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Twelfth Night

12/31/2012

Twelfth Night, better known in modern times as New Year' s Eve, is one of the few rituals that I keep short, and to the point. I thank the Gods and Goddesses for all Their help over the past year, ( They have helped me more than I could ever praise Them for ), and ask Them for Their continued assistance in the upcoming year. I thank Mundilfari, who K.C. Hulsman calls the " time - turner, Mani for his phases of waxing and waning that for millenium has helped us "see" time as well as "feel" the passing of time. His ability to raise and lower our great ocean' s tides is a great testament to His mighty power. I also honor great and wonderful Sunna, who through the use of stone monuments, and even something as simple as a stick, our ancestors have used for Her great beams of light, or the shadows cast by them to mark the passing of time. Her warmth resides not only in the heat She radiates, but in the warmth that Her glow embeds in our hearts and our souls. Kveldulf Gundarsson in his book, " Teutonic Religion", states that this ritual should take place at sunrise, but I prefer to perform the ritual just before midnight.

I also make one oath, ( I always make sure that it is something that I can fulfill ), to the Gods and Goddesses, which I write on a piece of paper, and then burn in a brazier so that it remains a secret between myself and our wonderful deities. I do perform one ancient custom on this night, and that is the burning of the Yule wreath. Doing this marks the end of the time that the dead walk among us. This Yule time ritual ceremonially marks the end of the Yule season and the beginning of the new year. I celebrate Yule longer than the ancients do so for me this is not actually the end of Yule, but I do this to honor my ancestors and their ancient traditions. The Yule wreath, which you are supposed to soak in 100% proof alcohol first, is usually fairly dry by this point and burns with ease.

Then my friends it is party time !!! Open the Mead, Schnapps, or whatever your preference is, and fill your horn to the rim with liquid joy. My preference is Jagermeister ! Good drink, good food, and the company of cherished friends is what the rest of the night is all about. May the Gods and Goddesses bless you all this day and every day during the upcoming year ! Be well my friends !!

Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !

Return Of Light Ritual

12/29/2012

From the earliest times when Proto- Germanic peoples were migrating through Austria, Germany, and into what is now known as the Scandinavian countries, our ancestors have gazed up at the sky and watched in reverence and delight as the heavens were slowly lit by the great Sun disk which is the embodiment of our Goddess Sunna. When I sit on my sun porch and watch as the skies slowly brighten, I feel that same internal stirring that our earliest ancestors felt. It is instinctive, and primeval. A part of our psychological makeup, and ingrained into our very souls. As the Sun slowly rises above the horizon it stirs within us a feeling of relief, awe, and joy, that has been passed down from generation to generation, and from millennium to millennium .

From the Autumnal Equinox until the Winter Solstice darkness grows in length from day to day. The light that warms our hearts, as well as heats our lands, fades and takes with it the joy that its radiance brings to us. Then a few days after the Winter Solstice, during Yule, this cycle of darkness begins to change, and we come into what I refer to as the " Return of Light ". This process is a very slow one, and if I remember correctly the change back to light is only about a minute per day, but slowly we will begin to see the results as Sunna joins us earlier and earlier each day and spends a little more time with us each evening.

During the Winter Solstice ritual I always praise and honor our bright and shining Goddess Sunna for all she does for us. Without her light and radiant warmth our tiny sphere would be as cold and dead as little Pluto which sits at the edge of our solar system. With her blessing each day we have grown into a world of varied life and immense beauty. I don' t think we as humans realized just how beautiful, and unique, our world was until we saw our blue sphere from outer space. For only from a distance can you see Jord's true beauty, and form.

This year for the first time, during Yule, I will be honoring Sunna in a separate ritual that I am naming " The Ritual of the Returning Light", in which I will be giving Radiant Sunna the honor and respect that She deserves for all that she does for us here in Midgard. I will be making this an annual day of honor for Her, and hope that if all of you do not wish to honor her with a special day of her own, that you will at least keep her in your thoughts and hearts every day of your lives. Sunna truly is our most important God / Goddess and should be honored as such !

Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin' s wisdom, Freyja' s love, and Thor's protection !

Oaths

12/27/2012

At the beginning of every new year we as human beings make what we call "New Year' s Resolutions ". Most of these resolutions have to do with bad habits that people are trying to break, or goals like weight loss, or anger management, etc... Most of these oaths are done half - heartedly, with little or no personal resolve, or no real motivation to see them through. Maybe the God, or Gods, from other religions do not hold their people to their oaths, but I assure you that our Gods and Goddesses do !

I personally believe very strongly, that as it says in the Eddas, " The ninth ( Goddess) is Var, she listens to the vows and compacts made by men and women with each other, and for this reason such agreements are called Varar. She also takes vengeance against those who break their vows" . Some interpret this to mean she holds people only to marriage vows, but I disagree and believe that she accepts, and holds, all men and women to all oaths and promises they make. I believe that when we break and oath or promise, a scar forms on our souls that the Gods and Goddesses, who judge us upon our death, will clearly see. Kind of like the story about Dorian Gray, where the picture hanging on his wall begins to mirror his personality. Too many scars, and damnation awaits those oath - breakers.

This is something to keep in mind before we make those half - drunken oaths and boasts on Twelfth Night ( New Year' s Eve), for the upcoming year. If you are going to make an oath ( resolution ), make one that is realistically within your power to do. Don' t claim that you will quit smoking, but rather that you will cut down how many cigarettes you smoke in a day, or per week. Don' t boast that you will lose 50 pounds, but promise that you will eat healthier, and will hopefully lose weight in the process, etc... The Gods and Goddesses will be proud of you if you exceed your promised goals, but they will be extremely disappointed if you do not reach the levels that you promised in your oaths. And may the Gods and Goddesses have mercy on you if you take an oath to accomplish something and then do not even try at all !

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Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor' s protection !

Dark Day : Remember Those Who Died For Our Folk And Our Gods !

12/25/2012

May The Mighty Gods and Goddesses Watch Over Those Who Fell Defending Our Ancient Ways !

Poem : Defend And Honor

12/25/2012

Off in the distance a small child is crying,
Held in the arms of a mother who' s dying.
She tells her son that he must not be afraid,
That the pain of her passing one day will fade.

His berserker father fought the Christian invaders so well,
Sent so many of their great warriors straight to their Hell !
There were too many, and he would not retreat,
Now he lies dead at his mourning son's feet.

The boy takes the sword from his father's dead hand,
In tears swears to his father to defend his Pagan land.
He raises the sword high, and cries out to Mighty Thor,
I will allow these damned Christians to kill us no more !

Against long odds he fought in many a war,
Became part of their history, mentioned in lore.
He died as he lived, his father' s sword held high,
Killed in battle, for the Gods he would not deny !

- Glenn Bergen, Copyright, 2012.

Dark Day

12/24/2012

December the 25th, is the darkest of the days of the year, and it is not because it falls so close to the winter solstice. This "darkness" represents the cloak of death that was thrown over Europe, Scandinavia, and even here in the America's from the time of Constantine the Great of the Byzantine Empire, and extending all the way to modern times, by those in the Christian religion, against those non - Christians who they placed under the umbrella term "Pagan". During this "Dark Age " Christians, in the name of their lord Jesus Christ systematically went about converting, torturing, maiming, and killing, any, and all those who did not follow, and / or belong to their religion. Families were torn apart, and entire groups of people massacred, and their temples and symbols destroyed merely because these individuals honored different Gods than the Christians. Names such as Charlemagne, Olaf Trygvasson, and Olaf Haraldsson, have become iconic symbols of the hatred these peaceful God loving Christians showed to the non - Christian peoples of Europe. Today in our modern world these individuals would be brought up on hate crime charges against humanity, but in their time they were glorified, one even being named a saint.

It did not end of course during the Viking period. During the Middle Ages every disease, plague, or misfortune was blamed on Pagans, and witches in particular. The church authorities would single out individuals and charge them with witchcraft and usually torture these innocent people into confessing things that they never did. I would be very surprised if even 10 % of these "witches" were actually what we would consider Wiccans today. They were merely scapegoats used by the Catholic Church to explain why these tragic events were occuring. There of course was the Spanish Inquisition whose reign of terror, backed by the church, tortured many and also extracted false confessions to justify their methods. Even here in North America, as late as the 1600' s, in Salem, Massachusetts, there were witch trials performed through false charges !

Of course none of this can match the devastation that took place on the American continents from the 1500' s to the early 1900's when starting with the Conquistadors the indigenous peoples were systematically killed, first for gold, and then because they did not believe in the Christian God. Even those who converted were treated poorly, and their cultures destroyed. In North America Native Americans were slowly pushed west with, at first, treaties and promises, and later with death and war. All under the slogan of Manifest Destiny that somehow made it justifiable.

On this day we who call ourselves Pagans, Heathens, or just Followers of the Old Ways, should mourn those who died trying to protect their people, culture, and religion, against the onslaught of the Christians. I include in this group all of the following : Asatru, Wiccans, Druids, Hellenes, Celts, and all Native Americans, and Native Africans. Let us remember these brave people for not only what they died for, but also what they lived for. They lived of course, to honor their Gods, their ancestors, and to perpetuate their culture and their folk. They were the innocent victims of mass genocide ! May the Gods and Goddesses, and spirits of every non - Christian belief watch over their souls and protect them for eternity !

Asatru Lament

Respected are those who fought for our religion and our ways,
Blessed are those who fell for their love of our Gods,
Rewarded are those who resisted the neverending Christian tide,
Loved are the children taken away before their time,
Missed are the generations never born,
Praised are those who kept our traditions alive,
Honored forever, every man, woman and child who refused to convert,
Glorified they now, and through eternity, reside with the Gods !

- Glenn Bergen, Copyright, 2010.

Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !

The Quiet Moments

12/23/2012

I apologize for the first draft which was unedited. It took me literally hours to get back in to edit this short article. Obviously my computer is still not functioning correctly !

In a little while I will pour myself some wine, start up my fireplace, and transfix on the dancing flames until my mind wanders to another place and another time. Whether this will be to a place the Gods take me to, or simply a memory of a time spent with a loved one or family member, is not of my choosing. On my door is hung a wreath with a Thor's hammer hanging in the middle of it for protection against evil visitors. This wreath was placed on my front door to bring in spirits, long dead ancestors, or anyone with a good heart from the other side who cares to stop by. This is not a new tradition, but one that dates back to the days of the Vikings, and possibly even further.

I think that people get the wrong idea about these specters. I personally have never seen them as ghosts or actual beings, but as a memory, or moment in time that during Yule is allowed to come back, and if invited in, to visit with those they so chose to sit down with. These misconceptions come partly from the Sagas which speak of the dead coming back in human form to haunt, or walk with the living, and partly from what we are taught from the time we are little until the time that we die. I have never believed in " physical ghosts " so the concept has never meant anything to me. To me they are simply the past speaking to us and showing us that which once was here on our little world.

Some may say that these are just hallucinations, or maybe just a vivid imagination run amok, but I have lived long enough to know when my thoughts are being tugged in a direction they have never experienced before. All day dreaming has to have a basis in something known, and something already experienced. The few times I have seen these images they were not of things that I had already conceived, or experienced, but consisted of moments that I would never have thought to be true.

The flickering flames bring me to this place, and the spirits then take me to their world and to their time. During other times of the year I see images only in dreams. Many of my short stories are based upon my recollections of these dreams. And these are not normal dreams because they are too vivid and are remembered long after being awakened, something that never happens when I have a regular dream. Others see these dreams too. I know they do ! People try to skirt around this knowledge when talking to me, but several people have let it slip out that they too see these images either in dreams, or in a state of deep meditation.

So I say to all of you, place a wreath on your door, protect it with a Hammer, and see who comes to join you in front of your Yule fire. Remember to honor them with a drink, and maybe even a snack, because they have traveled a long way to get to your door !

- Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !

Winter Solstice

12/21/2012

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest amount of sunlight that we receive in a single day, but it also marks a moment in time that has become imprinted upon our souls. We feel this " shortest" day of the year deep within our primeval psyche, as an ache of fear, or as an uncomfortable uncertainty. With most animals, and plant life having either left, or hibernated out of sight, we are left alone in a world that is cold, dark, and at times devoid of the sounds of life that make us feel a sense of belonging to the natural world around us. So imagine how they felt all those years ago without any modern lighting, heating, or food storage. It is no wonder that they looked upon the sun, moon, and the stars with such reverence. For some even here in our modern world their inner joy hibernates right along with the animals and plant life, and they are left with an empty desperate feeling that has been coined, " Cabin Fever ".

I see this time of year through different eyes however, and I am not intimidated by a cold and desolate world. I see this as a time to rest and reflect on the events that I have experienced in the past year. I try not to cringe when I think of the mistakes that I have made, but attempt to put them in perspective and learn from them. Whatever sucess I've had, I try to understand what made it happen, and plan ways to expand on it . I like to re - read my articles and e - mails at this time of year, and see if my perspective has changed any. You would be surprised how many times I have read something a year later, and thought to myself, "   I could have, or should have, said it a different way. " One of things I have learned from Odin is that a wise person does not remain static in his ideas or opinions, but should slowly evolve with their ever growing knowledge.

I also look for the beauty of the season, which though stark in appearance, is still very evident to those who open up their eyes, and their hearts to it. I love the sight of a leafless tree set against a pure blue sky. To me it looks like an Asatru priest raising his arms to the heavens to praise our Gods and Goddesses. And is there anything more beautiful than freshly fallen snow covering Mother Earth, with a blinding blanket of pure white crystals. Whenever I see fresh snow upon the ground it reminds me of the purity of our great God Balder. I enjoy going up to the mountains to catch a glimpse of deer scratching with their hoofs in the snow looking for roots in the ground, or nibbling at the branches of a small tree. One of the most beautiful things I ever saw in the winter time was a small mountain waterfall that had completely frozen over. I kept waiting for a Frost Giant to poke his head out from somewhere, because it did not look like a sight that could be seen in our realm.  Even in todays industrial society there is still so much beauty to see during this season if you want to experience it !

For those who hate the winter, take comfort in the fact that this day is the darkest day of the year, and that the days will soon, minute by minute , gain in length as Sunna slowly regains her strength after her much needed winter rest. Know to that life has not disappeared but is waiting just below the surface of Great Mother Earth, Jord, for that magical spark of warmth that initiates life to re - appear.

During my Winter Solstice ritual I thank wonderful Sunna for all that She does for us throughout the year. For truly without Her there could not be life at all. Is there anything more wonderful, or better appreciated than her warm embrace on a cold day ? I also look to one of my favorite Goddesses, ( a Jotun ), Skadhi, the Great Warrior / Huntress at this time of the year. No God or Goddess understands or appreciates the winter season better than She. Not only is she not intimidated by the harsh conditions, but she flourishes in it with her wolves, and becomes a living part of it. I also honor Great Odin, and wish him well on his Wild Hunt. But most of all I thank the Gods and Goddesses for life itself, because this is the time of year when life, through the lack of it , is most appreciated !

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Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !

Mother Night

12/20/2012

A man I work with is helping me to fix my computer free of charge. It still is very spotty and I don' t know if this is temporary or permanent, but for the moment I seem to have gained back some functions on my computer. The man' s name is Joshua and I do not know, OR CARE, what faith he is from. All I know is that he is helping me, and that is more than enough for me !

As the name clearly implies this is a female oriented ritual where the women of the household take charge and act as Godia to preside over the rite. The ritual should take place on the first night of Yule, or the night before the Winter Solstice. Among others it honors the Old Germanic Winter Goddess Holda, who is best known for her position as the matron of weaving, domestic chores, and childbirth. She is also associated with witches and domestic animals, and of course The Wild Hunt. Some of her secondary names include references to being Wotan's wife, and because of this, and her being the matron of weaving and childbirth, I cannot help but wonder if Holda is simply an older Germanic form of the Scandinavian Goddess Frigga. But thinking and knowing are two different things, so I honor both of the great Goddesses. Some even honor Holda on all 12 nights of Jul ( Yule ), but I only honor her this night. This ritual is also performed to honor the Idises ( Wise women ) as well.

Being old, single, and male, I have considered from time to time about skipping this ritual. I hate cleaning, and all household chores for that matter, and it seems odd to honor Holda on this one day when if I had a connection with her I would honor her everyday. However, I fear that if I failed to honor Holda this day Freyja would be angered..... well at least very disappointed in me. Freyja always " pushes" me to honor the female Goddesses more because she feels that we in the Asatru religion short change the Goddesses in favor of the Gods. Well, what woman doesn't want attention . Sorry Freyja. Just kidding !

Before the ritual I do my best to tidy up my house, ( did I mention that I hate housework ? ), to honor the Goddesses and the Idises. As I do with all rituals I make sure that I am personally clean, well groomed, and well dressed before stepping before the Goddesses. Last year without even realizing it I put on cologne before I started. The Goddesses seem to appreciate it if you put out a little more effort for them. Sorry if that seems chauvisnistic, but it is the Tru feeling I get during rituals with the Goddesses.

I use one of my alternate altars, usually Frigga's for this ritual, because my main altars have been tainted with weaponry, and the aura of the War - Gods upon them. Frigga's altar just seems more .....pure. I place cleaning items around the altar as well as items used in weaving. I still have some of my mothers knitting things, which makes the ritual a little more personal for me. As I perform the ritual I sometimes have images of Frigga sitting at her spinning wheel turning wool into thread. When I was at Williamsburg, Va., a few years ago, I actually saw this process and it was quite fascinating to watch. I thank both Mother Goddesses for their help with the childbirth of our folk, and for the way they look after our children. In my short story, "All - Mother",( See my fiction section ), I tell the tale of Frigga defending a little girls soul from Hel, and that is how I see Mother Frigga, as a great defender of our children. I also honor and thank the Idises, for watching over my home, and blessing me with good luck. I then apologize incessantly for my lack of cleaning skills and zeal in its upkeep. I also ask Mother Holda as the great Goddesss of Winter to be merciful this year and give us a mild winter.

I also honor all of my female descendants. I am fortunate in that I know each and every one of them all the way back to Sarah Jansen de Rapalyie, ( 1633 ), a descendant of the Norman Vikings and a French Hugenot. Women never get enough credit for the work they do taking care of children, caring for the household, and in this day and age holding down a job as well in many cases. I make it a point of mentioning all of the above in my ritual. I end the rite honoring my mother, who though she was ill most of her life, raised two children, and never neglected her duty to the household or to her extended family.

The Mother Night ritual is also a great time to appreciate what we have as well. Whether we live in a huge house or a small apartment there are always those who have less than we do. Sometimes much less ! I like to spend a little time, as I am cleaning, to really look at everything I own, and know how lucky I am, and how blessed I have been by the Gods and Goddesses. If you are a woman reading this, there is a fairly good ritual in the book Teutonic Religion, by Kveldulf Gundarsson. Mine has been modified greatly, obviously so I as a man, can honor the Goddesses and Idises on Mother Night. Oh, who am I kidding, even if I were a woman I would modify it. I honor the Gods and Goddesses the way that feels right for me, and enhances the relationship I have with  Them. As should you ! Everyone, enjoy Mother Night ! And ladies the night is yours !

A drop of water loses its identity in a bucket of water,
But an individual can still be an island in an ocean of people !
- Glenn Bergen

Glenn Bergen

Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !

Goodbye...... For Now

12/18/2012

I am writing this from my work computer because my computer has died. I hope to be able to write sometime in the future, but for right now that is impossible. I have enjoyed writing over the past three years, ( 85 poems, 607 articles and 12 short stories ) and hope to once again to do so. I want to thank everyone who has come to my site over the last three years. I did it all for you !

So for once last time I say Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja' s love and Thor' s protection !

Your friend always Glenn Bergen !

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