Heathenry

[Cinnamon Girl]

My apologies if there's a more appropriate existing thread to put this link in, but I didn't see one devoted strictly to Heathenry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/subdivisions/heathen.shtml

I'm not Heathen myself, but a friend of mine who is recommended this as a good basic read. :)

[HorseCrow]

Nice, easy read.

I can add that Asetru is also a legally recognized religion in Denmark (ie not only in Iceland as stated by the article).

[Phoenix Snowrose]

I'd like to thank you for posting that article. It was very insightful.

[Lady Andais]

this article was rather interesting. Thanks for sharing with us.

[whitewater]

what is heathenry anyway?

[frigga]

Heathenry is the religion of the old Norse and Anglo-Saxons. There's a class you could parouse in the circle of teaching but it's come to kind of a stall seeing as the treacher is missing in action!

OHH Macha!!Where is that girl when you need her??

[whitewater]

ohhhhhhhhhhh, im smart now! :idea:

[mucgwyrt]

Heathenry is the religion of the old Norse and Anglo-Saxons. There's a class you could parouse in the circle of teaching but it's come to kind of a stall seeing as the treacher is missing in action!

OHH Macha!!Where is that girl when you need her??

what what what what? :crazyman:

The original "Heathens" were the norse. However when the Angles and the Saxons came over to britain in 500ad, they brought their gods with them. Not to be confused with the "vikings" though - they're more norweigan, and the ancestors of the british are more Danish :smile:
Our Gods are much the same as the Norse Heathens', with slightly altered names. Very little british lore on the Gods remains to be honest. If you're interested though, read beowulf - that's an incredibley famous anglo-saxon saga which was probably originally heathen, but now has slight christian overtones (i.e. the grendel being the spawn of Cain) :)

If, like me, you're interested in the Anglo-Saxon heathens, there're a lot of old spells out there too, which are interesting. Take a look in the Anglo-Saxon Recon thread in Paths for titles etc :smile:

</ramble>

[Nantonos]

The Historiska Museet in Stockholm has an interesting temporary exhibition on:
Olga & Ingegerd – Viking princesses

Meet Olga and Ingegerd
– two Viking women who became consorts to princes in the Old Russian empire.

Both are now orthodox saints in the East. Their lives contain exciting tales of adventure, hope, power and religion.

In the exhibition an extremely well-preserved crypt from Ukraina will be on display to the public. The unique find, from the mid-eighth century, was found by archeologists in Kiev 1998. The crypt contained the remains of a wealthy Scanidanvian woman – but who was she?
http://www.historiska.se/exhibitions/2004/olgaingegerd/index-e.html

Unusually, and much to be applauded, the exhibition catalogue is online as a PDF (3.3 Mb)
http://www.historiska.se/download/HN_olga_ingegerd.pdf

[Sibylle]

The original "Heathens" were the norse. However when the Angles and the Saxons came over to britain in 500ad, they brought their gods with them. Not to be confused with the "vikings" though - they're scandinavian, and the ancestors of the british are more Danish :smile:
And where is Denmark, if not in Scandinavia? ;)

Mind you, I'm NOT the expert on heathenry, but from what I remember of long-gone history lessons in school, the vikings came from what is today Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian territory. Not sure on this one though... (but I AM sure that Denmark is in Scandinavia! I grew up just south of it, lol!)


HorseCrow: I had no idea that Ásatrú is an officially recognized religion in Denmark, too! Used to think it was only Iceland. Learned something new today :)

[HorseCrow]

HorseCrow: I had no idea that Ásatrú is an officially recognized religion in Denmark, too! Used to think it was only Iceland. Learned something new today :)

It happened just last year, maybe that's why. The Danish Asetro have been fighting for it, for a long time, and it finally came through. It is now a legally recognised institution :)

[mucgwyrt]

And where is Denmark, if not in Scandinavia? ;)

Mind you, I'm NOT the expert on heathenry, but from what I remember of long-gone history lessons in school, the vikings came from what is today Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian territory. Not sure on this one though... (but I AM sure that Denmark is in Scandinavia! I grew up just south of it, lol!)


HorseCrow: I had no idea that Ásatrú is an officially recognized religion in Denmark, too! Used to think it was only Iceland. Learned something new today :)

Norweigan, that's what I meant, not scandinavian :durrrr:
Thanks for the correction :D

[mucgwyrt]

And where is Denmark, if not in Scandinavia? ;)

Mind you, I'm NOT the expert on heathenry, but from what I remember of long-gone history lessons in school, the vikings came from what is today Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian territory. Not sure on this one though... (but I AM sure that Denmark is in Scandinavia! I grew up just south of it, lol!)


HorseCrow: I had no idea that Ásatrú is an officially recognized religion in Denmark, too! Used to think it was only Iceland. Learned something new today :)

I learned yesterday that Asatru means "trust in the Aesir" - so what if you follow the vanir? :confused:

[Sibylle]

I learned yesterday that Asatru means "trust in the Aesir" - so what if you follow the vanir? :confused:
:hmmmmm:

Anyone?

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Vanatru is the term I've commonly heard used for those who follow only the Vanir.

[mucgwyrt]

But can't you follow both?

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Yes, in which case I'd either say go with Heathen, or Asatru as it's the most well known word...plus some of the Vanir are also Aesir as you well know.

[mucgwyrt]

Yup. Apparently Ing was vanir but was raised as an aesir or something...

[HorseCrow]

Just to get everyone clear on the Scandinavian bit :)

Scandinavia = Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finnland .

[mucgwyrt]

:fofftopic
Just want to say, I LOVE your signature horsecrow! Makes me larrrf!

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

that off topic smiley always makes me think something bad has happened.It scares me.

[Autumn]

Do Asatru regularly use a 9 point circle?

[mothwench]

a what?
:lol: LoL, FGM. me too. :shaker:

[banondraig]

Do Asatru regularly use a 9 point circle?

if that's analogous to the four-point circle used by Wiccans, then not so far as i know.

if a nine-point circle is something else entirely, what is it???

[PAGANFILES]

My apologies if there's a more appropriate existing thread to put this link in, but I didn't see one devoted strictly to Heathenry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/subdivisions/heathen.shtml

I'm not Heathen myself, but a friend of mine who is recommended this as a good basic read. :)

This is the first time the BBC and the OED appear to be contradictory. . . . weird.

Terry

[mothwench]

what contradiction is this you're referring to, the definition of heathen? it's not weird, it's just a normal phenomenon that happens to all sorts of words, their meanings change or shift slightly with time. my guess is, that in one or two decades, even the compilers of the oxford dictionary will eventually add a second definition.

[PAGANFILES]

what contradiction is this you're referring to, the definition of heathen? it's not weird, it's just a normal phenomenon that happens to all sorts of words, their meanings change or shift slightly with time. my guess is, that in one or two decades, even the compilers of the oxford dictionary will eventually add a second definition.

The OED states that *anyone* not Christian or Jew is considered a heathen. In other reference works Heathen and Pagan are closely allied in that Pagans are people of the woods and fields and Heathens are people of the heaths. Neither limit the term to Scandinavian or Germanic peoples.

Terry

[mothwench]

well, no. but here's the reason why norse/germanic reconstructionism is referred to as heathenism:
the english language is primarily a germanic language. however, it has lots of latin (romanic) elements as well, more than any other germanic language. "pagan" and "heathen" are synonymous, yes that's true, and the only difference is that pagan originally comes from the latin and heathen has a germanic stem.
this is the reason the (mostly english) anglo-saxon pagans refer to themselves as heathen and what they practice as heathenry, i think it's pretty legitimate. and for the non-english speaking norse/germnaic pagans this obviously isn't an issue anyway, for reasons explained above. most call themselves asatruar, or for example, in germany where i am, simply heiden (=pagans)

[PAGANFILES]

Actually, I'm not all that worried about word usage by Neo movements. In my first post I was only commenting that the BBC and OED contradicted each other on word usage. That just doesn't happen that often.

Terry

[OldSoulsBody]

I'm very glad I stumbled upon this! The hubbie follows the Asatru path and would probably be VERY fascinated to look at these links.

[OldSoulsBody]

I asked him and he told me that the 9 point circle represents the nine worlds according to the Norse, The first level: Asgard, world of the Aesir; Vanaheim, land of the Vanir; and Alfheim, land of the light elves.The second level: Midgard, Land of humans (middle world/garden); Nidavellir, Land of the dwarfs; Jotunheim, Land of the giants (Jotuns); and Svartalfheim, Land of the dark elves.
The third level: Hel, Realm of the dead; and Niflheim, World of the dead. Here is a real good site for anyone interested in the Northern Way:http://www.northvegr.org/main.php

[mothwench]

that sound like yggdrasil pretty much as i see it in my head as well. :huh: i'd never have thought of calling it a circle, though. neat. :D
edited to add: get your OH to sign up! :colorful: the more, the merrier. :farmerjoe :reindeer: :drinking: :viking: :broomride

[fay]

thanks for posting that. am always glad to learn about other peoples ways of life (makes me feel clever and knowledgeable :graduate: )
blessed be

[Kern]

Thanks for the great weblinks. After going here http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=paganreligion

and taking these quizes I may have been looking in the wrong place,not sure just yet though. I have been mainly drawn to the Celtic side if things so far.

My top 4 chocies on the quize came out as :
Asatru
Druid
Wiccan
Shaman

In the other one my top 3 were:
Romuva(whatever the 7734 that is)
Old English Heathenry
Celtic Recon

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Thanks for the great weblinks. After going here http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=Peoplereligion

and taking these quizes I may have been looking in the wrong place,not sure just yet though. I have been mainly drawn to the Celtic side if things so far.

My top 4 chocies on the quize came out as :
Asatru
Druid
Wiccan
Shaman

In the other one my top 3 were:
Romuva(whatever the 7734 that is)
Old English Heathenry
Celtic Recon

Romuva is Baltic Reconstructionism

[banondraig]

smack me if i'm off topic, but i don't know about that quiz.

i got:

#1: Wiccan
#2: Shaman
#3: Druid
#4: Thelema
#5: Greek
#6: Asatru
#7: Egyptian
#8: Orisha

i don't feel especially Wiccan anymore, even if i haven't had my dog tags changed.

[Kern]

Romuva is Baltic Reconstructionism
Ahh Okay thanks!

[Kern]

smack me if i'm off topic, but i don't know about that quiz.

i got:

#1: Wiccan
#2: Shaman
#3: Druid
#4: Thelema
#5: Greek
#6: Asatru
#7: Egyptian
#8: Orisha

i don't feel especially Wiccan anymore, even if i haven't had my dog tags changed.
What are you?May I ask?

[mothwench]

smack me if i'm off topic, but i don't know about that quiz.

i got:

#1: Wiccan
#2: Shaman
#3: Druid
#4: Thelema
#5: Greek
#6: Asatru
#7: Egyptian
#8: Orisha

i don't feel especially Wiccan anymore, even if i haven't had my dog tags changed.

:lol: yup, the questions were weird an' all.
my results:


#1 Druid
#2 Egyptian
#3 Shaman
#4 Thelema
#5 Greek
#6 Asatru
#7 Orisha
#8 Wiccan

errrm.... :wtf: now i'd better find out what orisha is. :huh:

[Kern]

:lol: yup, the questions were weird an' all.
my results:


#1 Druid
#2 Egyptian
#3 Shaman
#4 Thelema
#5 Greek
#6 Asatru
#7 Orisha
#8 Wiccan

errrm.... :wtf: now i'd better find out what orisha is. :huh:
Orisha if I am not mistaken comes from African tribal beliefs.But dont quote me on that.

[banondraig]

Orisha if I am not mistaken comes from African tribal beliefs.But dont quote me on that.

yep, that's what i heard, too. to answer your earlier question, i used to be Wiccan, and am now studying Asatru. i don't fel like i have learned enough just yet to actually call myself an Asatruar (sp?), however.

[Kern]

yep, that's what i heard, too. to answer your earlier question, i used to be Wiccan, and am now studying Asatru. i don't fel like i have learned enough just yet to actually call myself an Asatruar (sp?), however.
Kool I am studying Asatru also at the time.... :bubbles:

[Kern]

Some one asked the other day about the Aesir and Vanir,cant remember whom or what thread though.Here is the Asatru view.

Æsir ON, Ése OE:
One of the two primary tribes of deities of Asatru belief. Strictly speaking, Æsir refers to the Gods, while the Goddesses are called the Asynjur, but generally the term Æsir is used to apply to all the deities. The singular of the term is "Áse."
The Scandinavians distinguished two separate tribes of deities, but in England and the Germanic lands of the European continent, there is little evidence that shows a belief in separate tribes of deities. Rather, they saw them all as a single collective of deities. In Heathen Anglo-Saxon, the related term "Ós" simply meant "God," without implying membership in a specific God-tribe. Ealdriht (http://www.ealdriht.org/glossary.html)

[Kern]

In Heathenry..Are the Landwihta and Cofgodas comparable to faeries of other paths? :confused:

[banondraig]

what's a cofgoda?

[fay]

i tried that quiz and got
1. Wicca
2. Thelema
3. Druid
4. Shaman
5. Egyptian
6. Greek
7. Asatru
8. Orisha

can anybody tell me what Thelema is? thanks
blessed be

[banondraig]

i tried that quiz and got
1. Wicca
2. Thelema
3. Druid
4. Shaman
5. Egyptian
6. Greek
7. Asatru
8. Orisha

can anybody tell me what Thelema is? thanks
blessed be

i don't know that much about Thelema, but it has something to do w/Alister Crowley. i think he was the founder of Thelema, but am not 100% certain.

[Kern]

what's a cofgoda?

Cofgodas (AS) A group of spirits friendly to humans that help around one's house. Generally they are seen by those with second sight as small humans. Sometimes they are mischievous, but rarely dangerous. They generally dislike lazy humans as they themselves are hard workers. Some cofgods do become nuisances hiding things, making noise, and knocking things over, but generally a simple spell will rid the house of such pesky types.
Ealdriht (http://www.ealdriht.org/wights.html)

[Kern]

i tried that quiz and got
1. Wicca
2. Thelema
3. Druid
4. Shaman
5. Egyptian
6. Greek
7. Asatru
8. Orisha

can anybody tell me what Thelema is? thanks
blessed be
Heres a good discription:
Thelema (http://www.witchvox.com/trads/trad_thelema.html)

[banondraig]

Cofgodas (AS) A group of spirits friendly to humans that help around one's house. Generally they are seen by those with second sight as small humans. Sometimes they are mischievous, but rarely dangerous. They generally dislike lazy humans as they themselves are hard workers. Some cofgods do become nuisances hiding things, making noise, and knocking things over, but generally a simple spell will rid the house of such pesky types.
Ealdriht (http://www.ealdriht.org/wights.html)


they sound kind of like brownies, so named because they are brown and hairy. they're in english folklore, not sure of their ultimate origin, though.

[Kern]

they sound kind of like brownies, so named because they are brown and hairy. they're in english folklore, not sure of their ultimate origin, though.
That could be the origin,though I am not sure.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Brownies are what I was thinking too banon. I know they are most commonly part of Scottish lore, so they are probably Celtic in origin.

[banondraig]

ah, yes, thank you.

[mothwench]

they sound kind of like brownies, so named because they are brown and hairy. they're in english folklore, not sure of their ultimate origin, though.
cofgoda sounds swedish. in german folklore, there are the moss folk. i'm thinking they may be similar, could be wrong. oh, and yeah, brownies are scottish.
i wrote some stuff about the moss folk in the different types of moss thread in ye olde MW herball in the green room.
:elf:

[Nantonos]

cofgoda sounds swedish.

I did some checking. The Wordhoard at http://www.ealdriht.org/glossary.html says

Housewight, Cofgodas OE: :
Housewights are beings that take up residence in one's home. Sometimes they seem to have an actual physical being, while more often they are spiritual beings which take up residence within a physical object in the household. In elder days, the most frequent object for this purpose was a rock set beside the hearth. Today, many Heathens will obtain a small statue, figurine or other representational object as a housewight-dwelling. Housewights are also thought to reside, on occasion, in household animals, in particular tomcats. Offerings of food and drink are given to housewights to keep their goodwill. Well-meaning housewights bring good luck to a household, and help to keep it functioning smoothly and in an orderly way. Ill-meaning housewights can cause a good deal of mischief and disruption in a household.

An old english list at http://home.comcast.net/~modean52/old_to_new_english_c.htm has


cofgodas [] m pl household gods

Lastly , dictionary.com relates it to cobalt and kobold via anglo saxon and icelandic


\Co"balt\ (k[=o]"b[o^]lt; 277, 74), n. [G. kobalt, prob. fr. kobold, kobel, goblin, MHG. kobolt; perh. akin to G. koben pigsty, hut, AS. cofa room,cofgodas household gods, Icel. kofi hut. If so, the ending -old stands for older -walt, -wald, being the same as -ald in E. herald and the word would mean ruler or governor in a house, house spirit, the metal being so called by miners, because it was poisonous and troublesome. Cf. Kobold, Cove, Goblin.] 1. (Chem.) A tough, lustrous, reddish white metal of the iron group, not easily fusible, and somewhat magnetic. Atomic weight 59.1. Symbol Co.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=web1913&q=Cobalt

Yes, I am back, sort of

[mothwench]

:hugz: hey, where have you been?
i know all about kobolds, we have dozens, i'd never have thought of the connection between cofgoda and kobold. thanks!
:yourock:

[Nantonos]

:hugz: hey, where have you been?
i know all about kobolds, we have dozens, i'd never have thought of the connection between cofgoda and kobold. thanks!
:yourock:


:jumprope: no probs ... so, tell me about kobolds, because I thought they were runty little grey things whose sole purpose in life was to be weak enough to get killed by brand new Neverwinter Nights characters trying to get to level two ....

[mothwench]

:lol: well, they steal my socks, i think they may have a foot fetish thing going on... they are also partial to wine gums and those lollies with the white centers and the pictures in them.

and also, there's a children's tv program with a kobold as main protagonist: his name is pumuckl. all the littl'uns here love him. :smile:
edited to add: an added bonus: he is ginger. :bigredgri

[banondraig]

THAT'S what's been causing our rampant laundry theft here! malevolent kobolds! now i know, although i have a feeling this post is being objected to. i'll have to retract that. of course it's just some nasty theiving soldiers that are taking everyone's clothes. what would a kobold want with bdu's anyway? :lol:

[mucgwyrt]

Housewight, Cofgodas OE: :
Housewights are beings that take up residence in one's home. Sometimes they seem to have an actual physical being, while more often they are spiritual beings which take up residence within a physical object in the household. In elder days, the most frequent object for this purpose was a rock set beside the hearth. Today, many Heathens will obtain a small statue, figurine or other representational object as a housewight-dwelling. Housewights are also thought to reside, on occasion, in household animals, in particular tomcats. Offerings of food and drink are given to housewights to keep their goodwill. Well-meaning housewights bring good luck to a household, and help to keep it functioning smoothly and in an orderly way. Ill-meaning housewights can cause a good deal of mischief and disruption in a household.

That's really interesting; an Anglo-Saxon belief? Was it referenced?

[Nantonos]

That's really interesting; an Anglo-Saxon belief? Was it referenced?

Referenced? You mean, like, a printed book?


:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Uh, no.
I'm seeing that text at
http://members.tripod.com/ragnar_modisson/Glossary.html

similar text at
http://www.ealdriht.org/wights.html
http://www.google.fr/search?q=cache:-Z4Yo4obbZYJ:www.midnightreflections.com/dictionary/h.htm+Cofgodas+tomcats&hl=en

[skilly-nilly]

:lol: well, they steal my socks, i think they may have a foot fetish thing going on... they are also partial to wine gums and those lollies with the white centers and the pictures in them.


I always thought kobolds lived under the ground, but what do I know? Brownies are Scottish/British; I think the Celtic equivilent is a hob. Folklore suggests having a decorative representation of a house (a suitable rock would do since being able to physically get into the house is not a requirement). I used to have a castle, but my sister gave me a cottage last Thüle that I use now. Hobs are supposed to do little chores, protect the inhabitants from malign influences, and keep out sickness

Socks are a signifigant problem. My suggestion is to buy some very attractive baby socks (maybe some wine gums and lollies as well, neh?) and offer a trade:

I can share
Some socks with you.
Put mine back
Here in my shoe.

nb: 'trading' is not the same as 'giving' at all (they all love to bargin) and so the prohibition against thanking and gifts is avoided.