tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781187471025680822024-03-01T00:40:45.330-05:00Spirit WriterSpirit Writer - Where eclectic isn't a dirty wordTDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-12522325843562775402023-07-04T21:48:00.006-04:002023-08-03T07:29:12.582-04:00Trump a light-worker?<div>I'm currently working on a healer's bio of sorts as a personal archive that may be of interest to others who've traveled a similar path, which I hope to publish here in the next few months. It'll include my experience going from an evangelical belief system to the New-Age toxic positivity movement and how they're often two sides of the same coin. In the meantime, I came across a fascinating bit of "channeled" info. I haven't completely let go of my woo-girl days that I'll be covering in the bio. I've noticed a strange phenomenon in the lightworker community. People actually think Donald Trump is a lightworker.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it's not so strange. I've seen people, especially women, treat abusers as victims in New Age and Pagan circles. From what I observed in the '90s and early aughts, these abusers have to start out by using performance progressivism to get women to fall for it. While I don't think Trump has any loyalty to a party, he's definitely now aligned himself with the Republican party, so there's clearly been a marriage between the right wing and woo that didn't appear as prevalent when I was much more active in that community.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know much about the collective known as the Circle of the Angelic Realms besides what's on <a href="https://carmw-healing.org/index.html" target="_blank">their website</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/CircleofAngelic" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, but they hit the nail on the head with this one (video at end of post). I don't belong to a political party, so please don't go all "you dumb LiBRul snoWflaKe" on me. And yes, I'm still a Pagan polytheist, but:</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraRcqNKcqTdXwp6esUyx5NIfXpgmhFLVLyKgmm1ylKeyk86VYRREWvd4q8S8OYbHX78LcXyONxQMEXMNLl_bMyZlfog2ypUVav9bQAAa8O6XwNWqzqAKzD3qtqrHVaXFPi8wFWYAUecTeLS1Ls0-F3iisWfEIiysBqu_QU_Lyz0cth9sgXjxAkz6KTSo/s1200/Hamlet%20quote.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A graphic of a deep purple galaxy with many stars with white text that reads, "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." ~ from Hamlet, William Shakespeare" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraRcqNKcqTdXwp6esUyx5NIfXpgmhFLVLyKgmm1ylKeyk86VYRREWvd4q8S8OYbHX78LcXyONxQMEXMNLl_bMyZlfog2ypUVav9bQAAa8O6XwNWqzqAKzD3qtqrHVaXFPi8wFWYAUecTeLS1Ls0-F3iisWfEIiysBqu_QU_Lyz0cth9sgXjxAkz6KTSo/w640-h426/Hamlet%20quote.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meme credit: Trish Deneen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><blockquote><div>"This is an opportunity for learning more discernment. It's a turning point for healing." ~ Mikha'el through the Circle of the Angelic Realms</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/oE5FAZg67pA" width="480"></iframe></div>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-67067750438458073052023-07-01T20:38:00.004-04:002023-07-01T20:46:57.501-04:00Grounding Meditation With Root Chakra Stones<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXTW2OnpSyrycFbH4n52i4tJoOxa-t1DN2fULKAabwJY2bHc7fExuC3ALziV-DWpF4afMFM_MLgFw8YZa5vsAAqotSoavpWyQK0VlrcXu_I4qZL124b5wcWEb2ldUNV-3DwsefITcEGIw8NZ0Duq59gA5IBekJbEjo6O4oqQy6SjcM-HIG8t_sk2N954/s4288/Quartz_noir__morion__(France).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXTW2OnpSyrycFbH4n52i4tJoOxa-t1DN2fULKAabwJY2bHc7fExuC3ALziV-DWpF4afMFM_MLgFw8YZa5vsAAqotSoavpWyQK0VlrcXu_I4qZL124b5wcWEb2ldUNV-3DwsefITcEGIw8NZ0Duq59gA5IBekJbEjo6O4oqQy6SjcM-HIG8t_sk2N954/s320/Quartz_noir__morion__(France).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoky quartz, one of my favorite grounding stones.<br />Credit: Parent Géry, Public domain, <a href="Parent Géry, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons" target="_blank">via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I've created a new meditation video for my <a href="http://northlandhearth.com/" target="_blank">Northland Hearth</a> channel in support of my article at Hubpages titled, <i><a href="https://discover.hubpages.com/health/crystals-for-grounding-root-chakra" target="_blank">Crystals for Grounding and Healing the Root Chakra</a></i>. My goal is to add more audio and video media to my existing blog posts and articles across the web, as well as create new written content and support it with videos. This will include a range from what some might consider "woo" to hard polytheist journeys. Why should AI have all the fun, eh? I hope you enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/JE_uV2sEj-M" width="480"></iframe></div>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-26380004575080737892023-06-22T19:31:00.003-04:002023-06-22T19:33:09.871-04:00Prayer to Thor<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcqzMTZW2lSh1CxxIQW7vELFsrnfEjRfnnU-utQRdhqlJEvNDTPRl54065_q_cn0VtRjkKW2nVNwjQlZcLOl2ZKO6CVdRAp_8JeX7K199YXOv6NFqUWbxfaNNjsM5wXHJVpRe8lYlUOt4woZidyGjfCf7FmKnAQQY9W-L_7M8ieVo6TkQqwcriqzKBV0/s1050/Offering_by_Lund.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcqzMTZW2lSh1CxxIQW7vELFsrnfEjRfnnU-utQRdhqlJEvNDTPRl54065_q_cn0VtRjkKW2nVNwjQlZcLOl2ZKO6CVdRAp_8JeX7K199YXOv6NFqUWbxfaNNjsM5wXHJVpRe8lYlUOt4woZidyGjfCf7FmKnAQQY9W-L_7M8ieVo6TkQqwcriqzKBV0/w293-h400/Offering_by_Lund.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sacrifice to Thor. <br />Credit: Johan Ludwig Lund, Public domain, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Offering_by_Lund.jpg" target="_blank">via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I've been designing prayer/gift cards for my crafting business efforts. This is the poem I wrote for Thor to use with one of my designs. I hope you enjoy it.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Prayer to Thor</u></span></p><p>Hail to Thor, Mighty God of Thunder!</p><p>Rugged wielder of Mjolnir, </p><p>Guardian of Asgard,</p><p>Warrior, I praise you.</p><p>Devoted to family, </p><p>good friend of humanity,</p><p>Grant me your gifts of courage, </p><p>loyalty, and fierce truth</p><p>so that my words and deeds </p><p>may always honor you.</p><p>Hail Defender of Midgard!</p><p>Hail Thor! </p>
<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/80x15.png" /></a><br /><span xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" href="http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text" property="dct:title" rel="dct:type">Prayer to Thor</span> by <a xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" href="https://spiritwritertrishdeneen.blogspot.com/2023/06/prayer-to-thor.html" property="cc:attributionName" rel="cc:attributionURL">Trish Deneen</a> is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-70387660998142629702023-01-13T16:10:00.002-05:002023-04-24T07:17:40.593-04:00Excellent Post and Video on Heathen Shame Culture at Hearthside<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsIPHEvBVeXulNPR_oQuP1k_5Evh211McGmnQCndGqsRA5yNlnrEeaiyOA1keR0B58E9LD6KW_D_1nGOjSFc_0wS-ngAyEcIucBc7Yx30oRpdhtGLHcaoUZA0EMb8cj6Vj9V99mULQgUXCperBxLxkAl8uEKrpqn_j-Z8kU-z7Y1Kspb7fwbfT9XG/s1920/shame%20culture.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsIPHEvBVeXulNPR_oQuP1k_5Evh211McGmnQCndGqsRA5yNlnrEeaiyOA1keR0B58E9LD6KW_D_1nGOjSFc_0wS-ngAyEcIucBc7Yx30oRpdhtGLHcaoUZA0EMb8cj6Vj9V99mULQgUXCperBxLxkAl8uEKrpqn_j-Z8kU-z7Y1Kspb7fwbfT9XG/s320/shame%20culture.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3089939" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">Gerd Altmann</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3089939" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">Pixabay</a><span face=""Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #191b26;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Just a quick note to share this excellent video by Canadian Heathen blogger Michelle Wyn aka Hearthside on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqXHu6KcU2A" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. Firstly, she's taking on the task of making her blog posts more accessible by creating videos for them. Secondly, in this video, she discusses what she calls shame culture in Heathenry, especially in online spaces. She says:</p><blockquote><blockquote><p>"In our fast-paced modern world it is becoming more and more easy to publicly shame someone in a moment of anger, but unlike the shaming of Heathen culture historically, this sort of shaming can have a permanent effect on someone’s life with no room for recovery...Beyond this, public shaming on the internet does not cause people to change their behaviours. It may even have the inverse effect."</p></blockquote></blockquote><p>I would expand this to all of internet Paganism and Occultism. I find it ironic how quickly the metaphorical pitchforks are reached for by people historically concerned with being persecuted by pitchfork wielders. Her original blog post is located <a href="https://hearthsidecommunity.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-dangers-of-shame-culture-in-online.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-28341668839625951022022-12-21T09:32:00.000-05:002022-12-21T09:32:00.932-05:00Happy Winter Solstice<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49mxB8z_JgI2phY4jEmHFSQh78QqnqcLbuJfZ8pK1vAnAoIdKPGTknLpnhXJBIbmgmgxRLjW8SjWA1j1EdJ6uWRfjx94Qoz1_BxwuhSgTFPsHktfGSItrqNG2djZ7ldhD2PRVXhgOkD4K7Ewrx3f5IiKYFVelrWnkrlJK6GPbgZ77N7fRUtQfwUVp/s1920/wintersolstice_gdizergapixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49mxB8z_JgI2phY4jEmHFSQh78QqnqcLbuJfZ8pK1vAnAoIdKPGTknLpnhXJBIbmgmgxRLjW8SjWA1j1EdJ6uWRfjx94Qoz1_BxwuhSgTFPsHktfGSItrqNG2djZ7ldhD2PRVXhgOkD4K7Ewrx3f5IiKYFVelrWnkrlJK6GPbgZ77N7fRUtQfwUVp/w285-h400/wintersolstice_gdizergapixabay.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Winter Solstice sunrise. <br />Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/gdizerega-2695222/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1436685" target="_blank">gdizergega/Pixabay</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I hope Heathen folks had a good First Yule/Mother's Night yesterday if you celebrate (or whenever you do). For Pagan and Heathen folks, Happy Winter Solstice to those in the Northern Hemisphere and Summer Solstice to those in the Southern Hemisphere. May the season bring you love, joy, and prosperity.</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-49765244820098942452022-12-15T08:08:00.017-05:002023-03-28T08:04:15.447-04:00For Nightcat - In Memoriam<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5FHnNGXkwX62IXBf1riEheiw8WS4Le8zJnBhhHHUx5utGdyXR6wNFPOXZxcE0GS9_Ipi_abkhW5UkU1AVqXPpyY9Giwb6UgDdWRktAN8iT9Q-f_Z1PEvji5gKq4MO1RMVvc799cX--8Wca7rlqT-E_6Uw5G2Q3g0QnJ0_fWZqd9mo3BhzoDA1J7I/s1200/RIP%20Nightcat.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5FHnNGXkwX62IXBf1riEheiw8WS4Le8zJnBhhHHUx5utGdyXR6wNFPOXZxcE0GS9_Ipi_abkhW5UkU1AVqXPpyY9Giwb6UgDdWRktAN8iT9Q-f_Z1PEvji5gKq4MO1RMVvc799cX--8Wca7rlqT-E_6Uw5G2Q3g0QnJ0_fWZqd9mo3BhzoDA1J7I/w266-h400/RIP%20Nightcat.png" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightcat was a Lokean at heart, hence the fox.<br />May she be at peace.<br />Credit: Graphic made by me in Canva.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;">I'm still shocked at the news that a favorite </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WhySoSiriusALokeanChannel/videos" style="background-color: white; color: #699482; text-decoration-line: none;">YouTuber</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;"> died suddenly on Saturday. I've enjoyed her polytheist content for a couple of years and became a member. There have been times when her channel was my spiritual home. She was unabashedly real about her beliefs and her struggles with mental illness, both of which I could relate to. But she also included fun gaming content and held a safe space for Lokeans, godspouses, and LGBTQ+ Pagans. She was so welcoming to everyone who was kind and respectful.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;">I know that those who knew her personally are suffering more, but the closest word I have to describe what I'm feeling is grief. I know I'm not the only one if the comments on her channel and Discord are anything to go by. Rest in peace, Sweet Nightcat. You're in the arms of your beloved holy ones and ancestors now. Thank you for your honesty, food for thought, laughter, and the comfort you brought to my mind and heart.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;">Morgan announced her passing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDic56-OGiU" target="_blank">here</a>. The name of her channel is Why So Sirius? A Lokean Channel.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;">I originally edited the following paragraph out because I thought it sounded silly. But screw it. Nightcat herself would've told me to be myself and cry if I need to. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;">I can't get the song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWQ25O-Mcg" target="_blank">My Church</a>" by Maren Morris out of my head. I know that country music isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I think anyone who experiences the holy powers outside of mainstream religion and finds a kindred spirit or two along the way will get it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e;">*This is a cross-post from <a href="https://ivyskeep.dreamwidth.org/5276.html" target="_blank">Dreamwidth</a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> © Trish Deneen </span></p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-55334140981569047792022-10-26T12:35:00.006-04:002022-10-26T17:35:13.307-04:00Sigdrifa's Prayer - Winter Theme<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CEhQnOUMFaBwZj1b9xxrtT4eqwurMM6C3_DRDXquAxM1RAzItS5ICQycAfIq_1PeUXHs2YY-ZlGwBzzY7ypTnq0Eegz4Qm5WQMO_Y8U1JvgHN8N_v_6EcHkuu63fv3tAGI91PGeRsBLpeo9VyVn-3TeFSxOvQuo5gJLsE7aoJJwyVlzOd2G8yFPV/s1920/sunrise-373103_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CEhQnOUMFaBwZj1b9xxrtT4eqwurMM6C3_DRDXquAxM1RAzItS5ICQycAfIq_1PeUXHs2YY-ZlGwBzzY7ypTnq0Eegz4Qm5WQMO_Y8U1JvgHN8N_v_6EcHkuu63fv3tAGI91PGeRsBLpeo9VyVn-3TeFSxOvQuo5gJLsE7aoJJwyVlzOd2G8yFPV/w266-h400/sunrise-373103_1920.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter sunrise is the theme of my<br /> Sigdrifa prayer video. <br />Credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/sunrise-snow-icicle-winter-trees-373103/" target="_blank">Wolfgang Dietz/Pixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>I created a new video for contemplation and/or meditation using a version of Sigdrifa's prayer from the Poetic Edda. My goal is to create four videos, one for each season with a different version of the prayer. I hope you enjoy it. My channel is not monetized at this time, which I believe fulfills the requirement Wyrd Designs, the author of this version of the prayer, states on their <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/pantheon/2010/06/wyrd-designs-sigdrifas-a-prayer-and-a-song/" target="_blank">Patheos post here</a>. Please also check out their blog post offering free bookmarks with the prayer for U.S. veterans and active military<a href="https://wyrddesigns.wordpress.com/2017/11/12/free-sigdrifas-prayer-bookmarks-to-any-veteran-or-currently-serving-pagan-or-polytheist-in-the-u-s-military/" target="_blank"> members here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Also, please bear with my audio skills as I'm still learning how to smoosh all the elements together in the different editing software I use.<br /><div><br /></div><div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/IYYIT22z99I" width="480"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Trish Deneen</span></span></div>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-836357774250123322022-09-11T09:41:00.010-04:002022-09-11T10:03:27.581-04:00Goodreads Review of Polytheistic Monasticism: Voices from Pagan Cloisters<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEeX8J1rXxHgqTnBLMGbffGIi5iMeYc-yRK4HGoRK_TBx3Kb_d7P7nShW2LHwsaFPtZqnlOWsWsUynIIXzhu2-diBpiwA8hBIANz_GDGRkHYrXJoi6AGPjqB-pPOqJmF-SC8rM1s_A1UWnJJKiCaYnkQQqUiDQ76cIynTjGvENzp8_1OCa3ME38nv/s3501/Polytheistic%20Monasticism%20book%20cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo of the cover of the book Polytheistic Monasticism: Voices from Pagan Cloisters against the background of a dark blue floral scarf." border="0" data-original-height="3501" data-original-width="2625" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEeX8J1rXxHgqTnBLMGbffGIi5iMeYc-yRK4HGoRK_TBx3Kb_d7P7nShW2LHwsaFPtZqnlOWsWsUynIIXzhu2-diBpiwA8hBIANz_GDGRkHYrXJoi6AGPjqB-pPOqJmF-SC8rM1s_A1UWnJJKiCaYnkQQqUiDQ76cIynTjGvENzp8_1OCa3ME38nv/w300-h400/Polytheistic%20Monasticism%20book%20cover2.jpg" title="Cover of the book Polytheistic Monasticism: Voices from Pagan Cloisters" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover of my copy of Polytheistic Monasticism:<br />Voices from Pagan Cloisters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm working on a longer review of this book to publish elsewhere and will post a link to that when it's finished, but I wanted to share my Goodreads review for this excellent book. </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60120838-polytheistic-monasticism">Polytheistic Monasticism: Voices from Pagan Cloisters</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4437898.Janet_Munin">Janet Munin</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4644093104">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A fascinating intro to the concept of polytheistic monasticism from different viewpoints. While the book is slim, its essays from different authors pack in a lot of information to contemplate. Off the top of my head, some of the ideas covered are:<br /><br />1. Addressing the stereotypes that come up that may be a kneejerk reaction by some when they hear the words "Pagan" and "monasticism" in the same sentence, i.e. celibacy, rules, prayers, devotion.<br />2. Acknowledging the difficulties of this path while being optimistic about its present and future.<br />3. Acknowledging that there are good resources out there from other faiths for us to glean from and that doesn't make us "wannabe" anything.<br />4. Examples of what daily polytheistic monasticism looks like in practice.<br />5. Terms to research and learn from in the context of monasticism such as discernment and laura (as in cluster cells). <br />6. Much more that I'm not doing service to here.<br /><br />This is a quick read, but I find myself going back to each of the essays and finding more gems. Thoroughly enjoyable and gives much food for thought.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/18270345-trish-deneen">View all my reviews</a><p> © Trish Deneen</p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-32623847134573797262022-01-31T10:29:00.007-05:002022-04-09T10:05:52.379-04:00Pagan Preppers and Homesteaders Short Link Roundup <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFbPoznhMlCJ0EcEWQNqIGzy-oEmuJ_ejpoPhbe2pYhtwwH2OyGBdxn7iI_nkbf4EL588vCvzC6Zv29SMGSIgeXnXFNMBA2TmrEWRITbb776iv1tk4CvutepGhFu7hZ86MauYB1fa4ZGqFLBaCB2j6dD6iYuEtEGQV-AucHfE_dUwEwt_A4NgfEowr=s1784" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1784" data-original-width="984" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFbPoznhMlCJ0EcEWQNqIGzy-oEmuJ_ejpoPhbe2pYhtwwH2OyGBdxn7iI_nkbf4EL588vCvzC6Zv29SMGSIgeXnXFNMBA2TmrEWRITbb776iv1tk4CvutepGhFu7hZ86MauYB1fa4ZGqFLBaCB2j6dD6iYuEtEGQV-AucHfE_dUwEwt_A4NgfEowr=w221-h400" width="221" /></span></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nasturtium, peppermint, and chamomile<br /> from my garden last year.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've considered myself technically a prepper for over a decade, though admittedly on the smaller scale side of things. I also considered myself conservative for about 15 years before my former party nominated an orange mad man, but was slowly coming into the prepping mindset during the Bush 2 era. I've just never fit into a box politically. I think there've always been Pagan preppers from different political backgrounds. It's just that liberals don't tend to do the chest-pounding and flag-waving that fits the prepping stereotype, so you may not hear about it so much. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've always thought there should be a marriage between elements of the more right-wing pro-gun and the left-wing herbal healing aspects of prepping culture. Both sides are interested in homesteading. I don't think I'm the only one who believes this, so prepping has become more quietly mainstream even with people who thought it was silly before.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're new and want info or to find others of like mind, here are a few sources to check out:<br /></span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My article at Hubpages, <a href="https://hubpages.com/politics/Misconceptions-About-Preppers" target="_blank">5 Common Misconceptions About Preppers</a>.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The YouTube Channel of a young English couple documenting their prepping journey, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PaganPreppers" target="_blank">Pagan Preppers</a>.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sarenth Odinsson's <a href="https://sarenth.wordpress.com/2022/01/24/a-heathen-prepping-prepping-for-convergent-crises/" target="_blank">post on Heathen Prepping</a>.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1514349261968659" target="_blank">Pagan Survival Preppers</a> group on Facebook.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Heathen homesteading from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKF0MknTyh_53QB5NCxMbtg/videos" target="_blank">Horn and Hearth's Youtube channel</a>.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copper Kettle Farms, home of ADF clergywoman Crystal Groves and her husband. They have a <a href="https://copperkettlefarms.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/CopperKettleFarms/videos" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Dùn Sgàthan, home of practitioners of the Outlaw Warrior Path. They have a <a href="http://dunsgathan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">homesteading blog</a>. There's info on the warrior path dedicated to the Morrigan at their <a href="http://www.dunsgathan.net/" target="_blank">entry page</a>.<br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My (somewhat dusty) <a href="https://silentprepper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">prepping and frugality blog</a>. I post when I can.</span></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm sure there are many more, but this will get you started. Feel free to post your favorite Pagan prepping or homesteading links in the comments.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Disclaimer: Since we're so polarized culturally, I'm adding this disclaimer. This post is not meant to imply that anyone I link to endorses me or my views and vice versa. It's simply all about supporting the idea of pagans being involved in prepping.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> © Trish Deneen </span></span></p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-16688530042934104082022-01-23T13:14:00.002-05:002022-01-23T13:14:38.813-05:00Winter Land Wight, 10-Minute Snowfall Sound for Meditation Relaxation<div>I created this short, 10-minute video of the sound of snow falling against the backdrop of a garden gnome in my back yard which I consecrated as a symbol of the land wights for offerings. My goal is to create these short pieces for when I need a visual and audio focus during a prayer break during my day (or night). I hope you find it helpful in your practice.</div><div><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/sIcBHHGD-NM" width="480"></iframe>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-7171605712950230792021-11-14T14:54:00.005-05:002022-10-24T07:12:23.933-04:00First of Sunwait<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xvsxJDQ3N0rJyLceTpow_gpwI2np7uLnUDE-p7tw1_hHpaiji4_o6K2vgj10pgUTmUX0etK3No6VqqcboPyE0gToqxyYJcQsiWijbK9295wAwGMHPFfnVjgNeTABjgMJjsksew0FV-g/s2048/Sunwait.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1951" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xvsxJDQ3N0rJyLceTpow_gpwI2np7uLnUDE-p7tw1_hHpaiji4_o6K2vgj10pgUTmUX0etK3No6VqqcboPyE0gToqxyYJcQsiWijbK9295wAwGMHPFfnVjgNeTABjgMJjsksew0FV-g/w381-h400/Sunwait.jpg" width="381" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First of Sunwait, a meditation on Fehu with a surprise appearance by Ansuz.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sunwait is a newish tradition some Heathens are following that welcomes the season of Yule. It begins six weeks prior to Yule and focuses on meditations of the first six letters of the Futhark, one per week. Thursdays have been a popular day to do this, with that day being holy to many of us. I've chosen Sunday because that's my most relaxed day, and I can focus more fully on the rune during the day and evening. It's so new though that nothing is set in stone.</p><p>From my understanding, this originates from this FB user (though don't quote me on that): <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vantljusstaken/" target="_blank">Vantjusstaken</a>. You can find more info at <a href="http://www.heathenhof.com/continuing-vantljusstaken-light-anticipation-candlesticks/" target="_blank">Huginn's Heathen Hof</a>. Its roots are I believe from the advent tradition (again, don't quote me). I grew up Protestant, so I didn't have this tradition, but my evangelical grandmother had another one. We would make a chain of construction paper loops for every day in December up until Christmas. Each day we would tear off one loop and say a prayer and read bible verses from the nativity story. Gangerleri's Grove has an interesting post on the power of <a href="https://krasskova.wordpress.com/2021/11/10/getting-ready-for-sunwait-2021/" target="_blank">this tradition here</a>. Like the author, I ponder on how much deeper the roots of these reawakened traditions really are. </p><p>My setup was quite simple. I used a handmade tealight as I'm in the testing process of an upcoming business venture. Some people carve the rune on the candle and say prayers given at the FB site linked above or create their own. I'm using the ones from Vantjusstaken. I'm also performing a Run Valdr healing on myself as well as using <a href="http://uberrod.com/runvaldr01.html" target="_blank">that system</a> to charge the runes. I was attuned to Run Valdr by its founder, Rodney Cox, many years ago and have been drawn to using it more and more lately. After my meditation on Fehu, I looked over at my desk and realized that I inadvertently left a rune out of the bag I was retrieving Fehu from to place on my altar. It was Ansuz. I took it as a good omen for my work and my new ventures as well as the prosperity for my community that I prayed for.</p><p>Have a blessed Sunwait season.</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p><p> As stated in my About page, it is my understanding that I can post YouTube videos that have enabled embedding. However, if you are a video creator that wants me to remove a video of yours from a post, please leave a comment, and I will do so.</p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-60295239885068101372021-11-01T19:36:00.002-04:002021-11-12T15:49:46.917-05:00Checking Out the Conference on Polytheisms Today & Tomorrow<p>
This will take me days to get through, but after listening for only several minutes I can tell it will be well worth it. <p>"The long process of reclaiming pride in having many gods reaches a new stage with this gathering." ~ <a href="https://indica.courses/our_team/dr-edward-p-butler/" target="_blank">Dr. Edward P. Butler</a></p>
<p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/UFsiafRMunM" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UFsiafRMunM/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-41601061069524560412021-08-06T07:33:00.000-04:002021-08-06T07:33:07.315-04:00Quick Tip For Easy Donations To Pagan Organizations: Amazon Smile<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXjA7EyFhNfbRKupDyy6TBF3wP1oYSzYUBtRUO1wNr5wh3gtHQKKYHaQA_LSMBREbhIIZTZGmKNjDi_edmXKVfl0_KWIClG4c5poLmxm7cCPg8WdejlOeswhSEBEXsJvVgC8d1jEIW5s/s1280/heart-3846613_1280.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1280" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXjA7EyFhNfbRKupDyy6TBF3wP1oYSzYUBtRUO1wNr5wh3gtHQKKYHaQA_LSMBREbhIIZTZGmKNjDi_edmXKVfl0_KWIClG4c5poLmxm7cCPg8WdejlOeswhSEBEXsJvVgC8d1jEIW5s/w400-h363/heart-3846613_1280.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping hands. Credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/images/id-3846613/" target="_blank">GDJ/Pixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If you're an Amazon shopper, you can easily donate to a pagan organization you care about with qualifying purchases. I am an Amazon affiliate, but this isn't an affiliate post. The AmazonSmile program allows you to designate the charity of your choice among their program member charities to receive 0.5% from your eligible purchases. What is eligible is explained on the AmazonSmile program <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_dshb_lm_saas?ie=UTF8&ref_=smi_se_mirp_dshb_smi" target="_blank">About page</a>:<br /></p><blockquote><p>"Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible."</p></blockquote><p>I've seen pagan organizations such as Circle Sanctuary, ADF, and The Troth listed among the options. There may be others, so be sure to search through the list for pagan or another charity that's close to your heart. Check out the <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/how-to-sign-up-for-amazonsmile" target="_blank">sign-up page</a> to learn how to get started.</p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-1092833410088673052021-08-05T08:00:00.025-04:002021-08-05T08:00:00.191-04:00Looking for the Lost Gods of England by Kathleen HerbertI recently did a quick review for a short but info-packed book at Goodreads.<div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/915189.Looking_for_the_Lost_Gods_of_England" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/915189.Looking_for_the_Lost_Gods_of_England" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/915189.Looking_for_the_Lost_Gods_of_England" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Looking for the Lost Gods of England" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347466127l/915189._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/915189.Looking_for_the_Lost_Gods_of_England">Looking for the Lost Gods of England</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/467976.Kathleen_Herbert">Kathleen Herbert</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4135890297">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
An excellent little book that is actually a transcript of a lecture given by the author. Small but packed full of info on the given topic of Anglo-Saxon pagan belief and practices that can be gleaned from the sources she cited. Her speculations are an interesting starting point for those looking into the topic, and the long list of footnotes provides grist for further research.</div><div><br /></div><div>The author was also a novelist. After attending a lecture given by J.R.R. Tolkein, she was inspired to delve deep into Old English lore for her writing. A short bio can be found at <a href="http://desturmobed.blogspot.com/2020/05/kathleen-herbert.html" target="_blank">Lesser-Known Writers</a>.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/18270345-trish-deneen">View all my reviews</a> <div><br /></div><div> © Trish Deneen </div></div></div>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-73441436981965382502021-08-04T08:26:00.011-04:002021-08-05T07:06:51.547-04:00Quote of the day because I'm dog tired<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvYBg2ctnjVkvObIbgBLTuwKpHKzQkTxizcxagbUb37ZxMtY1V3nHBJX7k_Guesl38L8KmD2ORIaL6zIvCMeymO3ZGPYRH2RYB45tLzGVB28luB1XCk_s4RodzFO1vgLU8KJzk7XZJXQ/s2048/The_Great_Bartholdi_Statue_%25E2%2580%2593_Liberty_Enlightening_the_World_MET_DP242153.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scan of a hand-colored lithograph of the Statue of Liberty by Currier and Ives titled The Great Bartholdi Statue – Liberty Enlightening the World" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1559" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvYBg2ctnjVkvObIbgBLTuwKpHKzQkTxizcxagbUb37ZxMtY1V3nHBJX7k_Guesl38L8KmD2ORIaL6zIvCMeymO3ZGPYRH2RYB45tLzGVB28luB1XCk_s4RodzFO1vgLU8KJzk7XZJXQ/w488-h640/The_Great_Bartholdi_Statue_%25E2%2580%2593_Liberty_Enlightening_the_World_MET_DP242153.jpg" title="The Great Bartholdi Statue – Liberty Enlightening the World" width="488" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still believe we can live up to our American ideals. <br />Photo credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Great_Bartholdi_Statue_%E2%80%93_Liberty_Enlightening_the_World_MET_DP242153.jpg" target="_blank">Currier and Ives, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I often sit down to attempt to write a centrist or independent pagan manifesto because of the extremes that exist within paganism politically (I won't call it a community). I just don't have the spoons to write one long post citing every point of contention right now. I left the Democratic Party during the <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/monica-lewinsky-in-the-age-of-metoo" target="_blank">Clinton hypocrisy</a> and was essentially told to get lost by my former party of more than 15 years in what I call the infamous <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/06/14/donald-trump-campaign-announcement-tower-escalator-oral-history-227148/" target="_blank">2015 escalator incident</a>. If I write such a screed, it'll most likely be broken down into short bulleted posts. In the meantime, Conservative New Ager states how he feels bluntly in <a href="https://conservativenewager.com/2021/02/15/bidens-proposes-15-minimum-wage-what-should-we-really-do-about-that/" target="_blank">this post</a>:</p><p></p><blockquote>"I may have no deep abiding love for the Democrats, but right now, the opposition is a bunch of Nazis, so I have to throw in with the liberal idiots until the opposition can stop being evil."</blockquote><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif;"><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote></span></div><p>Harsh, but I can't say I disagree. It feels like eons ago I wrote about being a conservative pagan on different sites that are now defunct or inactive. I knew where Trump would lead us even more so than some other Never Trumpers, all of us deemed <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-tweet-human-scum_n_5db0a12ae4b0d5b789451e91" target="_blank">human scum</a> by the former president. But I'm going off on a tangent, and my disappointment regarding Trumpism taking over the Republican Party should be saved for a fleshed-out post.</p><p>I'm a nobody on the internet and not a BNP (Big Name Pagan), so I don't expect to be some sort of influencer. This post is no more than a place marker for future writings and to show other pagans and polytheists who fall in the middle of the political and cultural spectrum that they're not alone. </p><p></p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-28270829677470296012021-01-06T13:04:00.000-05:002021-01-06T13:04:00.960-05:00 Kurt Hoogstraat, A Vitki Gothi: Bindrune For Dealing With Difficult Ancestors<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNZmMFWe5irBqrJXZqfB9aI-QD_QAToVQFQ4EUzIn9jfe19joUmXJZxTqIRZ4GZXJiZLtHhR8AMFfp-ZnR-6E09hNEum4G3dV0WhEmo_78cj3-Z2k_W2Z15-xVcwXwoFQ9r4KwuL8DtI/s1920/divination-3101237_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNZmMFWe5irBqrJXZqfB9aI-QD_QAToVQFQ4EUzIn9jfe19joUmXJZxTqIRZ4GZXJiZLtHhR8AMFfp-ZnR-6E09hNEum4G3dV0WhEmo_78cj3-Z2k_W2Z15-xVcwXwoFQ9r4KwuL8DtI/s320/divination-3101237_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set of runes. Credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/images/id-3101237/" target="_blank">shapkasushami/Pixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In my <a href="https://spiritwritertrishdeneen.blogspot.com/2020/12/good-yule-day-8-contemplating-ancestral.html" target="_blank">Yule #8 blog post</a>, I touched upon dealing with difficult ancestors in a religion that includes ancestral veneration. I think this is something many people struggle with. Vitki Gothi Kurt Hoogstraat of <a href="https://www.thorsoak.info/" target="_blank">Thor's Oak Kindred</a> in Chicago shares his bindrune technique in healing our own thoughts regarding this. While he does this as a heathen, I think this technique can be adapted to Wiccan or other pagan magical systems.</div><div><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/GcKKkifWM_g" width="480"></iframe>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-13822249870233954312021-01-01T20:16:00.000-05:002021-01-01T20:16:58.598-05:00Good Yule Day #12: Contemplating Heimdall<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXABCnr7rL1s7_7Qx0kUmtPXA4SrrXVZE7GG7K86-EV86iKWW0ZKydXouq90xGSYstKc_PKZiPjktDT3-m1el1t3IwmcnVjpCixmaNRWgPdiS_SsmSvpz1_Q_OtoyP5TD1BVUw5lkooI/s728/Heimdall_an_der_Himmelsbr%25C3%25BCcke.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="728" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXABCnr7rL1s7_7Qx0kUmtPXA4SrrXVZE7GG7K86-EV86iKWW0ZKydXouq90xGSYstKc_PKZiPjktDT3-m1el1t3IwmcnVjpCixmaNRWgPdiS_SsmSvpz1_Q_OtoyP5TD1BVUw5lkooI/w640-h596/Heimdall_an_der_Himmelsbr%25C3%25BCcke.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;">"Heimdallr stands by the bridge, blowing into Gjallarhorn." Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heimdall_an_der_Himmelsbr%C3%BCcke.jpg" target="_blank">Emil Doepler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>On this final day of Yule, I honor Heimdall. He's the watchman of the gods who guards Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge, which spans the length between Asgard and Midgard, aka between the dwelling of the deities and humankind. It is his duty to guard against the mountain giants. He has keen eyesight and hears everything, even the rustle of a blade of grass. He will one day sound the great horn, Gjallarhorn, to presage the coming of Ragnarok. </p><p>While the lore suggests humans were created by Odin, it's Heimdall who fathered three classes; slaves, freemen, and the rulers after posing as a king among humans. His great hall is called Himinbjorg, and of it Odin under his name Grimnir says:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Himinbjorg it is called</p><p>and there Heimdall</p><p>rules over sacred places.</p><p>There the watchman of the gods</p><p>drinks in his comfortable lodgings,</p><p>happily, the good mead.</p></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_W5zUrjZGiIeCazwGlLcrOYth3fQImgqr8TMq6OgZv31orsLJKViMs4tXDDHj7fDZJfdVHsUkyzqGmxwrTRYZtAuSKFuBMh-IdzUotiBp6D56A8tIL8o7LTFuE7epBrfeffPnTNeTaM/s584/Asgard_and_Bifrost_in_interpretation_of_Otto_Schenk_in_Wagner%2527s_Das_Rheingold.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="584" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_W5zUrjZGiIeCazwGlLcrOYth3fQImgqr8TMq6OgZv31orsLJKViMs4tXDDHj7fDZJfdVHsUkyzqGmxwrTRYZtAuSKFuBMh-IdzUotiBp6D56A8tIL8o7LTFuE7epBrfeffPnTNeTaM/w640-h430/Asgard_and_Bifrost_in_interpretation_of_Otto_Schenk_in_Wagner%2527s_Das_Rheingold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asgard and Bifrost in interpretation of Otto Schenk in Wagner's drama Das Rheingold. Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asgard_and_Bifrost_in_interpretation_of_Otto_Schenk_in_Wagner%27s_Das_Rheingold.jpg" target="_blank">Richard Wagner, Otto Schenk (FAL-1.3 or FAL-1.3), via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />He is a friend to Freya but a foe of Loki and will fight him at Ragnarok. He was born of nine mothers known as the nine waves, the daughters of the sea god, Aegir. I'm fascinated by the depth of this god's lore while still leaving him a bit of a mystery. Davidson describes the many threads hinted at in the lore; his connection to the Vanir, the sea, the World Tree, the underworld, and being the father of society.<div><br /></div><div>What always seems clear, however, is his role as the ever-present guardian. He is a god of duty that he performs well. When does he have time to drink mead in his great hall? In my own UPG, I see him as a gatekeeper between the gods and us, and that is how I choose to pray to him today. I trust his astute senses to warn of danger while guiding me across the bridge to the new year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Yule and Hail the Watchman, Hail Heimdall!<br /><p>Sources and inspiration:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Butler-Ehle, Hester. Hearth and Field: A Heathen Prayer Book, Second Edition. Fieldstone Hearth 2010, 2011.</li><li>Ellis Davidson, H.R. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. Penguin Books, 1964.</li><li>Lafayllve, Patricia M. A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru.</li><li>The Poetic Edda. Translated by Carolyne Larrington. Oxford University Press, 2014 (revised edition). </li><li>Sturluson, Snorri. The Prose Edda. Translated by Jesse Byock. Penguin Classics, 2005.</li></ul><p></p><p> © Trish Deneen </p></div>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-56357362634374463102020-12-31T19:20:00.006-05:002021-01-01T09:23:36.028-05:00Good Yule Day #11: Honoring Thor<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVXczvdHUi0R-QCWnHXrt_kqZ02B-okZsa4Vk4Wn54KuKYbPTTPM9YvtM83nH08QE6hF2vOG_xAWZZ7iC_NaqKYuEc0saqjd26BU1BcMf0HiSWNSuHTNF9_P1kYjgkztCJkOIPGZZhGw/s690/Thor_%25281907%2529_by_Lorenz_Fr%25C3%25B8lich.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVXczvdHUi0R-QCWnHXrt_kqZ02B-okZsa4Vk4Wn54KuKYbPTTPM9YvtM83nH08QE6hF2vOG_xAWZZ7iC_NaqKYuEc0saqjd26BU1BcMf0HiSWNSuHTNF9_P1kYjgkztCJkOIPGZZhGw/w422-h640/Thor_%25281907%2529_by_Lorenz_Fr%25C3%25B8lich.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thor <br />Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thor_(1907)_by_Lorenz_Fr%C3%B8lich.jpg" target="_blank">Lorenz Frølich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Hail Thor!</p><p>Friend of the people,</p><p>protector of Asgard.</p><p>You wield Mjolnir</p><p>to ward off chaos.</p><p>Son of Wise Odin,</p><p>warder of Midgard.</p><p>Champion of the Gods, we honor you</p><p>and ask your blessing </p><p>of the new year.</p><p>May we go forth</p><p>inspired by your strength,</p><p>courage, and fortitude.</p><p>We are weary,</p><p>but as we emerge from</p><p>this time of darkness,</p><p>we trust that you will</p><p>strengthen and preserve us.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hail Protector! Hail Thor!</p><p>Happy Yule and New Year's Eve everyone.</p><p><br /></p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-56417315543972517092020-12-30T19:38:00.003-05:002020-12-30T19:39:50.608-05:00Good Yule Day #10: For Mother Holda<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpSDuLCO-a4m7sv0jwQiWh91jp-L1jkYM3-Drxby9roVgkyeVxTeLwojre-kqc9d_1A0_qevBiVvn0p8DWNCAr4XXASCXv3YabZzBg6UJOxLt06TJGkEtqQFt_Y6YQTqU3ZY4sbnzOGg/s620/Holda%252C_the_g%25C3%25BCtige_Besch%25C3%25BCzerin_by_F._W._Heine.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="620" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpSDuLCO-a4m7sv0jwQiWh91jp-L1jkYM3-Drxby9roVgkyeVxTeLwojre-kqc9d_1A0_qevBiVvn0p8DWNCAr4XXASCXv3YabZzBg6UJOxLt06TJGkEtqQFt_Y6YQTqU3ZY4sbnzOGg/w640-h614/Holda%252C_the_g%25C3%25BCtige_Besch%25C3%25BCzerin_by_F._W._Heine.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Holda, the good protectress." Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holda,_the_g%C3%BCtige_Besch%C3%BCzerin_by_F._W._Heine.jpg" target="_blank">Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (1845-1921), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This will be a "greatest hits" sort of post as I'm running on empty today, and I'm still learning about this fascinating goddess myself. Today, I honor Mother Holda, a Germanic goddess of winter, spinning (as in thread), housekeeping, and the work that needs to be done heading into the new year. She's beloved of witches, crones, and a protectress of women. She's associated with Perchta and in this aspect, she knows who's been naughty or nice at Christmastime.</p><p>Some resources I found helpful:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://hrafnar.org/articles/dpaxson/asynjur/holda/" target="_blank">Holda</a> by Diana Paxson at Hrafnar.</li><li><a href="https://www.themerryspinster.com/theeternalthreadspring2018classroom/2018/4/27/holda-and-perchta" target="_blank">Holda and Perchta</a> by Heather Marano at The Merry Spinster. </li><li>Video presentation of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV2lMBEI8qY" target="_blank">Holda: Queen of Fire & Ice</a> by Jack Gale. </li><li>Video of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwLqm2_Ye2w" target="_blank">Holda, Goddess for Lockdown</a> w/Raven Kaldera.</li></ul><p></p><p>I'm barely touching on her lore here. She has many aspects from benign to terrifying. She appears in some lore as a protectress of children. Or she is accompanied by the souls of dead children on her Wild Hunt during the winter. The resources above go into this dichotomy more. For me this Yule night, besides a warm drink, I'll offer her those things I'm getting done before the beginning of the new year. From all I've read, she doesn't like laziness, so I wouldn't offer anything that I don't believe I can complete.</p><p>Good Yule to you and Hail Holda!</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-66635385542648869752020-12-29T15:28:00.006-05:002021-11-01T08:22:53.115-04:00Good Yule Day #9: Honoring Tyr<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2fB_i3BBntYjHhuUnQXQJ6SrFWSqH_HsaxNLtw1rL9Z95wkBpdYv74lzqWQ1gsXvI_pUhQqejCAxkyCM9RNpwle8ZI2lK5tUh3yvu5s6tesrnFUaQmyOFk5a4rvahP7Tla6u4amp5DI/s855/Tyr_and_Fenrir-John_Bauer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="733" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2fB_i3BBntYjHhuUnQXQJ6SrFWSqH_HsaxNLtw1rL9Z95wkBpdYv74lzqWQ1gsXvI_pUhQqejCAxkyCM9RNpwle8ZI2lK5tUh3yvu5s6tesrnFUaQmyOFk5a4rvahP7Tla6u4amp5DI/w549-h640/Tyr_and_Fenrir-John_Bauer.jpg" width="549" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyr and Fenrir. Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tyr_and_Fenrir-John_Bauer.jpg" target="_blank">John Bauer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</a><br />Image description: Norse war god, Tyr, places his hand in the great wolf Fenrir's<br />mouth.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><blockquote><p>"Tyr is a name of another of the Aesir. He is the boldest and most courageous, and it is very much up to him who wins the battle." ~ High to Gangleri in The Prose Edda, Jesse Bycock translation, pages 35-36, Penguin Classics, 2005</p></blockquote><p>I have a confession. I feel more of an affinity to Tyr than I do to Odin. </p><p>Phew. Glad I got that off my chest. Seriously though, doesn't it seem like Odin gets all the press?</p><p>Per lore, the gods feared Fenriswolf, a child of Loki and Angrboda, for he was prophesied to be the death of Odin at Ragnarok. They decided they must devise a plan to bind him instead of kill him because spilling his blood in their sacred space would defile it. As Fenriswolf was growing up, Tyr was the only god with the courage to feed him. The gods asked the wolf to try out a binding that he surely would be able to free himself from, and he would then become renowned for his strength. He suspected trickery. He told them that he would try it as long as one of them put a hand in his mouth to ensure they were not tricking him. Of course, it was Tyr, once again, with the courage to do so. But the gods had the binding magically made by dwarves. Indeed, it was too strong for the wolf to break free from. Therefore, Tyr lost his hand. Source: Text mentioned above, pages 39-42.</p><p>I think this story can be seen from different angles as can many of the myths. The following two paragraphs are complete <a href="http://www.realheathenry.com/the-matter-of-upg/" target="_blank">UPG</a>. For me, at the beginning of the pandemic, Tyr was <a href="https://spiritwritertrishdeneen.blogspot.com/2020/04/prayer-to-tyr.html" target="_blank">part of my devotion</a> as a god that sacrificed part of himself to fend off destruction. I'm not a warrior, but I am the daughter of a deeply emotionally wounded warrior. And eventually, I became a wounded healer for 10 years, I believe, as a direct result of his treatment of me. The effects of the wounded warrior on those within their sphere are far reaching. Those who served in the armed forces will have their own relationship with Tyr if they choose to. I think he's especially suited as a patron for veterans and members of law enforcement. </p><p>He's a god of true justice, not only of the offices of justice (update 11/1/21: It's my understanding Forseti may be a god of <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/forseti/" target="_blank">justice systems</a>), so in my view, he wouldn't be on the side of corrupt police, politicians, or military personnel. I believe communities that extend from those positions such as family, veterans hospitals, and non-combat support personnel down to clerical staff are under his purview because they are part of the machinations that keep the flow of justice working. I don't believe he would support the injustice of leaving veterans out in the cold literally and figuratively when it comes to healthcare and social services. <br /></p><p>Tonight, I'll offer my praise and gifts of liquor and food to Tyr for helping me have empathy for wounded warriors and respect for those who serve with honor as well as his continued pushback against the chaos of this year.</p><p>Good Yule to you and Hail Tyr!</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-68542808634617947432020-12-28T19:47:00.008-05:002022-12-27T19:31:16.577-05:00Good Yule Day #8: Contemplating Ancestral Orlog<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMR1kj3S5-y464uevB8wzhbgDsZvwK8IApHtIzqHf0PFlqHAk4bC6j-2yfQn2_mKMNhyphenhyphenWzOIt0jHYnl-514mbJTvxGbqDlx67fgEMjW-EjVCruuMv6K9zRK5RrYjZtWYmjYEn_cGQdOc/s1920/iron-wagon-2475741_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMR1kj3S5-y464uevB8wzhbgDsZvwK8IApHtIzqHf0PFlqHAk4bC6j-2yfQn2_mKMNhyphenhyphenWzOIt0jHYnl-514mbJTvxGbqDlx67fgEMjW-EjVCruuMv6K9zRK5RrYjZtWYmjYEn_cGQdOc/w400-h266/iron-wagon-2475741_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal wagon. Credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/images/id-2475741/" target="_blank">InstagramFOTOGRAFIN/Pixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I began this day intent on honoring the ancestors during Yule. I still am, but my preparations reminded me of an excellent article by Ben Waggoner in The Troth's magazine,<a href="https://thetroth.org/publications.html"> </a><a href="https://thetroth.org/publications/idunna.htm" target="_blank">Idunna: A Journal of Northern Tradition</a>, Issue 120, Summer 2019. But let me backtrack.</p><p>I begin, as I stated in my <a href="https://spiritwritertrishdeneen.blogspot.com/2020/12/good-yule-and-happy-solstice-to-you-and.html" target="_blank">Yule #1 post</a>, with my most recent departed relatives as I believe they are our closest ties to the deep ancestors from whom we all descend. Here's where we get to the reason for my posting a picture of a coal wagon above. Both of my grandmas were coal miner's daughters, one from the North and one from the South in the USA. They were children during the Great Depression. I saw their love for handicrafts and frugality but also learned of some of their fears and paranoia at change. They loved and fought each other like sisters and their influence on both of my families I feel imprinted on my soul. I started with prayers written by <a href="http://www.ceisiwrserith.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Ceisiwr Serith</a> to the ancestors in his, "A Pagan Ritual Prayer Book." I didn't bring whatever judgment I might have about coal mining to my ritual time with the ancestors because I try to understand the time they lived. </p><p>This got me thinking about my grandfather's heritage of being the grandson of a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War. How could I not come to that without judgment? In Ben's article, he discusses the orlog of his ancestors, orlog being he states "what has been laid down primally." As far as I know, Ben is a southerner and I was born and raised in the North. Yet, I could relate to much of what he said he feels about his Confederate ancestor. He goes on to remind us that we can't fix the past that has been laid down, but our future orlog isn't set in stone. We are part of what our ancestors have put down but we also create our own paths and patterns of <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/concepts/destiny-wyrd-urd/" target="_blank">wyrd</a>.</p><p>I've seen discussions and articles about what to do about ancestor veneration when our ancestors weren't honorable. If you know anything about the culture surrounding Confederate "heritage," you know there's a warped sense of honor around it. Even as a northerner separated two generations from living in the South, I glommed onto this. It's hard not to living in our culture even if you don't have this heritage. The <a href="https://inclusivehistorian.com/lost-cause-myth/" target="_blank">Lost Cause mythos</a> permeates our national consciousness.</p><p>An irony is that my northern grandmother was arrested in the 1950s after speaking out against segregation. Where did she speak out? Her own church! When the leaders started talking to the unsupportive congregation about 'possibly' integrating the church, she spoke up saying that God doesn't see color, and the police were called. She, however, was 100% Christian evangelical in regard to other religions. Everybody else was going to Hell and that was that. If you were any color of the rainbow and her kind of Christian, she loved the bejeezus out of you. And don't get her started about "the gays."</p><p>Which brought me back to my southern grandmother who once said that she and her friends and family walked on the other side of the street from black people in Kentucky because "well, that's the way it was." She later came to understand how wrong it was.</p><p>Where am I going with all this? I'm not sure. I know openly talking about this topic is only a beginning, but I believe it's an important one, now more than ever. There are those who will use our religion to prop up hate, and I want to weave better wyrd than that in my lifetime. And if you want to go beyond an offering here and there to the ancestors and a polite, "thanks for my existence," this might be where this kind of meditation on your place in your family line takes you. My only answer for the "what if my ancestors are assholes" question is that you don't owe reverence to those whose behavior you find dishonorable. At least I didn't get that memo. You may want to thank even them or whatever power you feel compelled to for teaching you how not to behave and for strengthening your resolve to do better by the human race. Or wash your hands of them. It's up to you. As the daughter of an abuser, I'm still working on that one.</p><p>But this is all my contemplation on the ancestors. Take what you will from my approach and leave what you need to. This is what I've done with books, articles, and websites that I've read.</p><p>Good Yule and Hail the Ancestors (that you're willing to)!</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-3202879341372076202020-12-27T20:32:00.003-05:002020-12-29T09:01:15.375-05:00Good Yule Day #7: Journey With Skadi<p> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgnM_pExDIEvn2cONLTaYSQPEQ0h1T0JYCK2tNTjfwLghyphenhyphen0eOLCZ5XUD3PVTKFHU2__RsunhAuw7I8KPXbkpUHZrHYOyTkmjUCU43cjGQCX1wjjADfeA8ZZ2b-8_tU8uOvt-c8A_zjKQ/s480/308px-Skadi_Hunting_in_the_Mountains_by_H._L._M.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="308" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgnM_pExDIEvn2cONLTaYSQPEQ0h1T0JYCK2tNTjfwLghyphenhyphen0eOLCZ5XUD3PVTKFHU2__RsunhAuw7I8KPXbkpUHZrHYOyTkmjUCU43cjGQCX1wjjADfeA8ZZ2b-8_tU8uOvt-c8A_zjKQ/w410-h640/308px-Skadi_Hunting_in_the_Mountains_by_H._L._M.jpg" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skadi Hunting in the Mountains Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skadi_Hunting_in_the_Mountains_by_H._L._M.jpg" target="_blank">Signed "H. L. M.", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On this Yule day, I've honored Skadi, a winter and hunting goddess. My time has been limited today, but I wanted to at least share with you some resources to learn more about Skadi, a goddess that I have a particular affinity to but am still building a relationship with. She's classified among the Aesir, but her heritage is actually that of a frost giantess. She was given status among the Aesir when she married Njord, a member of the Vanir, who was also given honorary status among the Aesir.</p><p>I've shared liquor, praise, and offered prayers to her and will do a journeying meditation this evening with her. Here are some of my favorite sources of info and insight:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Lady of the Mountain Hall: A Skadi Devotional by Rev. Laura "Snow" Fuller of The Troth. You can read my review at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R25ODO4Z8XK282/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1941136303" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</li><li><a href="https://blackstonesanctuary.substack.com/p/welcome-to-black-stone-sanctuary" target="_blank">Black Stone Sanctuary</a> is the newest project by author and polytheistic monastic, Danica Swanson. I believe she started with Black Stone Hermitage which eventually morphed into Black Stone Abby. It was a planned project focused on Skadi that has been put on hold indefinitely. I look forward to seeing what she has in store for this new venture.</li><li>Info about the <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/tales/the-marriage-of-njord-and-skadi/" target="_blank">marriage of Njord and Skadi</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.northernpaganism.org/shrines/skadi/welcome.html" target="_blank">Skadi's shrine</a> at Northern Tradition Paganism.</li></ul><div>Happy Yule and Hail Skadi!</div><p></p><p>© Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-75965677668928482412020-12-26T19:21:00.002-05:002020-12-26T19:21:24.973-05:00Good Yule Day #6: For Frey and Freya<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD519uGQ9SW06D_6ae_JR4vptbmsmFfL6fu4BZHrNjthn_V90p3n7vb_iPP-wiAiPdZfANpJ_9GhZVpCRb2n4a1Cu452nnlbuKfmqBasEQXAaxKwWrSUOxnYMExsZ2njIdOzl6m21ckls/s1787/The_Northern_Gods_Descending_by_William_Gersham_Collingwood%252C_1890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1787" data-original-width="1023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD519uGQ9SW06D_6ae_JR4vptbmsmFfL6fu4BZHrNjthn_V90p3n7vb_iPP-wiAiPdZfANpJ_9GhZVpCRb2n4a1Cu452nnlbuKfmqBasEQXAaxKwWrSUOxnYMExsZ2njIdOzl6m21ckls/w366-h640/The_Northern_Gods_Descending_by_William_Gersham_Collingwood%252C_1890.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Gods Descending. <br /><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Northern_Gods_Descending_by_William_Gersham_Collingwood,_1890.jpg" target="_blank">W. G. Collingwood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On this day, I'm honoring the Vanic deities, Frey and <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-vanir-gods-and-goddesses/freya/" target="_blank">Freya</a>. These siblings became honorary members of the Aesir after the end of the Aesir-Vanir War. Freya is associated with love, sexuality, beauty, prosperity, and choosing the war slain. Cara Freyasdaughter has a handy 101 handout on the Goddess called "Freyasbok" over at her blog, <a href="https://thegoldthread.wordpress.com/resources-for-heathenry/" target="_blank">Silver and Gold</a>, along with a list of other resources.</p><p>Like his sister, <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-vanir-gods-and-goddesses/freyr/" target="_blank">Frey</a> is associated with wealth as well as fertility, peace, health, and a bountiful harvest. As you can imagine, these two were incredibly popular throughout heathen lands.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwZNL2IRKZYW4S-8gP3l9FL8NvT2rTSTSkYVVcgaJ0UVeDddmIGbi5PvPn3FHyPxfBGOTYpo1N3sOyy1WIZLhu6CrA3FlWxLVQXlJrHHaTvtHbZWYlVJ63Qw6EMi9tvC7qkdxHJRIUCI/s1590/HearthandField.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwZNL2IRKZYW4S-8gP3l9FL8NvT2rTSTSkYVVcgaJ0UVeDddmIGbi5PvPn3FHyPxfBGOTYpo1N3sOyy1WIZLhu6CrA3FlWxLVQXlJrHHaTvtHbZWYlVJ63Qw6EMi9tvC7qkdxHJRIUCI/s320/HearthandField.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heathen devotional by author<br />Hester Butler-Ehle</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I will often turn to one of my devotionals to begin my prayers and finish with my own personal devotions. Today, I will make offerings of praise, food, drink, and prayers of my own and from Hearth and Field as pictured above. I find the author's poetry inspirational. You can find it online at her<a href="https://heathenprayers.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> blog of the same name</a>.</p><p>I hope your Yuletide is a happy time for you. Hail the Gods and Goddesses! Hail Frey and Freya!</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-9426003547705069322020-12-25T20:21:00.005-05:002020-12-25T22:02:35.783-05:00Good Yule Day #5: Honoring Eir<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvY-EDooP4scJ-zbwafJiq9MHzF8Ib2BlomTFdhctUPebad-CJ_1iyvKggDlQf5v7FJty1fop4MxJVAgly1bjp2kkjXW6JwpJnWXCYMEhXSyU3M6h_hPbMLZNWYxwiYGEAsp7x0OaHcI/s1280/mythology-3367485_1280.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="694" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvY-EDooP4scJ-zbwafJiq9MHzF8Ib2BlomTFdhctUPebad-CJ_1iyvKggDlQf5v7FJty1fop4MxJVAgly1bjp2kkjXW6JwpJnWXCYMEhXSyU3M6h_hPbMLZNWYxwiYGEAsp7x0OaHcI/w217-h400/mythology-3367485_1280.png" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/images/id-3367485/" target="_blank">Scarlet_Letter/Pixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Eir was one of Frigga's handmaids and is a Goddess of healing to include childbirth and surgery. Icelandic poet and historian, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Snorri-Sturluson" target="_blank">Snorri Sturluson</a>, described her as an "extremely good physician." She was also a <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/valkyries/" target="_blank">valkyrie</a>, and unlike her sister Valkyries who chose who would fall in battle, she chose who would recover.</p><p>On this day, I'll offer dried herbs from my summer garden, praise, and prayers for healing so desperately needed around the world due to COVID as well as personal healing prayers for my family.</p><p>Source not linked above:</p><p>McGrath, Sheena. <a href="https://earthandstarryheaven.com/2020/03/21/eir/" target="_blank">Eir: Goddess, Valkyrie, Healer</a>. We Are Star Stuff, March 21, 2020.</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-778118747102568082.post-16650805280448631022020-12-24T11:34:00.008-05:002020-12-25T22:00:16.361-05:00Good Yule Day #4: In Honor of Frigga<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEv6uXrEo0XRd6pUTOGmkZLRplCo2Sc5rkLLWOSja6Ryie5hFl5eTrJ3jqCVhLglwdrLOchpzrjJvArrFjtyGlIBQGyosCzbJ_030QtuZMeuoTjnIrqwk0JScPklT-FEOQQW8A1T8AADo/s2048/2048px-FriggSpinning.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEv6uXrEo0XRd6pUTOGmkZLRplCo2Sc5rkLLWOSja6Ryie5hFl5eTrJ3jqCVhLglwdrLOchpzrjJvArrFjtyGlIBQGyosCzbJ_030QtuZMeuoTjnIrqwk0JScPklT-FEOQQW8A1T8AADo/w640-h434/2048px-FriggSpinning.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Frigga Spinning the Clouds." Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FriggSpinning.jpg" target="_blank">John Charles Dollman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After reading a few posts, you can probably guess I'm not a traditional heathen in most respects. All of these Yule posts are generally UPG except for the fact that many heathens celebrate the <a href="https://spiritwritertrishdeneen.blogspot.com/2020/12/good-yule-and-happy-solstice-to-you-and.html" target="_blank">Disir during Yule</a>, others at different times of the year. </p><p>I don't feel a great affinity for Odin besides being a leader among the gods. I have a stronger connection to the god, Tyr. I do, however, feel a strong affinity for Odin's wife, Frigga, aka Frigg, more than any of the other Norse goddesses. I used to see her as someone who puts up with a great deal of crap, but I've come to see her as more complex than that. She's known as the Queen of Asgard, the realm of the Aesir. She is the All-Mother to Odin's, All-Father.</p><p>In her excellent article at Frigga's Web, <a href="http://friggasweb.org/frigodin.html" target="_blank">Of Being and Knowledge: Thoughts About Frigg, Nerthus, and Odin</a>, Winifred Hodge reminds me of some of my early pagan days as a 90s Goddess girl, and I don't mean that as negative as it might sound as I find my path making interesting turns of late. Hodge shares her UPG (<a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2019/03/upg-why-unverified-personal-gnosis-is-good-and-necessary.html" target="_blank">unverified personal gnosis</a>) and knowledge of the lore to explain Frigga and Odin's relationship. Frigga, along with the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Norn" target="_blank">Norns</a>, is the weaver of wisdom as it's inherently part of her being, though she's quiet about what she knows. Odin is the unraveler of the cords as he searches for wisdom. Between the two of them, the continuous weaving and unraveling is what empowers the space for the multiverse to exist.</p><p>There is speculation that Frigga and Freya were not always considered two separate goddesses. In my Goddess Spirituality/Eclectic Wiccan days, I would have considered this a remnant of ancient Christian attitudes towards powerful goddesses who embodied motherliness, sex, and death aspects and the patriarchal need to separate them. Often, I felt pagan groups would follow suit and focus on goddesses being either a mother or a sex fiend. This is cultural conditioning that we need to let go of in my opinion.</p><p>In my own UPG, I believe Odin would like to "have a word," meaning have me be a little more trustful of him. Frigga seems to be a possible bridge of understanding in that regard. But she's so much more to me and why I have a day devoted to her during Yule. This year, I'll give offerings of food and drink, praise for her, and prayers.</p><p>Frigga's Web has some lovely <a href="http://friggasweb.org/frige.html" target="_blank">Calls and Boasts to Frigga</a> to help in your celebration of her.</p><p>Good Yuletide to you, and Hail Frigga!</p><p><i>Work consulted not linked above:</i></p><p>McCoy Daniel. <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/frigg/">Frigg</a>. Norse Mythology for Smart People, date accessed 12/24/2020.</p><p> © Trish Deneen </p>TDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300070128618803730noreply@blogger.com0