Heathenry: Musings

I've spent some time over the past week or so thinking about heathery.  More specifically,  what does it mean to be heathen?

What is it that defines a person as heathen.  If I am said to be heathen, what does that say about me?

Judging by what can be found on the Internet, these questions are easy to answer.  Often certain traits of people from the viking age are cited as being valued by the modern heathen.

Honesty, self reliance, honour, courage and fortitude are among the usual suspects.  The problem is that none of these traits appear to be in evidence for the vast majority of contemporary heathens that have chosen to give themselves a voice online.

The solution?  Perhaps just evidencing any of those traits in my day to day life.

Be the heathen that heathens claim to be...

Combatting Christian influence upon pagan children

While on holiday last week, my family were staying with my sister in law and her two kids (daughter and son). My daughter near idolises her two cousins. She loves it when they are around and likes nothing better than to play with them (just like I was with my cousins). Nothing could be more natural really.

We were taking a break at the flat where we were staying, resting before heading out again in the evening for a meal. My four year old daughter had a conversation with her cousins (who were at least around twice her age) that went something like this:

Cousin 2: "Freyja, do you believe in Jesus?"

Freyja: "Sheldon does..." (Sheldon is her tortoise hand puppet)

Cousin 2: "Do you believe in god?"

Freyja: "Sheldon does..."

Cousin 2: "But, do you believe in god, Freyja?"

Freyja: "No."

Cousin 2: "How can you not believe in god? He made you..."

Freyja: "I have a god book, that Daddy gave me..."



And there the conversation ended. The books she is referring to is D'Aulaires' Book Of Norse Myths - a book I bought her when she was born so I could read her some stories from Norse mythology and, hopefully, get her interested in Vikings and, by extension, heathenry. The book is really a little too old for her, being better suited for kids say 8 - 12 years in age - but the illustrations alone make it a valuable purchase.

I really am very proud of my daughter for being able to stand up against the (unintentionally) evangelical logic of a child twice her age. I am also touched that she seems to have taken the stories I have read her to heart and that she seems to use them as a reference source for the subject of gods.

I am concerned, though, that this kinda thing might happen again. If I witness a similar scene in future, I might feel the need to mention to my sister in law that I am not comfortable with her kids passing the christian perspective they learn from the faith school they attend onto my daughter.

In turn, though, I don't want to proselytise too much about heathenry in turn. Her kids being brought up christian really is no skin off my nose. Heathenry is really the kind thing that you need to seek out for yourself, if you feel it might be right for you.

Another week away from home...

Enjoying a few days away in Whitby.

While I am a pagan through and through, it sometimes feels like my path takes a haitus too when I am on holiday.  The things I do that I consider to be 'pagan activities' have to take a break to some extent.  All I have left, really is my awareness, attitudes and worldview.

And, of course, I have my family here with me - what could be more heathen than that?

But perhaps, it was these things that remain during my week away from home that would have discerned the vikings (or nordic people, if you will) from the anglo saxons, celts or romans.  Just simply the beliefs and understanding.

Maybe that, beyond any activities or practices, is the important bit?

Heathenry: More than just a Viking religion?

Heathenry, heathenism, odinism, northern tradition - call it what you will. It rarely gets any exposure under its own merits. Whenever anyone new comes to heathenry, they are introduced to it as "The religion of the Vikings" or it is presented as some kind of warrior cult. Over the next few articles that I post here (some my own, some borrowed from other, more learned writers) I hope to alter that image. I want to present heathenry in clearer terms - at least, my version of heathenry.