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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Ways Of The Asatru

Book: Ways Of The Asatru by Michael Smith

There are two issues which I would like to bring to the reader's attention concerning this book. The first would be that this book should not, by any means, be considered an absolute authority on Asatru. The reader is encouraged to read other books, do research, and explore their own hearts to find their own religious and spiritual truths. The main reason for that would be because of the second issue I have to briefly make note of.

The second would be that regardless of all, Asatru is chiefly a religion of the individuals' spiritual path. Although there is a strong sense of community that is encouraged, it is up to the individual to find what rings true to them for their own spiritual health. Asatru itself is a religion of fairly broad guidelines. It is up to the individual to decide where within those broad guidelines they lay in what they believe.

So please, dear reader, I will be bold in giving you a set of "rules" for those who decide to research or become Asatru. Rule # 1 is: Be your own scholar. Asatru is a religion with homework. This extends to not just contemporary writers but, to authors in the fields of linguistics, history, archeology, and other scholarly fields of study. All can help you in your spiritual quest. Rule # 2 is: Always get different perspectives. This is a religion that has its roots in the past, but is (and must be!) evolved within modern context. And it must and will evolve as the future unfolds.

This book has been screaming to come out of my head for quite some time. Folks over the years have asked me, "Why don't you write a book or something?" My response was usually a humorous, "Don't you think I drive enough Asatru folks nuts already?" Then I started thinking about it more seriously as my 12th anniversary of becoming Asatru came closer, and figured it was time to unleash my brain upon the masses. I only hope it helps some folks on their travels. As I know, just writing it has helped my own. Also, the fact that every time there’s a good beginner book out, it goes out-of-print. This way, by self-publishing, it won’t go out-of-print.

Lastly, I'd like to thank the folks who kept pushing me to do it and whom I've found their friendships and debates helpful. I'd like to thank all of Raven Kindred North, Vingolf Fellowship, Medoburg Kindred, Tim McKinney (co-founder of Athelingulf Fellowship), and the countless individual Asatru folks who I've harassed, infuriated, and got into huge debates with over countless thoughts, theories, and beliefs. Without challenge, the mind never evolves and grows.

But most of all, I want to thank my beautiful wife, Catheryn, my precious daughter, Freyjadis, and my strong son, Tiarnan, for being my highest inspirations. - With Honor, Michael J. Smith

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Magic And Wyrd

Book: Magic And Wyrd by Anonymous

Wyrd is the underlying fabric in the Northern/Germanic cosmology. The laws of Wyrd supercede the will of the Gods, of men and all creatures. Wyrd provides the basic structure for the Nine Worlds, and manifests itself in Yggdrasil and the Well of Urdr.

One can compare Wyrd to a song, there are many differnt ways to sing it but the basic tune remains the same. Wyrd is also frequently seen as weaving, different threads coming together on a framework to make a pattern.

Magic is one of the ways we interact with Wyrd. "Knowing" magic (in Manny Olds' words) or "predictive" magic (Groa's) is about becoming aware of the patterns in Wyrd and the disposal of individual strands in the tapestry. Spae-work and Rune-work are two of the techniques which can be used for this.

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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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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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Modern Beliefs Of Pagans

I am not presumptuous enough to believe that these should be everyone's beliefs, nor am I egotistical enough to believe that these beliefs are mine alone. However, they are mine. I have formed these beliefs as an individual from the experiences in my life.

Organized Religion:

A mass of people led by individuals that may, or may not, have your best interests at heart. Usually the guiding religious leaders are so high up, and so far removed from the public that it's difficult (at best) to distinguish one from the other. I avoid organized religion because these groups have been known to use their influence or manpower for not so lofty goals. Furthermore, I think a set package of beliefs (a.k.a. Moral Combo Meal) ends up with a lot of people not really knowing what they believe in (as opposed to what they think they should believe in). To my mind this is a sad state of affairs. Some people do need an organized religion for guidance in their life. For them, I guess the system works fine.

Religious Leaders:

These people are just like everyone else... People. Have some used others for their own ends? Yes. Have they used their position or a connection with their deity to convince people to do their bidding? Certainly. Do some religious leaders just want to save souls, and guide people to do the right thing? Absolutely. Do some just want to do their part to help others, and make the world a better place? Without question. So honestly, it's impossible to know about an individual until you have met and interacted with that individual, just like everyone else. However, do keep in mind that any world leader (Such as the President of the United States, or the Pope), will only get the power they have if they want that power. This process also usually involves a lot of toe-squishing.

Jesus:

Good guy, lots of great ideas. An awesome philosopher, and an excellent teacher. I'm glad he was around. Was he the son of God? Yes, just as each one of us is the son or daughter of God. Is he my savior? No, he's dead... Besides, what do I need saving from? I don't believe that I'm being judged by any greater power, nor do I believe in Hell.

Gardner:

Gardner was an intelligent man with a creative mind. He was also a dirty old man who at times had questionable methods, and even more questionable motivations. Don't get me wrong, many of us owe a lot to Gardner, and I do respect him. There are times though, to me, some of his ideas seem ill-concieved or improperly researched.

Homosexuality:

I am not a homosexual, but I don't mind if anyone else is. These, to me, are the three blessings of relationships: You are blessed once if you know who you are. You are blessed twice if you have come to terms with this, are comfortable with it, and find it a source of strength and identity. You are blessed thrice if you can use this as part of a starting point for a mutually intimate relationship.

Abortion:

Not right for me, but mostly because that has to do with my views on sex, and whom I'd be having sex with. As with many other things, the morals that really count are the morals of the individuals involved, and how they feel about the procedure.

Cloning:

Cloning is the abandonment of the cycle of Nature that causes bubbles in evolution. The two most popular reasons would be to either create the illusion of immortality or to generate a subservient workforce of some kind. This concept is a near abomination to my mind.

Drugs:

Drugs (including alcohol) are for those who wish to alter their state of being, either physically or mentally. Personally, I like who I am, and I like my current state of being so I largely refrain from all kinds of drugs. I only take cold or headache medicine when I am really miserable (and thus wish to change my state of being). I make a special effort to avoid habit-forming or addictive drugs (the more potent/addictive, the more I avoid them).

Guns:

Guns are designed to kill things. I've gone out target shooting with my brother. Some people really get a kick out of doing this. I think target practice with a bow is more challenging and interesting. Some people say guns have their place, and I'm sure they do. That's fine with me, so long as their place is as far away from me as possible.

Firearm Rights:

The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution was designed to allow the populace to hold a revolution if they thought there was a need. In this day and age, without proper weapons a revolution would be near impossible. Therefore, to uphold the purpose of the 2nd Amendment it makes sense that citizens be allowed access to military-grade firepower.

Cell Phones:

Driving while talking on a cell phone poses a danger to yourself and to those around you. Talk or drive, not both.

Vegetarianism:

I was made to be an omnivore. I crave meat, I can consume it and digest it without difficulty. I have no problem with this. Being cute is not an excuse to not be nutritional (or tasty). To sustain our own life, other lives, (plant or animal) must end. This is the way Mother Nature works. Some would prefer plant deaths to animal, and that's fine for them. Ok, a good vegetarian diet can be better than a good omnivore diet. Oh well.

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Ethics In Germanic Neopaganism

Ethics in Germanic Neopaganism are guided by a concept of personal orlog or wyrd, encompassing the notions of both fate and luck. The belief in Wyrd — a concept of fatalism or determinism, similar to some Graeco-Roman concepts of destiny is a commonly held belief amongst most Germanic Neopagans. People's personal destinies are shaped in part by what is past, in part by what they and others are now doing, by the vows they take and contracts they enter into. The Germanic Neopagan community is primarily bound together by common symbological and social concepts. Personal character and virtue is emphasized: truthfulness, self-reliance, and hospitality are important moral distinctions, underpinning an especially cherished notion of honour. Germanic Neopaganism notably lacks any discussion of redemption or salvation.

The Asatru Folk Assembly and the Odinic Rite encourages recognition of an ethical code, the Nine Noble Virtues, which are culled from various sources, including the Havamal from the Poetic Edda.

Although Germanic Neopagans revere the forces of nature, Germanic Neopaganism is not a "nature religion" in the sense of other currents often found in Neopaganism, and adherents oppose neither technology nor its material rewards. More mystical currents of Heathenry may be critical of industrialization or modern society, but even such criticism will focus on decadence, lack of virtue or balance, rather than being a radical criticism of technology itself.

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A Irmandade De Odin In Portuguese

Book: A Irmandade De Odin In Portuguese by Mark Mirabello

O Odinismo tambem conhecido como "Asatru" (termo islandes para "Lealdade aos Deuses") e, em sua encarnacao moderna, a tentativa de reconstruir o mais fielmente possivel a antiga religiao Nordica. Devido a falta de textos, artefatos ou templos sobreviventes alguns detalhes estao para sempre perdidos. Para preencher esses detalhes, os adeptos tem que recorrer a pesquisas arqueologicas, trabalhos academicos e textos sobreviventes. As principais fontes literarias sao as Sagas islandesas e vikings, bem como os textos conhecidos como "Eddas" (existem duas versoes o chamado "Edda Poetico" e o "Edda em Prosa"). Embora nao tenham o status de "livros sagrados" ou "revelacoes" esses trabalhos nos dao as informacoes mais importantes sobre as crencas e os principais deuses venerados na epoca dos Vikings. De uma certa maneira, A irmandade de Odin, e uma rendicao moderna do conteudo dos Eddas. Mas e muito mais do que isso.

As primeiras manifestacoes publicas dessa nova/antiga fe em nossos tempos aconteceram em 1960, na islandia. O livro que voce agora tem em maos nos da, entretanto, uma nova e desconcertante visao: o Odinismo nao apenas teria sobrevivido a furia das conversoes cristas no norte da Europa como tornou-se uma religiao clandestina, preservando suas crencas e iniciando seus membros desde 1421. A palavra "iniciando" deve ser tomada em seu sentido esoterico: um grupo de guerreiros, homens e mulheres extraordinarios, teriam fundado uma sociedade secreta que preservou rituais poderosos e um conhecimento incomum sobre os deuses e deusas dos povos nordicos.

Mesmo que o leitor nao possa aceitar as crencas descritas neste livro (e a propria tendencia em ver as informacoes aqui contidas como "alegoricas" e visto como um sinal de decadencia de nosso mundo atual), acredito que ele nao saira intocado pela forca e brilho do tipo de ser humano que e valorizado pela irmandade. Mesmo que nao se possa aceitar a existencia da irmandade de Odin tal como descrita aqui, e impossivel negar que mais do que nunca precisamos do espirito e da visao que esta por tras da irmandade. Se o leitor conseguir incorporar em si esse espirito, entao pelo menos um dos objetivos da irmandade de Odin ja tera sido atingido.

Gostaria de agradecer as pessoas que tornaram essa traducao possivel: Em primeiro lugar, ao Dr. Mark Mirabello por sua imediata adesao e suporte a ideia de traduzir seu trabalho para o Portugues. Aos meus irmaos e irmas Odinistas (alguns deles membros da irmandade) que me apoiaram, incentivaram e responderam as minhas diversas duvidas ao longo do processo. E finalmente, mas nao menos importante, a minha esposa, Raquel, que faz todas as coisas valerem a pena. - Marcos Rogerio Estevam

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The Circle Within Creating A Wiccan Spiritual Tradition

Book: The Circle Within Creating A Wiccan Spiritual Tradition by Dianne Sylvan

The Circle Within is your guide to creating a personal spiritual practice for daily life. The first section is a thoughtful examination of Wiccan ethics and philosophy that explores how to truly live Wicca. The second section includes devotional prayers and rituals that provide inspiration for group or solitary practice.

Topics include: cultivating an ongoing personal relationship with deity, ethics and standards of behavior, concepts of sacred space, elements of a daily practice, tuning into the Wheel of the Year and the elements, and creating meaningful personal rituals. Move beyond the basics of Wicca and enter the sacred space of the circle within.


I've never written a review for Amazon.com, but had to do one for this book. I came across Dianne's website some time ago & was intrigued with her way of looking at Wicca. When I found out she'd published a book, I tracked it down & was even more profoundly moved by her observations. This is a woman who will make you THINK. There are many books I've read about witchcraft & Wicca. Plenty of info on tools, quarter calls, the gods/goddesses, etc. But I found something missing in most of them. The most basic, essential thing of all: relationship with the Divine & how it affects your life on a very basic level. There were times during this book where I had to stop & say, "YES! YES!" Cheers for Ms. Sylvan for having the heart & drive to write this book & get it out to the public.

Also, I have to say that the litergy in this book is some of the most beautiful I have ever read. The chapter titled "The Book of Moonlight" is going to be used often in my practices.

Dianne Sylvan (Austin, TX) has been a practicing Wiccan since the age of sixteen. She is co-founder and President of Blessedways, a Wiccan educational and spiritual organization based out of Central Texas. Through Blessedways she teaches classes on Wicca, the Runes, spiritual magic, and ecstatic dance.

In addition to her books, Dianne's work has appeared in Circle Magazine, NewWitch magazine, and the Llewellyn Wicca Almanac and Witches' Calendar; she has also been interviewed by the Wiccan Pagan Times. More of her articles on living Wiccan spirituality can be found on her website, Dancing Down the Moon.

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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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Welcome To The Troth Honoring The Northern Tradition

Book: Welcome To The Troth Honoring The Northern Tradition by The Troth

The Troth is dedicated to exploring, practicing and promoting the pre-Christian religion of the Germanic peoples, who include the English, Norwegians, Icelanders, Swedes and Germans, among others. This religion is known by various names including Asatru, Heathenry, the Elder Troth, and others. There are many variations in beliefs and practices within this faith, and many ways of describing and classifying these differences. One thing we all share a defining personal loyalty to, or "Troth" with, the Gods and goddesses of the Northlands, such as Odin, Thor, Frigga, Freyja and many others. We also have a deep respect for our Germanic religious, cultural and historical heritage; and a strong determination to practice the moral principles followed by our noble predecessors, including Courage, Truth, Honor, Loyalty, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-reliance, and Steadfastness.

In order to help modern Heathens better to understand and practice the Elder Troth, we publish a quarterly journal, Idunna, and carry on other publishing projects. The best-known such project to date is Our Troth, a collective work of over 700 pages incorporating the research, thought and experience of many Troth members and friends, currently available online. Back issues of Idunna are available, and we also publish pamphlets covering several aspects of practicing Heathenry in contemporary society, including a Heathen’s Almanac, due out in Fall 2003.

In addition to publishing activities, the Troth conducts a training program for prospective Heathen clergy, incorporating study, training and experience in lore knowledge, theology, ceremonial practice, group organization, and counseling, and leading to certification after an extensive evaluation and final examination.

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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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Introduction To The Elder Edda

Book: Introduction To The Elder Edda by John Ronald Tolkien

The Elder Edda is not a single continuous narrative, but a collection of poems, most of which are preserved in the Konungsbok, or Codex Regius (King's Book), copied in Iceland about A.D. 1270. The poems are the work of many poets. Their language suggests that they were composed between 800 and 1100 A.D. and first written down between 1150 and 1250 A.D. The poems are a rich source of information for culture and belief among the Vikings. They are not, however, purely Scandinavian. Christian Irish influence is likely, while the Sigurd story draws on actual events among the tribes that invaded the Roman Empire between 350-600 A.D.

The Elder Edda first came to scholarly attention in the seventeenth century as antiquarian interest in the non-classical past was growing in Europe. It was published in its entirety just as intense romantic and nationalistic interest in the perceived tribal Ancestors of the European nation states emerged towards the end of the eighteenth century. This interest, combined with the new science of philology, ensured popular and scholarly interest in texts like the Elder Edda. Some of the lays were available in bowdlerized versions even for children by the later nineteenth century. In the hands of Richard Wagner, the Elder Edda became the foundation of one of the century's masterpieces. While northern legends and the scholarship based on it were misused by the Nazis to develop and further their ideas of race, they are seriously misrepresented by such ideas. In the 1960s, the poet W. H. Auden in collaboration with an Old Norse scholar, Paul B. Taylor, produced a translation of sixteen of the poems.

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Road To Hel A Study Of The Conception Of The Dead

Book: Road To Hel A Study Of The Conception Of The Dead by Hilda Roderick Ellis

Professor and Mrs. Chadwick I owe more than can be easily expressed: the discovery of both the inspiration and discipline of research, and unfailing help, both with practical advice and encouragement, the whole of the way. I would like also to thank Mr. and Mrs. J. M. de Navarro and Mr. G. N. Garmonsway for many suggestions and for their sympathetic interest; and Miss G. D. Willcock, who read the book in manuscript, and Miss Helen Brown, who read the proofs and assisted with the index, for their helpful criticism and support. Finally my thanks are due to the Syndics of the University Press for undertaking the publication of this book, despite the difficulties of war-time, and to its Staff for the courtesy and efficiency they have shown throughout. (H. R. ELLIS)

In this book an attempt has been made to collect the evidence concerned with one important aspect of Norse heathenism: ideas about the fate of man after death. The conception which has made the strongest appeal to popular imagination is that of the warrior paradise, Valhalla; and it is surprising at first to have to realise that this is only one of many conflicting pictures of the realm of the dead, and one moreover which occupies only a very small section of the prose and poetry which has come down to us. One of the many problems which still awaits an answer is whether from the vast accumulation of evidence relating to the dead it is possible to make out any definite and consistent presentation of the other world, and of the fate of man beyond the grave. In attempting to find a solution of this problem, we may gain help from the fact that archaeology as well as literature has evidence to offer us, in particular about funeral customs; and no more dramatic introduction could be desired than that presented by the heathen graves which have been explored in Scandinavia, with their rich implications of ship-funeral and human sacrifice. Beside the study of funeral customs, such a survey as this must include all that can be discovered about the conception of a realm or realms of the dead, any traces of a cult of the dead which have been recorded, and any indication which the literature can give as to the nature of survival after death according to heathen thought. Finally, in the concluding chapters we shall pass on to certain conceptions which appear to be of seine importance, those connected with the relationship between the world of the living and that of the dead. Here there are two main aspects to be considered: the consultation of the dead by the living, and the entry of the living soul into the world of the dead to learn its secrets.

This approach is particularly important in dealing with incidents from the Icelandic sagas which have to do with the supernatural. While it is universally recognised that the majority of these are based on the doings of historic persons and on reliable local tradition, passages which bring in the supernatural element are apt to be eyed with suspicion and dismissed as fictitious interpolations to enliven the story. Moreover, the high literary quality of the sagas as a whole means that a form and unity have been given to their plots which could never have resulted from the mere slavish recording of accurate facts; and how much then of the heathen background is to be attributed to the creative imagination and shaping hand of the storytellers who have worked on the original traditions about local heroes? It remains to be seen whether the evidence for heathen practices given in these tales gives us reason to believe that they are based on actual customs and genuine traditions remembered from the heathen period. The test of a consistent picture agreeing not in small details and forms of narrative but in the fundamental outline, which remains recognisable and convincing, seems the most satis-factory guide to demand here. As regards the Fornaldar Sogur, the ‘sagas of old time’, the date of these in their present form is late, and it is impossible to base any conclusions on their evidence alone. But they are of great value for purposes of comparison, and it will be found that passages from them sometimes serve to illumine evidence gained from more reliable sources, suggesting that a good deal of the material they contain is composed from genuine traditions, albeit imperfectly remembered, from heathen times. (Hilda Roderick Ellis)

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After Life In Roman Paganism

Book: After Life In Roman Paganism by Franz Cumont

1922. Lectures delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation. The author was invited to lecture at New Haven during the month of March 1921 on a subject relating to religious history. He chose the ideas current in Roman paganism concerning the lot of the soul after death. Lectures included are: historical introduction; after life in the tomb; the nether world; celestial immortality; winning of immortality; untimely death; journey to the beyond; sufferings of hell and metempsychosis; felicity of the blessed.

About the Author: Belgian archaeologist and historian FRANZ-VALERY-MARIE CUMONT (1869-1947) wrote numerous books, among them Texts and Illustrated Monuments Relating to the Mysteries of Mithra (1900), considered his masterwork.
Download eBook: After Life In Roman Paganism

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English Old Norse Dictionary

Book: English Old Norse Dictionary by Ross Arthur

You could, of course, print it and then consult it just as you would consult any other dictionary It might be more useful to you, however, to keep it as an electronic reference tool For one thing, you'll find that it serves also as an Old Norse to English dictionary.

If you are now viewing this document within your Browser, I’d advise you to save it and examine it later. If it’s now saved on your computer, try using Acrobat’s Find feature, with the “Match Case” option turned off. I’ve created a special font to make it simpler to search for Old Norse

- To search for a vowel with an accent, just type that vowel and then a slash /
- To search for a hooked o (o,) just type o and then a comma
- To search for ae type a and then e.
- To search for oe type o and then e.
- To search for T type th.
- To search for D type dh.

Download Ross Arthur's eBook: English Old Norse Dictionary

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Ross Arthur - English Old Norse Dictionary

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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Celtic Tradition Gives Us A Model Of Underworld Religion And Magic

Celtic tradition gives us a fine model of UnderWorld sacro-magical understanding and practices . It is not a coherent model or a “complete system”, as this notion of completeness is entirely modern; instead it is diffuse, organic, prolific, protean. The Celtic model serves as an example to demonstrate traditions which are found world wide; all spiritual and magical traditions begin with the UnderWorld. All entrances to, and passages within, the earth were sacred: caves, wells, springs, gorges, chasms, volcanic craters. Each had its story, myth, or spiritual presence. (Classic reference sources are Dr Ann Ross: pagan Celtic Britain ; Alwyn and Brinley Ress: Celtic Heritage) We find such traditions worldwide, at the root of every religion, dating from older times before that religion was founded and formalized. Often they are disguised, as in the typical examples of local saints at ancient sacred sites, who were once gods and goddesses of the shrines. Ireland, most of all, still lives and breathes her own version of this ancient wisdom.

The legends that have been handed down in ancient texts, and in oral traditions, all relate to themes of transformation and growth through the powers of the UnderWorld, and not through the influence of the sun and sky. Sometimes such themes are on a large scale, the appearances of races, orders of life, mountains, rivers, oceans and so forth. Sometimes they are embodied in the life story of one individual…or of a group of people on a journey. After certain mythic characters have traveled through the UnderWorld, they often find a resting place among the stars: but the UnderWorld of Earth comes first. (Many examples are found in Robert Graves, Greek Myths)

The Cauldron of Regeneration, so central to Irish and Celtic legends is nothing less than the regenerative power of the Land, of the Planet Earth herself. Nothing could be more important for us today than a sense that the Earth is sacred, and a source of spiritual power. Indeed, we must return to this: it is our greatest and most redemptive truth. The time for either materialist indifference or ethereal escapism is over and the time for realization is upon us. Kill the earth, and we kill ourselves.

So what about the Light ? In the pagan myths and legends, and in folk tales that persisted well into historical times, the UnderWorld which includes but is not limited to the Faery Realm, is a Place of Light. To reach this Light, we pass first through essential nourishing darkness, sacred to the Dark Goddess who is known by many names. As the Qabalistic writer Dion Fortune said : we can only come to the White Isis by way of the Black Isis.

This process of finding light within the Earth, after passing through darkness, is also one of inner regeneration for the individual. When the spiritual consciousness is told that divinity, that the Source, is “up there” and a long way away, we become closed to the nearest source of light, grace, healing, regeneration, which is just beneath our feet. This source of Earth light rises through the body, and energizes our inner meditations, our vitality, our own individual UnderWorld of consciousness, imagination, spirit. If only we pay attention to it.

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What Is Stregheria

Stregheria is a branch of modern Paganism that celebrates early Italian witchcraft. Its adherents say that their tradition has pre-Christian roots, and refer to it as La Vecchia Religione, the Old Religion. There are a number of different traditions of Stregheria, each with its own history and set of guidelines. Stregheria appears to be based upon the writings of Charles Leland, who published Aradia: Gospel of the Witches in the late 1800s. Although there's some question about the validity of Leland's scholarship, Aradia continues to be the basis of most Stregheria traditions. The work purports to be a scripture of an ancient pre-Christian witch cult.

As with many other Neopagan religions, Stregheria honors both male and female deities, typically personified as the moon goddess and the horned god. Author Raven Grimassi, in his book Ways of the Strega says Stregheria is a blend of ancient Etruscan religion blended with Italian folk magic and early rural Catholicism.

Grimassi says of his tradition of Stregheria, "The Arician Tradition strives to maintain the ancient mystery teachings while at the same time working to adapt to modern times. Therefore we do embrace new material and teachings, but we do not discard older material."

Interestingly, there are some practitioners of Italian witchcraft who have tried to distance their version of Stregheria from Grimassi's and the other Neopagan forms of the religion. Some, in fact, have complained that it's become "too blended" with Wicca and other non-Italian traditions. Maria Fontaine, a third-generation Stregha from Pittsburgh, says, "A lot of what's traditionally sold as Stregheria by Neopagan authors is an offshoot of Wicca with Italian names and customs mixed in. Although there are some similarities, it's very different from traditional Italian folk magic. It's like the difference between eating real Italian food in a village in Tuscany, and going to your local Olive Garden restaurant for dinner. There's nothing wrong with either, they're just very different."

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Pentagram Meaning For Pagans

The pentagram (the five-pointed star, usually but not always depicted enclosed by a circle) is nearly universally used by wiccans and other witches, and comes closest to being the most commonly used symbol within paganism as a whole. Rooted in ancient Greek and Roman paganism, with ties to goddesses such as Hygeia and Venus, the pentagram has been associated with occultism, ceremonial magic, and even Christianity (the five points signifying the five wounds of Christ). By the 20th century and the rise of religious Wicca, the pentagram had become a more general symbol representing the cosmos as a whole. One common way of interpreting the pentagram assigns an element to each point of the star: the highest point represents spirit, with other points representing fire, air, water, and earth. Surrounded by a circle that signifies eternity or the vast emptiness of the cosmos, the pentagram functions as a symbol of the entirety of nature.

Because of its Greco-Roman origins and its usage today embedded in symbolism drawn from classical Occultism - the four elements underneath spirit - not all Pagans regard the pentacle as important or even useful. Celtic Reconstructionists and Odinists, for example, do not generally incorporate symbolism from cultures outside the Celtic or Norse world, and therefore regard the pentacle as irrelevant to their spirituality as the Christian cross.

Within such ethnically specific expressions of Paganism, symbols with strong cultural associations generally take precedence. Thus, pagan Druids often use the Awen, a symbol depicting three straight lines that diverge as they move downward, with a dot or point above each line. This symbol was created during the Druid renaissance of the 18th century and has been interpreted in various ways. Practitioners of Norse religion often regard the Mjollnir, or hammer of Thor, as emblematic of their distinctive cultural tradition. Similar symbols include the Caduceus for adherents of Greek Paganism, the Ankh for Egyptian traditions, and the Medicine Wheel for some Native American traditions. The labrys, or double-edged axe, has roots in Greek and Cretan culture, but because of its association with Minoan priestesses it has become a symbol of Dianic wicca and witchcraft (traditions with a strong feminist ethos).

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