Pagan-Heathen blog centering on UK-based heathenry but also covering wider pagan issues and paths. The site's remit has now been broadened to cover European pre-Christian history and associated spirituality (historic and reconstructed).
First and foremost, though, it is a journal of my journey along my pagan path which is gradually evolving toward an animist perspective. The aim is to promote a positive society inspired by the pre-Christian and non-capitalist cultures of the past.
There is no denying that the United Kingdom based Heathen group
Asatru UK (AUK) has been remarkably active in the past few years. After
transitioning from being an online community to a bonafide in-person
organization, AUK has managed to coordinate the publication of several books as well as set up festivals and other live events. However, according to AUK chair Jack Hudson, much more is to come in the near future.
Of late, what was previously a minor annoyance has grated on my nerves and begun to irritate me beyond my tolerance. I am speaking of the "Vikingisation" of heathenry and other forms of nordic... well, nordic anything really. You can't express an interest in the history of Europe - northwestern Europe in particular - without someone bringing up the pesky raiders.
It has become abundantly clear that I am somewhat more viking-averse than a large proportion of heathens. Not for me the dressing up like Floki or Lagertha. Face paint doesn't make my heart flutter in anticipation of runic inscriptions across my less than angelic face. My personal brand of heathenry demands only civlian dress (often combats and a heavy metal band t-shirt) and my path is focused very much in the here and now.
The "viking age" gets way too much attention for what it is. A couple of hundred years in which some criminal-minded psychopaths decided to go stealing stuff from across the water. I appreciate the romanticised image of violence appeals to some people - but it's not like it's the only violent period in European history. Further, it's not even the most violent period. The crusades were pretty horrible. Innumerable wars have been fought in various places. What is so special about vikings? They wouldn't have looked like underwear models, like they do in certain popular tv shows. Spirituality existed prior to the viking age and evidence from the iron age and roman times arguably tell us more than evidence from the limited period in which those pirate raids were ongoing.
So, what I am half proposing to myself in my head, is to reduce the viking footprint in this site. Remove all reference to this as a "viking blog". That's not to say I won't mention vikings now and again. I won't forbid myself from referencing the viking age and its sources, either. But this will be a heathen/"pre-christian, indigenous European spirituality and culture" blog. Providing I can find a more catchy label.
Fear not, though! This will still be essentially my place to discuss heathenry, my path and everything else. The aesir and vanir, landvaettir and ancestors are as much a part of my path as they ever were. I'm just distancing myself from the whole "heathenry is the viking religion" fallacy.
When I was young, I lived in Lincolnshire. A very rural county, not really known too well outside of its borders for anything other than farming. Mostly arable farming, though I did live near many fields of (dairy) cows, a piggery and a turkey farm. Back then, I felt a really strong connection to the land. I appreciate my mature mind might well be embellishing this a little. After all, what did I know back then of spirituality or, indeed, the mundane world at large? I was a socially-awkward teenage boy who'd rarely ventured further than perhaps the 20 miles to the nearest market towns.
Back then, however, I did feel a certain connection to the land as something more than just "the area in which I lived". I felt a connection to the earth, where a good portion of the food I ate was grown. When I fell over and scraped my knees (as kids are wont to do), it was that same earth that my blood fell upon and soaked into. When my elder relatives died, it was the earth into which they were buried. Or, in some cases, it was the air around us into which their ashes scattered. As the descendant of farmers and farm workers, it was that same land that my ancestors had worked for generations. It felt like it was a part of my DNA.
Fast forwarding to the present day, I'm sitting in the spare bedroom of my house before a laptop, working from home. "The new normal", apparently. In my youth. I've tried re-engaging with some of the hobbies I used to enjoy. I've renewed my contact with old friends. But nothing quite seems to quell that feeling of something missing. Perhaps it is that connection to the land that I miss?
For my Year of Aun plans, I think I will focus upon rebuilding that connection to place that I felt as a boy. Albeit this time across the Pennines in the northwest. Lancashire is very similar to Lincolnshire it a lot of ways. Lots of hills and large city-sprawls notwithstanding.
(Taken from the Nordic Animism channel, with Rune Hjarno Rasmussen)
This is something that really resonates with me. Yule and Midsummer are the only real heathen events that my family and I voluntarily get ourselves embroiled in. We also often travel to Scandinavia (mostly, Stockholm) fairly often - or, we did. Thank you, global pandemic!
At first, I was thinking of wanting to get involved and immediately thought of arranging some family trip. Uppsala seemed to be a good choice. Then it occurred to me that international travel has not exactly been reliable, of late. Disappointing and something that still looms in my mind as we have been planning to spend Yule 2022 in Kiruna again. Just before the first lockdown, we managed to spend what would later be thought of as our best Yule ever at Camp Ripan in Kiruna, Lapland (Sweden).
These past few days, though, I have been thinking about The Year of Aun and I've changed my mind a little. I still very much want to get involved and help in whatever way I can. Now, though, I think it more important to have a lot of smaller scale, local events commemorating Aun at historical sites around the globe. Each celebrating in their own way in accordance with their own, local customs. Online, then, The Year of Aun might simply be a website or series of blogs containing media showing how each area has celebrated. Pictures, videos, articles or artwork all commemorating the rejuvenation of this most significant of heathen festivals.
Unfortunately, I am neither an academic nor an artisan. I can't really offer any knowledge or insight into the development of this idea. One lesson I have learned from my years spent identifying as a heathen is that there are a lot of people out there who know a Hel of a lot more about heathenry and its associated fields than do I. Similarly, other than occasionally bursting into song while in the shower, I really don't have an artistic bone in my body and my hands lack any practical skills at all. Because of this, it can feel quite hard to fathom what I can offer this project - other than enthusiastic moral support. If I figure that one out, I'll let you all know.
Though it has been 48 years and, to this very day, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! ;)
We passed a pretty sedate Yule. Hampered, as it was, by catching COVID a couple of weeks before. Still, we had a nice celebration with family and shared a drink with those we lost this year.
Covid lockdowns and family issues have kept me from updating this blog. Embarrassing, really, as I'd been harping on about how much more active I was going to be.
There's probably a stanza in the Havamal about not praising yourself before you've earned it. If there isn't, there should be. Anyone feel like adding one in with a Sharpie?
Perhaps spring is finally in the air, what with Eostre around the corner. But I'm feeling more enthused and extrovert about my heathen path. So, expect more posts here and some exciting news ahead.
