Thoughts Before Yule

In the early days of the Germanic Heathen revival within the USA, many folks walked around saying things like, it's in your blood, it's in my blood, it's a blood thing, referring to themselves and their connection to Germanic Heathenry.  That is a simplistic statement and it is wrong.  It is not blood, but your DNA - a genetic road map given to you by your parents.  A map that you inherited from ALL of your Ancestors.  And recent research indicates that your DNA holds memories of your Ancestors, both good and bad.  There should be no surprise then, that memories of Yule's past press themselves forward into  a person' consciousness.  

These memories may come in dreams or flashes of insight.  They may present themselves as deja vu experience.  Or they may press on a person the desire for snow, forests filled with abundant evergreen and fir trees, and a hearth fire.  Because - our Northern Ancestors struggled with the cold and ice, and did what had to be done to survive until Spring.  These are just a few of the special things given to us by our Ancestors.  

Yule is not an accident, an appropriation of Christmas.  It is Christmas that was appropriated from the Northern Heathens and the Southern Pagans by melding Yule, the Feast of Sol Invictus, and the Feast of Saturnalia, over centuries, for reasons of conversion and cultural appropriation.  And historically, we know that all three of these festivals existed centuries before the supposed birth of the baby Jesus.  Period.  I am not being smug.  All of this can be found in University Libraries, or well stocked local libraries.  For the less ambitious, please consult professor Google.  

But for the awakened Northern Soul, the personal DNA map, the Ancestral Inheritance, always is present.  It is your culture.  It is your heritage.  It is your Ancestors.  It is spiritual and physical.  Think on these things as you prepare for Yule.   

                                                    Copyright @2016 Terry Unger

   

Jack, the Persistent Sales Dog

Hey there, human bipods!  Jack Unger coming to you from Ungerlands Texas!  Today it hit me that ya'll might think I was just kidding about having one eye.  So I ditched my sexy sun glasses and took this selfie!  Yes, I am the best looking dog in Texas!  The ladies tell me I'm so hunky!  And who else do you know that has only one eye?  Well, who is it?  Ya'll know who I'm talkin' 'bout!  But enough about me.  

Tonight I was checkin' the book sales figures with my human dad, Terry Unger.  What ya'll waitin' for?  Really?  Woof!  Ya'll know my daddy writes the best dadgum heathen books on Amazon!  If ya'll want an invitation, here it is!  Go ahead and buy them!  Don't be the last, be the first, second, and third!  Buy them all, daddy's books make great gifts!  Can ya'll keep a secret?  

The other day I was foolin' around on dad's computer.  I went to the blog and accidentally pawed on of the titles you see on the right side.  It took me right to that book's Amazon site!  IF I had a credit card, I could'a ordered a bazillion!   WOOF!  It's that easy!  And let me tell ya, Amazon has no problem pumpin' out the books!  SO whatcha' waitin' for.....I gave ya'll an invitation!  Go buy! 

Still hesitatin'?  Thinkin' what's in it for Jack?  I told ya'll the last time.....I want new bones and toys at Yule!  Oh come on, don'tcha want somethin' new?  Well, buy my daddy's books.....that's somethin' new!  

And BTW, please don't rat on me to my daddy.  The other day I was playin' games on his computer. Forgot to close the program.  Daddy was pissed.  Blamed Mason - we don't have a cat!  I want bones, WOOF!  Buy dad's books!  

                                                Copyright @2016 Jack Unger  

So, You Want to be a Warrior?

Within Asatru/Heathenry many men refer to themselves as warriors.  Not to be left out, many women like to think that they are shield maidens.  Folks fill themselves up with the glories of the old days, the days of our Ancestors.  The days when having the skill to wield a sword or an axe in battle saved your life and more.  In that bygone era a warrior earned his "strips," the title, "Warrior."  But, we live in the 21st century.  The times and circumstances are different.  Today, we have law, we have order.  Does simply stating that one is a warrior, qualify for the title?  My good friend Vincent Enlund has a few things to say about that.  His credentials speak for him.  Check out his video below and judge for yourself if flexing your muscles and snarling at the neighbor's dog grants  you the title.

As for myself, I cannot lay claim to this title.  In my opinion, If I had to fight to save my family, I would just be a man who defended his own, not a warrior.

                                         Copyright @2016 Terry Unger & Vincent Enlund

America's 2nd Revolution

Personally, I despise politics and politicians.  It appears that many others in America agree with me. The victor of this many months' long circus was not, according to the thinking on the left, that was aided by the right, supposed to win.  He just was not.  But Trump won and is now the 45th president -elect.  For months to come, there will be hand-ringing by the left and the right.  How did this man get elected?  The career politicians on the left and right want to know.  The answer is simple.  They failed  us, the people.  

In this Republic, the elected serve the people, not the other way around.  That is what it is supposed to be.  However, over many years, the people seemed to serve the elected - the pleas of the people were ignored.  Joe Lunchbox, Joe Six-Pack, and Everyday Joe felt left behind.  And they were - their need and concerns abandoned the day after election.  Abandoned by career politicians in favor of special interest groups.  So the Joes, often thought to be malleable for the politico's needs (re-election), revolted and elected a brash, loud-mouth billionaire businessman as their presidential champion.  The Joes picked this guy over Mrs. Clinton for three reasons.  First, Trump is no politician.  Anyone who watched the debates can bear witness to this fact.  And, Mrs. Clinton and company are career politicians who have promised much over time and delivered little of substance concerning the needs of the Joes.  That's a big deal.  Secondly, Trump listened to the Joes.  He truly believes that he can help them (us) have a better life.  As the 45th duly elected President of the United States, he deserves a chance to put "his money where his mouth is."  Finally, the democrat has baggage.  So much so that if her "baggage" was carried in suitcases, TSA would not allow much of it on the plane.  Yes Trump has baggage, but he was never elected.  And never elected on false promises.  But this revolution is not finished.  

The people of the USA need to impose term limits on their elected.  Our Founders looked at elected office as one of service to the people.  A person "served" for two or three terms and "retired," letting the next guy do his bit.  It was considered an honor and self -sacrifice.  It was considered patriotic duty, not a life long career.  Term limits can bring this all home.  And what of the lessons of election 2016?  

The pundits will discuss this for months to come.  What worked and what did not work against conventional wisdom.  One thing that needs to be made clear to both the Left and Right:  Don't fuck with us Joes.  You work for us, not the other way around.  

                                                 Copyright@2016 Terry Unger

Salesman Jack

Hey there humans, my name is Jack the one-eyed Wonder Dog.  Some of you know me but many do not.  So, I put my picture on top.  I live with my human parents, Terry and Sandra Unger in Ungerlands.  Now that my introduction is out of the way, let's get to it.  

Yule is coming.  Yes I know it's weeks away but you humans like to procrastinate.  Ya'll like putting stuff off until the last minute.  Like who you will gift with what.  I can help with that.  My human daddy's books are great!  Of course they are!  Buy them!  I need new bones!  Really, this Yule while you are feeding your stomach feed your head by reading my daddy Terry's books.  And it's so simple to do!  

On this blog site, just click on the titles to the right.  This will take you directly to that particular book site on Amazon.  It's so simple even a dog can do it!  WOOF!!!

                                        Copyright @2016 Jack the Wonder Dog Unger

Innuendos and Advertising

The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated. - Mark Twain, 1897.

It amuses me how people can be motivated by rumor, innuendo, outright lies, and sales ads.  Like Twain in his time, I in mine can say do not believe what you read or hear.  Especially at this time of year.  The huckster's have begun to sing their Siren's song to empty your bank account and max out your credit cards.  And all for a one day holiday.

Having racked my brain over many years I cannot fathom why people of "faith" spend so much money on a one day holiday, a holiday hijacked from Pagan and Heathens and then abbreviated (Yule, the Feast of Sol Invictus, and the Feast of Saturnalia) for a scant 24-36 hours.  So for Christmas, Christ's Mass, Christians spend the money on the baby Jesus?  No.  They spend the dough on themselves and each other, maybe for the sake of emulating the gifts given to the Christ child by the Magi.

The advertisers tell us that we must have this, our sweetheart deserves that, and our kids need all of  the above.  And we buy into the rumor, innuendo, and outright lies ..... the sales pitch.   Frankly, I do not care if you are Christian, Pagan, or Heathen; many of us get sucked in.  Do we do so out of guilt or to demonstrate largess, with or without the incurred debt?  Only in our modern world via credit, can a pauper appear to live like a king, albeit briefly.

The opportunities here for me to wax on to fellow Heathens concerning the above are multitudinous but I shall not.  Ya'll know better, or at least you should.  Being and becoming prosperous and generous still means living within your fiscal boundaries.  It does not mean pissing away capital in order to impress.  So many verses from the Havamal now roll through my head.

In simple Pagan and Heathen terms, we are entering a sacred time of year.  It is a time of reflection, thanksgiving, and planning for the future, along with merry-making, feasting, and gifting.  It should not be a time to piss away money to make major stockholders of the various retail chains ecstatic.  It is my opinion that this is a solid Heathen view, something that wayward Christians and paper Heathens should try and emulate.

And by the way, I am alive and well.  Thanks for asking.

                                                    Copyright @2016 Terry Unger