Regarding Standing Rock...

Today, many Heathens are posting this video to express our solidarity with the Standing Rock protesters, and I would like to share my personal sentiments as well.

The opening of the video makes a reference to the forces of nature, personified in the giant troll women, turning against King Frothi for his unjust leadership, thereby bringing down his kingdom.

We Urglaawer just completed the observance of Allelieweziel. Part of our observance is the recognition that the settlers of Allemaengel had violated a social contract that exists among all living things, thereby causing the plants and animals to abandon them. Had the settlers not recognized their error and been instructed by Hexes and Brauchers to make amends, the colony would have perished.

Standing Rock presents the potential for the same circumstance. I recognize that the matter has some complicating angles. For example, I drive vehicles for my private use as well as for part of my paid job. I recognize that fuel is necessary for our society to continue. However, does the pipeline need to be built through the sacred lands of the Dakota and Lakota? Does their water supply really need to be put in jeopardy?

The history of the relationship between the tribes and the US government is well known: Broken promises, broken treaties, broken arrows, and wounded knees. The Standing Rock Indian Reservation is itself the result of a broken treaty that unilaterally altered the Great Sioux Reservation. A feature of this action was to break up the tribal culture and relationship that existed among the tribes and bands in the region. Something about that undermining of a folk culture sounds familiar to this Deitsch man.

The broken promises and broken treaties are of critical importance to me as a Heathen. The keeping of oaths is central to our religion and our social integrity. The US breaking treaties affects our Wurt as a nation, and our government's actions toward the tribes diminish our honor and imperil our future.

Additionally, the pipeline construction endangers burial grounds of the tribes' ancestors. As a Heathen who owns a cemetery, I recognize the importance to my own soul of honoring my ancestors.

To allow for the disruption or destruction of the tribes' sacred graveyards is beyond reprehensible and places a stain on us that will last from generation to generation. How would the average American feel if his or her ancestors graveyards were overturned for someone else's profit? It is appalling that we are even having to talk about this in the current era. Have we learned nothing since the 19th Century?

Apparently we have not. We are seeing the violation of Standing Rock sovereignty and Dakota/Lakota dignity in order to feed the corporate machine. We are seeing a disrespect for the land, for the land spirits, and for those who have gone before. We are witnessing the violation of promises and treaties. This is unacceptable.

Yuletide Sock Drive

From December 17, 2016 (Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits) through January 1, 2016, Distelfink Sippschaft will be collecting new, unworn socks for folks in need. We need all sizes, from baby to adult male. Practical socks, fun socks, fuzzy socks, holiday socks, argyle socks are all needed!

Stock up stacks of socks and stockings and help to bring warmth to the feet of those in need this Yuletide!

Contact Robert L. Schreiwer (schreiwer@urglaawe.org) for collection sites. The first location will be at Parade of Spirits/Krampuslauf in Liberty Lands Park.

Donations will be directed to homeless shelters in the Delaware Valley.

Delaware Valley Pagan Clergy Submission Form

Let's build a list of Clergy folk in the Delaware Valley Pagan Network. 

Please note that the information submitted will be made public, so please do not share anything that you do not wish to have available publicly.

http://dvpagans.blogspot.com/p/httpsdocs.html

And Urglaawe Response to the Pulse Massacre

The question has arisen on the main Urglaawe group about how to honor those murdered in the Pulse Massacre. I am thinking this is a time to make use of our color associations. Perhaps six candles:

Red: Representing the blood spilled, calling to Ziu for justice and to Dunner for courage and strength.

Orange: A request to the deities, to the ancestors (our own and those of the victims), to each other, and to ourselves to attain the energy needed to surmount the polarization and hatred that is consuming this world.

Yellow: Our response needs to be appropriately angered, but our love of humanity must be victorious over these hateful actions.

Green: For the growth and expansion of messaging and ideas that toward putting an end to this sort of terror.

Blue: A call for peace and consolation to those who loved the victims.

Violet: Appeal to the sacred and to the things that connect us because, as much as our humanity is what got us into this world plight, it will be our humanity that gets us out.

Per Urglaawe funerary rites, one may also want to get some seeds or something to represent the victims, then wrap the seeds up in four pieces of paper or cloth of different colors. Say the name of a victim while adding each seed.

The first would be red. Set each seed onto a red sheet. The color and action represents the loss of life and blood and the journey to death. Draw a Raidho rune on the red paper pack with the seeds inside.

Then take the red pack and wrap it in yellow-green. Draw the Yaahr/Jera rune on the now yellow-green pack. This represents the commending of the bodies back to nature.

Then take the pack and wrap it in black. Draw the Kenaz rune on it. This represents the Higher Self's journey through The Mill.

Take the pack and wrap it in white. Draw Ingwaz on the pack. This represents the rebirth of those lost into new soul constructs. 

Respectfully place the pack into a sacred fire, asking for Holle to bless the lost.

After that, perhaps add an uncounted number of seeds to a pack formed from purple cloth or paper. Draw the Mannaz rune on that pack, and add it to the fire along with pleads to Ziu, Zisa, and Dunner to aid the victims' loved ones.

I am going to work this into our Dingsege on Saturday. Perhaps if everyone performed the same -- or a related -- ritual at the same time (say, 2:30 PM EDT locally), we can strengthen our cause. 

Feel free to make this idea viral. Perhaps this virus can combat the virus of hate, destruction, and despair that is becoming an epidemic throughout the world.

Photos from Krampuslauf Philadelphia 2015: Parade of Spirits

Most of our photos came from the preparation period because it was difficult to take photos while marching, but there were other people taking photographs of the parade along the marching route. Hopefully we will be able to share more in the future. Featured in our photos are Mike Hicks in his debut in the role of Belsnickel. Robert L. Schreiwer reprised his 2013 role as Gedreier Eckhart, the leader of the Wild Hunt from Deitsch lore. Andria Carpentier marched as a spirit in the Hunt and assisted others with makeup. Corrine Johnson delighted the crowd with her stunning handmade Yule Cat (from Icelandic lore) costume. Joe Barrett and other folks formed a group of Yule Lads. 

Photos (from Andria Carpentier and Robert L. Schreiwer)

Channel 17 has some great pics posted, particularly from the fire performers!

Photos from Channel 17 in Philadelphia

Once again, Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits has exceeded our expectations. This wondrous, grassroots, community- and participant-driven event continues to grow and to flourish in the City of Brotherly Love.

Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits

KRAMPUSLAUF PHILADELPHIA: PARADE OF SPIRITS

Philadelphia, PA: The fifth annual Krampuslauf Philadelphia: Parade of Spirits is set to take place on Saturday, December 12, 2015, at Liberty Lands Park in Philadelphia. Gathering time begins at 3:00 with the parade setting off just before sunset. 

Krampuslauf Philadelphia began as a grassroots event in 2011. Founder Amber Dorko-Stopper states, “My original purpose in creating Krampuslauf Philadelphia was to experiment with grassroots folkloric festivals within the community. I started out without a community to do it in, and so everything I hoped Krampuslauf would be -- having never been to a "real" one in Austria or Germany -- was based around what I would want to see and participate in with my then three year-old children.” 

As such, Krampuslauf Philadelphia is a very family-friendly event. The rhythm of the event is echoes numerous cultures. Says Dorko-Stopper, “Also, because my children are both children of color -- my son was born in South Korea, my daughter is African-American -- I gave a lot of thought to ancestral heritages and what I could do to evoke "monsters" of all cultures in one event, as it became clearer to me that anywhere that winter was cold, there was, in almost every nation, a "monster" of winter, who often had horns, and often had bells. The undercurrent of universal language was there and I appreciated being able to tap into it without guilt or fear. It was amazing to suddenly be getting letters from Austrians, telling me how our Krampuslauf looked more like Austria's had in years past -- less like the Krampus events held there today, and how our homemade ethic and spirit of working together without boundaries was appreciated.”

Dorko-Stopper has also welcomed the presence of the Pagan community. The Heathen Contingent for Krampuslauf Philadelphia every year presents themes or characters that align with the multicultural presentation of the event. German, Austrian, Pennsylvania German, Manx, Scottish, and Irish characters have a regular presence at the event. 

Tucker Collins, an organizer and leader of the event, says, ”My favorite part of the event is being able to observe the way people come together, and what they bring of themselves to that event. Getting to see how people choose to express themselves through their costuming. Some people attend wholly in character, some come with serious demeanors and others with jest. I love seeing the broadening of cultures represented there, and the increasing personalization of the event for its participants. You don't have to know where you are going or what you want to do when you choose to start, and creativity can flow from there.  It probably is interesting to people that see us passing, but the procession is something we do for ourselves as a community.

In order to help to increase the participation and this expression of self in the event, Dorko-Stopper and Collins arrange for periodic opportunities throughout the year for the community to learn to make their own masks or decorations for the event.

From the Heathen perspective, the Parade of Spirits is a depiction of the Wild Hunt. Dorks-Stopper is widely known by the moniker of Frau Perchta, a most appropriate title given her role in the organization of the event. This year, the parade will again be led by Gedreier Eckhart (Loyal Eckhart), the man of Pennsylvania German and German lore who was sent ahead to alert humanity of the Wild Hunt’s impending arrival. 

The community is encouraged to don shadow side costumes and to join the Parade of Spirits! Oh, and bring a noisemaker!

ROBERT L. SCHREIWER

DELAWARE VALLEY PAGAN NETWORK

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Krampuslauf Philadelphia 2015: Parade of Spirits begins and ends in Liberty Lands Park in Philly. Gathering time can start as early as 3:00, but most folks come closer to 4:00. The parade begins at just about sundown (4:35 PM). Folks are encouraged to be in costumes that reflect the time of the year and to bring noisemakers. We still need volunteers to help with traffic. :)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Liberty+Lands/@39.9654089,-75.1422628,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x7121cb209091c000

GoFundMe for Heathen Presence at World Parliament of Religions

This year, for the first time, there will be a Heathen presence at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Salt Lake City, UT (October 15-19). This is a significant opportunity for Heathen leaders to engage and to network with leaders of other religions. This event will increase the visibility of Heathenry in the public eye and set a precedent for inclusion in future endeavors.

The Parliament will feature the following Heathen presentations:

"Staving off Ragnarök: A Heathen Response to Climate Change" (Diana Paxson) on Saturday, October 17 at 10:00 AM

and

"Rebuilding the Altars: Reconstructing Indigenous Pagan Faiths for Today" (Diana Paxson, Robert L. Schreiwer, Erynn Laurie, Elisheva Nesher, Kirk Thomas, and Gwendolyn Reese) on Sunday, October 18 at 8:15 AM.

Additionally, there will be a Heathen information booth (#878) with pamphlets and books for distribution and sale. An Urglaawe altar will be present in a shared Pagan Faiths space somewhere in rooms A-G in sections 150 or 151 (clarifying information will be provided as it becomes available).

All of this costs money, so a GoFundMe effort has been set up to help to defray the participants' costs. If you are unable to donate money, please help by passing along the link.

Thank you!