(no subject)

[hearthstone]

Well, it looks like our Winter Finding is going to be on the 17th, which is cool. We're almost certain to be holding it indoors--then again, there's a fair chance of that happening even when we hold it nearer the equinox. Early snows and all that. Go Skadhi :).

I'm thinking of rereading Ginette Paris' Pagan Grace. Maybe because it's lighter reading than I've been doing, but it isn't, really--just an easier read.

I tried a new cookie recipe today, chocolate-chocolate chip, which I'm not altogether happy with--the cookies are nice and chewy but the flavor is a little...watered-down comes to mind although I'm not sure that's a reasonable thing to say of cookies. However, they are awesome with a little peanut butter. And I'm thinking that they'd be pretty good made into whoopie pies (with cream in the middle). So, not a total failure.

Comments

[weofodthignen]

You mean you don't blót outdoors in the snow? Shame on you :-)

Seen the remarks on the Fates and the Norns and on the Greek view of time in Steve's recent posts on Heathenthing? Got anything to say?

M

[hearthstone.livejournal.com]

Heh, no, no snow blots for me (other than the VERY SHORT weekly ones Dan and I do from the porch! :)).

You know, I'm not sure that the Hellenic recon has determined a particular view of time--which might be because there isn't a radically different alternate interpretation as there is in heathenry. I mean, I think it's likely that the differences in worldview between modern and ancient could have included the nature of time, but no one (that I'm aware of) has yet put forth the idea that you have to have a particular view of time to be thinking like a Hellene. (BTW, I liked your commentary on Bauschatz.)

I think, though, that there is a tendency among some heathens to separate themselves (and the heathen worldview) from others, including classical ones. Often I've heard it said rather contemptuously that the Norns are not the Fates--no argument there, but I don't think the Greek notion of fate was all that deterministic either. Zeus has no sway over the Fates, but neither has Odin over the Norns. And Achilles, explicitly, had a choice--one path would take him to a quick death and lasting fame, the other to a long life but far less renown, and we all know which he chose.

[weofodthignen]

Glad you liked my critique of Bauschatz--it seems to have been too dry for most folks :-)

I agree, many heathens have a lot invested in distinguishing heathenry from Classical. I do myself in terms of avoiding unnecessary recourse to words like "gnosis." But I have yet to see heathens who do this with respect to religious issues distinguishing Roman from Hellenic. Do you think the ancient Greek view of time was as progressivist as the standard modern one? Wasn't there sorrow for a lost golden age? Is it possible that the modern view of linear time is closer to Roman than Hellenic? Please post in response to one of the "time" entries if you have any thoughts :-)

Regarding the norns and the fates, I hope you will post just what you say here--I have very little knowledge of the Hellenic view and it was an interesting question redsonja originally tossed out--that, and I think many of the guys making sweeping statements about fate and the Germanic worldview would be interested in comparing lore regarding heroes, gods, and fatal ladies.

--and thanks for posting anyhow, I know you've been busy.

M