Heathen Hearth's topics - tribe.net

Jotun's Bane Kindred's Open Events in 2010

Ludwig — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:25:07 GMT

Jotun's Bane Kindred (in Kansas City) holds open events, so that heathens and the heathen-curious, can come, meet us, and participate. Its a way that people can learn more about us and about heathenry, and a way we can learn more about them. Here's the list of all of our Open Events in 2010.

January 17, 2010 - Open Pubmoot - 6 PM @ O'Dowds at Zona Rosa in the Northland of Kansas City

March 13-14, 2010 - Open Ostara Faining - Noon on Saturday @ Gaea Retreat in McClouth, KS

May 23, 2010 - Open Pubmoot - 6 PM @ O'Dowds at Zona Rosa in the Northland of Kansas City

May 26-31, 2009 - Heartland Pagan Festival @ Camp Gaea - Not our event, but we'll give heathen workshops there and we'll have a booth as well

July 18, 2010 - Open Picnic - 4 PM @ English Landing Park in Parkville, MO

September 24-26, 2010 - Lightning Across the Plains - regional heathen gathering @ Camp Gaea - http://www.lightningacrosstheplains.com

November 7, 2010 - Open Pubmoot, dedicated to the Einherjar - 6 PM @ O'Dowds at Zona Rosa in the Northland of Kansas City

All of these events are open to the public. More information on all of them will eventually be posted on our message board.

Hope to see you at some of our events!

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
http://heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Linda Wormhoudt...New book on seidr

Rig — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:21:09 GMT

Heill the list,
I am pleased to inform the list that there is another new work out there recently completed by practising Dutch Vala Linda Wormhoudt. I intend to do a review of this work as soon as I get my first draft copy which I will be posting as soon as I am able to. Publication runs will begin in January 2010 as far as I am aware.
See also: http://www.boekenroute.nl/gasten/gtn1Boek.aspx?BoekID=12602
Rig

Index
Forward
Sources

Chapter 1 The Vala
Chapter 2 The History of Scandinavia
Chapter 3 Gods and Goddesses
Chapter 4 The Norns
Chapter 5 The Dark side of seidr
Chapter 6 Death Cults
Chapter 7 Working with the dead here and now
Chapter 8 Dodenwegen.. traces of deathpaths in the landscape
Chapter 9 Burrialmounts...utiseti
Chapter 10 Galdur
Chapter 11 Seidr and healing
Chapter 12 Landwights
Chapter 13 The Oracle....high seat,different methods of seering
Chapter 14 Hedge Riders
Chapter 15 The magical objects of the Vala

Over 400 pages to date pending finalisation,this IMO really needs to be translated into English also. It includes in most chapters historical as well as her personal workings which I am sure may upset some trad folks out there.I am having a personal signed copy in her Dutch edition. Linda is one of the very few Europeans female seidurs that is actively teaching her art to students and as I understand it, book two is already in the pipeline.

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies

Sexual orientation in modern day heathenry

Rig — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:43:45 GMT

Heill the list.
I am looking for your views on sexual orientation within contemporary modern heathenism. I am sure there are as many divergent views on this topic as there are on race or ethinicity. I am not particular interested in the views of collective kindreds but rather the individual view towards this controversial subject. Sexual orientation has never been an issue for me personally as I believe that every human being has a part to play in their community and that personal preferences towards sexuality should never form the basis of admission to any heathen organisation or collective. I am sure that others may have a different or diverse viewpoint to that of mine. All posts are welcome on this matter and I thank all who contribute.

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 15 replies

introductions

Esche — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:37:21 GMT

Greetings,
I'm new to tribe and I look around and found that the people in this tribe seemed pretty friendly and I thought that I would take the chance.

I have been an Asatruar and Siedr practitioner for a few years now and I'm looking for others to talk with and share ideas. I hope that I can add positive things to the group and hope to make some friends while I'm here.

Tony "Esche"

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Kindred Growing-Pains are Inevitable

Ludwig — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:50:51 GMT

When you are starting, growing, and maintaining a kindred or tribe, it is inevitable that there will be growing pains. Problems to deal with. Situations you did not anticipate. People who end up disappointing you. It is absolutely inevitable, because that is the way of the world. Life is a challenge. Anything worth doing is a challenge.

It is not healthy to panic everytime something goes wrong. It is not an effective strategy for facing down challenges. So, prepare yourself and the people involved with you in your kindred-building effort to the fact that there will be some growing pains, some problems, and that some of the people involved in your effort may fall short of expectations. These challenges are part of the process, and as you face them and come through them successfully, ultimately they make your group stronger.

In Jotun's Bane Kindred, we look to the massive oak tree that we take our oaths beneath..the “Old Man,” Forn Halr, for an example. He is a thick and powerful oak, and its impossible to stand beneath his outstretched limbs without respecting and acknowledging his strength and endurance. He has outlasted all the old trees around him. He had survived a 1000 storms. But this was not without some pain and loss on his part. He wears the scars of his battles. In places he is gnarled...places where limbs have been lost...and he bears the evidence of his years of living and surviving.

GROWING PAINS

First, when you are starting something new...building something new...there will be growing pains. I would define these circumstances as situations that you, another individual in your group, or the group as a whole has never encountered before. When building a kindred you are breaking new ground. Nevermind that there are other kindreds or tribes already in existance. Each tribe is different, with different challenges, different personalities, and different traditions to develop. So of course there will be growing pains.

Learn to look at growing pains as opportunities. Each one that you overcome, represents growth. Talk about it within your group in this way. When a problem develops within the group, the measure of that group and its leadership is not the fact there is a problem. The measure of that group and its leadership is how it deals with the problem. The strategy it uses. The answer it comes up with to the problem. How well it deals with and solves the problem.

Did you identify the problem quickly or let it languish? Did you face the problem head-on and fix it, or try to dodge it in some passive-aggressive fashion? Did the group come together, and solve the problem as a group or was there constant bickering or politics involved? Was the solution to the problems effective and lasting, or just a bandaid irresponsibly slapped over a festering wound? Is the solution to the problem, something the group as a whole is happy with? All of these questions are important to consider...and much more important that fretting over the fact there was a problem in the first place. Of course there was a problem...there will always be problems. The real question is always, how was the problem addressed.

THE ONLY OATH YOU CAN KEEP IS YOUR OWN

Besides growing pains, you will have people within the group that will disappoint you and the group. I'm not talking about the small disappointments (i.e. late paying their dues, missed an event, not working hard, etc.) that people bring to a group. Address and deal with the small disappointments directly. Talk about them, work on them, and strive for solutions that cause these small disapointments to happen less frequently, if at all. What I'm actually talking about here, are the big disappointments. The failure to maintain or fulfill a kindred oath.

When we start an oathed kindred, or a kindred with a clearly defined membership, we make commitments to one another. And these oaths and commitments are at the heart of what makes a kindred strong and viable as a group. You can count on the other members to stick together, work hard together, and accomplish collective goals as a tribe. These oaths also represent a commitment to advance each other individually, and to advance the group forward. In a perfect world no oath will be broken. We'd like to think that everyone we oath to, will keep their oath to us with the same determination that we keep our own oaths to them.

But this isn't a perfect world, and you can't control whether another person keeps his/her oaths. You can't force them to keep their oaths. You can't make them be someone they aren't. And no matter how hard you work to get to know someone, and make sure they are a person willing and able to faithfully keep their kindred oath...its impossible to really know. (Look at the divorce rate, if you need an example of how hard it is to know if another person will keep their oath).

The only thing we truly control is our own oath. We make our oath, we mean our oath, and we live up to that oath. That's what we control, and that's what's important to focus on. The world is not perfect, and people will disappoint us. When they do, react in a wise and prudent way, and protect yourself and your group from their inability to keep and fulfill their oath.

RECIPROCITY OF OATHS

A kindred oath is a reciprocal oath. Those taking the oath are committing to the group, and to the individual members of that group. Its important to understand that this establishes a web-of-oaths. And these oaths are not one-sided affairs. They are reciprocal in nature.

So, if an oathed member of a kindred is acting in a way that hurts the kindred, and all efforts have been made to address this behavior and correct it...and the oathed member continues to hurt the group, then steps must be taken to protect the group. Cut your losses. Either release the kindred oath...wipe it away as something that was not being kept in a reciprocal fashion, or if appropriate to the situation, declare the oathed member as an oath-breaker. But, the group itself...the kindred...the tribe...it must be protected from those that would hurt it through their own selfish actions.

Releasing an oath in this manner is a last resort, and every effort should be made to maintain the oath...reinforce the oath...and make it clear to the oathed member exactly what they are doing to jeopardize their kindred oath. But its important for the leadership of a tribe, to compartmentalize this problem as it develops.

For instance, if a member of a kindred is not showing up for things, failing in many of their obligations, and they are making risking decisions that are threatening their marriage, and about to bring a full-blown divorce into the midst of a kindred...this is a problem. You don't entrust important duties within the kindred to this problem-member. You don't assign them important responsibilities at a big event your kindred is hosting. You don't expose the soft-underbelly of the kindred to this problem-member. You do what you need to compartmentalize the potential damage this problem-member might to do to the kindred, until such time as that problem has been fixed. Or until they have behaved so badly, that their oath must be released.

This is a complex issue, and we all hope to not go through it at all...or at the very least, not very often. But it happens. Though you are oathed to someone, if someone is not being reciprocal in their oath...and are not holding up their end of the bargain, there comes a time when the tribe is no longer obligated to maintain their end of the bargain. When that time comes, release the oath and cut ties. Remove tribal obligations to the member who will not fulfill their own obligations to the tribe, and its members.

WHY WRITE THIS ESSAY?

One of Jotun's Bane Kindred's growing pains, was working through what you should do when a member breaks their oath to the kindred. Working through what to do when someone cannot or will not fulfill their obligation to our tribe. It was difficult trying to balance holding to our own oaths, while protecting our kindred from the problem-member's actions and decisions. And when we first encountered this, we weren't sure how the whole situation reflected on us as a group. So this was an essay written specifically for this collection of essays.

The bottom line is this. All kindreds and tribes will face growing pains, disappointments, and perhaps drama now and again. The measure of a strong and stable kindred is not the complete lack of these problems. I believe that to be impossible. The measure of a strong and stable kindred is how they deal with these inevitable problems. How they solve them. How they protect their tribe. How they learn from the problems. How they continue to grow and advance. That is the measure of a tribe.

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
http://heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Leaving a Kindred Gracefully

Ludwig — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:24:08 GMT

This seems like an odd topic for an essay about heathenry. But life is complex. People are called up for active-duty by the military. People are offered better jobs, that are in other cities and states. Marriages break-up, and sometimes one must move to stay close to one's children. The circumstances of one's life can change, and this can make staying with a kindred difficult, if not impossible.

Let me first say, that I would not leave my kindred. I was one of the founding members of Jotun's Bane Kindred, and the formation of our kindred was based on a oath I made directly to Thor and our Gods, prior to me personally knowing even one other heathen. The formation of JBK was something that I had to do. And it is difficult to imagine a situation that could pull me away from my tribe. It means too much to me.

But there are times, when you will have to pull away from a group of people for circumstances beyond your control. If you care at all about your honor, your reputation (Gefrain), and your established friendships within that group...there are things you should do that will make your exit from that group more graceful. Less damaging.

First, you should face the group in-person and explain to them the circumstances of why you must leave. This should happen at an existing meeting, or if need be, a special meeting of the group. An email to the group, or the group's leadership will not suffice. Actually, an email to the group or its leadership completely lacks the directness, the honesty, or the courage that we expect to see from Tru heathens. An email will cause anger and disgust by the group towards you. But a face-to-face explanation to the group, allows them to all hear the facts at once, allows them to see your emotions and attitude about leaving, and allows them to ask questions and have a conversation with you about it.

If you must leave immediately, and a face-to-face meeting is impossible with the group...then its your obligation to call every member of that group, starting with the leadership, and explain to each of them that you are leaving, and why you have to leave. You begin with the leadership of the group out of respect, and so they can begin making the adjustments that need to be made to limit the damage to the group done by your leaving.

If your reasons for leaving are good, and any reasonable person can see why you must leave...telling the group you are leaving will likely not be confrontational. If you are a tight-knit group, telling them will be emotional, but not confrontational.

If you reasons for leaving are sort of sketchy, then expect some fairly serious questions to be asked of you about your reasoning and your motivations. There is no obligation on the members of the group you are leaving to “automatically” accept your reasons for leaving “without question.” After all, you are leaving the group...a group that you committed to. And while you control whether you leave or not, the group itself (and its members) are in control of how they react to your leaving. You have no control of their reaction.

Now, what I've explained above does not seem to be what most people leaving a group seem to want to do. I tell you this from the standpoint of having seen it in various types of groups during my lifetime, including our heathen tribe. Most people seem incapable of facing the group face-to-face and simply explaining why they must leave. For some reason, they can't just come and say:

“This isn't working out for me, I'd like to leave the group but I'd like to remain friends with this kindred.”

“This isn't working out for me, I'd like to start my own kindred, but I want to stay on friendly terms with this kindred.”

“I have to move away for (insert reason), but I want to stay in touch and on friendly terms with this kindred.

Instead, what most people do, is come up with justifications for their leaving that involve being angry with the group. They fear the reaction of the group to their leaving, so they build up anger and emotion towards the group. They begin looking at the group as their enemy, based on the reaction they “believe” they will get. Even though this reaction they “believe” they will get is probably farthest from the truth. And this frustration and anger builds, until they lash out at the group. Essentially, its easier for them to start some kind of fight with the group, so that they can blame their leaving the group on the group itself.

That sounds a little odd, but I've seen it over and over again. Rather than just face the group, explain their reasons, and then pulling away with friendships and their honor intact...people will often take the cowards way out, cause a fight, and then run off. Somewhere in their head, they feel this has shifted the blame and responsibility from their shoulders...but it actually makes things worse. They actually cause more damage to the group and themselves by leaving in this manner.

To limit this sort of damage to your group, kindred, or tribe, its not a bad idea to address the subject of “how to leave the group” in your group's by-laws. Talk about it with new members, so that they know what is expected of them should they ever have to leave. This will not completely prevent people from leaving in the worst of ways, but its better than not addressing the topic at all.

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
http://heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Want to Start Something? Start a Heathen Study Group.

Ludwig — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:18:11 GMT

Let's say you are a solitary heathen, in an area with one or two other solitary heathens. Or perhaps you are a solitary heathen, in a larger town...with a bunch of heathens that rarely gather together. And let's say you want something more.

Our way of life is tribal. We are better people...and can get more done, when we know and work together with other heathens of worth in our area. But starting a kindred sounds like an overwhelming task. Or perhaps, the people in your area are reluctant to be involved in a kindred-building process.

One solution to all of these situations, is to start a Heathen Study Group.

You set a date, a month or more away. You offer to host. You talk with all the heathens in your area, and invite them. Speak of the hospitality you wish to offer. Tell them you want to at least know them better, and you'd like to learn along side them. And explain why coming to the Study Group would be fun and educational.

You can even start a Meetup Group, or a Group on Facebook, or a Yahoo e-list. You can hand out or hang up notices at the local pagan book store. Honestly, you can promote it as much or as little as you like, depending on who you want there...and what you want out of it.

As far as the Heathen Study Group itself, its very easy to organize. I would start with the Havamal. Its very straight-forward, focuses on how to "be heathen," and makes for great discussions.

I would get multiple translations. If there are only two of you, I would recommend maybe 4 translations. If there will more of you, use more translations. You really can't have too many of them. You can find 7 translations on-line at this link:

http://heathengods.com/temple/modules/articles/index.php?cat_id=10

I would recommend Bellows, Hollander, Chisholm, and maybe Auden & Taylor's. If you have Larrington in book format, that's another good one, but isn't available on-line.

Have the translations printed out for the first Study Group. Let everyone know that is coming, that they should read the first 10 or 15 stanzas prior to the Study Group. And since you are organizing the event, make sure you read over them too...and put some thought into what they mean to you.

On the day of the Heathen Study Group, make sure you have a place where all of you can sit comfortably. A place with enough light to read from the translations. Have some sodas or other drinks available, and also some snacks. Hospitality is very important to heathens, and important to forming connections between friends.

When everyone arrives, greet them all. If you don't know their names, learn them. Offer them food and drink upon their arrival, and make sure they know where the restroom is in your home. Be a good host.

Once everyone has arrived, hand out the translations. Then go stanza by stanza, taking turns reading each translation of the stanza you are focusing on. For instance, take turns reading out-loud the various translations of the first stanza. Once all the translations of the first stanza have been read, discuss what's different about them...both in language and in meaning. And discuss what each of you think the stanza is getting at. What's the point its trying to make in that stanza.

Remember, there are no "right" answers...and don't get in arguments! LOL. Make sure everyone is allowed to share their opinion. If one participant is being a little quiet, ask them their opinion. Make sure everyone feels welcome and valued. After all, you are the host.

Once the first stanza has been fully discussed, move onto the second stanza, and so on.

In Jotun's Bane Kindred's study groups on the Havamal, we tried to get through 15 stanzas in a night. But don't rush. If you only get through 10, that's fine. You're not trying to set a speed record. You are attempting to learn, and think, and come to some shared conclusions about what you agree on...and perhaps what you don't agree on.

As the host, make sure the study groups are fun. Have snacks...laugh a lot between stanzas, and enjoy it. Offer smoke breaks, if you have smokers among you. Don't make it into homework, or something you dread. Make it something that people look forward to...

Now, as the Heathen Study Group continues, you can begin rotating where it is held, if someone else in the group seems interested in hosting as well. Perhaps have a small faining (blot) before the study group sessions, just so you are also practicing your religion, and not just learning about it. Or perhaps have a small Folk Symbel afterwards.

If over time, you find additional heathens that you think have worth, then perhaps invite him/her to a study group...and see how it goes. If someone involved in the Study Group is always disrupting it, or has no worth, or makes the other members consistently uneasy, talk with them about it. If they won't change their behavior, tell them they are no longer welcome. Don't let one bad guest break up your Study Group.

Over time, the members of the Study Group will come to know each other well. Who they are, how they think, and how dependable they are. Friendships will form. And over time, you the subject of forming a kindred or tribe may be brought up, either by you or another participant.

This Study Group method, would also work for an already established kindred...that wanted to do more collaborative study. It would also work for kindreds that include families with teenagers, in order to get them more involved.

There are likely variations on this theme, and different ways to do it. I'm simply describing how we did it, and it worked for us. Feel free to make this your own, or do it any which way you like.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me here or by email. voidpulp@yahoo.com

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Temple of Our Heathen Gods
http://www.heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

The Voluspa Recited - Video

Ludwig — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:56:45 GMT

At last year's Midwest Thing in Minnesota, I made an oath to learn the Voluspa...and be able to recite it in Symbel by this year's Midwest Thing.

On September 5th, 2009 during Symbel at Midwest Thing I recited the Voluspa from memory in fulfillment of that oath. Our ancestors had an oral story-telling tradition, and it is something worth reviving...

The Voluspa Recited on Facebook:

http://tinyurl.com/m3tlsw

The Voluspa Recited on Photobucket:

http://tinyurl.com/mob7rc

I've posted two versions, in case you have problems with one of them.

HAIL OUR GODS AND OUR FOLK!

Mark Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
Temple of Our Heathen Gods
http://heathengods.com/lightning

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Just 3 More Days to Register for Lightning Across the Plains

Ludwig — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:55:47 GMT

THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR LIGHTNING ACROSS THE PLAINS IS JUST THREE DAYS AWAY! The registration deadline is September 12th.

You can register with PayPal or by snail mail. Any PayPal registrations need to be completed by the end of September 12, and any snail mail application forms need to be post-marked on September 12th or earlier. Register at this link:

http://www.heathengods.com/lightning

Registrations are only $40 for Individuals and $60 for a Family of up to five. All camping fees and dinner on Friday and Saturday night are included with your Registration.

Heathenry is about community, gathering as a people, shaking a man or woman's hand, looking them in the eye, hearing their voice, telling stories, getting to know each other. Its letting your kids play together. Letting your spouses get to know each other. Its about laughing at dumb jokes, and telling stories from your life. Its about mingling Wyrd...and taking the measure of another person, and finding them of worth.

And that's what Lightning Across the Plains is focused on. Registrations have been strong...and its promising to be an amazing gathering. Heathens from across the Midwest will be gathering on September 25-27...get registered so you can be apart of it.

:-)

Hail Our Gods and Our Folk!

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
Temple of Our Heathen Gods
http://www.heathengods.com/lightning

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

circumcision

Kraft — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:05:16 GMT

Just out of curiosity what do you think about it?

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies

Sat Aug 8th Runic Techniques - Seattle WA

Meka — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:41:26 GMT

Runic Techniques

Meditation, Divination & Magic
August 8th 2009
4-6pm $10 door
Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave. (Capitol Hill), Seattle, WA.

This workshop addresses Runic techniques for meditation, divination and magic, as well as exploring current works written on the three topics. The meditation unit will be the presenter's own methods which are designed to facilitate further development regarding magical and divinatory skill. The other units will focus more on both historical and contemporary practices, and things we can do (talismans, divination lots, etc).

This workshop will conclude the New Perspectives on Runes series . Participants at this lecture are expected to have basic knowledge of the Rune Staves and practice in these areas will be helpful.

With over fifteen years of Runic and occult experience, Chris Travers is a Master in the Rune-Gild, an has led Runic discussion groups for the last decade. His book, "The Serpent and the Eagle: An Introduction to the Elder Runic Tradition" is available through www.IOTBooks.com. He has studied history at the Evergreen State College.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton

Rig — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:06:03 GMT

Professor Ronald Hutton (born 1954) is Professor of History at the University of Bristol and is an occasional commentator on British television and radio on the history of paganism in the British Isles. Ronald Hutton was educated at Cambridge and then at Oxford, where he held a fellowship at Magdalen College. In 1981, he moved to the University of Bristol, where he is now Reader in British History. He is a historian of wide interests ranging from political affairs and popular culture to topics covering the whole of the British Isles. This was his fifth book. Ronald Hutton is well known for debunking the feminist "goddess" movements especially within neo-paganism.

The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton
Paperback: 424 pages
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (December 15, 1993)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0631189467
ISBN-13: 978-0631189466

http://tinyurl.com/5nt9hu

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Midsummer

Sara — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:03:47 GMT

So did everyone enjoy some sort of a celebration over the weekend to mark the occassion? Our hearth managed to slip in some time for observing between fishing and running to the airport (with a flight delay), but it was nice and I had to get back to work to rest.

SARA
aka: Bibrau

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Heathens in Florida?

Kenaz86 — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:45:10 GMT

I just moved to Jacksonville, FL and Im trying to find other people around the area (within a hundred miles?) so if you are or happen to know anyone please let me know.

Frith,
-Justin

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

RE Introduction

Michael — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:41:42 GMT

Wassail to All,
Those I know and those I do not. I have been of the Radar for the better part of a year and haven’t shared fellowship with any of you. Well except for Lady Yngona who I was lucky enough to see during the Yule season. As always it was a pleasure to sit in hall with you. Otherwise I figured I’d give the rest of you, who I’ve shared fellowship with in the form of varied but always enjoyable conversation, an update.

I was honorably discharged due to medical reasons June 15, 2008. I served nearly ten years In The Marine Corps and do not regret a day of it. I’ve been doing the transitioning to civilian life thing since then. Which I can’t say is going bad but I can say it’s a strange world among civilians. Different view points different standards. But I look forward to jumping back into conversations with you all.
Michael

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

In Norse mythology,did mortal women go to Valhalla after death?

Rig — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:18:10 GMT

This rather interesting question came about within a private heathen discussion with European heathens. I would very much like to know the views of this list regarding this matter especially from the female membership here. Taking on board accounts of ritual suicide by heathen women after the demise of their menfolk in battle, would this qualify such women for a place in Valholl or did they simply commit suicide in despair and not to join with their husbands in the next life?

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies

missing link ?

Vinlands-Volva — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:41:01 GMT

http://vinlands-volva.blogspot.com/2009/05/missing-link.html

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Norse Psychology; hamr, lich, fylgja origins

Amber Skyspirit — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:29:14 GMT

Hail List! I am new here, and would appreciate any assistance provided. I am attempting to research the origins of these subject areas. I originally came across them in Thorsson's literature, then Gundarsson's, then others' online. I am familiar with the gifts given to Askr and Embla in the Voluspa. I have been unable to locate reference to fetch, lich, hamr, hugr, in the Eddas. I welcome any ideas on good reference material. I find it interesting that a folk that appeared to live so simply could have such complex views of their spirit form. In Frith, Amber

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Eostremonth? Does anyone have an academic view on this event?

Rig — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:56:32 GMT

Old English Ēostre (also Ēastre) and Old High German Ôstarâ are the names of a putative Germanic goddess eponymous of the Christian festival of Easter. The goddess is attested by Bede as the namesake of the Anglo-Saxon month Ēostur-monath.Eostre first makes her appearance in literature about thirteen hundred years ago in the Venerable Bede's Temporum Ratione. Bede tells us that April is known as Eostremonth, and is named for a goddess that the Anglo-Saxons honored in the spring. He says:
"Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated "Paschal month", and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. The Grim Brothers suggested that they evidence of her existence in the oral traditions of certain parts of Germany, but there's really no written proof.
Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated "Paschal month", and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance...Bede

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Seattle seminar: New Perspectives on Runes I: The First Aett

Meka — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:34:29 GMT

New Perspectives on Runes I: The First Aett

9 May 2009, 4-6pm, $10 at the door

Hugo House, 1634 11th Avenue (Capitol Hill)

This lecture discusses the origins of information concerning the Runes of the Elder Futhark. We will be discussing the origins of the Futharks as well as comparative material surrounding the First Aett.

This lecture is one in a series exploring deeper mysteries of the Elder Futhark. The lecture is suited primarily toward intermediate to advanced students, but beginners will gain valuable insight into the source material and methodologies for approaching it.

With over fifteen years of Runic and occult experience, Chris Travers is a Master in the Rune-Gild, an has led Runic discussion groups for the last decade. His book, "The Serpent and the Eagle: An Introduction to the Elder Runic Tradition" is published through BookSurge. He has studied history at the Evergreen State College.

Contact irisgately@vib.org for reservations or further inquiries.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

looking for continental Saxon resources

Kraft — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 04:04:48 GMT

So I read the topic on Germania and how evryone was talking about how Tacitus dint live among the Germanic people. I have not read anything to back these claims up so I would appreciate someone showing me to places that I could read up on this subject about.

What Im really looking for is reliable sources about the continental Saxons. My goal is to put togethor a Saxon tribe and be its Witega, I need to do much more research on the subject before I take on this project.

Thank you,
Lowe

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Germanic Superstitions...Are you Superstitious?

Rig — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:15:31 GMT

Since the dawn of time it seems that many cultures developed a plethora of superstitions, folklore, and magic. Germanic cultures also had their own perculiar brand of superstitions in particular regarding Weddings or Funerary proceedings, For instance the Saxons of early England cut off the feet so their corpses could not walk (Turner, 122). Or perhaps some superstitions came about from a fear of magic or witches: It was an ancient Saxon superstition that magical arts could not be practised, or practised so well, upon persons in the open air as in houses. (Turner's " Anglo-Saxons," vol. i., p. 196.) Thus when Ethelbert, King of Kent, gave audience to St. Augustine, A.D. 597, he would not allow the interview to take place in the palace, but met the great missionary in the open air in the Isle of Thanet; and it was the lingering influence of the same superstition, I conclude, which led all who were afraid of the devices of witches to exclude witches from their houses.

So are you superstitious? And if so what are your superstitions ;-)
Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Seiður Convention Wouldn't it be great if............?

Rig — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:19:33 GMT

Wouldn't it be wonderful if a Seiður Convention comprising of tradition based magical practices taken from around the late Iron Age in Northern Europe be organised and presented at one location on this side of the Atlantic pond right here in Britain? I am currently considering London England as a possible international venue for such a Seiður Convention but I am open to other suggestions. Also it would not be too great a leap for our European counterparts to put in a show. Those whom I have spoken to at the British end seem to agree that seiður needs taking forward a couple of clicks so that this art becomes better understood or at least explained a whole lot more than it currently is? I really have my work cut out for me in this, so if you believe in making dreams reality and that the improbable is possible, do drop me a line either on of offlist regarding this matter.

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 5 replies

Germania as a reliable resource?

Rig — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:05:02 GMT

I welcome points of views from the list on the Roman historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus, the author of Germania which is often quoted by the right winged political crowd as "proof" that the ancient "Germanics" were a pure (white) race?

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 10 replies

Building Bridges

Birka — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:39:50 GMT

There are a lot of factions in heathenry, racially based and otherwise.

I'd like, if possible, to open up a *polite* discussion as to what the major differences people see as existing today, and what, if any, peaceful, resolutions between them can be made. By this I mean ways to garner respect, frith, and 'bridge the gap' between the groups and organizations that are forming/have formed that have radically different views and/or approaches to heathenry.

I realize this is a difficult topic, and a difficult notion, particularly as the differences between various heathens go just about as deep as they can, reaching deep into what we think and know to be right that form our very personal foundations that we base daily actions upon.

All point of view, please, but please respect this as an open forum.

In frith,

Birka

posted in Heathen Hearth - 15 replies

sacred theater/clowns?

Birka — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:32:45 GMT

Does anyone know of any good resources for clowns/jesters in Northern Europe, particularly as they may have played a role in culture and society? I seem to not be able to find any history before 1300's for this (which makes sense in some ways). This being said, I'm very curious about what early masks, paint or whatnot/costuming these figures may have played in early Northern European history.

Any suggestions and directions would be lovely.

Thanks,

Birka

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Factions in Asatru

Rig — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:43:33 GMT

Apart from my theory on Troy migrations, I stand by this article which I wrote a while back:
http://www.uppsalaonline.com/uppsala/svenson.htm
That the Aesir are accurately depicted in our lore, and that the lore further reflects in its telling of the war between the Aesir and Vanir the same type of conflicts that resulted from Germanic tribes migrating into Scandinavia, with the Aesir being tribal Regin, and then
fighting with the native dwellers of the Scandinavian peninsula. This can be given secondary evidence in many ways, but the primary evidence *does* suggest a migration from *somewhere* into the Scandinavian peninsula. As for whether those invaders were what eventually became the Goths, were Thracians, or another type of folk, I dare say that we really do not know. The only 'strong' evidence of which I am aware for the Swedes possibly being descendants of Troy's scattered people are the very dubious accounts of Greek and Latin 'historians' who attempted to fit tribes and respective histories into nice compartmented boxes so they could be classified and understood. This sort of history has been discounted for quite a long time. Isidore of Seville and Jordanes are not considered to be especially reliable sources; nor are Tacitus, Paulus Diaconus, or many others. Modern archaeology has demonstrated the veracity of some of their statements, but definitely disproved many others. As far as the region around the Black Sea is concerned, science has almost nothing to say other than that it definitely has been a convergence point for many migrating tribes since at least before the Roman Empire, and that the unearthed pottery and other wares only demonstrate a high degree of trade from all over the region. Plus, we see in grave remains and other excavations from that region that ethnic groups changed constantly in their habits and way of life, likely as a
result of the influx of tribes throughout history, and so nearly *anyone in the East of Europe could have had their tribal ethnic background originate from the Black Sea region, including the supposed Indo-European tribes.

However this article by Wayland Skallagrimsson is noteworthy of reading:
I think there are three types of Folkist, judging from those I have talked to and read the writings of. These are:

1)White Power Folkists, who feel non-whites cannot hear the call of our gods. These are a major part of the type using the term Folkish. Many are openly racist, though many others will try to claim they are simply full of pride for the white race, but are not racist because they also believe that whites cannot hear the call of other races' gods. Still others will simply state "I'm not racist", but will be as adamant in claiming that the gods will have nothing to do with those not of Northern European descent as they are in refusing to give any cogent reason as to how they know this or why this isn't racist. The White Power Folkist is often a Nazi as well, and sometimes goes by the term "hammerskin".

2)Honestly confused Folkists who have a bad view of science or philosophy that leads them to conclusions that are in effect racist even though they honestly don't think so. Examples of this are those people who honestly do think that genetic science says that a person's thoughts and beliefs are genetically determined, when it in fact says no such thing. (There is no evidence of this at all. Most scientists believe a person's thoughts and beliefs are largely derived from childhood cultural indoctrination influenced in some indeterminable way by genetic inclinations in one vague direction or another, such as a tendency to get angry easily, or a tendency towards depression.) The most public example of this type of Folkist is Steve McNallen and his AFA, with their "science" of metagenetics. Unfortunately in the modern world, many people are exposed to science trivia in magazines and on TV and get erroneous impressions that they think actually reflect modern scientific understanding. This type is usually quite adamant in claiming they are not racist, and often gets highly offended when someone tries to point out how their beliefs may be termed as such.

3)Tribalists (more on them below) who for some reason are confused as to terms and call themselves Folkish b/c they believe the ancient heathens' culture must be adopted to be Asatru, who have no problem with non-white Asatruar, but who think for some reason Folkish is the term for their beliefs.

There are several problems with the beliefs of the first two types of Folkist, problems that show that their beliefs are inherently self-contradictory, unsupported or contrary to heathen religion, and/or scientifically unsound. The beliefs of both White Power Folkists and honestly confused (and even well-meaning) but still racist Folkists can be disproven with the following six arguments:

The Six Disproofs:

1)No Folkist actually believes the central tenet of Folkism: that the gods of one's ancestors are one's own gods, that religious predisposition is in the blood, determined by genetic predisposition. That this is so can be easily seen with a little history and some simple arithmetic. The end of ancient heathenry is generally held to be about the year 1000. While there is evidence it survived in isolated places for a few centuries after this, in other places it ended centuries before this, so it is a good average number. Now, a generation is usually held to be about 20 years. So between the end of heathenry and today, there are about 1000/20=50 generations. So depending on whether one's parents or grandparents were Christian (the case for virtually every heathen), individual contributions to one's genes from Christian ancestors are 25% to 50% of one's own genetic makeup, while the individual contribution to one's genes from any heathen ancestor is less than 1 ten-trillionth of one percent. (This is a far lower percentage than the ratio between a single grain of sand and the number of all the grains of sand on all the beaches in the world.) As there are only around 70,000 genes in the whole human genome, this means that not a single gene of any modern man is directly from an ancient heathen ancestor! (The best that can be said is that even people of Northern European descent have a genetic structure that is vaguely influenced by ancient heathen genes.) If the Folkists are right, and the gods of one's genetic ancestors are the biggest factor in determining what religion is right for that one, then everyone in the West should be Christian, not Asatru.

And even if this type of Folkist attempts to argue that heathenry came first and so is more fundamental (an argument which still flies in the face of their genetic statements), then they run into another conceptual difficulty. Heathenry wasn't the first religion their ancestors had either. If this argument is correct then we should all be trying to revive prehistoric religion, of the type held by our "cavemen" ancestors. And also, interbreeding being what it is, most people of northern european descent are not purely of ancient heathen or christian ancestry. Their ancestors likely include other european strains such as celtic and slavic, making the choice of Asatru nothing better than a random one. The fact that the core tenet of Folkism can plainly be seen to result in beliefs that no Folkist follows shows that their arguments about religious beliefs being determined by genes are nothing more than a rationalization, an attempt to find a explanation for something they have already decided to believe without reason.

2)If White Power Folkists really believed that other races were truly inferior, then they wouldn't be lashing out so strongly against them. A strong man does not strike at a weaker one who is no real threat to him. He would ignore him. The fact that White Power Folkists are so strident about the weakness of other races and their inability to comprehend or follow our ways shows their real attitudes they are striving to keep hidden: that they are afraid of others not like them. Not a rational belief at all, simply a chimpanzee-like fear of the Other Tribes. An animal instinct unguided by a thinking, human mind. If they really had the courage of their convictions then they would realize that evolution (favoring, as it does, survival of the fittest) would inevitably weed out the weaker genes itself, with no need for help from them.

3)There is no religious justification at all for excluding other races. The concept is not mentioned, even once, in any Edda or Saga. If it were such an important part of heathenry as Folkists of the first two types make it out to be, then it would have received at least a passing reference by the ancients. It's not like they were unaware of other races. They were great travellers, explorers, traders, conquerors, who ranged far into eastern europe and even into northern africa. So it is quite apparent to anyone not trying to shut their ears against what they don't want to hear that the real motivation of these Folkists is not religious at all, but political. That this is so can be seen by visiting the message boards and websites of such Folkists. Many focus primarily on the issue of race and such political issues, mentioning actual religious ideas little, if at all. One popular message board I visited for White Power Folkists and the second type of Folkist (the honestly intentioned, if confused type) had a total of 72 threads that had little to nothing to do with religion in any way, about a third of which were concerned with issues of race. It had only 25 threads on religious topics. This same board had, as its introduction, a long rant about White Power and the need to exclude other races from Asatru but it literally had nothing at all about the practice of the religion. In contrast I know a black man who honors Thor as a patron, and accepts the ancient heathen culture and religion as guiding principles. When he talks it is about religious matters, not political ones. About Loki's true nature, and why one should or shouldn't walk Odin's path. About the less well known aspects of Thorrish worship. Its not difficult to tell who is the more truly religious.

4)History contains several examples that run counter to the Folkish belief. This includes things the ancient heathens themselves did. Ibn Fadhlan, the Arab, was allowed into religious rites. So was Tacitus' father. Irish slaves in Iceland, as well as Slavic, Finnish, and Sami slaves elsewhere are clearly shown, over and over again, as taking part in Norse culture, including Norse religion. Examples of this include the rites of Nerthus, in which slaves played a prominent part. (While the race of the slaves is not recorded, slaves were very often from other races than their captors, captured in raids, and not often of people from the captors race, a practice most ancient heathens considered shameful.) Indeed, such slaves often became integrated into the culture fully, as the Irish slaves did in Iceland. In fact, Icelandic law insisted that slaves take on Icelandic names immediately upon coming to Iceland. Norse slaves (again, who were most often foreigners, people of other races) were often freed after a time, and then took an equal place in society.

Norsemen, when travelling afar, often took part in the religious rituals of the lands they travelled to, such as is found in the example of prime-signing, where travelling heathens took part in Christian ritual without renouncing their native gods. If the ancient heathens thought every bloodline had its own gods that should be stuck to exclusively, then why did they engage in this practice? Similarly Radbod the Frisian, an Asatru hero, was going to take baptism to honor his friends' gods (until a Christian priest said something stupid).

Mythology too contains potent counterarguments to the Folkish viewpoint. Most notable is Odin. He seeks everywhere for wisdom and knowledge. He looks all over the world of humans. He looks amongst the alfs, and the gods, and even the jotuns. If true Asatru-ish wisdom is found only in certain bloodlines, then why does Odin do this? There is also the matter of Loki, who is a jotun yet is, according to the Prose Edda, has a divine nature. Thor's sons, Magni and Modi, were mothered by the giantess Jarnsaxa, yet they are not only considered divine despite their impure blood, they are considered so divine and mighty that they will take up Thor's hammer after Ragnarok, and become the defenders of men and gods alike. If the ancient heathens considered genetics to be all-important in determining both worth and religious inclination, why would this be so? And going back to the issue to slaves as foreigners again, the Lay of Harbarth implies that slaves have a place in the heathen afterlife, which implies that non Norsemen could have a place in the afterlife. The Lay of Rig gives a divine origin to the race of slaves, and again by implication to foreigners.

5)The genetic arguments of both the first two types of Folkists have other flaws as well. The best known proponent of the religious-genetic theory of Folkism is, perhaps, Steve McNallen, with his pseudo-science of metagenetics. I call it a pseudo-science because he bases it upon an extremely tenuous foundation and then goes way out on a limb. His primary sources for claiming proof that behavior of all sorts (therefore including religious predisposition) are genetically determined are Dr. J. B. Rhine, an ESP researcher at Duke University (not a geneticist and, by most professional scientists' standards, not even a real scientist of any sort), Dr. Ian Stevenson, a psychiatrist at the University of Virginia studying reincarnation (again, neither a geneticist nor a reputable scientist), a particular and, IMO incorrect, interpretation of C.G. Jung's work (also not a geneticist), and Dr. Daniel G. Freedman, a behavioral psychologist from the university of Chicago (still not a geneticist). From the claims made by his interpretation of these scientists' work, he claims unequivocal proof that there are such profound inborn differences between the various races that no one would even dream of thinking the psychology of other races applied to whites (and vice versa).

But looking at his theory of metagenetics in an honest scientific manner, it simply does not hold water. For one thing, not a single one of the people he cites as references has the least expertise in the field of genetics. Dr. Rhine's work can be dismissed as irrelevant outright, for the field of ESP is of dubious value scientifically, and certainly no standards exist for drawing upon research from ESP experiments and applying them to genetics. Dr. Stevenson's work is similarly not applicable to this issue, for there is no question (aside from the lunatic fringe of pseudo-science) that the concept of reincarnation has been in any fashion proven scientifically. Indeed, Mr. McNallen twists even the reincarnation lore he does possess in order to force it to fit his assumptions about race. He states definitively that in Norse lore reincarnation is seen as occuring exclusively along the family line. But as any scholar of Norse mythology and folklore knows, there is insufficient evidence to even claim they had a belief in reincarnation at all. There are (sometimes fierce) debates about this fact both in modern Asatru and in scholarly circles. So to not only claim that this belief definitely existed but then to provide details that certainly are not recorded anywhere stretches the bounds of exaggeration and approaches outright fabrication. He then goes on to imply that the majority of reincarnation beliefs the world over hold that reincarnation occurs only in the family line and as an example he gives the beliefs of the Tlingit people. This is another gross distortion. The vast majority of reincarnation beliefs hold that reincarnation not only occurs outside the family line, but also outside the species line! (Just look at Hindu and Buddhist reincarnation doctrine.)

His references to Jung's work are also something of a distortion. He states that Jung held that the collective unconscious is passed on by heredity and so takes this as evidence that the different races are so dissimilar that their unconscious natures and archetypes are completely distinct. But in reality Jung, while acknowledging some variations between different races and cultures held that the archetypes of the collective unconscious were nearly universal. As Robert Segal summing up Jung's view in his introduction to Jung On Mythology, while the general hero archetype is passed on by heredity, specific examples of it are passed on through acculturization. The whole point of Jung's work on the collective unconscious is that it explains why different races and cultures have the same archetypes, not why they are different.

Out of all the references Mr. McNallen gives, the work of Dr. Freedman approaches closest to rational. But all Dr. Freedman did was show there were small differences in how 48 hour old babies of different ethnic groups responded to various stimuli, as in either pushing away a finger held over the nose or instead just switching to mouth breathing. To take the leap from this to stating that it is proof that something so abstract and complex as religious understandings vary too widely with race to admit mutual understanding is totally unfounded. Indeed, Mr. McNallen makes no attempt to justify his blind leap; he simply states it as fait accompli. This is not science, this is an attempt to use scientific sounding terminology to rationalize a belief he plainly wants to hold. Real science requires reasons, logic, empirical data.

The idea that ones genes determine one's nature (thoughts, feelings, attitudes) is hardly accepted as fact by any real scientists, as even a cursory reading in the field reveals. To believe that is does is to ignore many well documented facts, such as that wild children (children grown up outside of any human contact) lack most traits associated with any human beings, such as the ability to learn language, never mind showing traits inherent to their particular race. It also flies in the face of the fact that as yet all studies of genes show absolutely no difference between the different races. Looking at a genetic sequence, there is not one scientist in the world that could tell what race of human it came from. So obviously whatever genes account for the observed differences between the races form such a minuscule portion of the DNA that the difference is essentially negligible.

See also: http://www.uppsalaonline.com/uppsala/factions.htm

I have questioned many Folkish practitoners, and have never found a one who could give an intelligent (or intelligible) answer as to why it is the blood that is so important. Most just fall back upon such nonsensical statements as "It is the Lore of Life!", "It is the heritage of our People!", "I just know it," or some other synonym for "I can't be bothered to think much and just follow what other people and my own instincts tell me." I have noted that these people's definitions of Norse or Germanic blood grow increasingly broader the whiter a person's skin, and increasingly narrower the darker a person's skin.

The fact that proponents of the "genes determine our thoughts" (including religious ones) ideas have to ignore many empirical facts, have to twist their research to make things say something other than they really do, and have to rely on the research of pseudoscientists like parasychological researchers indicates what their real agenda is: an attempt to paint a veneer of respectability onto beliefs they are determined to have no matter what, onto their inherent prejudices.

6)The basic tenet of White Power Folkists, that the white race is inherently superior to all others, is completely unsupported by history. The Egyptians had engineering techniques figures out thousands of years ago that modern whites are unable to duplicate even today. The Chinese had many inventions, such as gunpowder, centuries before whites discovered them. Tibetans, Africans, and indiginous South Americans have pioneered fields of psychological science still unduplicated by whites. If the idea that the white race is inherently superior were actually as plain fact as they like to claim, everyone would believe it.

I have no problem with the third type of Folkist, except that their terminology lends credibility to other Folkists. I wish they'd use a better term, but other than that they're all right.

The second type are sometimes honest in intent and can on occasion be reasoned with. A standard dictionary definition of racism is:

"a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior"

The fact that the second type of Folkist insists that other races are incapable of hearing or understanding the call of the gods of Northern Europe (usually for genetic reasons), that in respect to the practice of heathen religion the white race is superior to all other, indicates that, whatever they might wish to believe about themselves to the contrary, they hold racist views. It matches exactly the dictionary definition of racism.

Even if these Folkish types claim they are not racist because Northern Europeans equally cannot hear the call of other races' gods, this is still a racist attitude, even if a more complex one. It is just a racism that admits that each race has an arguably valid point of view to be racist towards others. Just because it is a form of racist thought that is not entirely like the current popular forms of racist thought is no reason to mistake it for non-racist. Saying "They get to be racist too," is not the same thing as saying "We're not racist." It still totally ignores the fact that it is a blanket generalization on the basis of race that dismisses out of hand (ie, with no actual personal knowledge) a whole host of peoples, and that it therefore a form of weakness of thought. To claim knowledge where there is no real knowledge is to make a virtue out of laziness of thought and ignorance. This is a habit of thought that can have serious consequences, especially if it gets passed down through generations of Asatruar and is allowed to change, grow, and affect other beliefs and understandings of our lore. This potentially cripples our spiritual and intellectual development both in the long run, and so it must be seen as a weakness. Making a deliberate blind spot on the basis not of thought but racially oriented generalizations is not something that well serves our people. And while this type of Folkist may genuinely believe that other races should be respected (as Mr. McNallen states in his metagenetics papers) they tend to make the unwarranted leap to saying this respect proves they are not racist. But in this they are forgetting the difference between active and passive prejudice. Having respect for someone is not the same thing as saying you have made no assumptions about them, or saying that you view them as your equal in all respects.

And, of course, White Power Folkists are all racist.

The members of the middle faction of modern Asatru are called Tribalists, and shun the errors of either extreme. The racism of Folkish practice is avoided as well as the "anything goes" motto of the Universalists. The answer the Tribalists have to the question of "Who can practice Asatru?" is: "Anyone who makes a sufficient effort to understand and adopt the culture of the ancient heathens." This gives Asatru rigorous enough standards to make sure our practice is like that of the ancients, and is well understood, for to fully adopt another culture requires MUCH study. Additionally the gods first came to be known in the context of the ancient culture, so it stands to reason that they can only be truly understood in the terms of that culture. It also keeps us from the untenable argument that "other races" are somehow so intellectually inferior to the Norse and Germanic that they cannot attain this understanding. After all, someone brought up in modern Western culture is quite likely, from childhood on, to have been inundated with images, stories, and ideas from that Western culture, thus including our religion. This would make anyone in our culture, whatever the color of the skin, likely enough to have a way of thinking predominantly drawn to Asatru in religious matters, and much more ready to understand it, than some religion their ancestors happened to practice so long ago it isn't a part of their lives anymore.

Many Folkists who dislike either the idea of non-whites being allowed into "their" religion or who dislike having to confront the implications of their beliefs will often ignore the existence of Tribalists. Instead, when conversation comes up that is critical of Folkish beliefs, they start calling their opponents Universalists, trying to take the argument away from specifics they cannot respond to. They do this to try to paint their opponents as ridiculous enough to be dismissed out of hand, without having to actually respond to anything they say. By raising the spectre of the liberal PC bogeyman they hope to obscure the fact that they have no ability to defend themselves against rational Tribalist arguments. All good Tribalists out there should notice when this is being done, and give such chicanery no quarter.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 8 replies

The Perfect Man or Woman

Rig — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:12:14 GMT

Ok so the Jol is upon us and I thought you guys might like a little feastive humour:

http://www.flashfunpages.com/couple.swf

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Yule Tides!

Mike — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:27:38 GMT

Heill List,

The Yule Tides are back once again this year, and I give all my friends and extended family on the list my best wishes for this special day, and for a happy new year.

According to the heathen solar events, we will be going through a unigue 2 week gap -- which is considered a month -- but to some a very magical time ;-).

Best,
Mike

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Helya's Night - The night of the mother

Rig — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:51:03 GMT

This was the night that saw the children of each household committed into the protection of "Midder Mary", or Mother Mary (possible substitution for the "earth mother"?) On first glance, although this looks like a purely Christian ritual, the veneration of the Virgin Mary was a later addition to a pagan tradition. The corn and animals had to be protected. The trows grew strong and bold in winter in proportion, as the creatures of light paled and dwindled. Straws in the form of a cross were fixed to the lintels of barn and byre, so these places were sained, made holy. The most precious creatures in a croft and the most liable to corruption were the children. A special care was taken of them on Helya's Night, the twentieth of December. In Shetland, the old grandmother went round each bed and cradle and committed the young ones to the care of the Virgin Mary. "Mary Midder had de haund/Ower aboot for sleeping-baund,/Had da lass and had da wife,/Had da bairn all its life./Mary Midder had de haund,/Round da infants o'oor laund."

If the children were not protected, it was easy for the trows to steal them. What happened was this: The trows left their own offspring in the cradle, and these winter children generally grew up sick and deformed. So the people say of someone who looks permanently ill that he is trowie. December the twenty-fourth was a night specially holy and terrible. The trows, in dark hordes, lingered outside every croft. The terror of darkness was held in check by a strictly-observed ritual. The mother brought out a basin and filled it with water. The man of the house, priest-like, took three live embers from the fire and dropped them in the water. So in midwinter, the elements of fire and water were true to the tryst of purification. Helya’s night is undoubtedly the same as "Mother's Night" – a night that, wrote the 8th century monk Bede, coincided with Christmas Eve. In his account of the pagan calendar in 725 AD, the Venerable Bede wrote:

"And the very night that is sacrosanct to us, these people call modranect, that is, the mothers' night, a name bestowed, I suspect, on account of the ceremonies which they performed while watching this night through." The “mother” connection and the “watching” ceremonies of Mother’s Night seem to indicate that Helya’s Night was the same event, although overlaid with a Christian veneer.

On Helya’s Night, just as the children had once been committed to the protection of a goddess, ancestor, or the female deities known as the Disir, the ceremony became Christianised and the “mother” was naturally equated with the Virgin Mary, Christ’s mother.

But what was the ceremony? An account written in the 19th century recounts the experience of one woman who remembered her grandmother carrying out the ritual. She explained that, once the children were in bed, the old woman rose from her place by the peat fire and made her way over to the cradle where the youngest lay. Raising her hands over the slumbering infant, she spoke aloud:

"Mary Midder had de haund
Ower aboot for sleepin-baund
Had da lass an' had da wife,
Had da bairn a' its life.
Mary Midder had de haund.
Roond da infants o' wur land."

This procedure was repeated over all the children, while the grandfather sat raking the peats in the hearth. The old man was thought to have been reciting something also but, unfortunately, his softly spoken words were inaudible. As to the name, Helya strikes me as a corruption of the Old Norse heilagr meaning holy – Holy Night being an obvious later name for Christmas Eve.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Daily Practice

Birka — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:24:49 GMT

How many of us here have a daily 'practice' with our gods, ancestors, and/or land wights? What is that practice, and why? This question extends beyond the general idea that we have our world view and cannot separate our spiritual side from our daily life, no, what my question is, is what are our daily rituals that we enact in order to establish, foster, and maintain a relationship with our gods and such.

My practice includes daily offerings (usually) to land wights and ancestors, larger offerings to deities from time to time, burning candles and trying to keep a fire lit in honor of all of them, and of course, some other things like prayers and such.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 8 replies

The Snow is Burning! Jul love for everybody.

lokifreign — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:46:18 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWkS2PkgmsE&feature=related

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Talk in Seattle: Rune-Magic in the Eddas and Sagas

Meka — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:04:38 GMT

Sunday December 14th 2008
1-4pm
$5 on the door

At Edge of the Circle Books, Seattle, WA.

Level: Beginner through Advanced:

Topics covered: Elder and Younger Futharks, Rune-magic in Sigdrifumal, Rune-magic in Egil's Saga, Odin's Initiation.

Synopsis:
Although books on the Runes abound, fewer books or lectures address the questions of how Runes were historically used, drawing on the Eddas and Sagas for material. Yet the Eddas and the Sagas provide a wealth of material which sheds light on the ancient magical traditions of the Germanic peoples, from charms for childbirth and healing through rituals for securing victory or protecting oneself against hostile people or spirits. The material here will be of interest to those whose studies are primarily historical and to those who wish to practically apply the techniques from the ancient world.

Credentials:
With over fifteen years of Runic and occult experience, Chris Travers is a Master in the Rune-Gild, and has lead Runic discussion groups for the last decade. His book "The Serpent and the Eagle: An Introduction to the Elder Runic Tradition" is currently being prepared for publication. He has studied history at The Evergreen State College.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Heathen Social Networking SIte

Swain Wodening — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:01:01 GMT

Heathen Places, the Heathen MySpace clone is now live. You can go and register at http://www.heathenplaces.com Please take advantage of the profiles, blogs, and groups.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

A most vile people

Mike — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:37:48 GMT

Heill List,

I like to bring this topic up to gain opinions of others for the reasons: 1)How many people understand the different races of the Vikings? 2) Did these Viking races have different agendas for their travels? 3) Was these Vikings, xtian, or heathens - which the time period may agree with xtian, which makes me think that many may be wrong that all Vikings are heathens?

see: R.I. Page “A Most Vile People: Early English Historians on the Vikings”, The Dorothea Coke Memorial Lecture in Northern Studies delivered at University College London, 19 March 1986.

Best,
Mike

Source: Viking Society Web Publications

posted in Heathen Hearth - 9 replies

Quick! Help!

Octavia — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:07:08 GMT

Whoever is online, I need speedy answers!

I am going to my friend's celebration for Halloween. But she's a neo-pagan and not even of the Golden Dawn she's just a solitary practitioner for the most part and I have no expectations for this kind of thing, and it's driving me nuts!

Any hints or knowledge of vague neo-paganism would be helpful. Even if it's a blind guess.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

The Viking World

Rig — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:18:29 GMT

Heill the list,
If your budget extends to the $240 the Routledge publishing house are asking, perhaps this latest 2008 submission from Neil Price and Stefan Brink might be worth checking out.
Rig

The Viking World
Edited by Stefan Brink, Neil Price

Price: $240.00ISBN: 978-0-415-33315- 3 Binding: Hardback Published by: Routledge Publication Date: 31st October 2008 Filling a gap in the literature for an academically oriented volume on the Viking period, this unique book is a one-stop authoritative introduction to all the latest research in the field.Bringing together today’s leading scholars, both established seniors and younger, cutting-edge academics, Brink and Price have constructed the first single work to gather innovative research from a spectrum of disciplines (including archaeology, history, philology, comparative religion, numismatics and cultural geography) to create the most comprehensive Viking Age book of its kind ever attempted. Consisting of longer articles providing overviews of important themes, supported by shorter papers focusing on material of particular interest, this comprehensive volume covers such wide-ranging topics as social institutions, spatial issues, the Viking Age economy, warfare, beliefs, language, voyages, and links with medieval and Christian Europe.This original work, specifically oriented towards a university audience and the educated public, will have a self-evident place as an undergraduate course book and will be a standard work of reference for all those in the field.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Viking Age Scandinavia People, Society and Social Institutions Living Space Technology and Trade Warfare and Weaponry Pre-Christian Religion and Belief Language, Literature and Art
Part 2: The Viking Expansion The British Isles Continental Europe and the Mediterranean The Baltic Russia and the East The North Atlantic
Part 3: Scandinavia enters the European stage The coming of Christianity The Development of Nation States (ríki)
Stefan Brink is Professor of Scandinavian Studies and Director of Centre for Scandinavian Studies at the University of Aberdeen.Neil Price is Associate Professor of Archaeology, Conservation, and Historical Studies at Oslo University, and Docent in Archaeology at The University of Uppsala, Sweden.
For image see: http://tinyurl.com/5gxg8m
Professor NEIL PRICE
Chair of Archaeology, Head of Department
BA, PhD, FSA, FSA Scot, FRGS, MIFA
See: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/archaeology/staff.php?id=neil.price

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Elves - Iceland

Rig — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:10:48 GMT

Iceland may have one of the smallest populations in Europe but it's also home to thousands of 'hidden people' -- elves and fairies
Between the rocks, fjords and valleys hides Iceland's 'hidden people'. In Iceland, fairies, elves and trolls triumph over scepticism. Fearful of reprisals -- or just a bit of elfish mischief, ministers were recently forced to back down on a road building project over elf territory. Foolish is he who fears not the wrath of a displaced elf.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=avq9ABxMOys&feature=related

Do I believe in elves.........well let's put it this way......don't mess with them!

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Eclecticism from an Ancestral point of view

Birka — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:43:34 GMT

Recently I've been thinking a lot about friends of mine who come from ethnically diverse backgrounds but follow an ancestry based viewpoint in their religious practices.

By this logic, they may be of mixed ethnic decent and follow two or more religious/spiritual pathways. As such, if you are both of celtic and germanic decent, then you are equally suited for either path or both. How should they choose, or should the choose, a 'side' to follow? Is it better for them and/or their respective communities to choose one path and stick with it, or, should it be a choice they make on their own, and be respected by both communities that they choose a more 'eclectic' path?

The larger question here, is that if they are following a path of ancestry, and they resonate with the gods of both cultures and all of the other things this could entail, is it, in fact, eclecticism, or are they following the 'true' path for themselves? And what of cultures and paths that are not at all 'neighboring', such as people of both african descent and north european decent? Both of these cultures have strong ancestral ties and a strong ancestral religious viewpoint- which one is 'correct' to choose, and, should they choose to follow both (even if 'kept separate' during ritual) what is the implication to the heathen community? Should it affect their respective community?

All POV welcome, from any standpoint.

-Birka

posted in Heathen Hearth - 10 replies

Ancient Spindle with Runes Discovered in Reykjavík

Rig — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:29:02 GMT

Heill the list,
Yngona originally posted this on my list but I felt its of interest to the spinners of seidr magic here :-)
SNÆLDUSNÚÐURINN Brotið sem fannst á Alþingisreitnum er úr grænum sandsteini. Það sannar að efnið í hann er fengið úr Esjunni. Rúnaristan er talin vera frá elleftu öld sem er það elsta sem hér hefur fundist, reynist aldursgreining rétt.
http://www.visir.is/ExternalData/pdf/fbl/081019.pdf
A fracture of a spindle with a runic inscription was discovered in an archeological excavation near the Althingi parliament building in Reykjavík last week. It is believed to date back to the 11th century and may be the oldest runic inscription in Iceland. Archeologist Vala Gardarsdóttir, who is in control of the excavation, told Fréttabladid that the discovery is of great significance. “What makes it so special is that it is the only runic inscription from that time that has been found in Iceland.”

“This find could tell us a lot about the development of runes in Iceland because it can prove to be an important piece of the puzzle. One could even say that we’ve discovered the missing link,” Gardarsdóttir said. Thórgunnur Snaedal, a professor with expertise in runes, has examined the spindle and decoded the inscription. “The female name Thórunn is probably inscribed to the fraction and the words ‘owns me’.”

The spindle is made from green sandstone which indicates that it was made from a stone from Esja, the mountain which towers over Reykjavík. Relics of the oldest inhabitation in Reykjavík have been discovered near the Althingi building, the most important of which is the settlement lodge on Adalstraeti 16. Gardarsdóttir said various objects have been discovered which indicate that during the settlement era this was an industrial area and such operations were probably undertaken inside or next to the lodge.

Original source: http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16567&ew_0_a_id=313919

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Midwest Heathen Gathering - Lightning Across the Plains 2009

Ludwig — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:12:42 GMT

Heathenry is about community, gathering as a people, shaking a man or woman's hand, looking them in the eye, hearing their voice, telling stories, getting to know each other. Its letting your kids play together. Letting your spouses get to know each other. Its about laughing at dumb jokes, and telling stories from your life. Its about mingling Wyrd...and taking the measure of another person, and finding them of worth.

On September 25-27, 2009, heathens from around the Midwest will gather at Gaea Retreat, a pagan campground about 40 minutes outside of the Kansas City Area. Our registration packet contains a schedule for the event, and details on food, workshops, Symbels, the Blot, what you'll need to bring, and everything else you could possibly want to know about the event. Just click here:

http://tinyurl.com/5txqwh

Your registration includes all camping fees and dinner on Friday and Saturday night. Individual Registrations are $40 and Family Registrations are $60. The event includes:

---Dinners Provided on Friday & Saturday
---Symbels Friday and Saturday Night
---A Blot/Faining on Saturday Evening
---Asatru & Craft Workshops all Weekend
---Viking Games Saturday Afternoon
---Children's Games and Activities
---A Heathen Auction on Sunday Morning

All Tru Heathens are welcome at this event. To register using PayPal or any major credit card, click here to go to the registration page:

http://www.heathengods.com/lightning

To discuss this event on our message board, click here:

http://tinyurl.com/5epaz5

We're announcing this 11 months in advance, to give everyone time to put this in their calendar...get the money together to attend, etc. We believe that heathenry is gaining momentum here in the Midwest, and we want to gather heathens from all around the region (and beyond) to discuss that...and get to know each other better...

We look forward to seeing you at the gathering...

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
http://heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Heathens in Colorado?

Benjamin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:19:27 GMT

Hello all!

I am wondering if there are any Heathens from Colorado here? If so, let's get in touch! I am in Boulder, and I am trying to get a meeting together for this Sunday the 21st at the Mountain Sun Pub!

Message me or just reply here, I'll be sure to check back!

Heathens UNITE!!!

http://asatru.meetup.com/267/

Cheers!

Benjamin Kowalsky

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Ogham bones

Octavia — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:28:20 GMT

So I know most people here are interested in the Viking peoples, but I was wondering if anyone had research on the Ogham oracle bones? I saw a couple sets in wood, but didn't know if all the symbology info printed with them was correct.

For instance, which rune actually stands for what? Is it really that close to and as easy as tarot, or was it kind of packaged for the modern eye?
What level of religious leader or person used them? Anyone? the tribe shaman? A differently designated person?

Thanks if you've got anything.
Occi

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Need help with some research

heather69 — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:54:51 GMT

I'm working on a personal project and seeking reliable sources about early Germanic society - pre-Roman, pre-Christian. I'm a bit frustrated that all of the history texts I find seem to begin with the Romans, as history began at that point. Yeah, I know, the information from further north is quite similar, but for some reason my interest lies a bit further south and the differences between them. I want to learn about the Germanic tribes, their everyday life and such.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or a push in the right direction! I can muddle through written German, but naturally would prefer an English translation.

Thanks!

Heather (oder Heidi :-)

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Heathen Hearth Cults & Rituals...

MacMorrighan — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:03:39 GMT

Hey guys, I am performing some research on pre/proto/Indo-European hearth cults. (Believe me, I have found some astonishing similarities, even in Mongolian, India, China, and Japan!) Anyway, according to Prof. ML West's fabulous book, "Indo-European Poetry & Myth" (he cites a variety of books, all in languages I cannot speak!), he states that in Germany, there is evidence that the stove was prayed to, and food offerings made in expectation for good will. Also, and perhaos more telling, he states that the new bride was expected to circle the hearth three times (which is VERY common in such countries as India, Greece, Rome, Germany, Uzbekistan[sp?]; and it's common, also, among the Slavs, the Balts, and even the Ossettes! Anywya, I was wondering if anyone might be able to point me towards some sources, so that I can look into the evidence for these practices within Germany, please. Oh, and another common theme related to the hearth that I'd love to look for in Germanic/Nordic lands (if it exists) is the practice of taking a few coals of a token flame from their parents hearth when moving into a new home, or even establishing a new settlement. Thanks!

Take Care,
Wade

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Oracles of wood

Rig — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:57:31 GMT

It has been questioned again and again within academic circles that the notion of random selection to fortell future events or happenings is but flawed speculations at best or wishful thinking at worst. How can the random selection of marked pieces of wood, stones, pebbles, slate ot anything else for that matter actually tell you anything about yourself let alone anyone else? Perhaps runic interpretations are simply so evocative that each contains some point, which can be accepted as relevant to some part of what is happening (taking into accout the margins of probability and chance) at the limits of consciousness any day, any time, to anyone. That is the easiest possibility to accept from a strictly scientific or logical standpoint. I am particular interested in cataloging either offlist on onlist from those who choose runes to work esoterically with futhark runes your accounts of this remarkable and enigmatic tool. This includes off course the sceptics who would still want proof if Othins wolves came along and bit them on the ass! All points of views most certainly welcome and thank you for your considerations either on or offlist. I am particularly interested in true accounts of such happenings which cannot be explained by reason or rational thought.
Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Some Informal thoughts from a Heathen Technocrat

Rig — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:22:50 GMT

There is a line of thought that we must somehow erase the experience of the last few centuries, and regress to an idealized vision of tribal society. That we may somehow shut out the real world and form “Asatru Amish” type communities. As nice as it may be for the privileged few to use log fires for heating and cooking, this would not be ecologically responsible or sustainable on a larger scale, adding to deforestation and pollution. But apart from the practicalities, such isolationism is more likely to lead to an out-of-touch and cultish form of Asatru, against which our next generation is bound to rebel. This may be the right path for a minority of Heathens, but it is not one that is likely to be productive for most. In reality, we can never escape the influence of the wider world. We just have to adapt to it, do our bit to change its less wholesome aspects, and lead by example in keeping to our own standards and traditions. The Enlightenment framework is one that can accommodate most cultures. Only those that actively discourage democratic freedoms will have trouble adapting. In this respect, there is no reason that we can not continue to value cultural diversity and tradition, within the overarching framework of modern democracy, our own Enlightenment heritage. This is particularly true for Heathens, who share the same Germanic cultural roots as the Enlightenment.

For full article. please see: http://www.runewebvitki.com/Heathenry%20&%20Modernity.htm

Background information: I have been interested in runes since reading Tolkien as a teenager in the early 1970s. I have an undergraduate background including physics, maths, psychology, and linguistics. In 1990 I was invited to lead the Rune-Gild's South Pacific Region, and did so for 10 years. By 2000 I became disillusioned with many aspects of that organisation, and resigned along with most of the members in the region. We set up Rune-Net as an independent, non-hierarchical network for students of the runes. I was asked by friends to write a Rune Primer, after they became frustrated at the poorly researched popular rune manuals in the bookstores. My intention is, to some extent, to bust some modern myths, while freeing the readers to approach the runes in their own way. I am also actively involved in music. I currently work as a network engineer.

Sweyn Plowright is a brother in arms to me as we both served in the same combat units on the very same bases fighting against terrorism. Sweyn is a man of the highest intregrity whom I am proud to call venn and a true friend. May all his days be well lived!

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Southlands Moot convoy!

Vinlands-Volva — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:15:49 GMT

I am sooo ready for moot! I cant wait to see everyone again!

Lots of us are planning on being here tomr to hea-out to the moot site together. If interested .. drop me an email!

yngona@yahoo.com

Moot! Moot! Moot!

... Yngona

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

back-to-school book sale

Vinlands-Volva — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:36:28 GMT

http://vinlands-volva.blogspot.com/

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Interesting interview with Raymond Buckland

Rig — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:23:00 GMT

Raymond Buckland, Englishman, prolific author and *witch. He is probably best known as an agent of Gerald B. Gardner. It was Buckland who was responsible for introducing Gardnerian Witchcraft into America in 1964. He is also the founder of his own tradition of Witchcraft called Seax-Wica, and for a time operated his own Museum of Witchcraft in America. He has been a leading spokesman for the Craft in America for more than three decades.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2w1Cuo0kngQ&feature=related

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

We Are Our Deeds

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:32:04 GMT

It has been awhile since someone has posted on this tribe and so this has been on my mind for many moons now........

The quality of one's deeds and the spirit in which they are performed defines Heathen ethics. They will enhance your wyrd, your tribe, and your very own life. All too often there are those who's acts; as a so called Proud Heathen, indicate otherwise and for every wrong act you place on fellow heathens there will be consequences.

All this talk about divination...but the most important aspect of being a heathen is OUR DEEDS so many fail to enact in there very own lives and in all honesty, that is the sad part really because being a Heathen is more than just honoring the Gods/Goddess', divination, seidhr, runes, reading books, it is about how you treat your fellow Heathen's. Do be careful what you wish for! Believe me it's not garbage out there, it is TRASH and does it disguise it's self extremely well! Fooled me!

Always my best to those who treat other Heathens with those values I hold dear to my heart ~ Hospitality, Discipline, Honor, Loyality, Courage, Truth, Fidelity, Perseverance, Self-Reliance, Industriousness ~

posted in Heathen Hearth - 11 replies

Pierced By The Light

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:54:03 GMT

Heill Rig,

Your book is so beautifully done and I have only read your introduction thus far. Your personal Nine Golden Rules you wrote of; helped me too see that we really are all individuals and we have our own separate guidelines to help us better understand as you put it "Life a little Better". Just in your Introduction alone those Nine Golden Rules (which I will not place here) made me smile from ear to ear. I truly look forward to reading this most beautifully done piece of work and honored beyond belief to have it in my hands. Though, I realize you stated it does need overhalling. I hope you do not mind if I post questions here regarding what I will read, if I do end up having one.

Best,

Shawnna

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Heathen Codes of Conduct....not written in stone?

Rig — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:27:35 GMT

Heathen morality from a practical aspect IMO did not possess any so called hard or fast "commandments". To do so would simply be exchanging Judeo Christian constructs within our own framework......not a good idea? More likely and from the Anglo-Saxon POV, the more commonly held usages or customs aka þéawas (Old English þēaw "custom, habit") was whence such notions were derived from. A þéaw or simply "thew" is a mode of conduct or ethical value which encourages personal growth and social stability. Please note also that such a list most likely never existed during elder times given the belief that all of this must have been preserved orally from one family line down to another family line through the generations via the farmsteads. Therefore to the elder folks it is far more likely that these *thews were implied in every form of social instruction, from parents, warriors, leaders as well as the holy folk. Modern reconstructionist are often faced with the task of restoring perceptions of such system of ethics to something tangible but robust, but ensuring that such constructs remain meaningful. Therefore I argue that generalisations such as the NNVs do little to give any real grasp of what once was given the idea that these things were never written down but most likely practiced within the family unit? Could it be also that dependant on the timeline and area, variations in ethics may have also been observed:-) What thoughts?
Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Heathen Personals Site

Swain Wodening — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:20:35 GMT

I created a Heathen Personals site for those that are interested. It can be used as a networking tool to reach other Heathens, or as a way to find romance. It has a private messaging system for those that do not wish to share their email. The URL is http://www.heathenpersonals.net

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Upcoming Open Events in Kansas City, Topeka, & St. Louis

Ludwig — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:59:13 GMT

The Heathen Communities in Kansas & Missouri are growing. A year ago
there were no open events in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Missouri.
That has changed...

St. Louis Area Meetup - Aug 2, 2008 @ 7 PM
http://tinyurl.com/639eph

Topeka Meet & Greet - August 9th @ 5 PM @ Classic Bean
http://tinyurl.com/5up2pj

Kansas City Open Pubmoot - Sept. 21, 2008 @ 6 PM @ O'Dowds
http://tinyurl.com/6m2fvu

If you know any heathens within driving distance of these locations,
please help us get the word out to them...

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City, MO

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Tonight

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:19:29 GMT

I was GIVEN WolfCountry by Werner & Gail! Howling and running with the 34 wolves & 5 new pups!

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Wiccans or witches

Rig — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:31:07 GMT

It has been said at least by all the wiccans I have exchanged views with that they consider themselves to be witches. However........the witches I have met..........do not call themselves wiccans but witches? A similiar ilk I suggest would be that all ravens are "blackbirds" but not all blackbirds are ravens? So my question is........which witch is which?

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 17 replies

Forn Sed Religion?

Vinlands-Volva — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:25:41 GMT

I made a blog entry the other day regarding 'religion' and 'forn sed'. Check it out if you like:
http://vinlands-volva.blogspot.com/2008/07/religion-and-forn-sed-yesterday-lunch.html

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

paganmystics

Vinlands-Volva — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:57:15 GMT

Well .. thanks for the invite, however, I can assure you, here, at Heathen Hearth, we dont fret things like " trolls, hackers and other idiocy".

Troth!
Yngona desmond

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Divination of the Past

Mike — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:38:38 GMT

Heill List,

I have a controversial question for everyone. I'm curious to what affect was divination used and for what reasons in the past. Was it making runes and giving a reading for just one individual/s or was it more of a social event relying on certain acts/rituals/blots that may have gave them the sign of the future? Under what conditions would acts of divination be needed for? Or was it just randomly done for entertainment purposes to ease the mind to make it through the day?

This is a very open question, and all POVs are welcome.

Best,
Mike

posted in Heathen Hearth - 8 replies

Heathen Honor

Swain Wodening — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:08:39 GMT

This is something I posted on my blog at: http://swainblog.englatheod.org a few weeks back. Anyway, I thought it might make for interesting discussion here:

Honor Revisited

A few months back, I covered the Germanic Heathen concept of honor. After reading George Fenwick Jones’s Honor in German Literature I thought I should revisit the topic. George Fenwick Jones concludes in his work that honor was not an inner thing, but more akin to fame or reputation. Honor was something given to someone. It was more akin to fame or renown than any inner sense of virtue.This can be seen in some of my findings as well. Old English ár can be defined as “glory, rank, respect given one.” It also relates well to the concepts of weorð and especially dóm whose primary meaning is most often when not being used of law, “fame, renown.” The problem with this is we have a whole host of definitions that point in a different direction. For ár can also be defined as “reverence, dignity” and these are largely inner qualities. The key I think is in the word respect.

Jones in his thesis, discusses early Germanic concepts of honor in relation to Germanic shame culture, as opposed to the guilt culture of Christianity. The difference being that shame is an external thing applied by those outside one’s self. Guilt on the other hand is a regret for doing something that one has done. Thus when an ancient Germanic tribesman thought about doing something wrong it was fear that the community would shame him for it, expose him to ridicule or worse, that kept him from doing it. In contrast, a 15th century Christian Englishman’s fear was that he would feel guilt over what he had done. This represents two different approaches to a solution to the problem of wrong doing that significantly affects how we think and act. Just as shame was an external thing for the ancient Germanic Heathen so too was honor. Honor was given to one by his or her community. It was not something one developed on one’s own. So that while virtue for the Christian was more an inner sense of living a clean life, for the ancient Germanic tribesman, honor was more akin to renown. Yet, this still meant one had to behave according to certain expectations. And herein lies the problem, for without certain inner qualities, one could never hope to achieve honor in ancient Heathenry.

Honor or ár therefore is as much about how one behaves as it is about how one is perceived. There are many ancient Germanic figures that achieve fame through victories in battle. The hero Starkaðr, while very well known, and spoken of in the ancient literature, did not know honor in his life. Indeed, he was often subject to shame. He definitely was well known, and had success in battle, but as he was often the antithesis of Germanic ideals on what a hero should be, he did not know honor. Starkaðr lacked certain qualities that the ancient Germanic Heathens deemed needed to fulfill the Germanic heroic ideal. In essence, he did not do the good deeds needed to win public approval, and did do deeds that won him the scorn of many. It is safe to say therefore, that ár cannot be simply translated as fame or renown. Starkaðr, after all was very well known, but not necessarily liked. A better translation would be “well known for a good name.” This concept is seen repeatedly in maxims in Béowulf and the Hávamál. One’s good name was thought to be everything to the ancient Germanic Heathen.

Then as today, a good name had to be earned. This was done by keeping to certain thews or virtues. Jones makes as a prerequisite for these, wealth. His argument is that lack of wealth was evidence of “cowardice, weakness, or shiftlessness; and poverty” (Jones, Honor in German Literature page 4). Today’s world is quite different from that of ancient Northern Europe as we do not win wealth in battle, nor in the mead hall as gifts for deeds done. Instead, the lack of wealth may reflect more poor planning, a lack of hard work, or medical problems. Indeed, today when nearly everyone enjoys luxuries in the USA, it is difficult to define what wealth means in comparison to a time when most probably lived in mere hovels. Were we to dump the average Middle Class American with an equivalent amount of gold to his or her net worth in ancient Mercia we may well find they would be counted wealthy. Therefore, one might say, that for the modern Heathen wealth is not so much the indicator of honor as much as the appearance of poverty is an indicator of dishonor. Poverty being of course the inability to afford the basic necessities of food, shelter, and basic medical care. This definition does not necessarily fit well, but as our concepts of how to earn wealth have changed so vastly, it is difficult to use it as a prerequisite in a day and age when most everyone basically has wealth. Therefore, we might want to look at whether one owns their own house, do they manage to provide for themselves, are they capable of supporting themselves or their family? If the answers to these are yes, then they have probably met the minimum requirements for what Jones considers needed for honor. Wealth beyond that of course would gain one more renown, but still be reliant on the appearance of other worthy deeds. One that is a miser, and therefore not generous would not in ancient Heathen Germania have honor.

Generosity is perhaps one of the highest Heathen thews or virtues. Kings were called beaggiefas in “ring givers” in Béowulf., and those that failed to give of their wealth were shunned, or brought down. Jones points out the tale of King Rörik told in Saxo’s Gesta Danorum :

“In one of them a hero named Hjalte tells of an avaricious king named Rorik, who has accumulated wealth instead of friends and then tries, unsuccessfully, to bribe his enemies to spare him. Because he has been unwilling to give arm rings to his friends, his enemies finally take all his treasure and his life too” (Jones, Honor in German Literature, page 4)

This wealth ensured that an ancient Germanic war band leader stayed in power, as he or she had to be able to gift his or her men, and to a degree support them. It was a part of the war band system’s economics. Today, we might translate this for a Theodish lord as the ability to gift their folk. It might be also seen in the ability to organize and afford to host gatherings of the folk, publications for the furthering of Heathenry, amongst other things. Again, no longer living in a purely Heathen culture whose economics are based on war, it is hard to translate what even generosity may mean to the modern Heathen.

Wealth also meant success for the sibb or extended family. But this was a relationship that was reciprocal in ancient Germania. A powerful sibb meant that one had a better chance at honor or ár. Under ancient Germanic law codes, wrongs were not just that of the individual, but of the family. It was the family that paid wergild, not the individual. Thus, to truly win fame and power, and thus honor, one had to have a family of some means. This is difficult for modern Heathens when many have Christian relatives, and few have fellow Heathen kinsmen. There is a reason that Theodism fell back on the war band culture to formulate its structure, few Theodsmen early in the movement’s history had fellow kinsmen that were Heathen. Therefore, with modern Heathen, having well known and respected Heathen kinsmen is merely a bonus, but not a prerequisite. Yet, having Heathen kinsmen may reflect one’s luck or power in that it shows the Gods have favored more of the clan than just one individual. To be without kinsmen for the ancient Germanic Heathen was a disgrace, a sign of having no luck. The family, the kindred, was for them everything. Perhaps is powerful more than wealth was a reflection of honor. It is in many ways like the Old South, where it was often said, and still is on occasion, “he comes from a good family.” Still, this creates difficulties for the modern Heathen that may not be resolved for a generation or two. We cannot deem every Heathen lacking Heathen family members a disgrace as it would mean most modern Heathens are living in disgrace. It does perhaps though point to the importance of starting families, and raising our children Heathen.

With wealth and a good family as prerequisites we can now move on to the thews or virtues. Jones’ list is different from those of most modern Heathens. He names prowess in battle, courage, ambition, fealty, largess, vengefulness, and pride. Prowess in battle is difficult to have in a day and age when battle means using a ranged weapon to pick off a sometime unknowing target. Rare is hand to hand combat as it was amongst the ancient Germanic Heathens. Prowess for today’s Heathen might be better translated into those skills needed to obtain wealth today such as having a sharp mind. Staying physically fit however could still be counted as a Heathen thew for this purpose. Courage however, virtually remains unchanged. We still face situations where we must be brave, for whatever reason must face either the consequences of our actions or the circumstance in which we are in. These can mean not fleeing from a mugger, but fighting them off, or simply being brave enough to tell a creditor you have not the money to pay them. Courage comes in many forms as it did then. Ambition for the modern Heathen may seem difficult. Christianity has taught us to be modest, to be humble, and not seek to attain greatness. Yet, for the ancient Heathen ambition was needed to obtain a good name, to get renown. One could not attain fame without it. Still, ambition is seldom seen amongst modern Heathens, and when it is, is often ridiculed. There is no reason though that a modern Heathen should not seek to be more than they are. Even if they are without the means, it at least indicates that they have goals in mind. It certainly beats being content to be humble. I blame this, again on Christianity. We are taught from a very young age that humility is a virtue, that to seek glory is wrong and self serving. This, I think has skewed our thinking as Heathens. Every Heathen, I think should seek to make their name in some way. For me, it is through writing. For my former wife Tee Wodening, it was through being the ideal Heathen lady, for others it may mean being an expert craftsman, songsmith, or a leader of a theod. But one should have the ambition to do what it takes to make a name for themselves. Jones state fealty or troth, loyalty if you was important to ancient Heathens and it remains at least in my mind unchanged. It means not betraying or turning on those you are blood kin to, or those you have sworn oath to, or count as friends. Troth was counted as one of the highest virtues of ancient Heathenry, and is still highly admired today. To turn on one’s friends or those one loves is seen as the greatest of disgraces, as it should be. Largess or generosity, being liberal with gifts also still remains a thew which can be practiced now as in ancient times. Gifts can take many forms, although arm rings and weapons were the common gift in ancient times. Today, it can mean virtually anything. Gift giving brings in a whole other dynamic as gifts exchanged creates a bond between two people. That is why kings so often gave gifts to their thanes. It was a way of strengthening bonds within the war band. Today, it can be used to strengthen the bonds of any Heathen fellowship. Vengefulness again is a difficult thew to see in the modern world. For the ancient Heathen it did not mean being petty, and taking insult to every minor trespass. What it meant was the ability to protect one’s family, to take revenge if one of them was killed or wrong. Rarely, do we see revenge taken for one’s self, it is always for a kinsman. The problem today of course is that we have laws against being a vigilante, it is thought wrong to take the law into one’s own hands. Even in ancient times, vengefulness may have meant accepting wergild and not taking revenge. For today’s Heathen, then it may mean seeing that every legal thing that can be done is to bring down a wrong doer is done. Finally, Jones list pride as one of the virtues. This like ambition is perhaps hard for the modern Heathen. Those with pride are seen as arrogant, uncaring, sometimes even boisterous. Christianity with sayings like, “pride cometh before a fall,” has given us a bad taste in the mouth for those that are proud of the things they have done. The only time it seems okay to speak well of one’s accomplishments is in symbel. It should not be this way. Heathens should be able to brag on themselves, to take pride in what they have done. A notable thew missing from his list is hospitality, which is well attested to in the Hávamál, and appears on nearly every modern Heathen list. In ancient times, when there were no motels or hotels, hospitality was needed to ensure folks could travel with ease. We see in the ancient tales, folk entertaining travelers. For today’s Heathen it should be no different, not to mention, we should try to host gatherings often as well.

There are other exceptions to Jones’ list that modern Heathens may see as thews. Both the NNV and my own Twelve Æþeling Thews have thews he does not list. But his list is sufficient to show that these are things one had to do to win renown. For Jones, the aim of keeping these thews or virtues was to obtain renown or glory. Doubtless, this was the aim of many an ancient Germanic Heathen warrior, and is well represented in the lore. However, perhaps the greater aim was to obtain a good name, or to earn the respect of the community (however community could be defined for the ancient Germanic Heathen). The difference in meaning here is subtle. Renown or fame can be had without these thews as can be shown by the example of Starkaðr who while he showed courage and prowess lacked many of the thews, yet had enough fame to have his name remembered. Having a good name means having one without shame, not giving the community any reason to shun one’s self. For the ancient Heathen, as for the modern this is the true meaning of ár or honor. Regardless, of what list of thews one uses, to exemplify them, and thereby avoid shame is perhaps the greatest form of honor. It is not enough to give the appearance of being thewful, as sooner or later one’s wrongs will be discovered, one must be thewful to acheive true honor.

Bibliography
Jones, George Fenwick, Honor in German Literature, Ams Pr Inc,

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Woman in Old Norse Society

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:38:00 GMT

So much we hear and read of tales of warriors in battle and it got me thinking, what were women's roles in old Norse society?

Women did play a very vital and important role; not only the daily life of household duties, but there duties to husbands and children. In my reading it is said that in those days a woman getting married was given the keys to the house. It symbolized that she was not only responsible for the running of the household but that its prosperity depended on her!

It would be interesting know what our Gods/Goddess' think today of woman in soceity. In a lot of ways, majority today <not all> still take on that vital role of keeping the household in good running order!

Rig, suggested this book many months ago, I took him up on it, purchased it, and really enjoyed it! Women in Old Norse Society By Jenny Jochens. My suggestion, put it on your book shelf.....it is a great read!

To our Heathen dads....have a wonderful day, it's your day today!

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies

Celebration of the Sun

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:22:19 GMT

As, it is no news that the Summer Solstice will soon be upon us. I am wondering what all will be doing to honor The Celebration of the Sun! I myself do not know of any local Heathens to gather with and maybe one's comment might give me some ideas that I may be able to do on my own!

Thanking all who comment

Best,
Shawnna

posted in Heathen Hearth - 17 replies

"Tribe. Heathen. Folk"

Vinlands-Volva — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:43:48 GMT

I have a new blog entry. Check it out:
http://vinlands-volva.blogspot.com/

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Seidr

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:40:05 GMT

I read this article over a year ago and while going through some papers last night I found this article in my hands again to re-read. It is an article by Dr. Neil Price, The Archaeology of Seidr: Circumpolar Traditions in Viking Pre-Christian Religion.

Dr. Price expressed his strong belief "that any meaningful study of Seidr must look seriously to the work being done not just in the Saami homelands but also in Sibera, Alaska, Canada, the Northern continental U.S, and Greenland" Fasinating!

Of course living here in Alaska and being close to Canada! I am rather extremely excited if the study of Seidr is being looked/conducted here in Alaska, even if this article was written in 2004! If anyone, knows or has seen an article regarding Seidr study in Alaska could you reference to a location in regards to a book. While taking a course on Native Alaskan Native Cultures they were adament that Shaman's are no longer utilized! Why, do I know better than that!

Best,

Shawnna

posted in Heathen Hearth - 19 replies

Introduction

Sifreynir — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:11:14 GMT

Hi
I found the tribe site after another online friend started a group here on freebirth. Figured I would do a search for some fellow heathens whilst I was here...and here you are.
I am a 30yr old SAHM to 3 children (very soon to be 4). I live in Scotland with my heathen OH and two cats. Originally grew up in Yorkshire in England, was born elsewhere.
Fairly new to heathenism on the whole, but have been using magic in various forms since around 2000. Initiated in witchcraft (not wicca) beside a rowan tree (unlike others...seemingly my guide got 'lost') and was drawn to heathenism by Thor and Sif around 2004/5.

My involvement in local groups has dropped somewhat as my home commitments have increased. I met my partner psychonaut at the local Yggdrasil moot in Glasgow. We originally had a general moot going locally, but as mentioned before...more kids, less time to do things lol
Most of my interaction now is done online with other heathens. On occasion I get opportunity to meet up with like minded people. There is a lady locally who practises Seidr with whom I have met and chanted with.

We get married next year here in Scotland in a legal heathen ceremony. Will be very interested to read any information or references to wedding ceremonies as we are putting the ceremony together ourselves with the help of our pagan celebrant. Combing both Scots and viking traditions.
I have Viking Answer lady's page on the subject bookmarked. Unfortunatley stormerne and arleas ceremony is no longer online and our other friends who had their 'wodening' at the Clava Cairns in Invernesshire...is a bit too long for us personally (we have half an hour lol)

Other than that I am interested in freebirth (purebirth, unassisted childbirth), run the local homebirth support group, and do general web stuff apart from my role as supreme being....I mean mum. History, cooking, eating said cooking...baking chocolate cake...mead....chocolate.

so thats me. Look forward to reading more. Forgive me if I don't post often my time is limited lol
Sifreynir

posted in Heathen Hearth - 5 replies

Austin Pagan Parent Alliance

TheHolyJo — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:31:44 GMT

Hi, I'm Jo and I am relocating permanently to Austin in a very few weeks. In my search for family-friendly pagan groups I found a lot of interest in starting such groups but nothing that seemed to be really family friendly. So I decided to start a tribe and see where it can go. If you are interested, please let me know. I thought this would be a great way to meet other pagan families and make new friends while contributing to our community. Fell free to spread the word and share any ideas you might have.
http://tribes.tribe.net/apfa

Thanks and Blessed Be!

Jo

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Sven the pig farmer

Rig — Tue, 27 May 2008 04:25:04 GMT

The folowing article was submitted to the BBC by a colleague of mine Russell Scott. Note the name of the main charecter he uses and "Rigson"......LOL....wonder where he got that name from?

The day begins on a typical Viking Farm
Imagine a scene in North Yorkshire a thousand years ago. The autumn sun crawls lazily across the horizon, flooding a small coastal valley with the early morning light. Svensholm is a small Viking homestead, comprising a large hall and a few outbuildings. The longhouse has thick walls which keep it cool in summer and stop it freezing in winter. The family sleep in the main hall around the fire pit along with some of the farm stock. On the top of an outbuilding a cockerel crows rousing the farm to life. With little thought to the daily chores ahead the immediate care is to breakfast! No breakfast cereals, bagels or scrambled eggs for these farmers though. 'The stew itself ... looks rather scary ...'Whilst Ingrid, the farmer's wife, coaxes the embers of yesterday's fire back to life, Sven the farmer helps himself to some of yesterday's left-over stew. It has been left in an iron cauldron, rather like something you'd imagine Halloween witches to sit around. The stew itself also looks rather scary; a thin crust of fat has formed over a brown liquid which is made up of boiled lamb bones, beans, peas, carrots and turnips. Sven breaks off a hunk of bread to dip into the stew. A rather stale crusty flat loaf, this bread was baked last week.#

The children of the household will spend the day helping their parents. Fortified with a breakfast of bread and buttermilk (similar to skimmed milk), Tostig will help his father in the fields. The remainder of the harvest has to be gathered in and a lamb needs to be slaughtered. Sven uses an iron sickle to cut the corn, whilst Tostig uses a wooden rake to gather the cut corn into sheaths. Later these will be threshed to release the grains of wheat, rye and barley. hora will help her mother grind the corn into flour. The grains are dropped onto the millstones whilst the women take it in turns to tirelessly grind the mill first one way then the other. The flour is gathered and mixed with water to make bread. The dough is kneaded in small wooden trugs then placed in a large clay oven to bake or placed on a flat iron in the embers to make a flat cake of bread. A few wild chickens and some geese roam the farmyard, Thora will collect their eggs for the evening meal. For a midday break Sven and Tostig share some cottage cheese, unwrapped from a soggy piece of linen. If they are very lucky there may be some fruit, wild plums or a crab apple. A little butter and stale bread completes the meal. To drink they may find a fresh water stream, have the buttermilk left over from breakfast, or even some weak ale.

That afternoon, Ingrid's brother Rigsson and his family call at the farm. He is a fisherman and has brought fish for his sister's family. Herring and cod fresh from the nets are handed over along with some shellfish. Ingrid repays Riggson's generosity with some salted bacon (home cured), and some venison - the remainder of last month's hunt. Whilst Ingrid cuts and guts the fish, the children go into the woods to collect nuts and berries, which are just coming into season. They find raspberries, elderberries and some cherries, and nuts such as walnuts and hazelnuts. These will be left in their shells, cracked open only at mealtimes for greater freshness. With no fridges or freezers our Viking family has to take special measures to stop their food going bad. Meat and fish can be smoked or rubbed with salt. Fruit can be dried; grains are made into bread or ale. Dairy produce such as milk is made into cheese. Cooking the meat will make it last a little longer, making sausages will make it last longer still. At sunset the family gather together in the long house. The usual evening meal will be enlarged tonight because it is one of the three Viking feast nights. In their homelands a horse would have been sacrificed to the old Gods. Horsemeat was spitted and roasted rather like a kebab. Sven and his family nominally follow the Christian faith, however, so although they celebrate the traditional feast, tonight they will dine on roast lamb. There will also be salted fish and pork, goat and plenty of fresh bread. For dessert the Vikings will eat fresh fruit and a little honey on buttered bread. Beer will be drunk as well as mead, a beverage made from honey.

The Vikings had bowls and plates very similar to our own, but made more often from wood rather than pottery. They ate with a sharp pointed knife, which served as both a knife and a fork (the latter would not be invented for another century). Spoons were made from wood, horn or animal bone. They were often carved with delicate patterns of interlaced knotwork and the heads of fabulous beasts. Drink was taken in horns, similarly decorated and sometimes with metal tips and rims. As the day ends on our Viking homestead, the children have gone to bed, wrapped in furs on cots built into the side of the house. They have listened to their uncle's stories of heroism and legend. Rigsson has told how the God Thor once went fishing to catch the mighty Midguard Serpent. He fished from the back of a giant's boat with a rod and line and used an ox head for bait. Thor caught the serpent but the giant, fearing for the end of the world, cut the line. Sven remarks on how fishermen's tales of today have not changed much. Night draws in on a house full of well fed Vikings, seemingly oblivious to the smoky atmosphere from the fire and the acrid smell of burning fat from the oil lamps. The everyday smells, a mixture of unwashed clothes, animal dung and curdled milk pass unnoticed.

So ends a typical culinary day in the Viking Age. Many variants would have been encountered of course, depending on the season, the geographical location and of course how well off the farm was. Bad weather may have meant they had to rely more on stored food, whilst prime locations would have given access to 'exotic' food such as elk, bear, puffin, salmon and trout. Finally, you may be wondering just how we know what the Viking diet contained. There are no Fanny Craddock's cookbooks surviving from those times. Instead we have to rely on the archaeologist whose painstaking work has revealed the remains of the Dark Age menu. Fish bones, seeds from berries, and the husks from grain are all present in Viking latrines (toilets) and middens (rubbish dumps). Surprisingly these food remains aren't necessarily the same as modern ones. Domesticated animal bones such as cows and pigs are two-thirds the size of modern ones. Similarly wheat grains are smaller and less nutritious.

In conclusion, many changes have occurred in the last millennium that has affected our diet. Modern food is far more accessible, bought from the supermarket, prepacked so we don't have to butcher it ourselves, and full of added vitamins. However did our Viking ancestors have to worry about BSE epidemics, genetically modified foods, and whether food is organic or not? Perhaps the Vikings got it right after all, especially as all their food was organic and free range!

Books
Viking Life by John Guy and Richard Hall (Ticktock, 1998)
Encyclopaedia of the Viking Age by John Haywood (Thames &Hudson, 2000)
Cultural Atlas of the Viking Age edited by Graham-Campbell et al (Andromeda, 1994)
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings by John Haywood (Penguin, 1996). Detailed maps of Viking settlements in Scotland, Ireland, England, Iceland and Normandy.

Places to visit
The British Museum. Housing the leading collection of Viking coins from the British Isles, as well as important collections of Viking jewellery, hack-silver, weapons and other items. Many of the items form part of the Museum's permanent display, but the reserve collections are also available for study purposes, and the Museum runs a variety of coin-based educational activities.

National Museums of Scotland. Important Viking hoard material from Scotland, as well as a wide variety of material from Viking graves and settlements.

Jorvik Centre. Well known for its graphic representation of everyday life in Viking York, the displays also feature a rare example of a Viking coin-die, and visitors have the opportunity to strike their own replica coins.

About the author
Russell Scott is the Society Authenticity Officer with the re-enactment group 'The Vikings'. He has been lecturing on the subject for 15 years and is currently the co-ordinater for a newly launched agency called 'Action Warrior Solutions'. His specialist interest is in Dark Age clothing and dress accessories

Ref: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/food_01.shtml

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Sites of interest near Bonn, Essen, Köln and Düsseldorf?

Birka — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:34:57 GMT

Next week I move to Germany for the summer- any ideas on good heathen outings in the general vicinity of Bonn and Essen?

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Old Norse Laws

lochlainn — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:44:54 GMT

This may or may not pertain to Heathenism, but I thought I would ask anyway as I am doing much research into Old Norse (mostly Icelandic) lifestyle/religion for my personal life as well as my hobby.
I am looking for examples of Old Norse laws for a gathering I am attending next month. The heads of the households will be required to present prospective laws during the Thing, which is the main attraction/event of the gathering, and then those will be voted on and one will be chosen as the law to be added to the books for this year. This is the 3rd year of the gathering, and while I can not remember what the previous two years laws were I do remember that folks had a hard time coming up with stuff. So I thought if someone had a resource that I could check out with examples or ideas for laws that would be great.
I found the name of a book series, two volumes I believe, but to buy them on amazon will run me more that $100, so I am going to try and get them ILLIAD, but not sure if that will come through in time.

Thanks, and sorry if this is way too out there for this list.
If it is I will try and keep it closer to Heathenism in the future.

So much to learn
GaeiRa.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 6 replies

Starting a Kindred from Scratch

Ludwig — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:32:34 GMT

I know some of you in this Tribe do not have a Kindred in your area, so I thought you might find this information interesting. There are many ways to start/grow a Kindred, but here's what we did:

CREATE A MEETUP.COM SITE

Its a little expensive at about $20 a month, but its easy and convenient for those that aren't very web-savy. It allows you to set up events...add an "About" page...and it sends out automated reminders etc. It also ranks very high on Google and Yahoo searches. So if a solitary Heathen is looking for a group in your area, and does a search, they are sure to find you. And the final plus I can think of, is that often there are Heathens waiting for someone to start the meetup.com site. When I started mine, there were 18 heathens waiting for a meetup site here in Kansas City. Did they all pan out? No way. But of the five members of our Kindred, three of them found us from the Meetup.com site. Now that our group is established, there may come a time when we pull the Meetup site down. But it has served us well, here at the beginning.

SET UP A FIRST MEETING

I knew zero heathens in my area, and there was not an existing Kindred in my area. I was in contact with one heathen in my area by e-mail, but did not know him very well yet. We set our first Meetup at an Applebee's, and me and the one heathen I knew met a few weeks beforehand to discuss what we wanted to build and how we wanted to build it. We made sure that first meeting was positive, energetic, and organized. We figured no one would come back if we the first meeting was boring or disorganized.

PROMOTE THE MEETING

You have to do more than just set a meeting. You need to promote it. Put up signs at book stores and coffee shops, post it on message boards where you might find interested parties, and do everything you can to let everyone you know. In all of our promotional materials we made it clear we were looking for Tru Heathens, and that this was not Wicca or Wicca-tru. We made it clear we wanted to honor the Northern European Gods, our ancestors, and the Vaettir...

AT THE MEETING

At the first meeting, we made our goals very clear. We made it clear where we were headed and how we wanted to get there. We took down everyone's phone number, name, and address. We gave out handouts about Asatru and a list of good books to read. And we had fun, having great conversations about Asatru and the gods.

A SEPERATE WEBSITE

While Meetup.com is a great tool, we wanted our own website. Something that would set the tone for what we were building...and something with an active message board and losts of heathen resources. And when we eventually shut our meetup.com site down, a conventional website would be much less expensive to run.

EVENTS...LOTS OF EVENTS

If you are building a Kindred, you have to get to know the other people. You have to talk to them on the phone, e-mail them, visit their homes, invite them over to your home, etc. And Events are another good way to make sure the potential Kindred is getting together fairly often. We had Havamal study groups. A symbel at a park. A faining in one of the member's homes. And we got together for dinners and holidays. Honoring the Gods, our ancestors, and the Vaettir are a major part of being a practicing Heathen. So we did this frequently, and still do.

OFFER CLASSES AND/OR WORKSHOPS (Swain's idea, and a good one!)

Many people have not heard of Asatru or Heathenry...or they have a mistaken or distorted view of what it is. By offering classes and workshops on Asatru 101, the Gods, the Ancestors, the Vaettir, and the Runes...you can educate people about Asatru and raise interest in Asatu in your area. You could simply give a talk on what it is about Asatru that appealed to you. This can be done before the formation of the Kindred to lay the groundwork and find potential Kindred members, and it can be done once the Kindred is formed...to grow your Kindred and educate the public. These classes can be offered at local coffeeshops, new-age book stores, and even community colleges in your area. Anywhere someone will listen.

INVOLVE YOURSELF

We also involved ourselves in each others interests. One of our members likes to hunt. Many of the potential kindred members went hunting with him. One of our members plays bass in a band. We went to his shows to listen to the band and support him. If you like these people enough to form a "family" with them, then you should be willing to make the time to hang out with them, and learn about what interests them. They will in turn, learn about what interests you. And over time...you'll find you have a lot of common interests...or develop a lot of common interests.

ELIMINATE THOSE YOU CAN'T CALL FRIEND

To form a Kindred...take Oaths...symbel together, and mingle your Wyrd...you have to see the other people that are involved as interesting, talented people of worth. If they are "broken" people, with bad character...then have the fortitude to eventually eliminate them from the picture. This sounds harsh...but you are forming a "family." A "broken" person may be the very thing that destroys your efforts. This isn't about choosing people that are exactly like you...or people that always agree with you. Its about choosing to ally yourself with Heathens of worth.

TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU STAND

Talk about where you stand on your beliefs. Explore each other's POV on various topics, including controvertial topics. What topics are you unwilling to compromise about? What topics bring about disagreement within your potential Kindred? What will the Kindred stand for, and can everyone that is involved support those views? What are you going to just agree to disagree about, and will that be workable? All of these questions are important to ask, because you don't want something unspoken popping up six months later and tearing a big hole in your group.

DON'T RUSH IT

There will be a temptation to rush into forming the Kindred. Or to move too fast. Especially newbies like me will want to move way too fast. Slow it down. Get to know each other. Make sure its right. We waited six months to form our Kindred. We thought that was about right, but make up your own mind based on your situation. But just take you time, and make it right.

READ THE LORE

As a Kindred we all read the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda during the time we were forming the Kindred. We were all focused on the Lore. And this was also a good goal for all the newbies...and encouraged them to get a good foundation set by reading the Lore. Most everyone read a lot more than just the Lore...but that was the minimum.

COME UP WITH A STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING

Write some things down. Some basic rules. Will decisions be made by a leader, by a majority vote, or by a consensus vote? How will new members be considered, mentored, and eventually accepted into the Kindred? Will there be titles or positions within the Kindred, and will these positions have responsibilities? What will they be? Some people call it By-Laws...I liked calling it a Statement of Understanding. Whatever you call it, writing one and then coming to an agreement on its contents can avoid problems later.

MAKE IT HAPPEN

From day one, we said, "We are going to do this, and nothing will stand in our way." That served us well. When roadblocks popped up, we worked around them or drove right through them. We were not willing to accept failure, and this was important to our success.

I'm sure others have more advice, different advice, and possibly advice that comes from much more experience and wisdom. I just wanted to post our experience from our POV, in case anyone could benefit from it. I could add more, but that's enough for now...

More in-depth information on how to start a Kindred can be found at this link:

http://tinyurl.com/4gg9de

Mark Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
http://www.heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 14 replies

Spring Gathering of the Tribes

Vinlands-Volva — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:26:22 GMT

I am a guest speaker at the Spring Gathering of the Tribes:
http://www.pagan.com/SpringGathering/

It will be my first time there, but I know several Heathens will be in attendance .. including Naomi the Amber Lady.

If anyone is in the area .. please stop by .. I would love to meet you!

Ive been asked to introduce / lead a samal, and been told to expect about 50-100 folk. Lol .. so any Heathens who show up can help out!

Live Deliberately!
Yngona Desmond

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Ynglinga saga

Mike — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:24:06 GMT

I thought since we are on the topic of seidhr and Rig mentioned some of the disciplines from various scholars, I'm curious what is everyones opinion if anything can be thought of as seidhr in this saga:

"6. OF ODIN'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

When Odin of Asaland came to the north, and the Diar with him,
they introduced and taught to others the arts which the people
long afterwards have practised. Odin was the cleverest of all,
and from him all the others learned their arts and
accomplishments; and he knew them first, and knew many more than
other people. But now, to tell why he is held in such high
respect, we must mention various causes that contributed to it.
When sitting among his friends his countenance was so beautiful
and dignified, that the spirits of all were exhilarated by it,
but when he was in war he appeared dreadful to his foes. This
arose from his being able to change his skin and form in any way
he liked. Another cause was, that he conversed so cleverly and
smoothly, that all who heard believed him. He spoke everything
in rhyme, such as now composed, which we call scald-craft. He
and his temple priests were called song-smiths, for from them
came that art of song into the northern countries. Odin could
make his enemies in battle blind, or deaf, or terror-struck, and
their weapons so blunt that they could no more but than a willow
wand; on the other hand, his men rushed forwards without armour,
were as mad as dogs or wolves, bit their shields, and were strong
as bears or wild bulls, and killed people at a blow, but neither
fire nor iron told upon themselves. These were called Berserker.

7. OF ODIN'S FEATS.

Odin could transform his shape: his body would lie as if dead, or
asleep; but then he would be in shape of a fish, or worm, or
bird, or beast, and be off in a twinkling to distant lands upon
his own or other people's business. With words alone he could
quench fire, still the ocean in tempest, and turn the wind to any
quarter he pleased. Odin had a ship which was called
Skidbladnir, in which he sailed over wide seas, and which he
could roll up like a cloth. Odin carried with him Mime's head,
which told him all the news of other countries. Sometimes even
he called the dead out of the earth, or set himself beside the
burial-mounds; whence he was called the ghost-sovereign, and lord
of the mounds. He had two ravens, to whom he had taught the
speech of man; and they flew far and wide through the land, and
brought him the news. In all such things he was pre-eminently
wise. He taught all these arts in Runes, and songs which are
called incantations, and therefore the Asaland people are called
incantation-smiths. Odin understood also the art in which the
greatest power is lodged, and which he himself practised; namely,
what is called magic. By means of this he could know beforehand
the predestined fate of men, or their not yet completed lot; and
also bring on the death, ill-luck, or bad health of people, and
take the strength or wit from one person and give it to another.
But after such witchcraft followed such weakness and anxiety,
that it was not thought respectable for men to practise it; and
therefore the priestesses were brought up in this art. Odin knew
finely where all missing cattle were concealed under the earth,
and understood the songs by which the earth, the hills, the
stones, and mounds were opened to him; and he bound those who
dwell in them by the power of his word, and went in and took what
he pleased. From these arts he became very celebrated. His
enemies dreaded him; his friends put their trust in him, and
relied on his power and on himself. He taught the most of his
arts to his priests of the sacrifices, and they came nearest to
himself in all wisdom and witch-knowledge. Many others, however,
occupied themselves much with it; and from that time witchcraft
spread far and wide, and continued long. People sacrificed to
Odin and the twelve chiefs from Asaland, and called them their
gods, and believed in them long after. From Odin's name came the
name Audun, which people gave to his sons; and from Thor's name
comes Thore, also Thorarinn; and also it is sometimes compounded
with other names, as Steenthor, or Havthor, or even altered in
other ways."

see: http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/heim/02ynglga.htm

Thanks,
Mike

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

! Two New Books !

Vinlands-Volva — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:22:40 GMT

Hot of the press .. literally! I picked up the copies of these two new books today! Both are written by myself: Yngona Desmond.
______

Seiðr Sprëhhan: The Sayings of Seiðr
Due to events in the past, the tradition and teachings of Seiðr have remained concealed for several hundred years. This book, by Vinland’s Völva, presents a systematic unfolding of the Seiðr teachings of the ancient tradition of Old Europe. This profound Forn Sídr, “Old Ways”, long enshrouded in secrecy, is rich in details and descriptions of the ascent of Wyrd Consciousness. Presented here, in an easy to follow format – for daily and seasonal practice – is the mystic geography of awareness, the meditative and advisory state-of-being required for those who decide to take-on this most sacred wisdom tradition.
$10.00

Unser Weg – Female Mystery Traditions: Sacred History Revealed
A great deal has been written about the existence of Female Mystery Traditions, all of it either in support of or disproving of. Overwhelmingly, such female only schools of thought are unfamiliar to society at large, even quaint leftovers from a bygone age. Yet there exists a thread of continuity, one being slowly unraveled and revealed by modern researchers, that relates the many and wondrous secrets of women. In 2008, this Research Paper was submitted to the to the American Academy of Religion for peer review and submission to be published by Oxford University Press. But this information needs to be released before that, so that women today can see the powerful undercurrent that their mothers and grandmothers have woven for untold generations.
$10.00

Both books can be purchased via paypal, using my addy:
yngona@yahoo.com

Read Deliberately!
Yngona Desmond

posted in Heathen Hearth - 3 replies

Walpurgisnacht

Rig — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:06:12 GMT

Celebrated mainly in Sweden, Finnland, Estonia, Latvia, and Germany, Walpurgisnacht gets its name from Saint Walburga (or Walpurga), a woman born in what is now England in 710. Die heilige Walpurga traveled to Germany and became a nun at the convent of Heidenheim in Württemberg. Following her death in 778 (or 779), she was made a saint, with May 1 as her saint day. In Germany the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, is considered the focal point of Walpurgisnacht. In the Norse tradition, Walpurgisnacht is considered the "Enclosure of the Fallen". Thorsson, E. "Northern Magic", page 48.
No true Germanic Heathen name survives for May Eve; the German Walpurgisnacht is derived from the well-documented Christian St. Walpurga. In order to avoid confusion, and because no better name survives, Many Germanic heathens have replaced 'Walpurga' with the name of the second-century Germanic seeress 'Waluburg'. This festival marks the beginning of summer in Scandinavia. In all the Germanic countries, it is seen as a time when witches are particularly active, a belief memorialized in Goethe's description of the witch-moot on the Brocken (Faust, Act I) and Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain". It is also the Germanic equivalent of Valentine's Day and a night of love: young men are expected to go out into the woods to gather green branches and wildflowers with which they decorate the windows of their beloveds.

That lot being said, I welcome submissions as to the origins of Walpurgisnacht from the list, Thanking all who contribute.

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Random Q

melissa — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:14:08 GMT

Besides the obvious animals that have a powerful presence in our folklore I was wondering if there were any other things mentioning other things like spiders?

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies

May 18th Open Faining to Freyja in KC - 33 Photos...

Ludwig — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:12:40 GMT

On May 18th, 2008 Jotun's Bane Kindred held an Open Faining to Freyja at English Landing Park in Parkville, Missouri. This was our first open faining since we oathed as a Kindred...and it was exciting to have 15 people turn out for it...11 adults and 4 children. The day was beautiful, the faining went well, we had a picnic afterwards, and ended with a Symbel using Mead that Adam made. It was a great gathering for both the adults and children. Click this link to view 33 photos from the day...

http://www.heathengods.com/events/05182008faining/

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Snorri a Godi? Not a Monk?

Mike — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:20:19 GMT

Heill All,

"[...], Snorri is the most important named writer of medieval Iceland. Fortunately, the details of his background and life are recorded in such a contemporary sources as the Sturlunga saga compilation. Son of a mighty chieftain, Snorri was fostered by Jon Loptsson, another chieftain and the most powerful man in Iceland at that time. Jon's family claimed descent from Danish and Norwegian kings, and Jon's grandfather was Saemundr Sigfusson inn Frodi ("the Learned"). Oddi, the family seat, was a literary and cultural center, presumably possessed of an ample library. There Snorri would have come into contact with Christian learning and native historical traditions. He went on to become a leader of his age, a man of letters and one of the key figures in the turbulent politics of the era now known, after his family, as age of the Sturlungs."

Any thoughts?

ref: Carol J. Clover and John Lindow (1985, reprint 2005), Old Norse-Icelandic Literature: A Critical Guide, Toronto University Press.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 7 replies

Tornado in the Midwest - Thor's Great Battle

Ludwig — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:40:37 GMT

On the night of May 2nd, 2008...an F-3 Tornado passed over our neighborhood, and more specifically right over our house. It took a bunch of our shingles and some tar-paper off our roof, broke windows, scuffed up the outside our home, bent our garage door, and shifted our house enough that the front door doesn't close quite right. We're going to need a whole new roof and the garage door replaced...plus a variety of other repairs. (Our satellite television isn't working, for goodness sakes!)

But, our next door neighbor's house is condemned, as in our neighbor's house across the street. Both of their houses had significant portions of their roofs torn off and the interiors/belongings soaked with rain. There is damage to hundreds of homes...two were completely destroyed (just gone), and several were knocked off of their foundations. There were shingles, insulation, pieces of siding and lawn furniture every where...tons of sight-seers for two day, and our power was out for a day and a half.

But, amazingly...no one was killed. There were no serious injures. Some folks were cut with flying glass, but everyone is going to be O.K. No one in my family was hurt. When my wife Jennifer heard the "Freight Train" sound, she gathered our three children up and they all ran to the basement. The sirens did not go off. I was at the police station at the time...and couldn't be home with them.

Its hard not to picture AsaThor battling the destructive forces of this Thurse as it descended on our community...strking it repeatedly with his hammer...rolling in conflict with it as it crashed from the sky to the ground...diverting its path to ensure that the only two homes completely destroyed were empty of people that night. And though the damage was done...the people remain, and we will rebuild. That next day I shared a beer with Thor...and congratulated him on his victory in battle.

http://tinyurl.com/6ycxsy

Follow the above link to see 42 photos of the damage and clean up efforts.

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City Area
http://www.heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 21 replies

Introduction

Rún — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:02:27 GMT

Hi all.
My name is Rún Knútsdóttir and I'm a member and a board member of the Ásatrúarfélagið in Iceland.
I'm very interested in hearing from other heathens in other countries and see how Ásatrú is practiced in other parts of the world.

Best regards
Rún

posted in Heathen Hearth - 8 replies

Vicktor Rydberg

Rig — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 07:04:08 GMT

Heill the list,

Evertyhing you wanted to know about Vicktor Rydberg but were afraid to ask:

http://www.rydberg.galinngrund.org/

This site gives scholarly and well researched argument on the writer Vicktor Ryberg and traces the Cult status of the groups involved with promoting his Nationalist philosophies within comtemporary times as well as inside modern Asatru movements who view him as a champion of the Aryan cause.

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 13 replies

AEGISHJALMUR

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:34:07 GMT

Considered to be the most powerful insigil of all <THE HELM OF AWE> representing an irresistible power to those who wear it can disempower their oppponents by using not only physical but psychic force.

A treasure won by Sigurd when he slayed the dragon Fafner. Powerful, because it is formed from eight Elhaz runes combined with 24 cross-arms that represent all the runes of the Elder Futhark. In ancient times amulets were made of lead, the metal ruled by the power of Thor. It was know that a warrior preparing for combat, used this insigil, pressing a small lead Helm of Awe between his eyes, then making the affirmation "I bear the Helm of Awe" not only visualizing the insigil but feeling the power, he went fearlessly into battle.

It is a stunning insigil! I am curious if our heathen warriors today still carry on this custom?

Best,

Shawnna

posted in Heathen Hearth - 22 replies

Heartland Pagan Festival May 22-26 Near Kansas City

Ludwig — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:14:42 GMT

If you are heathen, and live in the Kansas City Area (or within driving distance), then May is a great month for interacting with other Heathens. Jotun's Bane Kindred has two open events in May, and there is a huge pagan festival as well...

Besides our Open Pubmoot on May 4th ( http://tinyurl.com/2mxlt5 ) and our Open Faining to Freyja on May 18th ( http://tinyurl.com/3goc63 ) there is also the Heartland Pagan Festival on May 22nd through May 26th, 2008 at Gaea Retreat about an hour away from Kansas City. This is a pagan festival, but like-minded heathens will gather together at the festival and eat and Symbel together. Click here for more details:

http://tinyurl.com/3hogc8

If you do decide to go to the Festival, e-mail me at voidpulp@yahoo.com ... and let me know, so I can tell you where to find us!

Mark Stinson
http://www.heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Kalamazoo 2008

RS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:44:48 GMT

Is anyone from this group planning to attend this year's International Congress on Medieval Studies at WMU? It always adds to the fun to quaff a beaker with fellow heathens at Bilbo's.

-R.S.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies

Factions in Asatru

Rig — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:42:31 GMT

If you want to understand the social and evolutionary forces at work in modern Heathenry, study the religious history and evolution of Christianity during the first three centuries of its existence, mostly in the Mediterranean cities, and encapsulated in the writings of their Church Fathers, until the time of Constantine the Great of Rome and the ecumenical councils then and for the next century. The parallels are so close to modern heathenry, they truly frighten me. Our folk are moving along the same sort of path of intrafactional wars and consolidation of believers into ideological groups. It is scary to think about and I can see at some point the possibility of extremism coming from this as history has clearly shown time and time again. So much so that the value of the message get relegated to the re-cycle bin allowing in many cases the ego of the messenger to take over the main stage of personal beliefs based on his or her personal biases? This is one reason why I have issues with modern Asatru organisations that are led by the drivel of hatred, racism or other home cultures based on such.

That process is part of what needs to change in heathenry today or at least we as heathens need to draw a line in the sand to differiantiate via academic works and education (rather than fundamentalism) between those who call themselves heathens (generic neo-pagans) and heathens actual. I suspect that many neo-pagans cannot distinguish the differences. So I welcome submissions from the list as to a category of these factions with some background to each particular sub-group. All POVs are welcome.

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 47 replies

Stav

Thomas — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:25:40 GMT

According to http://www.stavinternational.org/ I have some question.

It looks like that Stav as family tradition has about 44 generations - is this possible??? I know how hard were to find some information about my family up to 10 generations ago (partialy the reasons were II world war). 44 generations is very long time especially for sth with speaking and showing only source.

If it's true, why this art were published in 90 of XX c.e. - is possibility that it's the result of growing population of heathenry and Asatru people?

I'm asking because this art looks very interesting.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies

On Being Heathen

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:51:06 GMT

I am taking a step back here to Dec 07 when Rig posted "On Being Heathen. I am curious why people place beside Religion: Heathen! Rather than just writing a bit on there bio stating they are Heathen, but when I see the word HEATHEN beside religion, I get this awful pain in my side. So to the well versed members on this list, am I just missing something and when did heathenry become a religion?

Yngona's words "Heathenry is not a religion but a way of life and living. It courses through my blood like a river rushing towards the sea" That is how I look at myself as being a Heathen and have never looked at it as a religion!

Best,

Shawnna

posted in Heathen Hearth - 15 replies

Kansas City Area - Open Heathen Events in May

Ludwig — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:27:01 GMT

On May 4th, 2008 at 6:00 PM we're hosting an Open Pubmoot at O'Dowds Irish Pub in the Northland. This event is for long-time heathens, newcomers to heathenry, and those who are curious. Everyone is welcome. There will be food, drink, interesting conversations, and lots of laughter. For more details including a map to the location click here...

http://tinyurl.com/2mxlt5

On May 18th, 2008 at 4:00 PM there will be an Open Faining to Freyja at English Landing Park in Parkville, MO. A Faining is a group religious event honoring the Vanic Goddess Freyja. Our last Faining at this park was quite an event. Bring picnic food and drinks for after the event. For more details, including a map to the location click here...

http://tinyurl.com/3goc63

If you know of heathens in the Kansas City Area or within driving distance, please feel free to pass this message on to them...

Thanks,

Mark Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
http://www.heathengods.com

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Ragnarok Question

Birka — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:43:30 GMT

So, here's the question: I've encountered many a differing opinion as to the place of Ragnarok in lore and life. For some, the Völuspa is revered as a complete prophecy, of immutable events to come. For others, it seems to be an event that took place, and possibly referred to the coming of Christianity and the conversion to Chritianity. I've heard people say that it is a reflection of Christian influences in Norse culture and writing, which is very similar to the previous notion I just mentioned.

So my question is simply this: What is the place of Ragnarok, and in particular, the Völuspa in ones personal beliefs? It seems that there is often talk of, fear of, and thinking on this concept.

As a secondary question, I am wondering as to modern day attempts at prophecy and how they are also looked at in personal and contemporary heathen practices.

All POV welcome.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 6 replies

Lotte Motz page on Wikipedia

Rig — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:14:25 GMT

Heill the list,

Just to let you know that there is now a Wiki resource on Lotte Motz:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotte_Motz

Tribute to the works of Lotte Motz (Aug 16th 1922 - Dec 24 1997)

For those on this list who are not familiar with her works, this was my tribute to her:

Tribute to the works of Lotte Motz (Aug 16th 1922 - Dec 24 1997)
Lotte Motz, née Edlis was born in Vienna in 1922 She was a Jew who escaped to the United States in 1941. She obtained her Phd in German and philology in 1955 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and moved to Oxford in 1959. In 1971, she returned to America and gained an appointment in the German Department at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. Illness forced her to return to Oxford and abandon her successful teaching career. Lotte Motz's field of work was originally Icelandic and Germanic Mythology and Religion. She wrote four books and well over 50 articles related to Northern Mythology. Lotte Motz was a passionate seeker of truth and justice. Quite possibly her greatest strength as a scholar was that she was never afraid to attack the icons of scholarship if she felt the truth lies elsewhere, being the very first scholar to challenge the truth behind the goddess Nerthus in Tacitus Germania. Her popularity as a speaker always filled lecture halls wherever she read. She was both witty and enthusiastic and projected her insights to her audience always with great passion and conviction. She leaves a daughter Anna and a grand-daughter Hanna.

See: http://www.runewebvitki.com/Lotte%20Motz.htm

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 9 replies

St. Louis Asatru Meetup May 31 @ 7 PM

Ludwig — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:01:36 GMT

There is now a St. Louis Asatru Meetup! Sean Cook began the Meetup group just a few days ago, and there are already 5 heathen members as of this writing. Here's the meetup site...

http://asatru.meetup.com/260/

Their very first meetup is scheduled for Saturday, May 31st at 7pm, at the Applebees at 11077 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, MO 63033. The first meeting is "for everyone to get to know each other and start to build fellowship for our fellow Heathens. We will decide how to proceed during this meeting."

This is good news for Missouri, and our Folk in and around St. Louis. Please, help Sean spread the word to heathens in his area...

Mark Stinson
http://www.heathengods.com
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Kansas City, Missouri

posted in Heathen Hearth - 0 replies

Gimle

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:11:04 GMT

Does this word relate to "Heaven" or does it have a much more deeper meaning?

Best,

Shawnna

posted in Heathen Hearth - 2 replies

Anglo-Saxon Heathen Class

Swain Wodening — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:04:24 GMT

Just to let folks know it looks like I may be teaching a class on Anglo-Saxon Heathenry at Mystick Wicks, a general pagan forum. It would be nice to get some real Heathens in on the discussion. If interested, go to:

http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=3485325#post3485325

posted in Heathen Hearth - 9 replies

New Rune Poem Book on the Horizon

Rig — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:09:05 GMT

What say you if there was a brand new rune poem book on the horizon translated into modern English with a folkloristic background and explanations of the rune poems based on folklore? Would you be interested in such a rune-book; where there would be taken into account, all the rune poems which exist and also the versions which have never seen print?

Do you guys think this is worth something?

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 17 replies

A Viking Landscape

Rig — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:06:05 GMT

Heill the list,
You will need to view U Tube clips 1 to 6. Of particular interest is U Tube clip No 5 regarding "cremations" in Iceland 1000 years ago. Do check it out! This attest to the fact that our very understanding of heathean times is changing as more evidence unearths to suggest new and better ways of understaning our historic past.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6RaCkPEzno&feature=related

***Professor Jesse Byock of UCLA is the principal investigator of the Mosfell Archaeological Project (MAP), an international research project employing the tools of archaeology, physical anthropology, saga studies, and environmental sciences. MAP works closely with the National Museum of Iceland and the town of Mosfellsbær. The goal of this interdisciplinary project is to construct a picture of human habitation and environmental change in the region of Mosfell in Iceland. Prof. Byock, who is the author of Viking Age Iceland (Penguin Books), Medieval Iceland (UC Press) and Feud in the Icelandic Saga (UC Press) and the translator for Penguin Books of The Saga of the Volsungs, The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki, the Prose Edda, and Sagas and Myths of the Northmen, is professor of Old Norse/Icelandic at UCLA's Scandinavian Section and professor of archaeology at UCLA's Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Prof. Byock directs the Mosfell archaeology together with his colleagues Phillip Walker (UCSB), Jon Erlandson (University of Oregon), Per Holck (University of Oslo), Davide Zori (UCLA), and Magnús Guđmundsson (University of Iceland).

Others who have worked on the Mosfell excavations and research include: Bjarki Bjarnason, Magnús Sigurgeirsson, Rebecca Richman, Sabrina Sholts, Margrét Hallsdóttir, Steve Martin, Anne Engesveen, Ásdís Hermanowicz, Jacqueline Eng, Helgi Orláksson, David Scott, Alan Dickin, Dagfinn Skre, Rhonda Brathurst, Patricia Lambert, Bert Evans, Steinar Kristensen, Agnes Stefansdóttir, Sebastian Wärmländer, Mark Tveskog, Erik Erlandson, Ashley Byock, Jennifer Dillon, Marianna Betti, Guđmundur Ólafsson, Magnus Helqvist, Henry Schwarcz, Stanislav Parfenov, Madonna Moss, Max Farrar, Karen Milek, Sigurjón Dađason, Haraldur Eyjólfsson, Gunnar Gunnarsson, Kaethin Prizer, Melissa Reid, Hilde Fyllingen, Bergsteinn Sigurgeirsson, Brynjar Ólasfsson, Sindri Sigurđarson, and Shawna Rider.

See: http://www.viking.ucla.edu/

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Love Heathen Style

Swain Wodening — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:09:40 GMT

This was published on my blog at: http://swainblog.englatheod.org and my MySpace blot. One of the commentors said I should publish it far and wide as "too many of these heathen "macho men" forget this small little tidbit of our folk...." I agree.

Love Heathen Style

One of the common misconceptions about ancient Heathen marriage is that they were not made for love, but simple contractual business arrangements. The truth of the matter is that people did indeed marry for love, and the idea of undying love did exist. A perfect example of this is the Anglo-Saxon poem sometimes called “A Husband’s Message,” and sometimes “A Lover’s Message” (you can read the text here: http://swainblog.englatheod.org/?p=41. The difference in titles depends on whether one considers the promises made between the two to be a marriage contract or not. Regardless, the poem is about a werman (male) separated from the woman he loves by exile. He has been in a foreign land making a name for himself, gathering men, gold, and horses, and generally doing good. He is now confident enough to send for her, and does so in the form of the poem which is told from the viewpoint of a stick inscribed with runes. The poem is full of romantic imagery the primary being love in the face of adversity. Both have been threatened, and one has to wonder if it is not a Romeo and Juliet situation. The poem is enough though to show that at least the ancient Anglo-Saxons married for love, and apparently believed in love that could be undying and loyal.

There is a second Anglo-Saxon poem called “The Wife’s Lament” Here the situation is similar only it is believed the composer of this poem was a woman. It is told from a woman’s point of view. The werman of the lady has been exiled, and she knows not what has become of him. She has been ordered to remain in an ancient barrow (indeed, it is not clear if she is alive or dead) separated from him by his family which plotted against their being together. It is clear from the poem that her feelings for him have not changed despite what seems to be betrayal and hardship.

Perhaps the most well known tale of love in the ancient Germanic literature is that of the Volsunga Saga. Here we are met with all the elements of a modern soap opera, perhaps not the best example of love in the lore, but the most famous none the less. A large portion of it revolves around the love triangle formed by Sigurd, Brynhild, and Gudrun. Sigurd meets Brynhild on a mountain surrounded by flames. She has been placed here by Odin to punish her for giving victory to the wrong man, and only a hero can free her. There she teaches him rune songs, and pledges to remain by her. He then rides away, encounters Brynhild again and again exchanges promises with her. He then slays Fafnir and winds up at the court of Giuki. There a spell is cast on him to love Gudrun, and they marry. Then Gunnar goes to court Brynhild, but needs Sigurd’s help. So Sigurd poses as Gunnar goes through the fires, and courted Brynhild for him. And Gunnar winds up married to Brynhild. Brynhild finds out the deception and eventually has Sigurd killed. The theme of undying love is clear even in the confused “she loves him, but he loves her…” storyline of the saga. It is clear that Brynhild wants Sigurd, and it is clear that Gudrun loves him. I say Brynhild wants him, for I cannot see how one can bring about the death of someone they truly love unless, of course, they had done something to cause harm to a child. Therefore, I am not sure Brynhild truly loved him. For Sigurd there is confusion. at different points he loves one or the other, and at one point it seems both. All of this confusion is of course brought on by two drinks, the one served Sigurd by Brynhild on the mountain, and the other served him by Gudrun. Had he not drank either of them we may be faced with a different tale. Regardless, it is a love story, and a soap opera, and does demonstrate that the ancient Germanic peoples were as much into love stories as the audiences of Shakespeare were 800 or so years later.

The Icelandic sagas contain their share of love stories as well, the two most famous being Kormák’s Saga and Gunnlaug’s Saga. These two sagas are partially historical, so it can be assumed their tales of love are somewhat based in fact. Kormák’s Saga is based on the life of the skald Kormák. He loves the woman Steingerð, for whom he writes love poems his entire life, but she is given in marriage to Bersi another skald. Kormák fought duels with both Bersi and her second husband for her, always to a stalemate. He suffered from a curse laid on him by Thorveig that he should never have Steingerð. Thus he won her, and then lost her, and wound up the rest of his life pining for her. Gunnlaug’s Saga tells a similar tale. Gunnlaug is in love with Helga granddaughter of the famous Egil. They fell in love over a board game when quite young. Gunnlaug was of a lower station however, and had to work hard to get her family to promise her to him, but he had to marry her by a certain date. Finally, he succeeds, goes to Norway to make his name, and winds up one day late returning to Iceland. Helga meanwhile is quite unhappily married off to someone else. To make matters worse, the werman she is married to is one of Gunnlaug’s enemies Hrafn. The two fought two duels. The first at Althing was indecisive, and the second killed both. There was much political manipulations to stop the duels. Of the two sagas, Gunnlaug’s Saga seems the better written and more romantic. Unlike Kormák whose love hated him at one point, Helga always loves Gunnlaug and Gunnlaug Helga.

What do these tales tell us? Well the one theme that runs through all is loyalty to the one one loves. In A Husband’s Message, he has remained loyal and true to the woman he loves, and has worked hard to find a way for her to be with him. In A Wife’s Lament, it seems that a lack of enough loyalty is the problem. Her werman apparently did not try hard enough, or could not withstand the pressures brought on him. Regardless. she still loves him, and laments his absence from her life. It is the twisted loyalties of Sigurd in the Volsunga Saga that causes all the problems. He vowed to marry two women, married one, and forgot the other, and thus the conflict. Essentially, it was a lack of loyalty on his part, though no fault of his own (as it was magically induced) that lead to the problems. And again in Kormák’s Saga and Gunnlaug’s Saga both male lovers are loyal until death, even putting their lives on the line to have the women they love. From all these works it was apparent that love was something one may have to strive for, overcoming great obstacles in order to lead a happy life with the person they love. For the ancient Germanic Heathen, it would seem that there was no obstacle too great, no circumstances so bad, that one could not try to be with the person they love.

It did not always work out that the lovers could be together. Indeed, in the examples given above, all but one leave us with the lovers separated by death or distance, save one, and in that one we are not told the ending. Regardless, it is apparent that ancient Heathens did have some idea of marrying for love, and perhaps even romanticized it much as was done in later ages. Now, it is probably common sense that these tales, like modern fictional love stories do not necessarily reflect reality. But they do show that they indeed knew the concept of love, and that not all marriages were arranged for financial, diplomatic, or military gain. What this means for us, is that we should strive to be with the ones we love. To woo them, take away obstacles, seems to be the way of the Germanic Heathen in love. Too often in today’s world with the weakening bonds of marriage we forget that. Divorces are easily obtained. We forget we have the capacity to change, and far too many of us are in the “I, Me, Mine” state of mind to be concerned with making sacrifices for another. Which is the final moral these tales give. One must make sacrifices for the one they love. Love without sacrifice is too easily won, and therefore as easily lost.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 7 replies

Introduction

Volva — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:09:28 GMT

Hello. I joined the Heathen Hearth list yesterday and thought I should introduce myself. I'm Volva. Not planning on being an especially active list member, but definitely interested in listening to hearing what others have to say.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 10 replies

Hello all - my little introduction

Thomas — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:58:28 GMT

Hello all.
Thanks to Mike book review, I found that little place in Internet called tribe.net and few old friends from another places and groups on it.
For some of you I'm known as Keloth.
I'm still searching for sources on my heathen path.

posted in Heathen Hearth - 10 replies

Futhark and Rune Magic

Rig — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:22:45 GMT

Heill the list,
I welcome submissions and ideas as regards the veracity or indeed the accuracy of
whether or not the futhark runes and magic are connected. As a starting point of flawed
ideas surrounding runes and magic, consider that both Kummer and Gorsleben began
referring to the technology of “runenyoga” (“rune yoga”), although Kummer is credited
with having coined the term. It was Kummer who combined the practices of Marby with
the theories of Guido von List.

See: http://www.runewebvitki.com/Guido%20Von%20List.htm

Then during the 1950s Frater Eratus (Karl Spiesberger) of the Fraternitas Saturni began to
be known for his work with rune yoga. Frater Eratus adapted the runes to ceremonial magic
(sorcery), experimenting with group rune positions, practices of sex magic, etc. These
stádhagaldr (rune stances) and rune chants have remained with many rune practitioners today.

Folks these 19th century esoteric practises of Germanic Occult Orders were NOT historical
and therefore not heathen. It is one example of 19th century Romantic Nationalism that has
filtered into our time as "runelore". Wolfgang Krause favoured magical explanations for rune
inscriptions that seemed undecipherable.
See: W. Krause, “Die Sprache der urnordischen Runeninschriften

All points of views are welcome!

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 1 reply

Beowulf & the Anglo-Saxons

Rig — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:19:08 GMT

This program sets out to trace the origins of the tribes that brought this epic into being, the war-like Northmen from Sweden, Denmark and Germany who were to conquer and settle regions of a more clement and fertile island that would become known as England, named after the tribe of the Angles.

Beowulf & the Anglo-Saxons (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3hjjaUQiVA

Beowulf & the Anglo-Saxons (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhKBY5WgECY&NR=1

You could off course watch this movie as pure entertainment value:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2s5O-c4U0k

I loved it!!!!!

Rig

posted in Heathen Hearth - 4 replies