Atwater Vitki

Nearly every gallon of milk we open we keep the "rings" as most get lost or I find them in the vacuum each week...NO! I'm NOT digging through the yuck to retrieve a silly plastic ring....but those are indeed one of the best cat toys available. We keep the cache in an old catnip container to boot. There is a slight danger that your kitty will like to chew on or "eat them" as our Jojo does unless we catch him, but one can not be on guard 24/7. However, in some 25 years of using these as cat toys, I have NEVER had an incident with any of the numerous, numerous kitties I've let enjoy these free toys on every plastic jug of milk! I've found the "evidence" of eating them in the litter box but two vets have found no reason to discontinue use as the plastic is oft and will not cause harm to intestines. Remember 75% of your kitty's acute senses are related to smell. They love shopping bags, shipping boxes and whatever comes from outside the home as it gives them a peek-a-boo look into the rest of the world. We have one 12"x12"x30" box that came from relatives in Sweden over 2 years ago that they still will not give up, though we've put it out by the garbage several times. "Her Be", our littlest one has been caught twice trying to drag it back in...too cute to watch. It's so cool to hear about your well behaved ones Br. Devon and their toy box. Ours have one as well of which they are pros at getting things OUT OF...but alas, no matter what the incentive they refuse to put things back...well except for the occasional "Ooops!" when they are playing. Keeping your kitties active and spry is a sure fire way of keeping them young, healthy and active well into their teens. Our "Moki", now 12, is still the king...he runs the kids, "Her Be" and "Jojo" (1½ yrs) into the ground. They are tuckered out and sprawled on the kitchen floor while he's still racing around with that "PLAY with me!" look and spunk. Many Blisses,

A common lay observation of the calendar was how fully it filled the stone...perfectly spaced...as leading even those with no real technical knowledge of the Mayans to ponder.....I mean heck 10,000 years from now they dig up one of our calendars, are they going to say..."silly ancients, they only believed in 12 months being all there is!" Hrodebert...thanks for the Don Piraro...he's one of my fav cartoonists...and "Bizzaro" being one of his favs to draw and post. BTW, he does have numerous other accomplishments for as young as he is, quite the phenom in the art world. Blessings Be,

I personally believe that ancient man was more advanced in one area...he was closer to nature, energies and the "gods" per se. Modern man has too much technology and does not have to rely on Self the way our ancients did. Law, peaceful living (in some areas of the world) have brought about a much safer world in which to live. I believe that Dec 21, 2012 will be the end of a cycle of exoteric response to the world and a far greater understanding of the esoteric relationships between mankind and the natural world. We will begin to "remember". I think the things brought up here, as well as those topics by Nestingwave will begin to show the world a "different" way to live. The correlation between a cataclysmic or Apocalyptic end will be Spiritual more-so than physical. Blessings Be,

Rev. Rattlesnake...yes, it is amazing, even to those whom some would consider to have no real God, how the voice of the Unity comes through at times we need it the most. What I've always found amazing is that regardless of the label mankind puts on the Almighty, one has to be listening with their heart in order to hear with their ears or mind. Blessings of Peace,

ooo ooo...no matter what.....it's ALL in the paper work and who knows where the train tracks lead?

Windwalker...if I remember correctly, I sent the links for Guidance to check on "beginning" to find info for his ideas, but going to the browser with "state laws on churches" should get you to Georgia specific. Blessings of Peace, Al

Guidance - Windwalker is very correct about getting on the "good side" of local authority. I have always been a rebel against "The Machine" but found out early bucking the system doesn't work. Getting friendly, qualitative advice means being friendly and attentive to those you seek info from. Here is one I know will help immediately: http://www.t-tlaw.com/church.htm and putting "state laws on churches" in your browser will get you many more. Every state has minor differences in their qualifications for incorporation etc so you do need to be up to date. Hope this helps, Blessings of Peace,

Hello? Hello? Hmmm...someone spilled lutefisk on the message drum again...sorry for the delay in answering....ah there it is, it beats again! Okay first off, MYTH 1....Vitki's (runic priests) were traditionally men until the current revival in the 1950's when women were nominated. Until then there simply were not many women interested or having the skills necessary. The killing of men....new one too me, but may be confused with a number of jailings in the late 1500's and early 1600's by religiously converted Scandinavian courts of men and women practicing runic rituals and also thought to be warlocks and witches. In those days few survived jail so may have been the source of that mythical story. There are also a lot of Ásatrú Folk that are not that well versed in runic history and have been guilty of spreading many fictitious statements regarding rune-staves and the uses in divinity. "Rune Divination" is also very controversial within many circles of Ásatrú Folk because there is no direct historical evidence of such use. Tacitus, the 1st century CE Roman historian and senator, was one of the few to mention the vitki's at work with their runes. This is because the rune-gilds (schools) have always been esoteric keeping the rites and rituals out of public knowledge. Traditionally, the gilds were always by "member recommendation" to the Drightens (top dog) introducing a suitable prospect for indoctrination into the gild. Much like what we are told about Masonic Rituals...secret and many oaths of keeping it secret. Currently the rune-gilds are suffering a reduction in membership due to waning interest after a brief influx of popularity in the 1970's thru 90's. I have been a member of the Nordic historical group Loyal Order of EAUQ's since 1972 (age 16) and the US Rune-Gild since 1993, which I've been informed is closing their doors soon. Better get your study books now! (PM me for further details for contacting them) I was named Fellow of the International Rune Gild in 2000 at the Millennium Paganfest at Gambla Uppsala during Summer Solstice. MYTH 2....Ásatrú Folk are not necessarily in anyway connected to Runic Divination, actually as ref'd above, most of these such as Ásatrú Folk Assembly keep runes only as a writing system and not as any kind of "divination" though they accept it to a small degree. Our ULC forum member HHolmquist would be a better source about the AFA. Other groups, such as http://www.asatrulore.org/ are so thoroughly convinced of there being no historical record of runic divination they outright denounce it, regardless of what facts are brought to their attention. Runic Divination is the sole purpose of the "Rune-Gilds". Publications such as "Runelore" byEdred Thorsson ISBN 0-87728-667-1 Weiser Publications, are the perfect introduction into the historical factors regarding runes, rune-staves and rune monuments. Another good publication is "Runes of Sweden" by Sven Jansson which has many good pics. Anyway, I hope this little primer helps. I'd tell ya more, but ya know....I'd hav'ta.... ....or at the very least take all your doughnuts!! Reyn til Runa! Blessings of Peace, Al

You're thinking that Sigurth and Seigfried are the same...aha...okay.....I can see now why the names are confused .....you are reading the William Reaves translations of the Eddas, right? Okay, so be it. I won't further confuse the issue....so never mind....I won't introduce other Swede historical characters that have little to do with your Germanic endeavors. In the future, I'm certain, you'll discover the reason for the confusion here. Another 'last' question though...if your "focus" is pre-Christian Germanic beliefs, why would you explore the Nine Doors curriculum, a dedicated Rune-Gild study? Okay, I think I've distracted enough from the topic....sorry, again, for the interruption Fawzo. Blessings of Peace,

I think you'll find, eventually, that Sigurd and SigurTH are two separate people which are commonly confused. Sigurth, the Swedish aristocrat was well known to the Nordics, especially the Swedes and Finns. But all that aside, by your evaluation of Tacitus, sure, I can bow to your reasoning behind his writings. Perhaps the Germanics weren't as coy with him as the Nordics which is very possible having completely different relationship with him. As far as I know Tacitus never made it over to what would become Norway and Sweden. Anyway, glad you are delving into the core of the differences between the Nordics and Germanics. Too many of the Ásatrú Folk seem to bundle them together and really confuse the lore and history, even though there are indeed many commonalities. As far as Snorri goes and the Eddas, yes he was clergy on paper, but a close look at his journals and other letters to the Norwegian king you have to believe he was anything but "clueless" about his ancestry. Don't forget the times these folks lived. Nay saying the church could be lethal. Blessings of Peace,

You've read Sigurths risting or Lay from the Poetic Edda I'm sure. Sigurth was a well known, higher up of Scandi aristocracy and wrote many things outside of what is found in the Eddas. His passed down accounts, if I remember correctly a gggggreat-grandfather lived in the time of Tacitus (sorry about earlier misspelling) and under Saxon slaving, under Roman rule. The Njordördmans Risting [Codex] (one of the one's I told you about awhile back) goes into great detail about Tacitus being "well liked by Rome, despised by those Rome conquered". Sure, Tacitus walked among the freemen of many kingdoms, but shall we just say his "reports" to Rome were just a bit tainted with flowers....and I'm not talking the "Steven kind" here.... In first century CE a historian, even a Senator historian, who didn't put Rome first and above all else wouldn't survive to write another story. Even though I feel a bit indebted to him for his annals regarding runic divination, I personally do not believe he wrote a very accurate account...only what he was "told" as none of the rituals and rites would have been easy for him to observe, unless completely for show. And if 'for show' there would only be a modicum of accuracy or completeness to any of them. Esoteric does mean "hidden", no matter how much we would like it be more open. I genuinely wish there was more I could share about the codex I've seen, but alas, I have no copy or even picture and all I have are a few handwritten notes, which according to authentication processes, are of little validity. My short time examining these documents was only of use to my personal experience and theories. Hopefully one day that will change. Blessings Be,