Wyrd Updates

The last few months have definitely been hectic and have kept me on the move.  In October I went to the Netherlands and had an amazing trip with my partner.  Showing him the land of my ancestors and my homeland was really fun and exciting. It feels wonderful to be back in the country that is a second home to me.

A wonderful part of the trip was to travel to Leiden to see the Nehalennia votive stones at the Rijksmuseum Oudheden. The stones were carved by merchants to honor her and thank her for their safe travels. Nehalennia is a Goddess of the region and is likely associated with the Vanir. 

We later traveled to Colijnsplaat to visit a temple that is maintained on her behalf.  Unfortunately it was closed and we could not find the caretakers, but it was wonderful to make the trek, leave some offerings, and see the temple in person.

 

After returning to the States, I completed some episodes for podcast and in January, we adopted two kittens from the local shelter. They had been there for a while so were a bit wild and in a flurry one day crashed the computer hard-drives. We spent a couple weeks recovering data and then had just raw data (sometimes 3 or 4 copies) but no directory files. So they are just files that are not organized and the recovery often just renumbered the file and did not preserve the file name.  So we are still going through – separating photos from documents and placing them into new folders.

Along with that, a program I use for recording skype calls failed. Fortunately, my friend Lonnie at Weird Web Radio found a very good replacement.  Yeah Lonnie!!!!

Work has had me on travel and some family illness and death have kept me travelling and pre-occupied that I haven’t been able to sit down and work with the new program and get a new episode out.

This podcast will continue and I appreciate your patience as I work on these issues and get order restored. I am in contact with some very cool people about coming onto the podcast and getting back to a regular production schedule.

Thank you again for your continued support and patience.

May Braggi guide the podcast and may Nehalennia watch over our travels.

Jan Tjeerd

Vanir Challenge Coins

Being a veteran of the military, I love challenge coins. They are great items to share with others and have a bit of camaraderie with others of similar experiences. The coins are great collectible items to exchange or give out as a token or reminder of something special. They are usually brass and about 1.75″ in diameter. Some are designed with colors as well.

Last year, I thought it would be great to have a Heathen challenge coin. I decided to honor the Vanir using the Vanatru Boar designed by Ember (interviewed on episode 7 of the podcast). The Vanatru boar is based on an image she found that was discovered on a coin in an archaeological find. She stylized it for use to represent today’s Vanatru movement.

On the reverse I placed the elder futhark runes in circle and created a bindrune talisman for propserity. It is Elhaz bringing the blessings of the Gods into Ingwaz for fertility to go out into Fehu – prosperity.

If you are interested in a Vanir Challenge coin please contact Jan at giftsofthewyrd@gmail.com. $10 for each coin which will pay for manufacturing and shipping in the U.S.  Any proceeds support the podcast and other inclusive Heathen organizations.

Catching up on listing the podcasts

Hello folks.

I have been sorely remiss in updating the blog. So much happening since October – making sure all is done is a challenge.  My apologies.

With this this post I want to just update the podcast listing then will follow with an update.

Thank you for your patience.

Episode 8 Heathen Practices

• 1) Inclusive vs exclusive Heathenry.
• 2) Localizing your Heathenry.
• 3) Writing prayer devotionals and poetry/praise to the Gods and Goddesses.

Episode 9: Yule Traditions

Rune Reading for 2017: Jan pulls runes for the incoming 2017.

• Rune pull for 2016 – what it was like
• Where we are now and 2017
• How we can move into 2017

Episode 10:  Bindrunes – Creating Rune talismans to aid your personal workings and magic. (using the Elder Futhark runes). 

 

Featured image courtesy of Huginn’s Heathenhof.

Music used with permission from Hauk and Varttina.

For Gifts of the Wyrd listeners: Hauk has made available four of his CDs for a special price of $25 including First-Class shipping to U.S. addresses (Priority Mail shipping $2 additional. Foreign addresses actual shipping price). This is a limited time offer and only while supplies last. CDs include: No Mercy for the Slain; Love Songs, Lamentations, and Lifthrasir; To Hear the Trumpets Call; and Hard Lemonade. (offer good for these four CDs only).  email giftsofthewyrd@gmail.com.

 

Episodes 6 & 7 posted

hello folks. Episodes 6 & 7 have been posted at http://www.giftsofthewyrd.podbean.com.

Ember Cooke of The Redwood Vanatru Tradition joins the Podcast. Ember serves the Vanir – Freyja, Freyr, and Their kin – as a priestess, minister, teacher, bard, artist, medium, and witch. Or to put it the Heathen way, as a gythia, galdrakona, and seidhkona.

Rune for this episode: Berkano

For information about The Redwood Vanatru Tradition, please look at Ember’s Blog, Ember Voices. There she has several articles about the tradition. If you have any other questions, send her a message, she is happy to discuss.

Ember invites listeners to check out the online shrines to the Vanir at Northern Paganism.

Gifts of the Wyrd Podcast Episode 6

This episode we interview the newly elected Steersman of The Troth, Robert L. Schreiwer. The Troth is open to all who seek to know and to honor the Gods, ancestors, and values of the Germanic Heathen traditions, regardless of gender, race, nationality or sexual orientation. Download this and previous podcasts from Podbean or iTunes.

Join us as Rob shares his excitement at working with the organization in his new role and to continue to provide a welcome place of Heathen practice.

Follow on Twitter @WyrdGifts.         Email feedback to GiftsoftheWyrd@gmail.com.     NEW! Facebook page for Gifts of the Wyrd. Facebook.com/giftsofthewyrd
Leave a rating and feedback on iTunes.

Links to The Troth:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter: @AtTheTroth

 

 

Music: All selections on this podcast are written, produced, copywritten and used with permission by the musicians.

Intro: Veginomicon from the album Apple Blossoms and Abandoned Tracks – 2014
Outro: Five for Freya from Apple Blossoms and Abandoned Tracks – 2014
Oi Dai by Vartiina from the album Oi Dai released 1991 website: Varttina
Visit www.haukmusic.com; Hauk.Bandcamp.com

Episodes 4 and 5 published

Jan and Laine are caught up and have released episode 4 : Blot, Sumbles, Rituals at the end of May and just released (June 20, 2016) episode 5: An Interview with Heathen Musician Hauk Heimdallsman.  Download from Podbean here or from iTunes.

Join us with a very fun interview with Hauk as he discusses his journey to music and creating music that is Heathen based as well as non-Heathen tunes that are great to listen to. Hauk’s wide variety of musical styles make for interesting songs and albums to appeal to many music listeners.

For a limited time (and while supplies last) a special offer of 4 albums for $25 including First-Class shipping to U.S. addresses (Priority Mail + $2/International – actual shipping price).  Email GiftsoftheWyrd@gmail.com  for an invoice and PayPal instructions.

CDs include:

No Mercy for the Slain; Love Songs, Lamentations, and Lifthrasir; To Hear the Trumpets Call; and Hard Lemonade. (offer good for these four CDs only).

Visit www.haukmusic.com; Hauk.Bandcamp.com; BlackHatSociety.Bandcamp.

Follow on Twitter @WyrdGifts.  email to GiftsoftheWyrd@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a rating and feedback on iTunes. Ratings and feedback helps the search matrix to make it easier to find. With so few Heathen and Pagan podcasts competing against other religious based podcasts, this will help give it some exposure. Thank you!

For an upcoming episode, we would like to have input from our listeners about Frigga and Freya.

Do you think Frigga and Freya are two separate, individual Goddesses? Or do you think They are actually one Goddess worshiped in different areas under different names?

Let us know how you came to that conclusion. What references in lore, what your personal meditations and gnosis received, and what shared gnosis has formed your view? We will not use your identifying information – we would just like to know how folks view Her/Them.