Academic Videos concerning the History of Icelandic Magic Staves

 Hello friends,

I know I haven't been to this blog for a very long time, as I have been focused on other platforms such as Patreon and Youtube, but also in my day-time job as an Archaeologist.

Many things I wrote in this blog I've been revising for the past 5 years at YouTube. New research and evidences are always popping out, so it's always important to have our knowledge updated. This also concerns posts I've written in the past in relation to the galdrastafir (Icelandic Magic Staves).

I thought it would be useful to add here the YouTube videos I've done concerning Icelandic Magic Staves (galdrastafir) to help people research about the history of such symbols, as there's plenty of pseudo-historians and modern merchandise dealing with "Viking Religious Symbols" which does not portray the actual historical evidences and scientific knowledge concerning the history and archaeology of Nordic History.

The videos I will share here are my own academic works, and you can find bibliography at the end of those videos, so you can check for yourself. I hope it is useful. Thank you.

Galdrastafir : Common Misconceptions:

Similarities Between Umbanda Symbols and Icelandic Magic Staves:

The True Ægishjálmur [Helm of Awe] :

The Real Meaning of the Vegvísir :

Balkan Religious Symbols Similar to Icelandic Magic Staves :

I very much hope you enjoy these videos and may they be useful.

You can find me at Patreon www.patreon.com/ArithHarger

And you can also find all of my social media networks by following this [Link]

FAQ (in video format)

 

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I've made any post in this blog. The truth is that I have completely abandoned it when I joined the YouTube Platform and also Patreon (the latter is where I submit my academic works).

In the past 4 years (when I became a YouTuber) there's been many questions, but I've noticed some general doubts follow the same type of questions on specific subjects. So I've decided to put some links to my YouTube Videos where I've already answered Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). I hope you will find this post useful and you may also join me at YouTube and Patreon.

Just click on the * [Link] * and it will take you there:

1) Viking Religious Symbols: [Link]

2) The Runes - Common Misconceptions: [Link]

3) Common Misconceptions in Old Norse Religion : [Link]

4) Heathen Holy Days: [Link]

5) Heathen Vs Pagan: [Link]

6) The Witch Cult & The Great Goddess: [Link]

7) Ergi & Homosexuality in the Viking Age: [Link]

8) The Truth About Shieldmaidens: [Link]

9) Viking Men were also Housewives: [Link]

If you want to find me in other social media networks, just follow this [Link]

Thank you for your friendship and support. I'll see you around. 

Yours truly

Arith Härger

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Arith Härger

My YouTube Channel!

Hello friends! I leave you here the link to my Youtube channel! That's right, I'm officially a youtuber now (I guess). Now instead of reading extensive articles written by me, you can listen and see me! (Oh the horror! D:)

I hope you enjoy my Youtube and I'm hoping to have your feedback! :D

My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYac9irNGo3pSrvc_L8HERw

My Twitter

Dear followers of this blog, I would like to share with you the link to my Twitter (which I've just created).

Here it is:

https://twitter.com/ArithHarger

I just want to be closer to my followers and fans. :)

My Instagram

I just wanted to share with you my Instagram dear friend! Now you can follow me, and see what I'm up to, when I'm not writing or painting! :D

Here it is the link --> https://instagram.com/arithharger/

I thank you in advance for the follow!

Enjoy and take care! :D

I've just created an Ask.fm

Dear friends and followers of this blog, I've just created an Ask.fm 

I'm not really familiar with it, yet, but I will get the hang of it. I do get a lot of questions, especially at my facebook page, so I decided to creat an Ask.fm to concentrate all the questions in one place. There are many questions that I receive about the same subjects, it seems there are a lot of people with the same doubts and the same interests, seeking for an answer, seeking knowledge that I might provide. So the Ask.fm is actually a good thing because you can ask me whatever you want even in anonymous, and people seeking the same answers from my part, might take a look. It's a kind of shared information and I am the one who provides de answers, kind of wierd but also very funny. So.. if you want to ask me anything, just go to --> http://ask.fm/ArithHarger

Farewell friends and take care!

Making your own Altar - The Basics

One of my last posts was focused on the basics of how to blót, for the beginners who have just started to practice the rituals of the Norse/Germanic faith. Today this post is targeted to the beginners who prefer to have a central focus of worship for whatever pagan religon you are into. The basics of of to make your own altar or shrine. 
Setting up your own altar is easy, there are only a couple of options to consider.
The first thing that you have to ponder, is if you want an outside altar or an inside one (maybe both?). If you are going to make an outside altar, you have to consider what kind of altar do you want to make, either a single large stone or piled rocks on which you can make offerings and leave them there, and pour libations. This is a great option if you own a yard, or a property cleared of all kinds of vegetation. Of course you can do it in your own apartment if the ground is strong, but that doesn't make it private, nor is it pratical, and it takes away your own space.
The second type of altar that you may want to think about if you live in a place where you can't have an antar outside, is one that you can have it in a private room, safe from children, pets and any one who might interfere with it.
Our Norse ancestors in some houses had their own shrine/altar, on a division of the house, just like a little house inside the bigger one. Making an house of the gods, spirits and ancestors. Inside that division, oaths were also made. Inside the room, in the altar, there would be a bowl, a blood-bowl to be more precise, it was called the hlaut, the blood of the sacrificed animals to the gods, sprinkled during the rituals.
You can make your own private shrine, it isn't complicated, nor does it need to be overly ornate. However, with time, you will notice that your altar will become full of your offerings and other things that you consider to be appropriated for the altar. All you need to make your own altar or shrine, is a flat surface in a safe part of the house, or even a room just for it. You can place in it the bowl with which you will make your offerings, other icons of your religion, and even the images of the deities, personally I do not worship images nor figures, nor did my ancestors from my mother side, we believe that the power of the gods ins't in their images, nor our faith should be places on those images because that is all those are, objects, our faith is within us and so are the gods. Anyway, going back to the subject, you can use a table, or any other type of flat surface to place your altar.

You know now my opinion on the images of the deities, but if you are into it, god-images don't need to be very complex, at least on your case if you are starting just now. Nowadays, it is easy to find the images of the deities, even replicas of the historical ones, but you can also use anything that resembles the deity, anything you think somehow is connected to the deity. The altar and the place where you build it, must be of your liking, you must decorate it in a way that makes you feel comfortable, and let me put it in these words, put you in the mood.

Fire is also needed in the pagan altars, some people build their own altars on top of their hearth. You can add to your altar candles, it is a good way to have light on your altar and at the same time fire. Keep in mind, that you must be prepared to clean your altar often, a lot of wax, drink, food, etc will be spilled there, so make your altar in a way that will be easily washed, that includes any kind of cloth you place on it.

Many gods have their own favorite color, so you might want to add a cloth of the color that reminds you of the deity or deities.

As you can see, setting up your own altar is one of the easiest things you can do, with time it will evolve and become more complex, but for beginners, these steps are what you need to place in your mind, the basics. Personally, I don't have an altar, I don't need one, but I know that many people need to have a shrine in order to concentrate their faith in one place, its just a matter of personal mind organization.

How to Blót ? - The Basics

In the past few years, I've been writing about the Norse Pagan Traditions, feasts, Blóts etc. and I realised that I have never wrote a post to help people starting their blóts or at least giving a brief notion of how it is done. Some people have already asked me how to make sacrifices and offerings and I have always helped them, giving to them the knowledge that I have about that subject, but never occur to me that I could actually write a post about it and maintain even more people informed.

In the Hávamál there are at least two lines that ask if one knows how to bid (pray) and how to sacrifice. 
I understand that so many have still a lot of difficulty with this kind of practice, no one has ever born with all the knowledge about these things. It takes time. We live in a world (nowadays) where these things are seldom taught, and there is still only a few who are willing to "waste" a bit of their time, to teach the eager ones.
Our society is so used to sit in some place, listen someone babbling about the subject, speak some words so often that starts to sound like a song, so well memorized that has no meaning whatsoever in our minds, toss money and that's it, that we completely forgot how to actually worship the gods in our own way. The key to know how to Blót, is to know the way of personal worship. Worship the deities on our own isn't easy and most of the time we don't know were to start. However, there are several different "steps" one can take in order to build a structure that leads to the worship of the deities in a personal matter. I will write a brief "guide" for group worshiping, but you, whoever you are, will easily be able to modify that for individual practice.
Note that these are not instructions on how you must perform, just a general outline. You are completely free to perform accordingly with your community, your own group or your own customs. With time and practice, your knowledge and skills will grow and you will start to perform in your own way.

1- Consecrate, Sanctify (hallowing) the place, to make it sacred. This can be done in many different ways. Some people often carry fire around the ritual area accompanying it with the singing of a holy song or reciting a poem or a prose work. Some consecrate the area with ale or mead, invoking the land spirits to guard the place and help during the rituals. This is made when you haven't been in the place before, or if you think that you will never come back there. It is actually to "mark" the area with what you will about to do. If you have your own place and if you have done it before in it, it is seldom needed to do it again in that specific place, at least by you. If a new member enters the community, this has to be done again to welcome the person into the area and into the group.

2- The next step is the "Calling", the invocation of the gods, spirits or ancestors. Usually asking them with a prayer, to be present among you and your folk, to be present during the rituals. Invoking the gods by calling their names. You can write your own invocation, be that for the gods or for the specific Blót, or both of course. Whatever you might use to invoke the gods, or even if the group sings a song, none of these methods are a command, it is a mere invitation, they might come or not.

3- "Advice" and/or "Council", is when the purpose of the gathering and the blót is explained and why the people are there and for what purpose the specific deities, spirits or ancestors have been previously called. It can ether be explained with ordinary speech or reciting a specific part of the lore. Reciting a myth, a story. The important thing is to explain the why of making the offerings and to whom they are being held.

4- Making the Offering. The blót is the worshiping of the holy powers and to make an offer to them. Now is the time to present the offerings and make them holy. It is the simple act of offering something to the gods, spirits and/or ancestors, and those become holy because they cross the veil between our world and theirs. Offerings can be anything of worth.
If you are making an offering of food, you might leave it out there to be eaten by animals, bury it or sink it into water like you would with physical goods. If you are using a libation as the main offering, you will likely want to pour it out on the ground or be poured into an offering bowl to be used in the Blessing later. It is very common to pass around a communal drink for ritual toasting and praise prior to pouring it out, like the horn filled with mead for example.

5- Blessings. Time to bless the people involved in the ritual, sprinkling each person with the previous blessed offering and speaking a simple prayer to impart divine favor and protection. Part of the offering, should be given to the land itself where the blót is taking place, to bless the area and strengthen what links each people involved in the ritual, with the spirits of the land and to mark that place for future sacrifices.

6- Ending. Since every blót has a clear start, it should also have an end. Something to make clear that the rite came to and end and that it is all over. Recite a farewell poem or any words to show the gratitude for the presence of the community and the ones that have been called upon.

Note: If you have any questions for me or if you want to see my artistic works, check out my Facebook page and make a Like if you can by following this link --> http://www.facebook.com/ArithHarger

Norse Symbols are not Symbols of Hatred

Nowadays watching Norse/Germanic pagan symbols on a necklace, tattooed on someone's skin or anyother place such as a wall, a book and so on, still leaves people somewhat uncomfortable, probably in fear at some point, but why does this happen?
Well, Norse/Germanic symbols weren't symbols of hatred, the Germanic peoples used the runes (The Elder Futhark) as much as the Norse (Younger Futhark) as their own alphabet, for divination, spiritual rituals, magic and so on, certainly they weren't white supremacists or racist skinheads, but somehow people still fear those symbols. Well in truth it is easy to know why, during the Third Reich the Nazis used a lot of Norse/Germanic symbols, for example the Hagall rune was very much present on the SS Totenkopfring or even the two Sowelu runes for the very SS symbol, and of course the Swastika, a major symbol used by many cultures including the many European cultures such as the Slavic ones, Germanic, Norse and Lusitanian, but again, these weren't racist people, but during the Third Reich, these symbols left a negative mark in the hearts of the European and watching those symbols again, brings the memory of horrible times, but the symbols themselves aren't hate symbols, it was the Nazis that  brought terror along with those.
Obviously it's not just the Nazis fault, for centuries we live on a society that has been for too long obsessed by Classical Antiquity, and we treasure it as the most important source of ancient European history, which left all the other European cultures in the shadow and forgetfulness. In general, all that people knew about Norse/Germanic symbols came from the Nazis and nothing more and the problem also is that the Neo-Nazis still use these symbols and they don't know the true meaning of those symbols, they only focus on the hatred brought by the Nazis. Another major problem is that many people with Christian backgrounds still feel that heathen convictions, faith and religious symbols may be dangerous, especially if associated with Norse/Germanic culturs. Whatever your religion may be, as a child we have all been educated in schools long dominated by Christians that such symbols are linked to the Nazis only, and the only Ancient European civilisations that are taught are the Classical ones, such as the Greek and the Roman.
In my point of view, we should start teaching our children the other side of history especially when it comes to powerful symbols that they might find all over the place their entire life, they will probably be ignorant about it and think that a lie, or omiting the truth, is the only truth available.

For example, the Bluetooth technology on every mobile phone, take a close look at the symbol there, It is actually a bindrune, that is two blended runes, the Hagall and Bjarkan. These two represent the initials of the 10th century viking king Harald Blåtand (Bluetooth), who ordered the Jelling stones to be erected. I really doubt that the Bluetooth team are a hate group, they certainly aren't racists, and their rune logo doesn't scare people away I'm sure.

Note: If you have any questions for me or if you want to see my artistic works, check out my Facebook page and make a Like if you can by following this link --> http://www.facebook.com/ArithHarger

Heathenism and Wicca - Differences

Before i start this post, i would like to clarify this, i'm not a Wiccan nor can i call my self an Asatrú, because the meaning of Asatrú as the name indicates ( Asa = Aesir the Sky gods of the Norse Pantheon and Trú = Norse word for Faith / Religion ) it is the neo-pagan religion involving the faith to the Norse/Germanic Sky gods, and i am a practitioner of Norse shamanism and of the Northern-Tradition paganism which involves all the gods, spirits and wights.

When people start to look for or study other kinds of religions or spiritual paths as an alternative to the monotheism religions we are used to, in search for a pagan European belief, often they find Wicca as the first pagan tradition. Wicca so far is the best known form of European polytheism in its bases, so it isn't hard to find it and actually working in that field, most kids are on to it, because it is easy to perform and it has an all romanized version of the real European paganism, especially when it comes to the Celtic paganism. It seems good to make a comparison of both neo-pagan religions, but first of all, we need to know that both have a variety of spiritual strands, so for now instead of talking about Asatrú, lets give it the name of Heathenism, for the Norse/Germanic beliefs are separated in Asatrú, Vanatrú ( having the faith placed with the Vanir gods ), Odinism/Wotanism, the cult of Odin the supreme sky god of the Aesir, Irminism, Forn Sidhr, Theodism, Germanic Reconstructionism and so on. This also happens with Wicca, but more divided and yet every pagan religion known is placed "inside" of Wicca, making it a cocktail of both pagan religions all over the world and also abrahamic religions which are exactly the opposite of being pagan and actually goes agaisnt that.

The major difference between being a Wiccan or a Heathen, is that in the Wiccan rites, they invoke deities from several other cultures as i have stated before, while the heathens stick to the gods and goddesses from the Norse/Germanic beliefs. Wicca also sees all goddesses and other female deities as aspects of the great goddess divided into the archetypes of Maiden, Mother and Crone in a very Celtic way, and all male deities as the Horned god ( most of the times the male principles don't exist or are completely forgotten ) this makes wicca religion almost monotheistic-like, the worship of the great goddess in the three fases of life and of nature. While heathenry is more polytheistic-like, worshiping a range of gods and goddesses from the same culture and beliefs, equal in statues and each of them can stay alone without the need for a male or female complement.
Now this tiny paragraph shows us why Wicca is the most popular neo-pagan religion, it is the tiny step that people make while leaving the other abrahamic based religions such as Christianity, the worshiping of one deity, into a religion of the same sort but with pagan themes and rituals, making it look like something very familiar not to seem so shocking, and different, and very often Wiccans see Jesus Christ as the Male god and Virgin Mary as the archetype of the great goddess. The previous paragraph also shows us why in Wiccan, 90% of its followers are female, because the great goddess most of the time is the only deity with great importance and all the faith goes around her, leaving the male completely apart, it isn't strange to see that most wiccans are lonely women who can't have a love relationship and eventually are conform with the fact that they do not need a man. 
I like to think that religions have strong beliefs when they are practiced by strong people, we shape those with our strong personalities, but with the lack of personality one religion can be very hollow, and women shouldn't be the kind of women who need men, but rather the kind of women that men need, this is why we see a lot of Wiccans who have no idea what paganism is and actually give it a bad name and the reason for laughter because strong personalities always end up following the best virtues and people without personality end up confused, sad, frustrated and dig deep their own mud holes.

In Wicca the spirits of nature and everything that surrounds us are organized and divided into the four elements, which are earth, fire, water and air. Heathen cosmology is focused in the elements of fire and ice as opposing principles, chaos and order, the constant struggle for peace and maintain everything in harmony such as nature is, with the clear idea that one can't live without the other, and we also can't live in a magical eternal paradise where everything is good, we can't be always happy, we have to experience sadness and other negative feelings so we may give the proper value to things, because if all was good, we would become lazy, ignoble, ignorant, and there is always the need of constant evolution of our personalities, of our own being, to become better. Go ask a wiccan about the meaning of the four elements, 86% or more will not be able to give you an exact answer, and this is due to the fact that people do not study deep their beliefs, they do not question it, they just stay with what is givin to them and they accept it how it is, they are like sheep, blindly following what was told to them, in a constant need to be guided because of the lack of personality, they can't do things for themselves, they are not self reliant enough, they lack of a strong will and spirit.

In Wicca as a spiritual belief of community, covens are made, groups of people start to gather with the purpose of develp their members spiritually and magically in several initiations, everyone will become a priestess or a priest eventually and it will turn out to be a very lonely spiritual path because people will perform all the rituals are their homes, in a more intimate environment, in contrast most heathens form a kinship, and the rituals/blót and celebrations are formed within a family or household, each of the people have their own place in the group according to their choosing and skills, some may work in a shamanic way, other with other kinds of Germanic magic, some will specialize in brewing, woodcarving, other crafts for the community and other skills that are needed into the group or family, but the main purpose is to provide spiritual community. There are also rites of passa within the kindred, but these tend to mark life changes rather than magical achievments. In terms of rituals, wicca practice is often decended from medieval ceremonial magic, for heathens and practitioners of Norse/Germanic beliefs, rituals and modeled on folk practice, less formal, but also in a very much Seidhr form, in the old ways, in the shamanic performances of the Norse people as far back as memory and history allows us.

It isn't hard to see the rituals in Wicca being so closely similar to medieval times or with a great connection to the Arthurian legends which was believed  that Arthur was a great king in medieval times because his legends gave inspiration to a lot of medieval writers, in a time where politics were very hard and harder was to have the society in order and peace, so the stories of Arthur gave the perfect political order to be followed, stories that date back to the roman times which we can read the stories and legands of Wales and Irland, of a great king and his warriors, all their deeds throughout the land, all of these stories were romanticized in France in later centuries in a tipical medieval way, full of splendor, magnificence, glamour, the perfect political order and harmony on the land, heaven on earth, where common men would become nobles and nobles would become knights, and a king od such power and purity that god himself would light his path. At the time the romanticized version was written, it was also the time when christianity was already the main religion of Europe, and so to the Arthur stories and legends it was added the search for the holy grail, as in ancient legends the search was for magic and the realms of the other world, the spiritual world and items of power. The mixture of celtic paganism with the romantic times of medieval Europe and the Arthurian legends, gave the perfect flavour and combination to the Wiccan religion and people tend to fantasize a lot, they are blind and they can't see the truth of it because the wondrous tale is more appealing to the heart and soul. I have read the real Arthutian legends from Irland and Wales in the real time where they occurred, the story is fantastic and it is actually a more accurate part of history, less romanticized, and more precise, people should also read it, i might talk about it one of these days. This leads me to what i have said before, people don't question their beliefs, they do not study, they don't try to comprehend it, in heathenism people tend to be much more formal and precise than wicca in the relationship with the lore, because we have a lot of lore to work with and Wicca is essentially a modern tradition with the lack of lore even being a great mixture of cultures, they do not search for it. Those who practice Norse/Germanic pagan traditions are encouraged to read the primary sources as well as scholarly works discussing them and debating their meanings rather than accepting the interpretations made by others with less contact with the themes, it is a religion/spiritual path always in constant evolution as we human beings also are, adapting to the new needs of the society and of the individual. Many of those who practice the Norse/Germanic paganism, study Old Norse or Anglo-Saxon so they may examine the sources in their original languages.

Another difference between wiccans and heathens is the way taht ethical principles are articulated. In Wicca has a single advice, not harming anyone and doing what we will and also the law of whatever someone might do it will come back to the person tripled, heathens mostly hold to the Nine Noble Virtues ( for that you might want to read my post about them --> [Link] ). While Wicca has a simple statement of what not to do, much like christianity and the 10 commandments, the Norse/Germanic pagan tradition offers a more elaborate statement of what we should do, there is also the great importance of our ancestors and family values such as the friendship and its important bonds.

Note:  If you have any questions for me or if you want to see my artistic works, check out my Facebook page and make a Like if you can by following this link --> http://www.facebook.com/ArithHarger

Why do you call it, Northern Pagan Traditions?

Why do you call it, Northern Pagan Traditions?

Well, i do call it by this name or, northern traditional paganism, as a reference to the old ways and custom of the northern countries of Europe, in Scandinavia, before the Christianization of Europe, not only the religion, but also the spiritual paths of the northern shamanism and the connections with the land spirits and ancestors, spiritual ways and beliefs such as this, that date about 40.000 of history.

Why not call it, wicca?

In terms of beliefs, culture, ethics, history, religion, teachings etc. there is a big difference between being a wicca or a wiccan practitioner with being a person that follows and practices the northern ways. Wiccans tend to belief in many gods of different pantheons, a mixture of Norse gods, with Celtic ones, Egyptian gods, Greek etc., there is also a tendency to leave things in a shallow way, a limitation of festivities and celebrations, and people dont dig further into the matter of the soul, there isn't questioning, most of the time it seems that wiccans, are former christians who are tired of christianity and are looking for different religions and beliefs, and go looking for the ancient ones that seem more reliable, and have no connection to any of the Abrahamic religions. As a matter of fact, many wiccans use the image of christ and his mother, as the figure of the god and of the goddess, there is also that tendency to worship a goddess as the mother nature or the moon goddess, and a god, Cernunnos, the celtic god of the forests, animals, beasts and mystery. These is also a connection to the Indian word "Karma" and the following of that belief, that fate exists and everything in out lifes will happen according to an astral plan, and the wrong you do to others, it will come back to you twice as much. So in terms of being a practitioner or a follower of the northern ways, things dont get too superficial, there is also a lot of gods and it is also a pagan belief yes, but there isn't that tendency to mixture other gods, there is an exposure of faith to these gods and only to them, to stay true to the beliefs, convictions and virtues. In the Traditional Nordic paganism, people do not seek a better place elsewhere, in an other world in the afterlife, because this world is beautiful and life is a blessing, each one of us has a purpose, and victory must be attained. Fate is a subject, much different than the other religions, the tree Nornes build the fate of each, and it will intertwine with the fate of others and with the happanings of the world, in a great web that connect us all to this world, the afterlife and to the gods, spirits and ancestors, so we must take care of each other, and take care of all living things, but fate isn't fixed, the only thing that can be certain, are some aspects of life that must happen, like the birth of a child or the death of someone in a certain time, or one person meeting another, or certain problems and obstacles that must appear in our life, in order to make us stronger, constant tests, that will decide if we are capable of living in this world and learning something, so fate isn't a book where everything is written, in the northern pagan beliefs, free will is given to us all, and it is always up to us to decide how we will live this life, and how we will face all the problems, all of us must fight, and our hearts and minds will make us a good person or not. 

We can speak to the gods, and they will help us, giving the best gifts of all, which are, advice, love, wisdom and strength, strength of mind, body and spirit, they will not intervene in our lifes, because all of us have free will, if they did help us, more than they already do, they would take away the credit of each one, and the capabilities and skills that we have.

In the Northern Pagan Traditions, people don't just pray to the gods or to the spirits of the land, but also to the ancestors, seeking protection and wistom, because they too have lived in this world once, and they know more than us and also what is beyond the veils that separate this world from the other, and they are older and wisest, because one they we will also be the ancestors of someone, and we have to make our descendants proud of what we have became.

Life can't be always a good thing, there must be hard times also, sorrow and grief, because by that way, we can enjoy life and appreciate it, giving value to it.

The gods of the Northern pantheons are divided into tree groups, the Aesir, the Vanir and the Underworld gods, and each god has a purpose and his/her wisdom is needed in many life stages. The Aesir are more concerned with the strength of mind and body, with the power to achieve victory, to be strong enough to protect ourselves, those we love, and protect all who don't have the capacity to protect themselves. The Vanir, are more into the fertility of the soils and of all living creatures, and their teachings show us how to respect nature and as we take from it, we also must give, because a gift always calls for a gift, and we must not forget love, because he who doesn't know love, shall never find peace. The Underworld gods as they are called most of the time, are the gods more concerned with the matter of the soul and how we can enrich it while living. After death, the soul continues to exist, and we continue to learn and to grow as an individual, as a being, and we continue to learn. There isn's such thing as Hell or Heaven or a bad god and a good god, there are a very big group of teachers and friends that will accompany you through life, and they will give you friendship, advise, love and wisdom, if you ask for it and if you prove you are worth having these gifts. Those who follow the Aesir gods are often called Asatru, and those who follow the Vanir, are called Vanatru, and the underworld gods, the Rökkatru.

So why not just saying, Ásatrú, instead of Northern Pagan Traditions?

That is because, what i write in here and my beliefs, go further into just worshiping a group of gods, and there are people who are just Ásatrú, or Odinists/Wotanists or Heathens or those who follow the neopagan religions linked to these gods, for exemple "Theodism", "Germanic Reconstructionism" etc. each group of these is linked to the Northern Pagan Traditions and old beliefs of Scandinavia and Germanic countries, and as i speak of it all and also about northern shamanism, i prefer to "pack" it all into the lable of Northern Pagan Traditions or Northern Spiritual Ways.


If you need more information or if you want to check my works, take a look at my Facebook page and make a like at --> www.facebook.com/ArithHarger

FAQ - Are the Runes Reliable?

Are the Runes Reliable?

Well, i get this question some times, but i will try to include all the questions about the runes, that people sent me, because it is so often, i decided to include these questions in the FAQ lable.


When working with the runes, people must know that, this kind of divination, will not tell them exactly how the future will be, it will not tell them what they want to hear or want to know. The runes will help you, telling you what must be done, the best path to take according with your past history, the paths you have taken, your choices. The runes themselves along with the many methods to read them, will design your past life in a whole path that was taken, showing the present circumstances, and will help you, guide you, in which is the best path to take, what must be done by you and only you, it will give you the choices, and you must choose for yourself what will lead you to a better life.

When asking a specific question, keep it in mind, the runes will show you for certain, if not, it is because the answer is in the gods keeping and you are not supposed to know.

Some people have a great difficulty in reading the runes, that's because some people are more receptive to the runes, than others, but don't let that disappoint you or let you down, because they work well in the same way, it's just, those that aren't that receptive to the runes, will have the double of the work to actually understand them, or to understand the entire meaning of them. I'm saying this because by my own experience, i'm not actually a person receptive to the runes, i know how to work with them, i know how to read, i understand what the runes show me, but reading them is way more difficult to me, than for exemple.. my girlfriend Ana Teresa, she is way more receptive to them, than me, i can do exaclty the same thing, but the answers or the entire story of my life, will come slowly or in pieces, or some things will not be showned to me, and to her, the runes speak with "great eloquence", and the design of her life or the life to whom she is reading the runes, will just "pop out" perfectly.

Can i tattoo a rune?

Well, about tattooing runes, i strongly recommend you to read the entire "Runes" Lable and what each rune is good for, what are the effects on the body and what kind of illness it can help to cure or to heal. You can tattoo a rune, a specific rune that helps you in a specific problem in the part of the body which has that kind of problem.
I've got an other question - if that is possible to tattoo or to cary in a neckless or other kinds of ways, a specific rune, which is more turned to the male gender, but you are a woman, or vs versa. Well in this case, it doesn't matter if you are from the male gender or the female one, each rune has its purpose, of course, some are more turned to a gender than to the other, because some powers and some needs, are special to just one gender, for exemple the birth of a child, the rune that helps with that, is of course more turned to the female gender, or problems with the womb or the ovaries, well you got the point, but each rune doesn't have just those helpfull gifts or powers, it has others that share the needs of us all, so there is no problem to carry a rune that is turned to a gender that is not your own, because it will help you anyway, in other needs, in other cases or it can also help a friend or a family member from the opposite sex.

Any more questions about the runes, feel free to ask, i've just put here the answers to the, more often questions i get about the runes. If you need advise, i will be around, just ask.

FAQ - Where does your knowledge about the Northern Traditional paganism Comes from? Is it reliable?

Where does your knowledge about the Northern Traditional paganism Comes from?


My knowledge about the subjects i write at this blog comes from the hard study into mythological themes and Folklore, also it comes from the Lore written by the old people of the Northern countries. I also work very closely with shamans who practice these olf ways and they have much knowledge to share all the time.
It is important to exchange knowledge with others, speaking with them in debates, so that is also where my knowledge comes from, we are always teaching and learning with each other.

 Is it reliable?

Well, i'm not here to convince you of anything, nor it would be right if i thought that everybody would belive in the things i write. This blog is for those who are interested in these kinds of themes and subjects, for those who want to follow and learn from the northern old ways and traditional paganism. This is knowledge for all, but only few will get it or will be able to learn and practice. I'm certain that lots of people will not get this or will not believe, everyone is free to believe in what they will. I'm not trying to push anyone into this. So the information i write can be reliable for those who believe and are open minded to do so, i do not expect everyone to understand this, because not all are able to experience the things i and others have.

FAQ - Are you wiccan or wicca practitioner?

Are you wiccan or wicca practitioner?


No, i am not and i want to clear that up. I still follow and practice the old believes of my ancestors, which are, the Nordic old ways, Northern traditional paganism and the Norse pantheon. I'm also a close student of shamanism, expecially the Northern Shamanism practice by the people of Scandinavia, along with the Sami people and the people from Sibera and the old ways of the Eurasian northern people. I am a pagan if you want to call it that way, or a heathen, but do not make the mistake of thinking that i am a wiccan, because i only follow one pantheon of gods, nor am i a member of any Asatru or Heathen group, i still practice the ways of my family in ancient times, an try to connect as much as i can with the norse gods, the landvættir, the ancestors, elves and other spirits. I can't also be called just by an Asatru, or an Odinist, i am a man who practice something very close to Forn Sidhr or Forn Sed ( Old custom ), but also a very close student of the Northern shamanic ways, and as such, i don't have only the "affinity" or i don't pray to just one god or a specific group of gods such as the Vanir for exemple, rather, i try to pray and connect to all the spirits linked to me and to my family, and all the gods, Aesir, Vanir or the gods of the underworld. Each one has a purpose and each one has always something to teach.

FAQ - Can i use your artistic works?

Can i Use your artistic works?


This question is often asked, and first of all, these are the links you can find my works:

http://www.facebook.com/ArithHarger

http://vikingwidunder.deviantart.com/

If in any case you want to use my works, please first like my facebook page or if you have a deviantart, make a watch at my profille.

When you want to use one of my works for an illustration online or something else in the network world, you ask me first. All i want is that you mention me at the place you put my work, with my name ( Arith Härger ) or with my nick name ( VikingWidunder ) with a link to my profille page, and i ask that you send me the link of the place so i can see how it looks and if everything is right.

I am not selling my artistic works at the moment.

I ask you to respect my wishes on this, and that you give the proper indications when you use my works, and all will be well. My works are under copyright.

Any more question about this subject, feel free to ask.

Thank you!

Mistaking Nazism with Norse Paganism

I have talked about this subject some times, and i have clearly distinguish the differences between Norse paganism and Nazism. For those who do not want to take the trouble of seeking my writtings at the blog, i will show you an other prove that nazism has nothing to do with norse paganism. Sure they used the rune equivalent to the letter "S" in their special assault forces the SS, and the nee-nazi people use the rune Othila equivalent to the letter "O" , a rune that symbolizes nobility and kingship, a rune of power and connected to Odin, also the swastika, as i told before, it is a very old symbol, as old as mankind, the smbolizes the sun and the ligh in shamanism and in may cultures through the centuries. But that's it, neo-nazis mistake the old symbols of the norse paganism, with this political strand, because the commander and very faithful political "adherent" of Hitler's party, Heinrich Himmler, was very interested in the occult, and was inspired by the old ways and old costumes. So the Nazis did not worship any pagan god, in fact, hitler was very much christian, but suffice to say and it is more correct to declare that the chief deity in nazi germany was not Odin, but Adolf Hitler himself.


Lets see the following passage that shows Hitler's Opinion very clear:


"What nonsense! Here we have at last reached an age that has left all mysticism behind, and now he [Himmler] wants to start it all over again. We might just as well have strayed in the church. At least it had tradition . . . . Isn't it enough that the Romans were erecting great buildings when our forefathers were still living in mud huts; now himmler is starting to dig up these villages of mud huts and enthusing over every potsherd and stone axe he finds. All we prove by that is that we were still throwing stone hatchets and crounching around open fires when Greece and Rome had already reached the highest stage of culture. We really should do our best to keep quiet about this past."


(reported by Speet 1970)


In fact nazi decoration and architecture make it clear that Hitler's greatest inspiration was not ancient germanic culture and scandinavian beliefs, but Imperial Rome.

Few talk about this but, those pagan germans who did not supported the Nazis, went to the concentration camps with the rest of the "misfits".

There is no relation between then Heathen spirit and Norse pagan Beliefs, with the Political Strand of the Nazi party and the neo-nazis of today. If people think otherwise, they are ignorant, and if neo-nazi think of it as well, its even worse, and they are more ignorant, because they haven't study their history well enough, and know nothing about their own political beliefs. There can't be a mixture such as this.

If you need more information or if you want to check my works, take a look at my Facebook page and make a like at --> www.facebook.com/ArithHarger