Northern Way F.A.Q.
What is Heithni (The Northern
Way)? What are Heithinn? Heithni is an ancient term used by the peoples
of Scandinavia to refer to their faith before the coming of Christianity. The
Northern Way is a modern traditionalist form of Heithni based on the Northern
Spiritual Faith of the continental Norse peoples of the Germanic Iron Age and
Viking Age. The word Heithni comes from the Old Norse word, heiðni.
The word Heithinn, used as an adjective for those things and ideals that are
of Heithni and used as a noun describing those who live by Heithni, comes from
the Old Norse world heiðinn.
What do you mean when you say you are a traditionalist faith? When we say
we are traditionalists we mean that we adhere to an ethic and world-view that
is fully as fully Heithinn as is possible in this age, and not based on modern
social-political, occult, post-modern or secular ideals. Being traditionalists
means that we reject modern ideals that do not fit within the world-view and
ethic that our Northern European ancestors held and that we now hold. This does
not mean, however, that we reject technology or social contact with others outside
our faith. The northern world-view is one that looks outward in a positive sense
of exploration, from a solid foundation, and as such technology is simply a
tool like any other. Open acceptance of other cultural branches of our faith
is natural.
When was the pre-Christian religion of the Northern Europeans practiced?
Heithni began at our ancestors´creation. It is a very ancient tradition,
changing to reflect local custom and society over the centuries, though its
roots are one. Most of the lore we have now, the Eddas and the Sagas, come from
a time during and just after what is called the Viking Age. The Viking Age (approx.
700 C.E to about 1100 C.E.) was an era of change, movement to more cosmopolitan
lifestyles, and much multi-cultural networking, therefore it is obviously not
the basis upon which our ancient faith resides, merely a time in its history
when it began to become diluted and scattered. We also have accounts from the
1st centuries C.E. As it is certain this is an organic tradition, it is also
certain that it was lived, and that it thrived, long before this. Heithni, then,
has existed in one form or another for thousands of years.
Are you Asatru? We are not Asatru. First, we should speak of the word itself.
Asatru, like Odinism and Odhiannism, is a word that is of modern origin. The
word Asatru (Asatrú) was coined in the 1970's by the Allsherjargothi
(allsherjargoði) of the Asatru Fellowship of Iceland. When we say Asatru
we are primarily referring to American Asatru, and these groups should not be
confused with the Asatru groups outside of America. Groups using the name Asatru
in America or Odinism are often based on social-political or neo-pagan/secular
ideals and have little to do with a genuine Northern world-view and ethic. As
our goals are traditional in nature, we are not Asatru by virtue of the fact
that we live by a world-view and ethic that is incompatible with most of what
transpires under the name of Asatru. Another major reason we do not identify
with Asatru is that many Asatru groups have little or no standard of community
ethics, which leaves the outsider confused. Heithni has standards. There is
a well defined ethic and world-view. It is our hope that when you hear the word
Heithni or Heithinn, you will know exactly what to expect. The same cannot be
said about Asatru. We do not associate with any American Asatru groups.
You say that you think ancestry is important. Isn't this some kind of kinder,
gentler form of racism? It cannot be denied that there are organizations
who use ancestry as a basis for racism. We view the use of one's ancestors as
a means of promoting racism as a perversion and an insult to the ancestors.
Our approach to ancestry is a positive, true and healthy approach. We feel it
is for the utmost benefit of a human being to first uncover and explore his
or her own roots, and in nearly all instances those are the ones from which
he or she will draw the truest strength of his/her character and being. This
is an experiential conclusion many tribal or aboriginal faiths have reached,
proving itself time and again with benefits for us all. Additionally we believe
that too many people confuse ancestry with race. They are not the same thing.
This confusion comes from both sides, the universalist left and the racist right.
The universalist left has a penchant for portraying anyone or any group which
believes in the power of ancestry as racist. At the same time the racist right
views anyone who subscribes to a proper and healthy view of ancestry (as opposed
to racism) as universalists. The irony I am sure is not lost on the reader.
How is your tribal structure organized? Our tribal structure is one that
is based on Norse/Gothic tribal chieftainship. This form of organization is
outlined in the book, Northvegr: The Northern Way,
An Introduction to the Northern Spiritual Faith.
What does the Northern Way have to say about good and evil? There is no
ultimate embodied being of good or evil in the Northern Way. There are some
who try to put forth the idea that Loki is the Northern version of the Christian
Devil, or portray Othinn as ´The Prince of Darkness´. These ideas
are ridiculous and warrant no serious consideration. There are forces of chaos
and forces of order. There are actions that are ill for one's own kin and there
are those actions which benefit one's own kin. There is, contrary to popular
belief, a concept of good and evil in Heithni. However, it is important that
the reader not make the mistake of using these two words with their modern Christian
meanings. The original Germanic meaning of these words was different in some
very important ways. A person is judged to be good or evil depending on his
or her actions and how those actions affect his or her kin; spiritual or blood.
In the Northern Way evil is very "relative." What that means is that
the situation will many times show whether or not a given action is evil. What
is evil is that which harms one's kin, family or tribe in Verdandi (the present)
or Skuld (the future), in essence harming most oneself and one's place in the
cosmology. What is good is that which supports and nourishes one's kin, family
and tribe. To this end, there certain ethics that Northfolk are expected to
exhibit. But there is no absolute moral set of laws or prohibitions that are
considered evil if performed, simply based on opposition to some artificial
moral code.
Are not the Norse gods just aspects of other religion's gods, for example is
not Othinn the same as Zeus and aren't all gods just aspects of the one universal
being? No, our gods and goddesses are individuals, each one just as much
an individual as you and I. They love, they get angry, they laugh, they cry.
They are our Elder Kin.
Is the Northern Way sexist? No, women hold important positions in our ancestors
ways. In elder times some even led nations. We have many very strong and independent
goddesses. Likewise Northwomen had more rights and freedoms than just about
any other culture of the time. The Northern Way respects men and women equally,
acknowledging that both have equal roles to play in the reawakening of our faith.
I have heard that pre-Christian Northern Europeans sacrificed animals, is that
still a part of the Northern Way? Animal sacrifice is still practiced by
some groups. We believe it is a viable practice for those Northfolk who want
to practice it and have the required skills to do so properly. A word on what
exactly animal sacrifice is, might be helpful here. When an animal is sacrificed
in the Northern Way, it is first hallowed and then slaughtered. It is then cooked
and eaten by the gathered folk at a Holy feast. If you take a strictly mundane
view, you would see that it is not any different from buying meat at the supermarket
and bringing it home to cook and eat. The meat you buy comes from a slaughtered
animal and then is packaged for you to buy. The animal in a Northern sacrifice,
unlike some other religions that practice animal sacrifice, is eaten. Most such
sacrifices coincided with the annual harvest and slaughtering times, therefore
it was, and still is in some regions, a natural facet of live. Not all Northfolk
practice animal sacrifice nor is it a requirement. It is a personal, practical
decision. Additionally animals that are used in sacrifices are treated very
well and should be raised just for the purpose of acting as a sacrifice, and
as such given the royal treatment for the duration of their lives. In the days
of our ancestors they were not forced to do any work, and were fed the best
feeds and treated with love. Great care was taken for their comfort. If anyone
has seen or read about what goes on in modern slaughterhouses, they would know
beyond any doubt that animals sacrificed according to the tenets of the Northern
Way, unlike the poor creatures who are slaughtered in slaughterhouses, are treated
with great care and love.
Do you have to practice magic to follow the Northern Way? Although there
are some in the Northern Way who practice magic, most do not. The Northern Way
is not a magical tradition, although there are magical elements within it. Those
who practice 'magic' (called galdr and seithr) are respected in much the same
way you might respect modern day professionals like doctors. They are the shamans,
healers, and pastors within our community. But they are also generally beyond
the pale of the constraints of the wider community, and whilst they are not
always well understood by the common folk there is always a certain amount of
deference given to them. Most Northfolk have no contact with magic, barring
certain practical 'kitchen magics', unless using the services of such "specialized
professionals."
I've heard that only those who die in battle get to go to Vallholl and be with
the gods and the rest go to Hel, is this true? First, there are other places
that a person who does not die in battle could go besides Hel, but Hel is not
a place of suffering and torment, except for one area where oath-breakers and
murders are said to reside. This area is called Nastrond. Oath-breakers, adulterers
and murderers were said to earn time there. Other than Nastrond, Hel is a place
of rest and stasis. Even those who end up in Nastrond are not there for eternity.
In our lore we have many examples of after-life destinations. Some families
believed that all their family members would reside on the inside of a mountain
when they died where they would feast with their ancestors in the afterlife.
Those that died at sea fared to Ran's halls. If a person was particularly devoted
one or the other of our Elder Kin, they might fare to that god's or goddess's
hall upon death. So there is no either-or destination after death.
For Northfolk heaven was being with their ancestors after death and Hell (that
is the Christian idea of Hell) would have been spending the after life without
one's ancestors or spiritual patrons.
Is the Northern Way Racist? No. The Northern Way takes a strong and definite
stand against Racism. Racism is based on fear which then begets hate. The Northern
Way promotes pride in our Northern European heritage and culture. But being
proud of ones ancestry and culture does not mean that one hates another race
or culture in order to elevate one's own. In fact it is confidence in one's
own roots and heritage that allows one to appreciate the beauty of other cultures.
One of the main tenets of the Northern Way is courage. Those who are white or
black separatists fear other races and cultures because of some perceived threat
these other races and cultures pose to their (the separatists) own culture and
ethnicity. The Northern Way is about courage. White separatism is about fear
and hatred. The two do not mix. Although there are some groups who try to promote
themselves as followers of a Northern Tradition that espouses white separatism,
they are nothing of the sort. We have no place for racists.
A more profound aspect of this question might be stated this way: We believe
our roots, our heritage, is a spiritual ancestry. In this age physically isolated
tribes of pure ancestral lines are nearly non-existent. The various body types
and 'racial characteristics' are in this age so blent as to be nearly indistinguishable
in genetic testing. This merely reinforces our long held conviction that 'physical'
does not equate to privilege, superiority or lack thereof. And these things
have certainly never been of our concern.
Our own truest spiritual heritage is that which when lived grants us health,
insight, support, spiritual evolution and growth, a feeling of natural timelessness,
and empowerment. This is what living holy (whole) means, and when the individual
finds and recognizes it in himself, he has found his original spiritual roots.
What deities do you honor? We honor two tribes of gods collectively called,
the Regin. We also honor the Alfar. The Regin are composed of two tribes that
are called the Aesir and Vanir. The Aesir include the leader of the tribe, Othinn
as well as Frigg, Baldr, Thorr and Hermothr, to name a few. The Vanir include,
Njorthr, Nerthus, Freyja, and Freyr. We also honor a group of beings called
Alfar, or as they are more commonly known as, elves. In our tradition we believe
that the land is populated with wights (spirits) we call landvaettir. It is
very common for gifts to be left for the landvaettir. And last but not least,
the honoring of ancestors with gifts is also a common feature in Heithnni.
Do you have a code of ethics? We most certainly do. The Northern Way gives
us a standard of living that is healthy. In the praiseworthy virtues of the
North we have some guidelines set down in the words and deeds of our ancestors.
In the sagas, eddas, and other extant sources, there can be found a standard
of behavior that comes from the Regin themselves. These ethics do not pay off
with some kind of hazy future reward that one will never see in their life time
- but in the here and now. They work because they were designed to work. They
work because they are natural and the living of these ethics was what was genuinely
admired by Northfolk. In this world of greed, fear and betrayal we have a higher
standard to live by that frees us to live a noble and praiseworthy life. These
ethics are not complicated. One does not need a college degree to understand
them. They are simple, yet the effects of living them are deeply profound. They
are ethics that everyone can live by and benefit from. For a short list of these
praiseworthy virtues, see The Praiseworthy Virtues
of the North. For a more detailed examination of the praiseworthy virtues of
the North, see Trúlög and Sögumál.
Heithinn ethics are also outlined in the book, Northvegr:
The Northern Way, An Introduction to the Northern Spiritual Faith.
Do you have holy days which you celebrate? Yes we have holy nights on which
we perform rites to honor our Elder Kin and to mark the passing of the seasons
and life tides. Our main rite is commonly called the blót (pronounced
to rhyme with boat). These blótar usually include the offering
of a gift to the Regin, alfar, landvaettir, ancestors or one among them. These
offerings are usually followed by a feast in which fellowship with our Elder
Kin and each other is celebrated. Our main holy nights are Jól (winter
solstice), Vár (spring equinox), Miðsumar (summer solstice), Haust
(harvest feast) and Winter Nights, the first day of winter.
Who are these Elder Kin you keep referring to? To state it simply they are
the gods and goddesses to which we are oathed. We tend to shy away from using
the term god or goddess. This is because although the
word Gaut, or 'god', originated in our language, these terms have gained many
other meanings over the ages. In this age the term 'god' tends to present them
in a light as being omnipotent beings that are all-controlling. Our Elder Kin
are just as much subject to the dictates of the Norns (three beings who oversee
the weaving of the web of vyrd, similar to the idea of fate) as we are. Although
they are indeed powerful and possess great knowledge they are not omnipotent
as the title of god or goddess would imply.
Do you have to join a tribe/kindred etc. or can you be solitary? To live
the Northern Way you don't have to join a tribe or kindred though you will certainly
benefit from it if you can find a group of people who are true to the Regin.
However, the Northern Way is primarily about living a way of life that is healthy
and whole. One can always gift and honor the Regin, the alfar, landvaettir,
Mother Jorthr and their own ancestors. One can always live their lives in a
praiseworthy fashion. These are all things anyone can do in a solitary manner,
and harvest the benefits which they bring. The solitary living by the Northern
Way has spiritual kin none-the-less, though they may not be in close proximity
geographically. All those who are truly oathed to the Elder Kin and live by
the Northern world-view and ethic are spiritual kin.
Do you have more questions?Feel free to contact us at info@northvegr.org ,
or visit us on the Northvegr
Forum Board,
or join the Northvegr Félag mailing
list,
Also see "Northvegr: The Northern Way"
the book.
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