Matribus Germanis

The Aufaniae, Suleviae, Vacallinehae, and so many more.  The Matribus Germanis - My Germanic Mothers.  Bede ties them to the Yuletide Modraniht, the obvious forbears of the Diser.  They were the Germanic Mother Goddesses, the helpers in times of need.  

Over 1,000 votive offering sites singing their praises were raised not just by Germanic Legionnaires, but also by their Celtic counterparts.  These Legionnaires learned Latin while in the service of Rome; we are the direct beneficiaries.  And, these votive offering sites are also found in southern Spain and Scotland.  Germanic and Celtic Legionnaires, including their families, raised these offerings to their Mother Goddesses usually after said Mothers helped them.  Always shown in groups of three, these Mother Goddesses covered a lot of ground.  

They were called upon during war, asked to help infertility and childbirth (fertility also includes crops and livestock), and for the general overall protection of the family.  In the Rhine area and Upper Italy, they were known as the Matronae.  In the UK, Matres.  And in Celtic Gaul, Matres and Matra.  So Pilgrim, have Matribus Germanis?  

                                                     Copyright @2016 Terry Unger

Yule - The Rest of It

Modraniht.  Winter Solstice.  Ancestors.  So what of the other days?  Certainly, you should give more than a passing word to the Landvaettir, especially if you garden, farm, or raise livestock.  And of course a blot/faining dedicated to the Gods always is a great thing to do during Yule.  But what of yourself?  

Time must be taken for personal introspection. Questions like, what did I do to advance my good name?  And, what did I do to put myself in an infamous position?  Did my plans for the year bear fruit or did they fall way short?  Was I a good parent?  Was I a good spouse?  What can I do to increase my personal wealth and the wealth and welfare of my family, clan, and tribe? You must be brutally honest with yourself.  Yule is not just about eating, drinking, and having a good time.  It is also about growth.  Your growth.  Keep asking the tough questions - make your plan work.

GOOD YULE Y'ALL !!! 

Copyright @2015/2016 Terry Unger