Can't believe this was in my AAA mag

 I found something else cool to do in Victoria!!! From Via magazine: " Plunder in Canada - Build a virtual Viking ship and see old Norse swords and artifacts at the Royal B.C. Museum's VIKINGS exhibit in Victoria, BC until 11/11, www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.

summertime

Been soo busy this summer, I've hardly had time to write anything. 

In May, I went to South Beach with my sister who turned 60 this year, too, and then I visited my goddess child and my grand goddess child in CT and went to Rites of Spring, too. Kulgrinda was one of their guests this year, and it was really fun to hang out with my homies at an American pagan fest. Inija, Valdas (her brother), Zemyna and Vetra were there, and I met Indre (Inija's eldest daughter) and her husband who drove out from NY to pick them up. My friend, Jeff, came out from Boston to pick me up and we drove to Della's for a fine Memorial Day cookout.

Last weekend we had a 60's party for the Geminis (including Capt. Patt who turned 60 6/7). We rented a 5 bedroom house on Clearlake and partied like it was the 60's and had a most psychedelic time. Next weekend I'll be joining the Druids on my birthday at dawn for a sunrise summer solstice rite at Inspiration Point  on Grizzly Peak in Berkeley, and then I'm off to vend at the Antioch Lapidary Club's sale/swap event from 10-4 on 6/21. They're having a BBQ lunch at noon thirty for $5. In addition to my amber, I'll be taking be taking some small emeralds and mexican onyx ashtrays and mushrooms.

June 28th, I'm attending a high tea & vintage fashion show in Brentwood from noon-3 pm. Please contact me if you're interested in joining us. Tickets are $22 and include all you can eat & drink and the show.

On July 3rd I fly to Washington, DC for a Capitol Fourth of July and then leave on 7/6 for Vilnius and this year's ECER. I'll be staying in Lithuania until 8/5 and visiting Kaunas and our village. If any of you are planning on coming, please let me know. Inija has reserved rooms at the "Guest House" one block from her home in Vilnius. I've stayed there many times and it's as nice as the hostels we stayed at in Odense, and less than half the price. Lithuania is downright cheap compared to the rest of Europe, and this is your chance to see our village and temple.

Kulgrinda East Coast appearance

Hello, everyone!

I am pleased to announce that Kulgrinda will be at Rites of Spring this May 21-26 at a site near Lee, MA. It’s about 60 miles north of Bristol, CT. Info at www.earthspirit.com.

From the website:

This year we are excited to introduce you to some special guests from Europe who we have met through Andras Corban Arthen’s international networking on behalf of EarthSpirit.

Inija Trinkuniene is the matriarch of the Romuva community which practices the traditional pre-Christian religion of Lithuania. Inija will be offering both workshops, and performances with several members of her family who are also attending and form the group Kulgrinda.

Vetra Trinkunaite, Inija’s daughter has been touring internationally as a solo artist and will offer at least one performance at Rites of Spring.

 

Also, I'll be flying in from California to Bristol, CT to visit my goddesschild (who can't attend), so I really need a ride to and from the Rites.

More than willing to overpay for gas/expenses. Last time I attended was last century, so in case I can't find a ride, can anyone tell me how to take public transportation from Bristol to Lee or Great Barrington?

Thanks, and I'll be posting info on this year's ECER in Vilnius July 8-11 soon.

Prudence, Romuva Ambassadress
www.oaks-ecer.blogspot.com

ECER in Vilnius

Dear friends,

We are making plans for the next European Congress of Ethnic Religions meeting this summer, in Vilnius, where Romuva will be hosting the event. The dates are from Tuesday, 8 July to Friday, 11 July (arrive on 7 July).

The theme of the conference will be “Mother Earth, Unite Us.” The plan for the first day is to have the meeting at the Lithuanian Parliament, where we will have opportunities to talk with members of the Parliament and also from the news media about the state of the ethnic religions of Europe. Of the remaining 3 days, we would like to dedicate one to a conversation about developing a plan of action to realize the goals and the mission of the ECER. Another day will be for presentations and speeches about the different religions which are members of the ECER. The remaining day will be dedicated to a tour of important pagan holy places in Lithuania.

Romuva will be arranging the places where we will stay – hotels, hostels, and also making arrangements for food, etc. We will let you know as the plans become more definite, but we wanted you to to have the dates and location as soon as possible, so you can start making your travel plans.

Please let us know if you are planning on attending the meetings, and also approximately how many people will be coming from your group.

inija@romuva.lt

www.romuva.lt

OSTARA DATE CHANGE

Celebrate Ostara in San Francisco

Event Details: DATE Change!
Due to numerous requests we are moving the ship offering to Saturday, March 29th, at dawn so more can attend.

Freya's Folk welcomes Spring by giving winter a Viking funeral at dawn at the Wave Organ in San Francisco. We have been doing this for over 30 years! Join us by 6 am on Sunday, March 30th, 2014. Decorated eggs, offerings to Ran appreciated, but we usually have plenty.

Event Location: 1 Marina Blvd. in San Francisco
Event TIME Details: 6:00 am

Directions: You can park by the little light house past the Yacht Club, and it's a 5-10 minute walk to the end of the jetty on a flat road. Don't be late. Dawn waits for no one, not even us!

Website: http://prudenttravels.blogspot.com
Mailing Address: pmb 165, 537 Jones St., SF, CA 94102-2007

Jonas Trinkunas, 1939-2014, part 1

JONAS TRINKUNAS - February 28, 1939 – January 20, 2014 He is survived by his wife, Inija, five daughters, and two grandchildren. The Trinkunas family asks that all those who would like to honor the deceased donate to the construction of Romuva's temple. Also, the family asks that his spirit be honored by lighting a candle or writing a few memorial words. 

There are 42 photos of the funeral at http://www.lrytas.lt/lietuvos-diena/aktualijos/vyriausio-krivio-j-trinkuno-laidotuvese-midus-ir-druska.htm#.UuMQXvuIbMw. The temperature was minus 14 degrees Celsius.

 Here are more than a few words and photos about him:
 Our temple in Dvarciskes – It is on my property which I donated to Romuva. The carving in the center is of Saule – the Goddess of the Sun.

 From the ECER web page: We are building a Lithuanian Temple – Romuva 2012 saw the 20-year anniversary of the legitimization of the Romuva religious community. Over the past years a great community has been formed, capable of ensuring the ongoing existence of Romuva. The recent population census in Lithuania showed that over the past decade followers of the old Baltic religion have increased nearly five-fold. Today there are 5.2 thousand such followers. The Romuva community, because of its varied patriotic and cultural activities, has received the acclaim and approval of society. Our goal is to found another Romuva Jonas seated in the temple after a “Heathening” or Ausa Vatni (heathen baptism) Note the carved pillar in the left corner. building (temple of sorts) where religious ceremonies would be regularly performed and the community could gather. Weddings and christenings in the old traditions are increasing rapidly. More funerals are performed through ancient rituals. The building will act not only as a place for performing rituals, but folklore ensembles and sutartines (sacred songs) groups will be invited as well. We ask you, those who support us, to please donate at least some money for the creation of the Romuva temple. All funds should be sent to Vilnius Bank SEB, code 1720 21238 LT 05 7044 0600 0786 5932, "Senovìs baltù religinì bendrija", id. code 192096473 

Not everyone will understand the Lithuanian text, but there is a video of a portion of the funerary rites. A very moving tribute. http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/vyriausias-krivis-j-trinkunas-palaidotas-pagal-senasias-baltu-tradicijas.d?id=63821722 
 Iki, Marija (Moderator of Romuva@yahoogroups.com) 

 Jonas seated (on left), Inija standing before our outdoor alkas (altar) in the village, August, 2012.

 

Jonas took this photo of me at the Harvest/Bread ceremony where he appointed me an Ambassador of Romuva, August, 2012.

 I first started corresponding with Jonas in the early 90’s after reading his outline of the Rasa (Summer Solstice) celebration in Sacred Serpent which exchanged subscriptions with my publication, Yggdrasil (both are now sadly defunct). In 1997 after my consort died, Harry McBride and I toured the Baltic States. Because of the tour, I was only able to telephone him, but the following year, I was there for Rasa at Kernave and the founding of the World Congress of Ethnic Religions (WCER) which is now the European CER. The Trinkunas family welcomed me every time I visited the Baltics, and I often stayed with them and went with them to many events and sventes (festivals). I was in the center of Vilnius with them when they recorded “The Rite of Fire”, and at the National Museum of Lithuania when they premiered “Hymns to Saule” (the Sun Goddess). In between those CDs and before Lithuania joined the EU, they used to hold a heathen summer camp in various sites near Vilnius. They owned six pieces of property about 70 miles northeast of Vilnius and less than a mile from the Belarus border. Jonas called them belts; they were very narrow strips of land. One summer visit, the drunken Russian who owned a “belt” between theirs wanted to sell and move to his Father’s place. It was complicated, but I bought the place, and now Romuva had seven contiguous properties and became a village. It was named Dvarciskes. I believe it was the same year Jonas won the Basanavicius prize for preserving the folklore and traditions of Lithuania in the face of communism. He has won many honors and degrees over the years and he and his entire family have been a dynamic force in preserving and practicing the indigenous religion of the Baltics. He attended the Parliament of World Religions in Australia with his son-in-law, Arturas. His health began to decline around 2010 when he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. I had been looking forward to seeing him when Rachael Watcher and I travelled to India together for the 2010 Indian World Congress of Ethnic Religions in Haridwar. Jonas’ foot had turned black and he and Inija returned to Lithuania before the Congress, and Jonas lost some toes. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in absentia. 

Krivis Trinkunas

In 2011, I was with the family for Inija’s Birthday party. Here is a photo of the necklace Jonas gave her. 

 And here we are at home with the family. His youngest daughter, Vetra (storm), is to the left. All of his children have very heathen names. 

That trip I attended a wedding ceremony they were officiating in a park named after the man who divined Gediminas’ (the last pagan emperor of Europe’s) dreams.

 We also visited Dvarciskes and went mushroom hunting.

The following summer I attended Romuva Summer Camp (which is held every August) in our village. Besides the photos above, here is one of the altar to Perkunas (Thor), followed by a detail of his face. The bare branches above the roof are lightning-struck wood.

Detail of Perkunas

 Jonas was a true rock hound. Many stones were brought to the village. The one below, Jonas brought himself from his birthplace. It has a naturally-worn depression which collects holy water (rain & dew).

 The year WCER was changed to ECER, the Congress was held in Bologna, Italy. This shows, Inija, Jonas, and his eldest daughter, Zemyna (Earth) singing at the opening of the event.

 This year, ECER will be held in Vilnius July 8-11. I shall be attending and anyone who is interested can contact me or the numbers listed above. The last time I saw Jonas was last summer at an American Kulgrinda concert in Connecticut with my goddesschild, Della. It is so hard to believe that this wonderful, kind, man, priest, writer, fellow philologist, and friend is no longer with us, but his legacy is intact and Romuva will continue. Prudence Priest, Romuva Ambassadress, prudence 21@juno.com