Gifts of the Wyrd

The Transformational Oracle of the Morrighan deck by Bela Siol This episode we are going to take a short visit to our Celtic neighbors to visit with oracle deck creator Bela Siol. Bela created the Nehalennia deck (see episode 22) and, as she is also working on a Freya oracle deck, I thought it would be nice to discuss with her about the deck she is creating for The Morrighan.  The Morrighan is a G...

The third anniversary of hosting the podcast! It is hard to believe it has been three years since firing up the the recording program and posting my first episode. A little update as we enter the fourth year of the podcast. Planning to continue the podcast, hopefully with some additional, shorter episodes as well as interviews and other discussions.  PantheaCon 2019 follow-up. Talking about worksh...

Welcome to another episode of Gifts of the Wyrd. This episode, we pipe aboard two Heathens serving in the US Navy who are taking steps to lead Heathen services (blots/study groups etc) aboard their commands.  Josh and Josh are Troth members who serve aboard two separate commands and talk about their journeys to having Heathen (and Pagan) services and study groups regularly held while they are at s...

Happy New Year 2019!! As part of new year's divination, Jan takes a rune pull for a broad look at 2019. A three-rune pull for the following topics:  What to leave behind in 2018 What to work towards in 2019 High view look at a basic theme for 2019   Anticipating late September 2019 release of the English translation of Germanic Magic, Runes: Their History, Mythology and Use in Magical Practice by...

In This episode, I talk about the growing world-wide tradition of Väntljusstaken/Sunwait Candle lighting. This is a revitalizing of the advent wreath candles with a Heathen/Pagan purpose to help bring in the Yule time.  The Sunwait candleholder has six candles to be lit the six Thursdays (or other days of the week) prior to Yule/Winter Solstice.  Have a listen here or read about it on my Substack...

In this episode, Bela Síol, the creator of the beautiful Oracle of Nehalennia deck, joins me to talk about the deck, her journey to meet the Dutch Goddess Nehalennia, and other decks she is working on - listen to find out Who will be the subject of them.  Find Bela and the Oracle on Facebook: @belasioloracledecks Order the deck from Bela's website. Bela Siol  Check out a review of the deck from Je...

Jan interviews author Connla Freyjason about his book Norse Witch: Claiming the Heidhrinn Heart.  This book is on the wave of a movement of encouraging those of the Heathen practices to embrace their relationships with the 9 Worlds in a modern context.  If you are tired of hearing "you're doing it wrong" by others, this is a book that will inspire you to build on the things we can piece together f...

  Was a Germanic goddess Eostre or Ostara ever honored in the old days? Are Easter and the German 'Ostern' named after her? Does the widespread Easter lore have roots in ancient pagan rituals? The answers to these questions are disputed among both laymen and scholars. Often it can be hard to distinguish between faith and facts. Therefore, the available sources have been brought together in this bo...

Jan Tjeerd celebrates the second anniversary of Gifts of the Wyrd with a follow up to PantheaCon 2018 and shares highlights from the sacred sites tour in Germany after Frith Forge in October 2017.  After Frith Forge, Jan and seven others embarked on a week long journey through the center of Germany to visit special locations. These sites included: Ringheiligtum Pommelte, Opfermoor Bogtei-Oberdorla...

Episode 16 cross posts an episode from The Troth's Podcast  in which Jan interviews Frith Forge co-organizers Robert Schreiwer (Troth Steersman) and Amanda Leigh-Hawkins (International Relations Committee) for a recap of the Frith Forth conference held in October 2017. The conference was a collaboration of the Troth and the Asatru EU Network. The European co-organizer was Haimo Grebenstein of Vere...

Episode 15 of Gifts of the Wyrd celebrates the New Year of 2018 with a rune reading and a deck review.                                                   Using the Runes of the Northern Light rune deck, Jan does a Rune reading taking us into the first of 2018.                                                      The second half of the program I give a review of the deck, Runes of the Northern Light...

Episode 14 welcomes Author, Seeress, Editor (and more) Diana Paxson to discuss her latest book, Odin: Ecstacy, Runes, and Norse Magic.  While in Germany prior to this episode, I had the pleassure of spending a week with Diana and 6 other people as we traveled around central Germany to visit sacred and historical sites. We took a moment after a day of walking around Bronze Age grave mounds to talk...

Episode 13 welcomes Alaric Albertsson and Taren David Martin to the Wyrd hall. We discuss Anglo-Saxon Heathenry, Alaric's re-release of his book, A Handbook of Saxon Sorcery & Magic, and the Martin Rune Deck, an Anglo-Saxon rune set created by Alaric and Tarin.  Production note: we had feedback on a microphone that we could not adjust. We continued on and I tried to minimize it as much as possible...

And we're back. After a 6 month hiatus, I'm pleased to be recording the podcast again. It's been a hectic spring and beginning of summer with computer issues, travel, and family things to work out. So it has delayed the timing and ability to record.  But things have settled glad to ge the podcast going.  A huge note of thanks to Xander Folmer of Hughinn's Heathen Hof for the amazing logo and banne...

Jan talks about designing bindrunes for your personal use.    Follow Gifts of the Wyrd on Twitter: @Wyrd Gifts. On Facebook: facebook.com/GiftsoftheWyrd. Email: GiftsoftheWyrd@gmail.com Music: All music selections on this podcast are written, produced, and copywritten by their respective creators/owners. They are used with permission.  Intro: To Hear the Trumpets Call from the album of the same na...

Welcome to episode 9 of Gifts of the Wyrd. Thank you for your patience for this episode. Jan talks about Yule. Old traditions and new.  Adapting traditions to modern practice or making new Yule traditions that are right for you and your family today.  A traditional song to sing around an apple or adapt to another fruit or nut bearing tree. (I have changed only a couple words of the text to honor t...

Welcome to episode 8. Thank you for joining us. This episode Laine and I talk about Heathenry in general. We touch on 3 short topics that we think are important to Heathen practice. 1) Inclusive vs exclusive Heathenry. Recently a prominent Asatru organization specified the qualifications for their membership – white, straight, and “family” oriented. We discuss the importance of inclusivity and wel...

Episode 5 Jan and Laine have their first guest to the podcast, Hauk Heimdallsman. Hauk is a Heathen musician and follower of Heimdall. Hauk talks about the process of creating music, creating Heathen based music, and about working with Heimdall.  Join us for this very fun discussion with a great musical talent and a really nice guy.     Music: All selections on this podcast are written, produced,...

Episode 4, Jan and Laine discuss the modernization of Heathen ritual styles. We talk about blót and the varying style of an animal offering and other offerings, sumbels, ritual structure, and rites of passage. We also include a discussion about online sumbel and blót. Is it a valid resource for modern Heathens? is it sacrilegious?  Follow on Instagram and Twitter: @WyrdGifts1 email: GiftsoftheWyrd...

Episode 3: This episode Jan and Laine discuss divination and the modern practice of gnosis. During the section on divination, we talk about using runes for ourselves and as part of reading for others. We also discuss Spae and Seidh and our experiences in learning and doing it. This leads into a discussion of "gnosis" in today's practice. What is UPG (unverified personal gnosis), shared gnosis, and...