Reconstructing and Reviving

        It's a difficult task when one is cut off from the cultural and societal norms of a certain age to suddenly pick up where someone left off a thousand years ago. All we seem to have are threads that we can follow back and try to weave some kind of a blanket although in some cases the blanket wouldn't amount to more than a pot holder. There are HUGE gaps in our knowledge and it can be somewhat daunting as I write this from the perspective of a historical reenactor who really values being able to document and prove every part of what I do, what I wear and what kind of gear I carry. 

    In this brief post I will share what I think demands adherence to historical precedent and what demands liberty. These are my opinions and simply that to be taken or left at the readers convenience. 

    In the course of the year there are several major feasts or festivals that would have taken place in the Anglo, Celtic and Germanic worlds of the past and often these moments marked a changing of the season and of agricultural significance. This would be time of sacrifice, to invoke the blessings of the gods and/or thanks them for the bounty. The key point in all these times is the idea of the blood sacrifice. This is an area that is virtually non existent in modern paganism, yet for our ancestors this was by far and away the most effective form of honoring the gods. I realize the impracticality of such practices, especially for those living in town or the city. It remains though that every single ancient religion including the abrahamic faith demand blood from an animal. Even Christ is the lamb sacrificed on the wooden altar of the cross to satisfy God. It is the universal practice of humans since the dawn of religion. So that demands our attention if nothing else. 

   

 We don't have much to go on in terms of religious words or specific ritual actions but here is what we do know with some certainty that I think should be the foundation of any rituals done at the pivotal times of the year. 

    1. An animal is selected to be sacrificed. There are accounts of casting lots or divination being done to choose the victim. 

    2. Women play a pivotal role in the slaying of the anima during the sacrifice

    3. The animals blood should "redden" the community in attendance and be sprinkled on the outside of the house around its border and on the statues of the gods if any be present. 

    4. The feast is prepared with the animal with a portion being offered to the gods. Other offerings may be made and drink are consecrated to the gods during the feast and toasts are made in their honor along with the ancestors. 

    These things should constitute the basic structure of any large gathering of the community during the festivals of the year. 

    Where does revival and innovation come in? 

    We don't really know if the pagans of old had a daily practice of honoring or venerating the gods. Did they pray to them every day like the Christians? Did they honor them in some way with little daily offerings? There's not a lot of information to go on. This is where I think making some things up and connecting to the gods in different ways comes into play. I've been attempting to simply light a candle and incense every morning and night to simply acknowledge the gods presence. I will offer a small gift in my offering bowl if I come into something that day to share. I intend to expand this practice as I go but this is what I have found to be working right now. I saw someone making prayer beads on a Hellenistic group. I think this is a great idea to cultivate a meditative dimension to once practice. A strand of beads with a Thors hammer on the end, compose a simple repetitive prayer to him and see where it takes you. This could done during a storm or simply out in nature. Maybe a strand you dedicate to odin with a Raven charm on the end. The possibilities for ones personal practice could be pretty endless as long as it's rooted in what we know and that is that people gave the gods offerings of food and drink. That's the baseline. 

    Once again, these are just my opinions and I hope you've enjoyed the short read. 

Sin and Guilt/Nature and Giving : Overcoming the Christian Culture

    

    
I think for many of us, Christianity is the common religious experience, especially if you grew up in America. And the hallmark of, especially evangelical Christianity, is sin and making sure that you don't sin. You probably have a sense that God is watching you, that he cares very deeply about sin and that in order to be "right" with him you need to stop sinning and turn away from it. 

    In this system of thought, there's sort of an "or else" that comes along with sin. If you offend God, it's not merely that you need to give offerings so that he will favor you, but if you remain in this state of offense, your soul in the afterlife could experience complete and total damnation. 

"The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect, over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked; his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; . . . Oh sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in." -Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God 

    For pagans, this reality looks different. The gods do not make these demands of us. There is no original sin to atone for. It's not that there isn't right or wrong or consequences for wrong actions. But wrong actions don't endanger you for eternity. We all end up in the same underworld regardless of our actions here. Offending the gods isn't a ticket to hell, but offending them may have consequences in this life. One shouldn't provoke, but it's because we want a favorable outcome, whether it be crops or livestock, in business or in our relationships with others etc. The Havamal says : 

With presents friends should please each other, With a shield or a costly coat:

Mutual giving makes for friendship

Blot 

    

    We connect to the gods in this mutual way of giving of our offerings. We expect favor in return, not on our knees but as part of nature with the gods. In essence, the world is home to us both. The gods, representations literal or archetypal of the forces of nature, more powerful than us, should be respected and worked with. I think that's what makes one pagan. A realization that one is a part of the natural world. Not over it, but part of it. And it's this being part of it that fosters a relationship of working together for the good. The gods aren't perfect like in other religions. They are flawed like us, but they are ancient and possess wisdom that can be seen all around us in nature if we choose to look and cooperate with it. We don't need forgiven for some original sin. We stand on our own two feet, sing praises and give offerings to the forces that are bigger than us and ask for their assistance. They may choose to give it, or not. 

    The gods don't expect perfection from us, but they do enjoy our offerings and prayers. Give generously to them and you never know what sort of gifts they will bestow in return.