Green Runa

Book: Green Runa by Edred Thorsson

This is an anthology of shorter works written by Edred Thorsson for various Asatraodinist and Rune-Gild publications from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Many of these essays have become classics, and include the first introduction of the Odinist world to the ritual known as the symbel. Contains material previously unavailable to the general public on matters of runelore and Germanic religion. Includes a short biography of Edred by James A. Chisholm.

From the late 1970s to the early 1980s Edred Thorsson produced a significant volume of material which was produced in rather obscure Asatru or Odinist journals such as The Runestone in the USA and The Raven Banner in England. Additionally, Edred's own then fledgling Rune-Gild published a number of shorter works. All of these would have ended up virtually "lost" if they had not been collected and edited for presentation in this volume.

Also includes a biography of Edred Thorsson by James Chisholm.

Buy Edred Thorsson's book: Green Runa

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Pan Celtism And What It Means For Us

In the past decade or two, there has been an amazing spread of Celtic identity throughout the world. Celtic festivals are common all over Western Europe, North America, Australia, etc. We now have the Celtic League, the International Celtic Congress, and a major international Celtic festival (which was held in Valle d'Aosta in 2009). The question is: where do we fit into this Pan-Celtic milieu?

We would have to fit in somewhere, as much of the spirituality and even the Celtic knotwork is tied to Padania. "Cisalpine Gaul," of course, was the name given to Padania by the Romans, which means in Latin: "Gaul south of the Alps." The Trophy of Augustus was the Roman trophy to the conquest of the Celto-Ligurian tribes.

One interesting commonality of the Celtic peoples throughout history is their struggle against encroaching Teutonic and Roman armies. In the movie 'Braveheart', Celtic Scots are depicted defending their homeland against basically Anglo-Saxon/Norman English. The Roman Julius Caesar conquered Celtic Gaul. These are just two of the more well-known examples. Many compare the Roman invasion of Cisalpine Gaul to the invasion of the English against the Scots.

Unlike many other European cultures, Padania doesn't have the definitive "one ancient culture" that it can draw most of it's inspiration from. Lega Nord chose the Celts. The Etruscans were too tied into Roman (Italian) identity, and the Langobards were invaders from somewhere else. At least some of this was based on political reasoning. We do not have the answer to this equation yet.

Actually, Cisalpine Gaul was demographically "Celto-Ligurian," as we have covered before. That is, a mix of both proto-Alpine and Celtic tribes. The Trophy of Augustus lists both Alpine and Celtic tribes.
Another factor is the spiritual component to all of this. The worship of the horned god Cernunnos has been co-opted by the Wiccan faith, along with other traditions from many cultures, into a universalist religion. Some social engineers of Wicca have long touted their religion as a leftist movement to contrast with the perceived right wing Christian movement. That is something we have to look harder at in the future. This worship of Cernunnos is heavily linked to the Cisalpine Gauls, but also widespread in ancient Gaul, and even Scandinavia.

The Pan-Celtic identity is such a good fit, as we are not really southern or northern European, and not Eastern European. Quite frankly, the region of Padania is/was historically located at the crossroads of Roman/Mediterranean (south), Germanic/Norse (north), Celtic/Gaulic (west) and Slavic (east) worlds. In viewing the greater scope of things, in both ancient and modern concepts, we're more Western European. Like the French, we're basically Romanized Gauls.

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Neo Druidism In Britain

The origins of the modern Druid Revival lie in speculation about the historical druids in Early Modern 17th century Britain. William Blake, the artist and poet, was among those who used the image of bards and druids symbolically in his poetry. In Blake’s mythos, bards are cast as the noble and admirable advocates for imagination (“Divine Imagination” as Blake characterized it). Druids, on the other hand, were used most often by Blake in a negative way to symbolize priesthoods of Literalism without imagination. In this poetical symbolism, Blake was inspired by current theories of certain scholars of his day which speculated that the British druids were in fact a remnant of the antediluvian religion of Noah and Adam in the Biblical mythos. Some saw them as the martyred exponents of the true religion taught by God in the Garden of Eden, as distinct from Christian religion as it later developed, which was seen by Nonconformists such as Blake to be corrupt. The theory that ancient druids were the true inheritors of the ancient Patriarchal religion was a move intended to make “True Religion” something British rather than foreign. Such a theory turned on its head the previous view of churchmen that druids had been bloodthirsty pagan priests who worshiped “devils” and were quite rightly stamped out by the superior culture of the Romans.

A more positive view of the druids, portraying them as wise old men arose with the northern European Romantic movement of the eighteenth and nineteenth century. One of the key proponents of the idea that the bards preserved a purer and more universal religion that transcended sectarianism was the Welsh Iolo Morganwg. His writings, though now acknowledged to be partly his own invention claimed to be based on manuscript sources and oral traditions in Wales. His work led to the establishment of the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards and influenced the forms of the Welsh National Eisteddfod, celebrations of British culture as distinct from that of the conquering English. The romantic positive figure of the druid and the bard became powerful images within the Welsh and Irish nationalist movements.

In 1964, George’s son Robert MacGregor Reid, then chief of the The Druid Order, died, and Dr Thomas Maughan was elected as his successor. Following a differing amongst some senior members, Ross Nichols founded the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, fully recognizing those three grades in a way that is not formalised in The Druid Order. The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids now represents the largest body of organized Druidry in the world, with over ten thousand members.

Recent decades have seen an explosion of druidic orders and groups in Britain, including the Loyal Arthurian Warband (founded and led by British activist Arthur Uther Pendragon, self-declared reincarnation of King Arthur), the British Druid Order, the Secular Order of Druids, the Glastonbury Order of Druids and so on, with the Council of British Druid Orders set up in 1989 to enable meetings and discussions between different Orders to take place. In February 2003, The Druid Network was launched; its aim is to be a source of information and inspiration about the modern druid tradition, its practice and its history.

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The Younger Edda Also Called Snorre Edda Or The Prose Edda

Book: The Younger Edda Also Called Snorre Edda Or The Prose Edda by Rasmus Anderson

SNORRE'S EDDA, OR THE PROSE EDDA. AN ENGLISH VERSION OF THE FOREWARD; THE FOOLING OF GYLFE, THE AFTERWORD; BRAGE'S TALK, THE AFTERWORD TO BRAGE'S TALK, AND THE IMPORTANT PASSAGES IN THE POETICAL DICTION (SKALDSKAPARMAL) WITH AN INTRODUCTION, NOTES, VOCABULARY, AND INDEX.

All the poems quoted in the Younger Edda have in this edition been traced back to their sources in the Elder Edda and elsewhere. Where the notes seem to the reader insufficient, we must refer him to our Norse Mythology, where he will, we trust, find much of the additional information he may desire. Well aware that our work has many imperfections, and begging our readers to deal generously with our shortcomings, we send the book out into the world with the hope that it may aid some young son or daughter of Odin to find his way to the fountains of Urd and Mimir and to Idun's rejuvenating apples. The son must not squander, but husband wisely, what his father has accumulated. The race must cherish and hold fast and add to the thought that the past has bequeathed to it. Thus does it grow greater and richer with each new generation. The past is the mirror that reflects the future. (R. B. ANDERSON)

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Rasmus Anderson - The Younger Edda Also Called Snorre Edda Or The Prose Edda

Neo Druids In Ireland

In Ireland, neo-druids staged public gatherings for the Midsummer Solstice on the Hill of Tara, intermittently from 1996 to 2005. Currently, a number of Irish neo-druids are working with the various Save Tara Heritage campaigns to preserve the Tara-Skryne Valley from the potential environmental impact if the M3 motorway that is planned for the area goes through. The proposed construction would place a large, 38 acre, eight-lane motorway interchange within a mile (1.6 km) of the Hill, making it clearly visible from one of Ireland’s most sacred and historic sites, and irreparably damaging important archaeological evidence of Celtic and pre-Celtic history.

A number of small orders and groves exist in Ireland, with varying practices and beliefs; most of these have come into existence in the 1990s or later. Druidism in Ireland is still relatively young, is still in the process of establishing links between groves and orders, and so a stable neo-druidic community does not yet exist.

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Poetic Edda Edda Saeundar Hinns Froda

Book: Poetic Edda Edda Saeundar Hinns Froda by Benjamin Thorpe

Saemund, son of Sigfus, the reputed collector of the poems bearing his name, which is sometimes also called the Elder, and the Poetic, Edda, was of a highly distinguished family, being descended in a direct line from King Harald Hildetonn. He was born at Oddi, his paternal dwelling in the south of Iceland, between the years 1054 and 1057, or about 50 years after the establishment by law of the Christian religion in that island; hence it is easy to imagine that many heathens, or baptized favourers of the old mythic songs of heathenism, may have lived in his days and imparted to him the lays of the times of old, which his unfettered mind induced him to hand down to posterity.

The youth of Saemund was passed in travel and study, in Germany and France, and, according to some accounts, in Italy. His cousin John ogmundson, who later became first bishop of Holum, and after his death was received among the number of saints, when on his way to Rome, fell in with his youthful kinsman, and took him back with him to Iceland, in the year 1076. Saemund afterwards became a priest at Oddi, where he instructed many young men in useful learning; but the effects of which were not improbably such as to the common people might appear as witchcraft or magic: and, indeed, Saemund's predilection for the sagas and songs of the old heathen times (even for the magical ones) was so well known, that among his countrymen there were some who regarded him as a great sorcerer, though chiefly in what is called white or innocuous and defensive sorcery, a repute which still clings to his memory among the common people of Iceland, and will long adhere to it through the numerous and popular stories regarding him (some of them highly entertaining) that are orally transmitted from generation to generation.

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Revival Of Paganism In Modern Iceland

Another revival, this time based on folklore and historical research rather than on mysticist speculation, took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In Iceland, Asatruarfelagid, led by farmer Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson, was recognized as a religious organization by the Icelandic government in 1973. In USA, around the same period, Else Christensen began publishing "The Odinist" newsletter and Stephen McNallen began publishing a newsletter titled The Runestone. McNallen formed an organization called the Asatru Free Assembly, which was later renamed the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA) . The AFA fractured in 1987-88, resulting in the creation of the Asatru Alliance, headed by Valgard Murray, publisher of the "Vor Tru" newsletter. Around the same time, the Ring of Troth (now simply The Troth) was founded by other former members of the AFA.

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Heathens And Heathen Faith Some Frequently Asked Questions

Book: Heathens And Heathen Faith Some Frequently Asked Questions by The Troth

Perhaps the best-known heathen god is Odin. He is the god of many things: inspiration, ecstasy, poetry, healing, and death; it was he who won knowledge of the mysteries of the universe which we call the runes. Thor is the god whose great might we feel in thunderstorms. The lightning is his Hammer, the weapon with which he defends Midgard, the world of humans; the rain that he brings makes the fields fruitful. Tyr is the upholder of right order and justice, both among humans and in the entire universe. Frey is invoked for peace and plenty; he and Odin were also the founders and protectors of many dynasties of Heathen kings. His father Njordh watches over the sea, ships, sailors, wealth, and trade.

Our Goddesses are no less holy and mighty than our gods. Frigga, whom we see as Odin’s wife, protects homes and families. Freya rules over magic, sexuality, and riches; she also takes half of those slain in battle. Idunna tends the golden apples that keep the gods young; she inspires new strength and joy to spring up in our hearts. Skadhi’s might is seen in the winter; Ostara is the bringer of spring. Earth herself is a mighty goddess, who gives food to all.

These deities were known by different names in different Germanic cultures—in Anglo-Saxon England, for example, Odin was Woden and Thor was Thunor. There are many other deities who were and are worshipped. Often, a Heathen will choose one of the gods or goddesses as a special patron and friend—or perhaps be chosen by a patron deity. However, Heathens honor all the Gods and goddesses of the North. Heathens believe in and honor spirits of the home and the land, who can be helpful in many ways if treated well, or disruptive if ignored. Heathens honor their own worthy ancestors as well. Check out the Troth resources, listed on the back of this pamphlet, to find out more about our gods and ways.

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Black Runa

Book: Black Runa by Stephen Flowers

Eighteen Articles originally written for Runes, the journal of the Order of the Trapezoid. This work goes a long way toward demonstrating the character of symbolic and magical work within the Order. Includes a discussion of The Command to Look, Mortensen's analysis of visual imagery and impact, the source for Anton LaVey's formulation of the Law of the Trapezoid. This limited edition (504 copies) includes some of the inner documents of the Order of the Trapezoid.

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Armanen Runes

Book: Armanen Runes by Karl Hans Welz

Rune Magic is extra power for you! It is ancient technology. You can use this extraordinary method now by harnessing the Ur-energies (original energies) of the universe. These energies provide you with your personal gate to the powers of creation !!!

Using the creative powers of the Runes for your psychic development and spiritual advancement, you can naturally gain control of love, money, business, sports, status, and life itself.

- You can harness the powers of Runeyoga to control the flow of life force for stamina, endurance, and an abundance of creative mental and physical energy.
- The Basic Rune Course leads you on your path to become a Rune Master.
- The Rune Reading Course is an introduction to the art of reading the Runes!
- Become a member of the Knights of Runes!
- The Rune Magic Book - basic information about the Armanen Runes .
- The Rune Ceremonial Book - an introduction.

Because of their power, Runes or Rune-like symbols, have been part of religious systems in the past as well as they are in present times. Therefore Runes cannot be considered to be the "proprietary system" of any specific religious creed, even if they were or are an important part of such a creed. Keep in mind that THE BASIC TECHNOLOGIES OF RUNE MAGIC ARE INDEPENDENT FROM ANY RELIGIOUS BELIEF STRUCTURE. TRUE RUNE MASTERS encourage incorporation of Runic practice in any religious system, provided that its teachings and actions encompass tolerance and love. We know that RUNES ARE FOR EVERY INTELLIGENT BEING IN THE UNIVERSE! The Eighteen Sacred Futhork Runes are a symbolism that represents universal cosmic structures.

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Practical Candleburning Rituals Spells And Rituals For Every Purpose

Book: Practical Candleburning Rituals Spells And Rituals For Every Purpose by Raymond Buckland

This trusted guidebook by popular author Raymond Buckland has introduced candle magick to more than 300,000 readers. From winning love to conquering fear, obtaining money to improving relationships, Practical Candleburning rituals is filled with simple candle rites that get real results.

Newly updated and re-organized, this edition includes thirty-seven rituals-adapted for Christians and Pagans-that can be performed at home with readily available materials. No prior magickal knowledge is necessary. Diagrams and simple instructions make this candle magick primer an ideal practical guide for beginners.

Ray Buckland has been actively involved in the occult for over fifty years and was responsible for introducing Gardnerian Wicca to the United States. He has written over two dozen books; has had numerous Articles published in magazines and newspapers; has appeared on many TV shows; and has worked as a technical advisor on movies and stage productions. I am very lucky to know Ray, and the metaphysical world should be thankful that he shares his learning with us.

Practical Candleburning Rituals is one of his most popular books, and rightly so. Hundreds of thousands of people use it as a guide to simple, practical, powerful, and usable magic on a daily basis. There are three reasons you should use this book, too.

First, if you have never done any sort of magic before, this book is an ideal introduction to the subject from a practical point of view.
Second, although many people are involved in Pagan religions, many others are involved in Christianity. Most of the rituals in this book are presented in two ways, one for Pagans and one for Christians. This book can really be used by just about anyone.

Third, by practicing the techniques in this book, you'll learn the underpinnings of magic. In no time you'll be able to come up with your own rituals based on the ones listed.
When you can design your own rituals, and be successful with them, you will truly be a magician. And the place to start is with this book.

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The Wicca Spellbook A Witchs Collection Of Wiccan Spells Potions And Recipes

Book: The Wicca Spellbook A Witchs Collection Of Wiccan Spells Potions And Recipes by Gerina Dunwich

I noticed alot of belly-aching reviewers posted as "A Reader".I think it's just sour grapes on their part.Why not post with at least a 'Magickal Name'?This book is geared for the 13-23 year old wiccan practioneers.This book had many solid tibbits of information on spell-work,wiccan recipes, and pagan-potions.It was a quick and enjoyable reading,only 180 pages.This book helps the curious novice arouse an interest in the calling of Wicca.This is not Aleister O'Crowley's realm of divinity or his area of fluffy interest.One can read this in an afternoon's time.I would have to recommend reading this first,before you read 5,000 more sophicated spells.A wonderful primer for new spell-casters.

The secrets of spellcraft revealed through easy-to-follow, yet highly powerful magical formulas. There are also sections on the magical association of herbs, the eight sabbats of the Wiccan tradition and a directory of occult shops, publications and services to the Wiccan community.

I have used many of her spells in this book with great success, with no ill effects. If you are reading correctly (NOT) you will notice that the dove's blood spell has a disclaimer that it is from another sorce and she recommends either your own blood or no blood at all, just use dragon's blood, I'm sure any "real" witch would know what that is.

This book is one of the best books that I have had the pleasure of reading since realizing my true destiny 6 months ago..I have read many books, but this one takes the cake. It was VERY hard to find because it is out of print, but through the WWW, I was able to track it down and I couldn't be happier. If you can find this book, it is worth what it takes to get it. Happy reading!

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Victory Or Valhalla The Final Compilation Of Writings By David Lane

Book: Victory Or Valhalla The Final Compilation Of Writings By David Lane by David Lane

David Lane was a prolific writer who tackled all of the issues imperative to the survival of our race. Some of the material contained in these pages will be familiar to those who have read Deceived, Damned & Defiant. However, this book also contains newer writings, including his fictional story "KD Rebel" as well as his last interview.

The 14 words created by David Lane are immortal words. The White Race is in great danger. This collection of writings by David Lane is fantastic. He was a "MAN AGAINST TIME". In Germany a lot of people know David Lane's 14 words. We also enjoy his great writings. David Lane had been a competent author with wide-ranging knowledge of the world. We must unite our race to survive.

Buy David Lane's book: Victory Or Valhalla The Final Compilation Of Writings By David Lane

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Beliefs Of German Neopagans

Germanic Neopaganism (as opposed to Neopaganism in general) is often defined as Reconstructionist. Adherents are mostly polytheists, having faith in a number of Gods and Goddesses, but in practice a pantheistic or "soft polytheistic" outlook is common; the Icelandic Asatruarfelagi? defines "Asatru" as "Nordic pantheism".

Germanic Neopaganism has a strong leaning towards animism. This is most apparent in the worship of Alfar (or Elves), land-spirits, the various beings of folklore (Kobold, Huldufolk), and the belief that inanimate objects can have a fate of their own.

It is believed that Elves or land-spirits can inhabit natural objects such as trees or stones. These spirits can, and do, take sides in the affairs of the Inhabitants of their land.[13] This is in imitation of historical Norse paganism, which had strong animistic tendencies, as reflected in sagas such as that of a wizard who goes to Iceland in whale-shape to see if it can be invaded, who is attacked by land-spirits while going on shore, and is forced to flee.

It is believed by some Heathens that inanimate objects can have a soul of their own, or a fate, and therefore should be given a name, the most common cases being the naming of weapons like Gram (mythology). The objects are not “charged” before use, but have the fate or innate power within them a priori.

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Politicians And Paganism A Look At Bohemian Grove

The Mysterious Bohemian Grove, place for politicians to worship the Canaanite god Moloch or just a summer vacation spot for the political elite? While researching this topic I have learned that the original bohemian club founded in 1872, was a group of artist and writers that got together to share ideas than slowly over time they were replaced by prominent business men and political leaders.

But who exactly is involved and what goes on there? The membership list according to one source has included every Republican U.S. president since 1923 (as well as some Democrats), many cabinet officials, directors and CEOs of large corporations including major financial institutions. Major military contractors, oil companies, banks (including the Federal Reserve), utilities (including nuclear power) and national media (broadcast and print) have high-ranking officials as club members or guests the motto of the grove is weaving spiders come not here which indicates that business nor outside concerns should enter into the grove.

However the Grove is particularly famous for a Manhattan Project planning meeting that took place there and is quite frequently mentioned to new attendees with great pride. While disturbing that here’s another forum where high level decisions are made, it’s not near as disturbing as the pagan symbolism, and the influence over this group of leaders it has. Could it be possible that in front of us they claim to be Christian while in the shadows there real master is the devil? What ceremonies are performed there, what rituals disguised as plays. Who is Moloch/ I hope to answer some of these questions throughout this article as we go deeper into the Bohemian Grove.

Since the founding of the club, the Bohemian Grove's mascot has been an owl, symbolizing Moloch. A statue of moloch stands at the head of the lake in the Grove; the Owl Shrine was designed by sculptor and two-time club president Haig Patigian and built in the 1920s. Since 1929, the Owl Shrine has served as the backdrop of the yearly Cremation of Care ceremony.

So who’s Moloch? Moloch according to my source, the bible was an Egyptian or Canaanite God that Babies were sacrificed to by burning. He is mentioned in the book of Leviticus and a few other places throught the Bible. heres one of the verses from Leviticus

Lev 18:21 And thou shall not let any of thy children pass through the fire to Moloch, neither shalt thou prophane the Name of thy God: I am the Lord.

So you ask what the hell does that have to do with politicians and CEOs camping in the woods? Well to answer that we need to look at the cremation of care ceremony. Here’s a photo of the ritual that is held at the grove every year sense 1893.

The ceremony involves the poling across a lake of a small boat containing an effigy (typically resembling a small baby or child) of Care (called "Dull Care"). Dark, hooded figures receive from the ferryman the effigy which is placed on an altar and at the end of the ceremony, is set on fire. This "cremation" symbolizes that members are banishing the "dull cares" of conscience

The ceremony takes place in front of a 45-foot (14 m) high hollow owl statue made of concrete over expanded metal framing and steel supports. The moss- and lichen-covered statue simulates a natural rock formation, yet holds electrical and audio equipment within it. During the ceremony, a recording of the voice of Walter Cronkite, a member of the Bohemian Club, is used as the voice of The Owl. Music and pyrotechnics accompany the ritual for dramatic effect.

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The Legend Of The Red Deer

The following legend may be related to the Deer Man, and is provided here for those who love the old tales:

"Long ago the bear and the red deer lived together in mutual respect of their great strength and power. The deer wore a pebble on its crown between its antlers. This pebble was called the Stone of Belzoar (bezoar), and originated from within the deer itself.

A time came when serpents overwhelmed the region in which the deer and bear lived. The stone of Belzoar made the deer immune to the venom of the serpents, but the bear wa left in danger. Therefore the bear left his home and went away in exile. The red deer gave thanks to the stone of Belzoar and he remained as the only master of the forest and the mountain.

The Bear, living far away in its forced exile, grew envious and resentful of the red deer. One day he returned and killed the deer. A man witnessed the event and later removed the antlers of the deer, tossing the carcass into the deep waters of a lake. The man took the stone of Belzoar away to his home.

One day as the bear was running through the forest he became impaled on the deer’s antlers. Unable to free himself he eventually died of starvation.

According to legend the spirit of the red deer emerges from the lake on certain nights and seeks his antlers and the stone of Belzoar. His complaining sounds can be heard in the night"

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Pagans Divination In Spiritual Practice

Many Pagans incorporate divination into their spiritual practice. Divination practices from around the world, including astrology, Tarot, Runes, the I Ching, Ogham, and the use of a pendulum as a dowsing tool, all are common within the pagan community. Some divinatory practices are culturally specific and therefore may be particularly common within specific traditions; for example, the runes are especially popular with Norse Pagans, and the Ogham with druids or other Celtic Pagans. Divination can be used as a means of predicting the future, but often Pagans will bring a more sophisticated spiritual sensibility to their divination practice, engaging in it to seek guidance from the gods and goddesses and insight into their own unfolding spiritual growth and development. Some Pagans may do readings for others, and particularly gifted ones may offer their services professionally through a metaphysical bookstore or at a psychic fair. But many read strictly for themselves or for close friends, seeing divination as an intimate spiritual practice rather than a mere form of entertainment or fortune telling.

Since Pagans often resist the idea that "spirituality" is somehow distinct from the rest of life, ultimately almost any activity can be embraced as a part of a spiritual practice. Camping, hiking, gardening, nature photography, drawing or other creative pursuits, the practice of herbalism or the use of essential oils, incense making, the preparation and use of folk healing remedies - these are some of the many practices that can be incorporated into daily life with a clear recognition that such activities have spiritual meaning. Ultimately, every Pagan is responsible for developing his or her most meaningful practices.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Eliphas Levi - The Ritual Of Transcendental Magic
Barbara Obrist - Visualization In Medieval Alchemy
Anonymous - Divination Spreads

Pagan Vision For Society

While paganism offers no consensus vision for the common good, many adherents believe in caring for the environment and creating a non-sexist, non-homophobic society.

Pagans encompass the entire spectrum of social and political value systems. Adherents of this type of spirituality may in good conscience espouse liberal, conservative, moderate, libertarian, green, and other political values. This, in itself, offers an important clue to the pagan vision for society: it is a society where freedom of thought, expression, and political ideas are foundational.

Although many Pagans identify with tribal or prehistoric social structures on a mythic or spiritual level, they also generally accept and espouse the values of liberal democracy. Many promote social change of some form, usually involving the promotion of non-sexist, non-homophobic, non-hierarchical, and even non-monogamous social values, although some minority groups (particularly among ethnic reconstructionist pagans) espouse less liberal positions. Alongside such progressive social values, many Pagans advocate environmentalism (although ideas about how environmentalism should be promoted vary; for example, libertarian Pagans might advocate for a free market approach to environmental responsibility, while left-leaning Pagans might argue for social policies to promote or enforce environmentalist policy initiatives).

One of the first well-known Pagan leaders to actively promote social activism as an outgrowth of her religious practice was Starhawk. After her first book (The Spiral Dance [1979], an introductory text to witchcraft), Starhawk wrote several books about social and political activism from the perspective of promoting ecofeminist values. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Starhawk had emerged as a public figure as renowned for her activism as for her religious beliefs. Her work includes training others in nonviolence and direct action, and supporting the peace movement, women's movement, environmental movement, and the anti-globalization movement.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Mama San Ra Ab Rampa - Flor Silvestre
Anonymous - Protection Of Space
Richard Weiss - Recipes For Immortality

A Brief History Of Nordic Paganism In The United States

Asatru/Heathenry/Nordic Paganism in the United States has gone through several distinct stages and a series of schisms and conflicts since its beginnings in the early 1970s. It has entered the twenty-first century with a new level of organizational sophistication and a general consensus on the need to minimize conflicts and improve cooperation between different Nordic Pagan communities, whatever their positions on particular issues.

The first Nordic Pagan organization in the United States was the Viking Brotherhood, founded by McNallen and Stine in Texas in about 1972. This group metamorphosed into the Asatru Free Assembly (AFA), which operated until 1987 and then reemerged in the 1990s as the Asatru Folk Assembly, as it is known today. The AFA established many of the important organizational and ritual structures that remain operative in American Nordic Paganism to the present time, though later groups and individuals have continued to tinker with these structures and adapt and reinterpret them as they see fit.

Suggested ebooks:

Julia Phillips - History Of Wicca In England
Samuel Gardner Drake - Annals Of Witchcraft In New England And Elsewhere In The United States
Anonymous - History Of Nordic Runes P7

Brigit Of The Celts

Brigit was one of the great Triple Goddesses of the Celtic people.
She appeared as Brigit to the Irish, Brigantia in Northern England,
Bride in Scotland, and Brigandu in Brittany. Many legends are told
about Brigit. Some say that there are three Brigits : one sister in
charge of poetry and inspiration who invented the Ogham alphabet,
one in charge of healing and midwifery, and the third in charge of the
hearth fire, smithies and other crafts. This catually indicates the
seperate aspects of her Threefold nature and is a neat division of
labor for a hard-working goddess.
Brigit was probably originally a Sun Goddess, and a charming story
of her birth is that she was born at sunrise and a tower of flame
burst from the forehead of the new born Goddess that reached from
Earth to Heaven. It was likely She who inspired the line in the famous
Song of Amergin: "I am a fire in the head." Her penchant for smithcraft
led to her association by the Romans with Minerva/Athena. As a warrior
Goddess, She favored the use of the spear or the arrow. Indeed, various
interpetations of her name exist including, "Bright Arrow," "The Bright
One," "the Powerful One" and "The High One," depending upon the region
and the dialect.
As a Goddess of herbalism, midwifery and healing She was in charge
of Water as well as Fire. I don't beleive that anyone has ever
counted all teh vast number of sacred wells and springs named after
or dedicated to this Goddess. A story is told of how two lepers came
to one of her sacred springs for healing and She instructed one Leper
to wash the other. The skin of the freshly bathed man was cleansed
of the disease and Brigit told the man who was healed to wash the man
who had bathed him so that both men would be whole. The man who was
healed was now too disgusted to touch the other Leper and would have
left him, but Brigit herself washed the leper and struck down the
other arrogant fellow with leperousy once more before he could leave.
Offerings to the watery Brigit were cast into the well in the form
of coins or, even more ancient, brass or gold rings. Other sacrifices
were offered where three streams came together. Her cauldron of
Inspiration connected her watery healing aspect with her fiery poetic
aspect.
Brigit is clearly the best example of the survival of a Goddess
into Christian times. She was cannonized by the Catholic church as
St. Brigit and various origins are given to this saint. The most
popular folktale is that She was midwife to the Virgin Mary, and thus
was always inviked by women in labor. The more official story was
that She was a Druid's daughter who predicted the coming of
Christianity and then was baptised by St. Patrick. She became a nun
and later an abbess who founded the Abbey at Kildare. The Christian
Brigit was said to have had the power to appoint the bishops of her
area, a strange role for an abbess, made stranger by her requirement
that her bishops also be practicing goldsmiths.
Actually, the Goddess Brigit had always kept a shrine at Kildare,
Ireland, with a perpetual flame tended by nineteen virgin priestesses
called Daughters of the Flame. No male was ever allowed to come near
it; nor did those women ever consort with men. Even their food and
other supplies were brought to them by women of the nearby village.
When Catholicism took over in Ireland, the shrine became a convent
and the priestesses became nuns but the same traditions were held
and the eternal flame was kept burning. Their tradition was that
each day a different priestess/nun was in charge of the sacred fire
and on the 20th day of each cycle, teh fire was miraculously tended
by Brigit Herself. There into the 18th century, the ancient song
was sung to her : "Brigit, excellant woman, sudden flame, may the
bright fiery sun take us to the lasting kingdom."
For over a thousand years, the sacred flame was tended by nuns,
and no one knows how long before that it had been tended by the
priestesses. In 1220 CE, a Bishop became angered by the no-males
policy of the Abbey of St. Brigit of Kildare. He insisted that nuns
were subordinate to priests and therefore must open their abbey
and submit themselves to inspection by a priest. When they refused
and asked for another Abbess or other female official to perform
any inspections, the Bishop was incensed. He admonished them to
obediance and then decreed that teh keeping of the eternal flame
was a pagan custom and 6rdered the sacred flame to be extinguished.
Even then, She remained the most poular Irish saint along with
Patrick. In the 1960's, under Vatican II modernization, it was
declared that there was insufficient proof of Brigit's sanctity
or even of her historical existance, and so teh Church's gradual
pogrom against Brigit was successful at last and She was thus
decanonized. It is very difficult to obtain images or even holy
cards of ST. Brigit outside of Ireland anymore.
Her festival is held on Febuary 1st or 2nd. It corresponds to
the ancient Celtic fire festival of Imbolc or Oimelc which
celebrated the birthing and freshening of sheep and goats (it really
is a Feast of Milk). This festival was Christianized as Candlemas
or Lady Day and Her Feast day, La Feill Bhride, was attended by
tremendous local celebration and elaborate rituals. Her festival
is also called Brigit. Brigit (the Goddess and the Festival)
represents the stirring of life again after the dead months of the
winter, and her special blessings are called forth at this time.
Since She was booted out of teh Church for being Pagan, it is
incumbant upon us Pagans to restore Her worship to its former glory
especially those of us of Celtic ancestory. Here is an ancient rite
to invite Brigit into your home at the time of her Holiday:
Clean your hearth thoroughly in teh morning and lay a fire
without kindling it, then make yourself a "Bed for Brigid" and
place it near the hearth. The bed can be a small basket with covers
and tiny pillow added as plain or fancy as you like. If you have no
hearth, you can use the stove and put the bed behind it. Then at
sundown light a candle rubbed with rosemary oil and invite Brigit
into your home and into er bed; use the candle to kindle your
hearthfire if possible. Make your own poem to invite Her or use
the ancient song mentioned earlier. Let the candle burn at least
all night in a safe place. You might even want to begin the custom
of keeping the eternal flame; it is a popular custom in some
magickal and wiccan traditions. AFter all, it's up to us now to
keep the spirit of Brigit alive and well for the next thousand
years at least!!!


By Morning Glory Zell from AMARGI Vol I. No.3 Feb. 1st 1989




Books You Might Enjoy:

Zoroaster - The Chaldean Oracles
Albert Pike - The Book Of The Words
Aristotle - On The Soul