Things that make the Gods go Om nom nom

Morrigan really likes this one.

It's Irish Cream French toast.  If I had strawberries, a little of this and whip cream would have been good.

Ok so the recipe.
4 eggs beaten
A teaspoon of Pure Vanilla
nutmeg
A tablespoon of sugar
Irish cream
(Beat that all together)
Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup milk.

Put stale bread in, and fry up.

Enjoy

This could go along btw with the Diversity I was talking about in a prior post.http://paininthebum.blogspot.com/2015/07/pros-to-how-america-has-shaped-me-and.html Feeding the gods food that wasn't typically in their culture to begin with and it being ok.  To treat the Gods as people who wouldn't mind trying new things, because the ones I've encountered aren't super duper picky finicky eaters.

Pros to how America has shaped me and my Paganism.

I wrote earlier about how I don't understand why some Polytheists are trying to redo a lot about our ancestors, because for Americans we are shaped by our own culture.  That there are benefits to being American.  Here are some of them, that come to mind for me.

America is a land shaped by many nations and many cultures.  Our food is an amalgam of Native American(popcorn)Italian(Spaghetti), Spanish(Tex Mex, Chilli, burritos etc), Chinese,Germany(hamburger, hot dogs) etc.  It should come as no wonder that is also true for non food stuff as well.  That is another long post all on its own.

This may end up being a serial which I will write when things poke me.


1. Freedom!  We are free to say, and worship pretty much as we please.  Our men and women have died to ensure that and I'm sure that William Wallace would be proud.  We also don't have to pay a tax nor be second class citizens in order to practice what we want.

     Pagans have weathered the SRA abuse scandal.http://www.people.vcu.edu/~dbromley/undergraduate/spiritualCommunity/SatanicCults.html
     We have fought to get Pentacles and other symbols on our veterans headstones for the VA to pay for them.http://religionandpolitics.org/2012/06/20/the-plight-of-pagans-in-the-military/
     We have a circle at Ft Hood and other Pagan religious places are coming into being.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/june99/wicca08.htm
By the way for any Pagans that are still grumpy about Bob Barr, he has since said he was an ass and apologized, lets forgive him already.

The above is small taste from my memory of the importance of Freedom of religion to American Pagans.  Many of the fears of the abuse of the government on Satanic Ritual Abuse still hold, some real(CPS and DCF have far to much power imho) and some to fuel the victim complex some of us have and continue to flog(ahem burning times).

We owe no fealty to anyone.  We have no king, no pompous lord to which we are serfs , no chief.  Which for me, is something I've always has issues with, when Paganism tries to put Hierarchy back in.  We got rid of that for a reason.  (Wicca and Hp and HPS aka Lord and Lady of English romantic yore and Heathens with the Chief thing)

Anyone can be anything.  There is none of that you can only be a Knight if you are of noble blood nonsense. The Weasleys would have been middle class since they were civil servants, and held in just as high regards as Draco's family. Voldemort would not have been able to pull off that pure blood bullshit.  Try to cow us with fear, and we strike back hard.  It's one of the few times us caterwauling cat types will actually band together.  That and we understand what inbreeding are, which is what happens when you try to keep the bloodlines pure(ahem looking at you European Nobility and Egyptian Royalty)

2. Diversity

We live in an ancient land, who's Gods and Spirits were the stories of the various Native American tribes.  The names of the tribes are scattered throughout the geography of the various states.  The tales and spooky stories still abound.  The European and Chinese American are new veneers over this land.  The Christian God has only been here since the late 1400's.  Our Gods while old and known, are newer still in relation to the Native American and Christian God in this land.

The things you may encounter may not be things that you have taken the time to study.  It helps to keep an open mind.  Some fights haven't ended for some spirits.

Modern American is like the Roman Empire, very diverse and full of many cultures.  We are fairly accepting, even more so then them(See why Christians had so much issues in those olden times).  We have a variety of Gods that we can choose to worship or even choose not to.

3. Honesty

We don't have to accept bribery, con artistry and or corruption in those that we put in office.  It is perfectly acceptable to discuss if a religious leader is being a con artist.  It is ethical to say I don't agree with this person because I think they are in it for money and attn.  An old leader, who is now in the summerland made this http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html

We have more to go on that.  We regularly give billing to people that would make Houdini twitch. We still have drama fests over who is ethical and what is lore.  We need to find a balance between critical thinking and anything goes.

That's all I have for now.





   

Musings on time, UPG and religion

My daughter came into my room this morning, grumping about following a book a few thousand years old.  Why do people do that.  I told her religion.  She goes on to grump but we aren't the same people as they were a few thousand years ago.  I pointed out that's because we adapted.  I then proceeded to point out that she needs to do more research before she whinges on another religion, yaye teaching moment.  Hopefully my daughter wont' be one of those annoying Pagans who like to kvetch about Christianity and Judaism without really knowing much about it.

However this brings about a different point.  Why are we trying to recreate old Polytheism?  We aren't our ancient forefathers and foremothers.  We are the product of our time, and our morals.

I know for myself, and I'm going to talk about Asatru and Jotuns Bane a minute or three.  I treat Gods and Spirits the way I would treat people.  I treat them as a person who was raised as a military brat, with the moto, we aren't black, or white but green.  I treat them, as someone who is American, I will judge you by your actions to me, not by what others say of you.

Its why I don't have an issue with Loki.  Our relationship is built on our dealings with each other and a familial bond.  It's not built on someones UPG, that got twisted by a monk in Sweden, who translated or wrote down Oral history(Snorri).  I accept the Celtic Deities and the fey, for who they are and their dealings with me.  I accept that few Native American spirits the same way.  Why do I have to, in order to gain acceptance, have to treat Loki and the Jotuns how Jotuns Bane and certain other Asatru wish it.

We aren't Vikings.  We aren't Germanic Pagans of yee olden times.  Many of us are American Pagans.  We came from an environment that has some of the older Anglo Saxon morals, or Germanic morals, but we aren't those forebearers.  Why are we trying so hard to bring those morals back instead of adapting?

Why are we worried about something that sounds remarkably like Judgement day?  I mean come on, it's known who wrote the sagas down, and his bias.  Why is it accepted whole heartedly that is what will go down?

Why don't we get together and talk more of our own UPG and make our own stories more of the lore and canon.  I think it can be down with balance and some critical thinking?

Jotuns Bane and Lightning across the Plains gossip

Ran across this piece while looking for Loki friendly Heathen gatherings.  Sigh.
http://answersfromvanaheim.tumblr.com/post/47005356174/in-case-anyone-had-any-doubts-that-jotuns-bane

SIGH

I think I should file this under the ethics of THOU SHALT NOT TALK OUT OF YOUR ASS ABOUT SHIT THAT DOESN'T CONCERN YOU.  OR THOU SHALT NOT GOSSIP.

Ok.  A, who gives a rats ass whether or not anyone in Jotuns Bane was or is in Stormfront?  Why the hell does that concern anyone but Jotuns Bane members?  I can tell you from attending Lightning across the plains, I didn't see any racism.  Apparently it was comfortable enough for a Black guy(not sure if he's affiliated with a tribe or not) and his family to attend.  Also first day met a very extroverted Gwythia who is Gay.

My take, whether or not Jotuns Bane thinks stormfront has any ideals that are ok, they aren't coming across when they host or do security.  Neither of the people I mentioned above, are shrinking violets. Maybe instead of gossiping or speculating(to use the more academic word for gossip) about a member of Jotuns Bane, you should maybe have asked previous attendees.  Or maybe just maybe you should have minded your own damn business and not spread drama about.  I dunno, that's just one of those ethics I espouse.  Mind your own damn beeswax unless it's of pivotal concern.  But thats me.

Now on to Stinson and the legal blathering/GOSSIP.

Look, that falls under don't talk out of your ass.  You aren't his mother, you aren't his family and you aren't his kindred.  So until you actually run into the quandry of thinking whether or not to give him money or control over money, why the hell this would stop you from attending Lightning is beyond me.  No one, let me reiterate NO ONE when under the full microscope of legal or internet judging looks good.  To use a Christian ethic, Judge not lest ye be Judged.  Or another take, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

I'm not saying don't talk about it, but lets not make a giant drama llama, cauldron pot stirring issue. Why, because it's gossip.  No one and I mean NO ONE but him, his mom and those who made the initial complaint really know what is going on.

Now on to the third and most irritating point of the post:  Quoted Which leads me to my point about LATP. Not only is it one of the only heathen gatherings for us Midwesterners, but also…Midwestern heathens are often a terrible lot. Flat-out, Gods-awful terrible. So many people out here claim Heathenism while clinging to the racist, queerphobic, misogynist, and generally backwards views that permeate our communities. JBK is popular in the Midwest because it preaches the kind of Heathenism so many people out here want to hear.That doesn’t make it right.

My response:

OH STFU.  Jotuns Bane is ONE Heathen Kindred not ALL OF THEM.  You are flat out insulting Tyrs Helm, who doesn't espouse that shit.  You are insulting Goldenshield and many other Kindreds I flipping forget.  You are insulting many unaffiliated Heathens as well.

Fuck you.  You are just as bigoted and just as much an asshole for saying that statement.  If Jotuns Bane and Midwestern Heathens were so Gods Damn queerphobic a OPENLY GAY GWYTHIA would not attend, nor would his kindred!

LATP is attended by Ks Heathens, Colorado Heathens, Michigan, North and South Dakota, Texas Heathens and others.  Until you get to know these PEOPLE you don't know their GODS FRACKING politics.  Also to quote someone on Abortion, if you don't like Conservative Politics then DON'T BE A DAMN CONSERVATIVE.  Don't go about making people who are into bad people.

This doesn't make you a good person, it makes you a drama slinging asshole, who can't work with people who don't agree with your political agenda.

Quit making Lokeans look like such a whiny drama llamaing group of people.

Btw  I HAVE ATTENDED LATP.  Outside of being in the closet for being a Lokean, and not feeling quite at home as I do in a Methodist church, I had no issue with the people there.  Friendly(very outgoing), I felt safe enough to let my two non autistic kids run amok.  One of the first people who helped me was an unafilliated Heathen from North Dakota, who is now in Ks and with another Kindred.  Nice guy.  But you wouldn't know that because you are to busy slinging mud about Jotuns bane to stop being an ass.

Faith

I just realized something, it isn't my faith in the Gods that I find strained.  It's my faith in people.

Offerings

It's summer, hot and moggy here in Florida. The roses are blooming, the dill has faded back after being consumed by caterpillars and I've saved some seeds.  The Mexican petunia is all over the place. The thyme is doing ok, the basil is going gang busters and the other one not so much.  The ginger I planted is slowly growing and I'm excited as can be.  The thornless blackberry seems to be doing great, but the raspberry canes I planted never took.

The Goddesses haven't asked for many offerings.  I get called to give them some flowers now and again and some Darjeeling tea but nothing much.  Votive candles now and again.  I wonder if it's because the flowers and plants are everywhere?  I wonder if they aren't as hungry right now, due to the lush growth going about?

Things I ponder right now.