Hi

[Liffrea]

Hello I am relatively new to heathenism, been practising for only about 3 months, and just wanted to ask a few questions.
First an introduction. I came to follow the path through a background in studying Anglo-Saxon literature and history and realising that our ancestors had a deeper insight into nature than I realised and that their way was the right way, unlike the upside down back to front, so called values of the world today.
Anyway thats me now the questions:

Firstly I wear a Thors' Hammer. It is on a thin silver chain. I have been told that this is not the correct way to wear it. Could anyone please enlighten me?

Second I pray to the gods at need. I believe the gods bestowed us with intellect so that we would not bother them 24/7. But are there prayers we should offer daily?

Thirdly Is it normal to have a patron god or goddess? Mine is mainly Thor but I do pray to Odin occasionally.

Fourthly How to deal with Loki. Am I correct in my reading of the Eddas that Loki is mankind's darker nature? If so how to appease him?

And last of all is an academic question. How far can we use the Eddas to represent Anglo-Saxon belief?

Gratefull for any assistance you can offer.

[pinlighter]

Welcome Liffrea!

1) I don't know of any special requirements to wearing the Mjollnir. If any one wants to impose such things, understand they are voluntary

2) There are a number of books that suggest daily rituals of devotion. I believe it is important to pray daily, but there is no set ritual all must follow. I examine a rune, picked at random, and meditate on it once a day.

3) Often, yes.

4) I pass: others may comment

[Sigurd]

Anyway after the last welcoming post was deleted due to forum rules, I again bid you a warm welcome. Have fun!

[Katia]

Greetings Liffrea! Welcome!

Don't let anyone tell you how to wear your Mjollnir.. Sport it the way you see fit. The important thing is that you're wearing it! :) It is very normal to have a patron deity, and if you don't happen to ever grow closer to one in particular, that's OK too. The important thing is that you are paying respects to our gods and goddesses.. by gaining strength from them you will learn to ward off Loki to the best of your ability. Many people have their own opinions but I am in agreement with your statement regarding darker nature.
Personally I have felt such an intense one-on-oneness with nature these past few years, and that alone makes me strive to become a better being. Reading our lore helps give me pointers.

Welcome again :)

[Canuck]

I've read that traditionally men wore the hammer on a braided leather cord and women wore it on their key rings. It's really your choice how you wear, or if you wear, your hammer.

Welcome to the forum.

[Liffrea]

Thanks for your responses.
I suppose its like the old saying goes that the first step on the path of knowledge is to admit you don't know. Hopefully I'll soon know a lot more. Once again thanks for the welcome.

[Scramaseax]

Firstly I wear a Thors' Hammer. It is on a thin silver chain. I have been told that this is not the correct way to wear it. Could anyone please enlighten me?

Actually I heard this is the right way to wear it, although the source eludes me now. Don't worry about it.


Second I pray to the gods at need. I believe the gods bestowed us with intellect so that we would not bother them 24/7. But are there prayers we should offer daily?

I don't think so.


Thirdly Is it normal to have a patron god or goddess?

Yes.


Fourthly How to deal with Loki. Am I correct in my reading of the Eddas that Loki is mankind's darker nature? If so how to appease him?

I don't think there can be a "correct" when interpreting mythological texts. I don't see any reason to think that Loki is any less real or literal than the other deities. To me Loki is someone who tests things, who keeps things interesting. Without Loki most of our myths wouldn't exist. And Othin did mix blood with him remember.


How far can we use the Eddas to represent Anglo-Saxon belief?

You can't for sure. The Eddas were written 300-500 years after the Anglo-Saxons converted and reflect what was happening in Scandanavia. There is also the problem of a filtering not only through a Christian lens but a Classical lens. Scholars were used to Greco-Roman Paganism and tended to try to make all other Paganism fit that mould. I'd say most of what's in the Eddas was also known in one form or another to the Anglo-Saxons, except I think many of the details of the Eddas were made up on the spot for the purpose of storytelling. In order to determine if something from the Eddas also existed in Anglo-Saxon religion you really need to confirm it from Anglo-Saxon sources and take it on a case-by-case basis. Did you have a specific myth or god in mind?

[Liffrea]

You can't for sure. The Eddas were written 300-500 years after the Anglo-Saxons converted and reflect what was happening in Scandanavia. There is also the problem of a filtering not only through a Christian lens but a Classical lens. Scholars were used to Greco-Roman Paganism and tended to try to make all other Paganism fit that mould. I'd say most of what's in the Eddas was also known in one form or another to the Anglo-Saxons, except I think many of the details of the Eddas were made up on the spot for the purpose of storytelling. In order to determine if something from the Eddas also existed in Anglo-Saxon religion you really need to confirm it from Anglo-Saxon sources and take it on a case-by-case basis. Did you have a specific myth or god in mind?

Not as such. I know that certain gods like Seaxnet and Nerthus do not appear in Scandinavian sources and also that Loki does not seem to appear in Anglo-Saxon sources. Although I agree that the Eddas probably have a lot in Common with Anglo-Saxon myth it is irritating not to have some surviving texts.

[Scramaseax]

Not as such. I know that certain gods like Seaxnet and Nerthus do not appear in Scandinavian sources and also that Loki does not seem to appear in Anglo-Saxon sources. Although I agree that the Eddas probably have a lot in Common with Anglo-Saxon myth it is irritating not to have some surviving texts.

It's my belief that Nerthus appears in Scandanavian sources as Njord. The suffix -us is from Proto-Germanic and was eventually dropped. Just as Woden started out as Woden-az, Njord was Nerth-us. "D" and "TH" are pretty much the same the same thing and were used interchangeably. Njord is associated with the sea just like Nerthus was, and he is Vanir which is appropriate. It's also noteworthy that he's the father of Frey and Freya., yet their mother is never mentioned.

There have been attempts to identify Seaxneat with Tyr given the sword associations (Seaxneat means "friend of the sword" or "friend of the sword-people(Saxons)". He was in my opinion a tribal patron of the Saxons and possibly their divine ancestor (he is recorded as the ancestor of the Essex King wheras all other Kings traced back to Woden). The Angles and Jutes never mentioned him, only the Saxons.

We do have the Anglo-Saxon charms and the Old English Rune Poem.

[Liffrea]

We do have the Anglo-Saxon charms and the Old English Rune Poem.

Is there a link on the web you could give me please?

[Scramaseax]

click click (http://www.englishheathenism.homestead.com/textcontents.html) for several Anglo-Saxon Heathen texts, and click click (http://www.englishheathenism.homestead.com/modernenglish.html) for the OERP :)

[Liffrea]

Excellent. Cheers!

[Scramaseax]

Excellent. Cheers! Was this any help?