Forn Sed

Often known under the name Asatru.

This blog will focus on historical accuracy and reconstructionism but also on the contemporary religion and sometimes wander into other heathenry, like Anglo - Saxon faith, Odinism, Theodism and so on.
There will however never be any bigotry, homophobia, anti Semitism or stupid ideas of a "pure" Germanic race. hello! theme by cissysaurus
10
09
Out of curiosity.
Do you have some special blóts or celebrations/rituals/traditions that you think might be special to you, your region, your kindred, your family, your circumstances or whatever the case might be?
It is always interesting to see how the Heathen ways take form and adapt in ways that fit Heathens in very diverse living conditions and circumstances (as it always did).
The Heathen in a small student dorm with a bookshelf altar.
The Heathen on a farm with access to a hoegr and who takes animal husbandry for granted.
A Heathen in Alaska vs a Heathen in New South Wales.
Well, you get the picture.
After all, not all traditions, Nordic or otherwise, are a 1000 years old, and even when they are there are regional differences.
The Icelandic Thorrablót is from the 19th century ,and more and more Heathen  Swedes are putting Thursday apart for “Thors Hallow”, a time for contemplation and family (a bit like the Jewish Shabbat/Shabbos).
I know there are US traditions uniquely their own (actually they might be spreading if people elsewhere find a need for them) that fills a function for them (such as Vali´s Blót?).
In Sweden Midsummer and Christmas have very Heathen elements even for those who are secular or Christian.
I think one of the strengths of Heathenry is that it is for the Heathen, not the other way around (among Swedish Heathens i sometimes hear “What is your Sed [Custom]”).
A language with many dialects, mutually intelligible, but all the way of communication with the mights that works where, when and for whom it works in any specific time and place.
I would love to hear about the times and ways that are meaningful to you and makes your Heathen identity grow.
What is your Sed?
10
08
Plough Charming Ceremony by ~Thorskegga
Photo of a Chiltern Kindred ‘Plough Charming’ ceremony marking the start of the agricultural year.
10
08
Lofn, Goddess of Love by ~Thorskegga
10
08
Thor and his Goats by ~Thorskegga
10
06
A stained glass window depicting Thor in Castle Cardiff, Wales.
09
15
Freyr, the ruler of Alfheim (“elf home”=realm of the elves), is the god of sun and rain, virility, fertlility and the patron of bountiful harvests. He is both a god of peace and a brave warrior. Freyr is the most prominent and most beautiful of the male members of the Vanir.
He is married to the beautiful giantess Gerd, and he and his twinsister Freya, are the children of Njord and Njord’s sister Jord.Freyr has two equestrian-animals: A golden boar Gullinbursti (“golden bristle”) ,which was made for him by the dwarves Brokk and Eitri, and a horse named Blodighofi - (“The one with blood on the hoofs”).Freyr owns the ship Skidbladnir (“wooden-bladed”), which always sails directly towards its target, and which can become so small that it can fit in Freyr’s pocket. He also possessed a sword that would by itself emerge from its sheath and spread a field with carnage whenever the owner desired it.Freyr’s shield bearer and servant is Skirnir, to whom he gave his sword, which Skirnir demanded as a reward for making Gerd his wife. Would he miss his self-fighting sword? There are two mentioned fights where he doesn’t have his self-fightning sword:He fought Beli (who seems to have been the celtic God with powers similar to his own) and defeated Beli with an antler as a weapon. Beli was no match for him, and he could have killed Beli with his bare hands. His second mentioned fight/duel is harder: On the day of Ragnarok Frey will, in lack of the self-fighting sword, wrestle the fire giant Surt, who kills him. Freyr, sometimes referred to as Yngvi-Freyr, was especially associated with Sweden and seen as an ancestor of the former Swedish royal house. The center of his cult was the city Uppsala in Sweden. In southern Sweden he was called Fricco.~Mary & Mattias~
06
10

The Rise of Óðrœrir

The Rise of Óðrœrir: A new journal of interest to Pagans, particularly Heathen reconstructionists, has just launched. Óðrœrir” is “a fully downloadable journal dedicated to developing, fostering, and distributing scholastic literature solely regarding the reconstruction of the various pre-Christian religious traditions and cultures of Northern Europe.”

“It is our firm belief that while much of these traditions are completely viable in a modern setting, understanding and implementing them must be achieved through a thorough understanding of their original context.  We also believe that there is too much literature available that falls very short of this mark.  Thus,Óðrœrir is intended to serve as a bastion of literature that is evidence based and consistent with modern standards of academic accuracy and quality.  Articles are peer reviewed by a board ranging of individuals with over forty years of experience in reconstructing “heathen” traditions, to scholars who are currently leaders in the fields of Old Nordic Religion, and Old Nordic Culture.  It is our hope that with these high standards, and with the range of experience that exists on our board, that Óðrœrir will be able to bridge the gap between scholastic wisdom of ancient heathen traditions and the implementation and practice of ongoing ones today.”

The first issue is available for download now, featuring articles on the state of modern Heathenry, reconstructionism in modern Heathenry, Frankish Heathenry and more. You can also network with the creators at the journal’s Facebook page.

(Source: patheos.com)

05
29
I have managed to get myself a glass drinking horn for Bragafull / Symbel.
This is not the one however, this is a 7:th century English one (British Museum ).
03
23

Racism in Asatru by Wayland Skallagrimsson

Though i agree with most of what the author says i would like to correct / expand on a few things  (mainly historical):

  • I do not refer to myself as “tribalist” or any other such modern term (though my attitude fits), as a matter of fact i dont even call myself “Asatruar” (also a modern term) exept for clarification, i simply have a “sidr” (custom).
  • I do not see the custom as a “new” reconstructivist religion (entirely). Heathenry was never centralized or homogenous but always had differences in different regions and time periods. Being offically Christian, most Nordic countries had (and have) customs, traditions, linguistic and other remnants that are clearly “Heathen” (regardless of context) and much also lived on in folkloric form , leaving what must be reconstructed a smaller task than, say, Kemetic religions (Egyptian)….on the other hand, they have more written material.A Swedish Christmas looks more like a blot than anything Roman or Palestinian.In Sweden there are foloric Heathens, basing their customs on regional folklore (including Christian / Christianized elements) rather than archeology and history , seeing it as a normal extension of the Norse customs (they often call themselves “Norrön Sed, Northern Custom”, to dstinguish from other forms of Heathenry).
  • Slaves (thralls) where not usually let free and then on equal satus. And “foreigner” can also be discussed (the Norse fought other Norsemen more than other people, and also other Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and Normans (pretty much cousins). A slave could be set free or buy his / her freedom but it took a generation for a full “freeman” (Karl) status and he/she was expected to remain loyal to his/her masters even after freedom was attained.
  • There is no such thing as human races from a genetic standpoint.Homo Sapiens is a species with one race.
  • Most that would qualify as “Universalists” here that i know of (as well as people of other religions who incorporate Norse Gods)know far more than “Freya is a love Goddess”.Quite a few Wiccans ,for instance, are scholars on the subject(s).I do agree wth the argument though.What i call Forn Sed cant be separated from culture in general(including regional dfferences).
  • We do not know to what extent slaves where part of cult practices.We DO know however that successful free people living in the North was part of Norse society since their burials where according to usual customs even though DNA shows that they where from other parts of the world (one Arab and one Ukrainian springs to mind.Both buried in mounds with grave goods).

I do agree that this must be adressed though.We live in a society of labels and terms.Personally i dont adhere to many of these labels as far as my custom goes but we are still defined and understodi by what we call ourselves (or others call us).

Having said that, Heathenry, like most European pre Christian religions is orthoprax, thus, what goes on in your mind, your exact beliefs, thoughts and emotions are your business.

But hey, if anything should be a Norse custom, rocking boats should be it.   ;)

03
20

Wishing you all a good Disablot! Til ars ok frithar!