The smallest social unit in our mainstream culture is the individual, but among our ancestors the smallest social unit was the family. An individual on this own, had no one to speak up for him, no one to look out for him, and no one to avenge him should he be done wrong.
An individual was nothing. In Modern Heathenry, there is a strong focus on healthy families. Nearly every local group encourages the whole family to be involved. Loyalty to one's family is seen as being of primary importance. The most commonly used term for local Heathen groups is "kindred," and most kindreds are organized in a structure similar to an extended family.
There are solitary Heathens. Some are solitary by choice, while others live in areas where they have not yet found other Heathens with which to associate or gather. But, for many Heathens the community aspects of Heathenry are central to the practice of their Faith. Associating with other Heathens can accellerate your learning, motivate you to greater accomplishments, and allows one to fully live and experience the cultural values that are embodied in the Ways of our Ancestors.
For instance, h ow better to practice and share Frith in your life, than to be surrounded by other people who understand the concept? This community oriented nature of Heathenry also fills a gap in an otherwise individualistic and fairly selfish mainstream culture.
In a world where neighbors don't know each other, families fall apart on a regular basis, and it often feels like everyone is out for themselves Heathenry is a place where you can get to know good people, and share friendship, loyalty, and mutual support with them. Amazing things can be accomplished when people of worth work collectively to accomplish important goals. While we've done our best to answer from our perspective the question, "What is Heathenry," we are fully aware this answer is incomplete.
Whole books have been written on the topic, and there are many more to be written. When you factor in the different approaches taken by various Heathen individuals and groups, it only increases the difficulty of really giving a concise answer to the question. Suffice it to say, that Heathenry is a family and community-oriented religion and way-of-life that attempts to bring our People back in line with the religious beliefs and cultural world-view of our pre-Christian Ancestors.
We honor the Gods of our People, our Ancestors, and the spirits of the land. Click Here to comment on our Facebook page about this information. The more familiar you are with Heathenry, the more you realize that there is no one answer to the question, "What is Heathenry?
Heathenry is, by its very nature, a richly diverse belief system. So, the answer provided below is our best effort to answer this question from our point-of-view. There is no shortage of people out there that believe that they are "right," and everyone else is "wrong. Your Ancestors Were Heathen Many people with Northern European ancestry do not realize that the original religion of their Ancestors was not Christianity. The Religion with Homework Learning about Heathenry and internalizing the values and beliefs inspired by the Ways of Our Ancestors is a lot of work.
Do we need to create a new theology? Each essay will identify a contemporary issue, discuss it through the lens of heathen myths, and suggest a solution based on heathen ideals. He takes inspiration from the social-justice-oriented Catholic theologians of Latin America who created Liberation Theology in the s and s.
The role of government? Climate change? Gender identity? The gods are alive, well, and eager to party. Every time they [racists] come out with their message, we need to get out there with ours. Sweden, for example, is home to Vikings Against Racism, a network of people attempting to rescue old Norse iconography from misuse. They regularly show up at far-right events and other demonstrations.
Representations of earth, air, fire, and water may also be employed for cleansing and consecration; for instance, participants might anoint themselves with salt water earth and water and burn incense air and fire as part of ritual preparation. Pagans generally do not proselytize and, while classes and retreats may introduce people to the path, the initiative to practice is with each individual.
Some Pagans also participate in other religious communities such as churches or synagogues. From the s through the early s, the source of growth in Paganism was through small groups—variously called groves, nests, covens, or circles. After the mids, the availability of the internet and communications technology increased access to religious material for geographically isolated Pagans, who slowly grew into a majority in the movement.
Most do not celebrate within a specific temple or building, though there are a few Pagan temple buildings in the United States. On the whole, Pagans prefer to worship out of doors, or else in private homes and rented halls.
Building an altar—a place for divinity, and a sacred workplace for performing rituals—is one of the first ways many Pagans begin spiritual practice. Pagans often have altars in their homes, sometimes tucked in a corner of the bedroom. Pagans with yards, or those who live in rural settings, may build altars outdoors. The altar may contain natural objects, photographs of the beloved dead, ritual tools, and objects of beauty or personal power.
At the altar, one might leave an offering for a deity, enter into meditation, create an herbal charm, or undertake a personal cleansing or healing ritual. Pagans might perform a wide variety of spiritual exercises on a daily basis, though probably no two Pagans practice their faith exactly the same way.
Spoken intention is thought to be very powerful: Pagans often believe that verbalizing their desires is the first step toward bringing change into their lives. Respect for this principle leads many Pagans to choose their words carefully, lest a habit of self-deprecation or pessimism interfere with achieving life goals.
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