Ryan's Desk

Ice

2013-02-21T11:28:00.001-08:00

Grinding groans mighty moans Great sound echoes deep, loud Creeping crawling mighty Cold rising north sea's hold Shrinking slipping shattered Shorn battered torn dying Weeping Skadi's warbling Woe soaring over snow

Fire

2013-02-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

Frantic leaping frolics Flame growing shrinking wane Whipping crackling wild Wrestling feasting fully Chortling Cheerful sings Charming carols warming Hearths hearken homes warmth Heating hearts, warming lives

The Might of the Hammer

2013-01-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

The hammer is one of the most well-known and popular Heathen symbols today. Most commonly it is revered as the primary symbol of Thor, the Thunder God and protector of Midgard and humanity. It is a powerful, direct symbol but it is one which is only understood as a blunt instrument. Many, especially in modern society, see the hammer as nothing more than a crude implement whose main function is

Right Action

2012-08-16T15:36:00.001-07:00

One of the main questions posed to Heathens and Pagans when we first explain our beliefs to others is usually something like, "So you actually believe in those Gods?" The common assumption in this question is the entire point of religion and spirituality is worshiping divinity. If the Gods a person believes in do not exist it would argue, logically, the beliefs surrounding those Gods are

Open Letter to the Rede of the Troth

2012-06-14T16:53:00.003-07:00

Open Letter to the Rede of the Troth: I am an active Heathen and recently lapsed member of the Troth. The reason I joined the Troth was because it is a Heathen organization that is open to anyone. The Troth's stand on tolerance is the reason why a recent statement by Victoria Clare, the Steerswoman of the High Rede, on the matter of hailing Loki during Troth-sponsored events shocked me. That

Solidarity

2012-06-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

There are many ethical and spiritual virtues in Pagan and Heathen practice. Which ones are followed are a matter of which tradition a person follows and their interpretation of its ideas. There are many options in the rich diversity of traditions in the community to choose from. In this tapestry of ideas there are many to choose from but a few are shared by many. They may have different

Right to Rebel, Duty to Resist

2012-01-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Modern Heathens take great pride in personal independence, refusing to bow before distant authorities or divine masters. This is not surprising, many who follow Heathen practices do so out of personal choice full well knowing their decision will push them to the fringes of modern Western society. The choice to follow any polytheistic practice, in an age when monotheism is the norm, is a small

Ayn Rand and Asatru

2011-11-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

As an American Asatruar I have met a lot of Heathens whose philosophy is strongly influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand. Rand, the founder of the Objectivist movement, railed against traditional morality and altruism arguing these ideas hold back human potential. The Heathens who cite Rand and Objectivism as influences argue the romanticizing of the rugged individual is a solid understanding

Hi everybody!

2011-06-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

So first off apologies for my somewhat sporadic posting pretty much everywhere lately. I'm kind of terrible about making myself stay to a particular schedule for this blog and life hasn't been helping. That said this blog is far from dead. I've got a few things planned that will be coming out soon (hopefully I can make myself do something every week)Speaking of stuff planned a few months ago I

The Big Lie

2011-06-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

There is a big split in the Heathen community, one that most Heathens become aware of shortly after they first come into contact with Germanic lore. While there are many specifics and nuances to the competing ideologies the heart of the matter lies in the importance of ancestors and heroes in modern practice. No Heathen in the world would deny the importance of heritage and reverence for our

The End of Jihad

2011-05-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

Bin Laden's death at the hands of SEAL Team Six on Sunday has sent shockwaves around the world. The mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks who stayed out of reach of American forces for nearly a decade, given up as missing before President Bush was out of office, was found and slain in his plush Pakistani compound by America's finest. In life bin Laden was a constant reminder of the limitations of

New McCarthyism

2011-04-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Congressman Cliff Stearns' (R-Fl) amendment to the 9/11 first responders aid bill went into effect. What is this amendment you ask? One that has the gall to question the patriotism of the heroes of that terrible day:"(5) DISQUALIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS ON TERRORIST WATCH LIST.-No individual who is on the terrorist watch list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security shall

Rocks and Shoals

2011-04-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

In the fall of 2010 the Tea Party was swept into power on a wave of voter discontent promising to turn the country around by reigning in out of control government spending. They were riding high on populist anger pushing a hard ideological line as the solution to our nation's problems. Five months later the Tea Party's approval ratings have plummeted, Republican governors riding the wave have

New Series on Atlas Shrugged

2011-03-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

Ok this one is for real, I swear!With the upcoming release of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand's magnum opus, to the silver screen and the increasing popularity of Rand's ideas in the political right the novel has taken on new importance and relevance for modern Americans. While I personally reject most of Rand's philosophy I have to admit that I have not actually read any of her books. To fix both the

State of Fiscal Emergency

2011-03-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

To say the states of the Union are facing fiscal problems would be an understatement. With nearly every state in the country facing serious budget deficits as the recession takes its toll and stimulus funds drying up states are doing whatever they can to stay above water. Whether through steep cuts in spending in Texas, structural reforms in California, or weakening public unions in the Midwest

Life, Suffering, and Asatru

2011-03-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Regardless of belief system suffering is an issue we all face every day. Whether it is personal or the suffering of other people the question of why is a universal one. Every system has its own way of explaining the cause of human suffering. In the Vedic cosmology karma, the results of deeds in this or a previous life, are the cause of human suffering. In the Abrahamic religions all suffering

Tacking into the Wind

2011-02-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

The clash over Governor Scott Walker's effort to strip Wisconsin's public unions of the right to collectively bargain has reached a new level of intensity. This morning Governor Walker gave his ultimatum to the absent Senate Democrats: return to Madison or state workers will receive layoff notices. In the latest of a string of escalations Walker's stubborn refusal to compromise or negotiate has

Guided by the Gods - Human Nature and Asatru

2011-02-21T18:45:00.000-08:00

Human nature is one of the foundation stones of ethical philosophy. Every philosophy the world over, from Rousseau’s theories on the General Will to Lord Shang's stark Legalism, are based on fundamental axioms of what defines humanity. These assumptions regarding human nature determine how one should treat other people, view the world, and live your life. In the West the most dominant theories

The Wisconsin Deficit “Crisis”, the Madison “Riots”, and Other Myths

2011-02-18T00:13:00.000-08:00

The political situation in Wisconsin has come to a head following the proposal of a budget bill by newly elected Republican Governor Scott Walker which would for all intents and purposes strip public employees with the exception of police, firefighters, and state troopers of the right to collectively bargain. Governor Walker has claimed this radical measure is necessary to avert a deficit crisis

Shrinking the Size of Government

2011-02-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

In 2010 the Republican Party ran on the platform of reducing the size of government and job creation. While the job creation part is debatable, with their only success so far being failure at repealing the health care bill, the reducing size of government is not. True to form, as was shown consistently in the Bush years, the GOP has set their sights on shrinking government so small it could fit

Mapping the Religious Right: Focus on the Family

2011-02-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

The Religious Right is a powerful force in American politics and society, tipping elections and making themselves one of the most influential voting blocs in the country. Their objectives are worn on their sleeves; their zeal unquestionable. Yet for everything that is known far more remains just out of common knowledge. In this series we will delve into this unknown tracking down more on their

Update to posting

2011-01-27T20:42:00.001-08:00

Ok so I've figured out a new schedule I'm going to be sticking to (as closely as possible). I will be posting Mapping the Religious Right as a regular series weekly every Monday. I will periodically post other pieces on Wednesday or Thursday nights.I will do the best I can to stick to this. If I miss a week I apologize in advance.

Mapping the Religious Right: Gary Bauer

2011-01-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

Rights Without Responsibility

2011-01-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

On Saturday the United States saw unfold a terrible tragedy that has left many dead, including a Federal judge and a nine year old girl, and more wounded. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona only just escaped death by luck and remains in critical condition. Yet this act did not take place in a vacuum. It happened hot on the heels of one of the most vitriolic and downright vicious

Antisocialism

2010-12-22T16:02:00.000-08:00

Socialism, even though it has yet to become a major political force in America, has manged in the last two years to dominate the political dialog. This is very ironic and surprising considering there is only one federal elected official who actually is a Socialist. In spite of that the backbone of the opposition to health care reform, a plan very similar to one proposed by no less than Richard