I've Moved

All things considered, blogger's been pretty okay, but I felt like a change.

So I can be found now at http://aheathenspath.wordpress.com/

I'll be transferring my posts from this site over to there here in the next few days. In the meantime, there's already some posts up, so enjoy.

Wrapping Up Yule, 2011

Well, Yule is over, and we're all going to be celebrating New Years tonight. Some of us work, some of us get to party, and some of us are lucky enough to have a special someone with us to kiss at the magic hour.

On the first of the Year, I'll have an announcement about this blog. But for today, let us party and be merry. There's time enough in the next year for business.

And here's the pic of the fully lit Yule log. I hope everyone enjoyed Yule and had a good time. We'll see it again next year, if it be our fate.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Twelfth Day of Yule, 2011

An so we have reached the last day of Yule, day twelve. As with all things, this too must end. And with its end, we have the beginning of the new year, as we Heathens consider it. This last night of feasts, or a few cookies on a plate shared with the home gods, or anything in between, marking days of kinship.

Let toasts be raised, songs be sung, and love ones held dear. And if you sit alone, know that you are not truly alone, for there are more like you out there, and we are bound by spirit, if not in person. Let us put aside our differences one last night. There will be time to fight in the new year, let kinship reign this day.


Here's last nights pic. Yes, I will have one of the fully lit Yule log posted up tomorrow.

And finally, the gifts:
Twelve Toasts to Kin, Mortal and Divine!
Eleven Horns a Sounding,
Ten Vikings Pillaging,
Nine Worlds of Lore,
Eight Maidens dancing,
Seven Alfs a leaping,
Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (Hey, look, that priest has some, get 'em!)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree

Eleventh Day of Yule, 2011

The eleventh day of Yule is here. Not really a lot to say, at the moment. I've got a new project coming up which I'll unveil at start of the new year. Which, frankly, is coming up faster than one would have thought.

Anyways, last night's offering was french fries. Perhaps not the most respectful of food (though I'll let you know if anyone votes for or against from the Godly side, if they tell me) but after giving an entire dozen donuts, I had french fries in abundance and figured I'd share and give some salty rather than sweet.

Anyways, here's the pic from last night:

Yes, the Yule log is getting pretty crowded at this point. We'll see what it looks like on night twelve.

And here are the gifts:
Eleven Horns a Sounding,
Ten Vikings Pillaging,
Nine Worlds of Lore,
Eight Maidens dancing,
Seven Alfs a leaping,
Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (Maybe next year...)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree

Tenth Day of Yule, 2011

Ten days have we celebrated the Gods and Kin. Ten days have we watched the sky darken and felt Winter's cold embrace (though not, perhaps as cold as some years). Ten days has it been since the start of Yule.

Which means just two days left. But do not feel sorry, for the cycle of life keeps going.

Yule is about family, but that's not as easy as it used to be. People these days are constantly busy, constantly working, or these days not working at all with no money. We have spread ourselves out all over the country, or even countries plural. We no longer live all in the same house, or same neighborhood, or city, or state. In some cases, and this is common for a lot of us, we've lost our families because of our religious choices, or we still have them, but we have to hide what we are or not make a big deal about it.

But on this tenth day of Yule, let us think of our families, both divine and mortal, be it by blood, by faith, or by choice.

Here is last night's pic:

As you can see, lots of candles on there now. Hopefully I can get all twelve to fit on there in the end.

And here are the gifts:
Ten Vikings Pillaging,
Nine Worlds of Lore,
Eight Maidens dancing,
Seven Alfs a leaping,
Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (Oh come on!)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree.

Ninth Day of Yule, 2011

So we have reached the Ninth Day of Yule! As some may know, and I mentioned yesterday, nine is a number of completion in the Heathen Scandinavian world. Nine worlds there are, nine days did Odin hang upon the World Tree, Yggdrasil. Twice nine are his charms. At Ragnarok, when he dies, nine steps as a giant will Thor take before he falls dead, slain and slaying the world serpent Jormungandr.

And so we have reached a completion, but not the end. And there is a lesson in this. Even Ragnarok is not the end of all things, even if it is very much a completion of the world of the Aesir that we know. So too, it is with Yule, for we still have three nights left. Even as the year reaches is its completion, so too another begins.

Here is the pic from last night.

And here are the presents:
Nine Worlds of Lore,
Eight Maidens dancing,
Seven Alfs a leaping,
Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (no dice)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree.

Eighth Day of Yule, 2011

Hail and welcome to the eighth day of Yule. Most people will be off hunting those After Christmas Sales, and more power to them. Just remember to be nice to the sales people. To those who are working, my sympathies, as I'm right there with you.

Yule, like most of the winter holidays, is about merriment and excess. Sadly, this year is one of stress and frugality. I too, have been effected by this (hence the repeat offering of donuts, if you were paying attention, lol). Yet, I would encourage everyone to splurge on themselves, if only a little. That cup of Starbucks, a snow cone, warm cookie or donuts, and so forth. Life doesn't have to be about the big flashy things, even if they are nice. The simple things also bring pleasure.

Here's the pic from last night. There's an extra candle on there, because the 6th night's candle didn't get to burn all the way.

And here's the gifts:
Eight Maidens dancing,
Seven Alfs a leaping,
Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (no dice)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree.