Swain Wodening’s Blog

Ancient Heathenry was not just a religion, but a folkway. The ancient Heathens did not separate culture from religion as we do today. All of it was all a part of a bigger tapestry. Therefore, when reconstructing Heathenry one must go beyond reconstructing beliefs based on ancient Heathenry, and bring back much more. This does not mean we should begin living in longhouses and farming by hand. It does mean we should do our best to learn all we can about their culture. Most folks know about the elder Heathens myths and tales, a few less about their gnomic wisdom, but to truly get into the mindset of the ancient Heathen one must learn about so much more. Since they did not separate religion from culture, we are missing vital parts when we separate the two.

There are too many areas to learn about here to list, but there are some that are basic to helping our understanding. Burial customs for example are an area that can teach us much. The fact that the dead were buried with grave goods shows they believed in an afterlife, and the fact women were sometimes buried with weapons shows women as well as men can be warriors. Cremation and inhumantion shows that there was a difference in cults. BY comparing the archaeological record with the literature, we know the cult of Woden cremated their dead. We further know form Ibn Fadlan’s account they believed this released the soul. Similarly we know they believed that those buried went on to live in the mound (though going to other realms was not discounted).

Artwork can teach us much as well. Images of men dancing with weapons shows us that there were weapons dance back in ancient times perhaps not unlike the sword dances in England today. Boars on helmets confirm what we are told in Beowulf, that the boar was seen as a protective emblem. And images on altars dedicated to the matrones shows they were often worshiped in threes, and perhaps that their offerings were fruit and grain.

Language too can teach us much. Many words have no single word translation into modern English. The word frith is a prime example. In order to explain it we have to do so in articles explaining its meaning. &AA acute;r or honor is another such word. We think of honor differently than the ancient Heathens did. Therefore, it takes more to define it. BY learning the ancient tongues we are getting in touch with the elder Heathens. Languages contain meanings and ideas peculiar to that culture.

Learning spinning and weaving helps one understand Wyrd. One cannot truly appreciate its creation without totally understanding how a loom works or how to spin thread with a spindle. It is a long, sometimes hard process, that involves many steps Wyrd is not simple by no means.

There are many other areas one can learn about to get into the mindset of the elder Heathens. One need not look very hard to see them. But the point is one should learn as much as they can about the culture of the ancient Heathens, and help revive a folkway, and not just a religion.