Live United or Die Divided?

Today’s Heathendom is rife with division, yet we work diligently to learn of our old beliefs to reconstruct our old religion. There’s a desire to reach out with the aim of networking, in the hopes of meeting up in real life to build relationships. Groups, organizations, accords, & platforms are set up to bring us together. We seek a collective unity, whilst priding ourselves on our being individuals & embracing diversity of thought; where local variances are accepted & tolerated because we recognize that we’re all Heathens, walking the same direction & sharing the same overall goals.
As true as these words are, many of our actions contradict & taint Heathenship. Too often, we cannot escape hyper-individualism & view others with suspicion. He has to have an agenda! His endeavor is competition to my organization! Those folks are wrong, I must debate them & show them the truth! He doesn’t practice my cultural expression, so I must shadow ban him! He research must be plagiarized! Surely he’s lying! Or at least ignorantly mistaken! They’re gatekeepers! Evil Nazis! Degenerate Universalists! He doesn’t follow my leaders! He must just be a contrarian! A rebel! They’re LARPers! Who does he think he is being different! I can’t work with him - he has to work with me!
The time is long overdue for us to unite as a strong collective Heathen body. In staying divided, we weaken ourselves; thus, opening ourselves up for attack. Our folk have long suffered the ill-effects of the divide & conquer techniques inflicted upon us. We need to learn to work together, let go of the suspicion, mistrust, & haughtiness & work together to save our folk. The end of the current cycle is nigh & we stand at a crossroads.

Which way Heathen man?

I speak these words not as a condemnation, but as an honest critique of our present state. We, as Heathen folk, have so much good, yet we have still have so much holding us back. I urge you to take off the blinders, gather your wits, delve into deep introspection, & change yourself. I am here to help you & likewise, I accept your help in removing my blinders. These words rest within the truest sense of honesty & truth, with humble intentions, yet with fierce strength & determination, for we are not a weak folk.

Hail our forebears! Hail our folk! Hail the doers! Hail our gods! Faraþ ġesunde.

~ Folcweard Lárġyfa

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

The 'Obby 'Oss May Day festival in Padstow, Cornwall today

The Second Concentric Circle: Family

An excerpt from Tréowbóc: The Loyalty Writings

Tréow need never be limited solely to ourselves, lest we become self-centered. When we focus upon ourselves, it can be a dangerous and slippery slope. When we put ourselves before others, we reject the natural order of the cosmos and embrace the chaotic elements of entropy, or that which destroys (The realm of the Eotenas; the enemies of the Gods); however, when we embrace, and put into practice, the elements of negentropy, that which brings order (The realm of the Gods; the friends of mankind), we learn how to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of esteem and respect. Once we have established Tréow within ourselves, and have built a solid moral foundation of accountability with which we base, and build, our lives around, we must look outward, toward the people who are most important to us – our family.

https://www.amazon.com/author/folcweard

Relationship is the lifeblood which sustains us. When in touch with our indiginous folk-soul, Northern European folk understand this. The gift for gift principle reenforces our bonds. Our foundation rests upon the strength of our honor & tréow. We must uphold our sense of honor, both within the standards we set for ourselves & the value & preservation of it toward those of our innanġeard. Tréow is unwavering law, that when upheld, is the strength that carries us through our darkest of times & reminds us that we’re not alone. The Lone Wolf life is indeed one of a slow cold death, while true relationship with others is everything that is good. Even if the prize is great knowledge, deep understandings, or respect or admiration from the masses, don’t sacrifice your sense of honor or loosen the bonds of tréow; it never ends well, despite any attempt to suppress or deny the thought. We are our deeds & every action will one day be told.

Pic by: https://news.1rj.ru/str/thechadpastoralist

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

I highly recommend The Fyrgen channel and encourage a listen to this great podcast.

https://news.1rj.ru/str/fyrgen

The Fyrgen Podcast - Episode 1: Why Paganism?
In this, the very episode of the Fyrgen Podcast, I lay out quite comprehensively the reasons that folks of the modern age should explore their ancestral Pagan tradition rather than turning to any of the imported Abrahamic or Eastern religions. Based on my own 20 year journey—15 of which have been spent as a practicing Heathen—I talk about what I've found to be the most empowering and valuable aspects of this calling.

See fyrgen.com for ways to support. Weekly podcasts episodes begin here.

I am the bear. I forge my own path. My wyrd is fully fixed. I am sometimes gentle and playful; other times walking death. At times I hibernate; to gain strength. Other times, I walk forward, and when I do, I change, adapt, overcome; succeeding through sheer willpower, strength, and unwavering ferocity. When the gods compel, I listen. I play the long game. The Wódenic path. The power of Þunor. The majesty of Seaxnēat-Fréa. When the choice is clear, others move aside. I am the bear.

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

So I’m outside today, doing some planting in the garden and orchard. I take my phone out of my pocket to check some notes and I find this open and written in my notes. Now, my phone doesn’t open unless I type a password or use facial recognition, so hmm, quite interesting…

Hál Þunor!

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

There is no greater role, nor stronger love, than that of a Mother

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

Last week, my House gathered together and made a mini May Pole. We have many opportunities at our disposal to live our beliefs, strengthen our bonds, and create joyous memories. Life doesn’t wait. Our gods are calling unto us. Our forebears smile upon our efforts. Our folk need us to be the example. The time is now. The clock is ticking. Go and do.

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

The myth of the wild, uncultured, barbaric Germanics is a trope with no basis in reality; & in fact, our ancestors had a highly sophisticated traditional culture that helped them survive and thrive in the harsh & unforgiving environment of northwestern Europe.

Tacitus (abt. AD 56 – abt. 120), a Roman historian & politician had no real motive to speak admirably of the Germanic people, yet wrote a treatise on the Germans; known today as Germania, which details the Germanic folk themselves as well as their culture

It may surprise many readers to learn that the Germanic folk were not given to hedonism and debauchery, but held their women in high regard, marriage as a sacred institution, adultery as something condemnable, & abortion & infanticide as a criminal outrage

Without these values, the Germanic people would likely not have survived into the modern era

From: https://news.1rj.ru/str/weareonefolk

https://linktr.ee/TheFrithstead

The Fyrgen Podcast - Episode 2: Practicing Paganism
This second episode of the Fyrgen Podcast continues where the first left off. Here I attempt to give an overview of the ways one might begin to practice as a pagan. Contents: Choosing your tradition/pantheon, recommended reading, meditation, methods of worship, a song, community, change of mindset, and the weekly riddle.

Books mentioned:
The Poetic and Prose Eddas - Snorri Sturluson
The Real Middle-Earth - Brian Bates
The Way of Wyrd - Brian Bates
By Oak, Ash and Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism - Deanna J. Conway
The Lost Gods of England - Brian Branston
Looking for the Lost Gods of England - Kathleen Herbert
Path to the Gods: Anglo-Saxon Paganism for Beginners - Swain Wodening
Hammer of the Gods - Swain Wodening
Family Rites For The Germanic Heathen - Swain Wodening
Various - Hilda Ellis Davidson
Asatru: A Native European Spirituality - Stephen McNallen
Rudiments of Runelore - Stephen Pollington
To Hold the Holytides - Thórbeorht Ealdorblótere