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.
Friday, December 23, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey
So I discovered that the trailer for the new Hobbit movie is out. Got to say it looks pretty awesome. I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy movies. I know some people bashed them for being all "Heroic White Men vs Everything else" but frankly, I don't care.
Tolken was well influenced by the sagas, epics, and tales of Europe when he created the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and so it speaks to me more than some other tales do. I'll admit, I never finished the Book Trilogy, made it through Fellowship and half the Two Towers, and stalled about there. But the movies I loved, and I'm eager to see how the Hobbit, which I have read, turns out. Might have to dig up my copy if I can find it, and read it again.
Tolken was well influenced by the sagas, epics, and tales of Europe when he created the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and so it speaks to me more than some other tales do. I'll admit, I never finished the Book Trilogy, made it through Fellowship and half the Two Towers, and stalled about there. But the movies I loved, and I'm eager to see how the Hobbit, which I have read, turns out. Might have to dig up my copy if I can find it, and read it again.
Provabilty in Reality.
There once was a mathematician, whose name escapes me, who came to the realization that for everything that could be proven true, there was something equally true that could not be proven. In other words, there are things out there that are True, but cannot be proven by any known means.
Religion is one of these things. Scientifically, we cannot prove the existence of Gods, spirits, or the supernatural. Yet, many people believe, or know, such things to truly exist. I cannot prove that Thor walks the sky making thunderstorms, but it is True to me.
What makes this situation even more difficult is that even when you can "prove" something, people will say it is not proven. This was one of my issues with the Wild Hunt "news" website. I would say something I knew to be true, because I read a lot on the subject. I would even provide links on occasion. However, my argument was not "Proven" because my sources were considered "invalid." Indeed, be anything resembling a Conservative (which I'm not, honestly) and every argument you make will be invalid there. I once saw someone make an argument there, provide a good half dozen plus links, and be told that their information was invalid because it came from Conservative sources (somehow the Huffington Post became conservative at the time of the linking).
One perfect example that came up over on the Wild Hunt regarding me was my blatant, but unfounded Islamophobia, which I had failed to prove rational. Now, There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of sites out there about Islam and its threat. I even provided links to some of the things I had read, but had them "invalidated" because of "racism." Now, I know racism. I've seen it. So I like to think I have a pretty good idea when something is racist. But such doesn't matter. My sources, despite their documenting literally thousand of bits of information, could not "prove" anything. Heck, the nightly news or mainstream media which talks about how in Islamic countries the vast homophobia, misogyny, religious discrimination, etc that goes on. And if you know how to read the media, you can tell in Western countries when a crime was committed by Islamic Immigrants. But of course nothing can be proven. Members of their religion, who the "mainstream" of Islam cheered and supported, flew planes into buildings, suicide bomb themselves, kill those we would consider innocent, but no. It cannot be proven true.
I'm not going to get into the politics again. I can't "prove" these things to people. In this age of "citations" being an eye witness isn't enough, nor is being well read or informed. And even then, having the "citations" if the other person doesn't accept their legitimacy.
People have let their politics dictate their proof and their truths. They have let "science" and "rationality" dictate what they will believe. They insist things be proven true, but they ignore the existence of truths that cannot be proven. I have my own issues with what is true, and if it can even exists, and this is one of the reasons.
Religion is one of these things. Scientifically, we cannot prove the existence of Gods, spirits, or the supernatural. Yet, many people believe, or know, such things to truly exist. I cannot prove that Thor walks the sky making thunderstorms, but it is True to me.
What makes this situation even more difficult is that even when you can "prove" something, people will say it is not proven. This was one of my issues with the Wild Hunt "news" website. I would say something I knew to be true, because I read a lot on the subject. I would even provide links on occasion. However, my argument was not "Proven" because my sources were considered "invalid." Indeed, be anything resembling a Conservative (which I'm not, honestly) and every argument you make will be invalid there. I once saw someone make an argument there, provide a good half dozen plus links, and be told that their information was invalid because it came from Conservative sources (somehow the Huffington Post became conservative at the time of the linking).
One perfect example that came up over on the Wild Hunt regarding me was my blatant, but unfounded Islamophobia, which I had failed to prove rational. Now, There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of sites out there about Islam and its threat. I even provided links to some of the things I had read, but had them "invalidated" because of "racism." Now, I know racism. I've seen it. So I like to think I have a pretty good idea when something is racist. But such doesn't matter. My sources, despite their documenting literally thousand of bits of information, could not "prove" anything. Heck, the nightly news or mainstream media which talks about how in Islamic countries the vast homophobia, misogyny, religious discrimination, etc that goes on. And if you know how to read the media, you can tell in Western countries when a crime was committed by Islamic Immigrants. But of course nothing can be proven. Members of their religion, who the "mainstream" of Islam cheered and supported, flew planes into buildings, suicide bomb themselves, kill those we would consider innocent, but no. It cannot be proven true.
I'm not going to get into the politics again. I can't "prove" these things to people. In this age of "citations" being an eye witness isn't enough, nor is being well read or informed. And even then, having the "citations" if the other person doesn't accept their legitimacy.
People have let their politics dictate their proof and their truths. They have let "science" and "rationality" dictate what they will believe. They insist things be proven true, but they ignore the existence of truths that cannot be proven. I have my own issues with what is true, and if it can even exists, and this is one of the reasons.
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The Times, They Are A Changing...
Or at least, it is I that am changing. Over the last couple of years I traveled in a little circle on the web, seeking to do...something. Even now, I'm not sure what that something was, except maybe to help awaken the promise that was Paganism, to show that it wasn't evil, or political, or to be feared. But, in the end, I found the little peaces of the world I walked in to be unwilling to listen.
The non-pagans, who rightly feared the growth of a major monotheistic religion filled with bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, and intolerance, were already starting to show the tendancy to cling to the other major monotheistic religion, filled with those things. They thought themselves good, and the other evil, and had no patience for one insisting that a gathering of many beliefs, of tolerance, was better than a homoginy too often filled with the vary things they were claiming to fight against.
The Pagans, angry at Christianity, had no patience for one who spoke of a dangerous force growing, seeking dominion. Nor for one who warned them that they too, were becoming intolerant and political, rather than tolerant and spiritual. The decenter had no place. The darkness, no welcome in their light.
People have accused me of melodrama. I don't see it, but then I came of age watching anime, reading comics, and following the exploited of Harry Dresden over the last few years probably hasn't done anything to change what I learned. But I learned a lot. And being an outsider to society all growing up, I lack the foundations that most people have. I don't have the views, or experiences, of racism that they do, or of politics, or anything else for that matter. I came into a world of conflict, violence, rage, and despair. And unlike those around me, I learned the value of these things, and what they really were. And in looking into its face, I was changed.
Someone close to me says I see the world differently from everyone else. That I can see the things no one else wants to see. That I can look upon the horror unblinkingly, where most must run and hide. Sometimes, I think she is right about that.
I know that from a kids anime I learned to "look underneath, the underneath" and see what was hidden there.
I learned about power, and violence. I learned that these things were not to be feared, no matter what society says.
I learned that "good" often times cannot destroy "evil." That only "evil" can destroy "evil." That everyone is the hero of their own story, even the ones we call "villains." I learned that "evil" is a matter of perspective, that every "evil" action can be morally justified, and often is.
That people are hypocrites, even myself, and will say one thing while behaving another. I've seen the irony of that statement in work too, where people who preached tolerance were intolerant, and in my bigotry I was not bigoted at all.
I learned that truth is what we make true, not what is "true" and that often enough there isn't anything "true" at all.
I know that I know much, and I know that I know nothing. I know that every man who calls himself wise is a fool, and every fool has his wisdom.
I was once the Norse Alchemist. I had dreams of using all I had learned to better those I saw potential in. To work the sacred alchemy with them as I had with myself. But now, now I am no longer certain I am the Norse Alchemist. The Alchemy that succeeded with me fell before the materials before me, that claimed nobility, but in the end proved as base as the rest. Unwilling, to improve, happy with what they were and intent only on becoming it more so, rather than transforming beyond. So, as the Alchemist, the alchemy worked on me, and I change.
I have set aside the title of Norse Alchemist. I do not know if I shall ever pick it up again. For now, I am merely a different sort of person. For now, I shall be the Svartwulf, the black wolf, the predator of the dark. But I will not hunt where once I walked. I will not seek vengeance for my ill treatment. All who wish, who can, are welcome to walk with me, to hunt that which lies in the dark, that makes mortals tremble with fear.
Am I melodramatic? Maybe. But the best characters are always the ones with a bit of ham and cheese between the bread, rather than the white loaves so many wish to be, and are.
The non-pagans, who rightly feared the growth of a major monotheistic religion filled with bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, and intolerance, were already starting to show the tendancy to cling to the other major monotheistic religion, filled with those things. They thought themselves good, and the other evil, and had no patience for one insisting that a gathering of many beliefs, of tolerance, was better than a homoginy too often filled with the vary things they were claiming to fight against.
The Pagans, angry at Christianity, had no patience for one who spoke of a dangerous force growing, seeking dominion. Nor for one who warned them that they too, were becoming intolerant and political, rather than tolerant and spiritual. The decenter had no place. The darkness, no welcome in their light.
People have accused me of melodrama. I don't see it, but then I came of age watching anime, reading comics, and following the exploited of Harry Dresden over the last few years probably hasn't done anything to change what I learned. But I learned a lot. And being an outsider to society all growing up, I lack the foundations that most people have. I don't have the views, or experiences, of racism that they do, or of politics, or anything else for that matter. I came into a world of conflict, violence, rage, and despair. And unlike those around me, I learned the value of these things, and what they really were. And in looking into its face, I was changed.
Someone close to me says I see the world differently from everyone else. That I can see the things no one else wants to see. That I can look upon the horror unblinkingly, where most must run and hide. Sometimes, I think she is right about that.
I know that from a kids anime I learned to "look underneath, the underneath" and see what was hidden there.
I learned about power, and violence. I learned that these things were not to be feared, no matter what society says.
I learned that "good" often times cannot destroy "evil." That only "evil" can destroy "evil." That everyone is the hero of their own story, even the ones we call "villains." I learned that "evil" is a matter of perspective, that every "evil" action can be morally justified, and often is.
That people are hypocrites, even myself, and will say one thing while behaving another. I've seen the irony of that statement in work too, where people who preached tolerance were intolerant, and in my bigotry I was not bigoted at all.
I learned that truth is what we make true, not what is "true" and that often enough there isn't anything "true" at all.
I know that I know much, and I know that I know nothing. I know that every man who calls himself wise is a fool, and every fool has his wisdom.
I was once the Norse Alchemist. I had dreams of using all I had learned to better those I saw potential in. To work the sacred alchemy with them as I had with myself. But now, now I am no longer certain I am the Norse Alchemist. The Alchemy that succeeded with me fell before the materials before me, that claimed nobility, but in the end proved as base as the rest. Unwilling, to improve, happy with what they were and intent only on becoming it more so, rather than transforming beyond. So, as the Alchemist, the alchemy worked on me, and I change.
I have set aside the title of Norse Alchemist. I do not know if I shall ever pick it up again. For now, I am merely a different sort of person. For now, I shall be the Svartwulf, the black wolf, the predator of the dark. But I will not hunt where once I walked. I will not seek vengeance for my ill treatment. All who wish, who can, are welcome to walk with me, to hunt that which lies in the dark, that makes mortals tremble with fear.
Am I melodramatic? Maybe. But the best characters are always the ones with a bit of ham and cheese between the bread, rather than the white loaves so many wish to be, and are.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)