Sons of Heimdall:. Breath, Spirit, Life.

Article: Asatru UK Growth - WildHunt.org

2024-04-16T02:36:00.001-07:00

There is no denying that the United Kingdom based Heathen group Asatru UK (AUK) has been remarkably active in the past few years. After transitioning from being an online community to a bonafide in-person organization, AUK has managed to coordinate the publication of several books as well as set up festivals and other live events. However, according to AUK chair Jack Hudson, much more is to come in the near future.

Read the full article here:

https://wildhunt.org/2023/04/asatru-uk-gears-up-for-growth.html

No tithe like the present - There's no subscription fee to be heathen

2023-11-01T05:45:00.003-07:00

Something that bothered me when I first began on my heathen path was the concept of "being heathen". Once I'd proudly announced (online, naturally) that I was now a heathen there was a period afterward that asked a lot of questions.

"Now what?"

"What makes me heathen?"

"What is different about me now compared to before?"

So, I'd made the monumental decision to be heathen (rather than the nihilist I'd been in my twenties) and this was a big deal for me. So why didn't I feel any different? I knew I wanted to be heathen, so what could I do to make myself more heathen?

As we all have grown up in a capitalist. materialist society, the temptation is strong to ascribe heathen value to products and services. If I buy this mjolnir pendant, that will make me more heathen. If I buy this drinking horn, that will make me even more heathen. Perhaps if I spend £100 on this, I'll be more heathen than if I only spend £10 on that.

Don't get me wrong, it is nice to see our heathen path reflected in what we wear and how we decorate our living spaces, but those things are just outward signs. There's nothing inherently heathen in owning them. If the Archbishop of Canterbury bought a mjolnir pendant, it wouldn't make him any more heathen - or any less christian.

With the advent of the information superhighway, we now have the opportunity to connect with other heathens across the globe. Joining websites, facebook and chat groups allows us to identify with other heathens with a few clicks of a mouse. But that can be a double edged sword, too. Seeing other people post and chat about their heathen path can lead to feelings of inadequacy - as our heathen lives seem to pale in comparison. This is a problem with the internet in general, not just for heathens. Its important to bear in mind that the internet gives a very distorted view of reality.

After a while, I began to realise, from under my mountain of viking paraphenalia, that what I knew and felt was far more important in defining what kind of heathen I am. Furthermore, there was nothing to be gained from comparing my version of heathenry to anyone else's beliefs or deeds.

It is often said that heathenry is the religion with homework. I can hear the groans now. Who wants to spend hours poring over source texts by candlelight? Noone has to spend years gaining a doctorate in early medieval history just to be a heathen.

Gaining a cursory knowledge of the main stories and mythology can help to feel more secure in the state of "being heathen", though. Many of the stories are very relatable and can give us the means whereby we can reflect on our own lives as heathens. They also make for very interesting discussions when disparate heathens get together around the campfire. Whether that fire is virtual or not. A favourite icebreaker I have when meeting new heathens is "What's your favourite story from the eddas?" It's a good way to get talking about how we each relate to the gods and other beings from the mythology.

Ragnarok TV series review

2023-10-04T11:17:00.003-07:00

I've just finished off season three, the final season, of Ragnarok on Netflix.

I really enjoyed all three seasons. The narrative was compelling, the characters engaging and the whole thing was tied up really well by the final episode (no spoilers, though!).

I'd love to see more stuff like this. Stories inspired by Norse mythology that aren't just underwear models in historically questionable outfits.

I'm surprised and disappointed at how this series hasn't really been picked up and/or discussed by the heathen community - at least, not in the part with which I usually interact.

This kind of reinvigoration of the stories should be welcomed and encouraged.

<p>(Shortened version cross posted to https://mcr.wtf/@nordicnefilim/111178084624957995 - shortened due to character limit)

The dichotomy of good and evil in heathenry

2023-09-22T03:13:00.003-07:00

A few days ago, on the Asatru UK facebook group, someone took issue with the focus of the next great heathen gathering being the goddess Hel. They seemed very offended by this and accused the group of being "Rokkatru" for paying homage to the ruler of the underworld. Rokkatru are heathens whose primary focus are the beings associated with "darkness" or the underworld. Some of these might be considered antagonists in the story of Ragnarok. Such beings are Hel, Jormungandr, Fenris, Surt and the often maligned Loki.

The complainant seemed to be saying that, in heathenry there are "good" beings to worship and "bad" beings that should be shunned for some reason. This conveniently ignores the fact that many of the "good" gods are less than perfect. Thor certainly has anger management issues and has been known to break frith at a whim. Odin is very far from a good guy, betraying his followers and acting in a very rapey manner in more than one instance.

I think this desire to categorise characters and beings from the mythology as either "good" or "bad" is a hangover from christianity. In christian doctrine, everything is divided between "that which is of god" and "that which is not of god". Further, everything to do with god is good and everything that isn't to do with god is bad. To polarise this yet more there is no neutral or null position. If you aren't on god's side, worshipping god (in the correct manner) then you are "not of god" and thereby evil. There is little to distinguish a satanist from an atheist - they will both suffer in perdition.

Heathenry isn't like that. While there is a "battle" between gods and giants, it isn't as simple as polar opposite ideologies fighting for dominance. Many beings that we think of as gods and goddesses have Jotun parentage - Odin, Thor and Loki being notable examples. No-one would question anyone's right to worship Skadi, yet she is fully Jotun. So it is not as simple as the Aesir and Vanir being 100% good and Jotuns being 100% evil. Clearly these two cultures have interacted peacefully at times. Indeed, it seems that as Christianity took sway, Jotuns were demonised to better fit the church's narrative.

Similar demonisation may have occurred with Loki. Always a bone of contention with some heathens, a fact I'm sure that he appreciates, Loki is often viewed as "the heathen devil" or similar. He's a bad guy, surely? He fights on the "wrong side" at Ragnarok, so he must be a wrong'un. But Loki would never allow himself to be so easily labelled. Rather than "the heathen devil" or the rather reductionist term "trickster god", I think he works better as an antagonist or agent of change. It is difficult to grow or improve without some kind of challenge or hardship to overcome. Loki embodies that and more - he will shake up your life to force you to see the world in a different, more useful light.

Loki is blood-brother of Odin. Odin isn't anyone else's blood brother, so there must have been something particular that ol' One Eye saw in the son of Laufey that, at the very least, was useful to him. After all, without Loki, Odin would not have Sleipnir. In Loki's travels with Thor, we also see how useful his moral ambiguity and transgressive nature can be - Thor certainly wouldn't have Mjolnir without Loki's willingness to dress himself (and Thor) as member of the opposite sex.

There is no pure good and evil in heathenry. Everything is nuance and shades of grey. Just because Odin does it, doesn't make it good. Just because something comes from a Jotun, doesn't make it bad. This appreciation of the darkness in light and the lightness in dark is key to the full and proper appreciation of the heathen path.

Very belated update - How goes 2023, the Year of Aun?

2023-09-01T04:16:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is fitting that, in a world as tumultuous as this, things have been rather chaotic and this blog has gone ignored in the wake of that. I have a few posts that I need to write, to update whoever might actually be reading this, but I want to restrict myself to the goings on of the last month, for now.

After the first part of the year being given over to working my new(-ish) job, August was the first sign of any holiday for my family and I. We had a number of things planned and, looking back, it was a very busy and rewarding period. WE bought a new car (well, new to us). This was a long time overdue as we had pretty much outgrown our previous Vauxhall Corsa. We drive around the country a lot, and hills were a problem for the little 1.2l deisel engine. So, what else did Harvest month involve?

Thunorsmoot.
My wife, my daughter and I spent a few days camping near Ilkeston in Derbyshire as part of Asatru UK's great heathen gathering for 2023. This year the focus was the unveiling and hallowing of the godpost dedicated to Thor. The atmosphere and sense of community was excellent. A very positive vibe was commented upon by a number of people there. We took part in a couple of rituals and socialised with friends old and new. Our rainbow raven flag hung from our tent all weekend, and I was very pleased to hear one of the ritual leaders comment, "As many of you will know, this year is the Year of Aun!"

It was during the festival that I was pleased to note my wife and daughter both getting into the spirit of the occasion. They have always been very supportive of me in regards to my heathen path. My wife has identified has heathen for some time now - since we used to attend Kith of Yggdrasil moots in London around 2010 - 2013. However, her interest and her own path is now developing independent of my own. She is arguably much more socialable than I with other members of Asatru UK, both in real life and online. My daughter also bought her first mjolnir at a stall on the Saturday, too. Proud heathen dad moment - though I doubt she would refer to herself as heathen, even now.

A second family getaway
After Thunorsmoot was over, we took another camping trip to Northhumberland, staying at a campsite near Alnwick. It was extremely windy, but fortunately, we'd recently upgraded our tent, which seemed more than able to withstand even gale force conditions. Though it helped that we'd taken time to peg it out property. Then, after camping we headed to Whitby. Our new car's 2.0l engine made the hills around there much less of an issue. We have friends in the town and it was great to catch up with them.

As inspiring and rewarding as the Asatru UK heathen gatherings always are, I feel there is as much "heathenry" in socialising with old friends as there is in any ritual, moot or symbel. That belief has always been a keystone of my path.

2023: The Year of Aun

2023-01-09T08:50:00.001-08:00

If you're a heathen of my ilk, you'll be engaged and excited by "The Year of Aun", as explained by the Nordic Animism channel.

The rebirth of the 8-year-cycle of festivals and celebration is a momentous occasion for all heathens. Add to that the goal of healing the world of the various toxins of modernity and it becomes a recipe for creating hope in a time of bitter darkness.

Most of the online content relating to #Aun2023, though, is the work of highly educated and very knowledgeable individuals. Each with vast knowledge in related and Aun-adjacent subjects; animism, anthropology, history, sociology linguistics.

While the online content from many of these experts is very accessible and entertaining, I can't help but feel under qualified when I try to engage or join in.

So, in this post (finally getting to the point), I'll be listing my plans and goals that I hope will serve as my modest observance and contribution to the #Aun2023 phenomena.

1. Educate myself. Reading up on subjects that I feel will enhance my appreciation of #Aun2023. Animism, Norse mythology, history, world politics, ecology & green issues, decolonisation and indigeneity.

2. Hiking and exploring my local area. The northwest has some beautiful landscapes. I want to explore these and also learn the history of the places I visit.

3. Gardening. Reconnecting with nature and my own spirituality through the simple toil and natural interaction of working in my garden.

4. Art. I'm not much of an artist, but I want to practice my bass more. Then, perhaps, in another 8 years I might compose some Aun-inspired music.

5. Physical Culture. Using martial arts and meditation - through practising baguazhang - to improve myself, my understanding and my connection to the universe

6. Interactions with friends, neighbours and family. Connecting more widely with my fellow humans being just as important as reconnecting with other then humans.

So, this is my "2023 Year of Aun for Dummies". Watch this space for updates as to how it all goes.

Sowing the seeds of our own destruction: The threat of societal collapse has been recognised 50 years ago

2022-07-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

The Infamous 1972 Report That Warned of Civilization's Collapse
A Wired.com article

Capitalist forces, i.e. the unremitting quest for profit at any expense, is driving us toward an ecological apocalypse that will result in nothing short of the end of human civilisation. Those with the power and influence to do anything about it are reluctant to do so and very slow on the take up. Very slow as the article above shows that this undeniable situation we find ourselves in has been understood and forecast at least 50 years ago.

It is not a new thing. There isn't any time left to think about things or see how this plays out. We act now, or society collapses not just a little bit, but into a new, dark age. Governments and corporations play act at concern for the environment and make hollow gestures toward being "carbon neutral" or having a "green policy". If this is all that happens from them, we are doomed.

The only way governments and corporations can be forced to do the right thing for humanity is through collective action. If enough people refuse to vote or boycott products, citing environmentalism as the reason, those who rely on the support of the market, i.e. us, the people, will be forced to take proper action.

Asatru UK Althyng, July 2022 - Reflections

2022-07-06T03:01:00.002-07:00

Last weekend was the Asatru UK Althyng. In a last-minute, spur of the moment decision back in June, we decided to buy a day ticket for the Saturday. It meant we missed out on the fun later in the evening, but still provided us with a great, family day out.

In the Facebook group for our heathen hearth, "Salgofnir's call", I wrote a little mini-review, an edited excerpt of which I'm reposting here:

Well, the weekend saw us attend the #asatruuk #althyng at Sentry Circle campsite, Northallerton. We only had day tickets for the Saturday - mostly cos our decision to attend was a bit of a last-minute thing.

It was a great event. Loads of heathens, traders offering really nice wares and interesting talks and events. We especially enjoyed Pete Jennings' talk on the subject of Valkyries.

It was exceptionally family-friendly, there were lots of activities aimed at kids. Freyja took part in the kids' rune workshop. The whole event was a very comfortable place to be as a family. Lots of other kids there of various ages. More importantly, the traders and organisers spoke to Freyja directly, involving her in the conversation - which, for us, is the keystone of a family-friendly event. Otherwise, it just feels like you're dragging your kid around and leaving them out.

Saw some fellow NW Heathens, which was nice - a shame we didn't make it to their camp to catch up with everyone together, though. We were either socialising with the wider heathen community around the stalls or in the bar - both worthy enterprises, I'm sure you'll agree.

Very impressed in general with the whole events, it's organisation and implementation. All the organisers and assistants deserve hearty congratulations. It has very much inspired us to want to attend anything #asatruuk organise for next year - especially as it will be the Year of Aun! #aun2023

As though in response to an earlier Sons of Heimdall post about moving away from the current viking trend, I recall an example, from the Althyng weekend, why this is something I'm keen to do.

We had just completed the ceremony for raising Freyja's godpost in the ve. The ceremony had been very chilled and, for some, was emotional and touching. Atop the hill, surrounded by standing stones and afforded with a beautiful view of the surrounding Yorkshire countryside, it was a moment that called upon all present to feel their connection to the land and its wights. Communally, we sang songs in honour of "Golden, shining Vanadis" and made offerings and toasts to the godpost.

Once this was done, we all slowly headed back down the hill toward the camp. It was then that some post-Fimmel heathens elected to start singing a certain popular song from a notorious tv franchise. While I accept the lyrics to "My mother told me..." have a historical provenance, the raucous, full-voiced nature of the song, really destroyed the relaxed, positive, connected vibe that we had, up to that point, been enjoying in the afterglow of the ceremony.

Now, I'm not a big fan of the Vikings tv series when used as a source for informing a heathen path, but I accept that the popularity of the series has done a lot to boost the ranks of the heathen community. Post-Fimmel heathens do bring a youth and vibrancy to the group that, it could be argued, had been previously lacking. I would ask, however, that maybe those newer heathens of that ilk learn to read the room a bit. There is a time for boisterous, viking-like behaviour and just after a really relaxed, spiritually rewarding ceremony is not really it. All this is purely, IMHO, obviously, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt this way as we all processed down the hill, though.

Ironically, the bar tent, where such behaviour would have been more than appropriate, had been practically empty all afternoon and continued to be so, even after the slightly Brosatru, viking-wannabes had made it down the hill.

Lateral shift: Explaining the change of direction for Sons of Heimdall

2022-06-29T08:04:00.003-07:00

Perhaps I should take a little time to explain the thinking and motivation behind moving this blog away from the popular vikingness of some aspects of heathenry. It is less a rejection of that side of things than it is a recognition that a more generalised pre-christian or even pre-capitalist focus fits in with my other interests, notably ecology, left wing politics and, well, hippiness.

The world is in a really bad state at the moment. It could be said that in the west, at least, we are collectively enduring an economic and political, as well as ecological Ragnarok. Politics and the establishment are moving further and further towards fascism, especially in America and the UK. Billionnaires and their corporations amass huge wealth and enjoy unprecedented profits, while the workers whose labour creates that same profit languish in poverty. Corporations who produce the vast majority of pollution refuse to accept that action needs to be taken by them to mitigate climate change. Instead, they boost the signal of misleading advice stating that individual families can somehow save the planet by sorting waste into different coloured plastic boxes while corporations themselves pollute and ravage the environment indiscriminately.

It is my train of thought that supposes that simply replacing the Christian religious orthodoxy with a more pagan spirituality will not be sufficient to stem this tide of fascism and ecological disaster. Swapping out Yahweh for Odin and his companions does nothing to affect the underlying problems - most notably the world-denying christian attitude of superiority over the environment and the capitalist emphasis on capital and profit as the only true values.

So it is that my focus has shifted toward the reawakening of pre-christian, non-capitalist views of our animist ancestors, as espoused by Rune Hjarno Rasmussen and explained on his Nordic Animism YouTube channel (amongst other places).

It also allows me to move away from a history-focused "wouldn't everything be nicer if we were more tenth century in our outlook" and toward a more positive, "This is how we can be inspired by our own past and other cultures to carve a better future for the world". As I alluded to before, it also means I get to rail against capitalism and contemporary religious dogma. Which is something I quite like doing. Powerful corporations and churches with lots of resources and undue influence need taking down a peg or two. The power has always lain with us, the people. We simply forgot that for a while. If we come together and demand better from our politicians and service providers, we can make the world a better place - through repairing the damaged connections we have with the environment and other cultures.

I personally think that my brand of heathenry is inextricably linked with my belief in left wing politics, universal acceptance and tolerance, ecological activism, a love for the world and its eco-systems and my hatred of injustice. The worst of these injustices being 1% of the world's poopulation living in the lap of luxury and obscene wealth while a huge proportion of the world starves and lives in terrible poverty. Our heathen ancestors treated slaves better than our society treats supposedly free people.

Our heathenry is inclusive

2022-06-16T02:15:00.002-07:00

Just so that we're not at all ambiguous about it, our heathenry is inclusive.

Distance over Time: Rebranding the Sons of Heimdall blog

2022-06-15T06:17:00.003-07:00

Of late, what was previously a minor annoyance has grated on my nerves and begun to irritate me beyond my tolerance. I am speaking of the "Vikingisation" of heathenry and other forms of nordic... well, nordic anything really. You can't express an interest in the history of Europe - northwestern Europe in particular - without someone bringing up the pesky raiders.

It has become abundantly clear that I am somewhat more viking-averse than a large proportion of heathens. Not for me the dressing up like Floki or Lagertha. Face paint doesn't make my heart flutter in anticipation of runic inscriptions across my less than angelic face. My personal brand of heathenry demands only civlian dress (often combats and a heavy metal band t-shirt) and my path is focused very much in the here and now.

The "viking age" gets way too much attention for what it is. A couple of hundred years in which some criminal-minded psychopaths decided to go stealing stuff from across the water. I appreciate the romanticised image of violence appeals to some people - but it's not like it's the only violent period in European history. Further, it's not even the most violent period. The crusades were pretty horrible. Innumerable wars have been fought in various places. What is so special about vikings? They wouldn't have looked like underwear models, like they do in certain popular tv shows. Spirituality existed prior to the viking age and evidence from the iron age and roman times arguably tell us more than evidence from the limited period in which those pirate raids were ongoing.

So, what I am half proposing to myself in my head, is to reduce the viking footprint in this site. Remove all reference to this as a "viking blog". That's not to say I won't mention vikings now and again. I won't forbid myself from referencing the viking age and its sources, either. But this will be a heathen/"pre-christian, indigenous European spirituality and culture" blog. Providing I can find a more catchy label.

Fear not, though! This will still be essentially my place to discuss heathenry, my path and everything else. The aesir and vanir, landvaettir and ancestors are as much a part of my path as they ever were. I'm just distancing myself from the whole "heathenry is the viking religion" fallacy.

Watch this space.

Connections

2022-05-03T02:50:00.003-07:00

Having read Tyson Yunkaporta's "Sand Talk", upon recommendation by Rune Rasmussen, the topic of connection has been at the forefront of my mind for quite some time now.

I take after my father and his father. While they were both very affable, they both enjoyed their alone time. Their favourite method of getting away from it all (including the rest of the family) was to spend all day gardening. Time alone tending to what was their pride and joy was their favourite method of relaxing and getting away from it all. I, too, enjoy my alone time practicing baguazhang on my own. My brother is similarly minded, too - his escape is found through carp fishing. I guess it is a family trait.

That said, connection to my wider family has always been important to me - that is one way in which I differ from the other males in the family. My late mother was eldest of ten children and my childhood weekends were spent at my Nannie's home, with sometimes as many as a dozen adults and associated children all spending the day together in one small house. That obviously stayed with me as I managed to score some valuable family brownie points by taking time to speak with all my aunts and uncles at our wedding reception.

Still, though, I'm stuck between that need to connect to wider family and wanting some alone time. Families are noisy and boisterous and can be demanding - which is part of the fun, I guess. The best part of me has been distilled from the crucible of familial interaction. Interactions with friends were a whole different kettle of fish for me - less wholesome, more self-destructive. Friendships have been just as valuable, though in a different way.

Similarly, connection to nature for me has been influenced by my childhood. I grew up in a very rural part of the already rural Lincolnshire. My childhood home was set in the midst of a large garden (just under one acre). To my youthful mind, nature was all around me and part of everything I did. As a consequence, perhaps, I don't quite have the same views as most other people. A lot of other people seem to post online about hiking up abc hill to connect with nature, or visiting xyz forest to talk to the gods. For me, the gods are just as close when I'm sitting in my armchair watching tv as they are when I'm hiking up Rivington Pike. Having said that, gods seem to be less important to me than most other people. For me, ancestors and wights play a larger role in my heathenry than do gods of the aesir or vanir. After all, ancestors and wights seem closer to me somehow. Ancestors share my family bonds and wights are in the same physical location as me. Gods and goddesses seem somehow more distant in comparison.

I love getting out into nature/away from the suburbs as much as anyone. But I can't help wondering why people feel that they need to go somewhere else to feel a part of nature? Just cos our species built things like cities and houses to make our lives easier, doesn't mean we stopped being part of nature. Sure, our connection to nature is in a ropier state than it has been for some time - but that is more down to capitalism's belligerent attitude toward the environment that has seeped into our own understanding. Why are termites in their city-like mounds a part of nature, yet our cities aren't. How come mammals and birds using tools is a part of nature, but our using more complex tools is not? How is a bee working for the collective of the hive a part of nature, but my working for the collective of an insurance company is not?

I'm trying to rewire my understand to one that recognises I am always a part of, indeed in the midst of, nature and use that understanding to improve my connection to nature and the wider world in general (family included - as they are a part of nature, too).

Nature, family, friends, ancestors, wights, gods and myself - all reciprocally connected. That is the goal.

Fuck Putin!

2022-03-03T00:46:00.002-08:00

Reading around the subject - Heathenry is more than just vikings

2022-02-07T03:16:00.001-08:00

When I was a schoolkid, living in one of the more rural parts of England, my friends and I developed an interest in certain areas. We loved fantasy novels, my friends having introduced me to JRR Tolkien. This went hand in hand with a love of history, myths and archaeology. I carried these interests around with me long before I came across the idea of heathenry as a spiritual path. It is easy to forget that all these fields were already familiar to me and probably contributed to my curiosity about this reconstructed religion based on the history of various germanic peoples. Had I not already been interested in history prior to discovering heathenry then I likely wouldn't have been interested in it at all. If that happened, I wouldn't be a heathen today and you, dear reader, would be reading me waffle on about something else. Probably.

So, sometimes, I'm so kean to further my interest in and knowledge of heathenry that I forget to indulge my old passions. Sometimes, just to remind me how I got here, little connections crop up. In this case, I came across some interesting discussion of anglo saxon farming practices while indulging my other interests in the culture of the countryside and folk history.

In this video, the late Jack Hargreaves touches upon some anglo saxon history while cataloguing one of his walks through the Dorset countryside. I always find Jack Hargreaves easy to watch as his programme would often be on the television around the same time as children's tv shows when I was enjoying the summer holidays from school.

YouTube link: Jack Hargreaves tells how a Dorset river lost its name

Don't forget to indulge your other passions, and maybe keep a look out for any way they might gel with or inform your heathen practice.

Extrapolating upon #AUN2023 plans

2022-02-01T07:43:00.002-08:00

First of all, what is the Year of Aun? To find out, visit the Nordic Animism Youtube channel.

I've been giving some more consideration toward my plans for the Year of Aun next year after having watched Rune Hjarno Rasmussen's video review of the book "Sand Talk", by Tyson Yunkaporta.

Having watched this, especially the part discussing how people from non-urban cultures experience loneliness in western "civilised" society, I have thought something else would be important to work upon for the Year of Aun. Just as Rune describes other cultures having a much closer connection to friends and family, I remember as a child being made to associate with both sides of my family. My mother was the eldest of ten children. Every weekend, ourselves and the families of my uncles and aunts would gather at the home of my grandmother. There would often be more than a dozen of us, all in a small house. Making food, discussing the world, playing and laughing together. Similarly, even though my father was, in contrast, an only child I would spend school holidays at his mum and dad's house (my other grandparents). My mother worked on a farm, so rather than be left alone in our house, I was looked after by my elderly grandparents. This is was a great learning experience for me.

So, I am hoping to make a concerted effort to spend more time in the company of my family, both in-laws and blood relations. I am usually something of a curmudgeonly old sod who prefers his own company. My in laws have always been more gregarious than myself. Very welcoming from the outset, I certainly felt like a part of the family from the first time my wife introduced us. I will work to be more engaged and involved with everything going on.

My brother and sister have always been kept at something of a distance. That is just how our family did things. This month, though, we are planning a get-together. The first since our mother passed last summer. Again, I will strive to strengthen my connection to each of them and their families. All in the name of engendering a closer connection to my fellow man.

Less time spent on social media wouldn't go amiss, either. ;)

My tentative first ideas for the Year of Aun #Aun2023

2022-02-01T02:46:00.004-08:00

First of all, what is the Year of Aun? To find out, visit the Nordic Animism Youtube channel.

When I was young, I lived in Lincolnshire. A very rural county, not really known too well outside of its borders for anything other than farming. Mostly arable farming, though I did live near many fields of (dairy) cows, a piggery and a turkey farm. Back then, I felt a really strong connection to the land. I appreciate my mature mind might well be embellishing this a little. After all, what did I know back then of spirituality or, indeed, the mundane world at large? I was a socially-awkward teenage boy who'd rarely ventured further than perhaps the 20 miles to the nearest market towns.

Back then, however, I did feel a certain connection to the land as something more than just "the area in which I lived". I felt a connection to the earth, where a good portion of the food I ate was grown. When I fell over and scraped my knees (as kids are wont to do), it was that same earth that my blood fell upon and soaked into. When my elder relatives died, it was the earth into which they were buried. Or, in some cases, it was the air around us into which their ashes scattered. As the descendant of farmers and farm workers, it was that same land that my ancestors had worked for generations. It felt like it was a part of my DNA.

Fast forwarding to the present day, I'm sitting in the spare bedroom of my house before a laptop, working from home. "The new normal", apparently. In my youth. I've tried re-engaging with some of the hobbies I used to enjoy. I've renewed my contact with old friends. But nothing quite seems to quell that feeling of something missing. Perhaps it is that connection to the land that I miss?

For my Year of Aun plans, I think I will focus upon rebuilding that connection to place that I felt as a boy. Albeit this time across the Pennines in the northwest. Lancashire is very similar to Lincolnshire it a lot of ways. Lots of hills and large city-sprawls notwithstanding.

#AUN2023

Feeling like you're "doing heathen right"

2022-01-21T06:03:00.004-08:00

When I was a kid and I hadn't really thought too much about the subject, if someone asked me what religion I was I would have answered, "Church of England". It didn't really occur to me to ask what that meant. All I knew was my curiosity had caused me to ask my mother what religion we were and that had been her answer. I lived in what was, I suppose, still ostensibly a christian nation back then. I attended a Church of England school and lessons that depended upon them included morality and culture that was influenced by the christian church. Looking back, there wasn't really anything that I did or thought that made me christian, much less Church of England specifically. As a family, we didn't pray or attend church on Sundays. The only time we saw the inside of St Mary's church in our village was for weddings and funerals - or if the local primary school decided to hold a harvest festival service there.

As I moved on to secondary school and mixed with an only slightly more diverse peer group, I came across friends who also called themselves christian. However, their families did attend church every Sunday. Some were even a different denomination - usually catholic or methodist. As I became aware of the impact that their religion had upon their lives it occurred to me that perhaps my family - and myself in particular - weren't very religious at all.

Later, I would go on to identify as atheist, nihilist, existentialist and a number of other similar labels. The point I'm gradually marshalling into place, though, is that to identify as anyone one or more of these labels was enough. Despite the fact there were other kids going to church, attending Sunday school and singing hymns much more enthusiastically than me, I was still more than justified in calling myself christian. Identifying as such was enough.

It's the same with heathenry. Identifying as heathen is the first and only necessary step in being part of this burgeoning community. There is nothing you can do, no book you can read that will make you more heathen than you are when you first start to realise that the spiritual path you've been reading about is precisely the one you've been on or the one for which you've been searching.

You can blot every day of the week and, while there are benefits to doing so, it doesn't really make you any more heathen than someone who has never blotted. The Archbishop of Canterbury could take part in a blot, and he would be very welcome to do so, but it wouldn't make him heathen.

Similarly, you could read a thousand books on the subject. Doing so would undoubtedly increase your knowledge of heathenry immensely. But it wouldn't make you any more heathen than if you'd spent the time watching Great British Bake Off instead.

There are as many different routes around the heathen spiritual landscape as there are heathens themselves. Once you've identified as heathen, how you actualise that is completely up to you. If you want to be the heathen who blots every day and reads every scrap of text you can find on the subject then do that. If you want to create artwork to honour the gods, wights, ancestors, landscape or even Travis Fimmel, then do that. If you just want to devote some time thinking about heathenry and discussing as much over drinks with friends (preferably around a campfire), then do that. Each of these is just as valid a means of "doing heathen" as any others that could be mentioned.

Heathenry online can sometimes come across as being very heavily weighted towards certain kinds of heathens. Academics, artists and craftspersons seem to account for 95% of heathen content. To my mind, though, that says more about the nature of the internet. If you have something to say, or show then webpages, galleries and video servers cater very well to you. Within heathenry, though, all kinds of people are needed. If you can lend an ear to a story, chat with a fellow heathen and add your voice to songs and laughter, then you are just as valid a part of the heathen history being made today.

2023: The Year of Aun

2022-01-19T01:54:00.001-08:00

(Taken from the Nordic Animism channel, with Rune Hjarno Rasmussen)

This is something that really resonates with me. Yule and Midsummer are the only real heathen events that my family and I voluntarily get ourselves embroiled in. We also often travel to Scandinavia (mostly, Stockholm) fairly often - or, we did. Thank you, global pandemic!

At first, I was thinking of wanting to get involved and immediately thought of arranging some family trip. Uppsala seemed to be a good choice. Then it occurred to me that international travel has not exactly been reliable, of late. Disappointing and something that still looms in my mind as we have been planning to spend Yule 2022 in Kiruna again. Just before the first lockdown, we managed to spend what would later be thought of as our best Yule ever at Camp Ripan in Kiruna, Lapland (Sweden).

These past few days, though, I have been thinking about The Year of Aun and I've changed my mind a little. I still very much want to get involved and help in whatever way I can. Now, though, I think it more important to have a lot of smaller scale, local events commemorating Aun at historical sites around the globe. Each celebrating in their own way in accordance with their own, local customs. Online, then, The Year of Aun might simply be a website or series of blogs containing media showing how each area has celebrated. Pictures, videos, articles or artwork all commemorating the rejuvenation of this most significant of heathen festivals.

Unfortunately, I am neither an academic nor an artisan. I can't really offer any knowledge or insight into the development of this idea. One lesson I have learned from my years spent identifying as a heathen is that there are a lot of people out there who know a Hel of a lot more about heathenry and its associated fields than do I. Similarly, other than occasionally bursting into song while in the shower, I really don't have an artistic bone in my body and my hands lack any practical skills at all. Because of this, it can feel quite hard to fathom what I can offer this project - other than enthusiastic moral support. If I figure that one out, I'll let you all know.

Though it has been 48 years and, to this very day, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! ;)

A new year awaits

2022-01-18T11:01:00.002-08:00

We passed a pretty sedate Yule. Hampered, as it was, by catching COVID a couple of weeks before. Still, we had a nice celebration with family and shared a drink with those we lost this year.

Big things are planned for 2022 and beyond...

Reawakening old traditions

2021-10-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

On a site I like to peruse occasionally (https://traditionalcustomsandceremonies.wordpress.com), I found reference to an old, defunct custom. Possibly of Teutonic origin, it caught my attention for having been a festive tradition around Grimsby, an old haunt of mine.

The description reads:

"The town of Grimsby has three boars on its crest you may ask why?

The origin comes from when the town was surrounded by wild woods and when boars were common in these areas. The tradition having two parts the main part being the presentation of a boar’s head. T. F. Thistleton Dwyer British Popular customs present and past (1975) notes:

“An old tradition existing within the town of Grimsby asserts that every burgess at his admission to the freedom of the borough anciently presented to the mayor a boar’s head, or an equivalent in money when the animal could not be procured.”

Indeed, an 1828 copy of The Gentlemen’s Magazine states that the Mayor of Grimsby would have three boars heads at the table at his feast. Part of the tradition would be to hunt, for it is also recorded that:

“The lord, too, of the adjacent manor of Bradley, it seems, was obliged by his tenure to keep a supply of these animals in his wood for the entertainment of the mayor and burgesses, and an annual hunting match was officially proclaimed on some particular day after the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. In the midst of these extensive woods the sport was carried on, and seldom did the assembled train fail to bring down a leash of noble boars, which were designed for a public entertainment on the following day. At this feast the newly-elected mayor took his seat at the head of the table, which contained the whole body corporate and the principal gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood.”

When did this custom begin? The coat of arms is 17th century but it may go back to a Viking or Saxon tradition. Interestingly, the last boar in England was said to have hunted in Bradley which may have been for the Mayor of Grimsby."

Taken from: https://traditionalcustomsandceremonies.wordpress.com/2019/09/30/custom-demised-nativity-of-the-virgin-mary-boars-hunt-grimsby-lincolnshire/

Now I have myself tempted to recreate the old tradition with a modern twist. It would be hard to arrange the actual hunting of boar, but as I have a few old friends in the area, I'm sure I could arrange a symbolic boar-themed hunt of some kind - at the very least a pub crawl.

Expanding upon a comment I posted ElseWEB...

2021-10-15T06:37:00.003-07:00

In one of the other spheres I gravitate around on the web, someone asked about connections to the gods and goddesses and divine help, both with connecting to said deities and mental health in general. I'm gonna post my comment here, and then expand upon it a little. Mostly cos this is a better medium for long, drawn-out rambling and partly because, well, this is my space so I'm not impinging on anyone else's point here.

I'll preface this by saying I don't really have any clear contact with the gods. I'm rather in awe of people who (genuinely) do, but that's not how it works for me. However, I do have a kind of UPG that comes from a very visceral "gut feeling" I get in regards to the gods. And that is what this is based on. Nothing I worked through logically or rationally, just a feeling.

Yeah, I know some people out there (claim to) have actual meetings with the gods in which they chat - I always imagine this to US TV chat shows. That doesn't work for me. Even if the gods did decide to approach me in that manner, I'd be more likely to check myself into the local asylum than probe for spiritual insight. Let's face it, hallucinating in person conversations with mythical figures is a bit out there, isn't it? That's out of the range of normal, consensual reality and a strong symptom of mental health issues, surely?

Yeah, so, for me all I get is a particular kind of gut instinct. A feeling that usually relates to the nature of the gods, other entities or reality itself. Occasionally, ravens look at me a bit funny. But I'm fine with that now.

I often say that Odin is more likely to be the guy putting problems in your way, rather than doing anything more positive and compassionate to help. But I think this is unfair on him cos I feel all the gods are like that to some extent. Once a relationship has been established, I think the gods can grow to care about us - but what they offer is a very tough love.

I've said before in previous posts that Odin isn't a terribly nice chap. I've heard a few different claims of a touchy-feely Odin coming to the aid of a follower when they were feeling down. I'm not saying they're lying, but this behaviour flies in the face of every single bit of lore we have that mentions him. I'm sympathetic to the idea that a lot of Old One Eye's stories may originally have been attributed to other gods, but it was in the chronicler's interests to link them with Odin to support his role as "All Father". Never in any of the stories has he been a cuddler, though.

Odin would just as likely put obstacles and trials in your path to see how easily you break, rather than offer a smidgeon of compassion. Myself, if Odin were to come to me offering compassion, sympathy and a helping hand, I'd be very suspicious - and not only for the aforementioned hallucinatory/delusion-based reasons. He is as much of a trickster as Loki, and arguably less reliable. Still, we all love him for many other reasons - not least of which he looks very cool in his wide-brimmed hat.

This has me kinda thinking of the goddesses of our pantheon being a bit like stereotypical "Northern battleaxe" wives and mothers. They nag and offer harsh discipline. They give you a clip around the ear "just because" and are lean on sympathy.

But, equally, when the police come around inquiring about stolen stereos, they defend you to the hilt - despite the back bedroom being full of knock off stereos. They treat their "children" harshly - but mainly to prepare them for the even harsher world past the front gate. Because of this, it can feel like they're not listening - they are, but they're rooting for you to overcome the situation yourself. Might not be a very helpful view, I accept - but it's weirdly comforting to me.

The gods aren't gonna bail you out. We're not talking new testament, Jesusy sympathy here. Hel, even the christian god could be a bit of a bastard - ever read any Old Testament? The gods of our pantheon want us to think, work and survive by the merits of our own wits. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life. Well, our gods think like that, too. Give someone succor now and they'll be okay again for a few days - but they'll need succor again soon enough. The world doesn't stop throwing shit at you. If you learn to deal with that shit yourself, you'll handle yourself better next time life tries to crap on you.

That's not to say there's no room for weakeness in heathenry. No-one is perfect and we all have our neuroses, triggers and Achilles' heels. I would say, though, that the expectation is that we are all working on our weaknesses and imperfections to try to overcome them - or reduce their impact. Impediments are not excuses to hide behind, but struggles to overcome.

Besides, we don't need our gods to give us emotional support - that is what our friends and family (kith and kin) are for!

Everyone is special. So, really, no-one is special

2021-09-14T05:43:00.006-07:00

Just now, I made a modest offering to Tyr. Hoping to strengthen my relationship with him, but also as a means to commemorate my new training regimen. Who better than the Lord of Oaths to keep in mind when intending to form a new, positive habit. Discipline, personal development and martial arts are all things that I consider to be within his field of influence.

Don't get me wrong, though. I'm not really the kind of heathen who makes offerings to every god, wight and ancestor all the time. Far from it. I appreciate for some people that is a means for them to feel like they are really "doing heathen" properly. But I feel that offerings made less often have more meaning. It wasn't a major offering on my part, just a dram of single malt scotch. Hardly gonna break the bank, that. I hope the gift is received as it was given.

I've made the decision to put more of my time and energy into my own health and fitness, as well as both studying and practicing my martial art. Knowing how easily I can be swayed to give up on such enterprises in the past, an inaugural offering to Tyr seemed appropriate. I'm not asking him for make me do it. I know discipline and willpower don't work like that. The offering is just there to remind me how important this is to me right now - lest my interest wanes again.

Butterflies aren't very heathen

2021-08-16T08:20:00.008-07:00

Exciting times here with us. In a few days, we will be camping with fellow heathens from the Northwest Heathens Facebook Group. Because of this, even a curmudgeonly old scrote like me is starting to feel a little pressure to up my heathen game.

Normally, our family's brand of heathenry is very understated. Other than "looking a bit metal" which, in some circles has now come to be interpreted as "looking a bit heathen", we don't really advertise our heathenry or practice overtly. But, as one of the things about this camping trip that will make it extra-special is that it will be heathen-themed, I don't suppose it'll hurt to be a little more "obviously heathen" in what I say and do.

So, what I will likely do is return to my previous habit of greeting the day, from Sigrdrífumál:

Hail day,
hail the sons of day,
hail to the night and daughter of night.
With eyes of kindness
look upon us
and give to us who sit here victory.
Hail the Aesir,
hail Asynjur,
hail to the all-giving earth.
Fair speech and wisdom
give to us famous ones
and healing hands as long as we live.

If I recall correctly, I've actually posted this before, albeit a different translation. It is a good prayer to know as it is fully-attested in the Eddas and works very well as a simple, daily devotion. Useful perhaps to new heathens to help them feel they're "doing something heathen", which I know from experience can be of great value when first starting out upon one's path.

Mental health and Heathenry

2021-08-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

Mental health is very much at the forefront of the news at the moment. This is due, in the main, to the unprecendented departure of Simone Biles from the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympic games. Citing concern for her own mental health, Simone took the brave decision to remove herself from the tournament, due to her concerns that continuing would negatively impact her own mental health.

This highlights exactly how poorly society and the media deal with mental health issues in the normal course of events. In putting her own mental health first in this manner, Simone has garnered more media attention than those athletes who competed at world class level and won medals. So rarely do we hear of the psychological struggles of sports personalities and celebrities, that the very idea of someone putting their own mental health first, above fame, success and potential accolades, is normally unheard of in the mainstream media.

Similarly, within heathenry, there is a similar lack of information regarding mental health. Looked at in a particular way, heathenry doesn't measure up very well in how it deals with mental health. Role models are strong vikings, brosatru and heroes from the eddas and sagas. None of whom, to my knowledge, overtly discuss their struggles with self image, or their concerns whether they are doing the right thing. Female role models fare no better. The expectation being they will be strong sheild-maidens, with fiery personalities and unshakeable confidence.

Thankfully, the reality of the average heathen is very different. Those people who have been brave enough to admit confidence issues, misgivings or inner turmoil usually meet genuine support and advice - in the groups to which I belong. Were I enrolled in any of the more folkish or brosatru groups, then my personal experience with this might be very different.

There can be a lot of pressure to socialise as a heathen. After all, I've said myself that heathenry is all about community, yes? Well, yes, but that doesn't mean a heathen has to force themselves into real world social situations with which they aren't yet comfortable. Being a solitary heathen is perfectly valid. I was one myself for the longest time - and still err toward staying at home most of the time. Historically, Berserkers were usually left to their own devices as they had a tendency to react violently in inappropriate situations. An extreme example, perhaps, but arguably a historic example of heathens being left alone when they needed space.

Personally, I'd like to see/hear examples of heathen heroes struggling with their mental health. Or, at least, presenting something other than unshakeable confidence all the time. The Vikings tv series had some moody moments of staring into the distance. But this never seemed to evolve into dealing with mental health as an issue. More simply to make the characters seem edgy, brooding or interesting.

Please comment, if you come across any heathen interest stories with characters that deal with mental health. Preferably in a positive way, but negative examples could also be good for discussion.

Pre-Vikings Vikings in the media. Or, stuff that influenced young me to become the Heathen I am today

2021-07-30T07:21:00.003-07:00

Having just witnessed the phenomena that is the Vikings tv series on Amazon Prime Video, I thought I'd create a list of Viking and Heathen shows that pre-date streaming services. In some cases by quite a few years. In this list, I include shows that reference Vikings, the Viking Age or simply have some kind of aesthetic appeal to the average, modern heathen. In no particular order:

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

Hagar the Horrible was a comic strip that appeared in the newspaper when I was a kid. There were also trade paperbacks available and, if I recall correctly, I may have seen him on tv now and again.

Quite funny at times, and may be of interest to older kids. Younger kids less so, as some of the humour is quite grown up - not rude, so much as the target market for the humour seems to be young adults, parents, et cetera.

VICKY THE VIKING

Vicky the Viking was the rather androgenous star of a kids' tv cartoon show. Not sure it ever found its own slot on tv, but would appear at random times on the schedule - usually during the summer holidays. Plot was pretty simple. Vicky was a clever kid whose ideas and plans would get the mostly moronic viking friends out of trouble. Very good for kids of all ages. I enjoyed this well into my teens - although tv was a lot more limited back then.

NOGGIN THE NOG

My personal favourite (hence the emphasis), Noggin the Nog was created by Oliver Postgate who was responsible for many of my favourite childhood animations. Essentially, Noggin's tales are at first glance, stark, dreary tales of a hard life in the far north. In many ways it is as though Ingmar Bergman descided to turn his hand to children's shows. Very minimalist and reminiscent of the tales of the Eddas and Lays of which we are all familiar. But there is a childlike wonder and magic in these stories, too. I really can't oversell these and I count my love of his show as the first sign of the heathenry I'd later recognise in myself as an adult.