#compassionate heathenry

[skaldish]

Properties of Norse Paganism

Decentralized - Norse Paganism is practiced in many different ways, with no way being more correct than another. It doesn’t have holy books, scriptures, or key religious figures that guide practices and beliefs, nor does it have doctrines, creeds, or dogmas. This spirituality is dynamic and can be made to suit a practitioner’s needs.

Animistic - In Norse Paganism, all things are thought to have a unique spiritual essence to them, without separation between the sacred and the mundane. The divine is viewed as a property of existence, rather than a condition to achieve or a presence to earn. Because of this, there’s no such thing as “sin” in Norse Paganism.

Pluralist - Norse Paganism acknowledges that things can hold many truths and that there are many dynamic forces in nature. This is different from a dualist approach (the view that things are either a product of good or evil / one thing or another) or a monist approach (the belief that all things are an expression of one thing).

Polytheistic - Norse pagans acknowledge multiple deities and regularly interact with these deities in many ways, without a need for a mediator.

Orthopraxic - The focus of Norse Paganism centers upon the cultivation of practice and spiritual experience, as opposed to orthodoxy, or rules about what to believe and the intensity of one’s faith.

Life-Affirming - Norse pagans live their lives to feel fulfilled in this lifetime. Their practices are done to feel as home in the world, rather than reasons concerning the afterlife. While Norse pagans have many different views about the afterlife, good ones are already guaranteed.

#norse paganism #forn sidr #asatru #vanatru #lokean #rokkatru #heathenism #compassionate heathenry #heathen 101

[fornsidramerica]

[img desc: POC fist holding Mjolnir and text that says BLACK LIVES MATTER]

HEATHENS STAND WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER

Pass it on!

#compassionate heathenry #norse paganism #heathenry #black lives matter #blm #advocacy #allyship #black heathens #forn sidr #norse heathenry #feel free to repost this ANYWHERE

[thatwaywardwolf]

This is a bit old to bring up, but the topic of TERFs came up in a group I was in because someone was facing transphobia and it reminded me of this lovely individual who left this remark on a question I got asked about what it a TERF is.

I rolled by eyes at this and never thought about checking their blog out to see what else is going on. Well, there's another user to look out for now amongst the pagan community if you're looking for someone to follow. I've said this before, but I'll say it again for anyone who is new here in case I didn't get the point across.

If you're a TERF or you align with such values, you aren't welcome here. If you're biphobic, transphobic, or ace/arophobic, you aren't welcome here. Just like with Nazis and white nationalists, I want nothing to do with you if you uphold hateful and bigoted values; especially when it comes to attitudes and agendas that affect my trans brothers, sisters, and non-binary siblings.

hvars þú böl kannt kveðu þat bölvi at ok gefat þínum fjándum frið

“When you see misdeeds, speak out against them, and give your enemies no frið”

- Hávamál 127

Don't try to argue with me either if you fall in line with this ideology because I see you for what you are, nor do I want to be associated with you. Unfollow me and don't let the door hit you on the way out. As a very queer trans man, I refuse to let this type of bullshit slide. I can't change your mind because some thought processes can't be reasoned with, but I can put my foot down and speak my peace about it.

So, to this person who replied to me and considers bigotry to be radical, please unkindly fuck off; especially when others in the notes so eloquently said why this type of thing is a problem in some pagan oriented circles. This behavior is unacceptable and it shouldn't be tolerated, period. We're a community, and as such, we should stand to support one another from oppressive systems that seek to harm marginalized individuals, not cast them aside and treat them like shit.

⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

- Adam

#compassionate heathenry #heathens against hate #lgbtqia positivity #lgbtq+ positivity #lgbtq positivity #ace positivity #bi positivity #trans positivity #havamal 127 #begone terfs #paganism #polytheism #heathenry

[north-of-annwn]

ᚢ Uruz (Wild ox) 

A challenge, an archetypal trial, initiation, rite of passage

“The wild ox has great high horns with which it gores; a fierce fighter who boldly stomps the moors.” - Old English Rune Poem

“Slag is cast from bad iron; reindeer cross the hard snow.” - Norwegian Rune Poem

Uruz, representing adversary, may seem daunting at first. Be wise to remember that the trial you’re facing may not entirely be in the events before you but also within yourself. The ox will not be overpowered by brute force but through inner strength. Uruz can refer to any obstacle; physical, psychological, spiritual, or ethical. 

Uruz is the duality of Fehu. Where the cow represents wealth, abundance, and even privilege, The wild ox represents more volatile forces of nature; struggle, hardship, obstacles, adversity, and even oppression. 

Adversity and oppression can be a nasty beast. But just like the wild ox that young men would face in initiation trials, they can be overcome. Systems of oppression may boldly stomp and make shows of force to intimidate you. You cannot play their game; it’s rigged for the rampaging beast. You must be cunning and outthink the ox if you are to one day drink from its gilded horns. 

Likewise, do not be like the stamping ox which snorts in anger and makes a show of its aggression. The largest animals can still be felled and usually are caught unawares by their hubris and sureness in their own ferocity. Be mindful of your roles in oppression and avoid being someone else’s ox. 

#norse runes #norse paganism #paganism #divination #brosatru #rune series #oppression #adversity #uruz #eat the rich #compassionate heathenry #original content

[spiritsandsunflowers]

SUPPORT BLACK HEATHENS Stickers

SUPPORT QUEER HEATHENS Stickers

SUPPORT DISABLED HEATHENS Stickers

All live in our Etsy shop now!

#black #blacklivesmatter #disabled #disabled lives matter #queer #lgtbq+ #lgtbq community #heathen #support #allies #queer lives matter #inclusive #inclusive heathenry #compassionate #community #pagan #norse pagan #stickers #sticker shop

[notthesomefather]

Another Loki UPG

Throughout my experience worshipping and working with Loki, I've come to associate them with luck ("we're up all night to get Loki...") in the sense of immediate, practical situations.*

Sometimes it feels compassionate, like they're telling me "you need a break, kid. I got this." Other times it's more mischievous and playful, like "ha you were so worried but see what I did?"

Does anyone else share this experience with Loki and luck?

*Note: "luck" is a layered, somewhat complicated concept within heathenry when we discuss longterm "luck" and things more akin to "guardians lending their wisdom and luck." With Loki, I mean a situation like: "Oh man, I'm so anxious for this meeting. If I only had another day to prepare," then, an hour later, hearing the meeting's been moved to next week.

#loki #upg #heathenry #heathen #asatru #rokker #norse #norse pagan #paganism #polytheist #polytheism

[lifebender]

Hey everyone. I'm going to probably leave this post as a bit of an "Attention All Who Wander Here" post. I have tried to get back into Tumblr but it's just been a struggle for me. I want to remain in the bone collecting community here but it's just, at this point in my life, not an option with everything else I have going on, namely dealing with my mental health.

The best place to find me these days is on Instagram as @volvawolf, where I predominantly post about my experiences with Heathenry. Perhaps I will link my Instagram to this Tumblr blog, at least for posts regarding nature (which, with Heathenry, is a large portion).

I don't really know what else to say. The fact that Vulture Culture has taken on a life of it's own is both astonishing and terrifying, especially as the creator of the term. I feel so disconnected from it, despite my role in it, and that alone causes me a lot of unreasonable stress, again due to my deteriorating mental health.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just trying my best to be open and honest about my prolonged absence. I hope all of you are doing well and continuing to live by the integrity of vulture culture as I knew it. Do not cause harm for the sake of parts. Be compassionate. Respect the dead. Take only what you need, give the rest back to nature.

Gods bless you all.

#vulture culture

[friedesgreatscythe]

Do you have any suggestions for one wanting to get into heathenry? especially those looking to make a shrine for loki

Read! Read read read! The first and most important part of witchery is researching.

Here’s a post that lists Norse views on queerness. Follow Lokean based blogs-- @not-so-new-lokean, @muirin007, @lokeanwelcomingcommittee, the latter of whom has an excellent Lokean beginner’s post. I also recommend Forn Sidr America, as they are a heathen site with great resources to bear in mind and keep clear of the white supremacists that try to co-op heathen and Norse beliefs. This is a PDF of their current bylaws. It’s a long read, but a good one to understand their mission statement and why I’m particularly drawn to heathenism as a form of pagan worship.

I didn’t make a shrine til I felt I had properly established a conversation with him or any of my gods, but you can set it up whenever you please. First and foremost, think about what draws you to Loki and to heathenry. Is there any reason in particular that stands out? Any stories, poems? Really dig into that emotional core and imagine it like a hand extended.

As for how to set up an altar, you can do it however you’d like! They’re very personal spaces. Look for things that remind you of him, maybe set up some candy (he’s known to have a sweet tooth). Put on some music you think he might like. If you have a piece of jewelry or a picture or an anything you think he’d like, group them together and talk to him. He’s not a subtle god; he won’t leave you guessing whether he’s there or not.

The most important thing to me is communication. My heathen family are just that, a family. I can talk to them about anything, whenever. I also dedicate little acts to them. If I’m cooking, I’ll say a little prayer over it to make it an offering so they can have it if they’d like. If I’m cleaning, I make that an offering and a little act of devotion, imagining that I am removing any doubts or worries or frustrations clinging to me so that I might clear myself for when I talk again. I’ll sing, go for walks, dedicate a piece of writing to them. I invite them to share in bits of my life and day to day activities because what’s special to me are things I want to experience with them.

I find that Loki in particular comes to me during very dire, emotionally devastated times. I don’t think you have to be in that headspace to call to him, but he’s known to swiftly swoop in for such people, which means he’s compassionate. He’s a trickster of course, so there’s a certain degree of irreverence and foolery when he arrives (he has a habit of making silly things happen around me that shake me out of a stupor or remind me not to take things too seriously). Think about aspects of Loki from stories or from your perspective of him that interest you. Start a conversation with him about that. He’s not a very formal or demanding or imperious god at all, so don’t worry about being “proper”.

And the best thing of all? You open the door for one heathen god and others will show up eventually. They’re like cats.

Good luck, have fun, and welcome to the family!

#heathenry #witchery #Anonymous #this is the ask tag

[witchywix]

PSA

I would like this blog to be a safe place for everyone. I have been noticing a lot of toxicity in the online witch community lately, and I would like witchywix to be a peaceful space for everyone who still wants witchblr to be a safe tag. I’m hoping this blog can be compassionate, informative, safe, peaceful and cooperative.

I will not accept MAPs, misogynists/misandrists, anti-lgbt+, racists or really any mean/hateful people on this blog. If I find out you are any of these things, you’re getting blocked.

Anon hate will be deleted. I don’t have the time, energy or intention to be affected by that sort of negativity. So if you send anon hate looking for a response, you will be disappointed. Same thing goes for non-anon hate, I will just delete the messages and block you. You will be getting no recognition from me. There’s really no point in sending hate at this point.

That being said, I will be taking responsibility on my end to keep the peace. I won’t be posting about or engaging in controversial/sensitive topics. My blog will be mainly norse heathenry, paganism, magick, witchcraft, other aspects of my spirituality, and other sfw tags such as photography, astronomy, nature and so on.

If you have questions for me, feel free to send them to my ask box, so that I can post them on my blog for other people who may have the same questions.

Again, I’m keeping the peace here. I will not argue or expose, I’m not into “calling-out” culture. Please keep your negativity off of my blog, and go express yourself somewhere else.

If you are a witchy blog, please like this post so I can follow you! My dash needs to be updated.

Blessed be!

#paganism #witchblr #witchy #witches of tumblr #green witch #magick #naturecore #norse pagan #norse paganism #pagan #witchy thing #pagan witch #magickal #law of attraction #manifestation #wicca

[lokeanwelcomingcommittee]

Hey! So I'm pretty sure I'm being called by Loki. For months now I've noticed a sort of... presence in my life, trying to teach me to laugh at myself even when low and to not lose hope (I've been going through some tough times recently). I've liked Norse Mythology for a while but only after some googling did I realise it might be Loki, and thinking on it it actually feels right. However, I've only ever been a hardcore atheist, so I sort of feel like I'm going insane or making it all up. Help???

All I can say is that this is a pretty common thing for new converts. Even people who’ve been practicing for years go through it once in awhile. There’s no way to empirically prove the gods exist or that our experiences with them are real, so doubt is a normal and healthy thing.

The reason I’ve personally stuck with Loki, and with Heathenry, through these periods of doubt is that I feel that it’s a positive force in my life whether or not Loki exists outside of my own mind. I highly value the things Loki stands for. His wisdom helps me deal with the challenges I face in life in healthy ways, to be compassionate toward others, and to change my little corner of the world for the better. Even if it were somehow possible to get confirmation that Loki doesn’t exist, I’d probably keep on going basically as I am now.

I find it impossible to believe that a god so fond of challenging established powers and finding novel ways to look at things would particularly mind his devotees using discernment and asking reasonable questions. And so I don’t think Loki demands complete, unquestioning faith before you approach him either.

If you think this path is something you might want to pursue, you aren’t hurting anyone by tentatively dipping your toes in and experimenting with aspects of the religion you feel drawn to. Heathenry doesn’t purport to be the One True Faith or demand that you sign up for a lifelong commitment right off the bat. I know that doesn’t help with the whole emotional/existential crisis, but hopefully it at least takes a little bit of the pressure off of you to resolve it immediately.

- Mod E

#Anonymous

[eswynn]

Alex and I talking to people about compassionate, inclusive heathenry at the Samhain Spectacular in Sacramento (at the VFW on Stockton BLVD. Free Admission! Swing on by and say hi! :) #pagan #heathen #norse #lgbtqa #samhain #viking #valkyrie

#viking #lgbtqa #norse #heathen #valkyrie #samhain #pagan

[skaldish]

I’m hearing a lot of people talk about the need to do a better job ousting White Nationalism from Heathenry, given the events at the US Capitol.

As we do this, we should also talk about why White Nationalist Heathenry is so successful in the first place: It has a strong identity, something non-White Nationalist forms of American Heathenry distinctly lack.

American Heathen books, academic approach, workshops, gatherings, education, and culture is shaped by Folkish proponents. This Folkish or Neo-Volkisch Heathenry has its roots in Nazi Germany and is White Nationalist in nature. It has existed and cultivated its image on US soils since the early 70’s, and it has convinced people that Heathenry is a dark, archaic, warrior-esque, “viking” spirituality.

Until American Heathens can build a Heathen identity that stands alone from the image and culture of Folkish Heathenry, no amount of denouncing White Supremacy will end this.

For the past while, I’ve advocated we look at contemporary Scandinavian forms of Heathenry to help guide our non-Folkish American Heathen identity. These forms of Heathenry don’t look like the Folkish Heathenry we’re used to; they’re warmer, more comfortable, and more ordinary-looking. We many not have much right now in the way of Scandinavian cultural exchange, but I truly hope that can change, for the sake of Heathenry’s survival. That conversation needs starting, in one way or another.

I truly believe in an American Heathenry that is whole, sovereign, rich, and transparent. This is something we have the right to by nature of being people, and would be the most effective antidote to the poison of White Nationalism in Heathenry.

#norse paganism #heathenry #heathenism #lokean #asatru #vanatru #rokkatru #compassionate heathenry

[fornsidramerica]

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our new leadership additions. We are very excited to have Alexandra, Kissi, and Sebastiane join Forn Sidr of America! 🎉

Visit the link to read our announcement. 

#announcement #update #forn sidr #forn sidr of america #compassionate heathenry

[thatwaywardwolf]

I'm getting sick of this shit.

Nazi fucks have no place in Heathenry, society as a whole, or this goddamn mortal coil. Keep your dirty hands off our gods and symbols, you degenerate shitheads because they aren't your white pride saviors and they'd do more than spit in your eye for your heinous actions.

If you align with folkish white supremacist beliefs, get the fuck out. You aren't wanted here nor do the gods claim you.

#i'm sick of this shit #norse #norse paganism #norse mythology #norse polytheism #heathen #heathenry #norse heathenry #compassionate heathenry #heathens in solidarity #heathens against hate #pagans against white supremacy #fuck off nazi scum

[skaldish]

I feel ridiculous connected to Rán. I've heard some ppl say She isn't to be worshipped. What do?

Short answer: Fuck ‘em.

Long answer: Norse Paganism is animistic. Always has been and always will be. Because of this, veneration was never limited to just the Aesir, let alone to what we’d call “gods.” The Norse people venerated all kinds of entities in their everyday lives and formed many kinds of relationships with them. Modern pagans do the same thing.

It’s an extremely Christian mindset to insist there’s a standard of orthodoxy (’right belief’) in Heathenry. Heathenry is orthopraxic, meaning it focuses on practice fulfillment rather than “right belief” or “faith.” Heathenry’s also decentralized; it has no scripture or doctrine telling us how we ought to practice.

Unfortunately, many Heathens recreate Christian systems in Heathenry because

it’s how they think all religions work, and/or

they are eager to make the systems that hurt them work for them instead.

But ultimately, this is a form of bullying and intimidation. Fear stops us from thinking clearly and makes us doubt ourselves. But you know you have a strong connection to Rán, and it’s important to remember no one has any right to take that away. There’s nothing to support their claims that you can’t worship Rán.

So fuck ‘em.

#answered #norse paganism #dechristianized heathenry #compassionate heathenry #forn sidr #Anonymous

[skaldish]

#norse paganism #norse polytheism #heathenry #compassionate heathenry