Frighteningly Educational!

Let's face it, October is a fun month! It's colorful, playful, creative and even scary at times. With holidays like Samhain and Halloween, inspire our little festive dance with death, which essentially what these holidays are. Death is the window, to the past, which led to my love of old legends and the history behind it. History is loaded with gruesome stories. Some are thought provoking, others are scary, but all great ways to bring out a little history from a young persons life.

Please consider the age and mentality of your children before sharing any of theses stories. Some image's are rather graphic, but in black and white format.

1. Haunted house are always a favorite, but one house I'm sure was haunted, because it was literally a murder house. " The Castle" it was called by its creator and American serial killer H. H. Holmes, was a luxury hotel that took up three addresses, with torture below its surface. In Holmes 34 years of life, its confirmed he killed 9 people, but estimated the true number was around 200. His hotel held secret chambers were his victims would suffocate, dehydration, starve or be tortured to death. Holmes was eventually caught and hanged on May 7, 1896. His "Castle" burned to the ground in a mysterious fire years later.

Project's
a) Try making model of a house with trap doors and hiddenpassageways. Use cardboard as a medium.
b) Have your student play detective and review the evidence themselves.




2. Torture device's, because lefts face it, a murder house is just house with messy rooms without torture and its devices. Although it may seem like fun and games, the art of torture is actual profession. It disturbing to admit that much of our medical advancements came from the act of torture. From knowledge of anatomy to medical methods and devices. A good study on the history of torture devices from ancient China to modern times is a fascinating evolutionary process.

Project's
a) Talk about social issues of a society that uses torture, both current and past.
b) Have your student make a model or drawing of the device, then explain its mechanics.

3. No Haunted house is complete without its
  Mad Scientist!
 Dr. Josef Mengele, an SS officer of the Nazi party. He  cruelty conducted experiments of forced subjects, men, women and children. He would sew identical twins together in an attempt to create conjoint twins. In attempts to learn how to make sea water drinkable, he would deprive his all other food or drink, other than his experiments. Other grosume experiment in ways to prevent and treat hypothermia, involved stripping people nude exposing their flesh to extremely cold temperatures.

Project's
a) Ask, what would cause a person and group of people to be so apathetic to such level high level of human suffering?
c) Have your student's study the stories of those who  survived torture, both long ago past, to recent times.


4. Evil Queen, try Empress! Empress consort of Emperor Augustus Caeser, Livia Drusillia is rumored to have murdered everyone before her son Tiberius path to Emperor of Rome. Including her husband, the current Emperor of the time.  It is believed she painted figs in the gardens with poison, knowing her husband apparently justified paranoid about picking his own food. Posion is Queen, they said about her. She and Augustus were married over fifty years.

Project's
a) Rome was always theatrical, so why not recreate realistic scenes of common people, like peasants, slaves, soldiers, etc.... It's a great way to make history become more live, while relieving the soap opera, that was the Roman Empirical family.
b) Teach your younger students about poisonous plants, what they do and most importantly, the antidote!

5. The true story behind the Fairytale's, especially Hansel and Gretel are rather disturbing. One of my favorite stories is similar the murder case of a baker named Katharine Scharderin from Harz German. Apparently her ginger bread was so good, it rocked the seventh century, that it lead her death by a rival Baker, Hans Metzlar 37 and his sister Grete 34 burned Scharderin to death in her own oven, in an attempt to get her recipe. Although the premise of the story dates back four hundred years before this murder, the Grims Brother's used the earlier account for minor details, like names.

Project's
a) Find your favorite fairytale and learn the history behind the story.
b) Make up a play of the fairytale in the realistic manner the story implies though historical context.

6. Another fun story to dissect is Washington Irving's

 "Legend of Sleepy Hollow." 

This story was originally a German legend "The Wild Huntsman" said to chase down criminals at great speed. Irving's take on the story was based off the Dutch version, who disliked the German's, made their hero a mindless killer. Another drastic change from realty, Ichabod Crane was indeed a real person, whom Irving was acquainted. Although he wasn't like the character, an anxious school teacher, but rather a high ranking USA Marine, whom served in the war if 1812.


Project's

a) Ask what other ancient myth has been taken out of context and why.
b) Through the real Ichabod Crane was a rough and tough sort of fellow, it is said Irving added personal behaviors from Crane, to his character. What kind of person do think the the real Crane was?

7. Body Snatchers, are actually a fascinating history. It was often the only way for early medical schools to have enough bodies. Creepy notorious body snatcher, Carl Tanzier a radiologic technologist, who became infatuated with a patient he failed to save from tuberculosis in 1931. Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, succumbed to her illness on October 25, she was twenty-two years old. Tanzier, who was fifty-four years when she died, paid for her burial.  He eventually stole Hoyos body, mummified and had his way with it. He wasn't caught until 1940, where the corpse was placed in a secret burial location. Tanzier died in 1952 at the age of seventy five. 

  

Project's
a) This is a good time to review morty science. Talk about the different ways bodies are disposed of.
b) Talk about necrophilia with older students, obviously. It's crazy enough to spike some teenagers curiosity.

8. Attack of the Killer_______! We've all seen some version of this genre of movie, like Jaws aka attack of the killer shark. Human beings enjoy being on top of the food chain, but are humbled when one of us is consumed by nature. It could be a bear, a pack of wolves or you break your neck tripping over a house cat, man kind can damage more than pride when encountering the animal kingdom. The stories are endless!

Project's
a) Time to talk about animal safety!
b) Have your students review animal attack cases and think of ways to avoid them.

9. Monster or People with medical conditions? Medical science has come along from the dark ages. We are able to study the very make-up of a being, discovering all kinds of information. Including postmodern of a corpse that hasn't embalmed decomposition to genetic trades that cause the person to be covered in hair, Hyperichosis. There many medical conditions that could be tied to superstitions, mythologies and legends.  I wish to make clear, it is not the individual's with disabilities who are scary, but how they were treated by family and society! For example the sad tale of Julia Pastana.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-21440400

Project's
a) Teach your students to identify medical conditions in these legends and understand the time period if when the story was told.
b) Try to involve your student into working with peers with physical and mental challenge's. Better to break the ground early and encourage support, patients, respect and dignity towards all kinds of people.




10. Raising a Demon Slayer! With stories of ghost, vampires, ghouls, let us not forget real monster's exist and they come in all forms. Teaching your students criminology will give them a better understanding about what they could be up against.  Don't become paranoid, but teach your students to question adults, to look out for suspicious or inappropriate behavior. Teach them how to defend themselves from an adult they don't know or trust.

Project's
a) Teach age appropriate defenses and identify methods of what is acceptable adult behavior. Also explain, different adults like medical staff may touch their body parts, but teach them to identify the correct measures of the medical staff.
b) Have your students volunteer for searches of missing persons. Let them see how real these cases are and how much they hurt a family.

May your autumn festives be as thought provoking as well as fun!

Inspirational Video's

Every so often it's good to watch a few inspirational videos. Here are some wonderful video I feel fit the theme of my more popular post!

1. The Dugger's article is by far my most viewed article. Though rather disturbing topic, it has that train wreck effect, you don't want to see it, but can't look away. I try to look on the bright side, at least the former TLC reality sitcom would inspire such satire.

Kid Farm

2. Although my Fat Shaming article didn't make the top ten, it had a recent increase of viewing, upon seeing this remarkable video, I felt inspired to share!

Why Fat Girls Shouldn't Wear Bikinis

3. Although this video doesn't represent any one particular article, Charlie Chaplin's speech at end of "the Great Dictator" was breath taking my beautiful. Hear in his words transformed into visual gratification, called

The Greatest Speech Ever Made

4. My Fraggle article is still my  favorite. Yes it may seem silly, but I do believe in the philosophy in much of the work of the Jim Henson Corporation.

Let Me Be Your Song

5. My last article, Aging Pagan; Our Personal Autumn Equinox became very popular, thanks to the sharing of a kind, wise and respected elder on her page. This video series, is a reaction channel, exploring the differences between generations.

Elders React 

I hope to continue to write for you and thank you for reading. Expect more articles coming soon!

Aging Pagan; Our Personal Autumn Equinox

To Jim

In the spirit of the upcoming Equinox, I feel it's time to talk about age and death. For fourteen years I have worked in health care, some of that time as an EMT, but mostly as a Home Health Aide. I'm not a doctor, nurse or lawyer. What I'm is a witness. I'm there when the nurse leaves, in the patients home, where few doctors venture. I have seen courage and fear. The stories I could tell you could equally break your heart or inspire a greeting card. I'm here merely to give my personal advice and strongly suggest you seek your own legal counsel. I share with you some suggestions, as well address concerns. Please use both knowledge and free will.

1. Some wise advice from his holiness the Dahai Lama.

This holds true, especially for those who suffer from conditions that affects memory. Don't live with regrets, make amends if you can and patch up damaged relationships. Be kind and thoughtful as often as you can. Your fancy toys won't fit in your hospital room, but images of your past will dance in your head. Make those memories special. Remember kisses, hugs, sun rises/ sets, butterfly's, songs, good cheers, merriment. Let go of your arguments, disappointments, scratches on pride and low point's.

2. Please heal past traumas.  I can not stress this enough. An elderly person I knew witnessed the sexual assault of a friend, both were very young at the time. This resulted in many nightmares and as the patients mind deteriorated she relived the experience unable to understand this was no longer a threat.

3. Study the effects of advance aging, as well as your families medical history. Make the decisions of what you are willing to go through and what you are not. Seek legal counsel, realize DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate) only prevent medical professionals from any attempts of restarting the heart, they will often go to great lengths from preventing the organ from stopping.  I suggest you not stop with documents,  but video record your feeling's on this issue. This means brainstorming on some of the most horrific of situations. As difficult as this may be, its far worse being in these situations without your wishes honored.

4. Be kind to the young. To your children or younger family members, never forget these will be the people determining what happens to you and your estates. The children of today will be your caretaker's and world leader's when you become more vulnerable. Think about the world you leave behind.

5. Obviously, eat right and exercise, but stay mentally active as well. Do that crossword puzzle while you eat your yogurt and drink coffee without sugar. Socialise, date and be sexually active. Find some social hobbies and take on several. As an able body person, you may want to start a program that encourages others with physical limitations to be physically active. You never know, you could one day be benefiting from the gifts you gave others. So volunteer at the hospital, make crafts, fix old cars, learn a new language, take a class, play on a team, dance even with just your eyes.

6. Celebrate age. Crown yourself the Crone or the Wise one. Own your age and be the person you want to be. Enjoy your free time and appreciate the wisdom you have gained. Believe it or not it will serve you better than youth.

7. Remember, just because you're retired doesn't mean everyone else has stopped working. All your free time could consume you and lead to feelings of neglect. If you want to be closer to your family, try to get to know them and find an interest you could share. You may not fully understand the newer generation, doesn't mean you can not connect in some way. Be a friend. Please don't forget how difficult life can be. Understand life's circumstances when frustrated by youth.

8. Determine your final interment and the details of your last ceremony.  Following religious and spiritual customs tends to make the transition more peaceful. You don't have to follow the traditional route of a funeral home, Death Doula's are an option in most if the USA. Pagan funeral options are also becoming more available. Military Viking Funeral.

9. Assistant living facilities and nursing homes hate change! Some have not adjusted to the fact most of their residents grew up with rock and roll. A music once despised by the generation before. They are also of the mindset of pushing Christianity onto their residents. Too often a prayer said by the director ends "in Jesus name." Offensive to pagans, atheist. Jews, Muslims and other ideas outside this one religion. This is not the time to be intimidated or weak. Stand up for your rights.

10. Know when to stop driving. As we age, our sight goes, our mind may wander, we might nap randomly, all serious dangers while we drive. Please, you don't want to be responsible for the death of another person, know when to let go. Its often better for seniors to live where there is decent public transportation.

11. Down size! You don't want to waste your energy cleaning a big empty house. Stairs are lovely, but are your enemy! Trust me! You might want to consider an apartment or condo over an entire house. When looking for a final home, you want to consider a few things.
You have to think ahead.
A. Where's the closes hospital and do you like it?
B. What access to public transportation is there available? Just because you can drive now, doesn't mean you will in the future.
C. How close are there stores for food, clothing and other area's? Are there dangerous roads, intersections, insufficient space for safe travel by walking or wheelchair?
E. Home maintenance coverage, utilities and security coverage.
F. Activities to do in the community.
G. Avoid stairs!  Your knees will thank me.  Also don't go with narrow hallways, doors and rooms. Make sure to look for big bathrooms with spacious showers or walk in tubs.  Either have a large bedroom or get a smaller bed.

12. When you're dead your will can be contested. If you have something special you want to give to a special person, give it to them before you die. This way you can enjoy their happiness, while ensuring the item goes where you want it.

13. If you need further advice, watch the Golden Girls. Believe it or not, these four women, through comedy covered many of complex issues of living longer.

14. Keep your favorite music from your youth handy!

The final year's of your life does not mean you are no longer an adult, but a sacred one. Ancient story teller. Our living past and gift to the future. Appreciate the treasure you are!

Classic Sesame Street

I was born in the summer of 1980. To me Sesame Street has always existed, for I never knew life without it.  At that moment in time all four Beatles were still alive. Reagan was in office, making racist remarks about African Americans to increase his vote.

 Long before the internet, people were excited about music television and being able to watch, rewind and fast forward movies from their homes with VCRs. Access to knowledge was limited to your library and catalogs. Your memory held about a dozen phone numbers by heart, which you had at one point dialed in a phone booth. The world was a different place, not in a change in behavior, but man state of ignorance has long been shattered with the interconnection of the world wide web. Something the younger generations will take for granted, much like our generation did for television and with the generation before that it was radio and so on....

Eleven years before then, in 1969 Sesame Street starring Jim Hensons Muppets, aired its first episode on the Children Television Workshop. Its main objection was to educate inner city children, who often couldn't attend preschool,  basic learning skills for entering elementary school. The alphabet, counting, colors, shapes, early science and social studies were made available to children with access to public broadcasting. Not only was this educational, but fully entertaining. Sesame Street made learning fun, with lovable characters like Big Bird and Groover, who had a child like demeanour that both entertained and related to common stresses a small child would understand, but an adult would not. They had fun parental figures like Gordon and Susan, who gave direction and security to all children and Muppets alike.  Education was drilled into us with song and dance. 

In just four short year's, the show will be celebrating fifty years on the aire. To just think, those children who first appeared on the show are not only already grown, but likely grandparents or entering that time period in their life. Imagine how old the adults are now. Loretta Long (Susan,) Bob McGrath and Caroll Spinney (Big Bird) are three of the remaining performers of the original show. I remember when Maria ( Sonia Manzano) had an African American boyfriend named David (Northern Calloway) and I was confused to why she was suddenly marrying Luis. It was the first time I ever saw an interracial relationship and I believed this short term relationship affected my generation enough to help change society

Classic Sesame Street is considered outdated, for example they teach children how to use a pay phone. It's also considered controversial, using the word Ash can as an example for the letter A. During the story line, Gordon is walking with a young girl who was new to the neighborhood. He openly talked about bringing her to his apartment, where his wife Susan served milk and homemade cookies. Back then this was completely innocent. This was the actions of good neighbors. Now a days, people are extremely cautious. No one wants to be accused of anything, communities began neglecting their children.  It's not something I would advise allowing your child to watch unattended, due to social and technical differences. When watching the first episode with my daughter, I explained that this behavior has changed. No longer could you trust a stranger who is so friendly. Yet I feel tomorrows generation could stand to learn from an obvious mistake we are currently making. It is not we should fear, our neighbors, but know them. Nothing is full proof and even a family relative could be that monster you fear. I say, let us bring back the idea of community and the people in our neighborhood.

Throughout the year's many talented, inspirational, influential and even historical people have either appeared or worked on the show. Sesame Street often brought out a more gentler side in an individual. Many great people who have since died have their way into this show. Historical Sesame when watched in order will show you our evolution in society. 

Another often frowned upon aspect of the show was the encouragement of imagination, including imagery friends.  I support imagery car rides, pretend cake at tea parties, finding images in clouds and day dreaming.

I believe in children playing outside, singing songs and looking at world through lenses of the future, not present. I support encouraging children to improve upon things, not keep things as they are. Maria and David's relationship had to end, when Sonia became pregnant in real life. David being her boyfriend was pretty controversial during that time, but no one wanted it to go further. So they broke up David and Maria, hooked Maria up with Luis, then they had a short engagement, marriage and then the Maria is pregnant story line came, with the birth of her daughter later on. The show has long since evolved, but let us not forget this lesson. 

Gina in the role of the Maiden.

Gina with her adopted son Marco, now she is the Mother!

The show also first at the time to have a single mother character, now Gina a character who came in to replace the maiden down the street (character Maria once was, who then was the Mother and has since retired a Crone,) became a single mother, though adoption and is still at the Mother figure today. 

Maiden, Mother, Crone

To avoid repeating the past, one should know about it. However, take a tip from Sesame Street and find a more interesting way to learn your history. Watching the Sesame Street from your childhood will help you relate better to your parents generation and go back further if you can, and further generations. Also I love Sonias imitation of Charlie Chaplin and how Forgetful Jones always forgets the next line. It's those little moments that are special so, scattered throughout the show. We all who watched the show had them. I ask you, what were your?

Old school Sesame Street is also a great way to introduce your children to the music you grew up with. 

Giving you a trip down memory lane, while giving your children a history lesson, yes history! One of the greatest aspects of watching these old episodes, is it makes the older generations more approachable. Something about watching your parents generation play as you did, in such an intimate a setting Sesame Street provides breaks a barrier between generations, which I hope out last my lifetime. Our children have parents who grew up and loved many of the same characters they loved.  Though the show will have to change, people retire, die, technology and social structure change, the goal to make education available and fun has been the greatest gift Sesame Street has provided. 

I hope one Saturday morning you wake up early with your little ones, pull out the bowls, milk and cereal. Break the rules and have a feast in your living room together. Put on some old school cartoons and shows and don't forget your Classic Sesame Street. Tell your kids stories, fill them in on the outdated stuff, point out the old technology, hair styles, clothing, cars, etc... Remind your children that you were once like them, don't be afraid of that common bond.

The Non-Traditionalist

I have a confession to make, I've never celebrated Lammas as a holiday. Then I realized, I rarely celebrate any of the holidays in the literal fashion. I do preform actual rituals, when I feel like it.  I'm just not a traditional hands-on person in the spiritual sense. I wasn't brought up religious, so it's not second nature for me to conform to these traditions. I like most adults wasn't brought up pagan, my parents were Christian in the looses sense. After childhood my family stopped practicing most holiday traditions and even big holidays like Christmas became just another day. As an adult I struggle with the basic efforts for the required holidays. Decorations don't go up themselves nor will they be put away.  I would like to be more festive, but is it really worth the dusting?  Will Martha Stewart maintain the up keep and put this stuff away when the season ends, or am I stuck cleaning up even more of a mess than I usually put up with?  I'm too practical to go completely nuts.

So what is my relationship with holidays? I have always been a solitary pagan. A quality I enjoy.  By my late teens, I was already accustomed with my family's neglect in festivities. At this moment in time I began to question the need for the material objects during rituals and ceremonies. What does it matter which color the candle is and why bother with it at all?  The candle doesn't have the power, I do. As I rediscovered rituals can have their meanings without all the colorful stipulations, I rediscovered magic and myself. I shouldn't force some energy for something that has always come naturally, so I stopped caring. 
The same concept applies with the holidays.

Another reason is I don't belong to a coven or any direct community. Because of this, there really isn't any incentive. Mind you, all the powers behind Christmas usually fails in their manipulative ploy of marketing affairs to engulf me with desires for material items made to make me feel less desirable. I entertain that I'm, sparing these groups an abundance of aggravation.


 Samhain, Yule, Imbolic, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas, Autumn Equinox can be wonderful holidays to celebrate, but because most of us are no longer farmers, many of these traditions need to be reexamined. Samhain, Yule and the Spring equinox have adapted to modern context. Halloween, Christmas and Easter, knock offs, but a step in the evolutionary latter in preserving these traditions.  

Holidays like Imbolic, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas and the Autumn Equinox didn't adapt as well as three other popular holidays. Mostly because of their strong ties to farming, once the most common profession, now one of the least. 

Imbolic  a time to order seeds and set up location for crops becomes pointless. Yet, we could take a step back and see there is more to this tradition to starting up a farm.  What I have come to realize it is no longer the planting I need to be focusing on, but my future. For me, this wasn't a time to create a Bridget doll and cradle. No need to light a red candle. I do not need to focus on a bride, but what the bride represents, the future. This could be checking out colleges or the want adds. It could be contacting that realtor about looking for a new place. Joining that gym to reach your weight goal.  Have a dream? This is often a good time to create and set a plan in motion.

As the wheel slowly moved to the
Spring Equinox, where having lived up north, I had a healthy appreciation for the first signs of spring. Be it a sprout of green peaking from a snow bank or buds covering the barren tree's, always brought me a feeling of hope. Living in Florida has changed my perspective. I have learned I am more successful nurturing and growing ideas better than plants and they too will suddenly grow. Planning a wedding, well where is your planner? Got that essay to write for that scholarship, get to it! Pants feeling looser? Before you dive into that chocolate cake, invest in a juicer. 
For me, if you can't celebrate

 Beltane with bonfires and debauchery, you can celebrate it by trying out different ideas or concepts. It may suck not enjoying Beltane in the traditional sense, you can at least make the best of it by embracing some of its meaning. For example, this is certainly a good day for trying something new. It could be a new food to a new experience like sky diving. 

Summer Solstice, the peak of the length of days. A time to embrace the divine masculine, which is often measured through aggressive assertions of dominance. This is a time to show your peacock feathers to the world. Be confident, look people in the eye. Embracing the strength you have earned from your hard work and discipline.

Lammas, a time of the first harvest for farmers. It's a time to reward yourself without undoing your goal. It might be a good time to splurge on an expensive item or fattening treat. It's a time to feel good about yourself. 
Come the Autumn Equinox,

our mortality becomes the subject of debate. As the seasons change from the peak of life, to the crippling fall in death, our own life we cycle played out year after year. As time goes by, your list of dead loved ones out number the living strangers amongst you. Grandchildren not yet born handling your affairs. This is a time to not fight, but accept your mortality.

Samhain has always been a spiritual time. I love dressing up and trick or treating. I've been Medusa, the grim reaper, Charlie Chaplin and much more. Even as a child, I saw magic everywhere that day. Something I never let go. Although I don't believe one day a witches broom shall grant my flight, my Charlie Chaplin costume caused me to connect with an older generation. This led to each others happiness. Although I'm  sure those gentlemen, I encounter that day have passed away, I'm convinced this has resulted in just another door to the land of the dead I have access to. To me the power in Samhain is about dressing up. 

Winter Solstice/Yule, is the longest night of the year. Next to Samhain, it is my most celebrated holiday, especially now as a parent. My daughter is still young and between four grandparents, she has managed a gift giving holiday that spans five days. What I try to do to compensate, because I do not have the funds to compete against the grandparents, is to spend time with my daughter around this time. Most often we are making  gifts. For me, this holiday could last over two weeks. Even before I was a parent and this time of year just meant overtime, I always reminded myself to be more giving. 

In the end, the Holidays are there to serve you, to help plan your year and your life. Use them wisely and don't be ashamed for not openly celebrating what you choose to practice.

The Asatru Hof and Same-Sex Marriage Controversy

Ásatrúarfélagið (belief/faith of the Æsir) 

Is an Icelandic religious association of the German Folk Religion. 

This group is accredited with the movement of modern day Asatru.  They have existed since the summer of 1972 and as of March of this year began working on the first Asatru "Hof" temple, in Iceland in over a thousand years. This is cause for celebration, sadly there is always someone to rain on your parade. Alsherjargooi (high-priest) Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson, has reported Ásatrúarfélagið has been receiving hate mail, including threats of vandalism to the hof. 

Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson 2009

This wasn't any outsider like a monotheist group becoming out of hand, but from Asatru groups, primarily from the United States. These angry groups and individuals are upset over Ásatrúarfélagið acceptance towards homosexuality and the hof being used to conduct same gender marriages. This has been a touchy issue in the United States and conservative anti marriage equality organizations are rather upset with same-sex marriage being officially legal in all 50 states earlier this year. Icelandic law has been providing gender neutral marriage documents, since June of 2010. It was voted unopposed and immensely popular amongst Icelandic citizens. Credit to Ásatrúarfélagið, they have been performing same-sex marriage ceremonies since 2003. The cultural differences between most European countries and the puritanical United States is staggering.

"At least three groups have been talking about going to Iceland,” Hilmar told The Wild Hunt. “They say, ‘it’s our temple, it’s our heritage, and these Icelandic idiots are doing it all wrong.'” 

The word Asatru, is really an ancient term for "belief/faith in the gods," is currently referred to those who follow the gods of Norse mythology and traditions. Much of what we know about this culture and it's religion was from Christian monks in the dark ages. These accounts are clouded under the churches prejudices, leaving out female warriors, leaders and clergy for example. It wasn't until recently re-examining of remains on old battle fields was it discovered that the Nordic people had inter-sex military. Asatru, is often misunderstood by today's society. It is intertwined with the image of the Viking. Although many Vikings were followers of the Nordic God's, not all whom honored the gods were Vikings. These were a proud and determine ancient people, who battled harsh winters, constant war, disease and death of as a part of their regular life. Most died young and only the strongest survived. It was a hard life in a roughed society. 

In surviving text and documents from monks, Asatru appears to be a primary patriarchy society. Patriachy usually looks down on femininity as weak and undesirable. Using references of feminine traits as mockery. When it came to male homosexual sex, being penetrated meant you were the defeated one. It's difficult to separate the actual context to the Christian influence of the time. Christianity was not the only patriarchal society, by no means. It is likely the Nordic tribes shared similar views, but went about their theology through different methods. Where the early churches was quick to kill any strong willed, dominant, disobedient or appearing masculine, women, the Norse encouraged this behavior. To be masculine was to be stronger, therefore better than feminine. 

Nordic people, along with the Celtics and Saxons, had fought many bloody campaigns against the Roman Empire, who were known for their sexual appetites, including men and boys. If taken as slaves, it was expected for all the women to be violated, but their young men and boys too. A great insult of feminization by penetration. Some cultures are even harder on male rape victims than female. The behavior of an enemy is often demonized and associated as an act of evil.  This is called rape and pederasty, not homosexuality, but is often mistaken as such. 

 This is not the same-sex relationships the Ásatrúarfélagið are involving in their hof in this modern time. Just as a modern civil heterosexual marriage shouldn't be compared to marriage by murdering most of a family and raping the young girls to birth children and be their slaves. If one can acknowledge the difference in a modern heterosexual marriage, certainly the same may be applied to same-sex marriage. 

Now I may not agree, but I do respect a persons right to their opinions and practice according to their personal faith, including their discrimination, whether I agree or not. All groups have some restrictions about who may join and may not. There are traditionalist who wish to remain with this old mentality. I do not deny them that right, no more than should they deny another's the right to have their personal evolution of  Asatru due to modern advancement. There are groups of Folkish Heathenism which could be an individual who chooses to personally only honoring God's and traditions of their heritage, to those who would go as far to exclude people from their hof over race. 

Thousands of years later, the quarrel between tribes of Europe have reincarnated themselves into football games. I'm not sure it's less bloody, but it gets their aggression out of the system without the mass death toll. People are not only surviving birth, but even living past 80. It's time these ancient mentalities have past. In order for anything is to survive, it has to evolve. Evolution simply means change over time. The concept isn't limited to just science, religions too evolves, including Asatru. Homosexuality isn't any more harmful than any other relationship or groups of individuals. All groups have their share of individuals who do horrible acts. Knowing the difference between a groups current stance on a topic, verses their classes of fools, creeps and bigots. The Ásatrúarfélagið understand this concept, even if a small but vocal minority refuses too. 

1. Most people understand the difference between a heterosexual, a homosexual and the offensive comparison to a pedophile. It's rather offensive that a man raping a boy is somehow worse than a man raping a girl. Hurting a child is wrong, not the consensual actions of adults, which is really a part of their life that doesn't at all concern you. 
2. Then suggesting bestiality will be legal. Explain how an animal is able to be held to a contract? Remember essentially, that is all a marriage is legally. 
3. Today's modern concept of marriage is extremely different. Arranged marriages and/or marriages of convenience are no longer the main reason people marry, it's love. 
4. Being unable to produce children is not at all a logical argument. Many couples who marry are unable to produce children naturally. Medical problems, age, sterilization, etc... would mean children are not always possible in the traditional sense. Adoption is an option, foster care, even modern technology making biological children through modern medicine, for both, both gender couples to same gender. Then there is the reality not all couples want children.

In the end, an out cry from Asatru and other tribal, spiritual, pagan, Wiccan, etc groups have rallied together in support. They are the flora which bloomed from this fertilizer.

Moon Songs

In honor of the blue moon, here s an array of songs you and your children may sing together. Music a simple medium to introduce magic to a child.

"Moon Greeting Song"
From 
It's a big big world

Hello moon
Yellow moon
You tell me it's bedtime soon
So we sing this mellow tune
Goodnight, goodnight
Keep a watch
Overhead
When we all go to our beds
Baby frogs and marmosets
Goodnight, goodnight
Tell the tides that I said Hi
When you go by the sea
And from the sky your lullaby
Will wash over me
So here's to you
My shiny friend
I'll enjoy the time we spend
Till the surgery comes up again
Goodnight, goodnight
Goodnight, goodnight
Goodnight, goodnight

Fat Shaming!

Once at a friend's house, I noticed a picture of a Sumo wrestler wearing a ballerina outfit on her refrigerator door. This was done to mock my friend, not by bullies in school or even a heartless sibling, but by an adult family member. This unacceptable behavior from anyone, but especially coming from close adult family member, must have been both hurtful and embarrassing to my friend.
In my twenties, while taking a young teenage girl shopping, her mother made it clear, not to allow her daughter to buy short skirts. Now I agree, a fourteen year old girl doesn't need to dress sexy, but her mother changed the entire context by completing the sentence,
"....because she has chubby legs." Right there in front of this beautiful girl, her mother's actions were harmful and cruel. Our children deserve better. Let us abandoned theses disgraceful methods, in favor for more positive changes.


In this very judgemental world, where everyone's self-esteem is brought through the ring of fire at one point in their life. This unavoidable part of life, where society pokes and prods at our insecurities. Anything will be used against the person, be it their weight, acne, family, lifestyle, financial status, disabilities, etc... It's a painful fact of life and how we deal with with theses individuals and situations often define our character. Yet the world is already filled with bullies and well meaning hard asses, the last thing any person suffering from any problem needs is to it down by those they love.

We as parents are suppose to be protectors from harm, to our children.  We know we can't prevent every mishap in their childhood, however both you and your child are able to stand up to bullies.

1. Look how you as the adult, treat yourself. Are you guilty of a negative self body image? So first stop bullying yourself. It doesn't just hurt you, but your child who is your biggest fan. Don't let them down by bring yourself down. Focus on bringing not just your child's self-esteem, but your own. In childhood the two are intertwined.
2. Build up your child's self-esteem, but don't let it become arrogance. Instead teach yourself and your children build up others around them. Teach your children to appreciate the joys of life, including the people they encounter.  
   
3. Accept when your child is at fault. No one is perfect, especially our children. Rather than pretend the problem isn't there, address it. If you aren't sure your child is guilty or even if you are convinced they are innocent, it wouldn't hurt to go over the subject, including acceptable behavior.
4. Don't be afraid to confront teachers, parents, principles, etc... over the treatment your child receives. Children should not be taught to just live with this behavior. This kind of abuse could follow them into their work life, condemning them to victimization. Still, be civil and open to the other side.
5. If two children don't seem to get along, their parents should arrange a lunch between the two families, to try to figure out what the problem may be. This could give both children a chance to understand each other, rather than just deal with the behavior problem.
6. When in doubt, no reason not to seek some help. Finding a counselor for advice or even just to talk, can help you and your child work out any skills which need to addressed.
7. Be open to accept respectable criticism. Sometimes people speak up to tell us an unpleasant truth because they care. They need not be the one to say it to your child and should have the tact to speak their concerns to the parents in private. Maybe your child is putting on weight and you should then talk to your pediatrician about the matter. Sometimes your child will need to gain extra weight, especially right before and the early stages of puberty. If the weight is a concern, work out a diet and exercise plan in you chicks schedule. There is no reason to make the issue abusive. Children just need your support, your love, but not the baggage of failed methods.

Sadly our society focuses a great deal over appearances than we do in intelligence, kindness, education, family or most, pressing social and goble issues. We pay beautiful more to the point, it's an asset. It's an unfortunate reality of life, but as parents it's a reality we have the power to change. To change ourselves and how we raise our children could alter the world in a generation. Let's grow past this shallowness and give our children something more than skin deep.