Stepping back

So lately I’ve been so focused on living true to the Gods, that I feel I have started to lose track of what that really means.  Yes, I had a goal to learn all I could so that I would be able to stand in service as a Hof Gothi.  My tunnel vision had become so strong that I lost sight of much of the every day living that let me find the Gods and Wights in the first place.  So, I’ve decided to formally step away from my path, and just live best I can.  Close to the land, my family, and should they decide, the Gods.  For me, pursuit of the faith has been experiencing it first hand, not academic pursuit alone.

It’s time to put down my ambitions, and pick up my Havamal and my Hiking boots.

Living life in the moment.

I have been to busy fishing with my son and kayaking since my last post to think about any sort of content.  Quite honestly, I think I like it that way.  I have had some much needed de-stressing, and while my 2 and a half hour Kayak trip reminded me just how out of shape I am in, it was almost spiritual, being at peace out on the lake like that.  I am sure my son and I are going to go fishing, and while we wont be taking the boat out, it lets me connect with him, and my ancestors in a way I cannot quite pin down.  I think I’ll be telling him the story of Thor’s fishing trip, albeit in a humorous fashion.  I’m sure Magini’s Mighty father won’t mind.  I get the most out of this faith sharing these ancient stories with my son, and finding ways to relate them to use than I ever do in my solitary practice and study.  I am starting to wonder if the keys to becoming a worthy Gothi lie in my time with my son, and not so much my time with my books.  He doesn’t argue, he doesn’t try to debate, and he doesn’t insist on any one way being right.  His mother raises him Christian, and some of the questions he asks require far more challenging answers.  It isn’t enough to know the lore.  It isn’t enough to live the faith.  It is in the little moments that our spirituality reveals itself.  We have to take time to quiet our minds, our bodies and our souls.  It is how we relate to our faith, and relate our faith to others.

Sacrifice of self to the self.

When I speak of this, I am not referring to Odin’s time on Yggdrasil to learn the runes.  I am finding the most rewarding path of self empowerment is through this method.  It takes lots of self discipline, and for myself it is hard won.  I am speaking of giving up our comforts and our luxuries to pursue goals of self improvement.  Giving up television or time with friends to study.  Overcoming that desire to curl up on the couch, and going to the gym or a class instead.  Putting down your video games or movie nights to Hike or Kayak and immerse yourself in the natural world around you.  Saving money by not going out to eat and instead staying home and eating simple healthy meals.   All these things are sacrifices that we make, and if we honor them, we will become better, and find we craved those luxuries less and less as we fill ourselves with knowledge, grow closer to the wights of land and water, purify and empower our bodies and invest our growing Might and Main into acts both tremendous and small to help our tribe and community.

For many, like myself, the sacrifices I am trying to make are so I can improve myself,  For others, they sacrifice to improve their communities and families.  What do you sacrifice to yourself for?

No one true way

I am posting this in light of the recent post by the AFA.

When I first read it, my initial un-tempered reaction is what I went with.  Personally, I don’t agree with their stance, and believe it skews poorly the public heathen image.  What I failed to consider was the tribal and variant nature of the faith and it’s history and modern interpretations.  Their beliefs are influenced by their interpretation of the lore and the desires of their community and leaders.  I don’t have to agree with it to accept that it is their right.  As a Tribalist and a modernist, I am sure that there are many who will disagree or outright discard my interpretations and practice, and that is okay too.  There are thousands of us, all with our own interpretation, community and level of experience with the lore.  Thousands of communities, thousands of people.  We are all reading the same lore, rebuilding or adapting the same faith, from the scraps preserved through the centuries and yielded up to us by the earth and the wights themselves.  Who are we to determine what is and isn’t the ‘right way’ to heathen?  I don’t support the AFA, but I can respect to practice their interpretation of the faith.  As an American Heathen, I support their right to believe their way, even if I myself cannot subscribe nor uphold their beliefs.  Stand up, be a good example of what you think being a Heathen is. It will sort itself out, and affects the larger heathen community less than you might think.  If you don’t support them, don’t help their saga.  Take what you will from it, and move on.

Meditations on Living Heathen

I should open by saying this is fairly UPG, but it is a way of life that is serving me well.  I developed this as a result of meditations on the Havamal, Nine Noble Virtues, and the Atheling Thews put forth by the Ring of Troth.  I’ve edited my original notes and meditations to try and make use of positive language to create motivation and clarity.  It is this way of life that I am trying to teach my child, and grow into myself.

 

 

Be strong in mind and body.

Be strong in your convictions.

Take pride in your glories, but remember humility has its place and use.

Always pursue knowledge and wisdom.

Always pursue new experiences in life.

Always remember your true friends.

Always speak out against evil.

Live life as an example to others.

Care for yourself.

Care for your family.

Care for your community.

Live within your means.

Be prepared to fight for your community and family.