May 23 The Rosalia

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IN ROME, THE FLOWER OF CHOICE WAS THE ROSE. IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORSHIP OF CERTAIN GODDESSES AND WAS, FOR THE ANCIENT ROMANS, A SYMBOL OF BEAUTY AND THE FLOWER OF "VENUS." IN ANTIQUITY, THE ROSE ALSO HAD A FUNERARY CONNOTATION, AND THE ROMANS ALSO SAW IT AS A SYMBOL OF DEATH AND REBIRTH HENCE, THEY NOT ONLY PLANTED THEM ON GRAVES, BUT EACH YEAR ON THIS DAY, THE "ROSALIA", A SACRED ROSE FESTIVAL WAS HELD, AND DURING THIS FESTIVAL, ROSES WERE SCATTERED OVER GRAVES AFTER WHICH SOCIAL BANQUETS WERE HELD AT WHICH ROSES, THE PRODUCT OF THE SEASON WERE PRESENTED TO THE GUESTS.

THE" ROSALIA" ASSOCIATED WITH THE REBIRTH OF THE EARTH IN THE SPRING AND TO THE FLOWER GODDESS," FLORA, "WAS AN IMMENSELY POPULAR PUBLIC HOLIDAY, CELEBRATED WITH GAMES AND THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES THE FESTIVAL WAS DEDICATED TO SPRINGTIME AND TO THE FLOWER GODDESS" FLORA" AND THE LOVE GODDESS, "VENUS." SINCE FLOWERS, ESPECIALLY ROSES, WERE PLENTIFUL AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, THEY WERE USED IN MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERFUMES, COSMETICS, AND TEAS.

ACCORDING TO AN OLD LEGEND, "FLORA", THE ROMAN GODDESS OF "SPRING" AND "FLOWERS", WAS WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS WHEN SHE HAPPENED UPON THE BEAUTIFUL BODY OF A DEAD MAIDEN. BEING GREATLY SADDENED BY THIS SHE BEGGED THE GODS OF "OLYMPIA" TO ASSIST HER IN GIVING THIS YOUNG GIRL NEW LIFE AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER. ONE GOD GAVE THE BREATH OF LIFE, ANOTHER BATHED HER IN NECTAR, ANOTHER FRAGRANCE, ONE GAVE HER FRUIT; IT WAS FLORA HERSELF CONTRIBUTED PETALS. THE RESULT WAS THE VERY FIRST ROSE.

The rose is called the queen of flowers,
Surrounded by her sisters fair,
A lovely throng of beauties rare,
She holds her court 'mid summer bowers,
'Neath smiling skies of sunny blue,
Gayly they bloom the summer through
Brightening all the golden hours.

by HATTIE L. KNAPP

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Heathen Gods A Collection Of Essays

Book: Heathen Gods A Collection Of Essays by Mark Ludwig Stinson

The essays in this Collection were written in the years 2007, 2008, and 2009. In their original form, they were written as blog notes, message board posts, and as answers to e-mail questions I received. They were never meant to serve as a unified message about Heathenry, and there has been no attempt here to tie them together into a well-ordered or all-encompassing vision for the future of Heathenry. The essays collected here have a conversational tone, like discussion you might have around a campfire...or over a cold pint of Guinness.

In collecting them, I have attempted to put them in an order that makes sense. To further this effort, I have also grouped them into categories. And to some degree, I have reworked all of these essays. Some required quite a bit of refining, while others required very little.

What you'll find within this collection is my approach to various topics and issues within our Folkway. The Folkway that is the ancestral way-of-life of the Northern European people. The scope of these essays is wide and far-reaching, but this collection does not provide a comprehensive Examination of Heathenry. If that is what you are seeking, you should buy Our Troth, Volumes 1 and 2. And This collection does not serve as a complete Introduction to heathery. Essential Asatru, by Diana Paxton, would better serve you as an introduction to our Folkway.

This book would not exist if not for Jotun's Bane Kindred. We are a strong and growing tribe. We work to support and advance each other, and I would not be the man I am today, without the incredible individuals of worth that fill my Innangarth. Their thoughts and ideas run throughout these essays, culled from our discussions and efforts together, and the lessons we have learned working together as a tribe.

The goal of this collection of essays is not to make money. The goal is to share information. So feel free to share or distribute this material however you wish, as long as you follow the restrictions described in the Open License on the inditia page. - Mark Ludwig Stinson

Buy Mark Ludwig Stinson's book: Heathen Gods A Collection Of Essays

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Gods Of The Blood The Pagan Revival And White Separatism

Book: Gods Of The Blood The Pagan Revival And White Separatism by Mattias Gardell

Nazi skinheads and other groups proclaiming white supremacy represent a disturbing and frightening challenge to those advocating toleration and equality for all races. Historian of religion Gardell (In the Name of Elijah Muhammad) draws on interviews with white supremacist leaders to provide a startling and revealing view of many of these groups and their religious motivations. He contends that the increasing multiculturalism in the United States has led these groups to seek a racial purity that can be found only in pagan cultures. According to Gardell, individuals in these groups become religious racists when they claim that the Divine created the elements of an ancient, pure race. Gardell shows that pagan Nordic culture provides white supremacists with a model of legendary times in which the Aryan race was uncontaminated by the evils of modern global society. Thus, groups such as Wodan's Kindred, the Odinist Fellowship and the Church of Jesus Christ, Christian/Aryan Nations, see themselves as heroes whose task is to restore the lost purity of this bygone era. Gardell argues that members of these groups cannot be dismissed as hopeless dreamers; he calls them "romantic men armed with guns and determination" who have been throughout history a "dangerous species." Although Gardell's academic tone and sometimes torturous prose make for slow reading, his well-researched book offers never-before-seen glimpses of the visions and goals of racist pagans.

Mattias Gardell, a swedish religious historian proffesseur at Uppsala University writes in this book about his meetings with the american rightwing odinist communities. Since many rewievers here discusses Mattias Gardell as if he wasn't asatruar/heathen himself I would like to point out that he is. There seems to be a big difference in the american and scandinavian asatruar communities since in USA there is a significant part of that community that has some race ideologies.

I've read the book in swedish, and I couldn't put it down when I started reading. It is not a dry academic language but a flowing and exciting story. It is also a good Description of what you as a scandinavian pagan will bump in to when you surf the web for asatruar in US, as I have. When I started getting more involved in the pagan communities it was in the asatruar part. The american litterature and the people online came from such a different viewpoint that I really couldn't take it serious at first. With this book the ideologies behind their take on Sed/Asatru will be put in it's right context.

The book is also a good read for anyone interested in what racism can be.

Buy Mattias Gardell's book: Gods Of The Blood The Pagan Revival And White Separatism

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Walpurgis Nights

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The festival is named after Saint Walburga (known in Scandinavia as "Valborg"; alternative forms are "Walpurgis", "Wealdburg", or "Valderburger"), born in Wessex in 710. She was a niece of Saint Boniface and, according to legend, a daughter to the Saxon prince St. Richard. Together with her brothers she travelled to Franconia, Germany, where she became a nun and lived in the convent of Heidenheim, which was founded by her brother Wunibald. Walburga died on 25 February 779 and that day still carries her name in the Catholic calendar. However she was not made a saint until 1 May in the same year, and that day carries her name in the Swedish calendar.

Historically the Walpurgisnacht is derived from Pagan spring customs, where the arrival of spring was celebrated with bonfires at night. Viking fertility celebrations took place around April 30 and due to Walburga being declared a saint at that time of year, her name became associated with the celebrations. Walburga was honored in the same way that Vikings had celebrated spring and as they spread throughout Europe, the two dates became mixed together and created the Walpurgis Night celebration.

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Sagittarius Festival

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THE GREEK HOLY DAY, THE "SAGITTARIUS FESTIVAL", WHICH IS DEDICATED TO "ARTEMIS", THE GODDESS OF THE HUNT. IT OCCURS AT THE TIME THAT THE SUN ENTERS THE CONSTELLATION OF THE ARCHER.

"ARTEMIS" iS THE GREEK GODDESS OF THE MOON AND THE HUNT. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF "ZEU"S, THE KING OF THE GODS, AND THE TITAN, "LETO. "SHE IS ALSO A VIRGIN GODDESS WHO TOOK HER VIRGINITY AND VOWS OF CHASTITY VERY SERIOUS. ANYONE WHO BROKE A VOW OF CHASTITY WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH HER WRATH. SHE WAS THE PROTECTOR OF WOMEN, ESPECIALLY YOUNG GIRLS, AND WATCHED OVER THEM DURING CHILDBIRTH. HER ROLE AS A PROTECTOR OF WOMEN WAS HER MOST IMPORTANT JOB.. HER POSITION AS PROTECTOR OF WOMEN BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER HER BIRTH.

ACCORDING TO THE MYTH, SHORTLY AFTER "ARTEMIS "WAS BORN, SHE ASSISTED IN THE DELIVERY OF HER TWIN BROTHER, "APOLLO." IT IS SAID THAT "ARTEMIS "WAS SO SHOCKED BY CHILDBIRTH THAT SHE TOLD "ZEUS" THAT SHE WOULD REMAIN A VIRGIN FOREVER. SHE ALSO ASKED TO BE MADE THE GODDESS OF CHILDBIRTH, A ROLE THAT SHE SHARED WITH " HERA". IN MANY WAYS, SHE IS A GODDESS OF CONTRADICTIONS. SHE BOTH HUNTS WILD ANIMALS AND PROTECTS THEM. SHE HELPS WOMEN IN CHILDBIRTH, YET IT IS HER ARROWS THAT BRING THEM SUDDEN DEATH, AND, LIKE "APOLLO", SHE IS A DIVINITY OF HEALING, YET ALSO INFLICTS DISEASES SUCH AS LEPROSY, RABIES AND GOUT.

SHE WOULD OFTEN BE SEEN WEARING A SHORT SKIRT AND HOLDING A BOW AND ARROWS, USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY A HUNTING DOG OR A STAG. HER SYMBOLS WERE A DEER, A CYPRESS AND A SILVER BOW AND ARROW. SHE WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLY VALUED OF THE GREEK GODDESSES, AND WORSHIP OF HER WAS WIDESPREAD. HER TEMPLE AT EPHESUS WAS ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. ARTEMIS WAS KNOWN AS "DIANA" IN ANCIENT ROME.

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Paganism An Introduction To Earth Centered Religions

Book: Paganism An Introduction To Earth Centered Religions by River Higginbotham

Most pagan primers jump right into the seasonal calendar, Celtic strands, pentagrams, spell casting and the like. True to form, this offers a judicious overview of the calendar and the general Characteristics and essentials of Paganism as the Higginbothams see it interconnectedness and blessedness. To their credit, though, the authors have crafted a very different kind of book, one of great spiritual depth that could be of genuine and lasting service to anyone who is interested in sorting out the whats and whys of belief. Early on, they outline the "big tent" of Paganism that shelters a dozen or more passageways (Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism, Santer?a, etc.), comparing it to Christianity and its popular denominations (Methodist, Roman Catholic, etc.). Throughout, they employ calm and rational prose that seeks not to proselytize as much as to aid discernment, making good on the authors' claim that, "Whether or not you decide to be a Pagan once you finish [the book] is not as important as providing you with tools to help you identify your values and goals." The seven chapters are nicely paced with illustrations, diagrams, Visualization exercises, discussion points and journal prompts, all of which can be used by individuals or groups. The authors tackle the charge of Satanism head-on with success, but even more progressively (and clearly) they weave new discoveries in physics into the life fabric of belief and action. The final chapter explores ethics, and similar to the others, serves the broadest common good.

The founders of both a pagan church and the Council for Alternative Spiritual Traditions, the Higginbothams here offer an overview of the belief systems comprising neopaganism. Included in the discussion are Wicca, Shamanism, Asatru, Celtic traditionalism, Druidism, Santeria, Voodoo, and other forms prevalent in paganism today. The authors proceed from central concepts of interconnectedness and blessedness, to a definition of neopaganism and a discussion of personal responsibility for one's beliefs, to concepts of Deity, Satan, the living universe, "magick," and ethics. The format is similar to that of many self-help books, with text, diagrams, discussion questions, and meditation exercises. This clear, rational, and sympathetic introduction to neopaganism for nonpagans will be helpful to all readers interested in exploring their spirituality. This first book by the Higginbothams complements existing introductions, such as Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon and Graham Harvey's Contemporary Paganism: Listening People, Speaking Earth, at least one of which libraries should already have. Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries and for religion collections.

This book goes in two directions. First is a very good overview of many of the different groups that are under general Paganism. Explored are the basic philosophies and beliefs of Druids, Wiccans, Asatru, shamanism, magic, general paganism and all the various offshoots. There is a good section on many of the various paths under that 'umbrella'. There are many theories that have given rise to the modern pagan movement that are explored as well. There is discussion on what makes the pagan paths different from other World Religions and discusses beliefs and practices as well as myths and misinformation.

The second direction of this book is a basic handbook on the practices of many of the different beliefs. From the Wheel of the Year to connecting with personal Deity to individual responsibility, the book reads as a guide to incorporating many of the philosophies and basic Tenets of these beliefs into your own life. Ethics are also discussed throughout the book and there is a good chapter on Ethics and Personal Responsibility.

The book also has 'aids', or subsections that allow the reader to absorb or digest the material in the book, encouraging the reader to think about the material, add it to their journals for further research, discuss with others or question for themselves. This gives the book more of a handbook feeling.

There are good notes for each chapter, a glossary and an excellent bibliography that allow the reader to pursue those things they may find they want to explore further. There is also an index for easy reference. There is much information in this book that is worth looking over. If you are unfamiliar with Paganism in general, this is a good primer. If you are looking to expand your base of knowledge on Paganism, this book offers a good overview. And if you are looking for a good basic handbook, while there are many specific to the various paths, this book would make a good overall view for those who are looking at the various paths and need a guide or are looking at paganism in general for their path.

Buy River Higginbotham's book: Paganism An Introduction To Earth Centered Religions

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