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.

Seventh Day of Yule, 2011

Merry Yule and Merry Christmas!

Today is the seventh day of Yule. As many of you know, seven is a number of completion for our Judeo-Christian friends, but it is not for the Norse and Germanic, that number is Nine, but more on that later.

I hope everyone got good presents today, Did you leave cookies out for Santa? I left one for him with the offering I gave yesterday. (But not telling if he gave me any gifts).

Anyways, here's the pic from yesterday. I moved the candles, as you see, because the log is not level and I wasn't that happy with having the flame slide off the log.

And here's the present:

Seven Alfs a Leaping,
Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (please, Santa?)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree.

Sixth Day of Yule, 2011

Alright, day six is here to greet us.

Note to bloggers out there, making these posts the night before will have the side effect of making it very hard to remember what day you're actually on. You're thinking it's the sixth day, but there's only five candles and you're having to remind yourself just where you're at.

Anyways, last night's offering was Oliver's Camelot Mead again, just as it was on the first night. Hopefully there will be enough mead left for the Ninth and Twelfth nights as well. If not, I have some "Apothic Red" wine that I'm told is very good, though personally while I like the bottle (it's red and black and made me think of Alchemy when I first found it) I can't say I like the taste. I'm really picky when it comes to booze, and flavors. So far, the Camelot Mead is about the only one I can really stand drinking. But oh well, I'm not getting paid to be a wine critic or to sell this stuff, so moving on.

Here's the pick of last night, where you can see the offerings in their glasses before Hel, Thor, and Freyja.

Hopefully the computer issues that kept me out the last couple days are fixed, and I won't have that problem again. If I do, well, we'll see how it gets handled.

Also, today is the 24th and Christmas! So set out those milk and cookies people.  Santa might be a "Christian" guy, but some of his aspects can be traced back to Odin, and he is a jolly old elf/alf indeed. So be good, boys and girls, and perhaps he shall bring you a present, and if not, at least you made this holiday just a little more Pagan. And have a merry Yule, Saturnalia, or what have you

Anyways, the gifts:

Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (I wish)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree.

Fifth Day of Yule, 2011

So today is the fifth day of Yule. This would have been made earlier, but troubles kept me from making it.

Not much to say today, so I'll just post the pic from last night and call it.

And the present:
Five Golden Rings! (Hey, I'm being traditional here)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree.

Forth Day of Yul, 2011

So today is the fourth day of Yule. Unlike McNallen over at Asatru Update, I'm not celebrating any values or anything. Last night was simple. Light the candle and the electrics, place a offering of Krispy Kream donuts, and that was about it.

Yule is about the solstice, but it is also about family. Sadly, my family isn't Heathen like me, and they've all got their own lives, have no interest, don't know me, or in at least once case, are actively mad at me (even if they would deny it). So I'm just one more solitary Heathen with no budget. I don't know if any others actually are reading these as I post, or if they will come across it in the years, to come, but I hope that I am able to offer some measure of comfort and kinship on these days of Yule. We might be alone in person, but we are not alone in spirit.

Here's the pic of the Yule log from last night:

I took some model paint I have for DnD minis and painted Yule in Runes. At some point, I'll probably take some sand paper to the log, and either a knife or a wood burning tool and decorate it. With any luck, I may have this Yule log for many years, and I want to make it special.

And here's the present:

Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree.

Third Day of Yule, 2011

So today is the third day of Yule, or second if you're going by the Asatru Folk Assembly's Steve McNallen. But since these things are run off the Lunar model, as I understand it, rather than the current Roman calendar, I'm not sweating the details. What matters is the celebration, and the spirit, more than the details of what day if missed by one or so.

Anyways, last night was pretty much simple. I received some of those wonderful butter cookies that come in the metal tins (a treat from my childhood, in fact) thanks to my boss. So I gave six cookies as a gift/offering to my idols, and lit another candle, as well as one of my little electric lights. Here's the pic:

Yes, if anyone cares, that is the box for "A Touch of Evil," which is a really fun game, by the way. Only played it once. Hopefully though, I'll be able to play it again soon.

Anyways, I hope everyone is having a good Yule, and putting aside their battles for these twelve sacred days, as my ancestors would. And here is my present:

Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew tree.

Second Day of Yule 2011

So, today is the second day of Yule. As I t talked about most of the little things yesterday, I'll just post this pic of my Yule log from last night. As I can't burn any logs (I live in an apartment with no fireplace) I had to substitute, and a very close lady friend of mine provided the inspiration (and some of the details) for how to set this up.

As you can see, I've got the candle for the first night. I'll set a new candle out each night, and the previous nights will be set with some electric candles (to prevent a fire hazard, and it was cheaper, and let's face it, money is tight for everyone.) Behind you can see my current collection of idols, Hel, Thor, and Freyja. Sadly, haven't finished painting the Hel idol, but hopefully she will not might. In front of each of them is a candle holder that looked like shot glasses, and each has an offering of mead. I made a toast to family, god and mortal alike. And such is Yule's first night celebrated.

I wish you all to have a merry Yule, so for the second day:

Two Rams of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew tree.

Nine Facts About Me

I'm not like others. Everyone says it, but it's true.

I tend to offend people, even when I don't mean too.

I have lived a quarter of a century, I have forgotten more than most people ever learn, and yet I am often treated as if I know nothing at all.

I am not a nice person. I am what the world made me, what my life made me.

I am closer to three gods above all others, Hel, Thor, and Freyja. Death, Sex, and War. I'm sure that says interesting things about me.

I ran away from home at 24 because I finally realized I couldn't forgive the abuse after I drew a hammer on a cookie and realized that my mother's love for Judaism was stronger than her love for me or her tolerance of my Heathenism, even though she isn't Jewish.

I hate the God of Abraham, Jesus, and Mohammed. I hate what he has done to this world, what his ideology has done, and what his followers have done. I have fought his street preachers face to face with words when they preached their venom. I grow wary when I see a Muslim, not just because of what their "extremists" did with planes and bombs, but because I know what the "moderates" do to people like me that practice magic and worship Heathen Gods in their native lands.

I grow tired of how many of my fellow Pagans treat each other. I think we have enough enemies out there, we don't need to beat each other up to conform to what some people think is "normal" or "mainstream" or "acceptable." We are supposed to be accepting of each other, no matter how abhorrent society finds us, because it's what is right to do in our eyes.

I don't think Pagans and Heathens will ever be accepted into the "mainstream." The Monotheists will always think we worship false gods and the Atheists will always laugh at everyone with an "imaginary friend." I don't think we became Pagans and Heathens to be mainstream anyways. I think we did it to buck the mainstream, so we should embrace that.

A Heathen's Hope

I had been planning to write in this blog sooner, but have not had time nor reason.

Now I have one, and it is one I wish I did not have.

In the last few days, kith and kin were slain in the lands of my fathers. In Norway, death came swift and sudden. The reasons for it are garbled, mixed and shaped by the creature politic, used by one and all to strike their enemies. Lies, Truths, Misinformation, all is thrown about.

But people are dead. For them, the why doesn't matter. Men, women, children. They are dead because they were not prepared for the violence. They are dead because they believed something, and someone believed something else, and another believed something different from them. What those beliefs were, and why they happened, maybe will become clear. Maybe they won't.

I could grand stand. Use this to put for facts and theories. Speak of the dangers of the systems we live in, the people coming to change those systems, and the damage wrought by previous changes.

I don't want to. Not in this post.

It is said one must die in battle, fighting, to enter the halls of Odin and Freyja, to feast and fight til Ragnorok.

Those that died will not know those halls. Rather, they shall go to Helheim, to the Lady Hel. And in her green fields, and quiet hall, I pray they find not peace, but solace with their ancient kin. Because whatever their religion was in life, if they even had any, as selfish as it is, I wish them to rest with their kin, and learn the ways of our people, and know they are not alone anymore.