/r/heathenry
In recognizing that Heathenry has diversified away from Ásatrú, this space has been given over to explore and comprehensively develop modern Heathenry and its relevant aspects.
A subreddit to discuss the reconstructed religions of the Germanic tribes. See our Mission Statement for more information.
r/Heathenry and the discord server Skíðblaðnir have officially joined together for chatting in real time with other Heathens. Be aware of a small rules variance between this subreddit and the channel.
Confused how to begin? Don't be afraid to post! However, The Longship is an excellent primer and website for new and beginning Heathens or curious onlookers to read up on.
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Rules that visitors must follow to participate. May be used as reasons to report or ban.
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/r/heathenry
I am starting to pray to thé allfather Odin an i am starting to worship heathenry more
Once upon a time there was a royal couple who ruled over a large area; they were well-versed in magic; even the Elements were their subjects. His name was Woud, and hers was Freid. The king was a powerful man with a long, flowing beard, and his eyes were so fiery that the humans who looked into them turned blind. He usually walked naked, only his waist was clad; his waist garment was fastened with a cast belt buckle to which his ruling power was tied—as long as he wears it, he will rule. However, one cannot steal it from him, for his hips and shoulders are so broad that the belt cannot be pulled over them. Every time he went about the business of ruling, he put on a coat which covered him completely.
His queen consort was the most beautiful woman ever seen; like her husband, she wore a waist garment, but her hair was so rich and long that she could cover herself with it entirely. She drank only water from a well; her husband, some kind of wine. When she bent over the well to scoop water into her hand, her hair shone in the light of the sun and her arms as snow.
However, she grew jealous; she feared that she no longer satisfied her fiery husband. In a fit of passion, she went to see the skilled dwarves. They fashioned a necklace for her which had the power to turn the hearts of all toward the bearer and made the beloved never waver in his loyalty. However, as payment, she had to give herself to the dwarves.
Adorned with the jewels, she captivated her husband’s love. He learned, however, at what price she had acquired the jewellery. Thereupon he fled from her. When Freid awoke in bed in the morning, she reached out her arms for her husband. He was not there; when she quickly reached to her neck, the necklace was gone. Sad beyond words, she began to burn with love for Woud more than ever. She rushed after the fugitive, travelling to many countries over the course of many years. When she sat down in the evening, weary from the journey, she cried into her lap, and each of the tears turned into a precious pearl.
At last, when the time came to an end, she encountered him and told him her woes and showed him the pearls that she had cried for him. And he counted the pearls and there were as many as there were jewels in the necklace. Thereupon he softened and gave her the jewels in reconciliation. He had travelled far and wide, but had found no other equal to her in beauty, so he remained faithful to her.
Franz Xaver von Schönwerth, The Legend of Woud and Freid, Bavarian folktale, collected in Aus der Oberpfalz - Sitten und Sagen Vol. 2 (1858)
-Wyrd- to my understanding
Weird innit? Yes it is actually. Wyrd is Weird. Not even that long ago in the 16th century, weird related to fate, what will come to be. It only changed narrative due to a Shakespear play where the word became associated with strange-supernatural. Before that Weird was still holding its original germanic meaning of the concept of Wyrd.
Proto Germanic Root: Wurthiz Still recognisable in German and Dutch-Flemish as Worden-Werden (to become-were -> were is also cognate)
This also attestst that wyrd was not a fixed concept, it was ever growing and expanding like a massive climbing plant or weed twisting and growing everywhere. The very fact that Wyrd lived on in the word weird and were must be the result of strong beliefs and a central important role just like we can see placenames linked to important deities. Yet so little heahtens seem to know about the workings of wyrd and its place as a core principle in the workings of daily life such as frith, kin and the concepts of luck and honor.
Wyrd connects everything. Every decision, step, meeting, deed, it all transpires into wyrd where it takes form of threads that weave its way in a complex tapestry only visibly to the Norns. The only thing that we cannot weave ourselfs is our ultimate fate, that is set in our thread by the norns. Along our way we weave a pattern that connects. When making a new friend, you connect wyrd with him. If that person acts with honor, then your own wyrd will benefit from their honor. Honorable deeds can gift luck to a person. Luck is considered the greatest possible gift. It did not mean the same as we today see luck, a lucky person was someone with great stamina, skills, confidence, insights, battlespeed, a great speaker, well connected, intelligent, etc. Such luck could be gifted by connecting one's wyrd.
Looking at the values of words, we know how important the runes are and we probably know of the sayings in Havamal that advice you to hold your mouth if you have nothing intelligent to say. A curse could have serious consequences. Also a wishing of luck was literally a gift. A spoken word could transit its power and value into wyrd, into the spiritworld where it could materialize. Speaking bad of a person could therefore affect that persons wyrd and break down his luck and honor. His future could depend upon this because in tribal times your word was all you really had. We know honor was a family thing, if one person was offended, then the entire family was offended. Even if the furthest cousin you did not like, would take it up to defend that honor because the entire family wyrd depended on it.
So if you called a person your 'brother', this meant that you tied the wyrd of your family with that persons and henceforth, your family would have to stand up and engage in combat to defend the honor of said 'brother'. Wyrd was tied, the fylgja spirits would connect in the spiritworld. This is why many refrain from calling anyone brother or sister. Its not the way from the core principle of the culture.
Honor will transpire on your kin and the people that connected. Also in death. A person of great luck will continue to gift his luck even in death. People would sleep on the burial mound of ancestors with great luck and honor, to receive inspiration or messages that they could benefit from. To tie wyrd. For the spirits of the dead can follow the threads of wyrd and observe our honor and luck today, and gift to it. We all remember the visiting of our ancestors every year in Yule time, to check if we are acting worthy of their honor.
This brings forth an interesting question;
What happens to our honor and luck when we decide to venerate Loki, the fated destroyer of our realm, enemy of the Æsir on Ragnarok according to the Edda?
What happens if we use runes of which we do not know its individual values and read or carve them with the intent of taking decisions or to affect our future?
What happens if you tie yourself to people you hardly know and state they are family?
At the roots of the world tree, pillar of our universe of existence, the Shapers, the Sisters of Wyrd, weave the fibres of life and tie up fate. As these fibres grow they bend, buckle, twist and turn with every branch, cut or knot on its way, every fibre connects to every other and the fluids of the well run through them all and he end of every fibre awaits a concluding. Make yours a fertile fruit or a strong branch.
#belgianheathenheritage #heathenheritage #germanicheathenry #heidendom
https://www.reddit.com/r/germanicheathens/comments/1gbf0m6/germanic_goddesses_of_fate/
Cross-posting as I think the folks here may appreciate this.
It's a fairly short video webinar by Stephen Pollington.
Hello!
I read on TheTroth website in their section on blot on the new modern vs classic.
For background: I am a solitary heathen, but for many years have found it difficult to practice honoring the gods, spirits, ancestors and departed loved ones. On the side, I have practiced Magick and meditation. So, I am familiar with Greek magical papyri (pgm) style. And the classic blot, for me, just feels too close in line. Absolutely support others engaging the gods as they wish, but it isn’t for me. My hot take: possibly a synchronization of Christian purification ritual even seems closer to what may have been practiced than other neopagan/hermeticistic approaches (I.e. addressing in the fashion of the Lord’s Prayer (pater noster) rather than calling in the corners) the PGM has influenced a lot of new age and grimoiric practice. All of which were a synchronization with early Christianity anyways.
The “new modern approach”, well I’m eager to try it. With the idea of ritual washing of the hands and face, hallowing with fire in a brazier, etc feels more religious practice vs. private spellcrafting given my background.
All this to ask:
Thank you all
Are there still any of thé visdom teas that thé seers used to give to warriors and they Saw thé visions in which they talked to thé gods and our ancestors
I know that this group is meant for more serious questions and topics,however I have a question.
I am still kinda new to all of this ,but is it me or as winter comes I feel closer to the gods and almost as though the gods are closer too. Or is it just me🤣.
Does anyone here play roller derby? I'm a newer skater (been skating for about a year) and I've been finding that I'm connecting deeper with my Gods as i dig into the aspects of the sport. Freyja has been with me as i learn to play (it very much feels like battle sometimes) and Tyr when I referee. I tend to go through intense spiritual fallow periods when my personal life is a mess, but derby has been bringing me back to what matters most and I'm curious if there are any other players here who incorporate their faith into the sport. Thanks!
Looking for fellow Heathen’s or kin to be part of to learn more and meet others as well.
I am still going about my path but wanted some adadvice from those who have been at it longer. Obviously information and sources are always welcome but I am wanting more advice that would help on a personal level. Like, what is something you wish you heard when you started out? Thanks to anyone who has advice and words of woswisdom to offer.
4 how to pray?
Hi everyone! I have read some posts about beards being a part of our faith, I wonder where this comes from. Maybe I’m overlooking some sources on this, but nothing springs to mind about beards and the religion specifically.
As for myself, I am still doubting growing my beard as I don’t like the association with vikings. But if it is a part of our practice, then that can help me in my decision.
Welcome to our weekly r/Heathenry Discussion & Questions thread! If you want to share something Heathenry-related or ask a question about Heathenry, but don't want to make a whole thread about it, then share or ask it here!
New to Heathenry? Then check out the stickied Statement of Purpose post to learn what this subreddit is all about. Also, please check out the resources in the sidebar, especially The Longship, our beginner's guide.
Finally, feel free to join our Discord server.
Still have questions? Ask them below!
Does anyone know anything about Swiss paganism or Germanic my roots come from Switzerland Ireland and Wales
It took 10 months and a handful of memos and letters of recommendation, but the army authorized me to grow a beard. I know it's not required for heathenry, but it does hold spiritual significance to me.
Ive been on the path for a while now but tonight was not only my first blot, but apart from dawning an oath ring was really my first expression of my faith. Definitely is the first I’ve really involved my family in my spirituality despite this being a part of my life for as long as it’s been now. I feel like tonight I’ve grown immeasurably in my spirituality and am so happy and thankful to have found and come down this road in my life. Thank you to my fellow heathens, thank you to my family, thank you to my Ancestors, and thank you great Gods!
After recently rededicating to the Anglo-Saxon path, I decided to do a small offering to Ingui Frēa and the Fae, to ask for blessings for the winter to come and thanksgiving for all the good they do for us. Traditionally In the past, I have synchronised Winterfylleth and Samhain but it felt right to do a little something today as seperate holidays. Thinking going forward in my pratice that for Winterfylleth I will do what I did today and for Samhain will make offerings to my ancestors and Woden. Thought It would be nice to share and people may get encouragement!
How did you guys build relationships with the gods?
If you observe... Have a Happy and Safe Winterfylleth!
For the past couple months, I've taken a short break from lighting Loki's candle. I've not only been busy, but whenever I want occupied with something else, I simply didn't have the motivation to light their candle at all.
I'm going to try to pray more often, and then light his candle again, but I don't know if he'll be angry or annoyed at me or not. I was kinda going through getting back into the routine of school again, but I'm still worried he's disappointed or something, I don't know.
Hello, with Álfablót coming up (in the northern hemisphere) and I wanted some suggestions on how I can properly do my first ritual. I would be limited to just me since my housemates are not pagans themselves. And I don't really have any groups around me to turn to for help.
Found this cat statue in a thrift store and was immediately drawn to it and thought of Freyja, I love it so much! Not sure if it’s kind of tacky but I don’t really mind I hope she likes it!
Welcome to our weekly r/Heathenry Discussion & Questions thread! If you want to share something Heathenry-related or ask a question about Heathenry, but don't want to make a whole thread about it, then share or ask it here!
New to Heathenry? Then check out the stickied Statement of Purpose post to learn what this subreddit is all about. Also, please check out the resources in the sidebar, especially The Longship, our beginner's guide.
Finally, feel free to join our Discord server.
Still have questions? Ask them below!
I am still new to the practice but I hate that the more I learn about the titles and practices there is always a site that turns out to be undercover white supremacy. Like starting out I was liking the term "Ásatrú" and was practicing trying to say it right. But I learned about the "Asatru Folk Assembly" which just turned me from the title entirely. Now I have switched to saying I am a Norse Pagan or Norse Polytheist. Which is fine and even easier on the tongue. But why does it always feel like white supremacist get roots in everything? I left the church because I am waiting for them to use the religion to spread white supremacy in mass. Hell there are already groups that use the faith to hurt others. I just... I hate that I still feel like a symbol I find comfort in can still be used/seen as a hate symbol by others.
In the United States, we don’t really have true Heathen temples. I’m aware we have one in California, and a few scattered up North. But for the heathens who are yet to experience a temple as I have. It’s a huge problem for us, it makes it much harder for people to stay a solo practitioner when it’s such a community based faith. I’m just curious, really, just drafting up some sketches of what I’d want in a temple. So I ask you, Heathens of Reddit, if you had a temple in your area; what would you want to see in it? Large compound or small? Multiple buildings or just the one? Recreational activities?
Does anyone worship Mimir? I was looking up Mimir worship and didn't really find anything.
Hi all!
So I generally take time to think and feel my way through what I believe from time to time and the one perspective I generally don’t hear from when it comes to deconstruction is the ex atheist side of things.
I came into this from atheism, and that’s a pretty unusual path. I noticed even though I had held no God belief I still held preconceived notions of deity and the divine, largely from culture and pop culture.
So I ask this, who has done this deconstruction work? I want to kind of get a framework of what other people have gone through. I struggle with believing the Gods and spirits are real, but they inspire me. They say something to my heart. That’s all I’ve got to go on. Is this enough or do I need to keep at it?