thatwaywardwolf

[thatwaywardwolf]

What is Norse Heathenry?

Norse Heathenry is a contemporary pagan spirituality derived from the beliefs, customs, superstitions, and folklore of the pre-Christian Norse people. It is one of a few different kinds of Heathenries, which include Slavic Heathenry and Teutonic (Germanic) Heathenry.

The word "heathen" means "of the heaths." However, it's not a word the Old norse people themselves used. They didn't have a word for their spiritual belief system, as they didn't distinguish this from all other aspects of their lives. Rather, "Heathen" was coined by Christian writers to refer to Scandinavian pagans (this is also why it's sometimes used interchangeably with the word "heretic").

Nowadays, Norse Heathenry is referred to by many names, which reflects different developing iterations of it. Amongst these names are Norse Paganism, Asatru, and Forn Sidr / Forn Sed.

Where does Norse Heathenry come from?

Norse Heathenry comes from the Nordic countries of Europe: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. These places are also known as the homelands of the vikings. But despite their shared origins, Norse Heathenry is not the religion of the vikings. This very large misconception has a very long, complex history behind it, owed to a combination of commercialization and fascist tampering. The Heathenry we see in America is extremely muddied from these influences. Fortunately, we now have the means to disambiguate it, thanks to increasingly accessible cultural exchange.

The following explanation is a product of ongoing anthropological, theological, and cultural research, in combination with what we know about the historical.

Norse Heathen Beliefs

Unlike organized religions, Norse Heathenry is (and has always been) a decentralized belief system. This means it has no universal doctrines, no orthopraxy or orthodoxy, no holy texts, and no religious figurehead governing it. When you hear people say "There's no 'right' way to practice Heathenry," this is generally what they're referring to.

However, Norse Heathenry does have a distinct way of thinking about and viewing the world, and it's very different from what we usually see here in the US. If you're feeling stuck trying to figure out how to "do Heathenry," this would be why.

Animism

A staple of Norse Heathen epistemology is Animism.

Usually, Animism is defined as the belief that all things have a spirit or vital essence to them. But this is only one definition of many, and not the definition that applies here.

The Norse concept of Animism is "the awareness that all things are part of an interdependent ecosystem." This changes how we engage with everything around us. We understand that when we interact with the forces of this world, they will interact back on their own merit. Our relationship with all things is a social one, and we're not spectators in our environment, but active participants at all times.

This stands is stark contrast to the way the USAmericans typically view the world: As a landscape to either test or be tested by, with the forces of the world acting as the means through which this is done.

Additionally, there's no separation between the sacred and the profane.

Immanence

Faiths that focus on spiritual ascension, enlightenment, or attaining a good afterlife are known as transcendent faiths.

While Norse Heathenry has some transcendent elements, it's ultimately an immanent belief system, which means its focus is on living life for the sake of living, as opposed to living life to receive a good afterlife. A good afterlife is already guaranteed.

(Some Heathens may strive for a specific kind of afterlife, however, which do have certain conditions for accessing. But these are elective rather than required, and different as opposed to superior. It's all a matter of preference, at the end of the day.)

The Norse Gods

Many people are already familiar with the Norse gods, such as Thor, Odin, Loki, and Freyja, but not many people are familiar with how they operate as gods.

In Hellenism and Religio Romano, the gods are divine lords who preside over different domains of society. It's a reflection of what the ancient Greeks and Romans highly valued in their civilizations: Law and political/civic involvement.

In Norse Heathenry, however, gods don't operate in a lordship capacity. Instead, they're more like celebrities in that they're celebrated figures everyone knows about.

While they don't rule over one thing or another, the Norse gods often act as allegorical representations of worldly phenomena. Thor is to thunderstorms as Loki is to "random-chance odds." SIf is to wheat-fields as Odin is to the old wandering beggar. Frey and Freyja represent masculine and feminine principles, Skadi the driven snow and foggy winter, and so on. The gods exist as worldly experiences inasmuch as they exist as ideas.

Lastly, but importantly, the Norse gods don't distribute rewards or punishments in accordance with on one's actions or deeds, nor do they tell us how we ought to live our lives. The way they interact with us depends on our individual relationships with them, which can be just as diverse as the ones we have with each other.

Myths & Folklore

What people often refer to as the "Norse Myths" are stories found in two old Icelandic texts called the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda. These texts are special because they're the oldest and largest collection of tales featuring the Norse deities.

However, these texts represent just one region's period-specific interpretation of Norse folklore. They also only represent a fraction of the tales that still circulate within Nordic oral traditions, so not only are they not "canon" in the usual sense of the word, they're also just a sample.

This is all to say that Norse Heathenry doesn't have a hard body of mythology. It certainly has a defined one, but its definition is built from local legends, fairy tale humor, songs, customs, superstitions, and family folklore in addition to what survives on runestones and parchment. The corpus of Heathenry is very much a living, breathing thing.

Spirits

Norse Heathenry recognizes a wide variety of different beings, the likes of which can be found all around us. Some of these beings are like how we typically imagine spirits, in that they're incorporeal or otherwordly, while others are physical but may play tricks on you so you can't see them.

Like many things pertaining to Heathenry, there isn't a universally-shared classification system for Norse beings. But generally-speaking, beings are defined by their natures and the manner in which they relate to the rest of the world, rather than their morphology. For example, Trolls can take the appearance of rocks, trees, and also living people, but they can also be incorporeal spirits. This is all, however, the same kind of Troll, rather than being different types of trolls.

This is also why the lines between "spirit", "god," and "ancestor" can become very blurry at times. In English use, these are all typically labeled under the category "vaetter." Sometimes "wight" is used to refer to spirits of various types, but isn't often used to refer to gods.

Typically, the way people interact with spirits entirely depends on what kind of spirit they're dealing with, as well as their disposition towards human beings. Some spirits may enjoy a personal relationship, while others are best when left unbothered.

Values & Morality

Because Norse Heathenry has no doctrine and is immanent in nature, it has no fixed value system. Just like the stories were decentralized, so were the Norse people's values.

This is a feature as opposed to a flaw, and a fact as opposed to a theory. But it also has a habit of making Americans very uncomfortable.

For this reason, Heathens sometimes choose to construct their own value system to observe as part of their practice. But what those values are is up to each individual, and individual community, if applicable.

Anyone claiming Norse Heathenry has a universal value system is either new to Heathenry, or selling something.

Veneration

Heathen veneration is not just limited to gods, but also includes ancestors and even certain kinds of spirits, such as nisse/tomte.

Like most things in Norse Heathenry, what, who, and how a Heathen chooses to venerate is their choice to make. One popular observance across the globe is to craft altars, shrines, or similar sacred spaces for the entities one venerates. If a Heathen lives in a house that has a nisse (similar to a gnome), they might leave porridge (with butter) by the hearth for him, and he'll in turn bless the house with good luck and fortune.

Oftentimes, relationships with entities are very interpersonal. Heathenry's animistic and immanent nature means entities are rarely cold and distant, including the gods.

Misconceptions!

A list of misconceptions off the top of my head:

The practice known as 'Odinism' is an invention of the Germanic Volkish movement, which was the social precursor to Nazi Germany. This is also, unfortunately, the first kind of "heathenry" to be brought to the US, back in the 1970's. It was spread through the country via one of the fastest-moving networks at the time: The US prison system.

The Black Sun is a Nazi symbol, not a Heathen one.

No, Norse Heathenry is not a closed practice.

No, you don't have to have Scandinavian heritage to practice Norse Heathenry. Blood quantum is not a thing.

The rune alphabets are old, but the method of runecasting is new.

So is the use of magical bindrunes.

Bindrunes are also different from Galdrastafir. The latter is actually a form of Jewish-Christian-Norse syncretism and needs to be taught orally since it's a mystery tradition. You can still slap the Helm of Awe on things and look cool about it though.

Norse Heathenry is not the same as being a viking, and Norse Heathens are not vikings. However, some Heathens partake in viking reenactment as an extension of their practice.

There's no good or bad gods in Norse Heathenry. All the gods are capable of great good and great bad, just like people. They're fallible, and that's what makes them relatable.

Odin and Loki aren't at odds with one another.

You don't need to wait for a god to pick you to start venerating them.

If you're interested in learning more about any of these in-depth, check out the website I've built on Norse Heathenry, located in my pinned post!

[thatwaywardwolf]

Life is continuing to life, but I'm still here.

I haven't been on Tumblr in a long time. I still have my "I ain't getting out of this chair" mentality, even if it just means coming by once or twice a month now with other things getting in the way. New job. New health issues. New interests. It's a bit to juggle.

Trying to feel connected to the gods and just nature with the state of the world has also been hard, but now that I have a break from work, I'm hoping I can spend some time just relaxing outdoors before the weather turns again. I don't know. Maybe those old feelings will come back, even if it's just recognizing them in the little things. Whose to say.

Anyway, I think I'm going to rest for now. Maybe I'll see you all later. Stay safe. Be excellent to each other.

[thatwaywardwolf]

Obnoxiously loooooooooooooooooooong photo to show off the updated thumbnails on me YouTubes

[thatwaywardwolf]

I made a bindrune for Deny, Defend, Depose that's easy to draw quickly on things like insurance paperwork. 🫀

For more info: Deny, Defend, Depose runic charm reference

[thatwaywardwolf]

Tomorrow is the day. It's here and the reports have been coming in that mass deportations are starting in Chicago this week.

I don't know how others are holding up, but I'm slowly losing my faith in the Gods. None of this should be happening and yet, here we are. We keep fighting and pushing, and we have nothing to show for it as fascism is decending globally.

No one is on our side. No one is coming. All of the work we've done with our blood, sweat, and tears have amounted to fucking nothing. I don't courage or motivation to fight for another tomorrow with or without my mjolnir. I want to see blue skies for David Lynch, but there's just a sea of nothingness as fascists win and we suffer.

I don't plan on coming back to Tumblr for a long time, if again. There's no point in building or rebuilding a community when nothing matters anymore. People voted for my existence to be fundamentally and systematically erased, so who cares what happens now. This isn't a call for a wellness check on me. This is just my send off.

[thatwaywardwolf]

Hi there, I wondered if you could tell me anything else about the Herðslustafir? The only real information I can find about it is in your excellent translation of the Huld manuscript, which contains the description "Strengthening symbols. Carry these symbols on your left chest, in order to strengthen up the mind." Do you know any more information about it? Does it appear in any other sources? Is the = symbol between the two part of it? Love the blog, by the way.

Herðslustafir / uppherða stafir

Here is an alternate version from an unknown author, dated a few years after the Huld manuscript version:

“These staves should be borne on the chest to strengthen the mind.”

The keywords Herðslustafir, herða upp and herðu all initially translate to the hardening of iron metal. Herða also is translated as “to cheer”, “to comfort” and “to hearten” although, these all imply action towards another person.

Hugann refers to the “mind, with the notion of thought”. Yet, it can also refer to a person’s “mood, heart, temper, feeling, affection” thus making it not entirely certain what the intended effect is.

This open interpretation allows the user to apply it broadly for uses ranging from steeling one’s resolve to lifting their mood.

As can be seen with this version, it does not include the “=“ in the middle, so in Huld it can be assumed it was added to show the two staves work side by side but is otherwise not part of the whole. The only other difference is a small vertical line, the purpose of which to me is unknown. All the rest of the design links strongly to the “three multiple”, heavily used in many Icelandic staves to enhance effectiveness. The text is pretty much the same although it omits the more specific “left chest”. 

I should add here that this version is supported in another manuscript dated 1868, scribed by the son of the man who created the Huld manuscript. That version differs from the above only by the placement of the small vertical on the upper horizontal line. Its text is identical to the Huld.

For those unaware of my Huld manuscript translation, you can find it on the Source page I’ve linked below.

[thatwaywardwolf]

Hey guys, BeitElbaraka is a Lebanese nonprofit that is currently working to provide basic necessities to the displaced people from southern Lebanon like food and mattresses. You can help by donating through their website (select South Lebanon Aid) and please spread the word. Israel had displaced well over 100,000 people in recent months and this number is only going to increase now.

[thatwaywardwolf]

Storehouse from Rofshus, Telemark (now at the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo)

When I visited this museum I was struck by the care and craftsmanship that had gone into making everyday, working buildings beautiful. This was a particularly lovely example.

[thatwaywardwolf]

Devotional/Prayer Poll

[thatwaywardwolf]

TRUMP CONVICTED!

[thatwaywardwolf]

a little a Ragnarök, as a treat ☀️🐺

[thatwaywardwolf]

Ok hi I have a question for any Norse pagans!! I’m primarily Norwegian ethnically and have felt a pull to take a closer look at Norse paganism after following Hellenic paganism for almost 7 years now, but I have no clue what resources are good or where to start. I truly don’t know much at all so beginner level resources would be really really appreciated. I know the community can unfortunately have huge bigotry issues so I figured asking instead of assuming and finding out I got wrong knowledge or biased knowledge might be best!! Thank you so much and may your days be bright!!

[thatwaywardwolf]

[[Image description: a banner with the Palestinian flag with overlaid text that reads "Heathens for Palestine."]]

Some Things We in the United States Can Do:

Contact your elected officials and demand the immediate halt of financial/military support to Israel, and a permanent ceasefire. Identify and contact your governor, congress members, senators, and the White House.

Donate to organizations like the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, World Central Kitchen, and others.

Amplify Palestinian voices. Reblog/retweet/share their content.

Attend rallies and protests if you are able to do so.

DO NOT LET THE MOMENTUM FADE.

Some Things We as Heathens Can Do:

Continuously challenge, and refuse to tolerate, Islamophobia anywhere but especially within heathen spaces.

Offer prayers to Freyja, Odin, Tyr, and Thor for the safety and victory of the Palestinian people.

Create bindrunes, rituals, or prayers that help you balance your anger with self-care. Fight the fight as much as you can, but know when it's time to recharge/regroup.

Hávamál 155: For the eleventh I know, if I have to lead my friends to battle, under their shields I sing, and with power they go safe to the fight, safe from the fight; safe on every side they go.

[thatwaywardwolf]

The more I examine the Norse Myths, the clearer it becomes which tales likely don't actually reflect the worldviews of the Norse people.

Like...there are a few tells. The first and most obvious is the fact a few stories were added/changed in order to make it seem like they are proto-versions of the stories found in Christian mythology (Ragnarok being analogous to Armageddon, Loki being portrayed as the Norse devil, etc).

But there are subtler things as well.

I'm beginning to notice there's a difference between the way stories present information. The function of some stories is to describe how something happened, whereas the function of others is describe what something is.

For example, it is said that Thor throwing down his hammer mjolnir on the heads of giants is what created the mountains and the valleys.

This is an example of a story that describes how something happened.

This stands in comparison to the story of Loki being bound beneath the earth. It's said earthquakes happen is because Loki is writhing from getting snake venom in his eyes.

This is an example of a story that describes what something is (in this case, what an earthquake is).

Now, it's really easy to think of these two stories as being identical, but the "tell" is that first story actually describes an event that can be witnessed: You can watch storms pass through the mountains and strike them with lightning. You cannot, however, see Loki punching and kicking beneath the ground.

Between the two belief systems, Christianity is the one that focuses heavily on describing worldly phenomenon through abstract concepts. We don't actually see this in most of the Norse stories, which are either for entertainment, or are an allegory for a felt experience.

I don't know, I'm just going to keep chipping away at this and see if it gets me anywhere, but I'm fascinated by this perspective so far.

[thatwaywardwolf]

storm over waves of wheat

[thatwaywardwolf]

Well, hey there, everyone. It's been a while.

This is sort of my quarter-yearly post to say I'm still here, just not super active on Tumblr in general these days. Life comes at you fast like that, I suppose.

I'm mostly just going through the motions and trying to get my life together as best as I can since it feels like it's being held together with tape and glue most days. I think I wanted to post this as a segway to say I might make my first offering in a while tomorrow. I haven't been able to do that due to having a rather mischievous cat who has taken a liking to my altar like my old boy did, which wouldn't be a problem if she didn't knock over some fragile pieces and making sure we swept up all the glass was a challenge.

The offering part would just be a way to get back in touch with the gods again, like seeing a friend for coffee. With how cold and rainy it's been, it can also be an additional way to put out some protection for the stray cats in my neighborhood and that they stay safe since one looks pregnant. I don't think I've shared much of my cannabis with Thor or the others before, so maybe that would be a nice addition.

The main thing though is hoping to seek support with all the health stuff going on. I won't delve into all the details, but things have gotten worse over the last few years as far as my chronic pain goes and I'm meeting with a physical therapist next week. I don't think I'll have a bad time, but it's just tough accepting that I need help and I'm more chronically ill than I think. I've been told if I end up needing a cane or mobility aid, it's less of a reason for our local medical assistance transport to deny me, which is nice, but still. Maybe I can add a mjolnir charm to it if it has a wrist strap. Who knows.

All of this update is to say that I'm down pretty bad, but I'm doing my best to manage and take things in stride. If it's not finding peace smoking in the rain, it's the corvid that like to hang around my neighborhood. If it's not that, it's feeling like I'm walking on air thinking about my friends. If it's not that, it's the stray cats who are trusting me more with leaving food and treats out for them.

It's absolutely exhausting some days, like today, but hey, you just have to keep truckin somehow. Anyhow, I hope everyone is staying safe and doing okay. If not, I hope things begin to look up for you soon.

[thatwaywardwolf]

this looks like the opposite of fun to me, to each their own tho