European Heathenism

There are Asatruar and Odinists who religiously follow the Eddas, which is fine if your roots are Norse. However, the Norse actually only make a part of the Germanic diaspora. Rather, the term “Germanic” refers to a general similarity in language and culture, and not some superior “racial” distinction as fanatics have tried to suggest. The dominance of the R haplogroup was largely due to its mobility; namely, less chances of inbreeding than isolated groups. Thus, there were several subclaves that diverged from that haplogroup with the inundation of the Black Sea. One dispersed into the Baltic and Scandinavia, whereas another found easy passage up the Danube, deep into continental Europe; mixing with other haplogroups along the way – albeit through trade or invasion. Thus, by the time they emerged as the Celtic and Germanic cultures, they had become so intermixed, it’s hard to say who had the greater influence in the long run. More often than not, they simply coexisted, adapting each other’s ideas wherever convenient. Even the mythical cycles of Ireland give clue to the countless invasions and migrations by various tribes and clans. In essence, the Eddas are not enough to cover the complex history of our colourful ancestry and heritage. The fact is, many of us in central Europe are just as much Celtic as we are Germanic. Thus, all ancient European folklore is important in completing that bigger picture.

What is common in European heathenry is the preservation of one’s ancestral memory, a deep respect for the spirits of the land, and the cultural heritage born out of its providence. That does not necessarily mean living exactly as they did, but understanding what it takes to survive the impossible odds. Both Celtic and Germanic beliefs and oral traditions find their roots in early tribal shamanism. In that respect the roles of Cernunnos and Odin in their otherworldly journey seem almost synonymous. What remains scarcely recognizable after Christianity took over is the female shamanic role, that in most parts was replaced by the veiled holy Mary; but her original role is still very much alive in the folklore of Holda, Holle and Berchta. Mysterious, however, are the origins of Loki, as his trickster figure can only be traced back to 9th Century Scandinavian literature. Other than in the character of Rubezahl and jesters such as Til Eulenspiegel, the trickster figure seems strangely absent from German folklore. On the other hand, Wotan and Holle both appear as trickster figures in early German oral traditions, in fact Rübezahl, originally depicted with stag horns, appears almost synonymous with the idea. Unlike Loki, however, these figures not only dispense mischief but retribution for any cruel injustice amongst its folk. It makes you wonder if Loki was contrived from Odin’s trickster attributes by Christian monks to parallel the biblical struggles between the divine father and his nemesis “Satan”. Indeed, monks around Europe were in the habit of rewriting local folkore into this general theme, by order of the Papacy. Fortunately, not every language could be adapted to latin, nor were the common folk literate enough to read. Thus, many oral traditions were able to discretely survive through this lack of comprehension, especially in Germany. Although Martin Luther’s demands to change this, brought about the extermination of several esoteric movements, these were largely based on the hermetical mysteries of the Levant and not the old Germanic practices. In fact, by this time many of the local traditions were deeply imbedded in Catholicism and relatively unchanged due to their agrarian importance. Rather it was more the puritanical beliefs of the Lutherans that now threatened to eliminate this colourful ancient heritage. Fortunately it turned more into a rebellion of enterprising young merchants against their profligate feudal lords. In the end, the puritanical got shipped off to the new world, allowing Europe to finally improve the quality of life and culture on all levels.

Thus, it is in the nature of the European heathen to take all aspects of this history into consideration as par to one’s heritage, while finding the necessary balance with nature to insure a healthy continuity. We aspire to be a critical folk, not inclined to take things for face value. Despite popular belief, we do not take our oral traditions for gospel, rather, understand them as allegories of ancestral memory. While our ancestral spirits may be revered as divinities they are not regarded as any less fallible or prone to whims as anything else in the great web of existence. Life is the great experiment, and while we are born with attributes of a certain predestiny (örlog) it is our own individual responsibility to learn and deal with whatever curves fate may throw at us (wyrd). We may believe in reincarnation, but tend to regard this existence as only one of many alternate realities possible in the multiversal continuum. For this reason we tend to be pantheistic, innovative and generally quite brazen, enjoying a good time wherever we can. We do not believe in absolutes, rather, that there is a time and place for everything. Be well and pass the mead.