No one knows what happens after death, but I choose to live as if I understand its possibilities. Whether I have a shot at Valhalla or not, I will honor my folk and their gods by leading with integrity and standing in the footsteps of my spiritual ancestor, Óðinn.
Discover the ancient practice of pagans and heathens: embracing what we do, rather than what we believe, to stand in the middle ground and unlock divine experiences through rituals and traditions. Suspend disbelief and reap the rewards.
Among the many foreign concepts perpetrated on my ancestors by the invasion of Christianity, one was the idea that belief mattered. Ancient paganism, whether from Northern Europe or elsewhere, is orthopraxic rather than orthodoxic, meaning that it is about what one does and not what one believes. Many come to modern heathenry with a focus on gods and rites. This is understandable, as most of us were raised with Christian influences (even if we did not grow up Christian) and many of us came to heathenry via Wicca as the latter is the most accessible of the modern alternative
Honor the spirit of home and land. Remind yourself to appreciate and respect what surrounds you; your walls, floor, mantle, trees, and animals. Take nothing for granted and build the most precious things of all – family homes and homesteads. Together, these foster bonds that build clans and tribes – the utmost successful societal forms of life.
Heathenry is about home and family. Centering our lives around relationships with our kith and kin, honoring our ancestors, and investing in the welfare of our larger group, we strive for a life of reciprocal inviolability, a life with greater meaning and purpose.
Discover our primal need for an “innangarðr,” or an orderly environment with people that we can truly trust. Heathenry and paganism offer a meaningful cultural context to build such relationships despite living in a chaotic world.
For many of us, honor remains an unfamiliar concept. But what if our own family members were victims of heinous crimes? We may find ourselves wishing for the “old ways” of seeking vengeance to reclaim lost honor. In our modern world, the path to honor may be more complex than we expect.
Discover the unmatched bond of frith in our ancestors’ society – a connecting force that transcended borders, strengthened communities, and celebrated joy as a shared experience. Nothing was taken lightly, as an oath of frith was of the highest significance, ensuring “reciprocal inviolability” for all.
Drawing on Grønbech’s words, understanding ‘Frith, Honor, and Luck’ is vital for modern heathens. These are the cornerstones which build the heathen worldview, with all else being constructed thereafter. Fertility, taboos, and tribal loyalty all exist under this umbrella; find out more by exploring The Culture of the Teutons.
Trace your roots back to the primordial soup or a son of Woden? From recent science and ancient heathen writings, discover the many elements – from the fetch to the wode – that make up a human and understand how they weave in and out of the body-soul complex. Honor your ancestors and discover who you truly are.