Talking Urglaawe
Tradition, Folklore, and Practice
I recently posted episode 101 of the podcast where I’m joined by Robert Schreiwer, Michelle Jones, and Stacey Lyne Stewart who co-authored the book: Heathen Traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch: An Urglaawe Primer published by Llewellyn Worldwide.
I’ve known Rob for over a decade and have seen Urglaawe in practice with him and others through his emails, social media and in person. So it was really nice to see a book come out about this unique part of modern Heathenry and that those who practice it, want to share it with others.
It was nice to ‘hang out’ with him – even if it was over an internet connection – and meet Michelle and Stacey.
In our discussion, we talk a about Urglaawe and how it is rooted in traditions and folklore of the Pennsylvania Dutch community which has remnants of pre-Christan practices alongside Christan influences forming an interesting blend of spirituality.
Urglaawe works to bring forward those pre-Christian elements and return them to a vibrant, inclusive practice today – one that engages the spirits, elementals, and beings of where the practitioner lives, along with folklore, traditions, and whispers of Northern European ancestors.
I enjoyed the book a lot and want to explore more of it. I have Rob’s earlier works: The First Book of Urglaawe Myths and A Dictionary of Urglaawe Terminology (with Ammerili Eckhart), and I found Heathen Traditions to be very accessible and easy to connect with.
They all worked very hard to keep the book from becoming overly academic. Instead, it is rooted in lived experience, tradition, and folklore. This makes it enjoyable to read, easy to understand, and a practical guide for building a meaningful personal practice.
There are also plenty of resources for those seeking guidance and connection with other practitioners.
It’s a very interesting conversation that covers many topics. If you are interested in exploring a form of Heathenry that is fresh, adaptable to where you live, inclusive, and growing, this may something to check out. Even if you’re simply curious about another approach within modern Heathen practice, there’s a lot here to explore.
The book is available from Llewellyn Worldwide. at your local bookstore (as them to order if not in stock), and online. Listen to the Gifts of the Wyrd Podcast on Podbean, Spotify, Apple, Stitcher, and other podcast apps.
John Hijatt is an inclusive practitioner of Northern/Germanic spirituality and has hosted the Gifts of the Wyrd podcast since 2015, highlighting authors, artists, and inclusive creators in conversations inspired by NPR’s Fresh Air. Find the podcast at on Podbean, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
I also work with and teach about runes (as a runester). I’ve taught workshops locally and at both in-person and virtual conferences, and written for publications about runes. I try to post here on Substack at least once a month, but between life and editing podcasts, things take time. Thank you for your patience and support. Please share this with like-minded folks, and feel free to send me your topic suggestions and recommendations.