Going Heathen: A guide for transitioners

I wanted to write this post from the standpoint of someone who found heathenry while practicing a pagan/wiccan faith, to give those unfamiliar with the Norse viewpoint some tips and pointers in the process of deciding if heathenry might be  a path you are interested in. As most know, their is much eclecticism in the faith of Vanatru, as well as more universalist Asatru, so some of these options are inherently more friendly to those who are transitioning from another pagan path to this one.

Heathenry is not a path unfriendly to outsiders in the general sense, unless one is a hard core reconstructionist or traditionalist, and today's mainstream heathen community does include this, but such exclusionary views represent the minority, rather than the majority in my experience. Most heathens are happy to welcome newcomers into the path, and more than happy to find that the old gods seem to be calling more and more of us to their wise ways in postmodern times.

That being said, I do believe that to be heathen, their are some important spiritual beliefs that are entirely different from Wicca and some Pagan belief systems, that one must be open to if thinking of becoming heathen. This post is meant to illustrate some of these key differences and spiritual beliefs, in order to provide some thinking points for those interested in heathenry as a serious path for personal belief.

ANIMISM

Animism refers to a type of belief system which assumes that all natural objects, both living and non-living, possess a spiritual being or life force which influences the world, both material and spiritual. These spiritual beings have their own consciousness, and are individually driven much like any other human being or organism. This is not to be confused with totemism, which relies on the belief that natural objects possess a portion of one unified force or spirit that is found in all beings. Animism differs in the sense that these beings operate on their own will, rather than a centralized life force or spiritual principle. Basically animism provides the idea of individual consciousness to all natural things.

Animism is a belief inherent to heathenry. This is illustrated in the idea of the land wight, spirits which reside in natural objects such as trees, specific lands, and rocks. A large part of heathen practice is creating a working relationship with the land wights, a mutual relationship in which an individual cares for and honors the land and the land wights in turn can provide protection or other benevolent actions on the individuals behalf. If the individual becomes careless and damages the natural land and in inhabitants,this wights may also react negatively. Therfore, animism in heathenry creates an environment that is mindful of the natural world.

Animism is also evident in the mythology of the giants, who are often named or embodied by natural material, such as mountains, fire, ice, etc. Heathens also believe in a host of animistic creatures, such as alfs (elves), dwarves, disir (female ancestral beings most commonly), and fylgia, which in many cases is the animal identity of an individual. 

ALTERNATE REALMS

Another important heathen belief is in the existence of alternate realms or realities. This is reflected in the idea if the Norse cosmos as containing nine separate worlds, with the earth or our physical reality being called Midgard. One does not have to take the Nine Worlds literally to be a heathen, but it is hard to imagine being a heathen and not having a concept of alternate realities or levels of existance outside of the mundane.

Nine Worlds of Norse Cosmos

The presence of the Nine Worlds is an integral part of the magical practices of heathenry, and much of the Lore reflects the Gods and others journeys between worlds. This type of travel between worlds is typically a quest to acquire knowledge, power, or objects. Without a belief in the different levels of spirit existence, and different worlds, the Norse cosmos is extremely limited, and so is the practitioner. 

Modern revivals of heathen practices such as oracular seidr rely upon the belief that an individual can travel astrally into a different world to attain knowledge and prophecy. The whole faith system of heathenry, both Asatru and Vanatru, rely on the Nine Worlds as a basis for understanding how the world works. If this belief seems far fetched, then heathenry probably isn't for you.

RESPECT FOR THE RUNES

The futhark runes are a point of contention between Heathens and other NeoPagan faiths for some important reasons. Firstly, the amount of misinformation, misunderstanding, and misuse of the Runes is a bitter point for many. Many heathens believe that the Runes, as used as a divinatory tool alone, on a casual basis, is demeaning to the history and depth of the Runes themselves. It is also a disrespect to the power of the Runes.

Without an understanding of runic lore, the proper use of them, and their inherent individual manifestation, the layman is in essence taking a gamble. The word runa itself means "secret" or "mystery." This implies not only the work it takes to understand them, but also the ambiguous nature of their meaning. Without proper use, a runic symbol is meaningless. The symbols are simply that, symbols created as a home for a separate force or energy. Without calling the Runes, properly infusing them with power, and most of all keeping a healthy respect of that energy, attempting to work with the Runes is a pointless endeavor. Simply painting a rune on a rock and expecting it to have power is like buying a laptop and expecting to use it without plugging it in. In essence, it's pointless.

Many neopagans tend to see the Runes as a simply tool for divination, and expect to get clear answers. The Runes can be utilized for divination, and have been historically. But if you expect a clear cut answer from the Runes, you will likely be dissapointed. The Runes reveal in riddles, in secrets, in that which is hidden. They reveal the energy at work behind the scenes, but to assume that the future is somehow set in stone and can be revealed through them is an assumption that has no place in the Norse Cosmos. The concept of time itself is wrapped up in the Norns, which weave the threads of wyrd (sort of like fate but not) beneath the World Tree. In short, the future is at best uncertain, and dependent upon both the past and present events to manifest, which can be changed at any point in time.

If you are contemplating heathenry as a path because of your wish to understand and use Runic energy, know that the Runes have a wide variety of uses, are beyond complex, and take years of dedicated learning to understand even part of their mysterious knowledge and energy.

DUALISM

If you come from a Wiccan background, the idea of dualism is one that may create conflict. Wicca itself is based on an assumption of dualism in the universe, the exchange and interaction of two opposing energetic forces, usually dark and light. This is embodied in the ideal of the Lord and Lady, aggressive masculine energy and passive feminine energy. This is also embodied in ideals such as those contained in the Rede, the idea of harm versus benefit, in a sense the belief in good versus evil. If you believe in this, heathenry is not for you.

Norse mythos has no such distinction between good versus evil. The Gods are just as likely to perform harmful actions as they are benevolent ones. The giants themselves are sometimes benevolent, and in some cases are taken as spouses to the Gods, such as Gerd, the beautiful giantess who became Freyr's wife. For some deities, their lineage is of both gods and giants. The only surety is that Norse beings will act in a way that is according to their will alone.

For heathens, the common belief is that "we are our deeds." This means we take full responsibility for the repercussions of our actions, understanding that the deeds we perform today can have a very real effect on the outcome of the future. To be heathen is to accept and in a sense take control of our own destiny, rather than rely upon supernatural forces such as good or evil to determine the course of the future. 

Dualism: how unheathen of you!

In terms of society itself, the ideals of frith and loyalty also come into play when we contemplate an action. In Norse belief, we are fully responsible not only for our own actions but those of our family and kindred. Since the family line is so important in determining the future for us, we must be diligent in guiding not only ourselves but those closest to us. And if a harmful action is done by one of our own, we are required to retain loyalty and support for that individual, even if it creates a negative effect for ourselves. It is this idea of absolute loyalty which enabled the old ones to survive in a harsh world, and preserve the family line, which for the Norse represents the future itself. This is because the individual, the family, and the ancestors are all connected by wyrd, and any action by any of these affects the collective fate of all upon the thread. 

As a result of this, our actions are not determined by moralistic issues. Action is a result of necessity, rather than a choice between dualistic good or evil. Since we all have our own will and intent, if our own action brings harm to another, we are not responsible for their fate. Our primary concern is preserving our own fate and that of those closest to us, all with the understanding that negative energy has it's repercussions just as positive energy does, as well as the myriad shades of gray in between.

Some might feel that this system of amorality could lead to headonism, but in fact the opposite is true. Heathens are often kind, open individuals who are careful to avoid harming others unless it is absolutely necessary. No heathen wants to act in a way that is negative and may effect wyrd badly. Since every action has a repercussion, we act in a way that supports the future that we want, and take full responsibility for it. 

If you are thinking of becoming heathen, you must be certain that you can let go of dualistic thinking, and take full responsibility for your own actions, for better or worse. You also must accept that what you do today may effect not only yourself and your future, but that of every person you come into contact with, especially those who are close to you. It is both freeing and restrictive, and takes a strong sense of self respect and discipline to let go of the idea that pleasing a supernatural force will determine your future. The Gods may lend a hand, but ultimately they have their own problems, and seeking their aid requires "a gift for a gift." Just like our human friends, creating relationships with the Gods takes time and an investment of self. 

There are many other issues that need to be examined before one decides that heathenry is right for them. I worth these four simply because they are important foundations of heathen belief and living. Also, they are simplified, each topic itself could contain thousands of pages upon close examination. I only chose to simplify  these beliefs for the purpose of generating thinking points for those interested in heathenry. These issues are also valid meditations for heathens who have already come into the faith, and may have some trouble letting go of the idealism that another faith created in them. I have struggled with many of these ideals myself, but letting of ideas such as dualism has led me to a life so much more rewarding for the change in paradigm. 

May it do the same for you.

In Frith

Cena