What Are You Thinking?

Life is not easy; it is not supposed to be.  Regardless of current station in life, we are faced with varying degrees of frustration, torment, and stress.  And, the poor man may suffer less, depending on his point of view than his Daddy Big Bucks neighbor.  This is, of course, relative to the individual - his wyrd.  But what do you think about when you are pressed and stressed?  Are you totally consumed by what is pressing on your heart and mind?  Do you get caught up in the peripherals of the problem or do you become overwhelmed by it?  Or does the apparent weight of the problem leave you paralyzed?  Our Lore may hold some answers.  

All Father Odin hung from Yggdrasil for nine days to gather the runes and their wisdom.  The Lore mentions All Father was irritated that, despite his hunger and thirst, no one was there/available/or cared to give him something to eat and drink.  Did other things disturb him while hanging from Yggdrasil?  We do not know - the Lore mentions little.  Could there have been other things?  The short answer:  if we place a man in that situation, hanging up-side-down from a tree, than yes - there would be many.  But what the Gods feel or need our finite mind cannot grasp.  Especially when their quest is for knowledge.  But this is what we do know.  Odin "hung in there" and completed his quest.  He surmounted his obstacle(s) by focusing on his goal.  He pushed through the frustration, torment, and stress to obtain the runes and their wisdom.  The same runes meant to be shared with us mortals.  

In this life we face problems.  The choice is to be overwhelmed by them or to surmount and grow in experience and wisdom from them.  Like Odin we must focus - focus on obtainment and victory. Then and only then do we succeed in solving our problems and crushing our demons.

                                                   Copyright @2017 Terry Unger

  

Heart Break With the Double D's

Sorry.  The title has nothing to do with a woman's bust size.  It has everything to do with doctrine and dogma, which is the finite's vain attempt to define a right relationship with the Infinite.  And, the biggest manufacturers of the Double D's are the universal monotheistic religions.  

At one time in these universalist monotheistic religions, a founder or if you will, a leader emerges.  In the case of Judaism, Moses, Islam, Mohammad, and Jesus for Christianity (it could easily argued that Christianity, because of its' origins, is an offshoot/extension of Judaism; those who believed in Jesus where Christian, those who did not, still Jews. Jesus, if he existed at all as an individual, was a Jew, something many Christians do not grasp, which makes any argument about springing from Judaism rather moot).  Around these leaders, books were written.  And these books with their stories, were influenced by the majority cultures that surrounded them:  the Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, and Greco-Roman (in particular the Judaeo-Christian "books").  

Shortly after these Books were written, compiled, collated, altered, and/or pieces whole or in part tossed out, other "leaders" appear on scene to determine what the holy writ from on high means to mankind, and how humanity is supposed to have a right relationship with Deity - the doctrine and dogma of the faith.  The Double D's are the supposed playbook for the faith's practitioners.  However, this doctrine and dogma, for many is like an ill fitted pair of shoes.  

Too many things in our present day life can defy description let alone explanation by proscribed doctrine and dogma.  Telling a faith's practitioner that it is "God's will," or it's a "Mystery" that must be accepted just does not cut it. Like cancer, heart disease, or being victim of a drive by shooting. Heavens forbid genetics, gluttony, or living in a shit neighborhood should be taken into account. What was past off to the ignorant masses of yesteryear is met with smiles and snickers of thinking people today.  But many of these thinking people feel spiritually dead inside.  There is hope.  

When a person begins a spiritual quest, investigating personal culture and heritage is a great place to start.  Once upon a time, a person grew up within his own culture and heritage but  globalism, in many cases, has removed that nurturing environment.  So, go out and find it just like Leif Ericsson discovered the new world.  For many, it will be not just a new experience, but a "homecoming" of sorts.  And if the discoverer goes deep enough, he or she will find his or her pre-Christian ancestors and get a glimpse of their worldview.  

That worldview included what is referred to today as Asatru/Heathenry; no holy books, doctrine, or dogma - just an all encompassing way of life (the Eddas and Sagas are not a Heathen "bible."  However, even with heavy Christian redaction, these tales give us a foundation for a good life).  Emphasis is placed on personal word and deed knowing that both can come back to bite or reward in the future.  Heathenry offers freedom.  But it is freedom with responsibility.  Unfortunately for them, People of the Book use their religion as an excuse for their behavior - because that's what it says to do in the Book.  Add to this the doctrine and dogma mongers and you have a perfect storm.  And, many followers of universalist monotheism enjoy getting caught up in the storm.  But, it is their choice.

I cannot write in just one blog post the advantages of Heathenry.  However, by reading the brief sampling of posts offered below on this blog, you can get a "taste."  

Ghosts of the Past 2/1/2016, Matribus Germanis 2/25/2016, UPG and Rational Thought 7/8/2016, Extending Frith 7/10/2016, Law, Order, and the Innangard 7/12/2016, Anarchy and the Innangard 7/13/2016, Courage and Magan in Our Time 7/24/2016, A World Full of Magan 8/11/2016, Your Personal Ravens - Hugr and Munr 9/20/2016, Your Personal Traveling Companion - the Fylgja 9/22/2016, The Ordering of the Heavens 10/4/2016, Galdr, Frequency, Harmonics, and Vibration 10/21/2016, The Dumbing Down of Manliness 1/12/2017 The Waters of Wyrd 2/10/2017, Urdabrunnr and You 2/24/2017.  

                                                    Copyright @2017 Terry Unger

Fraudulent Offerings of My Books

ONCE AGAIN SOMEONE SOMEWHERE IS OFFERING FREE pdf DOWNLOADS OF MY BOOKS.  THIS IS A SCAM, OR WORSE.  THEY ARE IN SERIOUS VIOLATION OF USA COPYRIGHT LAWS.  AND, OPEN THEMSELVES TO CIVIL ACTION.  THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS DECEPTION.  

SINCERELY,

TERRY UNGER

Barbarians at the Gates

It is said that hard times create hard men.  It is all so said that times of good and plenty create soft men.  The soft men believe that the good times will never end, so much so that they put the hard men on a shelf where they eventually die and are not replaced.  These soft ones believe that the barbarians at the gates can and will be placated by negotiations, or appeasement.  History tells a different story.  

Almost always, when the serious aggressor was bought off, he came back for more the next year or within the next generation.  They did not cease taking until they themselves were eliminated.  Hard men came forth and eliminated the aggressor; they did what had to be done to preserve their way of life.  

Those that wish to conquer, convert, and subjugate entire civilizations have no intention of living in frith.  They can have their nose broken and bloodied only to return home and raise up many more like them, like amber waves of grain; they rabidly procreate and instill hatred within their children against anything that is not exactly like them.  All the while, the soft men amuse themselves with games.  But there are other distractions.  

For many they are not real distractions.  One can hardly believe that working like a dog to put on the table and pay the bills is a distraction.  Rather, it is an obligation.  And in the western world, it often takes two, husband and wife, to meet these obligations.  Children are put off, until "things get better." When things do  "get better," most feel like they are too old to have children.  The stress of making a living is just one reason why people are not having children; there are others but suffice to say that people in the western world are too exhausted, mentally and physically to fuck.  And fucking is required to have kids.  It is unfortunate that too often people reach for hand held electronic devices when they are exhausted.  These toys do not need any foreplay to get you off, something not lost on the "barbarians at the gates."  

                                                  Copyright @2017 Terry Unger

Requiem for Charlemagne

In the past I've written about this man with blunt disdain, while coming to grips with the idea that he could be one of my ancestors.  To  me, he was a genocidal maniac who did what he did under the guise of "conquering the heathen and bringing him to Christ."  It appears that was probably a smoke screen picked up and promoted by the Church.  

During, before, and even after Charlemagne's life rulers ranging from chieftains to kings did not have a formal tax code to raise revenue; this came along much later.  These men had to pay their retainers/armies in order to remain in power.  Without any income, they had to get the cash from somewhere.  And that somewhere involved invading the neighboring countries and taking everything they could carry home with them.  It's often referred to as "booty," and Charlemagne was very good at taking whatever he needed from whomever had it.  According to the Royal Frankish Annals, the Saxons had much to take.  

The Saxons of the time were a stubborn lot and hated the Frankish kingdom and Charlemagne.  They wanted to be free of him and his religion.  For thirty years they struggled (the 30 year Saxon war) but had to surrender against superior numbers and munitions.  The Annals report on many occasions how the rich booty taken from the Saxons enriched Charlemagne's treasury.  These same Annals tells us that Charlemagne was constantly out campaigning, waging war, to keep his coffers full.  It appears that the bigger the ambition, the more is taken from others.  But not all that was taken was booty.  

In October 782 at a place known as Verden, Charlemagne rounded up 4,500 Saxons and executed them.  Often the reason reported and one that I have previously written about was the Saxon's rejection of Christianity and returning to their heathen religion and folkway.  That's the small potatoes, even a glossy window dressing.  The reason, possibly the only reason was that Charlemagne thought those 4,500 Saxons to be oath-breakers who deserved to die.  He felt that they rejected him (not Christianity) and that was a gross offense.  So he killed them.  It did not matter who the 4,500 Saxons were; they were Saxon and that was good enough.  He now had the "excuse" to continue the rape and plunder of Saxony.  During Charlemagne's life, the Saxons suffered the most.  And they just wanted to be free.  

It must be now said that history looks at men like Charlemagne in a positive light, while keeping his murderous activities in the closet.  History is written by the victors who prefer it this way.  So it is preferred to look at, say the Vikings, as barbarians, based on the victor's comments.  So too the Roman Legions and the victory of Arminius in the Teutoburg Forest.  But as we push through time, history, like archaeology gets the proper brush and trowel treatment to reveal the real truths.  

The "requiem" used in the title is usually defined as a Catholic Church term regarding a mass said for the soul of the dead.  I wonder if the Church has said masses for Charlemagne?  And since they went along with this butcher, have they said masses for themselves?  You see, it's always about the money.

The above photo is supposedly where the slaughter of 10/782 took place.           

                                             Copyright @2017 Terry Unger  

On Anguish, Grief, and Loss

A wallet with contents lost can be replaced.  With insurance, automobiles and homes after loss suffered can be and are replaceable.  Even fortunes gained and then lost can be replaced with planning and the right daring - do.  But the loss of a loved one, especially a child, is something that cannot be replaced.  It is as if the Midgard Serpent, Jormungandr, surrounds the human heart and squeezes the life from you.  Though sometimes, if we read the Lore literally, comfort and guidance can be found.  Balder died.  

The Bright and Beautiful One, thought invincible, was murdered (the actual physical action) by one believed to be capable of nothing.  The murder was unexpected and it was a shock.  

All-Father Odin believed that Balder's death was the greatest blow ever dealt to Gods and men; Odin and Frigg were heavy with grief.  At his funeral, Balder's wife Nanna, so grieved him that she dropped dead on the spot and then joined him on his funeral pyre.  And Balder's brother Hermod failed in his mission to gain easy release from Hel (we all go to Hel, even if for a brief period).  The Nine Worlds suffered not just from Balder's death, but from the Gods' lack of attention; the Multiverse was filled with grief.  But when Odin and Frigg reached a certain point in their suffering, they knew it was time to return to their godly responsibilities.  Following this example the other Gods returned to work.  This point can be called acceptance.  

Balder will remain in his spacious Hall within Hel until the aftermath of Ragnarok is wiped clean - a new beginning for the Nine Worlds.  Nothing can be done to alter this situation.  Balder is not coming back.  Odin and Frigg accepted this fact and returned to their godly business.  

This acceptance does not mean that they as parents do not still grieve.  It does not mean that their pain is gone or that they have forgotten their beautiful son.  It means that they have embraced the loss along with the still accompanying anguish, grief, and heart squeezing pain.  

This is a hard example to follow for anyone who has lost a child.  It is painful; letting go seems like forever.  As time moves on, the life of the lost child seems almost surreal, but it is not.  The dull pain and sense of  loss persist.  It does not leave.  But to muddle through and find joy and happiness in other things, one must follow the example of All-Father and Mother Frigg - as hard as that may be. 

          In Loving Memory of Erik "the Red" Terrysson.  Gone to Soon but Not Ever Forgotten.  

                                                  Copyright @2017 Terry Unger

  

Be Wary of the Old Man

He may seem a bit senile to you, as he sits on his porch and sips beer  from a long neck bottle.  You may notice the slight limp in his gait as he walks his dog.  And, you cannot control your giggle as he adjusts his hearing aid to hear if you spoke of anything important.  But the old man did not get this old by being stupid.  

The old man witnessed the birth of his children and delights in watching his grandchildren grow.  But the old man has also buried more family and friends than he cares to discuss.  The old man knows about loss.  

He lost one job or more and went out and found others; and money lost due to poor planning. The old man celebrated a few victories but they were made bitter sweet by more failures.  At this point in his life, the old man knows how not to lose.  And, he will fight to keep what he has, right down to the beer he sips from a long neck bottle on his porch.  

It is a foolish thing to count the old man out of the game.  Far from it.  He is still an active player.  He has the experience, gained over decades of loss and small victories to know how not to lose.  Try and take from the old man what is his - he will come at you like a junk yard dog.  Because, he knows how and will not lose sleep over it.  Years of experience far outweigh a few years of being on the honor role.  If you try, when the dust settles, the old man will go back to his porch and sip beer from long neck bottles.  The beer will taste especially good to him as he watches you limp off the scene.  

You may feel offended.  For what?  You started an altercation and were bested - you lost.  An altercation best avoided if you showed the old man respect.  Not just the respect due his age, but the obvious respect due his decades of experience.  What part of "respect your elders" is lost on you? Since when on this planet did youth have all the hard and tough answers?  The lessons learned from some pain and suffering?   The experience that can be shared, passed on, but once pissed on, sharing anything with you is likely lost.  This shit happens when political correctness and multiculturalism are followed.  You lose.  You lose your culture, your heritage, and your personal identity while your Ancestors shed tears over your poor choices.  Now the old man will laugh at you, as he sits on his porch and sips beer from long neck bottles.  

                                                  Copyright @2017 Terry Unger