On Prayer

It may shock some people to find out that Heathens are not godless.  We have many.  So, it should not be shocking to find out that Heathens pray.  Folks new to Heathenry and those just curious, wonder how it's done.

Heathens, who been around a while understand that our Gods are our Elder Kin.  We are a family.  We can talk with our Gods just like we would talk to an older brother or sister across a kitchen table.  If you want to honor a particular God or Goddess it's done with the offering of gifts during Blot.  There are fine examples of how this is done in many fine publications - there is no need for me to elaborate.  Other points needed to point out are below.

The relationship a Heathen has with his Gods is dramatically different than the Christian.  As noted above, the Heathen and his Gods are Kinfolk.  As such. Heathen Gods are not separated from their human siblings.  Gods and humans share the 'same space within a Multiverse,' as parts of creation itself.  Not so in Christianity.  The Christian God is separate and distant from man and creation, in some 'unknown space,' the Judeo-Christian heaven.  To visualize this, draw a circle.

This circle represents the Multiverse.  Within this circle is the Heathen, all of creation, and the Gods.  All of everything is there, constantly interacting.  Now, draw two more circles.

Place one on the far left and the other on the far right.  Within the left circle are the Christian and the rest of creation.  Within the right circle is the Christian God.  The space between the circles graphically shows the separation that exists between the God of the Christians and his creation.  There are considerable doctrine and dogma within Christianity that makes this so.  Again, so much to lay out here.  If you are curious it's all available to discover online or in a library.  And, Heathens are not limited to talking/praying to just our Gods.

Our Ancestors are available to us as well as our Matronae (Desir in Old Norse).  The kitchen table thing works well with our Ancestors and Matronae (the kitchen table thing is an example of simply talking to another older family member.  It could be the living room, the bedroom, the beach, or the forests.  Speak your mind - there is no political correctness).  If you wish to honor them or seek some favor, Blot just like you would for the Gods.  One more thing. 

A Heathen needs to develop a relationship with his fylgja (fill-ge-yah).  She has been with you before birth and will guide you into the afterlife.  Your fylgja can be your advocate, your comforter, and your early warning system - if you listen to her still small voice within you.  But, like many relationships, it starts with you. 

               Copyright 2019 Terry Unger All Rights Reserved

A Question Of Morality

Many years ago a group of women said that a man does not have the right to dictate to a woman what she can or cannot do with her body.  In general, this is true.  However, when does the Judeo-Christian thou shall not kill come into play?

Recently, Gov. Cuomo and the New York State legislature passed into law a bill allowing abortion up to the day before the infant's due date.  The Judeo-Christian commandment of thou shall not kill is the bathwater thrown out with the baby.  Where is the Church, that bastion of morality?  Pope Francis should excommunicate Cuomo and all Catholic legislators responsible for this law.  And do so immediately.  But, he will not. 

This pope is too busy lecturing the western world on the immorality of walls and the grievous sin of not allowing mass immigration.  He pontificates on the greatness of socialism while condemning capitalism.  According to Francis, since we are all equal, wealth must be shared; an original Christian talking point.  If this is true, equality dear Francis, what about these aborted children and the legislators who allow this to happen? 

Ah yes, dear Francis, you are too busy pushing your socialist agenda on the West while dragging your feet dealing with clerical sexual predators. 

The day will come for you to be judged.  Your Wyrd will play out; it always does.  Hopefully, aborted children and those victims of clerical abuse will be present to bear witness.

                  Copyright 2019 Terry Unger All Rights Reserved

The Nine Noble Virtues Applied To Marriage

It does not matter who officiates a marriage ceremony; it can be a rabbi, priest, minister, gothi, or justice of the peace.  The people standing before the officiant swear an oath of fidelity and loyalty to each other.  The officiant is one witness to this oath.  Invited guests are other witnesses.  So to your Ancestors, Matronae, and Gods.  Orlog is placed into Urda's Well and Wyrd does play out.  Some folks think they can break the marital oath without wyrd.  Not so.  Forward to the Noble Nine.

Courage - It takes courage in our day to avoid temptation.  The temptation that pops up when one spouse thinks the grass is greener somewhere else when tempers between spouses flair and hurt inflicted.  Courage is fixing the problem and not going to bed angry.

Truth - No intentional lies or deception should exist in a marriage.  Truth fosters trust.  Doubting the faithfulness of a spouse has its origins in deliberate lies and deceptions.  Here is another important point about truth.  Do not pretend to be something or someone that you are not.  This is a gross deception and will sink a marriage faster than the Titanic.  Also, be true to yourself.  Do not give up what is true to you and adopt another way in the hope that it will give you comfort and love.  You will get neither comfort nor love - you will reap heartache.

Honor - You honor your spouse by showing respect not just in public, but also in private.  Belittling your spouse for any reason causes hurt.  And that hurt causes resentment.  Men, treat your wife like a queen.  Ladies, treat your husband like a king.

Fidelity - Loyalty to your spouse in thought, word, and deed.  You stand together in good times and bad.  The martial bed holds just two people; husband and wife.  Sexual affairs violate the marital oath and damage the marriage.  If you love your spouse, honor the marital oath.  If you want sex outside of your marriage, with someone other than your spouse, you should not be married.

Discipline- This virtue underlines the virtues of courage, truth, honor, and fidelity.  A disciplined personed makes the right choices in his life.  A poorly disciplined person does not.  It's that simple.

Hospitality - Fight nice, fight fair.  Whatever happened before the marriage is ancient history.  It does not need to be thrown into your spouse's face.  Is it really necessary to refer to your spouse in an argument in a negative way?  Settle the problem before you go to bed, even if it means staying up until sunrise.  Be good to each other.  Praise each other and thank each other for the littlest of things.  Gift each other with little things that have meaning.  A small trinket that holds specific meaning can have a more positive impact than a budget-busting bauble.  Know your spouse's likes and dislikes. 

Self Reliance - Spouses must take care of themselves and each other.  In our time, the idea of something being 'woman's work' or 'my husband does that' is outdated.  Spouses must pull together to get it done. 

Industriousness - This virtue goes well with Self Reliance.  Spouses must plan their future, together.  They must work their plan, together.  Then they can reap the fruits of their efforts, together.  It is teamwork at its finest. 

Perseverance - This is the virtue that underlines the other eight.  Marriage is not a 100-yard dash.  It is a lifetime marathon.  Perseverance means to never quit, to never give up. 

                         Copyright 2019 Terry Unger All Rights Reserved