Jump-starting Religion
I haven’t been a very good Pagan lately. Not like I’ve been doing anti-Pagan things, I just haven’t felt the spirit. I haven’t been thinking about Pagan issues. I haven’t been celebrating seasons or spending time with my ancestors. I’m certain this is tied into my grief over the crappy year TheScott and I have...
A Heathen to Wicca Holiday Crosswalk
I try to be a good Heathen, but as a Wiccan convert I am sometimes confused about when I should observe my faith according to Heathen holy days (henceforth “holidaysâ€). When I first chose Heathenry over Wicca, just because it is a better fit for me, I figured the Wheel of the Year was a...
The Presents of Odin in Christmas
We princesses are off princessing with kith and kin this week in celebration of Yule. But we have a few things to share in case you need your week to be extra regal. A few weeks ago, I shared my pride in the Pagan roots of Christmas. It’s lovely to think this holiday season is...
Walls, Corners, and Floor Space: Finding the Right Spot for My Ancestor Altar
Jax has written about ancestor worship and her ancestor altar. I talk to my ancestors often, especially this year, but I have yet to set up an altar. I’m in a nice big house now, which I have all to myself, and I have the “real estate†to dedicate space for my altar in a way...
Walking the Talk: Explaining Heathenry to an Adoption Agency
We spend a lot of our time in The Realm talking about Pagan interactions in the real world, and I have, in the past, encouraged people who are able without intense repercussions to come out of the broom closet. My convictions tell me that being open about who I am and what I believe is...
Heroes and Magic and Gods, Oh my! Recommended Readings on Heathenry
Last week in the comments a reader asked for reading suggestions for those interested in learning more about Heathenry. I realized I had a lot to say about this topic, so I made a post out of it. Please know I am not a scholar and while I have been a Pagan for a long time...
Hamingja – The Embodiment of Luck
The Norse embodied the idea of personal luck in a spirit called a hamingja. (It’s pronounced HA-ming-yah; thanks to Alda Villiljós for the correct pronunciation!) Each person has their own hamingja following them around, and just like some people have stronger muscles than others, some people’s hamingjas are stronger than others. Nobody’s hamingja wishes them...
The Power of an Oath
I consider myself a newbie to Heathenry and am trying to learn from others as I move towards Heathen practice. One way I learn from others is from email lists where like minded people (or sometimes unlike minded people) share experiences, knowledge and personal beliefs about a topic. The topic of oaths recently emerged on...
Oh, Behave! – Wyrd, Frith, and the Social Contract
One of the most common defenses people give for religion is that it brings order to society. People look to their faith to tell them how to be good people, and because of their fear of God, Hell, or even the punishing power of priests, people choose to behave...
Sleeping with Ancestors, Mantic and Romantic Dreams
When I say I sleep with my ancestors, I mean I dream of them. I dream of the ancestors I know, or rather knew, fairly frequently. Although I now suspect I dream of ancestors I never knew, too, but I don’t recognize them as such because…well, largely because I don’t recognize them. Jax and talked...
Ostara: Chasing History in Myth
I’ve spent six months now actively pursuing a reconstructionist-style paganism, and it’s been both interesting and enlightening. I did it because I’ve always felt strong ties to my Scandinavian heritage, I love history and research, and I was growing a little tired of wandering through general paganism (not that there’s anything wrong with doing that,...
