Dignity

Dignity

diGnity

Principles and Guidance: The inherent Worth and Dignity of every being.

¥      For Wiccans, compassion allows you to have true love, not only for others, but also for yourself.

¥      Human dignity is the fundamental principle of the German constitution.  Article 1, paragraph 1 reads: "Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority."

¥      Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them Do unto you...

 

Dignity is a term used in moral, ethical, and political discussions to signify that a being has an innate right to respect and ethical treatment.  It is an extension of the Enlightenment-era concepts of inherent, inalienable rights. Dignity is generally proscriptive and cautionary: for example in politics it is usually used to critique the treatment of oppressed and vulnerable groups and peoples, but it has also been extended to apply to cultures and sub-cultures, religious beliefs and ideals, animals used for food or research and plants.

In the 20th century, dignity became an issue for physicians and medical researchers.  It has been invoked in questions of the bioethics of human genetic engineering, human cloning, and end-of-life care.

The Eight Wiccan Virtues come to us from Doreen Valiente. These eight virtues were first revealed in her writing, "The Charge of the Goddess." They are presented in pairs of complementary opposites which balance each other and reflect a dualism that is commonly found in Wiccan philosophy. The Eight Wiccan Virtues are listed in the line, "Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you."

Compassion allows you to have true love, not only for others, but also for yourself. It allows you to forgive yourself when you make mistakes. It's also the ability to have deep feelings and concern for the misfortune and suffering of others. Compassion allows you to share another's pain, gives you the desire to relieve it, and the willingness to act on that desire.

 

The Nine Noble Virtues are derived from the ancient Norse teachings and the Asatru religion.  These virtues coincide with the virtues of warrior cultures throughout the world, and once again proves that true character and honor is universal. 

Hospitality is one of the Nine Noble Virtues.  Hospitality and/or the golden rule was definitely a Viking trait.  The warrior is expected to treat others with respect and dignity. You must see other people as people who deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy. The Vikings believed that sometimes the Gods would visit people in human form and that in being disrespectful to strangers they could also be disrespecting the Gods.

Gar G is a spear, not just any spear, but the mighty Gungnir, wielded by Odin, the very same spear which pierced him as he hung in the tree Yggdrasil for nine nights in order to find the runes and bring them back from beyond all realities.  Phonetically, gar represents the g-sound, sacrifice and dignity.

Laguz l represents Water in all its forms. Water is an essential ingredient to life. All living creatures rely on it to survive. Water is associated with emotions of all kinds, but predominantly with healing, peacefulness, love, truth, compassion, intuition and forgiveness .

 

Hlin, the one who takes pity, Goddess of compassion and consolation, Frigg's second attendant.  She was sent to kiss away the tears of mourners and pour balm into hearts wrung by grief.  She also listened to the prayers of mortals, carrying them to her mistress, and advising her at times how best to answer them and give the desired relief.  She protects people whom Frigg wishes to save from a danger.

Aegir is the God of the sea. He is also known as Hler. Aegir was often called the ruler of the sea in the Poetic Edda. Aegir brewed ale for the Gods. Every winter the Gods would drink beer at Aegir's home. He was, therefore, famed for his hospitality.

 

"We should behave to our friends as we
would wish our friends to behave to us."
         Aristotle

 

 

A Year in Review!

Acceptance

Dignity

Justice

Love

Rede

Strength

Temperance

Truth

Volunteer

Wisdom

Fenrir

In Norse mythology, Fenrir is a wolf.  Fenrir was the eldest of three children between Loki and the giantess Angrboda. The Gods kept Fenrir in Asgard so that they might keep an eye on him.

When he was still a pup they had nothing to fear, but when the Gods saw one day how he had grown, they decided to render him harmless.  However, none of the Gods had enough courage to face the gigantic wolf.  Instead, they tried to trick him. They said the wolf was weak and could never break free when he was chained.  Fenrir accepted the challenge and let the Gods chain him with iron.  Unfortunately, he was so immensely strong that he managed to break the strongest fetters as if they were cobwebs.

The Gods learned of a prophecy which stated that the wolf and his family would one day be responsible for the destruction of the world. They caught the wolf and locked him in a cage.  Fenrir had grown so large that when he opened his mouth, his lower jaw would be against the Earth and his upper jaw would scrape the universe.  Flames burned from his eyes and nostrils.  Only God Tyr was brave enough to feed him.

The Gods saw only one alternative: a magic chain (killing was forbidden in Asgard). They ordered the dwarves to make something so strong that it could hold the wolf.  The result was a soft, thin ribbon: Gleipnir.  It was incredibly strong, despite what its size and appearance might suggest.  The ribbon was fashioned of six elements: the footstep of a cat; the roots of a mountain; a woman's beard; the breath of fishes; the sinews of a bear; and a bird's spittle.  That is why these things are very rare in the world today.

The Gods tried to trick the wolf again, only this time Fenrir was less eager to show his strength.  He saw how thin the chain was and said that was no pride in breaking such a weak chain. Eventually, though, he agreed, thinking that otherwise his strength and courage would be doubted.  

Suspecting treachery however, he in turn asked the Gods for a token of good will: one of them had to put a hand between his jaws. The Gods were not overly eager to do this, knowing what they could expect.  Finally, only Tyr agreed, and the Gods chained the wolf with Gleipnir.  No matter how hard Fenrir struggled, he could not break free from this thin ribbon.  In revenge, he bit off Tyr's hand.

Being very pleased with themselves, the Gods carried Fenrir off and chained him to a rock, Gioll, a mile down into the Earth.  When Fenrir howls in his anger, the ground and mountains tremble violently and deep fractures form and rocks were thrown around.  They put a sword between his jaws to prevent him from biting.  On the day of Ragnarok, Fenrir will break his chains and join the giants in their battle against the Gods.  He will seek out Odin and devour him. Odin's son Vidar will avenge his father by killing the wolf.  Vidar will grasp his jaws with one hand and tear his mouth apart, killing the beast at last.

 

 

 

Animals

Elements Table

Wolf

May Day

Mmery BbeltAne

 

The moon in waning with temperatures in the 70s.  It is also Loyalty Day here in America so a great day for cleaning the yard and hanging up the flag.  The roses were trimmed and the rest of the beds are ready for planting in a few weeks.  Summer is coming!

 

Today, I stand for beauty.
I stand for apple blossom and finch.
I stand for sun, and wind, and sky.
I stand for the shaking of the fig tree,
And the growing of the lettuce and the pea.

 

Today, I stand for beauty.
I stand for music to lighten the soul.
I stand for healing balms to comfort wounds.
I stand for kind words in the tempest,
And a scrap of bright cloth in the mud of war.

 

Today, I stand for beauty.
Heart open to the world.
Today, I conjure hope. And strength.
With the courage and the love to carry on.
Leap the fire with me,
In Beauty’s name.

 

Blessings be upon you. Blessings, all.

 

 

Beltane

May Day

May Pole

Mother's Day

 

Beltane

April's showers have given way to rich and fertile earth, and as the land greens, there are few celebrations as representative of fertility as Beltane. This holiday incorporates traditions from the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, but it bears some relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as May pole dancing).  It is the celebration of the mystical union with the land, honoring Freyr and Freya.  Observed on May 1, festivities typically begin the evening before, on the last night of April.  It's a time to welcome the abundance of the fertile earth.

May Day on May 1 is an ancient Northern Hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures.  May Day is a festival that has been somewhat lost but is best known for its tradition of dancing the maypole dance.

Depending on your particular tradition, there are many different ways you can celebrate Beltane, but the focus is nearly always on fertility.  An early morning walk through a local park or forest could be fun for everyone. Gather up some plants or flowers to display in your home.  Mom and daughter could braid their hair and weave in a few tender blossoms.  It's the time when the earth mother opens up to the fertility god, and their union brings about healthy livestock, strong crops, and new life all around.

Beltane Fire

Bonfires are traditionally lit to keep away malevolent spirits or those who might do us mischief.  The ritual welcoming of the sun and the lighting of the fires was also believed to ensure fertility of the land and the people. Animals were transferred from winter pens to summer pastures, and were driven between the Beltane fires to cleanse them of evil spirits and to bring fertility and a good milk yield. The Celts leapt over Beltane fires - for fertility and purification.

Plantings

For many contemporary Pagans, Beltane is a time for planting and sowing of seeds -- again, the fertility theme appears.  Urban Pagans can start a herb garden in their kitchen.  The buds and flowers of early May bring to mind the endless cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth that we see in the earth. Certain trees are associated with May Day, such as the Ash, Oak and Hawthorn.   Norse legend, the God Odin hung from an Ash tree for nine days, and it later became known as the World Tree, Yggdrasil.

Maypole

The maypole (May Tree) - a phallic pole planted deep in the earth representing the potency and fecundity of the God, its unwinding ribbons symbolized the unwinding of the spiral of life and the union of male and female - the Goddess and God. Young maidens and lads each hold the end of a ribbon and dance revolving around the base of the pole, interweaving the ribbons.  It is usually topped by a ring of flowers to represent the fertile Goddess. 

 

Handfasting

This ancient Pagan and Celtic ceremony marked the taking of a partner - this involves a commitment to perform an annual review of relationship.  The couple's hands are ritually bound together to symbolize their union.  Some people choose to use a ribbon that they have both signed.  Between Beltane and the Summer Solstice is the most popular time for handfastings.

 

Thanks to the Earth Mother

Great earth mother!
We give you praise today
and ask for your blessing upon us.
As seeds spring forth
and grass grows green
and winds blow gently
and the rivers flow
and the sun shines down
upon our land,
we offer thanks to you for your blessings
and your gifts of life each spring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-yYa_6fSNs

 

Beltane

May Day

May Pole

Mother's Day

Handfasting

 

Wisdom from the world's religions inspires our ethical and spiritual life.

 

Eagle

Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with a heavy head and beak.  Most of the more than sixty species of eagles occur in Eurasia and Africa.  Outside this area, just eleven species can be found – two species in the United States and Canada, nine species in Central America and South America, and three species in Australia.

Due to the size and power of many eagle species, they are ranked at the top of the food chain as apex predators amongst the avian world.  They have powerful hooked beaks, strong legs, mighty talons and eyesight that is exceptionally keen.  Eagles normally build their nests in tall trees or on high cliffs. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. The dominant chick tends to be the female, as they are bigger than the male.

Eagles feature prominently on the coat of arms of a large number of countries, such as Germany, Mexico, Egypt, Poland and Austria.  They are also symbols in religion, crime and more.  The Eagle is the universal emblem of the Gods of the sky. The cosmic eagle is a symbol of the highest aspirations of the spirit and its triumph over the physical nature. This is why the eagle is so often depicted in combat with serpents or bulls, creatures who symbolize earthly desire or evil. It is also most often a solar symbol, but sometimes it is thunder or lightning.

The Blood Eagle was a method of torture and execution that is sometimes mentioned in Nordic saga legends.  It was performed by cutting the ribs of the victim by the spine, breaking the ribs so they resembled blood-stained wings and pulling the lungs out through the wounds in the victim's back.  Salt was sprinkled in the wounds.  Victims of the method of execution was mentioned in skaldic poetry and the Norse sagas.  But the historicity of the practice is disputed.

Usually the eagle was the symbol of sovereignty and was particularly associated with the Germanic God of kings and heroes.  The divine eagle is often a hybrid or transformed man, often a king or hero of great virtue. They impart the ability to live in Spirit’s realm, yet remain connected to Earth.

In Norse mythology, at the very top of Yggdrasil there lived an eagle.  The eagle not only has a view of the whole world but also creates wind with its wings.  It lives in endless conflict with the Midgard Serpent, Nidhogg. The squirrel Ratatoskr spends his days delivering messages between the two. 

The Eagle represents spiritual protection, carries prayers, and brings strength, courage, wisdom, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, and a knowledge of magic. The eagle has an ability to see hidden spiritual truths, rising above the material to see the spiritual. The eagle has an ability to see the overall pattern, and the connection to spirit guides and teachers. The eagle represents great power and balance, dignity with grace, a connection with higher truths, intuition and a creative spirit grace achieved through knowledge and hard work.

 

May you have the strength
Of eagles' wings,
The faith and courage to
Fly to new heights,
And the wisdom
Of the universe
To carry you there.

So may it be.

 

 

Animals

Elements Table