1Ndvdt_GVSRBlTW2pYDWhOs60iB5jGtDQJrOemCKhnzik-xFOzT9n9ehoAGMNZrS-QmiuxXVG7e66epDQ_t/s320/Friggsege+1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Der Friggsege</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">The Friggsege is an Urglaawe ceremony that celebrates feminine creative energies, motherhood, and female ancestors and descendants. The Friggsege coincides with the Kannsege (Ceremony of the Corn), the Butzemannsege (Blessing of the Butzemann), and Grundsaudaag (Groundhog Day). The ceremony is rooted in Braucherei traditions relating to the Haerdgedderin (or Haerdziebin, called in English, the "Hearth Goddess").</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">In a manner similar to an Asatru Disablot, matriarchal ancestors are hailed and honored. As Urglaawe is a tradition of cycles and spirals, feminine descendants are also honored.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Frigg is seen as spinning the very material from which the Norns weave our Wurt (or Wyrd, as many other Heathens would know the term). This to us places Her so high in the Cosmic scheme that She is essentially a goddess of time, energy, and matter as well as a goddess of the home. We honor Her at the end of Yuul in recognition of Her association with time, but at Groundhog Day, we honor Her creative power and her protection of home and hearth.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">As part of the honoring, the fire was allowed to go out in the hearth. A new fire was to be started with birch, which is also sacred to Frigg. This relates the day with the rune Berkano.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Also, the feminine creative energies enter into the construction of the Butzemann. For a more detailed description of this relationship, please see the Oley Freindschaft's Braucherei site.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Gewwernsege</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Gefjon, whom we call Gewwern, is seen as the mother of Denmark, and, in an ironic twist, is closely associated with virgins and plows. King Gylfi of Sweden promised a disguised</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnw0UArbf6cAmsakP56SJ_iskBJ9h0yvJnOtNPj5-m8-KNWNuousNhqySvWfBL0ddl1kpDSam7r0sCjg4L31Zlu_Cyb5dj20h8gK4Jvwxbhkdl39eeP87BHzi-QlT6_Tva68rBRM0DxGs/s1600/Gewwernsege+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706059322752965010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnw0UArbf6cAmsakP56SJ_iskBJ9h0yvJnOtNPj5-m8-KNWNuousNhqySvWfBL0ddl1kpDSam7r0sCjg4L31Zlu_Cyb5dj20h8gK4Jvwxbhkdl39eeP87BHzi-QlT6_Tva68rBRM0DxGs/s320/Gewwernsege+1.jpg" style="height: 320px; margin-top: 0px; width: 240px;" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Copenhagen's Gefjon Fountain</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Gefjon as much land as She could plow in one night. She transformed Her sons into and plowed the Danish island of Zealand off from Sweden, thus creating the Swedish Lake V<span lang="DE">ä</span>nern. There are some linguistic links between Gefjon's name, which denotes giving, and Nordic words for marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">There are also linguistic links to the Matronae group called the Alagabiae (Matronis Alagabiabus), to whom an inscripiton on a votive stone dating from the 4th century A.D. from Bürgel near Solingen, West Germany (CIL XIII 8529) is dedicated. The name, which means 'All-giver', presents a Germanic counterpart to the partially Celticized matron name Ollogabiae. It is possible that the same matrons were venerated under both names among the mixed Germanic-Celtic population on the Lower Rhine (Source: Simek's "Dictionary of Northern Mythology"). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">She is seen as one of the goddesses in Frigg's retinue, and there are some linguistic connections between Her name and Frigg and Freya, too, which is interesting given that Frigg is of the Ase (Aesir) and Freya is of the Wane (Vanir). Gefjon is considered Aesir.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Also interesting is that Holle and Berchta are also said to carry plows.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Hail to Frigg!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Hail to Gewwern!</span></div>Der Graabhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15085180858549757759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-58575435893042643032012-01-23T21:31:00.005-05:002012-01-23T21:46:48.419-05:00Lüsch-Müsselman Graabhof - UrglaaweThe <span class="pp-place-title"><span><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=L%C3%83%C2%BCsch-M%C3%83%C2%BCsselman+Graabhof+-+Urglaawe+&aq=&sll=40.794058,-75.798111&sspn=0.261996,0.405121&vpsrc=0&ie=UTF8&hq=L%C3%83%C2%BCsch-M%C3%83%C2%BCsselman+Graabhof+-+Urglaawe&hnear=&ll=40.834593,-75.779572&spn=0.261836,0.405121&t=m&z=11&iwloc=A&cid=13153932617015978634">Lüsch-Müsselman Graabhof</a> is an Urglaawe cemetery in West Mahoning Township, Carbon County, PA. This location is in northern Deitscherei.<br /><br />The cemetery also contains graves of Christian (Schwenkfelder, Lutheran, Mennonite) ancestors whose religious choices will always be respected. However, the grounds on the remainder of the Graabhof are dedicated to the goddess Holle and to the future founding of an Urglaawe temple to be maintained by Distelfink Sippschaft.<br /><br />For more information, please contact Robert Lüsch Schreiwer.<br /></span></span><span> </span>Der Graabhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15085180858549757759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-15948882209009883982011-11-26T11:26:00.001-05:002011-11-26T11:26:49.882-05:00Black Friday Mayhem<span style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The news reports from yesterday and from this morning have most certainly triggered in many of you the same reaction that they did in me: revulsion.<br /><br />Just skirting the headlines, we see a shooting, a pepper spraying incident, another trampling, and a mass looting.<br /><br />From Braucherei, Urglaawer learn that the intentions behind a gift, which would also include the process of obtaining the gift, are imprinted energetically upon the gift. When a procurement of a gift is the result of theft, violence, or subterfuge, the gift becomes toxic to the recipient. While the Wurt (Wyrd) of the perpetrator will deservedly be impacted by the actual inhumane act, unfortunately, so will the Wurt of the recipient be negatively affected.<br /><br />Our society has been reduced, somehow, to going below the lowest common denominator; we are in fractions of fractions at this point. The consumer culture hyperbolizes the Black Friday sales, thus whipping up a fervor among those who willingly buy into the frenzy. The mayhem is abetted by a media that are always looking for ways simultaneously to condemn and to glorify social drama.<br /><br />On the large, social scale, this annual disorder will not change. However, among the various Heathen paths, we can strive to ensure that our holiday observances do not become overtaken by meaningless consumerism.<br /><br />Surely there are many reasons to purchase and to give gifts to one another. In fact, the gift exchange is a hallmark of Heathenry. However, we must be conscious of the intentions behind our gifts and of the state of mind we are in when packing and presenting them. To do otherwise is to behave irresponsibly with ourselves and our communities.<br /><br />As we progress towards Yule, let us reject the chaos that has beset our nation. Instead, let us attune ourselves to the best interests of our communities and our collective and individual Wurt.</span></span>Der Graabhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15085180858549757759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558650067104412603.post-12797288428123158592010-11-02T13:10:00.003-04:002010-11-02T13:14:20.959-04:00Furious Host/Wild Hunt Representations in Deitsch Culture<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">Now, as we enter the dark half of the spiritual year, we are once again seeing costumes, marching in parades, and answering the knocks of trick-or-treaters on our doors. Heathens of all stripes know that we are witnessing the remnants of the folk symbolically taking part in the Furious Host, or the Wild Hunt.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">Local Deitsch culture represents the Furious Host in several ways. The vast majority of people who engage in some of these traditions are almost certainly unaware of the Heathen origins of their parades or festivities, but some of the Braucherei practitioners reported the relationship of the traditions to the Furious Host and kept the true meaning of the traditions alive.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">Unfortunately, the wider American culture's influence has seeped into almost all of the Deitscherei, particularly when overt efforts to assimilate the Deitsch began after 1911. Thus, some of the local culture's traditional practices have changed. Originally, Allelieweziel (October 31) was not a time of tricks-or-treats.... Well, it was a time of people dressing up in costume, perhaps for the "tricks" portion of it. More commonly, the belief was that it was more important to focus on the safe transition of the souls of the departed (which leads to the question of whether there is meshing or influence one way or the other with the Christian All Soul's Day).</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">The next appearance of people dressed in costumes is referred to in English now as King Frost. This was more a time of dread as the cold weather was setting upon the land. However, the local culture has lost most of this fear, with the only remnant of any aspect of the observance being a huge parade in Hamburg that includes costumes, etc. It is usually held in November (though this year it was in October), and the establishment of this parade was more for commercial celebration than for the faded ties to the local folklore. Urglaawer and Braucherei do not see this time as one of celebration at all; instead, we recognize the Frost Giants hold on our soil until Dunner beats back three of them (named, with varied spellings, Dreizehdax, Vatzehvedder, and Fuffzehfux on May 13, 14, and 15th respectively).</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">The next appearance of costumes is known since Christian times as St. Nicholas Day. This is when Der Belsnickel, who is almost certainly a Christian-sanitized version of Wodan, comes door to door all wrapped in furs and wearing a large hat, to reward good children and to punish bad children... But even in rewarding good children, the rewards often require the child to answer a riddle or to show some sort of wisdom. Children who grab for gifts or candies (traditionally, it was chestnuts) may have to dodge the whip of a switch. The Belsnickel tradition is on the upswing in several parts of Deitscherei, but in some places, it is becoming very Americanized, meaning that it is losing the danger of reaching for rewards without showing wisdom.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">During Yuletide, children in Deitscherei would dress in costume and go out for tricks-or-treats. To this day, the practice is still called "belsnickeling," whether it happens at Yuletide or on Halloween. Much of the American secular Christmas concept came into being through the Deitsch culture with Santa and Mrs. Claus (read: Wodan and Holle) out on their journey through the sky.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">Some of the other traditions that were present in the Colonies or the Early Republic have waned or disappeared. New Year's Day would bring about Mummenschanz parades (the roots of the big Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, though that is a later incarnation). Fat Tuesday costume parades were Heathen holdovers that had the Christian Fastnacht grafted onto them, but those have virtually disappeared from the Deitscherei. There are sparse records of people dressing in costume for small parades around April Fool's Day, but I do not believe this was a widespread practice.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">The culmination of parades with their roots in the Furious Host would be Walpurgisnacht, which is when Holle returns to the Earth and the Furious Host ends. While in Germany, Walpurgisnacht celebrations are large events, they never seemed to have taken root in the Deitscherei. However, a volume of folklore and myths has surrounded a site in Northampton County since the Colonial Era. Local lore tells of strange experiences at this site, which is known as Hexenkopf or Hexekopp.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">Hexenkopf is one of the sacred peaks or mountaintops in the Deitscherei. It is said to be spiritually active at all times, with animals behaving strangely (appearing and disappearing), shadowy figures approaching hikers and vanishing, etc. On Walpurgisnacht, the frequency of spiritual activity has long been said to be unusually high.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">The Christian settlers feared the site and said that witches gathered there on Walpurgisnacht. Some practitioners of Braucherei, though, instead identified Hexenkopf as the home of Holle here in the new settlement. As such, Holle is viewed as the Mother of the Deitsch folk, and Urglaawer celebrate the return of Holle from the Furious Host at Hexenkopf. German Heathen groups have recently begun to make annual pilgrimages to the site as well.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana">One of the goals of Distelfink Sippschaft is to revive the other traditions of the old parades and to reattach the original significance to the observances that have not died out. We are fortunate enough to live in an area and to have access to a culture that has so much knowledge that was guarded by the practitioners of the old ways. </p>Der Graabhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15085180858549757759noreply@blogger.com0