tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25042275516799895032024-03-07T23:28:07.071-05:00LagutyrOrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-63829684055418211572020-04-26T13:29:00.000-04:002020-04-26T20:38:38.926-04:00New BlogWith all the weirdness of 2020, I have felt pulled to start a new spiritual blog, specifically intended to be even more mystically oriented than Lagutyr was. I also connect to some non-Germanic Gods and Goddesses nowadays, so it's more on the generally Devotional Polytheist side. Here is the link: <a href="https://mysticbridge.wordpress.com/">https://mysticbridge.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-56756444881966743332015-11-23T20:41:00.000-05:002015-11-23T21:26:23.719-05:00Pilgrimage (Part Two Of Two): Foswert And Hegebeintum, Netherlands<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wânswert - Blink And You Will Miss It </td></tr>
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The second part of this <a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2015/10/pilgrimage-part-one-of-two-ameland.html">pilgrimage series</a> is about both Foswert and Hegebeintum. Hegebeintum is the highest <i>terp </i>(artificial mound) in the Netherlands. It was once considered a part of Foswert and was a holy site long before Christian times, so it seems fair to write about both places.<br />
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Foswert is named after Fosite (Forseti) and lies close by a small village, Wânswert, which is similarly named after the Frisian equivalent of Odin. It was a drizzly, overcast day on September 16, 2015, when I set off for Foswert by bike. My route took me through Wânswert, which apparently was so tiny that it did not even have shops of its own. The town's <i>terp</i> overlooked a pleasant field with a picturesque thatched windmill. There was a church built atop the <i>terp</i>. I walked around outside the iron fence encircling the church's graveyard and took in the views. I did get a very faint sense of power off the place and could imagine, dimly, Weda (Odin) once being hailed up there among the trees.<br />
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When I reached the other side of Wânswert, I wasn't sure which direction to strike out in next. A friendly postal worker pointed out the street leading to Foswert. This part of the journey made for nervous riding at first, as there was no separate bike route. Usually, bikes have their own lanes or trails in the Netherlands. I had to share the road with drivers impatient to get to their own destinations. Fortunately, a paved bike path (<i>It Kleaster</i>) later branched off the highway. The rest of the trip to Foswert was more peaceful.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foswert</td></tr>
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Unlike the holy spring on Ameland, Foswert is not really set apart for visitors. It was once the site of a Benedictine cloister, but that burned down long ago. Only two poles on either side of a roadway leading to private milk farms mark the place now. A small sign describes the history. There were some Friesian horses out in the fields next to the posts, and they paused to stare at me while I took pictures. I did not go very far down the road into what had once been Foswert. A small, nondescript pond with some nice flowers was on the right, and a sparse grove of trees on the left. The road split just behind these, going straight to the milk farms. It was not the sort of place to pause and meditate.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--lYWmj8rcKI/VlOag9UsvPI/AAAAAAAABNI/H4FoNZmIq3k/s1600/DSC01591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--lYWmj8rcKI/VlOag9UsvPI/AAAAAAAABNI/H4FoNZmIq3k/s200/DSC01591.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuSnFWQv31w/VlOadYNikRI/AAAAAAAABNE/HbM3jTWF7kc/s1600/DSC01602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuSnFWQv31w/VlOadYNikRI/AAAAAAAABNE/HbM3jTWF7kc/s200/DSC01602.JPG" width="200" /></a>I returned to the entrance. Across from the two Foswert posts, a small, concrete bridge spanned over a canal. Feathery reeds grew next to it. There, I poured Fosite an offering of Kasteel Donker (which is a truly excellent beer, by the way). After that, I cycled up to Ferwert. Ferwert did not turn out to be the most scenic of Frisian towns. It is more geared towards agricultural businesses.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHf5Jp2GdM4/VlOevtdoO-I/AAAAAAAABN4/It1SH8Q9oF0/s1600/DSC02416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHf5Jp2GdM4/VlOevtdoO-I/AAAAAAAABN4/It1SH8Q9oF0/s200/DSC02416.JPG" width="130" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekVqCyF1pBg/VlOg5TpmDNI/AAAAAAAABOg/z-b7H7UZX5o/s1600/DSC02428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekVqCyF1pBg/VlOg5TpmDNI/AAAAAAAABOg/z-b7H7UZX5o/s200/DSC02428.JPG" width="200" /></a>I visited Hegebeintum on September 20, 2015, more by accident than by any exact planning. Following a whim, I'd biked up to the dikes and even stumbled upon places where Ameland was visible from the mainland, such as the Marrum "Dike Temple." I happened to take a return-route that went past Hegebeintum, so I had a chance to stop there. The <i>terp</i> is dominated by what was once a very wealthy church. It is definitely worth paying the extra three euros for an inside tour. They
also have a small exhibit of locally discovered artifacts, including
ones from Heathen times: rings; four-sided, triangular bone
Donarhangers like the one pictured here; and even an axe pendant. I could only wonder if, long
ago, one of Fosite's previous devotees had worn the axe.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc6AWVlmgJM/VlOmXEYxqPI/AAAAAAAABO8/6Z-zFarjA54/s1600/Foswert%2BLily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc6AWVlmgJM/VlOmXEYxqPI/AAAAAAAABO8/6Z-zFarjA54/s200/Foswert%2BLily.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-92Soi4xjLRU/VlOmeab3gSI/AAAAAAAABPQ/mRzqZQNHpOQ/s1600/Foswert%2BWith%2BButtercups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-92Soi4xjLRU/VlOmeab3gSI/AAAAAAAABPQ/mRzqZQNHpOQ/s200/Foswert%2BWith%2BButtercups.jpg" width="132" /></a>After ending up at Hegebeintum, I rode by Foswert one last time on the way back. That evening, it was sunny out. The strong Friesian horses still grazed in the field and the sun was shining over<i> </i>the<i> </i><i>De Traan</i> canal on Foswert's southern side, where a lone yellow lily bloomed. For a moment, the modern world seemed to fade away.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud Friesian horses at Foswert</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foswert in the evening sunlight </td></tr>
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<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-527653086398542512015-10-13T21:44:00.000-04:002018-02-07T10:49:19.151-05:00Pilgrimage (Part One Of Two): Ameland Island, Netherlands<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8RNY-7gpkc/Vh2jjSNv2aI/AAAAAAAABHs/E3nxRA3d4XY/s1600/DSC00835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8RNY-7gpkc/Vh2jjSNv2aI/AAAAAAAABHs/E3nxRA3d4XY/s400/DSC00835.JPG" width="400" /></a>The date is September 12, 2015. Feeling somewhat chilled and footsore, I stand before the counter at the Ameland VVV--the island's visitors' center--holding what seems to be a simple piece of paper. The kindhearted employee has just handed me a photocopied map of the town of Nes. On the north-east corner, just outside of town, she's drawn a circle representing the "Willibrordsdobbe." I thank her in my bad Dutch and make sure that it's all right to keep the map. "Of course," she assures me.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_q2zJsHJP8w/Vh2Y1wYT6DI/AAAAAAAABFk/zp_cbawKjEs/s1600/DSC00825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_q2zJsHJP8w/Vh2Y1wYT6DI/AAAAAAAABFk/zp_cbawKjEs/s200/DSC00825.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CpLhfefQjLI/Vh2Y0UGV9QI/AAAAAAAABFc/vaxS3xTEuw0/s1600/DSC00823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CpLhfefQjLI/Vh2Y0UGV9QI/AAAAAAAABFc/vaxS3xTEuw0/s200/DSC00823.JPG" width="200" /></a>The day's been gray and overcast, but at least it's not raining. My bike is parked back in town center, so I walk through residential areas, following the map until I reach the end of a street. There's a parking lot to the left and a cemetery wall to the right. I'm not sure where to go next. Fortunately, what appear to be two park employees in florescent jackets are talking nearby. When I ask about the Willibrordsdobbe, they point down a paved path with easy assurance. The walk is a short one: I'd been closer to the spring than I realized.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v5X3M7IYGtE/Vh2dEPb2kOI/AAAAAAAABGw/Kdvfluzy_LI/s1600/DSC00831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v5X3M7IYGtE/Vh2dEPb2kOI/AAAAAAAABGw/Kdvfluzy_LI/s320/DSC00831.JPG" width="211" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4JEj2T7Ef4/Vh2Y3CqWU9I/AAAAAAAABFs/i2CqZxWigY0/s1600/DSC00830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4JEj2T7Ef4/Vh2Y3CqWU9I/AAAAAAAABFs/i2CqZxWigY0/s200/DSC00830.JPG" width="200" /></a>Off to the right, dun-colored ponies graze on a small hillside. Sporting fields and skateboard ramps dominate the left side, empty that day. There's a large racing event going on by the local windmill, and I suspect it's keeping the crowds down here. The spring itself is tucked in between the playing fields and a line of thick conifers, and is surrounded by a low, wooden fence. The waters are still and speckled with a few autumn leaves. It's more of a pool or a small pond than the flowing, crystalline spring of imagination. But seeing it is no less a thrill. I stop to take pictures of the sign that's been put up to mark the site and am gratified to see a mention of Fosite (Forseti).</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1COjGc-cCQ/Vh2ZYaL-eVI/AAAAAAAABGg/4gZSRfS-lyc/s1600/DSC00901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1COjGc-cCQ/Vh2ZYaL-eVI/AAAAAAAABGg/4gZSRfS-lyc/s200/DSC00901.JPG" width="131" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rxCB3hrG3Ko/Vh2dD6pCCbI/AAAAAAAABG8/4GA0F8NFaGg/s1600/DSC00845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rxCB3hrG3Ko/Vh2dD6pCCbI/AAAAAAAABG8/4GA0F8NFaGg/s200/DSC00845.JPG" width="200" /></a>I take more pictures of the pool, from outside the fence only. What lies
within that boundary is holy ground. A carved wooden frog sculpture
stands close to a gap in the fence where the traces of a trail leading
down to the water are visible. I briefly wonder what my God thinks of
the carving. Frogs? I circle the perimeter of the fence,
quietly impressed by the sheer diversity of plant life around the pool.
Reeds and a pair of small trees; rowans with crimson berries; the gaily
red fruits of rose hips, and their white and magenta blossoms. It's a
natural garden with many representatives of the island's flora.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9ONAzY-saM/Vh5sPUanuMI/AAAAAAAABI8/pvdJXZ7zaQc/s1600/Pool%2BEntrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9ONAzY-saM/Vh5sPUanuMI/AAAAAAAABI8/pvdJXZ7zaQc/s200/Pool%2BEntrance.jpg" width="150" /></a>Finally setting the camera aside, I pause and meditate in the back near the trees, then return to the front of the spring and wait for a cyclist to pass. Some instinct compels me to take my shoes off before stepping between the wood slats.<br />
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The path down to the water is narrow, made softer by pressed-down reeds. The edge is muddy and I can see mossy green bits of algae in the water. I renew an oath and consecrate something I've brought with me.<br />
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I'm reluctant to leave, but the day is growing late and the skies are dark. The waters are silent, sheltered among reeds, bushes, and trees. It's time to go back to town.</div>
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-6800778692252614032015-05-18T16:10:00.000-04:002015-10-13T22:11:54.690-04:00Addendum - A Family Goes Through HospiceLooking back, stepping away from this blog early in 2014 was a timely decision. For those who enjoyed reading Lagutyr in the past, however, I would like to provide an addendum:<br />
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The past year was a year of death. It started with the spring and summer losses of two pets I'd had nearly fifteen years. Later in the summer, my father began his final decline before passing away from cancer towards the end of the year. A lot fell onto my shoulders during this time, including making arrangements for my mother (who has severe schizophrenia) to be moved to a safe environment, planning for her trust, and helping my father with bills and setting up in-home care as his strength rapidly faded. He was a very independent person who kept so much to himself, almost until it was too late.<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428710029l/56464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428710029l/56464.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a>We got lucky in many ways. A lot of things that could have gone worse did not. Nonetheless, the previous year was a nightmare, an ordeal. All too often, I felt like my body, mind, and heart were being broken open against a shore made of sharp and unforgiving granite. Still, there was also light from time to time. Forseti was more present than I'd have thought possible, especially in my father's last few days. Strange things can happen in hospice during the phenomena called "nearing death awareness." I very much recommend the book <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56464.Final_Gifts">"Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying."</a> Actually, I cannot recommend this book enough.<br />
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More than ever, I know our Gods to be real Gods. They care for us and are active in the present. While I have given thought to sharing what might be called my "Heathen hospice experience," I also find that much goes beyond mere words. My instinct is to hold these experiences close. So far, I have shared my more detailed written account with a few close friends and have been content to leave it at that.<br />
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I am now even less interested in religious labels than I ever was before. I worship Forseti. He is my God and my compass. The rest, all the human boxes, do not matter in the slightest. He was there in the dark, shining as the sun.<br />
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-82086864098351539542014-01-20T20:06:00.000-05:002015-05-19T11:15:45.789-04:00Three Years Later: Wrapping Up This BlogAfter three years of posting, I have come to the somewhat hard--but unavoidable--conclusion that this blog has fulfilled its purpose. I began this site back when resources were more limited. It was not as easy to find materials that treated communicating with the Norse Gods as a real or desirable possibility. Then too, one could not read about interacting with Loki just anywhere either: the Marvel movies had not yet been released, for better or worse or whatever might lie in between. Needless to say, in three years the landscape has very much changed.<br />
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To my mind, three years marks a crossing point in another way: it takes three years to complete a law degree, and on a personal level, I have been feeling a real shift in my direction. My devotional practice has become extremely focused on Forseti and His immediate family. While I love and honor the other Norse Gods and Goddesses, my <i>fulltrui</i> and those dearest to Him are now so very much my axis that I am left wondering how applicable my experiences are to others. If I do feel called to write about Forseti or His family in the future, I get the sense that I would be looking at something more in-depth than a single blog post: a devotional book or an e-book, perhaps. <br />
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When I first started Lagutyr, my God made it clear to me that I was not to use this blog to indulge in "analysis without heart." I hope that these writings have fulfilled that mandate. I will be leaving this site up as a resource. My e-mail in the contacts link to the left will remain valid; feel free to send an e-mail even if you come across this blog at a later time.<br />
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Please note that I <i>am </i>continuing with <a href="http://funwithfrisian.blogspot.com/">Fun With Frisian</a>. If you were worried about <i>that </i>particular site disappearing, you need not fret.<br />
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Additionally, the <a href="http://forsetiresourcepages.weebly.com/">Forseti Resource Pages</a> should be getting the occasional update.<br />
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One final link: I've actually been pleasantly surprised by the less formal platform offered at Tumblr. It seems to allow users to control the content they see and can be far less intensive than blogging. I'm using it to enjoy artwork and photography. Should you wish to stay in touch there, my URL is <a href="http://orderinthequartz.tumblr.com/">http://orderinthequartz.tumblr.com/</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><i><b>Be well, wherever your path may lead. </b></i></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><i><b>May the Gods and Goddesses bless you. </b></i></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><i><b>May They keep you in Their joy and Their light. </b></i></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><i><b>Hail! </b></i></span></h4>
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<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-11817343585660082322013-12-28T16:25:00.001-05:002013-12-28T16:28:09.014-05:00The Longest Night<div style="text-align: center;">
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A few photos from the longest night. </div>
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Mani cloaked Himself with a faint "moonbow" to welcome in the Yule. <br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i><b>Hail Mani! Hail Nott!</b></i></span></div>
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-19881238334529595982013-12-17T18:37:00.001-05:002013-12-22T10:39:04.639-05:00Woodburnt Altarpiece For Tyr<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been meaning to set up a shrine for Tyr for a while now. Today, I tried my hand at woodburning a small icon of Him. I have never woodburnt anything quite like this before, and am more than a little pleased with how this piece turned out. The icon now occupies a place between the Thor and Heimdallr shrines.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devotional artwork of the Norse God Tyr</td></tr>
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-11101322155530854692013-11-29T19:08:00.004-05:002014-01-18T20:25:01.095-05:00Winter Crows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7Jz1sWcwEw/UpkdTX-ZPmI/AAAAAAAAAso/gQKUOigKRQU/s1600/CrowsOnMudflat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7Jz1sWcwEw/UpkdTX-ZPmI/AAAAAAAAAso/gQKUOigKRQU/s400/CrowsOnMudflat.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a> Today was an excellent day for observing crows. I have always liked these birds, but as a Heathen, I now like them even more. Odin is one of the Gods for whom I feel a particular resonance.<br />
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The crows congregate in the trees and by a mudlfat, cawing and socializing. They are remarkably intelligent creatures, reminding us of the wise All-Father.<br />
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Here is a short movie of the crows in the trees near the water:</div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #76a5af;">Hail Odin!</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #76a5af;">Hail the approaching Yuletide!</span></b></i></div>
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-2736638233734901382013-11-25T01:30:00.000-05:002018-09-25T15:08:29.455-04:00Sunlight Under StonesI'm going to break a rule here. Several rules, really. If you come from a similar sort of background, you'll perhaps be all too familiar with these rules. You see, I believe in sunlight under stones. I think that some secrets drain us too deeply if kept indefinitely. Sometimes we must give ourselves permission to be bold, to speak our own truths. Rotten things--mold, mildew, and decay--thrive where there is no sun. Light kills the rot.<br />
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My truth is that I come from a non-neurotypical family. One parent has had severe paranoid schizophrenia all of my life. This got progressively worse as I got older, but the schizophrenia was always there. The other parent does not always interact in "normal" ways either, but is intelligent, loyal, and gentle. I suspect Asperger's, but nothing has ever been diagnosed; indeed, I myself can empathize with some "Aspie" traits, but the controversy over the DSM-5 aside, I likewise have not been diagnosed with it. <br />
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During this time of year, when our thoughts turn to family, I say let us be honest. Let us at least be honest with ourselves, for honesty really is the only way through. I'm happy with my life, but I did not get to to this place by pretending that I grew up in a Norman Rockwell painting. One way or another, sunlight must be allowed under the stones. Your story must be permitted its voice. While silence is utterly moving and transcendent in some contexts, it is the vilest poison in others. We all need a chance to be heard. We all need a chance to be able to speak our truth.<br />
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I know first-hand that stigmas against the mentally ill can be projected onto the children of the mentally ill. A stigma might be hidden under a veil of politeness: good people don't talk about <i>that</i>, and so forth. Telling the truth can be a risk. I have also seen the other side of taking that risk. Even in the simplest interactions, I've seen people lift their heads with relief because they are talking to another person who <i>gets </i>it. A tension drains from their shoulders. Voices lose a defensive edge.<br />
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Many of us have one secret or another. You are not alone. Perhaps it is time to tip over the stone. Perhaps it is time to let the sunlight in.<br />
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[Awareness of the multi-generational phenomena of <a href="http://www.drjonicewebb.com/on-the-outside/">Childhood Emotional Neglect</a> may prove helpful, especially if you've already addressed some of
the more obvious "surface" effects and find yourself struggling.] <br />
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-47030944294753159692013-11-05T00:51:00.000-05:002014-01-18T16:37:07.240-05:00Autumn Gold<br />
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-70503256706776549012013-10-13T16:38:00.000-04:002014-01-18T16:46:04.455-05:00New AltarsI moved not too long ago. Back at the old place, dismantling the old altars turned into a quietly moving experience in itself: it is definitely worth pausing for a bit to thank the Gods and Goddesses for the blessings They have given before packing up one's altar pieces. I actually had a curious sensation of many hands lightly touching my own as I prayed for the final time at the old altars.<br />
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Here are a few pictures from the new place. The main room has a corner shelf with various shrines. Odin and Frigg's are shown here:<br />
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There is also a new wall shrine to Forseti, my <i>fulltrui</i>. This is quite visible as soon as one walks in the door; it is located in the very center of the new home. I very much like that symbolism.<br />
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The top plaque is simply a printed parchment on stained wood, which I once put together to go with the main altar piece below. It reads: "Hail Forseti, Builder of Bridges, Stiller of Strife, God of Frith and Truth." <br />
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The far more elaborate woodburnt icon of Forseti on the small table was made by <a href="http://debsden.blogspot.com/">Debra Arnold</a>. It is definitely one of my favorite images of Him. This piece shows Him sitting with axe in hand and has a number of hailings for Him written in runes along the border.<br />
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Moving certainly takes a lot out of a person. Supposedly, it is one of the most stressful of life events. I think that I can very much believe that, especially lately. I still have a bit more setting up to do, but the altars have already gone a long way towards making this new place feel like a home. <br />
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-44386789567723146122013-09-02T22:12:00.000-04:002013-09-02T22:36:23.429-04:00Experiences With The Goddess GnaIn this post, I would like to share some photo art and a few thoughts on the Goddess Gna. My impressions are rooted in personal experience (UPG) and are based on only a small number of encounters. For a quick overview on Her, you can reference the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gn%C3%A1_and_H%C3%B3fvarpnir">Wikipedia article about Gna and Hofvarpnir</a>.<br />
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The photo art just below was created with stock from two generous stock galleries on DeviantArt: the female model is from <a href="http://kechake-stock.deviantart.com/">Kechake Stock</a> and the horse is from <a href="http://luda-stock.deviantart.com/">LuDa Stock</a>. The background is my own photography. You can click on the image and right-click "View Image" to pull up a full version of the artwork, which is under a Creative Commons Copyright License: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZElIQ_9uABE/UiTxp41nYfI/AAAAAAAAAo8/v3w33wnawdA/s1600/Gna-With-Effects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZElIQ_9uABE/UiTxp41nYfI/AAAAAAAAAo8/v3w33wnawdA/s400/Gna-With-Effects.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo art of the Goddess Gna with Hofvarpnir </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Gna is a good Goddess to hail in times of transition. Much like Odin and Loki, She crosses borders and moves between worlds with ease. I have only had a few interactions with Her and have found Her to be refreshingly direct. She seems to get to the point quickly and has a keen sense of humor.<br />
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Of course, Gna is very strongly connected with Frigg. On a personal level, I do have my own reservations about the title "handmaiden" sometimes used for certain Goddesses. To my mind, that word has a bit of a medieval, post-conversion air to it. I do believe that the Goddesses closely associated with Frigg are full Divinities and Holy Powers in Their own right. We can hail Them, honor Them, and grow with any of Them as we might with other Deities in our pantheon.<br />
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Gna is a Goddess of communication and information. I suspect that her purview would extend to modern information technologies and to those who work with those technologies. <br />
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Gna is also very much a traveler. She is an excellent Goddess to consult for those who do any sort of "journey work" or interactive meditation. If you are a devotee of a particular God or Goddess, She can teach much about what it means to further the interests of a Divinity.<br />
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In my interactions so far, I have experienced Her as a youthful, lively Goddess with gold or blonde hair. As mentioned in other posts, though, I sometimes get rather hazy "visuals" in meditation. In any case, Gna is quite friendly, swiftly intelligent, and had an extremely compassionate feel to Her. She sees many worlds and places, and She is very close to Asgard's Queen.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><i>Hail Gna, bright messenger!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><i>Hail lovely Goddess, who rides far and wide,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><i> Bringer of blessings and knowledge!</i></b></span></div>
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-10016555697450585652013-08-11T20:02:00.001-04:002013-08-19T21:29:43.170-04:00Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part IIIThis is the third and final translation of an <a href="http://tdb.fryske-akademy.eu/tdb/unia/Collationes.html#gerbenzon858">Old Frisian legend</a> preserved in the <a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/07/codex-unia-tale-of-charlemagne-and.html">Codex Unia</a>. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-i.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Codex Unia: Karl <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">A</span>nd Redbad - Part I </b></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b> <a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-ii.html">Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part II</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i><b>PART III - Karl And Redbad</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i><b>Then the Twelve fell to their knees and prayed piously. When they were done with the prayer, they saw a thirteenth sitting at the stern and a golden axe on his shoulder with which he steered them back to land against the current and wind.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i><b>Then they came to land, and he threw the axe upon the land and turned up the grass turf. Then a spring welled up there. Therefore, that place is called "up to the Court of Axes." [FN12] And over Eswei [FN13] they came to land, and they sat beside the spring. They took what the thirteenth taught them as their law. Though none of them knew who the thirteenth was, he was like each of them. [FN14] He showed them the law, that there would no longer be only Twelve. Therefore, there shall be thirteen lawspeakers in the land and their judgments must be pronounced at Axenhof and at Eswei. And whenever they disagree, the seven must overrule the six. </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i><b>From this comes the land-law of all Frisia. </b></i></span><br />
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[FN12] Axenhof<i>.</i> <br />
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[FN13] <i>Eswei </i>is sometimes translated as the "Way of the Gods." <i>See </i>Rolf H. Bremmer, Jr., <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/An_Introduction_to_Old_Frisian.html?id=uWYsSOp6g58C">An Introduction to Old Frisian</a>, 176 (2009).<br />
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[FN14] H.A. Guerber writes that "the newcomer resembled each one of them in some particular, but yet was
very different from any one of them in general aspect and mien." <i>See</i> <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28497/28497-h/28497-h.htm#ch12">H.A. Guerber, Myths of the Norsemen, 143</a> (1909). <br />
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-46920304687330071252013-08-07T12:12:00.000-04:002013-08-19T21:33:31.658-04:00Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part II<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-i.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Codex Unia: Karl <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">A</span>nd Redbad - Part I </b></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-ii.html"></a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-iii.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b> Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part III</b></span></a></div>
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This is the second translation in a three-part series about the divine origins of Old Frisian law. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The legend's pre-Christian elements become especially apparent in <a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-iii.html">Part III</a>. </span>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">PART II – KARL AND REDBAD</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Frisians asked King Karl to wait for their spokesmen, and he
granted his permission. On the second day, the king called them to go and come
back with their law. They came and chose their spokesmen, Twelve from the Seven
Sealands. [FN7] Then he ordered them to choose their law.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Twelve yearned for a delay. On the third day, King Karl called them
to come before him. They pled a legal impediment. They did this on the fourth
day and the fifth day as well. These were the two delays and the three legal
impediments that Free Frisians could have through means of the law. [FN8]</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On the sixth day King Karl ordered the Twelve to choose the law. They
said that they could not. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then the king said, “Now I lay three choices before you: that you all
be beheaded, that you all be serfs, or that you be given a ship so firm and
strong that it can withstand the ebbs and flows, without any kind of rudder,
oar, or tackle.” [FN9] </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They chose the ship, and it followed the ebbs so far out that they
couldn’t see the coast. And their hearts were troubled.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then the first lawspeaker [FN10], who was of Widukind’s line [FN11], spoke: “I
have heard that our Lord God had twelve disciples when he was on earth and he
himself was the thirteenth, and he came to them through a locked door and
comforted them and taught them. Why don’t we pray that he send us a thirteenth
to teach us the law and conduct us to land?”</i></b></span></div>
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[FN7] The number twelve is
relevant to the history of English law as well, e.g., regarding jury sizes. On
a personal level, I do find it interesting that <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/pre/pre04.htm">Gylfaginning</a>, for example, lists twelve holy Gods
and notes that they meet in judgment. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i><i> </i>Gylfaginning 20, 15, and 42.<br />
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[FN8] Responding to unpleasant substantive questions with procedural objections is a strategy as old as law itself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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[FN9] <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ain</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ein</i>, the Old
Frisian word that I am translating as “serf,” literally means “owned.”</div>
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[FN10] The Old Frisian word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">asega</i> is often translated as “lawspeaker”
in English. An <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">asega</i> was an official
who provided advice on law and procedure but who was not quite the same as a
judge in the modern sense nor a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawspeaker">lawspeaker</a> in the former Icelandic sense. They were heavily tied up with the Frankish legal
system imposed by Charlemagne, which may be one of the reasons that the title
of this legend is sometimes rendered as an exchange between King Redbad and a
non-contemporary ruler. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">skelta</i>,
or “sheriff,” was also integral to the administration of law in Frisia at that
time. The two roles were later consolidated into one position. See, e.g., the <a href="http://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skout">Skout (Skelta)</a> and <a href="http://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asega">Asega </a>entries on the Frisian version of Wikpedia.<br />
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[FN11] <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widukind">Widukind</a> lived at the same time as Charlemagne.<br />
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-86303320867514971182013-08-01T18:25:00.000-04:002013-08-19T21:26:42.352-04:00Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part I<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b> <a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-ii.html">Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part II</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-iii.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b> Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part III</b></span></a></div>
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This Part I in a series of loose translations of the
so-called “Tale of Charlemagne and Redbad” from the Codex Unia, <a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/07/codex-unia-tale-of-charlemagne-and.html">introduced in the previous post</a>. Please be aware that I am not a professional linguist nor
any sort of expert on Old Frisian. Any errors are my own, and my attempts at
translations here will not be entirely precise or accurate. If you are more
familiar with the language and can share corrections, please post a comment or
send me an e-mail. These entries are subject to change where accuracy can be
improved.
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As Rolf Hendrik Bremmer, Jr., notes in his introduction to the
Old Frisian text, this is a legend about the origins of Frisian law that
combines both Christian and pre-Christian elements. I’ll include notes and
links that may be of further assistance. Modern Heathens, of course, remember
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbad,_King_of_the_Frisians">King Redbad </a>as the Frisian hero who refused to convert right before he was to be
baptized. “King Karl” is often rendered as Charlemagne in English translations
of the title of this section of the Codex Unia. However, it would make far more sense for the story to actually be about Karl Martel and Redbad, with
elements from an earlier, pre-Christian legend carrying through. </div>
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While the stranger who suddenly appears at sea and gives the
Frisians their law is not identified, some of us do presume this to be a
surviving tale about Fosite (Forseti). </div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">PART I – KARL AND
REDBAD</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concerning King Karl
and Redbad</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then King Karl and
King Redbad came to this land from Denmark, each with a band of
soldiers, and told the other that the land was his. They wanted to reconcile
their wise people, and their armies wanted to fight. Nonetheless, the men
decreed that they would reconcile if the two kings called for an “ordeal by
standing still” so that one might win. [FN1] Then the armies gathered together
and they stood through an entire period of 12 to 24 hours. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then King Karl let his
glove fall; King Redbad reached for it. [FN2] </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">King Karl said, “Ah
ha! Ah ha! This land is mine!” and he laughed. Therefore, his dwelling mound is
called “Hachense.” [FN3] </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Why?” asked Redbad.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then Karl said, “You
have become my vassal.”</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Redbad said “Oh, woe!” Therefore, his
dwelling mound is called “Wachense.” [FN4]</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then King Redbad left
the land and King Karl wanted to sit in judgment. But he could not, because the
free land was so full that there was no place to hold court. [FN5] Then he sent
a messenger to the Seven Sealands [FN6] to find a free place to hold court.
He bought it with treasure/cattle and Danish shillings. He set up court, summoned
the Frisians before him, and ordered them to choose their law. </i></b></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
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[FN1] Rolf H. Bremmer, Jr., further explains that this
ordeal involved standing motionless with the arms stretched sideways. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> Rolf H. Bremmer, Jr., <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/An_Introduction_to_Old_Frisian.html?id=uWYsSOp6g58C">An Introduction to Old Frisian</a>, 176 (2009). </div>
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[FN2] Per the author’s note on page 176, “[p]resenting a
gauntlet was a common ritual to symbolize the acknowledgment of a liege lord.” </div>
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[FN3] This site is allegedly nearby the modern capital of Friesland,
Leeuwarden
(Ljouwert). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hach</i> means “high” in Old
Frisian. I am not entirely sure if the name derives from that word, or from the
verb “to laugh,” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hlakkia.</i> </div>
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[FN4] <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wach!</i> is Old
Frisian for “Woe!”</div>
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[FN5] The original word is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thingia </i>meaning “to proceed, sue, administer justice, or sit in
judgment,” a cognate that appears in other Germanic languages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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[FN6] The “Seven Sealands” show up in modern usage as well.
They are the lands that traditionally make up the Frisian areas along the North Sea. On the modern flag of Friesland (a province in
the Netherlands),
the Seven Sealands are symbolized by red, heart-shaped lily blossoms. </div>
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-30256760677078342262013-07-30T17:55:00.000-04:002013-08-13T11:12:51.119-04:00Codex Unia: The Tale Of Charlemagne And RedbadIf you presume as I do that Forseti and Fosite are the same God, the <a href="http://tdb.fryske-akademy.eu/tdb/index-unia-en.html">Codex Unia</a> gives us the story of His appearance to the Frisians. The section tends to be translated as an exchange between "Charlemagne" and Redbad. However, the text itself is about "King Karl," and Karl Martel would fit in far better with the timeline.<br />
<br />
I've been working with <i>An Introduction to Old Frisian</i> by Rolf H. Bremmer, Jr. (2009) and will be posting some admittedly loose translations here soon ("soon" being a relative word with this blog, granted).<br />
<br />
In the meantime, here is a link for <a href="http://tdb.fryske-akademy.eu/tdb/unia/Collationes.html#gerbenzon858">"The Tale of Charlemagne and Redbad" in Old Frisian</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-i.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Codex Unia: Karl <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">A</span>nd Redbad - Part I </b></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b> <a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-ii.html">Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part II</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://lagutyr.blogspot.com/2013/08/codex-unia-karl-and-redbad-part-iii.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b> Codex Unia: Karl And Redbad - Part III</b></span></a><br />
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-36396215667523481312013-07-11T00:26:00.000-04:002013-07-11T00:58:31.447-04:00New Blog LookI've decided to update the appearance of this blog<i>. </i>I'm not one for frequent changes, but I did feel like a new look might be in order after over two years of posting. The ocean imagery and colors are in honor of Forseti's appearance at sea. More posts will be up soon.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photograph of the waves by OrderInTheQuartz</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-36456453851620096692013-06-30T12:34:00.000-04:002013-07-03T18:41:43.530-04:00Gods Of The HeartIn his highly informative book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0976568101"><u>A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism</u></a>, John Michael Greer mentions an intriguing concept: that of the Shinto <i>kokoro no kami</i>, or a "heart-god"... that is to say, a God or Goddess of the Heart. According to the section, the idea has parallels in ancient Roman worship as well, and has connections to the possibility of having a patron God or Goddess.<br />
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It seems to me that a <i>fulltrui</i> or <i>fulltrua</i> need not necessarily be the same as a "heart-god." I suspect that there is room for variation and that the terms do not always have to describe similar relationships. Here, though, I can only speak to my own experience: my <i>fulltrui </i>Forseti has been my "heart-god" since I started walking with Him.<br />
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In this post, I'll attempt to share a few of my own experiences of relating to a Divinity in this way. As with any other way of connecting with our Gods and Goddesses, it may or may not resonate with the experiences of others.<br />
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I have mentioned before that Loki was the first Norse God who approached me in what was then a recognizable form. He soon introduced me to Odin, and within the space of a few weeks, my former, general spiritual Panentheism was abruptly replaced by what some term "hard" Polytheism. No one introduced me to Forseti. I was doing my own reading, and I sought Him out by myself. At the time, I was not sure if I could expect much of a response. I was beginning to form a misty impression that He had a great deal to do with lawgiving, but the records on Him were scarce, and the ones I found most inspiring presupposed that He was the same Deity as Fosite, a specifically Frisian God. <br />
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Forseti's presence was not as nearly strong as Loki's in the beginning, but what I <i>could </i>sense distantly in meditations drew me in. The feel of Him was subtle, but somehow kept tugging at me in ways that did not fit easily into words. He seemed reserved, but also curious. Later on, I did get a sense of Him in something roughly comparable to the more immediate way that I sometimes felt Loki or Odin. I was at work on a busy shift, rather drained by the sheer volume of cases that evening. There was a lull, and a brief but uplifting sense of white light and warm comfort washed over me. I knew it was Him.<br />
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When I took my oaths to the Norse Gods, I was already instinctively hailing Forseti as the "God of my Heart," though I had not come into anything so formal as a <i>fulltrui</i> relationship with Him as of yet. That was to be a decision made a somewhat later, after spending more time with both Him and Loki and connecting with other Deities in our pantheon. In another sense, though, long before I consciously chose Forseti, the decision felt like it had already been made. Some part of me seemed to know and always seemed to have known that <i>this is my God.</i><br />
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In my own experience, "heart-gods" can bring with Them the profoundest sense of friendship. To be very frank, I first felt this most with Loki. There was a feel about our Trickster of a confidant, of someone with whom I could share any thought or impression, any experience, story, or escapade. Think of that childhood best friend you always longed to have and multiply that exponentially: such may be one aspect of a "heart-god" relationship. It's been a slower and different path with the Divinity who turned out to be my <i>fulltrui</i>, but the sense of friendship has developed in its own way, with its own depth, and I would not trade it for anything.<br />
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This is not to say the a God or Goddess of the Heart cannot also be... entirely a God or Goddess. A heart-friendship with a Divinity can be wonderful beyond all words, but our Norse Gods also challenge us in ways that we cannot begin to predict, inspiring us towards growth and greater heights of self-honesty, responsibility, and inner vulnerability than we may have ever known.<br />
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The heart gives life, but it is <i>always </i>working. It does not get to take a break and stop beating for an evening. And that can be another side of having a "heart-god." You never cease belonging to that Deity. You can't "take the night off," slip away, and act out in ways that are anathema to your God. Fortunately, They are very wise and very patient, and They do take the time to guide us into the heights of what we might be. But it is not always an easy walk, especially when we have been taught by the surrounding culture to view ourselves as perpetual "seekers" with perpetual choices. <i>Finding </i>can bring real commitments. The heart is the life and center of a being; a "heart-god" becomes the life and center of His or Her devotee's being.<br />
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-87057539104919450062013-05-27T18:13:00.000-04:002014-01-18T16:56:58.974-05:00The Gift Of An Axe<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiPuk_ce9Nk/UaPP4Ul7HKI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/CGvN72tupwY/s1600/axe+with+knotwork1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiPuk_ce9Nk/UaPP4Ul7HKI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/CGvN72tupwY/s640/axe+with+knotwork1.jpg" height="640" width="233" /></a>Recently, a dear friend and a devotee of Odin gave me a wonderful gift: a bearded axe! Not only a bearded axe, but the first real axe I have ever owned. I can't quite count my camping hatchet, with with its blade on one side and a hammer on the other, as an honest "axe." <br />
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I am in the process of adding knotwork to this lovely weapon to honor my <i>fulltrui </i>Forseti. The first side is complete, but the second side will have to be painted later. I am using gold and silver acrylics: they are forgiving to a point, as they can be washed off at first. Once they dry, however, you have what you have.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ln9xjvby4UE/UaPP8ZFW2MI/AAAAAAAAAlY/zsAZw2RZ-GY/s1600/axe+with+knotwork3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ln9xjvby4UE/UaPP8ZFW2MI/AAAAAAAAAlY/zsAZw2RZ-GY/s200/axe+with+knotwork3.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a>The artwork on the blade is intended to be a reminder of water. I
was very fortunate: I didn't think to check the fit of the leather cover <i>before </i>I started painting, but it actually works perfectly
with the overall design despite my lack of planning. Small favors indeed.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wxQmVa-GmWI/UaPP7asbWDI/AAAAAAAAAlc/c-_BtcJu3dI/s1600/axe+with+knotwork2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wxQmVa-GmWI/UaPP7asbWDI/AAAAAAAAAlc/c-_BtcJu3dI/s200/axe+with+knotwork2.jpg" height="195" width="200" /></a>The first side has the Othala rune, which I associate with Forseti and
the inheritance of law; the other side will most likely bear a Raidho rune.<br />
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OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-36732304648617708542013-05-09T00:37:00.000-04:002013-05-10T11:32:01.986-04:00Artwork Of The Goddess Nanna<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBgttCXpgfM/UYsePVzj0bI/AAAAAAAAAk0/DtAIchdUBVQ/s1600/Gold+Nanna+With+Runes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBgttCXpgfM/UYsePVzj0bI/AAAAAAAAAk0/DtAIchdUBVQ/s640/Gold+Nanna+With+Runes.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Goddess Nanna, Wife of Balder and Mother of Forseti</td></tr>
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Devotional artwork of the Goddess Nanna. I started this piece with gouache watercolors and finished it with digital adjustments in <a href="http://www.getpaint.net/">Paint.NET</a>. This is very similar to how She appears to me in meditation. You can also see a full-sized version without the runic writing <a href="http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/128/7/2/the_goddess_nanna_by_snnanagfashtalli-d64m6lv.jpg">here</a>.<br />
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Creative Commons Copyright License: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA). <br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></i></b> </div>
OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-19950570450459679342013-04-26T09:41:00.001-04:002014-09-20T13:23:25.998-04:00One Heathen's Thoughts On The Afterworld(s)First, I would very much like to thank everyone who has been reading
this blog. It has now had more than 10,000 views, which seems to be an
occasion worth noting. I am very grateful for your continuing interest
and, as a bit of a Slavophile, am also happy to see that Russia is
second only to the U.S. in readership. <i>Takzhe blagodaru Vas, uvazhemie russko-govoryashie chitateli! </i><br />
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Today's post is about subject I have been meaning to cover for a while now: life after death.<br />
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A while back, the ever-fascinating Norse Mythology Blog mentioned how ancient views on the afterlife may have put a
certain shine on the incoming Christian religion (<a href="http://www.norsemyth.org/2010/06/clash-with-christianity-part-one.html">see the last paragraph especially</a>). Certainly, some surviving accounts paint a rather bleak picture... really, a dichotomy. You can either pass on to a singularly
unfriendly realm operated under the auspices of Hel, or you can die in
battle and enter Valhalla. Pick one.
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I have to wonder if a related undercurrent might be haunting modern Heathenism. This sort
of dichotomy certainly has the potential to drive away people who might otherwise
be attracted to our Gods and Goddesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Nowadays, we actively research both the physical and
subjective sides of dying, and we are able to save lives we never could have
saved before. We have books like Moody’s “Life After Life,” which were
ground-breaking in their time, especially given the stigma and shame that once
surrounded NDEs. Some survivors even give accounts of being carried away from
this world on a boat or of meeting one’s ancestors. </div>
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The possibility of a hereafter is an important subject--one that has
stirred fears and hopes and sparked some of humankind’s greatest creative feats.
We cannot sweep our questions under a rug, nor pretend that death, any m<span style="background-color: white;"></span>ore
than life, is but a formula that must always resolve back to one pat “answer.” </div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b>The Goddess of Death</b></span></div>
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As Heathens, we might begin by asking ourselves if Hel’s
domain is truly such an inhospitable place? In accord with my aforementioned Slavophile
tendencies, I find surviving accounts of the Russian underworld, ruled by the
God Veles, of deep interest. In some ways, the Eastern Orthodox Church had less
“success” stamping out authentic Pagan expression than the western Christian
religions did. One book on the subject, "Slavic Sorcery" by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kenneth Johnson, describes how the underworld is sometimes seen as a realm of
beautiful, moist fields, full of growth and warmth. I wonder if this might reflect a less filtered view of what lies beyond. Some modern UPG on Hel indicates that Her realm can be quite welcoming.</div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b>Frey</b></span></div>
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We also have old accounts of the Dead feasting and celebrating
in their mounds, and of Frey blessing the burial site of one of his devotees.
Frey, of course, immediately takes us away from a dichotomous afterworld. He
is a God very much involved with the immensities and mysteries of death, and in
different ways than either Odin or Hel.</div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b>Many Homes</b></span></div>
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There is an image from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/World-Full-Gods-Inquiry-Polytheism/dp/0976568101">John Michael Greer’s book, "A World Full ofGods,"</a> that I like a great deal. He turns the popular spiritual analogy of seekers
climbing one mountain to reach “The Truth” on its head, and suggests that we
start off in a plain surrounded by a ring of mountains, and then spread out and
choose which mountain to climb. Some will find their choice unsuitable and go
back to the plain to look for another mountain. The idea is that not only are
there many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ways</i> Home, but many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homes</i>, and that this is a good and
natural thing.</div>
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Here, I’ll touch on a few personal experiences that have
helped me develop my own understandings of what may come after. These are
extremely heavy on UPG, please be forewarned.</div>
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I am sworn to the Norse Gods, but have had two experiences
with the Greek God Hermes. This was not my idea: He suddenly appeared in a dream
the first time around. Later, He allowed me to speak with Him in a meditation. At
first, I was “seeing” a hillside with golden light and short trees, and had the sense
that the place was quite urban and cultivated in an ancient sort of way. As far
as my admittedly hazy visuals go, this one was quite strong. The place felt
like it was truly Home, or at least a gateway to Home… but it was Home for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other people</i>. It was so very welcoming
and beautiful and joyous, but it was also so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> wrong for me. I could hardly wait to get away from that
particular Paradise!</div>
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Even within the same pantheon, we have so many
possibilities. I very much like what Jordsvin wrote about his <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin/Jordsvins%20Writing/On%20Being%20a%20Freysgodhi.htm">experiences with his <i>fulltrui</i>, Frey</a> (again, the last paragraph is especially compelling). If our trust in
the Gods and Goddesses can enrich us so much in this life, why should we think
that it would be otherwise in the next? While I am not “addressed for delivery” as
of yet, I do have a certainty now that I did not have before meeting our Gods,
and Forseti in particular. From honoring my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fulltrui’s</i>
Dead, I have become even more convinced that the Gods and Goddesses do not
simply forget us when we are done here and then relegate us to a chilly underworld.
I don’t pretend to grasp how all this works, but I do feel that I’ve been
allowed glimpses into places where some of my own God’s Dead dwell in His presence without
being directly in His hall. These settings usually appear very peaceful and
pastoral.<br />
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In any case, I do think that the afterworld is far more complex than we
imagine it to be and that there are indeed many Homes. Our truest connections will
continue and endure. As, I believe, will we.</div>
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-88715939261830313742013-04-02T18:53:00.000-04:002013-08-26T08:43:56.820-04:00My "Fun With Frisian" Blog<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQJcjLbgg_M/UVtXxbUPxAI/AAAAAAAAAkE/6dBCI1zAMcU/s1600/Frisian_flag_oil-even_smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQJcjLbgg_M/UVtXxbUPxAI/AAAAAAAAAkE/6dBCI1zAMcU/s320/Frisian_flag_oil-even_smaller.jpg" width="320" /></a>This probably will not be of interest to very many readers, but just in case: I have started keeping a blog with original articles about learning West Frisian, the most commonly spoken dialect of Frisian. You can read it <a href="http://funwithfrisian.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Allegedly, Frisian is the closest living language to English, although some <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127094111.htm">Norwegian linguists dispute that claim</a>. My interest is more personal, however, since my <i>fulltrui</i> Forseti (Fosite) has ancient associations with Frisia. I even came across an example of Him being listed <i>before</i> Thor and Odin in <a href="http://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saksnot">a Wikipedia article in Frisian</a>. That is not something you will see in very many places by any means. <br />
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Studying the modern language is one way that I honor Him. If you do happen to have an interest in West Frisian, please check out my newest blog and let me know what you think. OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-8496838615852811302013-03-23T17:46:00.000-04:002013-03-24T00:33:58.953-04:00Daily DevotionsIn this post, I would like to share some thoughts on
cultivating daily devotionals. This is a new part of my spiritual practice. I
think that there is value to taking things slowly and to figuring out what works for
you individually. Devotions are, of course, for the Gods <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for the devotee</i>. What
breathes sweet life into one person’s journey might be pure poison for someone
else.
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The use of the word “cultivate” is quite intentional. A
daily devotional practice must be the right sort of plant for its particular
soil. Don’t ask a cactus to live, much less blossom, in a swamp. Don’t plant a
tropical species in a harsh, dry climate. </div>
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In my own life, my work hours rotate steadily and frequently:
night shifts one round, day shifts another, and so on. My own daily devotional
practice has to fit into that framework. It is very human to try to bite off as
much (or more than) we can readily chew, but my nontraditional schedule does
serve the useful purpose of reminding me to keep things simple.</div>
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For me, I organize my daily devotions around the names of
the days of the week, but with some modification. If you speak, say, Russian
and have days named after numbers and not Gods, there is still room to get
creative. </div>
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This is one person’s opinion, but I really think that if you
are at a point where you have certain relationships established with particular
Gods and Goddesses, it makes sense to focus on the connections that resonate
most. This is not to say you can’t add in some variety, but well… here is an
example:</div>
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Tuesday is named for Tyr. However, He is not a God I
interact with particularly often. My focus on Tuesdays tends to be on Heimdall,
as there are some definite similarities between Him and Tyr. Both make profound
sacrifices to defend Their realm, and both are extremely honorable and dutiful.
An observation might be a simple prayer (I much prefer to do this in silence,
myself) or a lit candle. I find it easiest to pray in terms of thanks and
remembering the uplifting qualities of a God or Goddess. It is good to place
oneself in the moment as much as one can and to be as sincere as possible. I’ve
found that I may feel heavy before starting the prayer, but that the act
itself, when done attentively and with authenticity, does energize me. This
does not mean I feel a response from a God or Goddess each and every time. Regardless
of whether we sense Them or not, They do hear us and appreciate the attention
we send Their way. They might surprise you, though. Give things time to grow. We
don’t berate a sapling for maturing into a tree at its own pace, nor should we
rain hard thoughts on ourselves or on our Gods.</div>
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There can be room for variation within your individual daily
devotional practice. For me, Thursdays may involve a prayer to Thor or Thrud:
sometimes both, sometimes one or another, or sometimes others in Their family.
Saturdays are most often for Loki, but every once and a while, I will feel more
of a pull towards Sigyn that day. Offerings also vary. If I am off on a
Saturday, Loki might get coffee or some alcohol. But if I have to work, a
candle or a short prayer definitely suffices. Our Gods are good and wise: leave
convoluted and burdensome procedures to the human sphere. The Gods and Goddesses do not “nickel and dime” us to death. They
have a heart and a generosity about Them that can be startling for those of us
who came in with a more miserly understanding of what “the Divine” is supposed
to be. </div>
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What if you have a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fulltrui </i>or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fulltrua</i>? I’ll share a personal experience here. It may or may not
prove helpful, but I offer it as one potential approach. When I finally did
decide on a devotional schedule that felt right, one particular absence stood out painfully and glaringly: Forseti was not on it. I took His immediate advice to go ahead with the daily practice anyways
and to honor Him as the inspiration struck, as I’d been doing with Him before.
That didn’t last long, however. I felt a yearning to regularly honor Him in a
more “formal” way. The solution, as it turned out, has been that I briefly pray at His altar every day, hailing an aspect of Him that has some overlap with the other
Gods or Goddesses I am focusing on. The key is to find a connection that
makes sense to you. For example, on Mondays I pray to Njord. I recall His lordship over the tides, which are also ruled by the moon. This is not to
say that I do not hold Mani in esteem, but offering to Mani during specific lunar events
simply resonates much more deeply for me than a weekly prayer would. In any case, Mondays
have become a good time to remember Forseti's ties to the sea and the legend
of how He gave the Frisians their law. As a bit of UPG, He and Njord seem to be
quite close. Much of my appreciation for Njord (and the ocean) has come through
Forseti: left to my own devices, I’m a mountain and forest person. Both of Them
are preservers of frith who often show gentle, quiet demeanors.</div>
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I hope that some of these thoughts may be of use to others who feel called toward a scheduled devotional practice. I’ll note here that it
took me a number of years to decide to do daily devotions. Nothing needs to be
rushed or forced. Of course, less frequent observances are always a good option,
e.g., honoring Odin every Wednesday if He is a God you feel particularly drawn
to. Again, this is an act of cultivation, of gentle tending and ongoing attention. Nurture the practices and relationships that are truest <i>for you</i>. It can be a great joy to invite the Gods and Goddesses into our lives this way.<br />
</div>
OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-60235659755815852172013-03-17T05:30:00.000-04:002013-03-17T05:48:03.760-04:00Compassion Can Be A Heathen ValueThere are many things that I love about being a polytheist. One of these is that we are not all bound to a single path. Our Gods and Goddesses treat us as adults, expecting us to grow and explore in ways that honor the callings of our own hearts. There is a greatness, a richness, to be found in diversity.<br />
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Compassion is probably not the first word that will come to mind in a discussion of Heathenism. Honor and bravery, certainly, but compassion? I can only write of my own experiences, and these are shaped by the God I am devoted to.<br />
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Frankly, the warrior way is not my way. It took me some time to really come to terms with this. Even in early childhood, I'd argue highly unpopular points before both classmates and adults--not because I enjoyed conflict (I didn't and I still don't), but because I believed that these points were the truth, and that the truth was far more important than my personal comfort. I had a fighter's spirit. I thought that this was my strength, and that, with sheer force of mind and will, I could batter my way through whatever stood between me and my goals. <br />
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This approach may have its place at times, but as I grew older, I came to realize that the feel and the tone of things <i>matter</i>. They matter deeply. I could <i>try </i>to harden my heart, to grit my teeth, and to push through<i>. </i>But in the meantime, life was still going on. The sun was still rising and falling, and time was ebbing away. <br />
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Ultimately, compassion is the wisdom of slowing down. It is the wisdom of not always living on the edge of the blade, trying to press or cut through everything in sight. Compassion for ourselves allows us listen to our own rhythms and draw from our own wellsprings. It is about authenticity. People feel as they feel. They may or may not decide to act on that information, but they cultivate a relentless sort of honesty within themselves. The societal messages, on the other hand, are quite different: keep pushing on, just get over it, stop being so sensitive, etc. Compassion offers another way, an antidote to all that coldness. <br />
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I have a somewhat radical theory about emotions, one which ties into compassion. My theory is that <i>no </i>emotion is irrational. No emotion, ever. The "facts" underlying the emotion can be irrational, and the <i>expression </i>of the emotion can be irrational (perhaps even punishable as a crime), but the emotion itself will always make sense in its context. A paranoid man is very sensibly afraid. The attackers he fears are all in his head, but his <i>feeling </i>of dread is utterly rational. You can't reach out to him without acknowledging his pain, his very human experience of fear. I think this is where we so often go wrong. We try to control our emotions as they happen instead of looking at their roots. We even tell our children that they should feel one thing and not another thing. We don't teach them that they can feel many, conflicting things at the same time, or how to honor that confusing experience. When we're adults, we're that much harder on ourselves and on others. Just grow up, right?<br />
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Interestingly, psychology is starting to show that the "push though it" attitude can actually detract from one's goals. If you tell someone "I <i>don't</i> do <i>x</i>," as opposed to "I <i>can't</i> (or <i>shouldn't</i>) do <i>x</i>," you'll have better results. The first phrase implicates having personal agency; the second takes agency away. <br />
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To the uncritical mind, it may seem "compassionate" to not punish anyone for anything. We need not deny reality in the name of compassion. That would be foolishness indeed. Some actions must have consequences.<br />
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A genuine compassion can coexist with dedication, honor, and duty. Compassion for ourselves and others reminds us to hold the boundaries that we must hold, and gives heart and meaning to our deeds. Compassion can be a truly Heathen value.<br />
<br />OrderInTheQuartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643565718939770188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504227551679989503.post-62617566064180275712013-03-10T22:15:00.000-04:002013-08-26T08:45:05.608-04:00A Springtime Symphony<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xYA5ryTV-pg/UT0wswP74lI/AAAAAAAAAig/ChNc1REL5zc/s1600/frog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xYA5ryTV-pg/UT0wswP74lI/AAAAAAAAAig/ChNc1REL5zc/s320/frog2.jpg" width="320" /></a>I had a wonderful experience today, the first day of Daylight Savings Time: I was out hiking and happened upon a full frog symphony, a miracle in the marsh.<br />
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The singing was loud and unmistakable, and could only be heard in one area. Some took more note of the concert than others. Not far off, bicyclists whizzed by, calling out warnings to pedestrians over the frogs' music. One couple walked right past them without pause, deeply engrossed in a discussion about money. But there were also people like myself who were inspired and who stopped to soak up the beauty of the unexpected symphony.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XWuSwX59q1w/UT01UlLs31I/AAAAAAAAAik/el4i_-sAt3A/s1600/frog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XWuSwX59q1w/UT01UlLs31I/AAAAAAAAAik/el4i_-sAt3A/s320/frog1.jpg" width="320" /></a>As can be seen, I snapped a few photos of the singers themselves. They were doing a very good job at hiding themselves, but there was one open spot where they posed for some shots.<br />
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I even tried my hand at making a music video. You can't see any of the frogs in it, but you can get a nice look at their habitat and hear their amazing springtime song. <br />
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