The American Heathen

The American Heathen

I am in the process of writing my Magnum Opus.  It will be the most scholarly work I’ve written.  But, I am not a scholar; I write for the Joe Lunchbox crowd.  That said, there is no telling when it will be published.  A targeted end date for this work is premature.  And as promised, a second edition for my Heilige Yule will be included.  There are things driving this work, American Heathenry being one of them. 

Here Begins the Rant -

          Growing up in south-eastern Pennsylvania I had many friends who were in a similar situation as me.  Many of us had parents and/or grandparents who came to this country at the beginning of the 20^th century.  A few had families that were here longer.  When we consider the time that Europeans began to settle here to our present, it’s just a mere 400 years, give or take a decade or two.  Not much time for blood to wet the soil. 

          During the mid 19^th century in Europe when the rise of nationalism picked up speed, a phrase – blood and soil – was born.  In my opinion, the use of this phrase by American Heathens today is irrational.  For starters, it’s not about blood; it’s about DNA. 

          DNA is what links us to our Ancestors.  We are in many ways the sum total of Kin that came before us.  It is easy to say then, that we are our Ancestors and they are us.  This linkage is true, solid, and transcends the physical (recent DNA discoveries indicate that ancestral memory is carried within DNA and can be experienced in dreams, meditation, etc.  I am not a scientist, but is it possible that DNA can carry with it a sense of place, land, soil?).  

          Our European ancestral heritage is deep, profound, and thousands of years old.  Our Ancestors bled and died in that soil.  Now I believe that that ‘soil’ is a part of our DNA (the sense of place, of being).  It is a part of the ancestral memory carried within our DNA strands.  And through our DNA, we can experience it.  Any ancestral time in the USA, I believe, is not a long enough period to have an impact.  Plus, it’s Christian.  Ancestral Europe was Heathen for thousands of years before the so-called conversion.  Let me offer an example. 

          Native Americans have been in the USA for many thousands of years.  These folks have a solid connection with the soil, the land and often speak of it.  It is a connection that transcends the physical; it is a part of their DNA and Folk Soul.  For those of us of European descent, this may occur if we are a 7^th or 8^th generation family farmer (as an example) in the USA.  Here is something interesting. 

          When my wife and I visited Europe in the summer of 2017 we had some feelings that made us feel ‘at home.’  That’s the best I can describe it.  That feeling hit as we walked the grounds of Sutton Hoo and then looked out on to King Raedwald’s grave mound.  The feeling of peace that we experienced standing before the Cathedral of Notre Dame had nothing to do with Christian Catholic Universalism.  It had everything to do with the Celtic and Roman temples that the Cathedral is built on.  The vibes are still there.  While in Austria along the Danube and in Salzburg the feelings were the most intense.  These experiences, I believe, came through our DNA (and let’s not forget our Folk Soul).  Maybe this is in some small way what Native Americans feel.  Unfortunately, there is a small number of European Heathens who do not think too kindly about their American Heathen cousins. 

          These folks think that since we are born in the USA we should follow the path of Native Americans (something Native Americans find quite amusing) - because we were born here, and not there.  That’s not just silly but downright ignorant.  We are Americans of European descent.  We have the culture, heritage, and DNA.  We have the right to claim Asatru/Heathenry as our own faith and ancestral folkway.  But even still many young American Heathens wonder if they are ‘doing it right.’  The reason for this, I believe, is some bullying from Reconstructionists. 

          In the early days of the Heathen revival, two simple things happened.  To get started, the leaders ‘borrowed’ a thing or two from Wicca.  To this day that burns holes in the brains of some Recons.  The Reconstructionists came along and did the heavy lifting.  These fellows did the research that put us well past Snorri (I agree with Dr. Jackson Crawford.  Snorri is a SECONDARY SOURCE.  At best) and gave us the more colorful Heathenry that we enjoy today.  But out of Reconstructionism came the purist. 

          The purist is a Recon who is happy to tell you that you are ‘doing it wrong.’  According to the purist if you are not conducting Blot and Sumbel a certain way (their way, of course) and doing it on a certain day (the way our Ancestors did) you’re wrong.  This American Heathen has a problem with that. 

          Regardless of all the good historical work, the Recons gave us (And I for one am glad they did.  Especially since I got to be a lazy bastard as I grew older) we know little of Elder Heathenry.  It’s a lot like going to the beach with a 50-gallon drum and filling it with sand.  At the end of the day, you have a lot of sand but there is a shit load of sand left on the beach.  And, there was never, ever a pan-Germanic religion.  It was a way of life that varied from locale to locale.  The guy down the river and across the bend did things a tad different than the folks 10 miles upstream. 

          We know, for instance, that Blots and Sumbels happened and we have three calendars and other historical written material to back that up.  We know that the Norse celebrated Sigrblot on the full moon that fell in the month we know today as April.  At the same time, we know that the Anglo-Saxons celebrated Ostar/Eostre.  Both were Blots held at the same time that officially marked the first day of summer – but with different overtones.  The same is true in October for Winterfyllth/Winter Nights (the beginning of winter).  And we know that both celebrated Yule for three days in January, depending on the full moon (it appears that Yule was moved to December around the Solstice with the introduction of the Julian calendar, conversion, and Law decree.  However, there are Heathens who celebrate Yule in January at the full moon.  I have no problem with that and you should not either).   We do not know many details, but we do know that Heathenry was fluid then and it should be so now. 

          Our Ancestors changed and evolved; in many instances, survival depended on it.  If something needed change for any good reason it was changed.  To think that our Ancestors expect us to carry on and do things the way they did is foolish.  They and our Gods expect us to grow, evolve, adapt, and overcome – to be the best that we can be (they do not want us to give up indoor plumbing and electricity to be just like them.  Heathens that believe that must be on crack.  Keep in mind what century we live in).  We live in the 21^st century (you see, I had to remind you!).  It is an understatement to say that life is different than the days of Elder Heathenry.  The demands of life are certainly different and time for some folks today is a precious commodity.  Expecting folks to take off of work in the middle of the week just because it’s a full moon for the celebration is not reasonable.  So stuff is done on weekends.  Even the purists have to deal with that.  And, the idea that you’re doing it wrong – the way you are doing your celebration and when you are doing it is offensive to our Gods and Ancestors is just plain rubbish.  Now let me tell you something.

          Whatever you may have heard about Texas weather is probably true.  And if you live along the Gulf Coast as my wife and I do, you’d swear that most of the year is downright tropical.  Some months ago a friend of mine, Berk Harbin, suggested that we in Texas change the name of the seasonal holiday ‘Winter Finding’ (late September) to Fall Finding.  The reason – Texas weather; we don’t have winter here like in the northern states.  It was agreeable and Winter Finding was replaced by Fall Finding.  Nothing changed but the title of the celebration to fit here in Texas.  Here is another simple change, or addition.  

          Heathens are mindful of others.  If some of our numbers have a problem with alcohol, alcohol is left out of Blot and Sumbel.  Apple juice or another juice is substituted for the alcohol and becomes the liquid libation of the celebration.  The results are the same.  Today some of us include our kids in Blot.  Juice is naturally preferred. This is another example of Heathens adapting and changing to bring about the desired result.  There are other changes and adaptations happening but maybe the most important is tribalism.  

          From my front porch, it appears that many American Heathens have warmed to the idea of tribalism – the formation of kindred/clans and the coming together in a sort of confederation.  For now, it is coming together for the purpose of joint activities.  In the future, it can develop into more.  And tribalism seems to appeal more to folks than any national organization.  Here in Texas, we are Folkish but no way in the sense of that racist nonsense that came out of the mid-19^th century. We are Folkish in the sense of family.  If you are a parent, a sister or a brother, you should easily understand that. But know this – American Heathenry is growing and American Heathens do have a seat at the table.   

Here Ends The Rant. 

    Copyright 2019 Terry Unger All Rights Reserved

     

Water in the Well

We humans as we pass through time, put much water (figuratively speaking, words and deeds) into Urda's Well.   The Wyrd Sisters pull water from this Well to nourish Yggdrasil, the World Tree.  Time makes the strange and different put into the Well become Normal, Acceptable, and Customary. Holidays are not what they used to be in days of Elder Heathenry.  

In a recent post, Calendars, holidays, their relationship and importance 2/25/2019, I discussed how calendars used factored into when the holidays were celebrated (please read the post above for clarity).  This post is a followup and to answer some questions it raised.  

To pure Reconstructionists, to NOT do exactly what our Ancestors did means that we "are doing it wrong."  I beg to differ on this point.  In my opinion, I must ask what our Ancestors would like us to do.  To double down on that, I also ask what our Gods would like us to do.  

To assume what our Gods would like us to do is a bit presumptuous on our part.  Since they are infinitely more evolved than we are, making assumptions is a fool's errand, especially since individually we are rather insignificant.  But there is one valid exception.  They want us to honor them in Blot and Sumbel.  They want us to grow and evolve, to be the best that we can be.  You can bet that our Ancestors want the same.  But pure Recons want us to do exactly what our Ancestors did in their time.  To me, this is a mistake, albeit an honest one.

Recons would like if all of Heathenry fell in line with what they do.  This mainly involves when and how we celebrate the holidays.  They go back to how Elder Heathenry used lunar cycles/calendars to determine the Holy Tides.  Make no mistake, I respect the hell out of this and totally agree. To back up their point, passages from the Yngling Saga, Bede, and one or two more sources are used.  Again, I respect this stuff.  And, I have used both lunar cycles and the written articles as historical points - it happened, and I will continue to do so.  But, a lot of water has been put in the Well and much taken out to nourish the Tree. 

Recons argue that early in the Heathen rival (or Asatru, if you prefer that word), was influenced by Wicca.  That the early pioneers of Heathenry adopted the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.  Well, the short answer is, yes they did.  However, that was then, this is now.  Recons also argue the influence of Christianity on modern Heathenry.  Again, the short answer is yes, it did.  But this is the 21st century and much water went into the Well and Yggdrasil nourished.  Here is a major point. 

We cannot escape Christianity and what it did to aid and abet conversion in the North (this will have some detail in the new book).  With conversion came the Julian "solar" calendar.  The calendar and conversion were aided by the likes of Hakon the Good.  Hakon made a law that Yule was to be celebrated at the same time as his savior's birth, which with the Julian calendar was Winter Solstice, December 25th, fixed, every year.  Elder Heathenry celebrated Yule mid to late January, based on the lunar reckoning of the full moon.  So Recons today celebrate Yule for three days in mid to late January.  And the rest of us are wrong for not doing the same.  What of the two other major holidays? 

Winter's Night/Winterfyllith/ Disablot was celebrated by Elder Heathenry in mid to late October based on the full moon.  Recons do this today.  But, the rest of Heathenry also celebrates this holiday in the same time frame, just not in sync with the lunar cycle.  Is this wrong?  The short answer is no. 

Eostre/Sigrblot was celebrated by Elder Heathenry in mid to late April, in sync with the full moon.  Again, Recons copy this practice.  The rest of Heathenry celebrates the holiday at this time, just not with the lunar cycle in mind.  So, if we do not celebrate Yule in January with or without full moon reckoning, are we wrong?  Are we wrong to celebrate Yuletide at roughly the same time Christians celebrate their Christmas?  I believe not. 

It was mentioned that we are living in the 21st century.  We have moved forward and evolved, despite the presence of Christianity.  That said, 21st-century life has placed demands upon us that the centuries of Elder Heathenry could not imagine.  Like, holding down a job to pay the bills and put food on the table.  One cannot just take three days off in the middle of the week because it's the full moon and we have a religious thing going on.   For the most part, modern Heathenry uses week-ends for these celebrations, as do Recons, regardless of when the full moon shows itself.  Then we have this point. 

I frequently used the descriptive words "water in the well and watering world tree, watering Yggdrasil."  What happened over time, due to repetition, has become Normal, Acceptable, and Customary.  It becomes a part of the tree, the fabric of Wyrd.  Christianity, in order to facilitate conversion, blended our Yule into their Christmas.  That is the long and short of it.  I do not believe that a wholesale change of Yule Celebration is needed.  But there is a thing or two that needs to be understood. 

Heathens of all ages need to know what happened in Elder Heathenry and why it changed.  We need to know the major players in the game who made things happen.  And they need to know that the conversion of the northern European peoples had just as much to do with politics as it did religion.  It was the stuff that made the Saxons fight.  These subjects and more will be dealt with in my new book. 


                   Copyright 2019 Terry Unger All Rights Reserved