tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18726555744985505622024-03-13T00:57:15.133-05:00Kansas City HeathenKansas City Heathen is a blog written by Mark Ludwig Stinson, the Chieftain of Jotun's Bane Kindred, an Asatru / Heathen tribe in the Kansas City Area. JBK hosts Lightning Across the Plains, a heathen gathering in the Midwest...right in the Heartland of the United States. JBK has Asatru / Heathen members in both Missouri and Kansas.ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-34390282808129265552014-04-28T00:34:00.002-05:002014-04-28T00:34:11.460-05:00Havamal Analysis - Stanza 1The discussion and analysis presented after these translated stanzas is our opinion. Read the translations for yourself and our analysis, but also seek out varied sources and come to your own conclusions. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">STANZA 1 OF THE HAVAMAL</span></b><br /><br /><b>Auden and Taylor:</b><br /><br />The man who stands at a strange threshold, <br />Should be cautious before he cross it, <br />Glance this way and that:<br />Who knows beforehand what foes may sit <br />Awaiting him in the hall?<br /><br /><b>Bellows:</b><br /><br />Within the gates | ere a man shall go,<br />(Full warily let him watch,)<br />Full long let him look about him;<br />For little he knows | where a foe may lurk,<br />And sit in the seats within.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Bellow's Note: This stanza is quoted by Snorri, the second line being omitted in most of the Prose Edda manuscripts.</i></blockquote>
<br /><b>Bray:</b><br /><br />At every door-way,<br />ere one enters,<br />one should spy round,<br />one should pry round<br />for uncertain is the witting<br />that there be no foeman sitting,<br />within, before one on the floor<br /><br /><b>Chisholm:</b><br /><br />Watch out and check all gates before faring forth.<br />One should spy around,<br />one should pry around.<br />Hard to know what foe<br />sits before you in the next room.<br /><br /><b>Hollander:</b><br /><br />Have they eyes about thee when thou enterest<br />be wary alway, be watchful alway,<br />for one never knoweth when need will be<br />to meet hidden foe in the hall.<br /><br /><b>Terry:</b><br /><br />At every doorway what you have to do<br />is look around you<br />and look out;<br />never forget: no matter where you are<br />you might find a foe.<br /><br /><b>Thorpe:</b><br /><br />1. All door-ways,<br />before going forward,<br />should be looked to;<br />for difficult it is to know<br />where foes may sit<br />within a dwelling. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF STANZA 1</span></b><br /><br />In a fairly straight-forward way, this stanza is telling us to be cautious when entering a hall or building. It warns us to look this way and that before entering, because you never quite know what dangers might be waiting for you in there (in the form of foe or foes). <br /><br />The stanza suggests we live in a somewhat dangerous world, and that being cautious and truly considering those dangers is well worth your time. For me, the stanza applies to more then just entering strange doorways. Anytime you are encountering a situation or people that are outside your trusted inner circle, you should keep you eyes open to the possibilities that a "foe" may be nearby. Even an unseen or unrecognized foe among people you are meeting and encountering. <br /><br />In very simple terms, the stanza is telling us not to be a naive moron stumbling unknowingly into trouble. Be aware of the dangers and keep your eyes open for them. It is certainly a warning to "look before you leap."<br /><br />In a modern context, the stanza works in a literal sense. When you attend a party, a social gathering, or an event with lots of people...you should be aware of who is present, who is in the room, who is near you, etc. Is there someone there you don't want to be around, or don't want to have any contact with? Is there someone you don't know yet who is drinking too much, visibly angry, or looking like they might cause trouble? What is the tone or mood of the room or environment? Is this a safe place for you to be, or do you need to take precautions to make sure you are safe? <br /><br />In a less literal sense, when you are entering into a new effort, a business venture, a new job, or any other new situation...what are the hidden dangers? Have you really thought about it with your eyes wide open to the possible problems and pitfalls? Is everyone involved trustworthy, and do they all have your best interests at heart? Are they fair and honorable? Have you left yourself unnecessarily vunerable?<br /><br />One point I've heard made, is that there seems to be a presumption that the doorway will be entered. It is not a warning to not enter new doorways. It is not a warning to pick and choose which doorways you do decide to enter. It simply warns to be aware of the dangers before you make that step through the gate.<br /><br />Another point I've heard made focuses in very closely on the people in the room you are entering. Do they seem to be friends but aren't? Do they smile to your face and say kind words, but then turn against you when you aren't there with them? For some, this stanza points out the difficulty of knowing who is your friend and who is your foe. And this can certainly be a difficulty in life.<br /><br />It is interesting that this is the first verse of the Havamal, because it is the "doorway" into the Havamal in a sense.<br /><br />For me, Chisholm's translation of this stanza seems to read the clearest and is the one that is easiest to understand.<div>
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To view this analysis on the Temple of Our Heathen Gods website, <b><u><a href="http://heathengods.com/havamal/analysis/stanza1.htm" target="_blank">Click Here</a></u></b>.<br /><div>
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<div>
Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
<div>
Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
<div>
Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.heathengods.com/" target="_blank">http://www.heathengods.com</a></u></b></div>
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ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-24935034813820326462014-04-28T00:28:00.000-05:002014-04-28T00:29:45.002-05:00Havamal Analysis - Stanza by Stanza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvxBB_W-rQH8RsJ_ubQzhkG8ONT2uhe7y56OTEgyAXAIYLHjoCCXjdGBuvnoktJdn7wmJr1fqsnvBIH9KfZ-L0aV-IrXv6l70uOrlRkYFOwefk1aBDR6UzZlfuDBClo4-_vJfRrN5rAA/s1600/odin_carving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvxBB_W-rQH8RsJ_ubQzhkG8ONT2uhe7y56OTEgyAXAIYLHjoCCXjdGBuvnoktJdn7wmJr1fqsnvBIH9KfZ-L0aV-IrXv6l70uOrlRkYFOwefk1aBDR6UzZlfuDBClo4-_vJfRrN5rAA/s1600/odin_carving.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a><br />
The easiest way to study and understand the Havamal is to read and analyze the poem and its meaning stanza by stanza. In order to assist you in this task, we have put together a page for each stanza of the Havamal, presenting multiple translations of the same stanza side by side. We then provide our thoughts and analysis on that particular stanza. Please understand that these are just our opinions. Please seek out other sources, think for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. As you are reading the various translation so the same stanza, look for commonalities and differences in meaning. Keep in mind that there may be several levels of meaning, and various ways that one could interpret each stanza. Here is the page where this project is developing:<br />
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<a href="http://heathengods.com/havamal/analysis/index.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Stanza-by-Stanza Havamal Analysis</span></b></a></div>
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We'll also be sharing each stanza's translation comparison and meaning here on the Kansas City Heathen blog.</div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/" target="_blank"><b>http://www.heathengods.com</b></a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-24721570821165008192014-03-02T23:31:00.002-06:002014-03-02T23:33:56.420-06:00Nine Men's Morris - My First Board<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOz-1dYtDqU8STNcQidDTj8Debly230Crt_UzwI3oGwClJjZTA6kd_hdvw3LVMrsvOrkdbj7TJZuAIS3ywcryqRylklHQ0qng4PLKQH5YDKfBn95sKR4ws64oopaUcwwgtwgzO5jtzBwY/s1600/140301_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOz-1dYtDqU8STNcQidDTj8Debly230Crt_UzwI3oGwClJjZTA6kd_hdvw3LVMrsvOrkdbj7TJZuAIS3ywcryqRylklHQ0qng4PLKQH5YDKfBn95sKR4ws64oopaUcwwgtwgzO5jtzBwY/s1600/140301_0005.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This is a Nine Men's Morris game board, and the first one I've made. Nine Men's Morris, or Mills, is an ancient game. It likely originated with the Romans, but our Northern European ancestors also played Mills. Many Tafl boards had a Mills boards carved or burned on the on the flip-side. Some viking food boards had a Mills board on the flip side, so they could play the game after a meal. It took me a several days to finish this board, because my daughter and I kept playing the game on the unfinished board!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><u><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151996007361325.1073741835.790176324&type=1&l=1456767216" target="_blank">Click Here</a></u></b> to view the full album on Facebook.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The holes were drilled, the lines were burnt, the board was stained, and then the playing area was dry-brushed with gold paint. Then everything was given a nice glossy clear coat.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Mark Ludwig Stinson</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Jotun's Bane Kindred</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Temple of Our Heathen Gods</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></span>ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-24199297864161558982014-01-14T06:22:00.003-06:002014-01-14T06:23:59.514-06:00The Establishment of Local Heathen Communities is a Holy Act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq3Ly-IcBB3YhiEDZcerQoYEAddOmzgPSF_xNiCmCMniEZleMOEVcqpiKcUuVBfhH2oa_n5WgJU4hK8-ICx22GDCtmu6QsfizZirT-hK0RjIZOLO_KQ7ryhKmymjbATcrmHymDUvQ8O8/s1600/random.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq3Ly-IcBB3YhiEDZcerQoYEAddOmzgPSF_xNiCmCMniEZleMOEVcqpiKcUuVBfhH2oa_n5WgJU4hK8-ICx22GDCtmu6QsfizZirT-hK0RjIZOLO_KQ7ryhKmymjbATcrmHymDUvQ8O8/s320/random.gif" width="295" /></a></div>
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The establishment and growth of an active and tight-knit Heathen community here in Kansas City is quite literally a Holy act on the part of everyone involved. It is a right and worthy deed to which all of us can contribute and benefit. It is not about individual needs, though clearly many individual needs will be met. It is not about personal glory, though as a group our efforts may obtain some level of recognition. It is a community effort. We are each a cog in the machine working toward the same community-oriented goals. We are each important to the effort, but no one of us is more important than the effort, or each other. It will take dedication, generosity of time and effort, and sacrifice. But, in the end we will have built something that no one of us could have accomplished on our own. We will have created something from nothing, and be able to pass our efforts on to those of our children that wish to carry the torch forward. And what will this effort require?</div>
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It will take a willingness to be there regularly, once a month, so that we may build bonds, honor our Gods and Ancestors, learn together, and begin to work together. It takes the dedication to give the practice of your religion and community-building efforts some priority in your life. Family and being able to support that family always comes first, but where does your loyalty to your Gods, your Ancestors, our Ways, and your fellow local Heathens fall in your life? What priority are you willing to give these things? It means getting involved. Offering to help with things that need doing. It means reaching out and opening yourself up to making new friendships with those that share your beliefs and your practices. It means a shift in how you view yourself...so that you see yourself as an integral part of the Heartland Hof & Hall effort. And why do it?</div>
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Being involved in the Heartland Hof & Hall effort will enrich your life and the life of your family. Involving yourself in the local Heathen community assists you to be more focused on your native Folkway. It makes it easier to learn and grow more solid and knowledgeable in your beliefs. It allows you to put your Heathen world-view into practice, as you interact with an entire community of Heathens who share that same world-view. It allows all of us to be there for one another, when each of us inevitably needs a little moral support. For me, there is also the spiritual aspect of knowing that our Gods and Ancestors watch us every day. What are we doing to remember them and honor them? What are we doing to ensure the survival of the Ways of our People? What are we doing to pass our ways onto the next generation of Heathens? And that brings us full circle. Our involvement in building and growing an active and tight-knit Heathen community here in Kansas City gives our Gods and Ancestors their answers to these questions. This effort is quite literally a Holy act on the part of everyone involved.</div>
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I think it is important to be very intentional in your deeds, and to understand exactly what drives you. Living intentionally requires understanding the meaning of your own actions in your life and the lives of others. I believe that every effort to bring Heathens together into local groups and communities is a spiritually important and Holy act. If you don't see your own efforts in this light, think on it a bit. If the establishment of local Heathen communities is not a Holy act, of the greatest importance to ourselves and our families, then I don't know what is. Seeing these efforts in this light, can bring new focus and energy to your own efforts, whatever stage of success you find yourself.</div>
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To learn more about the Heartland Hof & Hall effort, visit <a href="http://heathengods.com/hhh/index.htm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer;" target="_blank"><strong>the HHH Page.</strong></a></div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://heathengods.com/">http://heathengods.com</a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-88497662337478575082013-11-27T23:43:00.000-06:002013-11-27T23:52:11.549-06:00First Heartland Hof & Hall Meeting - Jan 12, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlfpq5pZnDbRSPsjEv9Buu-x2B_wiJ6iK9ZsLvLHAEW04S76m2d4794I8RhtPHz9iH3gWEAO2LJJ2I0tSiQtZQ9seR5bBnXCL-GRAJckgelZ2HWgT3GzBK-cvtOLqYFwe2c6PsNe81Zc/s1600/logo_white_background.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlfpq5pZnDbRSPsjEv9Buu-x2B_wiJ6iK9ZsLvLHAEW04S76m2d4794I8RhtPHz9iH3gWEAO2LJJ2I0tSiQtZQ9seR5bBnXCL-GRAJckgelZ2HWgT3GzBK-cvtOLqYFwe2c6PsNe81Zc/s1600/logo_white_background.gif" /></a></div>
Starting in January of 2014, we will be start something called the Heartland Hof and Hall Meetings every month. These monthly meetings will be open to the public. At each meeting, we will honor our Gods and Goddesses with a faining. There will be a workshop on topics that we will announce, followed by a study-group activity.<br />
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We feel it is important for Heathens in our area to gather as a group on a monthly basis in order practice our religion and learn more about our ways together. It has been the goal of Heathens in our area to work towards having land and a place of our own in which to worship, and the ultimate goal of the Heartland Hof and Hall Meeting is to work toward that goal as an united community.<br />
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Visit the <a href="http://www.heathengods.com/hhh" target="_blank"><b>Heartland Hof & Hall Website</b></a> to learn more about this new monthly event in Kansas City. The meeting dates are there for all of 2014, as well as a summary of the activities and theme of every meeting.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
<div>
Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-60936753791491417772013-09-30T21:14:00.001-05:002013-09-30T21:14:36.956-05:00Nine Worthy Steps to Advance Heathenry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-ePMwb9ewlDJli6EmhhD-e3YIYLcaIhK7bzEOhqHSXdNG_g9y-g_GmwMkzmMUMXVBkqRctvue7mgXzPMBZjLRcdZfYBmdm31a0Y_uHBy_Z3NnCpy4Stz1PzBuZa-RRJn168-X1Bdb5k/s1600/disk_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-ePMwb9ewlDJli6EmhhD-e3YIYLcaIhK7bzEOhqHSXdNG_g9y-g_GmwMkzmMUMXVBkqRctvue7mgXzPMBZjLRcdZfYBmdm31a0Y_uHBy_Z3NnCpy4Stz1PzBuZa-RRJn168-X1Bdb5k/s320/disk_700.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7spHXtdPIgM7AkfOPJUzs6XbRUCVpSax2l18el6tcVL4t5__7XaytM0-2FnEz_qzIlO3pZJgNR3gxxzmyXKT9YrXCTx_0KLNeIom6XktobhC_JmO8iqDHhooHjHvdtmXqbvOmPHW4OEQ/s1600/children1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>The Nine Worthy Steps described below represent our approach to advancing our native Folkway. As modern Heathens we face a daunting task. How do we reconstruct what was taken from our People? How do we return members of our Folk to the ways and world-view of our pre-conversion Ancestors? How do we transition from the mainstream culture within which we were raised, to the culture and values that are natural and appropriate to who we really are? What steps are necessary for building something lasting for both ourselves and the generations to come?<br />
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These nine steps are not the only deeds that can advance our Folkway forward. This list and the brief descriptions of each step are simply a method of outlining the work that many tribal Heathens are doing at this very moment. Much more could be said about each deed and, with time and experience, we will of course learn more about what needs to be done and how to do it. But, these nine worthy steps are the focus of the work being done by Jotun's Bane Kindred and many other good Heathen individuals, families, and kindreds among our People.<br />
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<b>FIRST WORTHY STEP - We must bring positive attention to our Folkway, making it easier for members of our Folk to find Heathenry, learn more about it, and become actively involved.</b><br />
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The vast majority of our Folk do not even know that Heathenry exists, let along what it is, what we do, and for what we stand. They are in the thrall of the foreign religion or, being dissatisfied with it, have run to another foreign religion, or become agnostic or atheist. These members of our Folk are lost in darkness, whether they realize it or not. It is up to us to shine a light into that darkness, and serve as a beacon so that our People can find their way home. But, how do we do this?<br />
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It is not difficult to share resources and information on-line and through other forms of communication. Outreach can take many forms. As a heathen individual, family, or kindred we can make ourselves available to new Heathens in our local area giving them some guidance and advice by phone or in person. We can start study groups or hold local Heathen events that allow those that are curious or new to Heathenry a way to actually meet other Heathens and learn more. We can schedule classes and workshops on Heathen topics at a local bookstore, coffee shop, or community college. We can share links to existing resource websites, assist with the improvement of these websites, or start our own. We can even blog or post about our own beliefs and practices, and what they mean for us in our lives.<br />
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When we encounter someone curious or new to Heathenry, we can give them a good first impression. Be understanding of the fact they are new, and give them information and advice without attempting to demean or alienate them. If we live honorable lives of worth, when new Heathens contact or encounter us they will see by our example that living by the values and beliefs of our Folkway makes our lives more natural, fulfilling, and successful. Bringing more members of our People home to their native ways and world-view takes a lot of time and effort. But, it is the first step in advancing our Folkway forward.<br />
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<b>SECOND WORTHY STEP - We must encourage our families to become involved in our Folkway, and structure all of our efforts to encourage other families to become involved.</b><br />
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This step can be difficult for some depending on their situation. Many individuals find Heathenry later in life, and while they embrace our native Folkway - their spouse may not. It is not advisable or healthy to attempt to force or coerce your spouse to convert. Even if your spouse never converts, always make sure they know they are welcome at Heathen activities or gatherings you attend. Many kindreds have non-Heathen spouses that attend all the events and truly enjoy interacting with everyone there. Heathenry is more than just a set of religious beliefs and practices. Heathenry is a world-view, or a way of looking at things. It is a culture and a set of values that anyone can benefit from, even if they are not particularly religious. So, making sure non-Heathen spouses feel welcome and included is an important part of getting families involved in our Folkway.<br />
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In other cases, non-Heathen spouses do become Heathen over time. Usually, interacting with other Heathens face-to-face convinces them that Heathenry is a positive and healthy belief system. Sometimes they see the positive changes it makes in their Heathen spouse, and this convinces them to become practicing Heathens themselves. But, this is something that is their decision, and it happens in its own time. It requires a very intentional patience, as well as a high level of communication and understanding to smoothly transition a family in its entirety back to the native ways of our People.<br />
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Having families involved, brings depth, strength, and longevity to the results of our efforts on behalf of our Folkway. Families honoring the Gods together and working side by side, can accomplish more than individuals can alone. Kindreds with families involved, tend to be more stable than kindreds without families involved. In addition, no matter how much you accomplish in this life, it is nothing compared to what your children, and their children, and so on...can accomplish when they add their own efforts and deeds on top of the foundation you have created for them. Involving our families in our ways, practices, and traditions is the second step in advancing our Folkway forward.<br />
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<b>THIRD WORTHY STEP - We must build bonds among our Folk at the local grassroots level, bringing together </b><b>Heathen individuals and families for local events, such as coffee-shop moots, pubmoots, study groups, Heathen workshops, fainings/blots, pot-luck dinners followed by symbel, and other community-building activities.</b><br />
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Our pre-conversion Ancestors focused heavily on both family and community. Bringing together Heathen individuals and families at the local level, provides the opportunity for face-to-face Heathenry in our daily lives. This lessens our dependence on the internet for interaction with others that share our beliefs and world-view. Creating local communities based on friendship, respect, and loyalty brings into existence a network of support where none existed before.<br />
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These local communities give us other Heathens of worth with which we can talk, study, honor our Gods, exchange ideas, interact socially, and help each other when help is needed. Many of the values and concepts within the world-view we are reconstructing involve how to interact honorably with other people in our lives. Interacting with local Heathens gives us the chance to be around people that share an understanding of these concepts and values, and who live by them as well. This is a rewarding experience for adults, but it also allows our children to observe and learn from these interactions.<br />
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Just as Heathen families can often accomplish more than a single individual, Heathen communities working together can often accomplish more than a single family could. They also provide an excellent environment for new Heathen individuals and families to become more fully involved in our Folkway.<br />
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<b>FOURTH WORTHY STEP - We must form stable local kindreds made up of dedicated Heathen families and individuals of worth, with a focus on building a state of true Frith among those involved.</b><br />
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The natural result of creating active local communities, is the eventual formation of kin-groups or tribes of loyal, like-minded, and hardworking Heathen families and individuals. Membership within these groups is clearly defined, and they are usually based on some form of kindred-oath or obligation. The Heathen families and individuals within each kindred share Frith, meaning that every accomplishment is celebrated as a group, every hardship is faced as a group, and everyone involved shares collective Gefrain, Luck, and Honor.<br />
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Kindreds made up of multiple families and individuals offer a level of encouragement and support to their members that is similar to what one would expect from a close-knit and healthy extended family. Over time, kindred traditions, beliefs, and practices form and evolve that represent the shared expectations and understandings of the group, based on trial and error and their collective experiences. Involvement in an active kindred provides a context for living one's Heathen life that cannot be provided by any other organizational structure. <br />
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These local kindreds are the grassroots engine that make things happen within modern Heathenry, at both the local level and the regional level. The frith and strong bonds of loyalty and friendship they share, combined with the various strengths, talents, and skills brought together within the group, allow kindreds to accomplish things that Heathen individuals, families, and even local communities cannot make happen. Kindreds host both local and regional gatherings and they create and provide resources for other Heathens. They also provide a point of contact for new Heathen families and individuals in their area, and host open events in their area that local Heathens can attend.<br />
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Many of the remaining Worthy Steps are made easier, or can only happen, through the efforts of hard-working and dedicated local kindreds.<br />
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<b>FIFTH WORTHY STEP - We must share practical information between individuals, families, local Heathen communities, and kindreds regarding personal practices, group practices and traditions, and organizational methods, with an understanding that we can learn from each others experiences, but that we will likely all do things differently.</b><br />
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Scholarly study and understanding of the Lore and world-view of our ancestors is important. But, there is a deep need for the sharing of practical how-to information among those practicing our Folkway. How to build a local community, how to start a kindred, tribal dynamics within a group, the role of a Chieftain or Godhi within a kindred, information on how to maintain a kindred and its traditions, building relationships with other Heathen in your region, or tips regarding Heathen marriages and families. The choice of topics is endless.<br />
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The motivation for sharing this practical information should be to simply help others learn from your experiences. It is not about control. It is not about making people do things your way. It is not about creating divisions within our native Folkway. Those receiving the information will use what works for them, and they should discard that information that does not work for them. The sharing of information should be a give and take, back and forth between Heathens and Heathen groups, allowing all of them to learn from successes and failures of those Heathens they know and trust. The reciprocal exchange of information allows individuals and groups to build on each other's knowledge and experience.<br />
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Information shared between Heathens that actually know each other on a face-to-face basis, is much more valuable than information you might read in a book or on the internet. When you actually know an individual or group, then you know if they actually walk the walk, or if the information they are sharing is just talk.<br />
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<b>SIXTH WORTHY STEP - We must bring our People together at regional gatherings and with face-to-face visits, so that Heathen kindreds, families, and individuals can build bonds, work together, learn from each other, and come to personal understandings of each other that helps prevent needless conflict.</b><br />
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The only true way to know a person, is to meet them face-to-face and spend time with them. It can't happen on a message board or social networking site. We must encourage Heathen kindreds, families, and individuals to gather together at face-to-face events, and get to know one another. These events build friendships and alliances. They encourage the exchange of information and ideas between people that actually know each other, and this exchange will drive our Folkway forward. These gatherings also build trust between Heathens, and this trust helps prevent or diffuse unnecessary conflicts among our Folk.<br />
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The more often Heathens are able to gather together, the more their friendships and trust will grow. The more often they can gather, the more opportunities there are for them to exchange information, work together, and assist one another. So from a practical standpoint, regional gatherings must be our focus. Here in the Midwest, many of us can travel and attend gatherings around the region 5 to 6 times a year, or more. We see our friends around the region every month or every other month. In this context, the bonds between Heathens in our region are relatively strong. It is impossible for this same frequency of interaction to happen on a widespread basis on the National level.<br />
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Meeting other Heathen kindreds, families, and individuals at regional gatherings also inspires an increase in travel and personal visits between Heathens within the region. Both the gatherings and personal visits encourage the next generation of Heathens, our children, to play together, learn together, and build friendships and trust. As our children across the region grow into adult Heathens, they will already know each other and share bonds that will serve their own families and kindreds, and the region as a whole.<br />
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<b>SEVENTH WORTHY STEP - We must put regional organizational structures in place that encourage positive cooperation between Heathen kindreds, families, and individuals in the region, while also respecting the autonomy and independence of those involved.</b><br />
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The goal is to engender a sense of unified purpose across the region without requiring or attempting to enforce unified orthodoxy or orthopraxy. As bonds of trust grow and deepen across the region, alliances and formalized methods of interaction and cooperation can be put into place. This requires everyone involved looking to the similarities they share with others, rather than harping and fighting over their differences. The leaders of the participating kindreds and families, must be mature and reasonable enough to accept that beliefs and practices among Heathens will differ, and that this is healthy.<br />
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Whatever method of formalized organization is put in place, it is important that the autonomy of every involved kindred and family is respected. A Thing structure or loose confederation of kindreds and families, allows each kindred to participate, contribute ideas, and partner with other kindreds and families in the region without any one person being in charge. Strong independent kindreds can then participate, communicate, collaborate, and support one another, without any one kindred or person being "in charge." This maintains the grassroots tribal nature of our native Folkway, and avoids top-down organization, dogma, and divisions among our People.<br />
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A Thing structure of loose confederation of kindreds and families must be based on face-to-face meetings and interaction. This is most easily done at regional gatherings of our Folk. The telephone and internet can be used for communication between gatherings, but without the foundation of real face-to-face conversations and relationships, organizational efforts are unlikely to succeed.<br />
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<b>EIGHTH WORTHY STEP - We must acquire at the local level tribal land where we can establish Hofs and Halls as a regional gathering place for our People.</b><br />
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In this early stage of the reconstruction of our Folkway, Heathens tend to gather in each other's living rooms and finished basements. As local kindred's and the Heathen communities around them grow, gathering in someone's home becomes increasingly crowded and difficult. When multiple kindreds and families gather in any sort of numbers, we are forced to rent a campground, or reserve space in a hall or hotel. Logistically, it makes sense that we should move toward establishing at the local level, facilities for gathering that we own and maintain. <br />
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There is a sense of permanence that comes with acquiring tribal land, and establishing holy places and halls in which to gather as a People. These local hofs and halls become a gathering point for Heathens in the local community, and an important destination for Heathens in the surrounding region. Events can be held there. Weddings. Funerals. Coming of age rituals. A burial ground for Heathens can be set aside, so that we can honor our dead in the ways that we wish. Imagine for a moment three hofs and halls in your region, and what that could do for face-to-face Heathenry and regional efforts. Imagine a few years later, there being ten such gathering places, and what that would do to advance our Folkway.<br />
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Most hof and hall locations would be suburban or rural in their surroundings, while a few might border on an urban environment. These locations could offer religions activities and workshops, but there is also an opportunity to offer traditional craft classes and cultural events that would draw in members of our Folk that have not yet found their way home to Heathenry. The only organizational structure that has the resources, man-power, and motivations to establish tribal land on the local level, are kindreds. Very few individuals or families could ever afford to establish and maintain a facility of this nature. Loose-knit Heathen communities usually do not have the structure or unity to successfully mount the effort, or maintain it. National Organizations may one day establish a national headquarters or gathering point, but it is unlikely that it will be in your local area. (And it most certainly won't be in the Midwest). For the Eighth Worthy Step to happen, it will take the work of local kindreds.<br />
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The kindred or local group that is able to establish tribal land and to build a hof and hall will be leaving an amazing foundation for their Heathen children and the next generation of Heathens to build upon.<br />
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<b>NINTH WORTHY STEP - We must pass onto the next generation of Heathens and Asatruar a solid foundation upon which to grow and develop our native Folkway far beyond what we were able to accomplish.</b><br />
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We are rebuilding our native Folkway against incredible odds. The world-view, as well as the religious and spiritual perspectives, of our People were drastically changed by the Christian conversion. The beliefs and practices of our Ancestors were suppressed and buried, so much so that the vast majority of our People do not even know that they are following a foreign religion that was methodically and successfully forced upon us. That leaves us often reconstructing our Folkway from bits and scraps of information. It leaves us in the position of an "alternative religion," and a rather small one at that.<br />
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But against these difficulties, we put a determined will and enormously hard-work to the task at hand. The final, and probably most important step, is that we leave our children and the next generation of Heathens in a better place than we find ourselves. Success at the previous 8 steps will accomplish that goal. If when we are done, there are more Heathens, more Heathen families, larger Heathen communities, more Kindreds, better sharing of practical information, bigger and better regional gatherings, a regional organizational structure that helps everyone involved, and hofs and halls on tribal land here and there across the landscape, then our children and the next generation will be able to take our Folkway places that is likely impossible for us to achieve in our lifetimes.<br />
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But, this also means teaching our children and giving them the knowledge and the tools to be better at this than we are. They aren't coming to Heathenry 20 or 40 years into their life. If we are doing our job, then they are being raised within a family, a community, and a kindred that lives Heathenry. They are immersed in our world-view, and participating in its reconstruction from an early age. These young Heathens will have plans and goals that are completely beyond us. They will have a drive and determination that will shame us, if we live long enough to see what they accomplish. They are our partners in what we do...they are the next leg of the race...and we need to give them the best start we are capable of providing them.<br />
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<b>CONCLUSION -</b> Are there other deeds that can grow and strengthen our native Folkway? Of course there are. These worthy steps reflect the focus of my kindred, and other like-minded tribal kindreds. These steps were carefully chosen to express the vision behind the work we do. We are utterly dedicated to making progress on these steps. They were also carefully put into an order that shows the natural progression that often occurs on the local and regional level.<br />
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These steps are never-ending, or cyclical, in nature. Even if you are attending regional gatherings and visiting other Heathens in your region (Step Six), you are still attempting to attract new Heathen individuals of worth (Step One) and attempting to involved families in your efforts (Step Two), and so on. Even when we reach the point where the next generation takes the reins (Step Nine), the next generation will still be working on the previous eight steps, maintaining, improving, and building upon the foundation we have built.<br />
<br />
Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
http://www.heathengods.com<br />
<br />ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-16731244194186790662013-09-11T21:25:00.000-05:002013-09-11T21:25:00.699-05:00Religious Activities at Lightning Across the Plains 2013<div align="left" designtimesp="3487">
Lightning Across the Plains is a heathen
event, where heathens from across the Heartland come together to honor our Gods,
our Ancestors, and the Vaettir. At LATP tribes, families, and heathens come
together for this purpose as part of a larger regional community.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3491">GOD HOF</strong> -
To the West of our main camping area, there will be a Hof established at
Lightning Across the Plains 2013. It will include images and statues of Odin,
Thor, and Frey...as well as areas within the Hof for honoring other Gods and
Goddesses. If you have statues or objects you would like included in the Hof
throughout the weekend, please bring them along. When you check-in at the
registation table, please provide us with those objects. We'll record your name
so that we can make sure you get your items back at the end of the weekend.
Sacrifices to the Gods can be offered at the Hof, and we will ensure these items
are properly sacrificed.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3493">ANCESTOR'S
HALL</strong> - To the West of our main camping area, we will also set up a hall
for the remembrance of our Ancestors. You can bring artifacts representing and
honoring you ancestors to include on the tables in this hall. There will be
chairs in the hall, for quiet contemplation of what we owe our ancestors. You
can write stories or details about your ancestors in the Ancestors Book, which
is kept in the hall throughout the event.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3497">OPENING &
CLOSING RITUAL</strong> - At the start of Lightning Across the Plains there will
be an Opening Ritual, declaring grith and frith over the gathering. Tyr will be
honored, and the perimeter of the gathering area will be walked in procession,
with gifts given to the Vaettir of the land to ensure their goodwill and
protection from baneful wights. The help of the children at the gathering will
be enlisted, and they will have the honor of distributing gifts to the land
wights.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3501">VISITING THE
VE</strong> - Jotun's Bane Kindred has established an outdoor Ve at Gaea
Retreat. It is a cleared circle in the woods, at the roots of a large powerful
oak tree named Forn Halr ("old man" in Old Norse). This is our holy tree, and
the Ve has a large stone harrow, a firepit, and benches around its perimeter. It
is a beautiful and peaceful place, and it is where our kindred takes our kindred
oaths. On Saturday morning we'll lead a walk over to the Ve for those that would
like to visit it. And we will honor Forn Halr...and leave offerings for the land
wights.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3503">ODIN BLOT</strong>
- Friday evening after dinner, we'll gather for an Odin Blot led by Fimbul
Winter Kindred and other Heathens from Colorado. This celebratory event leads
directly into Friday night's Folk Symbel.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3507">FOLK
SYMBEL</strong> - Friday night after dark, we'll gather around a fire and have a
Folk Symbel. A horn will be passed, and we will toast the Gods and Goddesses,
our Ancestors & Heroes, and then boast of our accomplishments. As a gathered
Folk, we'll put our good words and deeds into the Well. If you know a good poem
or a song worth singing, please share it with everyone during this Symbel.
While this Symbel is more informal in its structure, every year it is one those
events that has a lot of impact on everyone participating.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3511">SATURDAY NIGHT
FAINING</strong> - After dinner on Saturday night, we'll gather as a Folk and
celebrate with a large Faining our relationship with our Elder Kin.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3513">SATURDAY NIGHT
HIGH SYMBEL</strong> - After the Faining, we will enter the Hall as Tribes,
Families, and individual heathens and conduct a High Symbel. At 2012's Lightning
Across the Plains, over 150 adults sat in Symbel and spoke good words over the
horn. This is a formal event, and if you have garb to wear and are so inclined
please wear it. But garb is not required. This is a night for bold and Tru
words, gift-giving, and the forming of bonds among the Folk.</div>
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<strong designtimesp="3517">THOR
FAINING</strong> - On Sunday morning, prior to the Heathen Auction, there will
be a Thor Faining led by Hridgar Folk Kindred from Texas. Asa-Thor is honored
and asked to grant his protection to everyone in attendance on their journeys
home from Lightning Across the Plains.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.latp2013.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!</a></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" designtimesp="3516">
Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
<div align="left" designtimesp="3516">
Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
<div align="left" designtimesp="3516">
Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
<div align="left" designtimesp="3516">
<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-68386076890659875532013-09-10T20:23:00.000-05:002013-09-10T20:35:17.994-05:00Workshops at Lightning Across the Plains 2013<div>
At Lightning Across the Plains 2013 on Sept 26-29 there will be a wide variety of workshops, classes, and discussions presented by Heathens from across the Midwest and beyond. We encourage both adults and teenagers to attend workshops and participate in these discussions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN56_EAyWsRLsZFkbpvSJbJ-UhnqB3SttEX4OIrGLK7VrCzQPyx79ehtX2tVgfIjDgadDGSW4cNzG_mvp56Zc9tN4WxayyXYxqeFSeySuN-n63m0akSLPMA44MRGVEYM6c1iq7L8BWcLU/s1600/118_0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN56_EAyWsRLsZFkbpvSJbJ-UhnqB3SttEX4OIrGLK7VrCzQPyx79ehtX2tVgfIjDgadDGSW4cNzG_mvp56Zc9tN4WxayyXYxqeFSeySuN-n63m0akSLPMA44MRGVEYM6c1iq7L8BWcLU/s320/118_0961.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>GROUP SPIRITUALITY</b> - Planning and maintaining the spiritual activities and focus of a Heathen hearth, kindred, or family. Presented by Eric Sjerven.<br />
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<b>THE WORTHING PROCESS</b> - A discussion of the formal process of earning one's place and proving one's worth within a Heathen kindred or tribe. Presented by Gunner Miller.<br />
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<b>ASATRU / HEATHENRY 101</b> - This discussion of our native Folkway, will discuss the worldview and core values of our religion and way of life from a modern tribal point of view. This workshop will be interesting for those new the Heathenry, but can also be useful for those with more experience. Presented by Mark Ludwig Stinson.</div>
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<b>THE ART OF VIKING WIRE WEAVING</b> - Hands on instruction on how to weave wire into beautiful necklaces and other jewelry. Presented by Erin Marshall and Ralph Romig.<br />
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<b>BLACKSMITHING DEMO</b> - Forges, hammers, anvils, and making cool stuff from iron using your strength and skill. Presented by Jarnsmidur Kindred<br />
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<b>TRACING THE WEB OF WYRD</b> - A practical exercise that illustrates the interconnected nature of shared Wyrd and Orlog. Presented by Eric Sjerven.<br />
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<b>STAVERS IN THE HOUSE</b> - A casual gathering for women and men to learn the basics of staving for song and ritual - meet on the wooden stage at the Pavillion. Bring your staff and stick. One of two workshops required in order to perform with Kari in the concert on Saturday Night! Presented by Kari Tauring.</div>
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<b>NORDIC MOVEMENT - </b>Learn about Svict, Tyngde, and Kraft...Weight, Wave and Power in Nordic walking, skiing, and dancing. Kari will teach how the spine stav, the world tree, and the runes manifest in our bodies as we move. All ages workshop, parents and children, elders and youth are all encouraged to attend. We will practice the concepts through Komme Alle, the Bear Hunt Ritual Dance, and other ancient circle dances. The second of two workshops required to perform with Kari in the concert on Saturday Night! Presented by Kari Tauring.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJpYoHaMFDGLUSOv8z4sU4MeAMJsxyfi07m79mNrILqmPbBoIsW2HGnlsgwphXMX_TZJeFU-9oaOvRCpff_dLOsParYM84KcanQkt8LQjAlP0sIziCCs78NOvFmuYxddnhCIA3XQRPFg/s1600/148891_10152107201675212_1192516622_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJpYoHaMFDGLUSOv8z4sU4MeAMJsxyfi07m79mNrILqmPbBoIsW2HGnlsgwphXMX_TZJeFU-9oaOvRCpff_dLOsParYM84KcanQkt8LQjAlP0sIziCCs78NOvFmuYxddnhCIA3XQRPFg/s320/148891_10152107201675212_1192516622_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>THE RITUAL OF ACHIEVEMENT</b> - How to use the power of Symbel to get what you want from life. Symble is a time for community bonding. It is also when we stand right on the edge of "what is becoming!" The ritual as recognized today is a powerful formula to program your subconscious to reach your goals and a way to declare your desires to the Aesir, your ancestors, and friendly wights. Presented by Everte Farnell.<br />
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<b>PERSONAL PRACTICES WITHIN HEATHENRY </b>- The workshop will focus on those personal practices that you can perform on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Obviously, there is no "correct" way to do these things, but this workshop will give you plenty of ideas and get you thinking. Presented by Mark Ludwig Stinson.</div>
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<b>NORTHERN MAGIC - FORGING THE WILL</b> - This presentation is meant to deconstruct preconceived notions and build a broader understanding of what it is, its application, and the limits of the human potential. Presented by Matthias Waggener.<br />
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<b>A HEATHEN FAMILY'S INTRO TO PREPPING</b> - This workshop will introduce participants to how to prepare their family, hearth, or kindred for whatever emergency hardships may come their way. Presented by Jason Van Tatenhove.<br />
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<b>NORDIC BATHING RITUALS FOR WOMEN</b> - This workshop discuss all the sacred body types in Nordic art and iconography from the Ice Age, Bronze Age, and early Viking Era. Learn new ways of honoring and share your ideas for the excellent hygiene the Northlanders were known for.</div>
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<b>WORKING WITH THE WIGHTS</b> - This class will go over some of the basics of working with the Wights, Elves, Trolls, Dwarves, and House Fae. It will focus on the traditions of our northern ancestors, and how to bring these practices into modern heathenry. Presented by Zanna Israelson.</div>
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<b>NATURAL MEDICINE IN MODERN LIFE</b> - An introductory survey on using herbs and natural healing methods in your own home, covering children, pets and adults. We will talk about what herbs and tinctures to keep on hand, how to read labels, where to find fresh herbs and where to look for more information. Bring your questions and notebooks! Presented by Shawna Jones.<br />
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The workshops at LATP are just one of many reasons to attend. We'll see you there!</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.latp2013.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.latp2013.com/" target="_blank">LIGHTNING ACROSS THE PLAINS</a></b></div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/"><b>http://www.heathengods.com</b></a><br />
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ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-15959130751776002752013-09-04T06:24:00.001-05:002013-09-04T06:33:51.429-05:00The History of Lightning Across the PlainsWell, it is the fifth Anniversary of Lightning Across the Plains this year. And we thought it would be interesting to share some of the history of the event, how it was started, and some of our expectations five years ago when it began.<br />
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Back in October of 2007, before Jotun's Bane Kindred had begun...the future founding members of JBK were meeting for only the third time. The five of us were sitting around a dining room table talking about what sort of group we would like to form. We were discussing how it would be structured, how decisions would be made, and even what the group would be called. That night we decided to call our future kindred "Jotun's Bane Kindred" and we decided that someday we would like to host a regional Heathen gathering that we would call "Lightning Across the Plains. We would not actually hold the first Lightning Across the Plains until two years later, but we knew what we wanted to do and we knew what we wanted to call it.<br />
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In 2008, we spoke with a kindred here in the region about the possibility of co-hosting a yearly regional gathering, with the idea that we would rotate hosting the event year to year. The name of this kindred is not really important at this point. But, this other kindred had been around a long time, and we were pretty thrilled that they were interested in cooperating with us and helping to co-host the event. Over time though, they wouldn't really talk to us about any concrete plans. They also seemed to have a vision for the regional event that was very different from our own. The lesson that we learned from this, was the idea that if we wanted to follow our vision for what this regional event could be, we were going to have to begin it and host it ourselves.<br />
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In late 2008, our kindred began internal conversations about whether to go ahead and launch Lightning Across the Plains in 2009. It was quite a discussion. There were two schools of thought in the kindred. Some believed that we were ready to host such an event successfully, and that it would be well worth it to get started right away. We were pushing for a September 2009 date for the event, and that meant we had 9 months to plan the event, promote the event, and get everything ready for our first shot at this thing. There was another school of thought in the kindred that we weren't ready. That there was not enough time to get ready. And that perhaps we should delay starting the event for a year or two more. Ultimately, those of us that wanted to push forward and schedule the first LATP for September 2009 were convincing enough, that a kindred consensus formed that we should move forward with our plans.<br />
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In planning for the first LATP, we attempted to estimate how many Heathens would attend. We had attended a number of gatherings hosted by other kindreds in the region, and we were forming friendships with other kindreds. So, we added up our friends across the region, and attempted to calculate who would attend. The number we came up with, including members of our own kindred, was about 60 people. We looked at what sort of supplies we would need for 60 people. We decided to provide the evening meal each night of the event to everyone in attendance. We created a tentative schedule for the event, with very specific objectives in mind, including providing plenty of activities for both adults and children. We learned a lot about how to host an event from the kindred gatherings we attended across the Midwest. Volkshof Kindred in Minnesota is one group that we learned a lot from. I'd like to think that this exchange of information and ideas has been very reciprocal over time, but early on it is clear that their annual Heathen event had a lot of influence over how we planned the first LATP. With a plan in hand, we reserved the location for the event, built a website and on-line registration system, and announced the event everywhere we could think to announce it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP1a4-AqY8NqzdeJlLP__7zeHMioxEV9lW5zuhx5QIAMbfeP9c0oZ-IGQQBXdIB7Qmv18LiUwneY2uOoTmRS2mOE9BEDuTLz3Rwsz5pl_BiBDghhP9lAbLCUTwvHJgGkIR0o2yWLwlxw/s1600/tribes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP1a4-AqY8NqzdeJlLP__7zeHMioxEV9lW5zuhx5QIAMbfeP9c0oZ-IGQQBXdIB7Qmv18LiUwneY2uOoTmRS2mOE9BEDuTLz3Rwsz5pl_BiBDghhP9lAbLCUTwvHJgGkIR0o2yWLwlxw/s400/tribes1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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LATP was started with $200. We had recently decided that kindred members should pay monthly dues to help pay some of the expenses of our group. Jennifer and I paid our dues in advance for the next year, providing the kindred with the $200 we needed to reserve the Ridge and the Pavilion at Gaea Retreat. That $200 was the initial investment...the seed money that made LATP happen. Rather than the 60 Heathens we were expecting, 120 Heathens showed up that first year. And about 1/3 of the attendees were children...a trend that has continued over the past 5 years. Now, how can any kindred pay for an event with 120 people in attendance with only $200 at the start? It is basic capitalism at work. We required participants to pre-register, and the registration fees were enough to cover nearly everything we needed for the event. The financial health and continuity of the event has always been ensured by a Heathen Auction we hold at LATP.<br />
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When we planned the first LATP, we set the registration fees as low as possible. We understand that for many Heathens, money is tight. We did not want registration fees to ever be the reason someone couldn't attend. Over the years, we've never allowed our registration fees to stand in the way of someone attending our event. In five years, we've never increased the cost of registration. A couple of years ago, we added an additional day and night to the event, and created two levels of registration. There is now the full-event registration and the weekend-only registration. That weekend-only registration in 2013 costs exactly the same amount it did in 2009. Every decision we make is aimed at making attendance at the event something affordable for both individuals and families, no matter what financial situation they find themselves in.<br />
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Weekend-only registration is $40 for an individual and $60 for a family (of up to five members). Full-event registration is $50 for an individual and $80 for a family registration. And these registration fees include a dinner provided every night you are at the event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKqTGDaCtq4lztCaM7fMpwaxCUlSZtFRBobHnedLzOcY_g_15pDgEedT2WjhTNuJWYOZu_muM1ePS3bnzaHYDO4TEXC2K7q_5y6X1R9P_Ro7-me-xVIJilfMd0ijUOy-oB8vC41nVp0Q/s1600/tribes4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKqTGDaCtq4lztCaM7fMpwaxCUlSZtFRBobHnedLzOcY_g_15pDgEedT2WjhTNuJWYOZu_muM1ePS3bnzaHYDO4TEXC2K7q_5y6X1R9P_Ro7-me-xVIJilfMd0ijUOy-oB8vC41nVp0Q/s400/tribes4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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That first year, we were shocked that 120 Heathens attended the event. It was a number that doubled our forecasted numbers. So, we were amazed in 2010 when 240 Heathens attended the second LATP. It was that second year when it really sank in that one of the largest, if not the largest Heathen gathering in the world was right here in the Midwest. It was also in that 2nd year, that other kindreds in the region began helping with certain aspects of the event. Participating kindred volunteer to help prepare the evening meals. Some kindreds help by organizing some of the Fainings/Blots, workshops, and other activities at the event. Some kindreds help with setting up certain areas of camp, or preparing for certain aspects of the event. And this regional assistance that began in 2010, has only expanded and increased over time. It is only through these cooperative efforts, that our relatively small kindred is able to host an event that had 260 participants in 2012.<br />
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Another aspect of LATP that we did not fully anticipate when we began in 2009, is the Regional Midwest Thing that is now held at LATP. The name for the "Midwest Thing" came from an annual event hosted by Volkshof Kindred in Minnesota. Volkshof Kindred and Jotun's Bane Kindred are aligned with one another, and we consider each other sister kindreds. We share many of the same goals, and after much discussion it was decided that moving the Midwest Thing to LATP would ensure its accessibility and growth. Volkshof Kindred changed the name of their event to the Northern Folk Gathering, and if you haven't attended this event yet...look into it. It is a great event. The Regional Midwest Thing at LATP brings together the Chieftains, Gothar, and Elders of our various kindreds to discuss the needs of our region, as well as projects and efforts that will have a regional impact. A Lawspeaker is elected each year, but this Lawspeaker is merely an organizer and facilitator, and does not directly impact the autonomy of any participating kindred. The Thing does not interfere with internal kindred matters, but instead focuses on regional issues and goals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3D_Ws9-YlgXD-hRcBrTuSaNLNtAHSIQ8lTG5rVKUxafWNw03o_dqDjGkNVTp19K6cqyXDzL9Amn5R0Rpi1brmEg80EJmcEZRfvXq1TvgfN5EANqifRiAah4t9dyk8LutnkAK0uHyM28/s1600/tribes5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3D_Ws9-YlgXD-hRcBrTuSaNLNtAHSIQ8lTG5rVKUxafWNw03o_dqDjGkNVTp19K6cqyXDzL9Amn5R0Rpi1brmEg80EJmcEZRfvXq1TvgfN5EANqifRiAah4t9dyk8LutnkAK0uHyM28/s400/tribes5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The goals and intentions of LATP have shifted and evolved over the past five years. That first LATP in 2009 was all about bringing Heathens together, in face-to-face interaction. A pretty simple goal, really. We wanted a highly organized event, with plenty of things to do, including workshops and religious activities. We wanted attendees to go home feeling they had more than gotten their money's worth, and looking forward to returning the next year. Over time, LATP has become an event where marriages happen, so that they may be witnessed by all the folk in our region. LATP has become a place where many new kindreds take their kindred oaths, beneath the limbs of Forn Halr, our holy tree. LATP is where ideas are exchanged, friendships and alliances are built, inter-kindred projects are launched, and where the next generation of Heathens play and learn together. The web of friendships and bonds that have formed at LATP and other events in our region strengthen all of our individual efforts. LATP is more important than any one person...or any one kindred. LATP is truly a regional event, where many Heathen individuals, families, and kindreds from across our region gather together in order to honor our Gods and make our ancestors proud.<br />
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There are more details that could be added to this brief history. But, I think I've hit the main points I wanted to make. All good Heathens are welcome at LATP. So, please feel welcome to learn more about Lightning Across the Plains and know that you are invited to attend.<br />
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<a href="http://latp2013.com/"><b><span style="font-size: large;">http://latp2013.com</span></b></a><br />
<br />
Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
http://www.heathengods.com<br />
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<br />ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-86093160930648199782013-06-18T18:22:00.001-05:002013-06-18T20:11:05.650-05:00Gods and Goddesses - Personal Practices<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2jMN9Z5ZTc6ASu1riKoCvnjjLOsvFG1SDAo0X6nJ-sKqPKztA09ltXtqmn_lz05r480PBPEEANwzVsIM5Z2-Z8peFewAVeO56ai759H532uzgg7UK5mis-OPLqceVEHPwNxm7yfFRCc/s1600/thor_by_bubaben-d34z8vy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2jMN9Z5ZTc6ASu1riKoCvnjjLOsvFG1SDAo0X6nJ-sKqPKztA09ltXtqmn_lz05r480PBPEEANwzVsIM5Z2-Z8peFewAVeO56ai759H532uzgg7UK5mis-OPLqceVEHPwNxm7yfFRCc/s320/thor_by_bubaben-d34z8vy.jpg" width="182" /></a>I've written a lot about our kindred and about living in a tight-knit heathen group. But, I wanted to write some essays that discuss a Heathen's personal practices. Things he or she does on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Obviously, what I write here is not the only correct way to do things. Just some ideas to spark more discussion and exploration of the topic.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Our Gods and Goddesses</span></b><br />
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Heathens tend to have different understandings of our Gods and Goddesses. Some view them as very literal beings. Some envision them as manifestations or personifications of forces in nature. Some view them as psychological or spiritual archetypes buried deep within, and springing forth from, all the members of our Folk. Some view them as all and none of these things. For me personally, the Gods and Goddesses are beyond understanding, and difficult to categorize or define simply. I believe that the stories we read in the Lore of our Gods and Goddesses represent the human understanding of our Ancestors. I believe these stories are revealing, enlightening, and even entertaining. But, I do not see the Gods and Goddesses as limited or restrained by these stories in any way. When it comes to your personal practices, your personal understanding of the Gods and Goddess is what is important.<br />
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For this reason, one of the first things you must do is learn about our Gods and Goddesses. Read as much as you can. Read the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. Read Saxo Grammaticus. Read H.R. Ellis Davidson and other authors of secondary sources. You will find much of the information is incomplete. You will also find many contradictions within the sources. Don't let this frustrate you. What you are reading is various human understandings of the Gods. You aren't reading scripture. You aren't reading the supposedly "literal word or message" of our Gods and Goddesses. You aren't reading material created by a modern church in order to present the "official church version" or dogmatic understandings of the Lore. You are reading what various skalds and authors have believed about our Gods and Goddesses. Of course these understandings of our Gods and Goddesses are imperfect. Of course they contradict and disagree with one another. If you think about it from the right frame of reference, it is completely natural for there to be this diversity among the human understandings of our Gods and Goddesses.<br />
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Over time, as you honor our Gods and Goddesses, your understanding of them will grow. Over time, you will fill some of those gaps in information through your own spiritual growth. Over time, you will solve some of the contradictions for yourself. Heathenry is not just a scholarly exercise. It is a living, advancing Folkway. We are not simply "recreating" or "role-playing" some ancient rites and understandings of our Gods and Goddesses. Through our honoring, gifting, and interaction with the Gods and Goddesses we learn more. We learn in the same way that our Ancestors learned what they learned about our Gods and Goddesses. This idea that our Folkway can have new understandings, or that we can advance our understandings of our Gods and Goddesses makes many Heathens very uncomfortable. The very thought of modern Heathens building upon what our Ancestors knew is sometimes derided as "making stuff up." This sort of frozen-in-time approach, treats our Folkway as a dead religion that we are simply re-enacting. Perhaps for those that have this point of view, that is true. But, for those of us rebuilding our Folkway as a living, breathing religion and world-view...this is not the re-enactment of a dead religion. This is our lives. As the descendants of our Ancestors, we learn as they learned. We advance forward in our understandings, personally building upon what they understood.<br />
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Understanding what has been described above, do not get angry or upset when another Heathen has a different personal understanding of our Gods and Goddesses. It is only natural that our human limitations lead to differences in understanding. Considering the many different ways our ancestors viewed our various Gods and Goddesses, it is not only natural but healthy that we have similar differences. When you see others getting upset and attacking people over these differences in understanding, stop and consider exactly why they are so upset. Consider what psychological or emotional needs cause them to insist that their understandings are the only correct understandings. Then shake your head a bit, and move on.<br />
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On the other hand, there are methods of filling in the blanks and resolving contradictions in the sources that can lead you away from an understanding of our Gods and Goddesses that would be recognizable by our Ancestors. For instance, mixing and mashing in information from the Folkways of other cultures. Stirring in New Age elements that are not consistent with the traditional ways of our Folk. Or shaping your understanding of our Gods and Goddesses in a way that fits or serves your own personal political agendas. It is important that we carefully consider our personal understandings of our Gods and Goddesses to ensure we are not distorting or twisting our understandings to serve some purpose other than honoring them respectfully.<br />
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As a personal practice, it is rewarding to establish an altar to the Gods and Goddesses in your home. It is good for this altar to be given some prominence in your home, and this can be done in a number of ways. For instance, a table or bookshelf in the main living room of your home would denote the importance of the altar. If you had a spare bedroom or office in your home, setting up your altar there would give it its own space, in a sense. There is no right and wrong answer to where you place the altar, unless you are considering sticking it in some musty corner of your dark basement. Personally, I think it is good to have your altar dedicated to the Gods and Goddesses in a location where you see it often. The altar can take many forms. It can be established on a beautiful table, a set of shelves, the fire-place mantle, or you could even build a free-standing altar out of wood, bricks, or stone. I know folks with cats or other pets, that establish their altar to the Gods and Goddesses in a standing cabinet with glass or wooden doors, to prevent their animals from disturbing the items on the altar. Really, your options are limitless.<br />
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What you place on your Gods and Goddesses altar has practically infinite possibilities and is personal to you. Consider that you are creating a space to honor and gift your Gods and Goddesses, and attempt to give it the attention they deserve. In whatever way possible, you should make it dignified, beautiful, meaningful, and focused on our Gods and Goddesses. When first starting out, it may be as simple as a table with a nice table-cloth, a Mjolnir or Valknut symbol, and perhaps a few images of our Gods drawn or printed out on paper or in frames. Over time, you can add things that personally represent the Gods and Goddesses for you. Often you will see ornately carved hammers, statues of specific Gods and Goddesses, a beautiful wooden, metal, or horn bowl for presenting offerings, a spearhead or full boar spear leaning up against the altar, runes, amber jewelry, or other symbols of our Gods and Goddesses. Ultimately, your personal altar is "correct" if it serves the purpose of connecting you and your family with our Gods and Goddesses, allowing you to give them gifts, honor them, and represent their spiritual presence in your home. The exact means for doing this is personal to you.<br />
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Besides an altar to the Gods and Goddesses, many Heathen homes have many decorations throughout the home that represent their Heathen beliefs and practices. Many of these decorations are connected with our Gods and Goddesses. Wall-hangings, statues, wood-burned plaques, cross-stitched designs, framed images or posters, spears, hammers, axes, a single gloved-hand, an ornately painted shield, banners...really, the options are limitless. These decorations in our home rarely happen over night. They are usually collected over time. You might buy one at the latest Heathen gathering you've attended. Some might be gifts from other Heathens you've met. Many may be items you've made with your own hands. These decorations set a tone in your home, and serve as a reminder of who you are and what you believe. They can inspire and strengthen you during those times when you need it. If you have children, they can spark conversations and help increase their own understandings and belief in our Gods and Goddesses.</div>
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Another personal practice for honoring our Gods and Goddesses involves making wonderful objects that symbolize their importance to us as Heathens. I am always amazed at the talent and skill among those who use their craft and art to honor our Gods and Goddesses. There are Heathen wood-carvers, wood-burners, makers of chain mail, blacksmiths, painters, spinners, knitters, cross-stitchers, nalbinders, bakers, weavers, musicians, poets, writers, sculpters, mead-makers, and many more. As a personal practice, it is enormously rewarding to make something that represents or honors our Gods and Goddesses with your own hands and skill. Many folks are their own worse critic regarding their talent to create things. But, most of the personal value in creating things is the act of creating...not the perfection of the item created. If you are creating a holy item for your own home and your own use, don't constantly beat yourself up over the end result. Instead, focus on doing your very best, whatever that skill level may be. Put thought, time, and energy into what you are creating and take pride in bringing something new into this world that honors our Gods and Ancestors. I know Heathens that Galdr (an ancestral magical practice involving the singing or incantation of verse-form spells) while crafting objects. I know other Heathens that recite specific runes or rune combinations while crafting objects. But, if you do not know these methods or are not comfortable attempting them, there are other ways to honor our Gods and Goddesses as you work. As you are making the item, keep the God or Goddess you are honoring in mind. Consider as you craft what that God or Goddess means to you. Speak with that God or Goddess, letting them know who you are, what you believe, and why you are making the holy item you are making. Ask the God or Goddess to accept the gift of honor you are offering.<br />
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Heathen kindreds, hearths, families, and other groups will often perform blots or fainings to honor our Gods and Goddesses. It can be difficult and a bit unwieldy for a Heathen individual to blot or fain in this same way as part of his or her personal practice. Much of the blot or faining structure we normally see works specifically for group worship. By definition, our personal practices can be much more personal in nature. Direct conversations or prayer to the Gods and Goddesses fit into the personal practice of the individual more easily than these group forms of worship. For instance, if an individual wished to honor Thor, they could do the following. Set aside a time and place where things are quiet, and you can focus on what you are doing without interruption. Pour yourself a quality beer or ale, and pour one for Thor as well in a second mug or glass. It can be an excellent ale you have purchased, but better yet if it is something you have brewed yourself. Sit at a table or in your living room across from an empty seat, and welcome Thor as a guest into your home. Present the gift of the ale to the empty seat. Then talk. Tell Thor what his deeds and his presence in your life means to you. Express how important he is to you and how much you appreciate what he has done and will do for your Gods and your Folk. Share with him what you have learned from him and the stories of his accomplishments. If you are dealing with some problem, describe the problem, as well as how you intend to work hard to resolve the problem for yourself.<br />
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During this sort of personal approach to one of our Gods or Goddesses, don't feel like you have to speak in some special way. Do not "put on airs" or attempt to be something other than yourself. Approach them honestly, from the heart. Be exactly who you are and share that with the God or Goddess you are honoring. As a personal practice, this can last 5 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour, or however long is necessary. As a personal practice, you can change what I've described to be whatever works for you. Over time, your approach and methods will very likely evolve and possibly become more complex. But the whole point of personal practice, is the fact it is personal to you. In a sense it is also personal to the Gods and Goddesses. What I mean by that, is your method for approaching and honoring Thor will likely be different than how you approach and honor any other God or Goddess. They are distinct beings, with their own stories, their own likes and dislikes, and their own ways of dealing with our Folk. So, put some time into reading about our Gods and Goddesses, and considering what sort of honor they would most appreciate receiving. But, do not let yourself be paralyzed by uncertainty or an unreasonable expectation of perfection. It is better you honor our Gods and be somewhat awkward in your approach, than to not honor them at all out of some fear of being awkward or not doing it exactly "right."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF6d3qSDbp2ptEtuKn3C2Knaf3IEy3mtQlfFCzKYunYplw9MUGGPCLvg89nofUpf_LgdyrDKroD57PNXAntZwYsmrxd2V2bZcnHcWjEYsfyxvDf0SKiYD9kqn9Z35rnfZ32swXB2Pw0Q/s1600/Tyr_by_comicgeek86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF6d3qSDbp2ptEtuKn3C2Knaf3IEy3mtQlfFCzKYunYplw9MUGGPCLvg89nofUpf_LgdyrDKroD57PNXAntZwYsmrxd2V2bZcnHcWjEYsfyxvDf0SKiYD9kqn9Z35rnfZ32swXB2Pw0Q/s320/Tyr_by_comicgeek86.jpg" width="264" /></a>One of the best ways you could personally honor our Gods and Goddesses, is to live a life of which they are proud. We do not beg our Gods and Goddesses for help. We do not expect them to solve our problems. We do not bow to them in expectation that they will lead us or guide us in our actions. Heathens live their lives well, with strength and honor. We raise our families, we're loyal to our friends, and we get things done. We are our deeds. Some say that we fall beneath the notice of our Gods and Goddesses, or that they have better things to do than to notice us. But, I personally believe this to be false. I believe the Gods of our Folk watch us. They watch to see what we do with these lives they have given us. If they are proud of who we are and what we do, I believe that, on occasion, in times of need they will give us a nudge, or a bit of wisdom, or some much needed Luck. We should never count on them to do this, but I do believe it happens sometimes. So, part of your personal practice should be living according to values and a world-view that will please our Gods. To do this, it is important to learn the values and world-view of our Heathen ancestors, and to internalize this learning. It must go beyond intellectual knowledge, and become an integral part of who you are and what you do.<br />
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I am sure there are many other methods of honoring our Gods and Goddesses as part of your personal practice. But, I've described here what I know. <br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
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ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-83038319397777986022013-06-17T10:30:00.001-05:002013-06-17T10:30:25.823-05:00House and Land Wights - Personal PracticesI've written a lot about our kindred and about living in a tight-knit heathen group. But, I wanted to write some essays that discuss a Heathen's personal practices. Things he or she does on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Obviously, what I write here is not the only correct way to do things. Just some ideas to spark more discussion and exploration of the topic.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Our House and Land Wights</span></b><br />
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A house wight is a spirit that lives in your home...or in a sense...the house wight is the spirit of your hearth or the spirit of your home. Some Asatruars/Heathens don't do much with their house wight, or don't focus on it much. But it is fair to say that the spirits of your home and of your land are very close to you, and are available for daily interaction. After all, they are right there in your home or on your land. Your house wight is a roommate of sorts, and your land wight is like a close neighbor. It is believed that our ancestors would have spent much more time gifting, honoring, and interacting with their house wight and land wights...than they would have their ancestors or the Gods. They depended on their relationship with the land and the safety and efficiency of their home for their very lives. So, it makes sense that this is where their focus would be placed.<br />
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It can be a worthwhile practice to establish an altar or home for your house wight right in your home. I tend to believe that a fairly central location is a good idea. Many of our ancestors saw the house wight as being associated with the hearth or fire in the home, and this was always in a central location. So determine where the center or "heart" of your home is located. Where does most of the activity take place. Where can you place a house wight's home so that its right in the mix...part of the action? Where is the focus of your home? For some, it might be the family-room of the home. For others, it might be the kitchen or dining room. It really depends on how you use your home. When you have chosen the right room, then it is time to consider what sort of home/altar you want to create for your house-wight. Some place this altar on a shelf or table. Others place it over their fireplace on the mantle. I've even heard of house wight altars inside cabinets.<br />
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Some folks build an actual model home of wood or cardboard or other material. Some buy a wooden or paper home at a hobby store, and spend a lot of time painting, decorating, and possibly even furnishing that home. I believe the idea behind this is to show one's appreciation to your house wight and make it clear that he or she is welcome. You are showing hospitality to the house wight, by providing it a place to reside or live. An altar to one's house wight can go further of course...and often becomes more complex and full as one gifts your house wight over time. In my family, we tend to give the house wight shiny pretty things. Silver coins, bright jewelry, and colorful baubles. The kids have provided most of these over the years. We tend to believe our house wight enjoys fun things, so the kids will sometimes loan the house wight their favorite toys for a little bit. Our house wight altar also has a Thor bobble-head, an Icelandic flag, and other objects that really have little meaning except to us (and hopefully our house wight.) If the kids have not given gifts to the house wight in a little while, I'll remind them...and they will go on the hunt for appropriate gifts. We then place them on the altar.<br />
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We also give our house wight a taste of beer now and again, and sometimes a shot of honey liqueur. I've also shared tobacco with the house wight before, giving him a cigar once...and some chewing tobacco another time. When I make my dad's homemade butterscotch, I will sometimes share a piece with the house wight. I've heard of other families giving their house wight cream, or honey, or a bit of fresh cheese. I tend to believe that house wight tastes vary. So, if you give a gift and it doesn't feel right...don't give that gift anymore. Try other gifts. If a gift seems like it is well received, then make a mental note and repeat that gift again. You may find that a daily gift is appropriate and works for you and your house wight, or perhaps something weekly is more realistic and more appreciated. Really, it is something you have to experiment with until you find the right answers for your own situation and home.<br />
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It occurs to me that some reading this are wondering how they will know whether their gifts have been well received. It is the act of acknowledging the house wight and honoring them that builds the relationship between you and them. Obviously, the material gift you leave for them is still there where you left it. But, the value or meaning of the gift is taken by them and enjoyed. Determining if the house wight has accepted your gifts or if the gifts are appreciated is something very personal. How does the home feel to you? Does the home feel happy and calm? Are things going well around the home? Are you feeling comfortable in the home? There is a tone to things when they are happy...and a tone to things when you may have displeased them or made them felt ignored. And for some, there are physical results that happen...events that take place that denote their appreciation. Something long lost, suddenly popping up in a place you know you did not leave it. Or you are in a hurry and need something, and you turn around and there it is in plain sight. Some would call these events coincidence or wishful thinking on your part. But, I prefer to think these are gifts in return for your gifts.<br />
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I will gladly admit to also talking to our house wight. If I've lost something or if I need to find something, I'll sometimes ask the house wight for a little help finding it. Sometimes, I just talk about whatever's going on...or have a laugh about something the kids have done. Some people picture their house wight as a spirit...others picture their house wight as some form of hidden folk, like brownies or tomte or nisse. Some get the idea that their house wight is a male, and some a female. Some folks come to believe that they have some understanding for the personality of their house wight. Others find their house wight to be more of a mystery. Really, I don't think there are any hard and fast rules. I believe some house wights prefer a neat and tidy home, while others prefer a little bit of eclectic clutter. Some house wights prefer a bit of quiet, while others seem to enjoy the noise a house full of children brings. I've heard various beliefs on what house wights feel about family pets, but I tend to think the pets and the house wights give each other a respectful and friendship distance.<br />
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What is most important, is finding a way to acknowledge and interact with the spirit or heart of your home. While this is a spiritual matter, it is a practical one as well. When you gift and honor your house wight, and attempt to form a relationship or bond there...you will most likely also have a better appreciation for your own home, how it operates, and what makes it work best for you and your family. Many Heathens that gift and honor their house wight, report concrete benefits from doing so. Their homes are happier and healthier. They lose things less often, and when they do lose things...these objects have a way of turning up on their own (with a little help from the house wight, of course). Children who are taught to appreciate and get along with their house wight, are introduced to a part of our Folkway that many adults new to our world-view have not yet discovered. By teaching this to our children, we are giving back to them something that was taken from us.<br />
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Now let's talk about the land vaettir, or land wights. Some picture these wights or beings as actual hidden folk (brownies, gnomes, etc.) Others picture them as the living embodiment or living spirit of the fields or forests. There are various ways to approach them as well. What I'm going to talk about is what to do if you live in a suburban home and wish to gift the land vaettir outside of your home. Much like with the house wight, it is a good idea to establish a place in your yard to honor the land wights and to leave them gifts. This place in the back yard can be somewhere that you can sit and think and enjoy your back yard. Or it can be someplace dramatic or central to you backyard, such as a large tree or some other feature that dominates your yard. You can built an actual home for your land wight. Though some build an altar of rocks or wood. It might be appropriate to plant a flower garden, or landscape an appropriate place to honor the land wights. It is really up to you. <br />
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Leaving gifts for the land wights is a similar process to that of the house-wights, except that it is somewhat less personal. I don't find myself sharing some of my beer with the land-wights, like I do with my house-wight. I am more likely to simply sacrifice an entire beer of some quality to the land wights, rather than sharing some of my own. For me, the land wights are a little more distant and not nearly as close or personal as you house wight. It always feels to me like they are a little bit harder to get along with...and not as quick to give you the benefit of the doubt. Keeping your yard and trees healthy and well-tended (or at the very least, free of trash and clutter) is pleasing to the land wights. <br />
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If one lives on a farm or goes hunting, there are ways of approaching the land wights that may be helpful to your endeavors. Much of this you learn though experimentation, and seeing what works. Again, you can gift your land wights, talk with them, promise them certain things (but always follow through on your promises), and generally build bonds with them. But, you have make the time for it and do the work. Like everything in life, you get out of it what you put into it.<br />
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We have a neatly piled stack of stones in our backyard that is for our land wights. It is by one of the oak trees we have planted in our yard. It is hear that we leave gifts. I keep this pile of stones well tended and neat. I trim the grass very carefully around it, to show that it is important to me...and to keep it looking nice.<br />
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Honestly, this can all sound a bit crazy to the uninitiated. Many new Heathens tend to focus on the Gods and Goddesses, because they are used to religions that focus on divine powers. The idea that you share a home with an unseen spirit is not exactly something most of us grew up with in our modern culture. Giving gifts and respect to the spirits and unseen beings that live on the land you own is not something that your hear much about outside of our Folkway. But, as strange as it sounds and feels, gifting one's house wight and the land wights on your land, and learning how to interact with these beings can be very rewarding. Making this a part of your personal practice is the best way to learn. If something works, use it. If something doesn't work, let it go. This is one of those things that feels a bit strange at first, but then feels very natural after just a short time of giving it a try.<br />
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So, what are some ways you interact with your house and land wights?<br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a>ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-80154132451849497132013-06-06T23:13:00.000-05:002013-06-06T23:13:09.852-05:00My Legal Situation Has Been ResolvedI'm Mark Ludwig Stinson. I'm a 44-year-old husband of fifteen years and a father of three. Up until recently, I was a Sergeant on the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. This was a career I was dedicated to for a total of eighteen years. I am also a Heathen and the Chieftain of a kindred in the Midwest called Jotun's Bane Kindred. I have served in that position of responsibility since 2007. We host two open gatherings here in our region, including Lightning Across the Plains, and we attend many other gatherings in the Midwest hosted by other kindreds.<br />
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At the beginning of July of 2012, I learned I was being charged with a crime regarding my handling of a joint bank account I had with my mother's during my time as her Power of Attorney. For the past eleven months, I have worked with my attorney to find the best possible resolution to the situation. In order to avoid any possibility of jail time away from my wife and children, today I agreed to a plea bargain that involves me paying back every dollar that the State believes I spent inappropriately. This agreement involves a Suspended Imposition of Sentence, which means that technically it is not a conviction in Missouri and I will avoid becoming a felon. When I have completed my scheduled payments of restitution, it will become a closed record...and go away.<br />
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Considering the media attention this case initially received because I was a police officer, the resolution of the matter that was put in place today seems the best possible result that could be found. My mother's needs will continue to be met. She lives in a large comfortable log home in the country that she owns free-and-clear. My brother's family lives there in her home with her. She has money in the bank, money coming in from government benefits, and the money coming in from my restitution payments. So, she should have very little worries monetarily. The terms of my bond prevented me from talking with my mother for the past eleven months, but I was able to speak with her today after court.<br />
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Bad situations and conflicts arise in our life, both big and small. Sometimes they can be resolved easily and in private. Other times, they are difficult to resolve and become very public. All you can do is face them head on and attempt to resolve them as honorably as you can. From my earliest meetings with my attorney, those were my instructions to him.<br />
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I am very pleased to have this legal situation resolved. I have a family to raise and a life to live. I have a new job and I'm working hard. I have a new book in the works. I have a number of carved wooden statues that I've started, and a number of wooden hammers that I'll be finishing in the coming months. I plan to write more modern Heathen fables, and I will continue my practice of having those translated into as many languages as possible, so they can reach as many children as possible. We have many gatherings and friends across the Midwest to visit in the coming months. I'm hopeful that having this legal matter behind me, will allow me to be even more focused on my family, our kindred, and our efforts.<br />
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Jotun's Bane Kindred will continue to move forward with our friends by our side. Our free resource website will continue to grow. Our gatherings will grow and improve, and our bonds of friendship will increase in number. We will publish more books, create and share more resources for Heathen children, and we will continue to be measured by the things we do for our families, our community, and our Folk.<br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
http://www.heathengods.comghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-1239024155396059182013-04-23T11:33:00.001-05:002013-04-23T11:33:25.470-05:00Noble Virtues WordleI wanted to make a word-cloud of our Noble Virtues. So I headed over to the <a href="http://www.wordle.net/">Wordle website</a>. And I entered the following list of words, which represent our values as describe on our <a href="http://heathengods.com/virtues/index.htm">Noble Virtues page</a>, here at the Temple of Our Heathen Gods.<br /><div>
<br />Family, Frith, Loyalty, Honor, Responsibility, Self-Reliance, Respect, Hard-Work, Industry, Determination, Truth, Honesty, Wisdom, Generosity, Hospitality, Fairness, Justice, Equity, Bravery, Courage, Boldness, Strength, Endurance, Steadfast, Moderation, Self-control, Self-Rule, ASATRU, HEATHENRY<br /><br />And with a few of the settings changed, this is what it came up with...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCDuyIchL7U4OwLizp8Tq7ULm4lQRz77mZuj6EBqZS_beggYuCGGZhTvrfObBNttldoCQHuk8N1P7STZVzyKRnN9EhA46jzYx98q2dPuJGvHSSFysKC-x1lmLczz63mJ8cggyMhHptPo/s1600/noble_virtues_wordle.gif"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCDuyIchL7U4OwLizp8Tq7ULm4lQRz77mZuj6EBqZS_beggYuCGGZhTvrfObBNttldoCQHuk8N1P7STZVzyKRnN9EhA46jzYx98q2dPuJGvHSSFysKC-x1lmLczz63mJ8cggyMhHptPo/s400/noble_virtues_wordle.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click on the image to see it larger.<br /><br />
Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-76682273302005704852013-03-24T14:10:00.000-05:002013-03-24T14:10:07.468-05:00The Myth of the "Unchangeable Me"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGmL2oUCPmZ5a02Zt9VyePK4aImnFxSIcUb0mhy3Pb8uqDAK9P1zR5RFEiUWAENXi4WoXn8uEwS7UzttO-qm3pYsbcFzVhxxsWaRTzK0a43J70KKh_ZLi_BQm15ncqPL5SIDVck8lQw4/s1600/is_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGmL2oUCPmZ5a02Zt9VyePK4aImnFxSIcUb0mhy3Pb8uqDAK9P1zR5RFEiUWAENXi4WoXn8uEwS7UzttO-qm3pYsbcFzVhxxsWaRTzK0a43J70KKh_ZLi_BQm15ncqPL5SIDVck8lQw4/s320/is_36.jpg" width="240" /></a>In a popular culture and education system that tends to put self-esteem far ahead of achievement, accomplishment, and success it should be not surprise that it is a popular thing to reinforce "being yourself" and "not changing for anyone." On social media, you'll see many meme's, quotes, and images dedicated to reinforcing this idea of being completely unapologetic for "being who you really are."<br />
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From a more realistic standpoint, what if "who you really are" just isn't that great? What if your natural tendencies and current decision-making abilities get you in trouble more often than not? What if your personal habits are unhealthy and/or annoying? What if the personality you have developed over time isn't quite the finished product you would like it to be? What if you hold biases and dislikes that are unreasonable? What if your values, work ethic, and focus are lacking or not up to the task of living the life you are capable of living, or want to live? What if the "unchangable you" is failing to evolve and progress in your life and your relationships with those around you?<br />
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Don't get me wrong. I get the point of the "don't you dare ask me to change" quotes. There are people out there who try to change or fix everyone that comes within arm's reach of them. Usually, they try to change you into someone exactly like them. In-so-much as these "don't change" quotes refer to not being bullied or manipulated into changing yourself in unwanted and unreasonable ways, I completely agree. In-so-much as these quotes might cause people to not aspire to change for the better, or as an excuse to behave poorly toward others, I find myself shaking my head sometimes.<br />
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<b>LEARNING AND IMPROVING</b><br />
From the minute we are born we are learning, growing, developing, and trying to find the best ways to interact with the world and people around us. This process, to some degree or another, should go on throughout our entire life. New people, circumstances, challenges, and even failures in our life provide us with new input and new information at to what works and what doesn't. This new input almost always leads to some degree of change, and hopefully it leads to change that hindsight will show was an improvement.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzkwzWQm85GCVPZp5wZ1VGrIjHL_v7aO4R-xpL6bj4ZbGKmhq-8VN5UTvTfknJI7VMJy2K8rbkdKli2KD1fF41Uvdh0AcEU0esK8I_p52qUacv89MExncplEq-dy2BFHkQZbSd5SwLqM/s1600/asgard4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzkwzWQm85GCVPZp5wZ1VGrIjHL_v7aO4R-xpL6bj4ZbGKmhq-8VN5UTvTfknJI7VMJy2K8rbkdKli2KD1fF41Uvdh0AcEU0esK8I_p52qUacv89MExncplEq-dy2BFHkQZbSd5SwLqM/s320/asgard4.jpg" width="247" /></a>None of us are perfect, and none of us are a "finished product." This idea that there is a static "unchangeable you" is false. Equally false or counter-productive is condemnation of anyone giving you input, suggestions, or open and honest communication regarding things you could do differently or better. Especially if the person giving you input shares bonds of friendship with you, and has earned a place of trust in your life. If you care about your friends and family and trust them, then appropriate feedback from them about how you could improve is a gift you are being given. That does not mean you necessarily have to take the advice or change in the ways being suggested. But, this sort of feedback is a key part of friendships and other relationships between people, and should be welcomed when given in an appropriate way.<br />
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I actively seek input and feedback from my friends and close family. Sometimes they beat me to the punch, and bring me that feedback before I've even sought it out. When I agree with the input or feedback I'm given, I'm willing to make adjustments and change in ways that will improve myself, my life, or my relationships. Even when I disagree with the specific input or feedback being given, I really try to examine why my friend or loved one felt the need to share that feedback...and learn something from it.<br />
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<b>FLAWS AS A SELF-CENTERED EXCUSE</b><br />
I believe we have all known people who had serious problems with how they dealt with other people and the world in general. Perhaps their behavior was widely considered by others as selfish, mean, irresponsible, or completely lacking in empathy and understanding for others. We have watched as these features of their character cause problems in their life over and over again. We've watched them disrupt groups and efforts they have been a part of repeatedly. We've watched them drive away friends and acquaintances repeatedly. We've watched them lose jobs and ruin opportunities repeatedly. This really is a tragic process to watch when the person is not self-aware enough to know that their behavior and actions are at the heart of all their problems. What is even more tragic, is when the person is self-aware of his or her character flaws but proud of them.<br />
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For example, something goes wrong and they have once again made an individual or group of people angry with them, and the person in question looks at you and says, "Well, I'm an asshole, so what did they expect?" There is this sense that the person with the character flaw has no choice but to be an <u>asshole</u> to people, and further, that the whole world needs to give them a pass for being an asshole. You can fill in that blank with whatever word you would like. Bitch. Princess. Flake. Cruel. Self-Centered. It doesn't matter what character flaw we are talking about. There is just this sense that the individual with the flaw has no choice but to inflict the flaw on the world, and that the world needs to give them a pass. After all, they are unchangeable and should be proud of who they are. Right? This is the myth of the "Unchangeable Me" at work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtLXsYFl25q8bUWi_OdiiwR6vLnBKKRK-WspvcRXCiI2WpfwotF70zvNPb5b3h0uhz2n2deCvQ7cPlV1RdFAFWVjNH251MBKOA8WGlJiSxOR-UsrFKZJoLE0cjPhAyyPNq12NOk-gnpw/s1600/Valknot_plaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtLXsYFl25q8bUWi_OdiiwR6vLnBKKRK-WspvcRXCiI2WpfwotF70zvNPb5b3h0uhz2n2deCvQ7cPlV1RdFAFWVjNH251MBKOA8WGlJiSxOR-UsrFKZJoLE0cjPhAyyPNq12NOk-gnpw/s320/Valknot_plaque.jpg" width="320" /></a>Of course, people do have the complete freedom to be an Asshole, a Bitch, a Princess, a Flake, Cruel, Self-Centered, or whatever other personality traits they want to inflict on the world. They have a right to be who they want to be. But, the world has no responsibility to give them a pass. They can't expect family, friends, and random bystanders to actually accept their excuse that they are flawed and proud of it...and to simply smile and accept whatever poor behavior they rain down on those around them. Despite their belief that it does, the world has no obligation to give the flawed individual a pass for bad behavior. Life is too short to indulge those that would repeatedly act badly toward you and around you in a way that negatively affects your life and your efforts in this life. Much too short.<br />
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<b>ALSO APPLIES TO EXTERNAL CAUSES</b><br />
I would include in the myth of the unchangeable me, the idea that external factors are controlling us and that we have no choice in our actions. I've seen excuses made regarding harmful choices and bad behavior, where all the blame is put on alcohol, drugs, sexual attraction, or love. <br />
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"Well, I was drinking a lot that night, and shit happens."<br />
"I would never harm you or anyone in your kindred, but I was drinking that night."<br />
"I'm just not that in love with my wife anymore, so when I met this other girl...."<br />
"I can't really help who I love, you know?"<br />
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In these excuses we hear this idea that the person who is causing harm or making bad choices, really had no control in the matter. We hear this idea that other people or the world in general can't hold them responsible for what they are doing, because it is this uncontrollable or unchangeable external cause that is in control.<br /><br />Again, as with the excuse of the internal character flaw, no one can stop these people from letting alcohol, drugs, sex, or love control their behavior towards others. But, the world has no responsibility to give them a pass. They can't expect family, friends, and random bystanders to accept their excuse that they have no choice but to act badly toward them. The people in your life have no obligation to just go along with your bad behavior and excuse-making. There is a time and a place for "tough-love," where those closest to you make it clear that you have a choice between still having them in your life and your bad behavior and excuses.<br />
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<b>YOU ARE YOUR CHOICES AND DEEDS</b><br />
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When you think about it, the only thing standing between who you are and who you want to be, is your choices and your deeds. You are your deeds. We all have quirks, and flaws, and personal failings. We all have problems in our upbringing and past that weigh on us at times. We all struggle with doing the right thing on occasion. We all suffer insecurities now and again and wonder if we can accomplish those things we want to accomplish in this life. But, the bottom line truth of the matter, is we are creating and recreating ourselves every time we make a choice and do something. Every deed we perform in this life adds to us, changes us, and builds upon what we've already done. These are the layers in the well...our Orlog. Those deeds build (or tear down) our Luck. Those deeds grow (or shrink) or Gefrain. Those deeds add to (or subtract from) our Worth.<br /><br />To proudly announce that we are flawed and don't have any intention of working on or fixing those flaws, goes against some of the central concepts of Heathenry. When one insists that the world and the people around us must change and accept a single individual's flaws, is contrary to the community aspects of Heathenry - Frith, Thew, and one's Honor within a group.<br />
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<b>CELEBRATING WHO WE ARE</b><br />
I think it is enormously healthy to be proud of our positive character traits and those positive things we've accomplished in this world. I think it is unhealthy to celebrate negative character traits that have repeatedly caused negative things to happen in our life. It is equally unhealthy to trumpet these negative character traits as something unchangeable about you, and to expect the world to give you a pass and just accept your bad choices and behavior. The world shouldn't have to, and frankly won't.<br />
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In the end, we are our deeds. And the responsibility for who we are and what we do as adults falls squarely on our own shoulders.<br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a>ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-90899418870316020242013-03-15T08:47:00.001-05:002013-03-15T08:47:48.017-05:00Renewed Activity on Our Message Board<br />
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You will find new posts on the message board every single day. You can register on the Message Board in the traditional way, or you can use your Facebook account to register in seconds. Once you are on the Message Board, you can browse by topic categories or browse a list of the most recent discussions.<br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
http://www.heathengods.comghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-55013241714086138212013-02-06T13:02:00.002-06:002013-02-06T13:04:28.782-06:00What is Full-Immersion Heathenry?<br />
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My wife, Jennifer, made an observation the other day which I really took to heart. To paraphrase, she said something like, "Heathenry is not a club or a weekend-only thing. Heathenry is not a role-playing game or a re-enactment. It is not dress-up or pretend or being on-line. Heathenry is our life. Our family...our children...are involved, and the kindred is our extended family. We spend all of our time and money on Heathenry. Our family vacations are to Heathen gatherings, and our family friends are other Heathens. This is what we do and who we are."<br />
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This observation got me to thinking, and it brought together a number of smaller thoughts that I hadn't really connected before. It occurred to me that many of the struggles or misunderstandings between Heathens, both on-line and in-person, stem from differences in levels of involvement or immersion in Heathenry. As usual, I'm going to use my own kindred, Jotun's Bane Kindred, as an example. I would describe our kindred as fully immersed in our Heathenry. We are not unique in this. I personally know of many kindreds in the Midwest with a similar level of immersion, and I am certain they exist elsewhere as well. </div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred considers all the members of our kindred as part of one extended family. We share true Frith with one another, considering a success or failure by any one of us to be a success or failure for the entire group. We are Uncles and Aunts to each other's children. We see each other at least once a week, and often several times a week. We are at each other's home frequently, sometimes for religious reasons, but also for social purposes or to help out with something. Our relationships within the kindred, and our relationships with people outside the kindred, are based on a Heathen world-view, Heathen values, and the tribal Thew of our kindred.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuQxmCOtMv4B-6OvxWMDQSZpvSF7fYtjDrBUiTpWyuRwigu5BgR5wL4_Y-E1QQu1wfBHTwAe_b-0Tcno0RexSa66z9q6_raRpY_4VfUt8zMokX7r4pTL3iXEigxavBjgfnBI5ghMPCEE/s1600/DSCN4880+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuQxmCOtMv4B-6OvxWMDQSZpvSF7fYtjDrBUiTpWyuRwigu5BgR5wL4_Y-E1QQu1wfBHTwAe_b-0Tcno0RexSa66z9q6_raRpY_4VfUt8zMokX7r4pTL3iXEigxavBjgfnBI5ghMPCEE/s320/DSCN4880+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a>When I say that our kindred is "all-in," I mean we are literally "all-in." Our kids and spouses are fully involved in everything that we do. The vast majority of our friends outside the kindred, are Heathens within our Folk Community here in Kansas City or Heathens from around the Midwest that we have gotten to know very well at Heathen gatherings. All of our family vacations or trips are centered around attending Heathen gatherings held by kindreds around the Midwest. Walking into any one of our homes, there would be no mistaking any of us for anything other than Heathen. Every kindred member has important portions of their home and land dedicated to honoring their Gods, the Ancestors, and the Vaettir. Jennifer and I took the largest room in our house and remodeled it to become our kindred's Hall. A place large enough for the whole kindred to gather comfortably, hold workshops, feast, sit in Symbel, or honor our Gods. </div>
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Our kindred holds open Heathen gatherings, as do many other kindreds here in the Midwest. The time, effort, planning, and money that goes into hosting these gatherings would be difficult to over-estimate. For Lightning Across the Plains alone, we end up sacrificing about two months of our lives each year to making the event successful and meaningful for those that attend. Whenever we attend a gathering held by another kindred, we know exactly how much time and effort, blood, sweat, and tears they have put into their event on behalf of their guests.</div>
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It goes without saying that a large portion of our free time and disposable income are focused on our kindred, our Heathen activities, and Heathenry in general. Heathenry is at the center of our lives...and we are fully immersed in it. We use our real names both on-line and within the Heathen community. We participate in fostering our children with other kindreds in the Midwest. Our crafting activities, reading, and social activities center around Heathen themes. If I go to a movie or a hockey game with other people, you can be certain it is with members of my kindred. If one of us faces a large crisis in our life, you can be equally certain the rest of the kindred is right there at our side.</div>
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Successful members of our kindred understand the high level of responsibility they have to their own family and the families of the other members of the kindred. They make decisions with both their own needs, the needs of their family, and the needs of the kindred in mind. All the decisions they make and the actions they take can have an impact on every other member of our kindred..their families...their children. Their Orlog and Luck is tied to the Orlog and Luck of the group, and this lends a gravity to one's decisions that the individual alone does not experience. Due to our kindred's close relationship with many kindreds here in our region, a kindred member should further recognize that his/her decisions and actions can also affect our Heathen friends throughout the region, their kindreds, and their children.</div>
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<b>DIFFERENT LEVELS OF IMMERSION</b></div>
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Not everyone is at the same level of involvement or immersion, and I have not described Jotun's Bane Kindred's level of immersion above as a negative judgement on other people. Just as a factual matter, there are people that treat Heathenry a bit more like a hobby in which they indulge upon occasion. An interest they spend some time reading about and browsing relevant websites. Some people do not have the time at that moment to become fully immersed. Some people don't have the support of their spouse or their families, and feel unable to really commit themselves. Some people don't have any other Heathens in their area, and this can be naturally discouraging. Some people see kindreds as more of a club, than an extended family. For some it can be a weekend-only activity...something their spouse let's them go do for some time away, like a sports league or another individual activity. Some are in a situation where their spouse or ex-spouse won't let them involve their children in Heathenry. Some simply have other commitment and other interests that take up a fair portion of their time. We understand this.</div>
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So, I'm going to say this one more time to avoid misunderstanding. By describing our own level of immersion, I'm not commenting negatively on anyone else. Obviously, our level of immersion is one that we are comfortable with and one that we feel serves us best, or we would not be doing it. But, we understand it might not serve everyone best. We know, like, and enjoy being around Heathens with various levels of involvement and immersion.</div>
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<b>HOW DIFFERENCES CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS</b></div>
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What can often cause problems, is when Heathens with differing levels of involvement or immersion meet and interact, without a good understanding of their differences. The following are hypothetical situations meant to illustrate my point. They are generalizations, and not a comment about any certain group or type of people.</div>
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Imagine for a moment a new Heathen father who wants full immersion for his family and children and finds a kindred in his area that is more of a club or weekend-only activity for individuals. The newcomer will have certain expectations and hopes for this encounter with the new group which may very well clash with the established expectations within the club-like kindred. The new Heathen may see the group as not being serious or committed enough, and the kindred may very well see the new Heathen as pushy, judgmental, and annoying.</div>
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Imagine the Heathen individual who comes from a dysfunctional family finding a very family-oriented fully-immersed kindred in his area. This individual may have never known what it is to be part of a healthy family, and may not have the skills or ability to move beyond being just an individual. The family-oriented kindred will obviously have some expectations regarding those attempting to join them, and this individual may not be able to meet those expectations. You would think that a family-oriented kindred could train an individual to know how to interact within a family, but in most cases the damage has been done and their is no way to teach the person. Often, they don't even have the capability to recognize or acknowledge their own dysfunctional inability to function within a family environment.</div>
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Imagine in general the new person to Heathenry. They are still learning, exploring, and trying to get a foothold on this entirely different world-view and way of living. A club-like kindred may be a great fit for them at first...but a fit that they may potentially out-grow if as they learn over time that they find they want to be more heavily immersed. On the other hand, if they join a full-immersed kindred too early on, they may not fully understand the level of involvement to which they have committed...and do poorly at it in the long run.</div>
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Young single people can be a potential problem for a kindred that expects long-term commitment and full immersion. It can be impossible to predict who a young person is going to get into a romantic relationship with, and even more impossible to predict how that relationship will alter their focus and commitment to the kindred. Multiply this over several relationships that occur in a series, and there is certain lack of stability that will likely develop. Young single people are also more likely to move away in order to pursue a new relationship or career opportunity. None of this is bad in and of itself, but it should be kept in mind.</div>
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A married individual who has a spouse that dislikes Heathenry and does not support their involvement in the kindred can obviously be a large problem for a fully-immersed kindred. Non-supportive spouses tend to pick at and grind away at the involved spouse causing them all sorts of stress and problems, and all of this is usually just the build up to an ultimatum to leave the kindred and Heathenry. It is also enormously unlikely that a married member with a non-supportive spouse will be allowed to involve their children in your kindred, causing another focus of stress for them and within their marriage.</div>
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There are individuals that chase the next shiny thing. They rarely realize that this is what they are doing, but they basically go from new interest to new interest, showing an intense amount of commitment to each new activity for a short amount of time. And then off to the next shiny thing. When these folks join a fully immersed kindred they come in like gang-busters, and then one day they are just gone to the next thing. I wonder if they realize the damage they do to the other members, families, and children of such a group?</div>
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And let's not forget those who love drama. They feed on emotional turmoil and the negative attention that comes from being at the center of problems, or at least enormously close to problems they've stirred up. These individuals will never admit and may not even recognize that this is who they are and what they do. But, you can usually spot them by listening to the stories they tell of how unfairly they were treated by past jobs, other groups they belonged to, or other drama-filled tales with them as cast as the victim. These drama addicts can cause an enormous amount of damage to even a solid kindred if you let them. </div>
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<b>THE COMMON SENSE AND THE EXCEPTIONS</b></div>
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Again, I'm about to make some generalizations. But, I'm going to try and off-set this by acknowledging the ever-present exceptions to every rule. There are people who fit every good indicator who will be a nightmare for your kindred. There are people who should send up every red-flag, who will be amazing members in your kindred. There is no hard and fast rule. But, I still believe there is value in considering the generalizations.</div>
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If you have a family-oriented, fully-immersed kindred or are trying to build one, it is just common sense that some people are going to fit into that group and some people aren't. A healthy family approaching this kindred for possible membership is more likely to be a good fit than an individual who has been divorced three times. Someone who has been a successful member of other groups and knows how to interact within a social group is a better bet than the reclusive loner who is terminally socially awkward. Someone who has shown long-term commitment in other areas of their life is a much better bet than someone who is never long in one job, in one place, or one relationship.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhdl1FtNi8EaHl4sXpSsvblIQ94_J1r2YwEEuFIDa0ahbYtqXK9Vh9I1_mggGI6evqnyHDu6MoxrIzMTrFtlRk_dTQDXMiFXzBIRUIjZoUYEU2nqJ6TbDd0bSeyp6WKCag_dn26pWGGo/s1600/DSCN4831+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhdl1FtNi8EaHl4sXpSsvblIQ94_J1r2YwEEuFIDa0ahbYtqXK9Vh9I1_mggGI6evqnyHDu6MoxrIzMTrFtlRk_dTQDXMiFXzBIRUIjZoUYEU2nqJ6TbDd0bSeyp6WKCag_dn26pWGGo/s320/DSCN4831+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a>But each family and each individual are case-by-case, and should be judged by their deeds. I say judged by their deeds, because in this day and age there are many that can talk the talk...and talk it convincingly. But, you have to look behind the curtain, ignore the flowery words, the song-and-dance, and the emotional appeals, and get right at who this person actually is and what they actually do. When they interact with your kindred, are they contributing, helping out, sharing, and interested in learning how to fit well into your kindred? Do you see in their lives consistent signs of stability, commitment, loyalty, teamwork, and family-oriented thinking and actions? Or is something else going on?</div>
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It is also important to examine every aspect of a individual or family before letting them begin working toward joining the kindred. We've talked about stability, loyalty, commitment, ability to be part of a family or team, etc. But, one aspect that is sometimes neglected or forgotten is the social aspect. If you allow a new member into your kindred, you are going to be spending an immense amount of time with him or her. You will be interacting with them socially on a regular basis. If they annoy you, tire you, or bring with them serious personality conflicts, then these problems must be completely resolved before you can move forward. Potential members that are socially awkward or inept can also be a problem depending on the severity of their ineptness. Building and maintaining a kindred is hard enough when you all like each other a lot and get along well. If there are members of the kindred that do not like each other or don't know how to get along it can be toxic. </div>
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<b>UNDERSTANDING IS IMPORTANT</b></div>
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A little earlier I wrote, what can often cause problems, is when Heathens with differing levels of involvement or immersion meet and interact, without a good understanding of their differences.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3efzGCkyHBhlvPyKmVjnVh9tY2v2ny8XbTw5DGS8JurSkTA88Kk8VYGSsA7JIAeflngb5xF4a4IoS5BaeyeGLo_wSnr5eXjf1T3R3bwR4uND-aRKAzPIL3dwXgfFoHlq-UMeatkkPDI/s1600/gaea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3efzGCkyHBhlvPyKmVjnVh9tY2v2ny8XbTw5DGS8JurSkTA88Kk8VYGSsA7JIAeflngb5xF4a4IoS5BaeyeGLo_wSnr5eXjf1T3R3bwR4uND-aRKAzPIL3dwXgfFoHlq-UMeatkkPDI/s320/gaea3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For instance, if I approached every new Heathen that attended their first open event with us and demanded that they get on-board immediately with the same level of involvement as we have within the kindred, I would drive nearly everyone away. This goes equally so for long-time Heathens in the Kansas City area or the region around us. If they are at a place in their life where it works better for them or they simply prefer to have less immersion, then what purpose would it serve for me to demand more of them? One aspect of being a tribal Heathen that is sometimes overlooked, is that I don't expect everyone to believe and practices exactly as I do. I don't demand that of other people, or judge them negatively for not being exactly like me...or believing exactly as I do. Each tribe and family has its own ways and its own Thew, and I respect that.</div>
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When a kindred is examining someone for potential membership in their kindred, they need to keep in mind the level of immersion for which this potential new member appears ready. To do otherwise sets everyone up for problems down the road.</div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a> </div>
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ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-43293428213795531012013-01-30T16:00:00.000-06:002013-01-30T21:26:06.944-06:00Current Photo of Everyone in JBKI really like this recent photo of Jotun's Bane Kindred. It shows everyone involved in our kindred effort moving forward into 2013...including oathed members, applicant members, and prospects.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSPqhDdxNuq32biYjrSyHIdkTLgkrwmv-_mcsxco-CIBBHiu-PbK-brGryLzHyO7qBFfUojDYh5aKye9Er3cga5R-Q4iMBh0L-fNdFH42MTUoi8E5zsEtiKC08UDKFDRKgrGr-HAoEqw/s1600/gaea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSPqhDdxNuq32biYjrSyHIdkTLgkrwmv-_mcsxco-CIBBHiu-PbK-brGryLzHyO7qBFfUojDYh5aKye9Er3cga5R-Q4iMBh0L-fNdFH42MTUoi8E5zsEtiKC08UDKFDRKgrGr-HAoEqw/s400/gaea3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-20582828000652619362013-01-30T08:47:00.003-06:002013-01-30T08:47:59.505-06:00Rod Landreth's Removal from Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
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At Yule 2012, the members of Jotun's Bane Kindred unanimously agreed to release Rod Landreth from his kindred oath. In January 2013, we informed Rod Landreth of this decision. Rod is no longer a member of Jotun's Bane Kindred. His luck is his own and he does not speak for us nor does he know our mind.</div>
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After graduating from college in May of 2012, Rod was publicly put on Sabbatical from Jotun's Bane Kindred in order to explore his employment opportunities, move into a new house, and make decisions on his next steps in life. Rod was privately told that this "time in the woods" was meant to allow Rod to consider how he fit into the goals and thew of our kindred, and to allow the kindred to consider whether they could continue forward with Rod as a kindred member after a year and a half of difficulties.</div>
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At the end of his "time in the woods," Jotun's Bane Kindred decided that Rod be released from his Kindred oath for the Kindred's benefit, and perhaps his own. Rod remains a friend and a fellow member of the Heathen Folk Community here in the Kansas City Area. Jotun's Bane Kindred has only well wishes for Rod as he moves on to another chapter in his life.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-68684114576054797632013-01-19T17:23:00.000-06:002013-01-19T17:23:48.351-06:00Jotun's Bane Kindred - Moving Forward in 2013<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8QmF9t3hyphenhyphen_IgcbL5mJKoXpT8L9-4E6PEmA0c5-zAHbTRnlZV5VC2DkPVXbl72N27wuZcCQgywXXE_erv4LWlD2JR5WjfQvYJ3Ymxf4ogHpMRCCAWxbWXcDuhQ8KXeHdkXYEJSbtmu-Q/s1600/119_2557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8QmF9t3hyphenhyphen_IgcbL5mJKoXpT8L9-4E6PEmA0c5-zAHbTRnlZV5VC2DkPVXbl72N27wuZcCQgywXXE_erv4LWlD2JR5WjfQvYJ3Ymxf4ogHpMRCCAWxbWXcDuhQ8KXeHdkXYEJSbtmu-Q/s320/119_2557.JPG" width="320" /></a>Yule and the New Year is a time of reflection and consideration of the prior year -- and a time of vision and planning for the coming year. Recent successes and failures are reviewed and examined, lessons are learned, new Thew is crafted and existing Thew is adjusted and evolved. And the future sprawls before you, rife with both pitfalls and opportunities. <br />
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Going into 2013, our kindred membership is a strong and vibrant group of loyal and honorable Heathens, some oathed, some applicants, and some prospects.<br />
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The Stinsons -- Mark, Jennifer, Nathan, Elizabeth, and Joshua <br />
The Hamilton's -- Johnny, Kimberly, Zac, Raven, and Lillian<br />
Will Burris (and Ruffus)<br />
The Steveson's -- Glen and Susan<br />
The Hopkins -- Bo and Kella<br />
The Thurston's - James and Stephanie <br />
Joel Archer and Jackie Christiansen</blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnEj7o6OnlszrBKk09DBQSpej2DcXlnIcctkcDevi9ozytFwF8V5KZaFq_UFjvIm2qnj9K3e2zDz5VOv_ux_QcmqSs-xzIZvQQTZ0fMEY4Ro8drg3FJYl-OoupMOspup0zQBaGt4llRY/s1600/120922_0128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnEj7o6OnlszrBKk09DBQSpej2DcXlnIcctkcDevi9ozytFwF8V5KZaFq_UFjvIm2qnj9K3e2zDz5VOv_ux_QcmqSs-xzIZvQQTZ0fMEY4Ro8drg3FJYl-OoupMOspup0zQBaGt4llRY/s320/120922_0128.jpg" width="320" /></a>The members of Jotun's Bane Kindred are feeling enormously joyful about the future of our families, our kindred, and our friends within the regional community. We have a full schedule of both private events and public outreach on our schedule for the year. We're looking forward to hosting both our Ostara Gathering and the fifth annual Lightning Across the Plains Gathering, and celebrating our sixth year as an oathed kindred. We have a lot of road-trips on our calendar to visit other kindreds in our region and attend their gatherings as well. It is a good feeling to be making forward progress with good friends at your side.<br />
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Jotun's Bane Kindred is hopeful that those reading this have a full and meaningful 2013 ahead of them as well.<br />
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:-)<br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a><br />
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ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-21611271557564939502013-01-11T13:50:00.000-06:002013-01-11T14:13:17.403-06:00The Pitfalls of On-Line Heathenry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRfAIrY1jvAZqh4edClpOUCPQCYn6N6BPM8rSNflqq9abK8muZuv_3KIxs5He7IakNmyBrmaNWotMzv-5aIw0ECeWsygGE5aUqEHQavnzXJ1AyAH68jzhfY2yC-quZAoB0r800b0yGW0/s1600/DSCN4263+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRfAIrY1jvAZqh4edClpOUCPQCYn6N6BPM8rSNflqq9abK8muZuv_3KIxs5He7IakNmyBrmaNWotMzv-5aIw0ECeWsygGE5aUqEHQavnzXJ1AyAH68jzhfY2yC-quZAoB0r800b0yGW0/s320/DSCN4263+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a>On-line Heathenry is how many Heathens find and share information, promote and educate people about their events and efforts, and it is a great way to stay in touch with other Heathens and Kindreds not in your immediate area. On-line Heathenry is where most new Heathens first encounter other Heathens. But, on-line Heathenry is a flawed and dysfunctional place much of the time. If you skim the surface and essentially just lurk about, it can be somewhat entertaining to watch the train-wreck that is on-line Heathenry. But, if you delve in, share opinions and information, and engage in on-line discussions, the negatives to on-line Heathenry that make it almost not worth it to engage at all.<br />
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Honestly, most of the things I'm going to write about in this post don't occur very much in face-to-face Heathenry. Probably because when you are face-to-face with another person you recognize them as another human being. You recognize that the other person can react to what you say in an immediate and equal way. And finally, most of the things described in this post are done by people who aren't really involved in face-to-face Heathenry. These are things mostly done by people who see themselves as brave mighty Heathens, though most of their Heathenry takes place behind a keyboard and screen.<br />
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(Note: I chose some cheerful photos from face-to-face Heathenry to accompany this essay, just to lighten the mood a little. LOL.)<br />
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<b>DENOMINATIONAL THINKING</b> - The beliefs and practices of our Ancestors varied greatly, depending on time-period, geographical location, socio-economic status, and other factors. Our Ancestors lived in an oral-storytelling culture, with no writing, no holy books, no centralized religious authority (at least to the degree we see today in Christianity), and there was a great diversity in what they believed and how they honored our Gods, Ancestors, and the Wights. As with other oral-storytelling traditions, it is likely that even two families living on farms five miles from each other would have had at least some degree of differing traditions and beliefs. But, there are those modern Heathens that seem to believe they know the "one true way" to Honor our Gods. They may not admit to this openly, or even outright deny it, but their words and actions clearly suggest that they feel that their way is the only correct way. They believe that what they believe and what they practice is right, and everyone else is wrong. As such, some of these "fundamentalist" Heathens work very hard against anyone that does things or sees things differently than they do. They denigrate and mock those Heathens that believe differently than they do. They put forward the idea that modern Heathenry is about rediscovering what our ancestors believed, without ever truly acknowledging that our ancestors beliefs varied greatly and represent a diverse tapestry, not a singular monolithic belief structure.<br />
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This denominational thinking leads to unnatural divisions within modern Heathenry. "I can't go to that gathering, because the people hosting it don't believe exactly as I do." "I don't like that kindred four states away from ours because I've heard they do things differently than we do." "I can't hang out with those folks," they are in a different National Org than I am, and must do things completely differently than I do."<br />
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Let's be clear. Most Heathens have more in common than the petty differences that tend to get constantly highlighted on-line. And modern Heathenry is too small and too new to weaken itself with exhausting and pointless wedges driven through segments of our Folk. Wedges that are often driven into place by people with no real interest in advancing Heathenry forward as a whole.<br />
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<b>THOSE THAT CONDEMN</b> - There are on-line Heathens out there that jump at the chance to condemn and badmouth others. Often these condemnations are over matters of belief. They regularly accuse people of being Racists or Race-Traitors, Fluffy Bunnies, Wack-Jobs, and accuse people of having "Christian Baggage." They almost always do this with very little actual knowledge of the person they are condemning and name-calling. You may think you are engaging in conversation with them, or building mutual understandings, but their intentions are not to have an honest discussion with you. They much prefer to nit-pick your words, remove them from context, argue meaningless semantics, and declare some sort of intellectual victory which they have not actually won. I can't really say specifically why they do this, but I've come to believe they do it to feel better about themselves. They suffer from that weak tendency of feeling bigger and better when they are tearing other people down. From the outside looking in, it appears to be a "look at me!" showboating meant to make them feel intelligent and important. It mostly leaves everyone else wondering why we bother getting on-line.<br />
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<b>NAY-SAYERS</b> - Another group of on-line Heathens spend their time tearing down anyone that is actually doing anything real in the world. You host a gathering, and they spend their time spreading negative misinformation about your gathering. You start a kindred, and they spend their time trash-talking your efforts. You work on any sort of forward-looking Heathen effort, and they spend their time mocking your efforts. Nevermind that they have never attended your gathering, have never met your kindred, and know nothing about your efforts. And nevermind that they aren't really doing anything themselves except posting on-line, and mostly posting attacks and negativity. Again, I can't say for sure why they do this. But, it seems to me that if they can tear down everyone else's efforts, it makes it alright in their mind that they aren't really making any positive efforts of their own. If no one else succeeds, or they find a way to mock anyone else's successes, it makes their own lack of action or successes somehow more personally acceptable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0oYEzCJIv_cKI6B6oYpm-y2YCMmwrbXb_eUFSW7Ve91ThWh22Mo-LHdWYZLMTRtB21pM_dr9acSGE3_Q0jH8Kz7joBuR0TwSATe8HL8-edw-zhsmhldcDGsZA6USWh08hJsYHpxMpVU/s1600/SDC10708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0oYEzCJIv_cKI6B6oYpm-y2YCMmwrbXb_eUFSW7Ve91ThWh22Mo-LHdWYZLMTRtB21pM_dr9acSGE3_Q0jH8Kz7joBuR0TwSATe8HL8-edw-zhsmhldcDGsZA6USWh08hJsYHpxMpVU/s320/SDC10708.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>LEADER-KILLERS</b> - There are on-line Heathens that spend a fair amount of time tearing down anyone that gains any sort of renown. Anyone that expresses any sort of opinion or shares anything publicly about their beliefs or practices is mocked as wanting to be the Asa-Pope. It is almost a reflex reaction anymore. Anyone that leads a kindred or local group is declared a Cult-Leader, a Know it All, or accused of benefiting from a Cult of Personality. If they can't find anything real to destroy the leaders with, they make up lies. Nevermind they've never met the people they are tearing down. To some degree, I understand the mistrust of anyone who represents any sort of leadership. I think a distrust of leaders is sort of built into our American culture, and perhaps this is amplified within the Heathen subculture because we are an alternative to the status quo. But, the people I'm talking about literally attack anyone who is working hard within Heathenry.<br />
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<b>PERSONAL POLITICS</b> - Heathenry represents an enormously small percentage of the population, making Heathenry a "small world." There are Heathens that quickly develop personality-conflicts and personal dislike for other Heathens, and focus in almost obsessively to the task of destroying those they don't like...and anyone that associates with those they don't like. Any effort by anyone they don't like, is mercilessly and endlessly attacked. Any opinion stated by anyone they don't like is twisted and taken out of context so that it can be gutted and made to seem not only unreasonable, but outright foolish or stupid. Often this sort of personal attack is done in the shadows. The people that do this sort of thing feel completely comfortable attacking their target's family, using photos of their target's friends and family, and suggesting the worst possible things about a person in places and in ways that prevents the target from defending himself or herself. It is clear to most of us how dishonorable this behavior is, but that argument is lost on those that engage in this behavior.<br />
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<b>THE FANTASY IDENTITY</b> - I understand when a person wants to maintain their privacy and not share too much about their family or personal life. But, there is a specific kind of person involved in on-line Heathenry that speaks about life, Heathenry, values, and other matters...but we don't know a single real thing about the person. They exist as just so many pixels on the screen, without any information or context available for the opinions they are sharing or the ideas they are spreading. These fantasy identities usually have an assumed name or a "Heathen name." There are few if any photos of the person. No real information about their life, their successes, their failures, etc. Nothing. So, they are able to portray themselves any way they wish, and many people will just accept this because we all know "if it is on the internet it must be true." LOL. I have managed to track down information on a few of the fantasy identities that irritated me the most, just out of personal curiousity. And I assure you that if people knew more about who they really are and what they really do in life, their online fantasy identities would lose most if not all of their credibility. Your best bet when encountering an advice or information from someone who is basically a blank slate, is to consider that advice or information as extremely suspect until proven otherwise.<br />
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I mean, do you want to take advice about Heathen marriage from someone who has been divorced three times? Do you want to take family advice from someone who has never really had a good family experience and doesn't really know how to interact within a family? Do you want to take job advice from someone who has never had a career of any sort, and who has gone from job to job to job every few months? And if you don't know anything real about the person giving you advice, you don't really know if they have any knowledge or Luck worth sharing.<br />
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<b>CRAZY PEOPLE</b> - We all understand that there are mentally ill people and people with personality disorders in every religion and every walk of life. But Heathenry, perhaps because it is an alternative religion and not part of the mainstream, seems to have at least its share of crazy people. There are Heathens on-line that are delusional, unreasonable, and without any boundaries what-so-ever. They develop hatreds for others on-line over the smallest things. They are obsessive and, once they are on the attack, they never stop. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDK2WK0O4XKn28lcf_d4hwKh1Yp3kwyFbaf_sgV2nDWq3NHCFOrDjKn8q68TDcAUtoUvxiC1o1NfGqBoM_nvbLQIYJ9lTd10stNk90ll5RX7ZlwQ8aG48_pov_1Q_-trCWurGBYJuAP0/s1600/DSCN4289+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDK2WK0O4XKn28lcf_d4hwKh1Yp3kwyFbaf_sgV2nDWq3NHCFOrDjKn8q68TDcAUtoUvxiC1o1NfGqBoM_nvbLQIYJ9lTd10stNk90ll5RX7ZlwQ8aG48_pov_1Q_-trCWurGBYJuAP0/s320/DSCN4289+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>WHAT CAN YOU DO?</b> - Honestly, the most you can really do about these behaviors is not engage in them yourself, call people out when you see them engage in these behaviors, and don't associate with those people who insist on acting in these ways. Ignoring these people as sort of the broken bottom-feeders they tend to be is probably the best way to deal with them.<br />
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I wrote this essay, because people will often ask me why I am such a strong proponent of face-to-face Heathenry, grass-roots growth, and Heathen gatherings. Sometimes people take exception when I say something negative about on-line Heathenry. So, I thought perhaps I would illustrate some of the things I've experienced to better explain why I fear the negative affect on-line Heathenry has on all our efforts. Granted, there are many positive features of on-line Heathenry, which is why I am still involved on-line. But, it is my worry that Heathenry will be stuck in a prolonged infancy as long as we tolerate these destructive behaviors.<br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a>ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-85354572531207418852013-01-10T13:58:00.000-06:002013-01-10T13:58:48.189-06:00Change is Certain - Accept it - Plan For It<br />
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The one constant in life is change. The earliest recorded expression of this idea is by Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who wrote a book around 500 B.C.E. Heraclitus expressed the idea that even when the stand in the exact same place in a river, the waters flowing around you are different waters, flowing from different places in each moment. When modern Heathens discuss Wyrd and Orlog, they sometimes use the symbolism of a tapestry. There may be familiar patterns or repeating themes in your life, but you are always at a different point on the tapestry...at a different point in your story. For this reason, your knowledge, difficulties, support mechanisms, and opportunities are all different, even if the situation seems similar.</div>
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You will often hear people say, "I don't like change." Or perhaps they'll say, "I fear change." Essentially, this is like saying, "I fear life," because our lives are in a constant state of change. And while you don't have to like or enjoy all the changes, it is healthy to acknowledge and accept that change is a certainty. You body matures, ages, and changes unceasingly over time. Your mind-set, understandings, and emotional maturity move, shift, evolved, and can even devolve over time. Everyone your know and interact with is changing, shifting, and "standing in different waters" from moment to moment. We watch our parents grow older, weaker, and eventually die. We watch our children learn to walk, talk, and grow from nearly helpless little babies to full-grown adults with minds and lives of their own.</div>
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It would be unwise to ignore the ways our lives shift and change. It would be outright foolish to hope for long-term stasis or "sameness" in a world as complex and fast-moving as our own. But, there are ways we can build relatively stable lives upon the shifting sands. Stable rich lives full of people we love and stand with against all hardships. But, like many things worth doing, it goes better if you put some thought into it and approach the puzzle with forethought and purpose.</div>
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<strong>CHANGE WITHIN OUR FRIENDSHIPS</strong></div>
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Currently you do not have the same friends, nor do you have the same relationship with each of those friends, that you had five years ago. And five years from now you will not have exactly the same friends that you have now, and your relationships with each of the friends that remain will be different. As human beings our needs, interests, tolerances, and life-situation change over time. Some friendships end with a loud and rowdy fight or disagreement over an action taken by one of the friends, a difference in values that can't be resolved, betrayal, disgust, or clashing interests. Some friendships simply fade away quietly due to changing interests, new people in each friend's life, or a changed life-situation that just doesn't really support the continuance of the friendship anymore. People who once liked each other can learn do dislike each other over time. People get jobs far away and need to move. People get married, find new interest, new friends, change religion, or move in a direction in life that you may not want to follow.</div>
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This is not to say that some friendships can't last your whole life. And I certainly don't mean to say that friendships should be given up on easily. But, it is clear to me that you cannot predict which friendships will last your whole life. You can't predict these things with any certainty at all. The friend you thought would never ever let you down...may surprise you by completely walking away just when you need his friendship the most. The friend who swears life-long friendship to you in the strongest terms, may forget the commitment in those words just a few months later while playing with whatever "new shiny thing" they've come across lately.</div>
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Knowing and understanding this, we can act wisely toward our friends. We must treat our friends well. Visit them often. Be generous with our gifts, our advice, our support, and our time. We must share our thoughts with them, and listen to their goals, experiences, and thoughts when they share them. If we find ourselves with a new interest, a new friend, or a new direction in life -- sharing these new things with our friends allows them to adapt to the changes in us. We should in turn encourage our friends to share those new things in their lives with us. If a friend really digs a new band or their start a band, listen to the music. If a friend starts going to a sports event all the time, ask to go with them sometime and find out what they love about the sport. If a friend gets involved in a new club, a new activity, a new interest, at least get to know what they are up to and why they love this new thing. Staying involved and interested in a friend's life and allowing them to be involved and interested in your life goes a long way toward letting you change and grow at a nice even pace -- rather than growing apart.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3Vt7TDTXn_TR-ZKLdVcmBBSG4T8wS9A_kYmxg_alEEJ9wv2nq42RfpoYqwoM9xlc-25Xve12UblB-HNWC-UNEZJMyt7BJ2smVNiS0dYcKT2ucfDwB5lHkGd-aJPDCvVt6p7AiJIbG4c/s1600/SDC11084+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3Vt7TDTXn_TR-ZKLdVcmBBSG4T8wS9A_kYmxg_alEEJ9wv2nq42RfpoYqwoM9xlc-25Xve12UblB-HNWC-UNEZJMyt7BJ2smVNiS0dYcKT2ucfDwB5lHkGd-aJPDCvVt6p7AiJIbG4c/s200/SDC11084+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a>But, the point of this essay hinges on the fact you can do everything right, and still a friend may go away. You can attempt to follow the flow of change, manipulate it, and make it work for you. But, in the end you can't stop change and you can't predict where it will go or how it will affect your life and friendships. So, a skill in life that must be learned is how to let go of friends. Sometimes friends begin exhibiting behaviors that make it clear something is wrong. Perhaps they are taking actions that are very selfish, or possibly even hurtful to you or mutual friends. Perhaps they are expressing dissatisfaction with who you are, but the things they are asking you to change or alter are not things you want to change or alter about yourself. Perhaps they make it a habit to let you down and not follow through with plans you've made. Perhaps they are befriending or offering "comfort and aid" to your enemies. Perhaps they simply disappear from your life...no visits, no calls, no interest in remaining in touch.</div>
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You can address these behaviors with your friend in an open and honest way in the hopes that these matters are misunderstandings and can be resolved or worked through. During this process of working through problems, pay much more attention to the actions and deeds of your friend, and not so much attention to their words. There is a type of person out there that likes to say all the right things to keep you on the hook, without really being willing to do the right things or take the right actions. In the end...if you find these matters cannot be resolved or worked through, it is time to let go. It is sad and disappointing to let a friend go. Some are more sad and disappointing than others of course. But, life is too short and our decisions about who we associate with too important to drag out a bad relationship that has no real hope of becoming good again. Let go with as little drama as possible. Let go with as much honesty and clarity as possible. Let go in a way that does not do any more harm to either of your interests. But, let go.</div>
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Hanging onto to failed friendships wastes your time, your energy, and your emotions on someone who has usually shown by their actions that they aren't really interested in being a loyal friend to you any longer. There are plenty of good and loyal people in the world that you can spend your time, energy, and emotions on...to your mutual benefit. Toward this end, it is good to be open to new friendships. Especially when you encounter someone who has the values, interests, and qualities that you know would make for a good and loyal friend.</div>
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<strong>CHANGE WITHIN OUR MARRIAGES</strong></div>
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Much of the advice in the Friendship portion of this essay goes for marriages as well, with one major difference. A marriage is an oath between two people, usually made with a high degree of permenance in mind. An oath made before their family, their friends, and their Gods. This oath becomes even more important once the married couple take on the responsibility of raising children in a healthy and stable environment. So, even more so than with friendships, both spouses need to work very closely together to ensure they are growing and changing together in complimentary ways, and not growing apart. New friends, interests, and directions in life should be shared between the married couple, at least enough so that these new factors do not create wedges in the marriage.</div>
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Any long and successful marriage can almost be mapped in phases. The marriage relationship changes of it own accord. There is the time when you are first married and honey-mooning. This can be a time of great joy and plenty of little fights as the two of you figure out how to live together in one house, sharing one life together. Then the children come, and things shift into new parent mode. Eventually the children are old enough to not need constant attention and the marriage moves into another phase where the married couple has a little more time together, for each other. And so on. Every marriage is different, but they all experience a shifting focus and evolution of purpose over time. If the married couple is determined and intentional in working on their marriage and keeping is healthy and positive, then they will work through all the changes together as a team, communicating and making adjustments as they go.</div>
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As I've stated in other essays, while maintaining the marriage oath is enormouly important to the married couple, their children, their extended families, their kindreds, and their friends -- there are circumstances where a marriage is better off being disolved and the oath released. In general, spousal abuse, chronic alcohol and drug abuse, gambling addiction, and infidelity are obviously some areas of failure where it might be better for all involved if the marriage is ended. But, it should never be done so lightly and without a full understanding of the consequences it will have on everyone connected to the failure.</div>
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<strong>CHANGE WITHIN OUR KINDREDS</strong></div>
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Finding other Asatruars or Heathens can be difficult, and building a lasting kindred can be even more difficult. Friendships and trust must be built. Understandings and boundaries established. Structure, decision-making, and methods need to be discussed and agreed upon. So, once you have a kindred that is operational and moving forward, the last thing you want to see is change. You don't want to see anyone leave, and when people do leave it feels like a failure in some way...or a disruption. It is completely natural to feel this way, if not a little unrealistic. Change is going to happen no matter how much you attempt to prevent it. It doesn't matter how air-tight your kindred oath is and it doesn't matter how serious you believe every oath-taker is when they make that oath. Some will burn out. Some will move away. Some will lose interest. Some will self-destruct. Some have never had a family, and don't have a clue how to be a part of something like a family. Some unintentionally seek drama in their lives, and your kindred will be no exception. We could go on and on here, and I'm sure many readers would find examples from their own lives to contribute.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwLHCp2QOBUlrfD6YWNrIj9bGeo7RYUsXpdiZpDEWWkixw8ieNoAOAZxvIcy_JkxnbRj5Z8BezeekjcRfHS7FY6_5w6Tw_8977NwIUfLynSZTyhE7RSfOEXp7FICuXsEN2xj7nPwYG5c/s1600/SDC11138+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwLHCp2QOBUlrfD6YWNrIj9bGeo7RYUsXpdiZpDEWWkixw8ieNoAOAZxvIcy_JkxnbRj5Z8BezeekjcRfHS7FY6_5w6Tw_8977NwIUfLynSZTyhE7RSfOEXp7FICuXsEN2xj7nPwYG5c/s200/SDC11138+%5B640x480%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a>But here is the bottom-line. If your kindred is five-years old, then it is enormously likely it does not have the exact same members it did when it started. And look around your kindred right now. The people you see around you...it is enormously likely they won't still be there five years from now. Sure, some members will be in a kindred for its entire existance. But, just as with friendships, it is impossible to predict who will stay and who will go. That's just how life works. You'd like to believe that you know who is going to stick with your kindred effort for the long haul, but it is hubris to believe you can predict that. The guy or gal you have 100% faith in could be gone in six months. And the guy or gal you aren't completely sure about, might be there for the next 30 years.</div>
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So, how do you build a stable kindred on such shifting sands? You have to be smart about it. Choose your kindred members wisely. Choosing wisely will at least limit or reduce the turn-over in membership over time. Carefully structure and plan your kindred, its traditions, its decision-making, and its processes to maintain stability even as kindred membership evolves slowing over time. Protect your kindred from all threats to its existance and stability, from both within and without. Have a process and method for dealing with those members that may flake-out on you over time. Address problems within your kindred openly and honestly -- and be direct about it. As with all human interaction, generous communication and seeking of understanding and common ground can avoid a lot of problems...and solve many of the problems you can't avoid. Especially within a social group that has been established on the basis of trust and Frith.</div>
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What do you do when kindred members fail or when problems develop. Just like with friendships, you tackle any problems that come up in a forward and direct way, in hopes of resolving or fixing the problem. But, there are times when the actions of a kindred member repeatedly show that it is time for them to go. Much like with friendship, there is a time when hanging onto a failed kindred member wastes your time, your energy, and your emotions over someone who is showing by their ongoing actions that they don't want to be a loyal and frithful kindred member any longer. Letting go of a kindred member should never be done lightly, as a kindred oath and your relationships within the kindred were established to be stable, strong, and lasting. But, there are people out there that will take advantage of your loyalty, when they have no intention of truly being reciprocal in the oath they hold with you. Some of these people don't even know they are doing it...but their actions and the consequences of their on-going actions tell the tale very clearly.</div>
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When you find yourself in this situation, let go with as little drama as possible. Let go with as much honesty and clarity as possible. Let go in a way that does not do any more harm to either of your interests. But, let go.</div>
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Acknowledging that there will be at least some turn-over in kindred membership over time, necessitates making efforts to meet and add new members to your kindred over time. Sometimes existing members will resist the addition of new members, arguing that they "just want things to stay the same." The problem with listening to this advice, is the person who is arguing against adding any new membrers over time may not be there in a year or two. The kindred, its health, its survival, and its goals are more important than any one person within the kindred. The kindred is paramount because if the kindred has been built and maintained correctly, the kindred itself may very well outlast every current member's involvement or time on this earth. So, directly argue against selfish and short-sighted advice of kindred members who just want everything "to stay the same." Nothing stays the same.</div>
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There are also incredible benefits to the kindred in addiing new quality members over time. New members are much more than just an extra set of hands to do the work. New members tend to be fired up about the kindred and heathenry, and this energy and excitement can be contagious for more tenured members. New members naturally bring new skills, new knowledge, and new opportunities to the table for the kindred. They also bring a fresh eye and fresh approachs to challenges or problems that have affected the kindred over time. It is important that you choose your new members carefully and do the work necessary to properly bring them into the Thew and traditions of your kindred. But, if you have chosen well, new members can be a spark for positive change within a kindred and a sign of the kindred's potential longevity.</div>
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<strong>CHANGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT</strong></div>
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You may not like change. You may fear change. But, change doesn't really care. Its going to happen anyway. So, accept it. Acknowledge it. Plan for it. If you really think it through and learn from your experiences, you can build a stable life, with a stable marriage, stable friendships, and a stable kindred on top of the shifting sands of change. And these powerful and meaningful successes in your life prepare you and shelter you from everything and anything that might come your way.</div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-49837934922180198442012-10-23T14:07:00.001-05:002012-10-23T14:07:35.093-05:00Carved Aspen Mjolnir #2<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/pmoAJqu051" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bu_wsL4ErUA/UIbpJlM374E/AAAAAAAADDc/-qXFnR1Ikt8/s160-c/CarvedAspenMjolnir2.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is a Thor's Hammer I recently finished carving from aspen wood. It will be available for sale at <a href="http://heathengods.storenvy.com/">http://heathengods.storenvy.com/</a>.<br />
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Mark Ludwig Stinson<br />
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br />
Temple of Our Heathen Gods<br />
<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a>ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-22688068136172445382012-10-21T20:54:00.001-05:002012-10-21T20:54:19.900-05:00Gear Bind-Rune Design<table style="width: 194px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/118157058542809558174/GearBindRuneDesign?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite" style="color: #4d4d4d; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Gear Bind-Rune Design</a></td></tr>
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I was just messing around with design elements...and this idea of combining a gear image with our bind-rune came to mind. For me...it is just such a clear design element. And it communicates (for me at least) the interconnected nature of our kindred with other kindreds and heathens families. It also communicates a certain working-class frame of mind that I don't mind communicating about our kindred as well. <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/118157058542809558174/GearBindRuneDesign#" target="_blank"><b>Click here to see the various designs.</b></a></div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/" target="_blank"><b>Temple of Our Heathen Gods</b></a></div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-66806739800501663262012-09-10T15:30:00.001-05:002012-09-10T15:38:52.722-05:00Lightning Across the Plains...Almost Here!<div><p>The Lightning Across the Plains regional gathering and Thing is coming up fast on Sept 20-23, 2012.  Heathen Kindreds, families, and individuals from across the Midwest will be traveling 3 hours, 8 hours, and some 16 hours or more to attend.  Over 200 Heathens will participate together in religious activities, workshops, games, and social interaction.  They will watch their children play together, they will share meals, exchange stories, laugh together and form bonds of friendship.</p>
<p>In the true spirit of regional cooperation, many kindreds and individuals work on making sure LATP is a productive and successful events.  The workshops are presented by a wide range of people, each sharing information about a topic from their point of view.  Manning the gate, preparing the meals, and setting up for various activities are shared tasks.  Even the religious activities are performed by several different kindreds.</p>
<p>Across the Midwest, Heathens are getting ready for LATP.  The finishing touches are being put on workshops and Fainings.  Crafts and artwork are being completed.  Heathens are getting their camping gear ready, and packing for their roadtrip to the gathering.  Jotun's Bane Kindred is in the final stretch of getting things ready for our guests.  And what's the payoff?</p>
<p>The payoff is an incredible weekend of information sharing.  Old friends seen...and new friends made.  A weekend where bonds are formed between kindreds and individuals from across our region.  And as our kids play and learn together a foundation is put in place for the future of Heathenry in our region.  LATP is fun, it is uplifting, it is enriching.  And it honors our Gods and our Ancestors.</p>
<p>The basic weekend registration price for LATP has not changed since we began in 2009.  For more details about the event or to register, visit http://latpgathering.com</p>
<p>Mark Ludwig Stinson<br>
Jotun's Bane Kindred<br>
Temple of Our Heathen Gods</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW910InNPDKOQ4C9GiHmBL15ypHOiDPt6fY1LTp3D6T9Qm-OMMDLUMudcBNdmHH89FcRLngOwnJNCqOlpZHy_4K0hPGY-vJtqYL-SI449sxQXZxdjqRUEsQmTM0GWi1_k1DCPnxkVH0A/' /></div>ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872655574498550562.post-38749345388032400142012-09-02T01:17:00.000-05:002012-09-02T01:21:57.248-05:00Temple of Our Heathen Gods - Version 2.0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In August of 2007, we started the Temple of Our Heathen Gods resource website. While content has been added continuously over the past 5 years, the format and structure of the website has remained unchanged.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heathengods.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTXMHlqaN3qK60iQ6T8vs9BelhrHlFkpHt-ratvEhRUNHvl9e69ctH97VLy9PibdlCSSZR-kSeQ52ttyZ3Pu7AoDE7B1WcMxsda6k9OD6dYXBn-dC4ILKXYj9B4MRLqm9-yAaXMKx6A0/s400/screenshot1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Screenshot of the New Version of our Website</td></tr>
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In August of 2012, our hosting service stopped supporting and running the version of PHP that our aging content management system depended on...causing our website to break and stop working. So, to fix this problem and to celebrate our 5th Anniversary, we've been working on Temple of Our Heathen Gods, version 2.0.</div>
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Much of the content available on the old page has already been made available on the new website. But, we're making the new website more mobile (phones, tablets, etc.) friendly, including a modern message board that is streamlined and user-friendly. The message board even allows you to register using your Facebook account! We're also making the new website more approachable for new heathens.</div>
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Please take a look at our work-in-progress, and check back in the coming weeks as we finish up our efforts in completely rebuilding our resource website.</div>
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<a href="http://www.heathengods.com/">http://www.heathengods.com</a></div>
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Mark Ludwig Stinson</div>
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Jotun's Bane Kindred</div>
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Temple of Our Heathen Gods</div>
ghostvigil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03643288508875275397noreply@blogger.com0