Business Cards for Your Kindred can be Helpful

Now and again we run into people wearing Thor's Hammer around their neck.  Some of them are Heathens here in Kansas City that we're meeting for the first time.  Some are interested in the culture of our Ancestors, and see Mjolnir as a "cool thing to wear."  Some are into fans of Viking Metal, a very loud growl-heavy music. Regardless, we'll often introduce ourselves and tell them about the Temple of Our Heathen Gods website at http://www.heathengods.com.  We'll tell them about Jotun's Bane Kindred, and an upcoming Open Event that we are hosting.  But, that's a lot of information to express in an introductory conversation.

In the past we had some very simple business cards, but recently Johnny Whitebread came up with some very nice looking business cards that he had designed.  They were very eye-catching and professional, and packed with information.  This prompted me to come up with a business card design for myself, and here is the front and back of it:

This card was inexpensive enough to produce that I'm now working on making cards for every member of our kindred, with their information on them...rather than mine.  That way, whenever any of our kindred members has that chance run-in with a new Heathen or potential Heathen, we can keep the conversation less overwhelming but still give them the information they need to get in touch with us if they want, ask questions, and learn more about who we are and what we believe.

You can have fairly inexpensive business cards made at a FedEx/Kinko's store, Office Depot, Office Max, or any print shop.  You can buy pre-cut cards you can print on your own printer at home.  Or you can really save some money by buying 500 sheets of cardstock, printing your own cards, and then cutting them yourself with a paper-cutter.  It really depends on how much time you want to spend on them.  Make sure that your business card design is clear, easy to read, and that it communicates exactly what you want to communicate to whomever it is you will be giving them.  Once you have the printed up, you can buy a small business card case to carry them in for anywhere from $2 to $5 at nearly any office supply store.  That way they are always with you.

If you are working on starting, maintaining, or growing a kindred in your area...having some nice business cards printed up and keeping them with you, is a good way to make the best of those random encounters with individuals and families that may be interested in being a part of your efforts.  They are also enormously useful when new Heathens show up at your open events.  You can introduce yourself, talk with them a bit, answer any questions they have, and give them a business card to take home with them so that they can more easily get in touch with you in the future.  Giving these to Heathens you meet at Heathen gatherings is an excellent way to make and keep connections with other Heathens.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

What it Takes to Maintain a Good Kindred

I think a kindred is like any meaningful friendship or even like a marriage.  It takes good judgement, commitment, hard-work, and generosity to make it work.

You have to have the good judgement to choose people who are capable of working hard on building and maintaining the kindred with you.  They have to be stable enough, hard-working enough, and generous enough to make it work, despite glitches and growing pains that are naturally going to develop.  The people and families involved in the kindred need to be compatible.  "Compatible" can mean a lot of different things, but it does not mean being exactly alike.  Like any friendship or marriage, if you choose the wrong people to partner with...they will fail you, and thus destroy or greatly harm the mutual effort.

You have to be committed to making it work, and stable enough to not just wander off whenever the going gets a little rough.  You have to really believe in what you are doing, and willing to do what it takes to make it happen...and maintain it over time.

You have to be willing to work-hard at it.  You can't procrastinate fixing problems or doing necessary work.  You have to put in the time and effort to maintain the necessary connections and frith that holds the kindred together.

There is a level of generosity that is necessary to make a friendship, marriage or kindred work.  There is a give and take.  You have to offer trust, and also be trustworthy.  You have to believe in people, and also maintain your own credibility.  You have to be willing to listen to other people, and also share your own ideas.  You have to be willing to compromise at times, or better yet, work towards a group consensus that makes everyone satisfied with the direction your group is going.  Selfishness does not fit well into this equation.

All of this good judgement, commitment, hard-work, and generosity can come together, in the right time, the right place, and the right people into a frithful, lucky group...that is able to accomplish much more than the sum of its individual members.  Like a good marriage, in a good kindred relationship all the hard work and effort is well worth it.  It pays out to everyone involved, at least as much as they put in...if not more.

Mark Ludwig Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Temple of Our Heathen Gods
http://www.heathengods.com

Books by Mark Ludwig Stinson

I've updated my book page in our Temple Library to include Heathen Families and Heathen Tribes, along with Heathen Gods.

All three books are available as a paperback, a hardcover, or a free PDF download. Click here to check it out...

http://www.heathengods.com/library/book/

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Give a Priceless Yule Gift This Year Even if You Are Broke

A little while ago, I was reading a status update on Facebook written by someone that is broke this year.  She doesn't have the money to buy gifts for her family and friends, and you could read the sadness in what she wrote.  I've been in that position before, and I've had past Yules that were really financially difficult.  Yule (or whatever Holiday you observe this time of year) can be an expensive proposition.  And these past couple years have been some difficult years for many people.

I sent the author of that status update a suggestion, and I thought I would share that suggestion with some additional information in an essay here on Facebook for others that may be struggling this year. 

A gift can be many things.  It does not have to be a somewhat impersonal commercial product that you have spent money on.  The old cliche of "it is the thought that counts," is one of those cliches that are absolutely true.  Showing your friendship or love for another person is a gift.  Doing a favor for someone without them having to ask can be a gift.  Something handmade can be a gift.  And expressing how important someone is to you can be a gift.

GIVING SOMETHING YOU ALREADY OWN

I'm not talking about "regifting" here.  I'm also not talking about taking some random item off a shelf and giving it to someone.  And I am definitely not talking about gving away something you don't like, and never wanted.

It is important when you give someone something you already own, that it is something they will truly enjoy.  Sometimes you own something that one of your family members or friends seems to like even more than you do.  Perhaps you noticed their excitement when they saw you owned this item.  Perhaps they even expressed some envy regarding the item.  That is the perfect sort of thing to give to them from among your possessions.

Perhaps it is an old rare book you own.  Or a specific Thor's hammer necklace.  Maybe its is an axe, a knife, a statue of one of our Gods, a tool, a banner, a framed picture...whatever the item is, you are giving it because you know they will appreciate the item more than you do.  You may like the item quite a bit, but you know that they will cherish it more than you, and so you give it freely.

This sort of gift takes some thought, but the right gift from among your possessions will express your generosity and love toward your friend or loved one.

AN UNEXPECTED FAVOR

Giving of your time and effort to perform a favor for a friend shows them how you feel about them.  When this favor is unexpected the gift is even more meaningful.  Everyone you know could use some help now and again.

Perhaps they have a room that needs painting, but they've been procratinating it.  Or their backyard or garage is an absolute mess, and they haven't had time to tackle the clean-up effort.  Maybe they have a number of children, but can never find babysitters so they can have some time alone with their spouse.  The possibilities are endless, but it takes some insight and thought to choose the correct favor to do for a friend or loved one.

When you've decided on a favor, you can offer it verbally or with some sort of home-made certificate.  People are not used to receiving favors in this way, so be ready for the receiver of the gift to say, "Oh, you don't need to do that...that's too much."  If they say this, insist that not only are you willing to do the favor, but you want to do the favor for them and it is important to you.

Some favors you can just do...as a surprise. There is nothing like having something completely done for you and it only being revealed to you after the fact.  Of course, you need to be sure that whatever you do for the person is something they actually want done!  

CREATE SOMETHING WITH YOUR OWN HANDS

Handmade gifts are filled with your time, your effort, and your skill.  You can put more meaning into a handmade gift by making it something specifically aimed at the interests or needs of the person to whom you are giving the handmade gift.

A drawing, a poem, a painting, something knitted, beaded jewelry, a carving, wood-burning, and leather-working are all wonderful gifts when made with your own hands.  But, you can also give cookies, candy, special breads, or other foods made in your own kitchen.  Some of the best gifts I've been given have been simple handmade gifts. 

EXPRESSING HOW YOU FEEL

A true exression of how you feel can be an enormously meaningful gift.  Basically, sit down and take the time to write individual letters to each of your family, your friends, and your loved-ones. Tell them exactly how you feel about them. Tell them what you love about them. Tell them their strengths. Tell them moments you always think about from your past with them. 

Don't blow smoke. Write TRUE words, and heartfelt words, and give that as your gift to each of them. You can write this on a piece of notebook paper, stationary, or even handmade paper.  Once it is written you can do something as simple as folding it up to give it to them, or you can package it up in a hand-decorated envelope.

This is a gift that will floor each and every one of them, and if you pour your heart and soul into those letters, you won't feel any shame or guilt for not having the money to buy them something.

IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY

Money's been tight the past couple years, but the giving of gifts during Yule is not about Money.  It is about puting into action the fondness and frith we share with our friends and loved ones.  It is about expressing their importance to us, by giving them a heartfelt and thoughtful gift.  So, if you are short of money this year...don't get down about not being able to buy a commercial gift.  Just get to work, and give something even better than a commercial gift.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temole of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

JBK's Open Events in 2012

Jotun's Bane Kindred has planned our kindred event schedule for 2012. Part of the mission of our kindred is providing opportunities for new heathens and those curious about heathenry and our kindred...to come and gather with us. Below are our Open Events in 2012.

Jan 29, 2012 - 6 PM @ Paddy O'Quigley's - Open Pubmoot

Feb 26, 2012 - 3 PM @ (meeting at Target) - First Highway Cleanup

Mar 10-11, 2012 - Noon @ Gaea - Open Ostara Event

Mar 25, 2012 - 3 PM @ (meeting at Target) - Second Highway Cleanup

May 20, 2012 - Open Pubmoot - 6 PM @ Paddy O'Quigley's

July 29, 2012 @ 6PM @ Open Pubmoot - Paddy O'Quigley's

Sept 20-23, 2012 - Lightning Across the Plains - regional heathen gathering @ Camp Gaea

Oct 7, 2012 - 3 PM - (meeting at Target) - Third Highway Cleanup - Followed by Games

Nov 4, 2012 - 3 PM - (meeting at Target) - Fourth Highway Cleanup

Nov 18, 2012 @ 6 PM @ Paddy O'Quigley's - Open Pubmoot, dedicated to the Einherjar

We'll be posting additional information, links, etc.. But, we wanted to make these dates available as early as possible.

We hope to see you at one or more of our Open Events!

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

How Hard Would You Work?

In our Lore, Thor is a tireless defender against the chaos and harm that destructive Jotuns threaten to bring about.

Just how hard are you willing to work in defense of our Folkway and our way of life? Does your family, your kindred, and your friends count on you for their protection, and do they see you as a stalwart defender? Just something to consider now and again.

The hammer pictured in the graphic image was made by Jan Fibiger, and is used here with his permission. He is an amazing artist. His Deviant Art page is here: http://fibacz.deviantart.com/

Click the image above to see a full-size version of it.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Frigga's Sorrow

The beginning of this story is that Baldr the Good had some terrible dreams that threatened his life. When he told the Æsir these dreams, they took counsel together and it was decided to seek protection for Baldr from every kind of peril. Frigg exacted an oath from fire and water, iron and all kinds of metals, stones, earth, trees, ailments, beasts, birds, poison and serpents, that they would not harm Baldr. And when this had been done and put to the test, Baldr and the Æsir used to amuse themselves by making him stand up at their assemblies for some of them to throw darts at, others to strike and the rest to throw stones at. No matter what was done he was never hurt, and everyone thought that a fine thing. When Loki, Laufey's son, saw that, however, he was annoyed that Baldr was not hurt and he went disguised as a woman to Fensalir to visit Frigg. Frigg asked this woman if she knew what the Æsir were doing at the assembly. She answered that they were all throwing things at Baldr, moreover that he was not being hurt.

Frigg remarked: "Neither weapons nor trees will injure Baldr; I have taken an oath from them all."

The woman asked: "Has everything sworn you an oath to spare Baldr?"

Frigg replied: "West of Valhalla grows a little bush called mistletoe, I did not exact an oath from it; I thought it too young." Thereupon the woman disappeared.

Loki took hold of the mistletoe, pulled it up and went to the assembly. Now Höð was standing on the outer edge of the circle of men because he was blind. Loki asked him: "Why aren't you throwing darts at Baldr?"

He replied: "Because I can't see where Baldr is, and, another thing, I have no weapon."

Then Loki said: "You go and do as the others are doing and show Baldr honour like other men. I will show you where he is standing: throw this twig at him." Höð took the mistletoe and aimed at Baldr as directed by Loki.

The dart went right through him and he fell dead to the ground. This was the greatest misfortune ever to befall gods and men.

------------

So worried was Frigg for her son's life, that she elicited oaths from everything not to harm her son, but tragically underestimated Mistletoe. This story underlines the lengths to which parents will go to safeguard their children, and the lengths to which we all go to safeguard our loved ones (among other lessons).

Click on the image above to see a full-sized version of it.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com