Harrowman Ealdham

Pagan practices banned in Cnut’s laws, 995AD; -Making offerings at waterfalls and trees. -Making oaths to the heathen Gods. -Saluting and worshipping the sun and moon. -Worshipping fire, wells, stones and trees. -Animal guising; likely the practice of Yule processions, wherein people wore animal masks. ⴲ

Asviniai are horse decorations that are usually put on the roofs of houses in India. This is architectural style is also done in Germanic cultures. The practice is done for the protection of one’s household. This is done for the same reason in Europe. The two horses represent The Divine Horse Twins that are present in Indo-European religions. In India they are known as the Asvins, in England; Hengist and Horsa, in Greece; Castor and Pollux.

I found this while reading the meditations of Marcus Aurelius yesterday. I feel many folks need to read this. The Gods are good, and they have your interest in mind. Everything you experience is for your benefit. Take great comfort in this as I have.

DECLARATION OF TRADITION Months in the making, the Declaration of Tradition is now OPEN for all Germanic Pagans to sign today! Working with various Pagans, the DOT has been devised so as to represent the traditional values we are to adhere to as followers of Germanic Paganism. The Declaration of Tradition serves as a means of unifying sincere followers of Germanic Paganism with a framework we can refer to and use to take collective action. If you are a Germanic Pagan and believe in the traditional values taught to us by our Gods and ancestors, become a signatory today. You can sign as an individual or as an organisation if you have a gathering. Special thank you to WodenWyrd and Þórr Siðr for their valuable assistance in the Declaration's creation, to Dan Capp / The Fyrgen for the website building, and to all individuals and organisations that have become signatories. BECOME A SIGNATORY: declarationoftradition.com

It is always refreshing to see that we as Germanic Pagans have such bright-minded folks working on the future of our traditions. I can only hope to contribute to this with my book of prayers that I have been working on. I think it is important to not only include things for beginners, but also include things for those who are more seasoned. It is essential to maintain foundational knowledge in any field even when one is experienced.

Starting Heathenry is a ritual-focused online course which will furnish you with the knowledge and confidence to practise the Heathen religion alone or with others, making wise decisions about worship based on reliable historical evidence. The course teaches you how to construct Heathen prayers for yourself, not according to the established rites of any modern group, but according to what historical sources show. Starting Heathenry assumes you are interested in Germanic paganism, know about the gods and myths, and want to begin practising this religion, but require guidance on how to do so. It is based on a micro-learning structure which is proven to improve knowledge retention by 18-80% in students compared to other learning methods. The 10 lessons include over 50 videos, and quizzes to access from your phone or computer. Access more than 5 hours of learning material bit by bit, as you please. A modern method of learning about an ancient religion. Your path to knowing the gods through ritual starts here

Anglo Saxon pagan practices mentioned in the 8th Century Penitential of Theodore; -Making sacrifices, substantial and trivial, to “devils”. -Eating food that had been consecrated to “devils”. -Burning grain in burial grounds or where someone had died, for the health of the living. -Placing a child on a roof or in an oven to cure a fever. -Gathering medicinal herbs. -Curing a sick child with witchcraft or at a crossroads; a liminal space, associated with Woden, and later, the devil. -Divination, exorcism and dream interpretation, done according to the calculation of the heathens. -Performing auguries using the sun, moon and stars. -Seeking “time-auguries” to begin their events; likely referring to pagan holy days according to the traditional calendar. ⴲ

Now are sung the High-one’s songs, in the High-one’s hall, to the sons of men all-useful, but useless to the Jötun’s sons. Hail to him who has sung them! Hail to him who knows them! May he profit who has learnt them! Hail to those who have heeded them!

The Saga of Hadding in the Gesta Danorum contains a lesser-known attestation of Hel. Hadding encounters an old woman (Hel) carrying herbs, and asks where she got them in winter. She takes him with her underground, through a dark path to a sunny region where the herbs grew. They encounter noblemen, and warriors in battle, and cross a bridge over a river filled with weapons (Gjöll), until they come to a wall. She rips the head off a rooster and throws it over the wall, and it comes back to life, and they hear it crow over the wall. While the Völuspa and Gylfaginning describe the horrors of Náströnd in greater detail, the Saga of Hadding paints a far more benevolent picture of Hel; a home of the ancestors, with an opportunity for reincarnation.

May Heaven’s shining prince bless you with much bliss and happiness. Hāl wes þu Bealdor. ☀️🙏