Heathen Traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch: An Urglaawe Primer - Paperback

by Robert L. Schreiwer (Author), Michelle A. Jones (Author), Stacey Lynne Stewart (Author)

Discover the stories, philosophies, and practices of Urglaawe (Or-glaw-veh), a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, all in one place for the first time ever.

Inclusive and open to anyone regardless of background, this book explores Germanic Heathenry seen through the lens of Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Three expert authors, including the founder of Urglaawe, combine their knowledge of old magic traditions into a comprehensive guide to establishing your personal, modern practice. You'll also learn how to find or form a community for shared practice.

Explore the distinctions between Pennsylvania Powwow, Hexerei, and Braucherei. Learn how these practices are separate from Urglaawe yet inform and are informed by it. This book provides Urglaawe's worldview, deities, lore, rites of passage, yearly celebrations, and more. Serving as a reference for a multitude of topics, this book is the key to understanding and embracing this spiritual path.

Author Biography

Robert L. Schreiwer is the founder of the Urglaawe tradition within Heathenry. He is a trained Braucher in the Oley Freindschaft guild and the founder of the Guild of Urglaawe Practitioners of Braucherei and Hexerei. He also founded In-Reach Heathen Prison Services and Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day. He is currently the Senior Manager of Heathens Against Hate and one of the Managers of Philadelphia's Parade of Spirits.

He has served as Steer (President & CEO) of The Troth for two terms, has presented three times at the Parliament of the World's Religions, and serves the Heathen community as an Urglaawe Ziewer (godsman) under both Distelfink Sippschaft and The Troth. He is a former Instructor of Pennsylvania German at Kutztown University, and he has been an activist in the Pennsylvania Dutch language and cultural advancement efforts for over 40 years.

Michelle A. Jones is a Hex, an Urglaawe Ziewerin, and Secretary of die Urglaawisch Sippschaft vum Distelfink. She has served on the boards of both Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day and South Jersey Pagan Pride Day. Michelle is a founding member of the Primitive Grove Circle eclectic coven based in South Jersey. She graduated from the Homestead Herbalism course at Farm at Coventry (now The Still Room at Pitch Pines). While there, her teacher and mentor emphasized the Deitsch herbal tradition.

Stacey Lynne Stewart is a Ziewerin within Distelfink Sippschaft and a Braucherin who has a passion for herbalism, runes, and inclusive Heathenry. She is involved with local Pagan Pride Day events and is currently serving on the High Rede of The Troth. Stacey started exploring Paganism at sixteen years old and spent over twenty years with Blue Star Wicca before she was drawn to Urglaawe. As an artist, she is actively creating Urglaawe art with an eye on traditional Pennsylvania Dutch styles and a foot firmly in the future.