This should put a lot of thoughts in peoples heads, very well said! I’ve always been big on the idea that everyone is free to practice their faith how they see fit, and like you said, based off the needs of their tribe or family, even if we all believe the same gods and stories, etc… Isn’t that a part of what being a pagan is about? I think that’s part of what makes our community so great, is that we can change up our practices a bit based off our needs. It doesn’t change what we believe in. And there’s no one set way to do everything. That’s my thoughts on the matter. Keep up the great work Göthi Bödvarr!
Gothi I have to say that this IS the fundamental argument made in any faith. Yet to be in heathen practice, there are those that claim Eclectic being personal experience based. Verses the historical or Reconstructionist based. Even in Christianity, you have Ecclesiastic which are those of principle or doctrine, and finally Restorationist which look to restore the original traditions. The difference is well 🌈WOKE🌈 politics and some Wicca practitioners tend to try to define "what is" heathenry. When Wicca has roots to Allister Crowley, Robert Graves, and finally Gerald Gardner. Even those of the political heathenry want to call tribes, clans, covenants and worship Odin as Racist/Facist bigots. It really tears me up because I consider myself a Wanderer by practice, a Chronicler by faith, and finally a Galdr/Runic Ulfhedinn by belief. I am the guy that travels the roads few dare to tread, because I know my Hugr, my Hamr, and my Ond. You don't need drugs or even be psychic to understand instinct, reflex, and reaction to a primal level. The thing is not falling to deep into Od and become feral. I know something about that. Walking both Ymir and Adumula. Chaos and Order, Fire and Ice/Mist.
Paganism, particularly Norse, is very much a community focused religion so it makes sense that the practices of the community conform to their needs, values, traditions, and population. One of the great appeals of Paganism to me is that there's no wrong way to practice (there's illegal and immoral ways, but I wouldn't say wrong)
I would say no because UPG (unverified personal gnosis) was never meant to refer to historical anachronisms and is more so about when you encounter something while interacting with a deity that is unattested historically. For instance, if someone has a visitation of Hermes and Hermes seems to like citrus in those visions, one could say that it is possible that Hermes likes citrus as an offering in particular. That's an unverified personal gnosis. Now, if you were to say, "Wouldn't trying to make a universally applied Heathenry be ahistorical?" the answer would of course be yes. We can easily surmise this just by looking at any other Polytheistic culture (both ancient and contemporary) and noticing that there are always localized traditions even down to the family level. For instance, in the Hellenistic era among the Greeks, we even see epithets of Gods being used by individual families. So yes, even without looking at historical Heathenry, we can already assume it would be absolutely strange for it to be a monolith
i feel like reconstructionism is best when it takes modern society into account. i've seen this analogy that describes pagan history as a cascading domino chain that got interrupted. reconstructionism doesn't seek to reset the old dominoes, but start the chain again further down the line - that reconstructionism tries to predict how methodologies would have developed into today. personally, i lean slightly toward reconstructionism but i wouldn't shy away from a spiritual experience that doesn't quite match what i've studied
I agree with you, I think that predicting where it would be now and picking it up there is the best way to get our path back on track. I also think that if it (norse paganism) had been left alone it would probably have evolved quite a bit, just as every other ancient pathway has evolved. So the efforts to keep the practice in the "viking age" are counter productive and fruitless for our modern lifestyle. Although I do enjoy the occasional period garb and era specific acoutramounts, I think we can all agree that we lead a very different lifestyle with diffrent relationships to the gods and the world around us.
I'm gonna further that hypothetical. Would that include those heathens who also celebrate the Celtic side of the house like Beltane and imbolc while celebrating freyfaxi and walpurgisnacht? This would make the most sense if your community was made up of heathens and pagans who honor both Norse and celtic. Now, I will further this hypothetical and ask, is this too strange of a concept to accept? My answer is that this is probably more common than we realize. I would love to hear your two cents on this.
I think people are too wrapped up in what other people do in their own practice. I dont know if it is because if feels like an attack on their personal practice or because they are looking for some validation. My friend Eric word weaver says "not my hall, not my call." I think that is one of the most historically accurate statement in all of heathenry. Not sure if that addresses your question but you can hit me up on discord and we can chat more about it. discord.gg/YCrDERYF2s
@northwoodskindred that nails it in the head. I ask this question is I've traveled and seen how other kindreds and groups conduct their business. What I've noticed being the common factor is that the leadership in said groups would focus more on the environment on the group is in. I.e. the south, for example, has the struggle of the Bible belt even though there is a slew of pagans and heathens there, but most are not open due to their environment. Now, as far as Alaska, where I'm based out of, we are very open about it. However, many Alaskans come from all over the country thanks to the military, and the main struggle is where the focus shall be when it comes to rituals and what-not. So it's not uncommon for a group meetup or a blot to have people from heathens, pagans, Wiccan, etc, due to the harsh environment that Alaska provides and doesn't provide. So, in short, community is essential for survival. Long winded, I know, but I do enjoy talking about heathenry.
Does god have a watch? Are the gods aware of the passage of time? If so, do they have trends over time? Do they listen to the same music from their day or are they like: Hey, check out Heilung!
No, not at all. By definition a UPG uses a personal spiritual experience that cannot become a generalizing statement among peers. For example if I meditate on Freyja, and I come back to my group as say "I had a divine visit from Freyja, and she tells me this group might be the whote raven!" That would be UPG. Because it only includes a certain group of people with a particular, usually positive or beneficial destiny. Then that would give that group license to exert their ego on on tribes because they believe they are the White Raven. It's like a self generating machine. What it is, truly, is Ego run amok. So no, if someone lives based on the letter of the Lore, they are still practicing heathenry, and they are not a UPG. This is a very dangerous mind game, because by assuming people who think differently than you do are a particular thing and therefore wrong, you are also a UPG from their perspective.
I am assuming nothing and I am not labeling anyone. It is simply a thought experiment to get people thinking that everyone does things a bit differently now and in historically, and we should be cautious about the labels that we throw out. Almost any "weapon" or label can be turned against the accusor with a little word play.
I think the Gods don't care how you go about worshiping them. Take a look at christianity and you'll see a ton of different ways (Baptist, Mormon, Catholic, Lutheren, Pentacostal etc.) that 'fits them' to worship 'one' god. Just don't piss the Gods off and you'll be fine!
I would not agree with that statement. Hate and intolerance is not our way, rather it is from from the far left or the far right. All I can say is that they have the "legal" right to be as douchey as they want, only because this is America. Anytime any group tries to dictate how and who can practice, they have severely missed the point. The AFA has been missing the point since their inception. They talk a good game of empowerment to Northern European decendants, they reach people that have been backed into a corner by racial intolerance from the fringes of society. It is all part of a skillful manuplation of peoples frustrations. It is a clever con, started by a silver tongued racist.
@@northwoodskindred if heathenry is tribal, then They're practice is as valid as yours and mine. To suggest otherwise is to suggest that heathenry is actually NOT tribal. It is to suggest that there is an orthopraxy.
@@crushinnihilism I didn't say that thier personal practice isnt valid, even if bloodlines are their cornerstone. But to con the community and recruit members by exploiting social inequalities is destructive and has little to do with the practice. It is a con masqurading as a religion. As far as AFA is concerned, by McNallen's own admission, he structured it after the Catholic church because it would seem familiar to people. That sounds like a blueprint for a hustle, right out of the gate.
@@northwoodskindred i agree it seems like a con. Theres IS an argument for modeling one's practice off something that works. Even the Christians took inspiration from Plato and Aristotle. So, we Pagans could do that. These days the church isnt doing so hot. It hasnt adapted to our times. I personally think the global inclusiveness is an even bigger con masquerading as a religion. Pretending to be Heathens when really they're progressive leftist political hacks wearing hammers because its anti Christian. Both groups bother me
