Heathenry and bereavement

At the start of this year, my father died. It came as no great surprise - he was 86 and had suffered ill health for several months previous. However, it is never nice to lose close family, and they don't come much closer than your father.

Surprisingly, I found that heathenry helped give me strength at what was a trying, grief-ridden time. My knowledge of heathenry and the nature of my path meant that I appreciated that my father hadn't really gone anywhere. He was and is still present in myself, my brother and my sister. In true heathen style, we talk of him often and keep his memory alive - despite none of my family back in Lincolnshire actually being heathen.

I also noticed how many people came out of the woodwork, so to speak, to attend his funeral. Every last one of them said what a kind, simple man he was - and each seemed to have an anecdote to illustrate just the kind of man he had been. I found that very touching and the greatest possible affirmation that the most important thing that survives death is one's reputation.

I still think of him a lot, and miss him terribly. But now and then, I think of his having joined our ancestors and I still shares words with him, as I do with them. While there is little in the way of comfort in the heathen view of things, when a person dies, they are simply gone - joining our other honoured dead in the burial mound. However, there is a comfort to be had in the understanding of the way of things - old makes way for new.

Save me a space on the bench, Dad. See you later.

Back to the motherland

This weekend has been spent reconnecting with the Johnson, Malkinson & Connolly sides of the family back in Lincolnshire.  As well as my parents, we visited the new home of my sister an her family.  Today, we have my aunty & uncle over.

Sunday lunch will be consumed with the gusto I reserve for my Mam's cooking.

Then, a three hour drive home.

Potential new beginnings

Just enjoying a drop of wine (Chilean Pinot Noir for those for whom that kind of thing matters). Gave a little toast to Thor, too, as I have a job interview on Tuesday that would benefit from a little luck/divine assistance.

I am in work currently already - but my commute is long, busy and tedious and perhaps around two and a half hours of every work day are spent behind the wheel of my car. I would appreciate some of that time being spent with my family instead. Hence this interview being so important to me.

Regardless of whether I get this job or not, I know there will be some new start (at a new company?) on the horizon soon. Can't help feeling a bit like a viking. Waging my future and my reputation on a risky enterprise (whether that is sacking a foreign land or switching to a new job).

Family

Family, kin, call it what you will. We are due something of a family day today. There is to be a fayre at Freyja's school. So, lots of Daddy-time will be logged today.

It is times like this that I feel most heathen.