Today I build an altar...
A simple altar
Built in honor of the Shining Ones.
To those who have seen their shrines destroyed.
And their followers persecuted or killed for their beliefs.
This altar stands for the victory of freedom over terror.
Freedom of religion.
Sovereignty of conscience.
Integrity of personal and communal property.
It is built in defiance of the zealots and the missionaries
Who brazenly trod upon the rights and will of others,
And who attempted to remove the influence, memory, and history of the many deities across the continents.
Today I light a fire in the memory of these deities...
May the light of this small fire drive away the shadows that the prophets of jealousy placed around our gods and goddesses.
May connections, knowledge, and wisdom be restored.
May the names of these hidden deities be spoken by the people again, and may freedom to determine our beliefs be in the hands of the people again.
Today I utter the names of these deities aloud, and my voice shall join a throng of others who are honoring and hailing the hidden deities of their cultures, traditions, and beliefs.
Jecha
Stuffo
Biel
Lohra
Reto
Come today and be our honored guests!
Hail!
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Observance of the Desecrated Shrines
Urglaawe "days" begin at sunset of the night before, so tonight (June 4) at sunset marks the beginning of the Observance of the Desecrated Shrines. This observance is in honor of those deities whose shrines were destroyed, damaged, and disrespected through the actions of missionaries and zealots. The lore of many of these deities was lost in the persecution of those who held to the old ways, and there may be many more deities who are now completely unknown to us.
June 5 is the feast day of the Christian missionary Boniface, who destroyed the sacred oak of Dunner and desecrated the shrines of Jecha, Stuffo, and Lohra/Lare. We hold our observance on this day to renew our ties to our deities and to assert our sovereignty of conscience and our right to religious freedom.
This is a pan-Pagan observance, and people of all traditions and backgrounds are invited to take part in the observance, honoring their deities in the manner to which they are accustomed.
The Urglaawe ritual format is shared for convenience, but, again, adherents of all traditions are welcomed to follow their own formats and to honor their own deities.
For the Urglaawe ritual, some potential altar items:
For the Urglaawe ritual, some potential altar items:
Jecha: a bow and/or arrow
Lohra: a book of some educational value
Stuffo: image from GardenStone's book (Gods of the Germanic Peoples 2, p. 484). The image is a bit peculiar to our modern eyes, and the age of the dedication stone is unknown. It is important to keep in mind that deity portrayals in many cultures often appear strange at first blush, particularly when the context is unknown.
Biel: a branch from a tree
Reto: an empty (yet honored) space to be filled as He becomes better known
Hail the gods! Hail the goddesses!
______________
GardenStone. Gods of the Germanic Peoples (two volumes). Norderstedt, Germany: Books on Demand, 2014.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
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.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
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.
Channel 17 has some great pics posted, particularly from the fire performers!
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.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
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
-------------
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. :)
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Allelieweziel Article in the "Wild Hunt"
The Urglaawe observance of Allelieweziel got a write-up on the Wild Hunt, which is a major Pagan news source.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)