Okay...NOW what?

[gwynyvyr]

Let me explain myself a bit before I go into the question on the thread title...
I was raised in a Christian family. I was raised all over western Europe and the US (army brat). As a teen my parents let me go my own way religiously. I ended up pagan, more specifically, Hellenic. Hung in there for 30 years. (Thats right, I'm an old broad, heh)
The last few years have brought catacylsmic changes into my life...the death of my marriage, the loss of a home and ending up homeless, really tough stuff. I screamed and ranted and raved at the gods I had depended on and all I got was....silence.
Then I met...a Heathen. This guy is brilliant...knows a ****load of stuff about the sagas, the runes, etc. We were dating, then living together and some of the stuff he was telling me seemed to make sense...and then I started having dreams where some folks of a sterner stuff than I was used to popped up. I felt the Aesir were watching me...maybe not helping/guiding, but definitely *there*.

I got stupid. I was SO stubborn, heh. I decided to challenge the gods (uhmmm, bad idea, if you ever want to try it, trust me). The Aesir made their presence known in no uncertain terms. Again, the denizens of Olympus were silent.
So...I squared my shoulders and at this late date, started down a new path (for me). In January, I oathed myself to the Aesir. I read...a lot...sagas, eddas, the Havamal, etc.

Here's the things I am wondering about...
I was raised to be way liberal and tolerant. The closer I feel to the Aesir, the less liberal and tolerant I seem to be. I am becoming very folkish. Not racist or even what is called *racialist*, but I just feel so much more *at home* with ideas/stories/concepts/etc that come from the Northern European tradition.
Is this normal?

All the reading, etc. has opened up my eyes to many things, not the least of which is the blatant lies that have been told to bolster the mythos and concepts of the Judaic, Christian and Islamic faiths. I can no longer ascertain that any one of those three faiths have a single redeeming value or concept that I would want in my life. At times I even feel actually angry that those three religions haven't been discarded into history's waste bin. They all seem so worthless to me now. I want to scream at the door-to-door missionaries that they are teaching people to believe in a religion of lies and death, not one of truth and life...
Again, is this normal?

Hell, I have never been one to embrace normalcy anyway....but I just wanted to get some other opinions/thoughts on this...
And I have no clue if this was the proper thread area to stick this...so smack me if you must.... :p

[Hengest]

All seems completely normal to me. It is an awakening that many have been through.

In answer to your two main points, Folkish only means racist in the eyes of PC types who have sight of who they really are. I know a folkish Odinists who was a liberal party candidate in his country. All indigenous peoples had their own folk religions and this is our one. I would support anyone of any race who wanted to find their way back to their folkway. You can be liberal and tolerant and folkish. The problem comes when those who claim to be liberal and torelant show no tolerance for our right to be folkish.


Secondly, it IS normal to feel angry about the proliferation of the 3 big universal religions that offer nothing to our folk. But it is best not to waste your time on such things. It creates negative energies. Concentrate on the positives.

"The Odinist path is not easy, for with true restoration comes a greater depth of vision. More clearly will you see, more keenly feel. That which is ugly will seem uglier, that which is harmful to our folk and lands will seem yet more harmful. Greater vision, greater knowing brings sorrow. Yet it also brings joy, that which is beautiful will be seen as yet more beautiful, that which is good for our folk and lands will warm you and please you more."


I am happy for you to have found Odinism and hope that it brings you what you are looking for.

BTW I will move this to "Odinism for Newbies"

[Loki's Advocate]

Believe what you like; just never allow it to let your eyes be blinded to the ways of other peoples, because then you'll lose the mightiest weapon you'll ever have against them (in case you need it).

I'm not sure about a lot of things, but one of the things that I would stake my first-born as surety to is that an ability to second-guess people is a mightier shield against them than one million fists, one million knives, one million guns.

In fact, know as much as you can about everyone while remaining inocuous: because in Midgard nearly anyone could be an enemy at some time in the future.

[Scramaseax]

I was raised to be way liberal and tolerant. The closer I feel to the Aesir, the less liberal and tolerant I seem to be. I am becoming very folkish. Not racist or even what is called *racialist*, but I just feel so much more *at home* with ideas/stories/concepts/etc that come from the Northern European tradition.
Is this normal?

Yes, Odinism is Northern European so of course it is normal for an Odinist to feel "at home" with it. I must admit I don't quite understand the question. Is it because you're not used to sticking to one tradition? Wicca tends to take bits and pieces from everything. But you say you focused mainly on the Southern European tradition, so...yeah I'm not sure what the problem is. Is it a "I'm worried people will think I'm racist" thing?


All the reading, etc. has opened up my eyes to many things, not the least of which is the blatant lies that have been told to bolster the mythos and concepts of the Judaic, Christian and Islamic faiths. I can no longer ascertain that any one of those three faiths have a single redeeming value or concept that I would want in my life. At times I even feel actually angry that those three religions haven't been discarded into history's waste bin. They all seem so worthless to me now. I want to scream at the door-to-door missionaries that they are teaching people to believe in a religion of lies and death, not one of truth and life...
Again, is this normal?

I'd say so. Some people get over it and others don't. It's annoying when they shove it in your face and knock on your door, but if they're going to promote their religion then just promote yours back at them. Or maybe just a "no thanks I worship Odin". It would make their day more interesting,]. Don't worry about them. People have the right to follow the desert religions if they want to.

[Katia]

Hey there. Yes, this is normal. I was mad at first for a while, but now I more pity the missionaries and such. They are such slaves to their desert god faith. They can't even see how corrupted and demeaning it is. Be thankful you're not one of them (if the case, anymore). With your type of realization, our faith will rise again.

Welcome home! :)

[Der Einzelgänger]

I would have to agree with everything everyone else said. I was angry for a long time, even before I found Odinism. Yet once I found Odinism it slowly went away and I just accepted the fact that they did their own thing. I don't really think twice about it anymore, so long as they don't bother me...

[gwynyvyr]

. I must admit I don't quite understand the question. Is it because you're not used to sticking to one tradition? Wicca tends to take bits and pieces from everything. But you say you focused mainly on the Southern European tradition, so...yeah I'm not sure what the problem is. Is it a "I'm worried people will think I'm racist" thing?


I was very used to sticking to one tradition...Hellenic Reconstructionists are the most *hard-core* of a lot of Recon paths. They are not Wiccan by any definition! (ye gawds and little ponies...don't ever call a Hellenic Recon "Wiccan"...those are fightin' words...especially to devotees of Ares and Hecate...)

And I am NOT worried about being called a racist...pffffttt...been called much worse in my day, hell, I have been married 3 times...

And actually, I was not prejudiced at all until I lived in Southern California in the 80s...then I was exposed to the Hispanic culture there...and by culture, I mearn the barrios, gangs, etc. I don't apologize for my feelings on that either. If you had seen what I saw, etc. It is an experience thing I guess.I came out of feeling that if people do not wish to be treated as second-class (or no class) citizens, then they shouldn't act like lower life forms. YMMV.

Anyway...i's good to have found my place, my path, etc...

[Hrafnas]

Its very easy to be mindless. To fall on your knees at night with your elbows placed on your bed and pray for forgiveness. That makes it all better, doesn't it? No. Its hard to have to atone for life's mistakes. Its hard to become a better person. With this faith, you have to be ready to place yourself in difficult places and situations. Thats what brings you closer to what Odin is. Someone will always question you because of our symbols and our pride. Its an easy cop out to not having or wanting to understand. Does anyone else find it odd that these major universalist religions preach tolerance but are vehemently not? Especially christianity where they generally depise their own beginning religion, judaism. Theirs is a cycle of hate, not ours. We just embrace the fact that we're different. That frightens them.

[gwynyvyr]

I must admit I don't quite understand the question. Is it because you're not used to sticking to one tradition? Wicca tends to take bits and pieces from everything.

I wasn't Wiccan...I followed the ancient Greek path, Hellenic. Hellenic Recons are pretty hard-core polytheistic. And they DON'T apply to the *ferret path* (take all the shiny bits) like the wiccans do. As a Hellenic, you honor all the gods/goddesses of the Olympus pantheon, and most followers have a *patron* they are devoted to and give special offerings or honors to. (BTW, I strongly suggest you NEVER tell a devotee of Ares they are "wiccan" or "fluffy", same for Hecate's followers...but go ahead and tell it to a follower of Aphrodite..they might cry, heh)


I'm not sure what the problem is. Is it a "I'm worried people will think I'm racist" thing?

I don't worry about other peoples opinions of me...jumped over that hurdle when I was around 35.... :rolleyes:
I guess the problem is *I* always viewed myself as liberal and open-minded...but my life experiences have changed me...I lived on military bases for most of my childhood and early teens and had friends from every race/culture you could name and probably a few you never heard of, heh. Never had a problem with any of them.
In the 1980s I moved to So. Cali.....only lived there 6 months...and to this day, I have a huge problem with Mexicans/Latinos/Hispanics. So, I avoid them. Getting harder and harder to do, though...sigh...So I KNOW when it comes down to it, I am prejudiced. I am okay with that and comfortable with it.

I guess what I am asking is did any of you have the intense moments of *flare-ups* when you looked around you and wanted to rant and rave at how screwed up everything was BECAUSE of the JCI religions and their preachings of tolerance, etc. ? I don't want to go out and mow down every missionary or evangilist I see...(well, except for the Jehovahs Witnesses... but those idiots shouldn't knock on my damn door when I am sleeping!), but I do think of how much BETTER it would be if they simply ceased to exist!

[Scramaseax]

Being open-minded doesn't mean you have to like everything though. You can still be open-minded towards something and decide you don't like it, as long as your prejudice is based on something empirical. Sorry about the Wicca thing, but as I'm sure you know the Greek gods are big in Wicca, and to me it just seems weird to devote yourself to Greek gods when you aren't actually Greek, something that many Wiccans do. I would have thought Hellenic Reconstructionists were Greek, but I suppose there's the same Folkish-Universalist split there too.

[Hrafnas]

I guess what I am asking is did any of you have the intense moments of *flare-ups* when you looked around you and wanted to rant and rave at how screwed up everything was BECAUSE of the JCI religions and their preachings of tolerance, etc. ?
Yep, and I did, when I was a kid. Its just not worth it. You make a scene and they then use it to strengthen the even weaker minded of their ilk. I leave them to themselves and when they bother me at my home, I offer to teach them about Odinism and it's truths. Except for the JW's. For them, I answer the door naked with a frozen chicken in my hand saying, "Come on in, I'm having a party. This is my date....." :eek:

[Lonnie]

Most groups such as the Hellenics, Nova Roma, and some Celtic/Gaelic Traditionalist would be akin to Heathenry (both eastern & western europe). They tend to be very similar in mindset when it comes to religion and their ways of practice... Those who follow such Cultural based religions are (usually) far from being wiccan...

[gwynyvyr]

Except for the JW's. For them, I answer the door naked with a frozen chicken in my hand saying, "Come on in, I'm having a party. This is my date....." :eek:

Heh...I had a friend that used to invite JWs into her house, and then seat them on the other side of the coffee table from her. On the coffee table was a lovely silk flower arrangement...with a giant (14 inch) dildo stuck smack in the middle of it. Her amusement came from watching them trying SO HARD not to look at it....and none ever came back, heh...

[Son Of Odin]

last time i had JW's at my door i only opened the door with my buddy Djuke (a 5 year old very cool rottweiler) standing next to me and just ask what they want.. their faces when they noticed Djuke looking at them..

Djuke has the weird tic that when he's interested in somebody or curious he can stare for a long time at somebody.. like REALLY Stare.. they felt a bit unconfortable seeying a rottie looking them right in the eyes almost without blinking


Don't ask me why djuke does it or who tought him that(selfthought i think) But it sure is cool when JW are at the door.

[Hveðrungur Kveldúlfsson]

last time i had JW's at my door i only opened the door with my buddy Djuke (a 5 year old very cool rottweiler) standing next to me and just ask what they want.. their faces when they noticed Djuke looking at them..

Djuke has the weird tic that when he's interested in somebody or curious he can stare for a long time at somebody.. like REALLY Stare.. they felt a bit unconfortable seeying a rottie looking them right in the eyes almost without blinking


Don't ask me why djuke does it or who tought him that(selfthought i think) But it sure is cool when JW are at the door.
Well, dogs DO sense evil....

[Son Of Odin]

yep, this is pure proof of it... but opening the door buttnaked is still a killer for those Jehova ****ers... it works everytime.. Or opening the door in a very very Evill " Satanical" shirt does the trick aswell..

Like the marduk one " Let Jesus *** you (from the movie exorsist)

or the "Youth against Christ" shirt is also a good one

anyway. normaly i open the door and if i see JW's i most of the time just look at them for a second, Laugh really hard and close the door again.. but using Djuke is also a favorite

[Liffrea]

A good tactic is to say "now let me tell you my faith" they soon bugger off.