Der Letscht Sege / Last Rite (Urglaawe)

Meeg dir die Rees blatt sei.  (Roon Reit)
Meeg fer dich es Schtromwasser waarem sei  (Loch)
Meeg dir der Laaf darrich der Busch sicher sei (Baerk)
Un meege der Holle ihre Hend dich darrich die Miehl voraafiehre. (Yaahr)
Meeg dei Warick dir en guder Urleeg baue (Engel)
Meeg dei Naame lang gschproche warre (Gewwe)
Mit gudem Lob un mit Liewe.  (Winsch)
Meeg dich die Vorgenger aalache. (Ochdem)
Weil du des Lewe verlosscht (Haagel)
Weess as du dei Abdruck hinterlosse hoscht. (Eis)
Vorwaerts noch die Miehl! (Reit)
Vorwaerts noch Endlosichkeet! (Yaahr)
Heele zum Reeser / zur Reesern  (Fackel)
Mach's immer besser! (Engel)
Mach's immer so! (Mann)

May your journey be smooth and even,  (Reit rune)
May the stream waters be warm for you. (Loch)
May the walk through the wilderness be safe (Baerk)
And may the hands of Holle guide you to the Mill.  (Yaahr)
May your actions build you a good Urleeg (Engel)
May your name long be spoken (Gewwe)
With a good reputation and with love. (Winsch)
May the forebears smile upon you. (Ochdem)
As you leave this life, (Haagel)
Know that you have left behind your imprint. (Eis)
Forward toward the Mill! (Reit)
Forward toward infinity! (Yaahr)
Hail to the traveler! (Fackel)
Make it always better! (Engel)
Make it always so!  (Mann)

______________________________________
Robert L. Schreiwer, 13. Gehling 2019

To be used as a final rite when someone is nearing death.

Harvest of the Grain Goddess

“‘Siss net alle Daag Ernt”


So goes the old proverb


Indeed, every day is not the harvest.


The harvest is special;


It empowers us
,

Feeds us
,

And carries us forth.


Like the Grain Goddess
--

Anticipated
,

Expected
,

Yet Her name so elusive


Through the rocky course of history.


Yet we know 

She exists;


We feel Her pull, 


And we yearn to meet Her.


She feeds us as Her own


For we are kernels nestled together


Protected by Her husk.


Her silky hair surrounds us


As we grow as siblings
.

Her name reflects the strength of kin


As She reveals Herself to us at last:


Siwwa, Sibba, Sippa, Sif


Hail to the Grain Goddess!


Hail to the Lady of Kinship!


In Thy hall every day is the harvest.


And the grains fall to us in Mannheem.


We plant them 


And nourish our bodies


And our souls.

-- Robert L. Schreiwer, 2019

The Apples of Idunn

All hail the Apple


Perennial fruit of health!


That which keeps the doctor away.


Medium of tests,


Such as the shaking of Holle´s tree.


Medium of schemes,


Such as the poisoned ones of tales.


This Apple


Is a mighty fruit!


Often not given its due


In this modern age


Of widespread transport


Bringing fruit from all places


To a store near each of us.


Yet the Apple holds a higher place


As the Guardian of the Gods


Keeping Age and Death at bay


And thwarting even Time.


Who is worthy to carry them,


These incarnations of Life Force?


It is the graceful Idunn,


Goddess of Rejuvenation,


Who bears the miraculous fruit.


Science has proven


What the ancients knew from experience.


That which Idunn brings


Bestows health and wellness


Upon those who partake of it.


So hail to the Apple,


Hail to the Great Goddess Idunn!


Hail also to the community


That She sustains! 

--  Robert L. Schreiwer, 2019

Es Erntfescht

The "Yankee" Thanksgiving was originally widely rejected by the Deitsch, since we have our own observances of thanksgiving that fall around the autumn equinox. Erntfescht (Urglaawe use), Erntedankfescht, and Harvest Home are expressions of these observances, which are rooted in ancient practices and sustained into the current era.

This weekend, Urglaawe communities will conduct in their annual food drives, seed and crop swaps, and celebrations of the bounty of this wonderful land.

Of course, this does not negate the celebration of Thanksgiving in November; having two observances of gratefulness is a wonderful thing. It is, however, culturally and physically relevant to our location on the globe to keep our traditions alive. :)

Given the state of the environment these days, we cannot overstate how important the gratitude for the harvest is. Erntfescht features seed swaps, meaning that you bring seeds from your gardens or from your favorite foods that others can take to begin to grow the same plants in their gardens; you may take what interests you. Those of us who have gardens can bring what we grow for others to partake of. The altar features our harvested plants, so bring some with you, if you grow any. We also collect food for local pantries at this time, but only give if you are able and to the point at which you are able; no one is keeping track of donors. This is about community, community helping community, and us reaching outside of our closest circle to help to strengthen the wider community.

Hail to the Harvest! 

Upcoming Distelfink Events

Below is a list of Distelfink events for the remainder of 2019. Other Urglaawe Sippschaft and Freibesitze may follow similar ritual schedules.

September 21: Erntfescht

September 26: Montly Heathen Pubmoot / Stammtisch (Newportville)

September 28: York Pagan Pride (actual Zisasege feast day)

Presentation at York Pagan Pride: Urglaawe and the Goddess Zisa

The Heathen tradition of Urglaawe arises from surviving Heathen-era folklore, “superstitions,” herbalism, and customs in the Deitsch (Pennsylvania Dutch or Pennsylvania German culture). Some of these elements are clear while others require reconstruction from Germanic lore or “dot connecting between our lore and information from other sources. The goddess Zisa falls into the latter category. Known as a goddess of the Suevi, Her feast day falls on September 28. She is believed to be the consort of Ziu (Tyr), and many Urglaawer and other Heathens honor Her as a central figure in their personal practice. In this workshop, we will discuss Urglaawe basics, share more about Zisa’s expanding lore in the current era, and honor this goddess justice on Her feast day.

October 5: South Jersey Pagan Pride Day - Running main ritual

October 6: 336th anniversary of the official beginning of the Great Deitsch Migration

October 19 AM: Pocono Witch Festival and Ball (Urglaawe/Braucherei presentation in the AM)

October 19 PM: Oak Haven Farm Haunted House

October 24: Monthly Heathen Pubmoot/Stammtisch (note date change to 10/24 due to Halloween)

October 26: Allelieweziel observance at Birch House

October 30 (sunset): Allelieweziel begins.

November 9: Ewicher Yeeger observance at the cemetery

November 11: Allelieweziel ends

November 21: Monthly Heathen Pubmoot / Stammtisch (note date changed to 11/21 due to Thanksgiving)

December 8: Onset of Voryuul

December 13: Lutzelfraaslaaf at Distelfink Gaarde Bristol

December 14: Parade of Spirits, Philadelphia

December 20 (sunset): Yuul begins

December 21: Yuulsege at Oak Haven Farm

December 26: Monthly Heathen Pubmoot / Stammtisch (Newportville)

December 31 (sunset): Berchtaslaaf begins

January 1 (daytime): Luulfescht (Feast of Frey)

January 1 (sunset): Yuul ends and Berchtoldsdaag begin

To Erda at Hoietfescht

Grandmother Erda,

Show me the way.

Teach me to nourish the soil.

Guide my hand when planting.

Share with me the joys of a bountiful harvest.


Keep me grounded during the frozen winters.


I love the paintings you make on the land in wildflowers,

as well as the songs you write in the forests and the woodlands.


Guide my hands to do your work, so that I may revel in your work.

                                                           -- Rebecca Spille, Hoietfescht 2019

Today I build an altar...

Today I build an altar...
A simple altar
Built in honor of the Shining Ones.
To those who have seen their shrines destroyed.
And their followers persecuted or killed for their beliefs.
This altar stands for the victory of freedom over terror.
Freedom of religion.
Sovereignty of conscience.
Integrity of personal and communal property.
It is built in defiance of the zealots and the missionaries
Who brazenly trod upon the rights and will of others,
And who attempted to remove the influence, memory, and history of the many deities across the continents.

Today I light a fire in the memory of these deities...

May the light of this small fire drive away the shadows that the prophets of jealousy placed around our gods and goddesses.

May connections, knowledge, and wisdom be restored.

May the names of these hidden deities be spoken by the people again, and may freedom to determine our beliefs be in the hands of the people again.
Today I utter the names of these deities aloud, and my voice shall join a throng of others who are honoring and hailing the hidden deities of their cultures, traditions, and beliefs.

Jecha
Stuffo
Biel
Lohra
Reto

Come today and be our honored guests!

Hail!