Lightning Across the Plains 2012

I'm working on the poster, website, and information packet for LATP 2012.  Here's the poster or handout image, with a summary of information about the event...

The event this year is September 20-23, and there is a 4-day registration and a 3-day registration available.  Our prices this year, are exactly the same as they have been for the past 3 years.

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

In Gods We Trust

The vast majority of people just take for granted a monotheistic point-of-view...a Christian point-of-view.  Despite the separation of church and state and the prohibition against the establishment of a state religion, the phrase "In God We Trust" has been on our coins since 1864...and has been required by law on our coins since 1908.  

I create these images to make a small point about the separation of church and state.  How would Christians react to the phase "In Gods We Trust" being put on our coins and paper money?  They feel it is perfectly reasonable to represent their religious point-of-view on our nation's money...but it is highly unlikely they would tolerate our religious point-of-view being stamped or printed there.

This one-sided approach of the vast majority extends to other areas of our lives.  In Missouri, teachers in public schools can teach Christian church hymns to our children for their "educational value."  But, you can imagine the reaction to anyone teaching religious songs about Odin or Thor in the public school classroom.  In rural Kansas, churches are allowed to hand out Bibles to students as they exit their public schools.  But you can imagine the reaction if Heathens were to hand out religious materials to children leaving their public schools.

Plus the images above just sort of bring a smile to my face.  :-)

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

Lightning Across the Plains 17 Days Away!

On Sept 23-25, 2011 heathen kindreds, families, and individuals from across the Midwest, Minnesota to Texas, Utah to Indiana, will gather near Kansas City for one of the largest heathen gatherings in the world this year. You are invited...and it is less than a month away!  We're asking as many people as possible to register by September 15th, so that we can buy the correct amount of food and supplies for the event.

http://www.lightningacrosstheplains.com

Heathenry is about community, gathering as a people, shaking a man or woman's hand, looking them in the eye, hearing their voice, telling stories, getting to know each other. It is letting your kids play together. Letting your spouses get to know each other. Its about laughing at dumb jokes, and telling stories from your life. Its about mingling Wyrd...and taking the measure of another person, and finding them of worth.

There were 240 heathens at 2010's LATP, 70 of which were children. Our registration packet contains a schedule for the 2011 event, and details on food, workshops, Symbels, the Blot, what you'll need to bring, and everything else you could possibly want to know about the event...

http://www.heathengods.com/lightning/lightning_pamphlet_2011.pdf

Your registration fee includes all camping fees and dinner on Friday and Saturday night. Individual Registrations are $40 and Family Registrations are $60. There's an "Early Option" where you can arrive a day early on September 22nd. The "Early Option" is an additional $10 for Indivduals and $20 for Families. You can register with PayPal, a credit card, or by check. All of the information about how to register is here...

http://www.lightningacrosstheplains.com

Kari Tauring will be performing at the event, and presenting several workshops. Hauk Heimsdallsman will also be performing. There will be workshops on heathen topics, traditional crafts, and even a singles meet-and-greet. There are religious events throughout the event, several fainings, a Folk Symbel on Friday night, and a High Symbel on Saturday night. We'll also have Viking Games for the adults, such as a hammer-toss, a tug-of-war, and steal-the-wench.

We have events, classes, and fun scheduled for your children throughout the event, including hikes, sword and hammer fighting lessons, storytelling, a class on the runes, craft projects, and a huge foam-weapon battle, complete with a Valkyrie that will remove "the fallen" from the field, and take them to either Vahalla or Freyja's Hall, where they will encounter refreshments befitting brave (kid) warriors. We will also play the very popular game, "Kill the Troll," which the kids just seem to absolutely love. Every child in attendance receives a free foam-covered weapon as part of their registration.

At Lightning Across the Plains 2011, we will also hold the 2nd Regional Midwest Thing. Chieftain, Gothar, and Elders from tribes across the region will gather to discuss on-going and future efforts to advance and support the growth of our Folkway here in the Midwest. All kindreds in attendance are invited to participate in the Chieftain, Gothar, and Elders meeting...and every heathen in attendance is welcome to attend the public meeting at Thing.

Volkshof Kindred, the Franks, Tyr's Helm Tribe, Winterhof Kindred, Hammer-Tree Hearth, Mjolnir Kindred, Fimbul Winter Kindred, Hridgar Kindred, Bifrost Way Kindred, Golden Shield Kindred, Sigruna Kindred, Bifrost Bridge Kindred, Frith Home, Wolf Tree Kindred, Wolves' Wod Kindred, Third Raven Kindred, Sacred Oak, and Jotun's Bane Kindred were some of the kindreds, hearths, and families represented at LATP 2010. There were heathens there from across the Heartland. Minnesota to Texas. Utah to Indiana. While this is a regional event focused on the Midwest, all good heathens are welcome to attend.

Help us spread the word. Tell other heathens about the event. Drag them with you if you need to. Let's make this gathering something our children talk about in their old age.  

http://www.lightingacrosstheplains.com

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://heathengods.com

"Gather the Folk" by Johnny Whitebread

Gather the Folk beneath Sol’s warm smile,
Merry the sound of our kin,
The glade’s open arms a welcome embrace
As the travelers trickle in,
Mothers and Fathers with children in tow,
The tents raise their hues to the sky,
The fire’s warm smell welcomes and beckons
And the sense of belonging runs high…

Gather the Folk on first day of the Thing,
Fellowship running throughout,
Faces not seen for nigh on a year
And newcomers welcomed with shout,
In Frith gather folk, free from all fear,
No weapons intrude in this glade,
Mute now they lay outside the Ve,
Battle axe, bludgeon and blade…

Gather the Folk in colourful garb,
This sea of hue leaps to the eye,
All eager to show the prize of the loom
And illustrious usage of dye,
Mead flows aplenty and toasts fill the air,
Gather the Folk in good cheer,
Spirits run high, horns hoisted to sky
All Folkishness culminates here…

Gather the Folk on day two of this Thing,
The morning horn rouses from bed,
The Folk all greet Sol, as he stands proud and tall,
Then engage in the breaking of bread,
Comes then a Blot to the one-handed God,
The fearless, the valiant, Hail Tyr,
Then our Chieftain speaks words which welcome us all
And oath-swearing time is now here…

Gather the Folk on the field of play,
Physical prowess is put to the test,
Warriors wrestle and show off their strength,
Each striving to prove they’re the best,
Board games are played in this lush, verdant glade,
Testing the skills of their minds,
Kinship abounds as the horn makes the rounds
In this, the greatest of times…

Gather the Folk after midday repast
To honour those death kept away,
Somber and strong the words to the dead
As their memory is honoured today,
But all is not gloom, despair and loss,
These feelings are swift in their passing,
Now gather the Folk ‘neath the largest of oaks
To witness two lovers hand-fasting…

Gather the Folk to throw a huge feast,
To honour the two now as one,
A sumbel, with boasting and bragging of course
And many a song being sung,
The spirit of Gebo flows through the air,
The couple are showered with goods,
And the sound of this night floats to starlight
And rolls like a wave through the woods…

Gather the Folk on day three of the Thing,
Again with a tribute to Sol,
Then we honour the Folk Mother, gone to the Gods,
Whose memory touches us all,
The rest of the day is whiled away
With contests of saga and song,
Gather the Folk to hear these words spoke
As oral tradition lives on…

Gather the Folk as Sol slips away,
The close of the Thing drawing nigh,
Invoking their Gods to bless the next year
As the Gothi lifts Hammer on high,
The energy fills the breadth of the glade,
It spills out into the night
Filling each man, each woman, each child
With a sense of ancestry and might…

Gather the Folk to feast one more time,
Slow-roasted pork fills their plates,
The sumbel ensues and promises fly,
Some humble, some daring, all great,
The night slips away towards the new day,
All eventually slip to their tents,
Glowing inside and filled with a pride
For time Holy and very well spent…

Gather the Folk on the fourth day of the Thing
Reluctant to wend their own ways,
The fires are doused and down come the tents,
The coloured garb all packed away,
Handshakes, embraces, tearful farewells,
At last the glade stands clear
Save for the trees that majestically wait
When Folk gather once more next year…

-Written by Johnny Whitebread

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

Lightning Across the Plains
September 23-25, 2011
http://www.lightningacrosstheplains.com

"Heathen Families" Paperback Now Available

"Heathen Families" is a 92 page book featuring 9 modern heathen fables rooted in our Lore.  They are written specifically for Heathen children.  The book also features every essay I've written that has to do with Heathen children and families.  The hardcover of "Heathen Families" is available for $7.95 by clicking here.

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

"Heathen Families" Hardcover is Available

"Heathen Families" is a 92 page book featuring 9 modern heathen fables rooted in our Lore.  They are written specifically for Heathen children.  The book also features every essay I've written that has to do with Heathen children and families.  The hardcover of "Heathen Families" is available for $16.95 by clicking here.

A digital download of the book is also available for $3.95 by clicking here.  I'll post another blog note when the $7.95 paperback version become available.  The following is the information on the book:

Asatru, or Heathenry, is based on the pre-Christian religion and way-of-life of our Northern European Ancestors. Modern Heathen honor the true Gods of their ancestors, and we honor them in the ways that they did. We also honor our ancestors and the spirits of the land. Heathenry is very family oriented, and encourages us to live responsible lives of honor. Nothing is more important than our families and the children that we bring into this world.  

The modern heathen fables within are just one part of a larger puzzle of finding better ways of sharing our way-of-life with our children. This book brings together all of the essays written by the author to-date on the topic of Heathen children and families. 

Love your children, give gifts to your Gods, honor your ancestors, and respect the Vaettir of the land. Hail our Folk!

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

Heathen Fable #9 - The Greedy Fat Ram

The flock of sheep left the relative safety of the area around the herder's house and spent the morning walking to a wide round hill where they often grazed on the thick tender grasses that grew there.  One fat ram barely kept up with the flock, waddling as he did, with his great belly swinging to and fro.  

When they arrived at the grassy hill, the ewes, rams, and little lambs grazed in relative silence, carefully choosing the plants they knew tasted the best.  The fat ram was so greedy, that he would often push other sheep out of the way to get to an especially tender clump of green grass.  While other sheep would occasionally stop to chew their cud and properly digest their food, the fat ram gorged and gorged never stopping for anything.

As the sun began go behind the hills and dusk approached, the flock of sheep turned toward home and began their trip back to the fields surrounding the herder's house.  But the fat ram was so busy grazing, that he hardly noticed they were gone.  

Alone on the grassy hill, the fat ram continued to eat and eat.  He never even heard the wolves approaching.  While all the ewes, and rams, and little lambs rested safely near the herder's house, nine wolves gobbled up the greedy fat lamb for their evening meal.

As it is with sheep, it is also with men...the foolish man never knows how much to eat.

(Hávamál Stanza 21)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com