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Month: October 2017

What Draws You to Heathenism?

What Draws You to Heathenism?

A Facebook friend and a well-known Heathen has announced that he may convert to Catholicism, or is at least considering it.  While I can’t speak for his motivations, as a former Catholic, I can understand the appeal that the Church has for people, especially Heathens. At the same time, I can understand why Heathenry and paganism woo away Catholic followers.  At some point, every Heathen must ask themselves if they’re in the right religion and whether they fit in. Although I have my reservations about Catholicism, I wish him well and I hope he finds what he seeks.

Anyway, that got me to thinking about those who are thinking of becoming Heathens.  There are plenty of reasons for becoming a Heathen, but there are also many reasons for not choosing this religion as well.  It’s not for everyone, nor does it try to be.  Unlike Catholicism and other Judaeo-Christian religions, it does not purport itself to be the only religion whereby one can attain “salvation” and the others are going to eternal damnation.

Ask Yourself What Draws You to Heathenism

I wonder sometimes what draws people to Heathenism. Heathenism isn’t for the Marvel fanboys or fangirls who fallen in love with the Thor movies or comics (or the actors therein) and expect the gods to behave like that. (Although there are Marvel fans among Heathens.) It isn’t for the white supremacists, though we seem to have our share of them. It isn’t for the people who are looking for a god or goddess who will come to their rescue the first sign of trouble.  It isn’t for the person who wants to create spells and potions regularly. While we do have our share of “magic” — and I have a tough time labeling it as such — we’re not the put together a love potion or money incantation type of religion.  It isn’t for the people who are looking for the all-knowing, all-powerful god of the Judaeo-Christian religions. It’s not a place to insist on whites only, or Northern ethnicities only, or require that what and where you were born makes a difference as to what religion you should follow. It is not a place for Nazis.

At the same time, it’s not for the people who want an excuse to drink and party. (Although drinking and partying is certainly an aspect of our religion.)  It’s not SCA or a reason simply to reenact reconstructed rituals without belief, although there are plenty of recons and other Heathens who believe and don’t believe.

Lastly, It’s not a place to bully other people who have differing viewpoints. I add this sincerely because even if you disagree with my above statements, that is your right to disagree.  I’ll caveat my statements to exclude the white supremacist and Nazi bullshit. Since white supremacists and Nazis are inherently bullies, we have no room for them.

So, Who is Heathenism For?

I’ve talked a lot about who isn’t suited for Heathenism, but perhaps I should talk more about who is suited for Heathenism. It’s surprising flexible, allowing for many different folks with different ideas.

Gods, Goddesses, Ancestors, and Wights

Heathenism is for those who hold reverence for the ancient gods and goddesses of the northern religions. Heathenism is for those who wish to revere their ancestors. Heathenism is for those who believe in wights, elves, and trolls.  It is for those who hope to gain understanding of the past by learning all they can about those who were Heathen before us.

Heathens can be agnostic or even atheistic when it comes to supernatural entities, may believe in them fully, or maybe choose somewhere in between. They may look upon the gods as actual beings or as metaphors. Heathens may have a personal relationship with the gods or a god, or may never have had a single contact. Heathenry is often flexible because there is no Asa-pope to make pronouncements. Although we have the seidr and runecasting, so-called “magic” is extremely limited. A more magical form of paganism is Wicca.

Taking Responsibility

Heathens aren’t looking for the gods to solve all their problems.  Rather, they look to the gods for moral strength and aid.  When the gods help them out, they are grateful.  They will offer gifts in exchange for help. Unlike the Christian god, the Heathen gods expect you to handle your own problems without running to them all the time. While there are no Ten Commandments of  Heathenism, we do have the Nine Noble Virtues, the Havamal, and rules against oathbreaking.  We expect other Heathens to act honorably.

For the Community and Individuals

Heathenism is for individuals and community.  In the past, community was important because without it, an individual could not exist.  Today with all our technology and the scarceness of Heathens, most Heathens are solitary practitioners. Despite this, there are some Heathens, most notably recons, who insist that you cannot be a solitary practitioner.  I would argue that  I and the majority of Heathens out there have proved otherwise.  Most of us still rely on society and others — few of us are capable of living without any outside help — but the lack of Heathens, or those we wish to associate with, are few in number. That’s why like many things, Heathenry has changed. It must change, because we have changed.  Just as we don’t condone human sacrifice (except those few loony-tune, fringe idiots who do condone it), we don’t have to be a group-or-nothing religion.

Heathenry Celebrates the Seasons and the Past

Heathenry is close to nature and celebrates times such as spring, planting, harvest, and the equinoxes.

We celebrate our ancestors who have gone before us, and the land spirits who guard our lands. We have many holidays and days of remembrance for those who have gone before us and for those gods and wights who are helping us.

No Racism

Heathens know that the gods and goddesses consider humans as one species and do not look at “race” as a means of determining who is worthy. There have been Heathens of other ethnicities who have joined Northerners as Vikings.  We have historical records and even genetics to prove that.

I hope I’ve given you a picture of who Heathenry is for.  It is for anyone who is looking for a religion that embraces these principles.  If this sounds like a religion you would follow, certainly, Heathenry is for you.

Aptrganga or Real Norse Zombies [Video]

Aptrganga or Real Norse Zombies [Video]

Well, it’s getting closer to Halloween, and since I’ve been meaning to include an occasional video, I’ve decided to include a great video by Jackson Crawford about Aptrganga or “Again Walkers,” i.e., zombies or draugr .

In Viking times, it was believed that you could become a zombie if you died sitting up, died with your eyes open, died disappointed in your son, or died in your home.  Apparently, even if you managed to get cremated, if another creature ingested the ashes, it could cause amazing mayhem.  Anyway, check out the video!

Samhain — Or it’s Not My Holiday

Samhain — Or it’s Not My Holiday

Samhain Comments & Graphics
Thanks to Magickal Graphics

My husband asked me if Halloween was a special time for Heathens.  I looked at him blankly, but then I realized that being pagan may make it appear that we celebrate other pagans’ holidays.  I grinned and reassured him I’m not that kind of pagan.  I then pointed out our version of Samhain — if we have a “version,” happens around the winter solstice.  So, like everything in my life, I started researching Samhain.

What Samhain is for the Uninitiated

Thanks to Magickal Graphics

Samhain (pronounced “sah-win” for those who don’t speak Celtic) is the Celtic New Year when the Celts believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and dead was thinnest.  I found that interesting because Heathens tend to think of that time as Winter Solstice.  As an aside, I really do think our Yule is more correct with Mother’s Night, but Samhain a Wiccan holiday, so it’s theirs to argue about, not mine.  It’s also the end of harvest for them, which is probably why they equate it with the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.

Samhain has the characteristic ancestor veneration that we do.  It arrives on the sunset of October 31st and ends on the sunset of November 1st.  It’s celebrated with bonfires (purportedly to keep the sun burning through winter), disguises (so evil spirits don’t recognize the people), and sacrifices and gifts made for the dead.  There is a ritual of leaving doors open so that the spirits of kind ancestors can come into the home and visit.

Where Halloween Comes From

Courtesy of Magickal Graphics

Not surprisingly, the Catholic Church snagged  November 1st  and made it All Saints Day.  All Souls Day is November 2nd.  If I recall my Catholic upbringing, I seem to remember it was a Holy Day of Obligation (Translation: Get your ass to church and fill the coffers.) which was intended to make the revelry around Halloween less popular. When they couldn’t do that, they came up with All Souls Day on November 2nd.  Interestingly enough, people simply moved their pagan celebrations over to November 2nd since it was now Church sanctioned. People dressed up as angels, devils, and saints, and there were parades and bonfires. One tradition started in England which was most likely a precursor to trick or treating was that poor people would go door to door and beg for “soul cakes” in exchange for praying for the household’s dead.

Halloween gets it’s name from All Saints Day.  In England, All Saints Day was known as All Hallowmas from the Middle English word, Alholowmesse, which means All Saints Day.  Naturally, the day before was All Hallows Eve, which soon became our word for Halloween.

Halloween and America

Courtesy of Magickal Graphics

Halloween traditions came over with the Irish in the early to mid 19th century. Going door to door asking for food and money, a Halloween tradition, was soon replaced with trick or treating. Parties soon became more the norm.  To avoid frightening children too much, newspapers encouraged parents to tame the scary stuff.  So, Halloween became a secular holiday by20th century.

Halloween was a community celebration, but was being plagued by vandalism.  By the 1950s, politicians and community leaders directed Halloween festivities toward trick or treating and made it into a children’s holiday.

Nowadays, Halloween is for both kids and adults.   Trick or Treating is still for the kids, but both kids and adults have fun dressing up and partying.

So, What Does This Have to Do with Heathenism?

So now that I’ve talked about Halloween and Samhain, it’s time for me to talk about how Samhain isn’t really a Heathen holiday.  Unless you’re Irish or venerate the Irish pantheon (I find the word “worship” a little too strong), I’d say Samhain doesn’t have any real religious significance for those who follow the Norse gods. I find the idea sweet — venerating the ancestors — but we do this already during Álfablót and Disablót. Depending on what you read, Álfablót could be celebrated on Halloween, but honestly, what we know about Álfablót tends to make it more of a private holiday with the family, rather than being a huge community party or trick and treating.

Courtesy of Magickal Graphics

I’m Not a Fan of Halloween

I’ll be honest with you: I’ve never been a huge fan of Halloween because of the overtly commercialism.  I sigh and shake my head when I pass by homes with Halloween lights and even inflatable ghosts and ghouls because, let’s face it, its commercialism rivals Christmas.  Which isn’t a far off statement.  It’s the second biggest holiday behind Christmas with Americans spending some $6 Billion USD each year on the holiday.  That’s billion with a B.  And one fourth of all candy sales over the year is Halloween candy.

Now, you might point to Christmas and say the same thing on how commercial it is.  Yeah, but I celebrate Yule, which is vastly superior, in my book.  Also, I like Christmas caroles, even though many are modern, relatively speaking. The fact that today’s Christmas is a 19th century contrivance doesn’t necessary bother me.  But that is for another time.

Álfablót

Álfablót is usually celebrated at the last harvest. Which could be at the end of October.  When I think about harvest, I generally think about it as being something in late September or even early October.  The closest thing to Álfablót we might have in American culture might be Thanksgiving.  I really don’t think of it as Samhain or Halloween, but maybe you do?  I’d like your thoughts on it.

What to Do as a Heathen

Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate Samhain as a holiday.  It doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Halloween as a holiday.   We’re the party-hardy kind of religion to begin with, so I think it’s quite appropriate to celebrate either if you want to.  I’m pretty certain that Northern pagans didn’t say “oh, I’m not celebrating that because it’s not traditional” when it came to holidays. Now, if you’re a recon, you may be thinking something different, but seeing as I’m not, I don’t have a problem with it. 

How Skadi Works, or a Dog Story

How Skadi Works, or a Dog Story

This is a dog story.  This is also a goddess story.  This is what happens when a goddess thinks you need help.  READ MORE of my premium content for just $1
More Conversations with Bob the Car Wight

More Conversations with Bob the Car Wight

I was walking by the SUV the other day when I saw Bob the Car Wight sitting on the hood.   This time, he had a very mismatched red and green plaid coat, orange hunting cap (which suspiciously looked like the one I had lost last season), and a fuchsia scarf striped with purple.  He was rubbing his hands together and blowing on gardening gloves he was wearing that were way too big for his fingers.  Now, imagine this all contrasting with his blue skin.  Eeek.  All in all, a sight to make sore eyes. 

“Whoa, Bob!  Are you trying to blind me with your fashion sense?” I quipped.

Bob rubbed his hands together and blew on the gloves’ fingertips as if he were trying to get warm.  “Like you know anything about fashion, mismatched girl,” he snorted.  He rubbed his hands some more.  “These gloves suck.”

I let the jab slide.  “What, are you cold?”

“What gave you the first hint, Einstein?” Bob glared at me.

“Well normally I’d say the blue skin, but seeing as that’s normal for you, I’d guess the weird get-up.”  I grinned at him.  “Don’t like our weather?”

“The weather was fine until it went from summer to winter in one day.”

“Well, that’s the Rockies for you.  I’d thought you’d be used to it by now since you’ve lived up here for years.”

“I’m used to garages.  You know, like indoors?  When are you cleaning out the garage so I can have a decent place to live?”

“It’s a little cluttered,” I admitted.  “But you’re a wight.  You’re supposed to be able to live damn near anywhere.  Well there’s no reason why you couldn’t stay there now.”

“Herman the roof rat doesn’t like me.”  Bob held up his hands.  “Do you have some spare mittens?”

I pondered that for a moment.  “The roof rat has a name?”

“Of course he does.  Everything does.  You just might not know it yet.”

“And his name is Herman?”

“Well, that was his name in a previous life.”  He wiggled his fingers at me.  “Mittens?”

“I’ll see what I can do.  I might be able to find some for you next time I go into town.”  I paused.  “But Herman?”

“Yeah, Hel decided she didn’t want him in Helheim so she sent him back to live as a rat.  She does that a lot with people who she really hates.”

“You mean they don’t go to Nástrǫnd and get chewed on by Níðhöggr?”

“Well, some of the really bad ones were giving the dragon gas. You wouldn’t believe how much damage to Niflheim it was causing when those farts light off.  One of those set fire to Hel’s hall some years back.  She really wasn’t amused.”

I laughed.

“I’m not joking.  You wouldn’t believe the cussing.  I think Hel invented new words just for that.”  Bob shuddered.  “She’s scary when she’s angry.”

“I bet,” I said.  I certainly had no desire to get on Hel’s bad side.  “Okay, so Herman the roof rat is being punished for..?”

“I don’t know.  He won’t tell me.  But he tried to goosestep in your garage.”

“Great, I have a Nazi rat.”  I sighed.  “Guess Hel won’t be upset when I trap his ass.”

Bob shrugged.  “She’ll just send him back as another rat.”

“Great, well maybe this time he’ll go to New York City instead of here.”

“Then you’ll have no excuse for cleaning out the garage,” Bob quipped.

“I’ll get right to it.”  I said, walking back to the house.

“Oh, and don’t forget the mittens!” Bob called after me.