Asatru UK Althyng, July 2022 - Reflections

Last weekend was the Asatru UK Althyng. In a last-minute, spur of the moment decision back in June, we decided to buy a day ticket for the Saturday. It meant we missed out on the fun later in the evening, but still provided us with a great, family day out.

In the Facebook group for our heathen hearth, "Salgofnir's call", I wrote a little mini-review, an edited excerpt of which I'm reposting here:

Well, the weekend saw us attend the #asatruuk #althyng at Sentry Circle campsite, Northallerton. We only had day tickets for the Saturday - mostly cos our decision to attend was a bit of a last-minute thing.

It was a great event. Loads of heathens, traders offering really nice wares and interesting talks and events. We especially enjoyed Pete Jennings' talk on the subject of Valkyries.

It was exceptionally family-friendly, there were lots of activities aimed at kids. Freyja took part in the kids' rune workshop. The whole event was a very comfortable place to be as a family. Lots of other kids there of various ages. More importantly, the traders and organisers spoke to Freyja directly, involving her in the conversation - which, for us, is the keystone of a family-friendly event. Otherwise, it just feels like you're dragging your kid around and leaving them out.

Saw some fellow NW Heathens, which was nice - a shame we didn't make it to their camp to catch up with everyone together, though. We were either socialising with the wider heathen community around the stalls or in the bar - both worthy enterprises, I'm sure you'll agree.

Very impressed in general with the whole events, it's organisation and implementation. All the organisers and assistants deserve hearty congratulations. It has very much inspired us to want to attend anything #asatruuk organise for next year - especially as it will be the Year of Aun! #aun2023

As though in response to an earlier Sons of Heimdall post about moving away from the current viking trend, I recall an example, from the Althyng weekend, why this is something I'm keen to do.

We had just completed the ceremony for raising Freyja's godpost in the ve. The ceremony had been very chilled and, for some, was emotional and touching. Atop the hill, surrounded by standing stones and afforded with a beautiful view of the surrounding Yorkshire countryside, it was a moment that called upon all present to feel their connection to the land and its wights. Communally, we sang songs in honour of "Golden, shining Vanadis" and made offerings and toasts to the godpost.

Once this was done, we all slowly headed back down the hill toward the camp. It was then that some post-Fimmel heathens elected to start singing a certain popular song from a notorious tv franchise. While I accept the lyrics to "My mother told me..." have a historical provenance, the raucous, full-voiced nature of the song, really destroyed the relaxed, positive, connected vibe that we had, up to that point, been enjoying in the afterglow of the ceremony.

Now, I'm not a big fan of the Vikings tv series when used as a source for informing a heathen path, but I accept that the popularity of the series has done a lot to boost the ranks of the heathen community. Post-Fimmel heathens do bring a youth and vibrancy to the group that, it could be argued, had been previously lacking. I would ask, however, that maybe those newer heathens of that ilk learn to read the room a bit. There is a time for boisterous, viking-like behaviour and just after a really relaxed, spiritually rewarding ceremony is not really it. All this is purely, IMHO, obviously, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt this way as we all processed down the hill, though.

Ironically, the bar tent, where such behaviour would have been more than appropriate, had been practically empty all afternoon and continued to be so, even after the slightly Brosatru, viking-wannabes had made it down the hill.

Mental health and Heathenry

Mental health is very much at the forefront of the news at the moment. This is due, in the main, to the unprecendented departure of Simone Biles from the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympic games. Citing concern for her own mental health, Simone took the brave decision to remove herself from the tournament, due to her concerns that continuing would negatively impact her own mental health.

This highlights exactly how poorly society and the media deal with mental health issues in the normal course of events. In putting her own mental health first in this manner, Simone has garnered more media attention than those athletes who competed at world class level and won medals. So rarely do we hear of the psychological struggles of sports personalities and celebrities, that the very idea of someone putting their own mental health first, above fame, success and potential accolades, is normally unheard of in the mainstream media.

Similarly, within heathenry, there is a similar lack of information regarding mental health. Looked at in a particular way, heathenry doesn't measure up very well in how it deals with mental health. Role models are strong vikings, brosatru and heroes from the eddas and sagas. None of whom, to my knowledge, overtly discuss their struggles with self image, or their concerns whether they are doing the right thing. Female role models fare no better. The expectation being they will be strong sheild-maidens, with fiery personalities and unshakeable confidence.

Thankfully, the reality of the average heathen is very different. Those people who have been brave enough to admit confidence issues, misgivings or inner turmoil usually meet genuine support and advice - in the groups to which I belong. Were I enrolled in any of the more folkish or brosatru groups, then my personal experience with this might be very different.

There can be a lot of pressure to socialise as a heathen. After all, I've said myself that heathenry is all about community, yes? Well, yes, but that doesn't mean a heathen has to force themselves into real world social situations with which they aren't yet comfortable. Being a solitary heathen is perfectly valid. I was one myself for the longest time - and still err toward staying at home most of the time. Historically, Berserkers were usually left to their own devices as they had a tendency to react violently in inappropriate situations. An extreme example, perhaps, but arguably a historic example of heathens being left alone when they needed space.

Personally, I'd like to see/hear examples of heathen heroes struggling with their mental health. Or, at least, presenting something other than unshakeable confidence all the time. The Vikings tv series had some moody moments of staring into the distance. But this never seemed to evolve into dealing with mental health as an issue. More simply to make the characters seem edgy, brooding or interesting.

Please comment, if you come across any heathen interest stories with characters that deal with mental health. Preferably in a positive way, but negative examples could also be good for discussion.

Vikings: The Final Season - End of an era?

Our family (well, my wife and I) have just finished watching the final season of the television phenomena that is Vikings. Season 6 Part 2 (?) was, in my own estimation entertaining enough. Probably the best season since season 4. The episodes since then I, personally, found a bit of a drag to watch.

Without giving away too many spoilers, the final season was entertaining and had enough in the way of battles to keep the excitement going. I can't help but feel that the show would have been better concluded by adding the first episode of this season onto the end of the last and then calling it quits there. There were one or two nice surprises in the remaining episodes but all in all the show's story could have been told in approximately half as many seasons/episodes and would have made for a much more engaging narrative.

But, when things get popular, money demands that every last penny is drained from the corpse of the show before the producers move on to something else. If people will keep watching, shows will continue to be made - regardless of the quality.

December 30th - Sweet relief?

So, the final season of Vikings is due to air on December 30th 2020. Bringing the saga of Ragnar Lothbrok's offspring to a close. While I've enjoyed Vikings, the story could have concluded a good few seasons ago to my mind. The last season and a half, at least, has been a bit of a grind to watch. Lagertha and Floki were the last remaining character that I really had any interest in and precious little has been seen of them for ages.

The dispute between Ragnar's sons went on way too long. I'm not sure it ever really should have been the focus of the narrative. It could have made an entertaining little sub-plot, but I really didn't like any of the characters enough to feel invested in their squabbles. Don't get me wrong, Ivar was entertaining at times. But he hogged way too much of the limelight for too long. Equally, most of the other brothers seem to have very little character development at all during the show.

So, watching the series has been more of a chore than a treat of late. I think for this final series, I will hang fire until I hear what other people have to say about it. No spoilers, obviously, but I don't want to invest any more time in the franchise if it is only going to be more of the same. Or, worse still, if they decide to pull a Game of Thrones on us.

Vikings - A help or hindrance to heathens?

There is no doubt that there has been a huge resurgence of interest in Vikings of late. The Vikings series and a smattering of films (not all Marvel) have seen some success and, at the very least, have made the public aware of names like Thor and Ragnar Lothbrok.

But, what effect has this really had on heathenry? If I were to tell a stranger tomorrow that I am a heathen, would they expect me to be a bloodthirsty warrior like Ragnar and company, or maybe a comic-book nerd who fantasises about spacefaring gods with superpowers?

With the huge number of viking memes and groups on social media, and adverts for t-shirts, drinking horns and replica axes, they could be forgiven for thinking that, as a heathen, I long to disembowel someone with a sword, just to get into Valhalla. After all, fighting all day and feasting all night is all a good heathen wants, isn't it?

Well, no. Actually, it isn't. Personally, I'd just like to spend as much peaceful time with my family and friends as I possibly can. In this life and the next. Academia would seem to suggest that arch-heathens would have agreed with me, too. There is a growing belief that Valhalla was more of a consolation prize for heathens who died abroad during raiding missions. As they couldn't be buried in their family burial mounds, Valhalla was the spiritual equivalent of a Bendy Bully and bus fare home, rather than getting to win the luxury speedboat of the afterlife.

Plus, even if I did die in battle, Odin essentially takes the leftovers back to Valhalla. Freyja gets first pick of half the battle slain and takes them to Folkvangr, her meadow. Where I would imagine a much nicer time is had by all. Got nothing against Odin, but surely fighting all day every day is gonna get old pretty fast - no matter how bloodthirsty you were when you first died.

Some of my best 'heathen moments' are simply talking with my wife and daughter over the Sunday lunch table. Family time like that just as heathen in my eyes, and considerably more acceptable to contemporary society that blood-eagling your neighbours cos they parked across your drive without asking you.

History Channel's Vikings - As reported on Variety website

As reported on the Variety website

The time has come for History Channel’s “Vikings” to launch their attack on Paris, and in the April 9 episode, we see Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and his horde of northmen assailing the supposedly impenetrable walls of the city.

Below, Variety has an exclusive sneak peek at the Vikings’ assault on Paris, and we talked to creator Michael Hirst about the process of recreating the city for season three of the ambitious series.

As with everything on “Vikings,” historical accuracy was key for Hirst: “The Vikings actually attacked with a hundred ships and 3,000 men, so it’s not only Ragnar who had to get ready and step up, so did the production,” he told Variety . “It was like the show mirroring actual Viking experience, because we know that the Vikings started off with one or two ships going west and attacking lonely monasteries with 30 warriors or something like that. And then, before very long, there were lots more raiding parties, much more ambitious raiding parties, and finally the attack on Paris with a huge number of Viking warriors.”

The change in scenery also allowed the show to create more lavish sets, with a European city providing a vastly different backdrop than the landscapes the series has explored thus far. “It was great for the production to go to a different world, so we built the inside of Notre Dame Cathedral on one of the stages,” Hirst said. “It’s one of the biggest stages in the world and it was the biggest build that we’ve done so far, and it’s amazing. Marble floors, stained glass windows, hundreds of statues… Then we built part of the walls of Paris on the backlot. We built the bridge leading into Paris on the backlot. We had to have more boats and more stunt people and more extras, so when you went around there it was like an army. Suddenly there were thousands of people around. There were hundreds before, now there are thousands.”

Hirst credits stuntmen Franklin Henson and Richard Ryan with perfecting the complex fight scenes for the attack on Paris. “We’re lucky. We have two of the greatest guys who do our choreography for the fight sequences, and they were in their element. They actually trained up a lot of Irish people, men and women, to be stunt people. We needed so many stunt people. I always like the fact we employee so many Irish people, and it knits everything together. But the choreography was extraordinary and very, very dangerous. One of the things I love about ‘Vikings’ — it’s real. Our guys really do fight and they climb and they ride and they row and they love it, but this was at a different level because we’re setting fire to the ladders. We have people falling 50 feet into water, and watching that is heart-stopping.”

“Vikings” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on History.

As reported on the Variety website