Lightning Across the Plains - Sept 20-23, 2012

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. Its 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.

On September 20-23, 2012, heathen tribes, strong families, and solid heathen individuals from around the Heartland will gather at Gaea Retreat, a pagan campground about 40 minutes outside of the Kansas City Area. There were 240 heathens at LATP in 2010 and 225 heathens at LATP in 2011, with 65-70 children in attendance both years. This makes Lightning Across the Plains one of the largest heathen gatherings in the world.

Our registration/information packet for LATP 2012 contains a full schedule for the event, information on both tent-camping and reserving a spot in a cabin, plus details on the meals, workshops, faining, symbels, childrens activities, viking games, what you'll need to bring with you, and everything else you could possibly want to know about the event. It also has a registration form for those that wish to register by snail-mail...

Lightning Across the Plains Information/Registration Packet

This year you can register as a "full-registration" for Sept 20-23 or a "weekend-only registration" for Sept 21-23. Full-registration is $50 for an individual and $70 for a family of up to five. Weekend-only registration is $40 for an individual and $60 for a family up to five. Both registration choices include all camping fees and your dinners. Cabins are available for $5 per bed per night.

You can register at this website using PayPal, or by mailing in a Registration Form the old-fashioned way:

Lightning Across the Plains 2012 Website

At the above website, you will also find comprehensive information about what's planned for the gathering, and its purpose. Mark this on your calendar and come and be apart of the largest heathen gathering in the world.

ON-LINE REGISTRATIONS OPEN UP ON 5-1-2012!

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

Heathen Fable #11 - The Foolish Mountain Hare

On a very tall snowy mountain lived a husk, or community, of mountain hares.  Hares are similar to rabbits in a number of ways, but it would be a mistake to call them a rabbit.  They can get rather disagreeable if you do.

The husk of hares loved their mountain home in both the summer and the winter.  In the summer they grew brown fur and munched on the moist green grass that grew between the rocks.  In the winter they grew thick white fur that kept them warm, and ate bark and twigs from the stunted trees that grew there.  They lived so high on the mountain that they have very little trouble from anyone.  The one exception was when the jackrabbits from the foothills below would wander occasionally up the mountain during the summer and try to eat their green grasses.  When this happened, one of the mountain hares would sound the alarm, and all the other hares would come and work together to chase the jackrabbits back down the mountain.

Among the husk of hares, there was one foolish young hare that always seemed to want attention.  He would talk in silly voices, make fun of himself, tell stupid jokes, and even pretend to trip and fall just to get all the other hares to laugh.  The foolish hare seemed willing to do almost anything to be the center of attention, and often it worked.  The other hares would laugh and point at the foolish hare's antics and silliness, and the foolish hare would feel very good about all the attention he was getting.

One day, an old hare took the foolish hare aside and said, "You do realize that people laughing at you is not the same as having real friends, don't you?"

The foolish hare scoffed at the old hare.  "Everyone loves me.  Look how they laugh when I tell a joke.  Look how much attention they pay to me."

The old hare shook his head.  "They laugh because you are acting like a clown.  They don't respect you.  And you haven't done the real work it takes to make and keep good friends."

The foolish hare became angry.  "You are just mad because you don't get the attention that I get.  You are jealous of how popular I am."

The old hare answered, "I would rather be respected than get the attention given to a fool."  And with that the old hare hopped away.

Months later, on a sunny summer day, the foolish hare was off by himself eating some delicious green grass on the side of the mountain.  While he was busy eating, a number of big jackrabbits from the foothills snuck carefully past him and headed high onto the mountain belonging to the husk of hares.  The jackrabbits ate up lots of the mountain hares' moist green grass before they were discovered and chased back down the mountain by a group of hares.  

This group of hares noticed the foolish hare munching away on grass, and approached him.  One of them said, "Why did you not raise the alarm when those jackrabbits invaded our mountain?"

The foolish hare answered, "I didn't see them.  They must have snuck around me."

One of the other hare's said, "We think you saw them, and were just too lazy to sound the alarm."

Another said, "Or perhaps you saw them, and were just too stupid to sound the alarm."

And another said, "Or you saw them, but made a deal with them to let them go by."

The group of hares brought the foolish hare back to the husk, and accused him of these things in front of all the other mountain hares.  Everyone was very angry at the foolish hare and there was talk of kicking him out of their community and making him leave the mountain.

The foolish hare pleaded with them.  "They snuck around me and I never saw them.  I'm not lazy, or stupid, and I would never betray you.  This could have happened to anyone."

All the other mountains hares just stared angrily at the foolish hare and were very quiet.  The foolish hare became nervous and asked, "Will none of my friends here speak up for me?  I don't understand why no one is defending me.  I didn't do anything wrong.  Why will none of you stand up for me?"

The old hare hopped forward from the crowd.  "As I warned you before, it is a fool that thinks everyone who laughs at him is his friend.  And now the fool has learned that he has no friends that will speak up for him.  Leave the husk, get off our mountain, and never come back."

(Hávamál Stanza 25)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Creating a Scheduled Events Calendar for Your Kindred

One of the great benefits of being in a kindred, is your close association and cooperation with other Heathens that you trust and enjoy being around.  A kindred represents your close inner-circle of friends.  You share group-identity with the other members of the kindred, and live in true Frith with one another.  You learn together, accomplish things together, exchange ideas and thoughts on things, your children play together, and in many ways it is like a close-knit extended family.

One of the difficulties that can come up in a kindred is getting everyone together at one time.  Kindred members have different work schedules, different outside activities they have committed to attend, family obligations, and things they need to accomplish around their homes each week.  So, trying to schedule an impromptu event every week or every month can be quite a challenge.  Having regularly scheduled kindred events and an events calender is way around this problem.  So, while the topic of this essay may not sound like the most interesting of topics...it hits directly on when your kindred gets together and what you accomplish as a group.

For example, Jotun's Bane Kindred has a kindred event scheduled every two weeks.  We plan out our schedule in November for all of the following year.  We decide what events will be private events (for kindred members only), semi-private events (for kindred members and invited friends of our kindred), and public events (open events that anyone can attend).  We put our road trips to visit other kindreds and to attend heathen gatherings on the schedule, as well as our study groups, fainings, trash-pickup days, social events, and everything else we plan to do the following year.  We've been scheduling our events a year in advance for 4 years now, and this essay represents what we've learned during that time.

HOW TO DECIDE ON A SCHEDULE?

It is possible that one person in the kindred, perhaps someone in a leadership position, could decided on what the event schedule would be and then give that schedule to the rest of the kindred members.  I don't think this is a particularly wise course of action.  As with most issues of importance in a kindred, things run more smoothly if everyone's ideas and input are considered, and then a discussion is had within the kindred until a consensus is reached.  The best way to create an event schedule is to have a kindred meeting, have a blank calendar for the next year in hand, and then create the next year's schedule as a group. 

So, if you have a new kindred or your existing kindred wants to impliment an events schedule, let's go through the various steps in the process and some things to keep in mind.

      

HOW OFTEN ARE EVENTS?

It is important to remember that just because your kindred has decided to schedule a kindred event every week, or two weeks, or every month...does not mean this is the only time kindred members can get together.  Couples can get together for dinner.  Individual members can get together to go to the movies or a concert.  Families can go to a park together.  Since the kindred is a group of close friends there is every reason to expect that kindred members will get together and hang out more often than you events schedule will reflect.  What an events schedule provides is the minimum amount of gatherings your kindred will have as a whole during the year.

The key to choosing how often to schedule events is to choose a frequency that is possible for everyone in the kindred.  A calender with unrealistically frequent scheduled events will place hardships on some or all kindred members, and will cause a situation where scheduled kindred events actually get in the way of the more casual impromptu get-togethers. 

So getting everyone's input on the frequency of events is important, as well as being ready to make adjustments to the calender is it becomes clear that the frequency of the schedule is causing serious problems.

Another question to consider is just how far in advance you want to schedule events.  You could schedule them out a few months in advance...six months in advance...or a year in advance.  Jotun's Bane Kindred has found that we benefit from making a schedule for the following year in November.  By planning out the entire next year, we have a very good idea going into the new year exactly what we hope to do and accomplish in that year.  We know what public events and Heathen gatherings we plan to host.  We know what road-trips we are going to make to visit other kindreds and attend Heathen gatherings in our region.  Best of all, we know what we will need to plan and organize in order to make that schedule succeed.

WHEN AND WHERE SHOULD THE EVENTS BE HELD?

It can be helpful if there is some consistency to when your scheduled events take place.  So with everyone's input, attempt to identify a day of the week when everyone is free to attend.  For Jotun's Bane Kindred we determined that Sunday afternoons and evenings were open for every kindred member to attend.

When you've identified a day of the week that works for everyone, then decide on what times you want to meet. This can vary based on the sort of event you are holding, but having a somewhat consistent start time helps avoid confusion.  For Jotun's Bane Kindred, we tend to start our Sunday events at 3:00 PM.  This gives us time to have an activity of some sort, eat a pot-luck meal with one another, and then have more activities, social time, or a Symbel.

It is important you choose a location for every event that is appropriate to the event you have planned.  It can be really nice to rotate private events through the homes of various kindred members.  But keep in mind that some kindred member's homes won't have enough seating for the entire kindred. 

For public events, you are better off holding them in public places (coffee shops, book stores, restaurants, bars, parks) so that complete stangers aren't being brought into a kindred member's home.  Another approach to this is to require strangers to meet with you prior to attending a public event, so you can check them out prior to having them into someone's home.

WHAT KINDS OF EVENTS INTEREST THE KINDRED?

There are a wide variety of types of events you could put on the schedule.

One of the first things we do is place the holy days we are going to celebrate on our schedule.  We traditionally schedule these on our regular meteing day that is closest to the actual holy day.  Some kindreds may choose to schedule celebrations on the actual holy day (as they calculate it), but we have chosen not to do this.

It is important to consider the holidays and events of the mainstream culture.  For instance, scheduling a study group session on Mother's Day will likely result in many members not being able to attend.  Often, kindred member's already have standard activities or vacations planned for the 4th of July or Memorial Day weekend.  Staying clear of these prior obligations and plans will make your schedule better. 

You'll also want to put on the calendar any Heathen gatherings you may be attending or any visits to other kindreds you want to make.  Factoring these road-trips into your calendar up-front will avoid schedule conflicts, allow kindred members to budget for them, and allow you to RSVP for the events as a kindred.

The next thing you will want to decide is how many public events you are going to want to schedule.  Public events are open to whomever wants to attend and are normally announced and publicized as part of a kindred's educational outreach.  Public events could include:

• Celebration of a holy day
• Heathen workshops at a coffeeshop, bookstore, or home
• Open study groups at a coffeeshop, bookstore, or home
• Open fainings or blots at a park or home
• Pubmoots at a restaurant or bar
• Picnics at a park followed by a Symbel
• Campouts on a kindred member's land or a campground
• Trash pick-ups or other service projects
• Attending a nordic festival or museum as a group
• Going to a German restaurant as a group
• Hosting a Heathen gathering

While public events are fun and serve a positive purpose, holding too many public events takes away from private time for the kindred itself to gather.  This is especially true for the celebration of holy days.  For instance, Jotun's Bane Kindred does hold a public event during Ostara, but we have always kept our Yule celebration completely private. So there needs to be a healthy balance between fully public events, private events that friend are personally invited to attend, and events that are purely private.

Private events can be nearly anything, ranging from events with a deeply spiritual Heathen focus to events that are entirely social and have very little direct connection to Heathenry.  And some are a combination.  Again, you will want a healthy balance between events with a heathen focus and those with a social focus.  Some examples:

• Celebration of holy days
• Fainings or blots followed by a feast and Symbel
• Traveling to visit another kindred or Heathen gathering
• Study groups, discussion groups, and workshops
• Camping, hiking, or fishing
• Going out to a restaurant, concert, or sporting event
• Going to a Nordic festival or museum
• Craft nights
• Activities, outings, or classes for children
• Movie nights at someone's home
• Games, contests, and challenges

There may be events that get priority and reoccur more often than others.  Some kindreds may want to have at least one faining or blot every month.  Others may want a study group session on a monthly basis.  Jotun's Bane Kindred decided early on that we would have a Pubmoot or public event at least every 2 months.  So, if there is some function or event you want to give some priority to, just make sure that is represented on your finished calendar.

Your goal is to come up with a balanced schedule that everyone in the kindred is excited about.  So getting input from everyone is important.  Don't forget to put a scheduling meeting on your schedule toward the end of the year, so that you can plan the next year's events.

WHAT ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS/OBLIGATIONS EXIST?

The hope of course is that every kindred member will want to be at every scheduled event, and will do everything possible to prioritize their time accordingly so that they can be at every event.

Part of prioritizing one's time, is using all of your time wisely so that you get the things you need to get done in life at times when kindred events are not scheduled.

Obviously, there are reasonable causes to miss a scheduled kindred event.  Work obligations, funerals, medical emergencies, weddings, and other important circumstances can prevent attendance at an event.  But even in these circumstances, the kindred member who must miss an event has an obligation to let the rest of the kindred know with as much advance warning as possible.

One type of event that runs into unique attendance problems is a kindred road-trip to visit another kindred or attend a Heathen gathering.  These events depend on gas and food money, dependable transportantion, the ability to be gone for several days, and sometimes registration fees.  There are times when a kindred member or family will not be able to attend due to finances, inability to get time off, or car troubles.  Again, this is completely understandable as long as the kindred member gives the kindred as much warning as possible.

Another part of prioritizing one's time that is often neglected is thinking ahead, and making sure you hold back enough time on your personal schedule to assist the kindred in getting ready for a big public event or gathering the kindred is hosting.  Many events take a lot of work and time to organize and bring off successfully, and it works best if every kindred member has made the time to help with planning and preparations.

MOVING SCHEDULED EVENTS?

Make every effort to not move or reschedule events.  By creating a schedule, you are asking every kindred member to prioritize these events and to actively shape their personal schedule in a way that allows them to attend all of the events.  When you move an event, you throw a proverbial wrench into the works.

When you attempt to move an event to accomodate one member that can't attend, you put hardships on the other kindred members.  Often, moving an event for one member makes it difficult or even impossible for other members to attend.  You also risk creating a culture where members don't feel the need to work very hard to keep their personal schedule in line with the kindred schedule.  You may unintentionally create the impression that a kindred member can double-book on a day you have a kindred event scheduled, because, "You'll just move the event for me anyway."

There will be some events that some kindred members will have to miss because important obligations in their lives get in the way.  That's life.

PUBLISHING THE SCHEDULED EVENTS CALENDARS

Once you have scheduled events for the next year, you can publish or provided the full calendar to every kindred member, so that they can integrate that schedule into their personal calendars or plans.  You can invite friends to the events that the kindred has agreed to allow friends to attend.  And you can publically publish or provide a list or calendar of the public events you are holding.

This can be done printed out on a simple piece of paper.  It is also possible to self-publish a calendar on any number of print-on-demand on-line services.  You can also distribute this information by email, Facebook message, or by posting it on a website.  The idea is to ensure that the appropriate information regarding the schedule is easily available and is delivered to the appropriate audience.  The public at large does not need to know when or where you private events are being held, but it is important that the public at large be made aware of your public events.  At the same time, your kindred members need a handy place to check the schedule whenever they have a question or are making plans.

THE VALUE OF HAVING SCHEDULED EVENTS

I think having a scheduled events calendar and putting it together in the way I've described here can benefit a kindred in many ways.  First of all, it ensures that the kindred is getting together as a whole on a regular basis.  It allows for the kindred to plan ahead to future events, and prepare and organize them properly.  It allows you to publish a list or calender of your public events far in advance, allowing interested people to plan their personal calendars around your public events.  It allows kindred members to plan their own personal calendars around all of the events on the kindred's calender, and to prioritize their time and their lives around those events.  Bringing all of these benefits together, the end result is your events, both public and private, will be better organized, more successful, and better attended across the board. 

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #10 - The Oldest Oak

The ground in the forest was covered with young acorns.  Many had landed on wide stretches of black earth, but several acorns found themselves on the edge of a rocky bluff.  The acorns that were laying in easy places to grow laughed at the acorns near the bluff, because the ground beneath them was filled with rocks and growing into a tall oak tree there would be very difficult.  But, one of the unfortunate acorns ignored the laughter and made the best of his difficult spot to grow.

A few years later all the acorns had grown into young oak trees.  The ones who had grown on the wide stretches of black earth had sprouted and grown taller quickly and easily.  The nutrients in their soil was simple to find and running their roots out into the ground had been an effortless task.  But there was only one small oak remaining at the top of the bluff. He had to work for every inch of growth.  His roots had to push down through the rocks and earth, seeking out whatever nutrients he could find on the edge of the bluff.  The tall young oaks in the rich black earth sometimes teased their stunted brother on the edge of the bluff.

One young oak asked, "Why do you struggle so hard on the edge of that bluff?  You should give up like the rest of the acorns that landed there.  That's no place for an proud oak to grow."

The small oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "It is true that I'm the only oak remaining on the edge of the bluff. I did not choose this place to grow...this is where I fell.  But, I'll never give up.  I'll work, and I'll struggle, and I'll make the best of this rocky home."

Another young oak said, "See how tall the rest of us are.  Are you not ashamed that you are so stunted and small?"

The small oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "I feel no shame in making the best of my situation.  You seem to take great pride in growing easily in the rich soil you fell upon by complete chance.  I take great pride in making the best of my difficult situation."

Many years passed, and the oaks growing on the stretches of black soil had gotten much bigger and were crowded together.  They roots were tangled in knots beneath the soil.  They fought to reach higher than their neighbor so that their leaves could gather the sunlight they needed to survive.  Some of them had been crowded out and died.  The oak on the edge of the bluff was not as tall as the other trees, but his roots were not tangled with the roots of other trees.  He was not crowded by other trees.  So his limbs reached out in every direction gathering plenty of sunshine.  Still, the crowded oaks liked to tease their brother out on the edge of the bluff.

One of the oaks said, "Look at you all alone out there on the bluff, you must be very lonely out there.

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "While I am the lone oak out here among the rocks, I am not alone.  Many smaller trees grow around me and below me at the foot of the bluff.  Some of them have grown from my own acorns.  The shade from you and your tall brothers won't let the acorns that fall from your limbs grow."

Another of the crowded oaks said, "It must hurt to have all those rocks among your roots.  Why do you even bother?"

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "Working my roots down into this soil has been hard work...that is true.  But, now that they are there, I am firmly in place.  I welcome the stability and am greatful for the rocks among my roots."

Many years passed by, and most of the oaks that had grown in the stretches of black soil were gone.  Many of them had been sqeezed out by their taller brothers.  Their roots could not grow out far enough to gather water and the shade from taller trees caused the leaves of smaller trees to wither and drop.  Many of the taller trees had grown so tall, so fast, that strong winds blew them down.  Their roots had not been deep enough and had no rocks for them to grip.  But the oak on the edge of the bluff was still there.  He had lost some limbs to storms or disease.  His gnarled roots had tangled themselves throughout the face of the bluff.  But he had grown tall and broad and was healthy and happy, and his branches full of leaves.  But, still the few remaining oaks would try to tease him.

One of the remaining oaks said, "Look at your broken limbs and your gnarled roots.  What a strange looking oak you are."

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "I have lost some limbs and my roots are gnarled, but I have grown tall and prospered.  I am full and healthy.  So many of you trees in the black soil have fallen.  I would rather stand here showing the scars of my long life, than to lie in the soil, the food for bugs."

One of the remaining oaks asked, "Will you not miss us when we are all gone?  Won't you be lonely when the last of us has fallen?"

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "I've spent my many years making true friends.  See this maple tree that has grown beneath me and helps to hold up my weight?  See the squirrels and the birds who enjoy the shelter of my limbs and leaves?  See the snake that makes his home among my roots?  When you have all fallen, I will not be alone.  I will be the oldest and the wisest being in the forest, with many wights who look to me as a friend."

Many more years passed, and all of the oaks who had grown on the wide stretches of black soil had fallen.  Younger oaks were growing in their place, among other types of trees and all manner of plants and bushes.  The oak on the edge of the bluff was very old, but had grown tall and wide.  The evidence of his age showed on his bark and in his limbs, but he wore these signs as the reward for a long life and much wisdom.  All the plants, animals, and spirits of the forest paid respect to this old oak, and called him Forn Halr, which means the "Old Man."

One day a group of men and women who followed the ways of their People came to the forest.  They were looking to establish a holy place where they could honor their Gods and Ancestors.  As they walked through the forest, every spirit whispered to them of Forn Halr.

One spirit said, "If you need guidance, you should ask the Old Man."

Another spirit said, "You should honor Forn Halr, he is the wisest among us."

A third spirit said, "If you seek a holy place, then you should gather beneath the limbs of Forn Halr."

The group of men and women found their way to Forn Halr, and paid their respect.  They built an alter beneath his limbs and marked the holiness of the shade he provided.  They spoke to him and gave him gifts.  All their most important oaths were taken with a hand on Forn Halr's trunk, and they lived by his example.  A holy runestone was carved with the likeness of Forn Halr and words that spoke of his timeless importance.  A symbol of their Gods was hung around Forn Halr's trunk and they honored their Gods and their Ancestors at the base of this holy tree.  The forest rejoiced that the wisest among them was honored in this way.  Those that honored Forn Halr, prospered as he had, through hard-work and determination.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Three Approaches to Ancestor Worship in Modern Heathenry

I was writing back and forth with Kari Tauring today about ancestor worship and cultural identity, and this brought to mind three different approaches to honoring our ancestors that exist within modern Heathenry.  Most heathens actually use all three approaches, but most focus in on one (or perhaps two) of them as their primary approach to honoring their ancestors.  I think there is value to examing all three approaches and discussing the benefits of each one.  I'm going to progress in order from the least personal to the most personal in nature.

THE IDEALIZED ANCESTOR APPROACH

In modern Heathenry, some Heathens honor what amounts to an idealized image of the unknown ancestor or cultural hero.  This approach tends to be pan-Germanic, with modern Heathens taking an interest in a wide variety of Northern European heroes and idealistic imagery, without regard for whether the individual heathen has a personal connection to the nationality or culture where the ideal or hero orignated.  It can focus on very specific heroes that we know by name from stories and legends, or it can focus on more of a general ideal archetype character.  For instance, there is great respect and attention given to the brave Germanic warrior fighting against the Roman Empire.  The strong Indo-European woman overcoming all the hardships and strife of her times to raise a family in difficult weather and conditions.  The Norse tradesman or viking, exploring the world, having adventures, and fighting for new wealth and new lands.  The Icelandic settler, carving a life out of a raw and challenging land and inspiring written Sagas that have stood the test of time.

It is this approach, with its connection to cultural ideals and heroes, that leads many heathens to speak of "our ancestors" rather than "my ancestors" when talking about ancestor worship.  I myself have done this in the first paragraph of this essay.  I may not share any specific ancestors with the reader, but we have a general shared respect for "our ancestors."  This most often refers to all those that came before us, with a specific focus on all those who honored our Gods and were true to our Folkway before the Christian conversions across Northern Europe.

In many Heathen homes you will find books, statues, paintings, posters, swords, axes, and symbols from a wide selection of Northern European history and culture.  These objects show our appreciation and connection with this idealized ancestor approach.  We may read to our children about the Vikings and have an image of a viking ship hung on the wall.  We may enjoy a history channel show on Herman the German and ensure that the beer we buy for our next kindred celebration is all German beer.  We may have a replica of a Danish sword hung over our fireplace, a reproduction of the Nebra Sky Disk hung in our child's room, a Francisca axe in the hallway, and an Icelandic style hammer hung around our neck, all while serving traditional Swedish food at a family dinner.  While we may not have a direct bloodline connection back to all of these individual areas and cultures, we feel a strong connection back to the wider culture represented by all of pre-Christian Northern Europe.

Among the benefits to this approach, is the fact that most of us have ancestors from various areas of Northern Europe, with really no way of knowing the names, personalities, or stories of specific ancestors from a 1000 years ago.  For nearly all of us, the records just don't go back far enough or with enough information to allow us to identify specific ancestors or even all of the areas from which our ancestors originated or lived.  The interest we have in various Northern European cultures, heroes, and archetype characters gives us a connection with the past where no specifically known connection exists. Another benefit is an acknowledgement of the richness and triumph of our history as a wider culture and a People.  Of course, one of the shortcomings of this approach, is the absense of a personal connection, a blood connection, and a memory connection with the idealized heroes or archetypes we are honoring.

THE CULTURAL IDENTITY APPROACH

At first glance, this may seem similar to the Idealized Ancestor approach, but there is a very clear difference.  With this approach the focus is narrowed to the cultural traditions, foods, songs, dances, legends, and values of the specific Northern European culture of your actual ancestors.  With this approach, you are honoring the specific culture and traditions of your immigrant ancestors (for those of us in the Untied States).  For instance, the individual Heathen, knowing that he or she is descended mostly from Swedish ancestry, fully or partially immerses themselves in learning about Swedish history, Swedish traditions, crafts, foods, etc.  Another individual Heathen, descended mostly from German ancestors, focuses in on all the cultural aspects of traditional German culture and history.

Rather than the more pan-Germanic approach to the wider Northern European traditions, in this approach the modern Heathen individual is more focused on the culture of a majority of their own ancestors or bloodline.  Among the benefits of this approach, is the ability to delve much deeper into a specific culture.  Oftentimes, because it is the individual Heathens own cultural heritage, much of the cultural traditions, foods, etc. may have been passed down to him/her by parents or grandparents.  In some areas of the country, where large concentrations of a particular cultural background exist, there may also be communities or businesses that promote or instruct on various aspect of that specific cultural heritage.  In this sense, the modern Heathen using this approach in the United States is preserving this specific cultural heritage from the "old country" of his immigrant ancestors, and is then ready to pass that heritage on to his/her children or grandchildren.

This approach can have much deeper meaning for the Heathen pursuing it, because there is a more specific connection between his/her own cultural background and ancestral history.  But, this approach is still not a personal as our next approach.

THE PERSONAL ANCESTORS APPROACH

While the two approaches above involve a connection to either a wider pan-Germanic culture or a Heathens own specific ancestral culture, this approach focuses on specific personal ancestors.  These are ancestors we know by name and may have actually met.  We may know stories about them, and we may know something about their personality, their accomplishments in life, their personal values, quirks, beliefs, and other details that tell us a little or a lot about the kind of person they were.  Their existance among our ancestors or our personal contact with them may influence, inspire, or help shape who we are individually as a person.  

We are connected with these personal ancestors by family, by blood, by history, and by our Orlog, a part of our soul that is passed from parent to child down through one's line.  That connection or relationship with our personal ancestors can be strengthened and honored in a variety of ways.  One way is to get to know them as best you can, by collecting and seeking out stories and information about them from living relatives and other sources.  You can investigate your family tree from a geneological approach, or even DNA testing.  It has never been easier to bring all of that information together into one place, and self-publish it or archive it in some other way, so that the information can be passed down through you family to your descendents.  Preserving and honoring the memory of your personal ancestors is another method of building and strengthening that relationship.  Teach your children about their specific ancestors, create artwork or poetry that memorializes them, set aside an ancestors plate a family dinners and set aside time to welcome and share your appreciation with your personal ancestors. Speak of them in Symbel and create an ancestors' altar in your home.  You can then gift your ancestors at this altar, and show them through your memory of them that you truly value them.  Another way of honoring personal ancestors that is often over-looked, is living your life in a way that would make them proud.  

For me, there are several personal ancestors that I honor more often than others.  My relationship with them is stronger.  First, there is my father, Glen Stinson.  He was a WWII veteran, an amazing father, and a very strong and ambitious man who gained great wisdom over his lifetime.  There is my great-grandfather Ludwig Schweiger, a German by blood but Hungarian by nationality, who came to the United States in the early 1900's to make a better life for his future family.  There is also my grandmother, Elizabeth Shoop (Ludwig's daughter), who was a fun-loving, imaginative, and nurturing influence on me as a child.

With the Personal Ancestor approach, the individual heathen can focus on specific knowledge or activities that are directly tied to these personal ancestors.  You can learn crafts these personal ancestors excelled at or enjoyed.  Cook food following recipes passed down from these personal ancestors.  Sing songs to your children, that these personal ancestors sang to their children.  You can keep and cherish objects that belonged to them, and preserve family traditions that they started or passed down through the family.  You can even ask them for advice or a little nudge in the right direction when you need it, and then have the respect to listen and consider whatever guidance they give in whatever form it takes.  

The strong benefit of this approach to honoring one's ancestors is the close personal relationship you can establish with these personal ancestors.  Of all the forces in the world that might help you, none are closer to you or have more of a vested interest in assisting you, than those ancestors you have a personal relationship with...and honor regularly.  You carry their Orlog, their blood, and their memory with you always.

A HEALTHY COMBINATION OF THE THREE APPROACHES

As I said at the beginning of this essay, most Heathens actually participate to varying degrees in all three approaches.  Depending on an individual Heathen's personality and knowledge of family history, as well as his/her personal interests, circumstances, and experience in life, each Heathen will tend to focus more on one or two of these approaches more than the others.  It is such a personal matter, that it is impossible to identify one perfect ratio of these three approaches that would work best for everyone.   

An essay I wrote called "Honoring One's Ancestors" dovetails very well with this current essay, and it is available by clicking here.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Our Relationship With Our Gods and Goddesses

Do the Gods and Goddesses care about us?  Do they notice us?  What is the nature of our relationship with them?  For any religion or worldview that acknowledges the existence of Divinity, these are some fairly basic questions.  Like so many other topics within Asatru or Heathenry there are many different beliefs and opinions held on this topic, covering a wide spectrum, existing between two positions at the extreme. Just to be clear, in calling these two positions "extremes," I don't mean that in a negative way.  I just mean, these two positions are at the extreme ends of a wide and varied spectrum of belief.

THE "GODS DON'T EVEN NOTICE US" EXTREME

This extreme take many forms, and is expressed in a variety of ways by the Heathens that take this position.  There are Heathens that talk of how significant and powerful the Gods are, and how insignificant a human must seem to to the Gods.  There are heathens that say the Gods are "too busy" with important work and solving important problems, for them to actually notice or spend any time on the problems of a single man or woman.  There are Heathens that point out that in the Lore, the Gods focus their time on great heroes and kings, and like to point out that the Gods have no need or motivation to interact with the common man.  Heathens at this end of the spectrum believe the Gods and Goddesses are too important, too busy, or too distant to have contact with them, give them advice, or any sort of direction.

THE "GODS ARE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES"  EXTREME

This extreme takes many forms and is expressed in a variety of ways by the Heathens that take this position.  There are Heathens that refer to themselves as "Brides of Odin," and mean that quite literally.  There are Heathens that believe that Odin or one of the other Gods is their personal mentor, and speaks to them on a daily basis, giving them frequent advice on even the most mundane matters.  Many of these Heathens believe they receive frequent signs from our Gods, directing nearly every aspect of their lives.  Heathens at this end of the belief spectrum believe the Gods and Goddesses are in direct contact with them, mentoring them, guiding them, and giving them advice and direction on a frequent basis.

THE VAST MAJORITY ARE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE SPECTRUM

As with almost every topic, it is complete inaccurate to think that all heathens fall into one of these two extreme positions.  The vast majority of heathens fall somewhere along the spectrum. The nature of our relationship with Divinity is a complex issue, and the Truth of the matter, is unknowable...or at least unprovable in any acceptable way acknowledged by all.  So, each Heathen will have his/her own views of the matter.  Within a kindred over time, common beliefs or at least similarities in belief on the issue will develop.  But, an expectation that everyone should or will agree with anyone else's point of view on this subject is unrealistic.

Among our ancestors the beliefs regarding this topic varied.  And so it is with modern Heathens.  

MORE OF A PERSONAL MATTER

From my point of view, one's relationship with the Gods and Goddesses, is a personal issue.  I'm always a little amazed when I see people posting on a public message board or social networking site about their relationship with the Gods.  Why on earth would I care what Frejya supposedly told some Heathen that lives 500 miles from me?  What is my interest in what Odin reportedly communicated in a dream to a Heathen that lives six states away from me?  What business is it of mine what "sign" was interpretted by a Heathen I've never met, and will likely never meet?  I'm always a bit suspicious of the background motivations of those that publicly boast to strangers on-line about a communication or message they believe they've received from the Gods and Goddesses.  

What I've written above does not even consider the wide spectrum of belief regarding the Nature of our Gods and Goddesses.  The subject of whether our Gods are literal beings, archetypes, personified forces of nature, or some else altogether is the subject for some other essay.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com