So i went to my moms who is catholic, ive never been catholic for many reasons. Even as a child i saw through the lies. It just feels weird being in a house surrounded by pray everyday signs, kneel to "god", trust the lord and so on. Normally others beliefs dont bother me. Something about today just felt off. I cant explain it. I find myself tonight enjoying my family in a dark ish room listening to Heilung and Danheim while burning some incense. My dad refused to allow me to be baptized which today im grateful for that but lately hes talked about his "god." Even rolled his eyes when i told him my tattoos were for honoring Odin, Freyja, and Frigg as well as Hel. I feel so distant with them because of this however i believe strongly in the gods and will not ever compromise my honoring and offerings to them. They came to me in a way that will never have me not believing in them. I also feel with whats happened and how i was lead to this path will have many believing im crazy.
Whats some ways you have dealt with this feeling?

What brings y'all here? Is it more of the spiritual or Tribal aspect, or more being part of a community?

If the community aspect, what about community draws you to FR?

#morningcoffee in the backyard this morning. Let's see what today brings

My ''hot take'' on historical authenticity.

After seeing the results of the survey I conducted earlier (here and elsewhere), I can say that there is a strong inclination to certify historical authenticity regardless of whether it is applied in practice or not.
Personally, I think the problem with the search for this lies in whether people are capable of accepting the truth or not, as well as whether they will hide that truth or embrace it, which leads me to ask:
"Why do you need historical authenticity? Will you use it only to satisfy curiosity or to apply it in your practice?"

It is a big mistake to believe that our faith or spirituality lacks content and organization. The wealth of traditions and culture we have at our fingertips is on par with the great religions. However, when it comes to playing the card of historical authenticity to fill the gaps and rebuild the spiritual culture that was destroyed, many take a step back because they encounter a reality that doesn't fit with their preconceived idea of ​​Heathenry and/or out of fear of having to leave their comfort zone and adopt another way of life, which may be very different from the Christian way of life to which many are accustomed... Yes, most continue to live as Christians even though they worship other gods, even if they deny it or are unaware of it.
As a result, many sweep historical authenticity under the rug or simply change it, adapting it to their personal preferences (whether out of selfishness or laziness) and creating something totally different as if it were something normal and valid, when it never was.
This not only complicates the reconstruction of our faith, but it also completely contradicts and undermines it.

While there were some differences between similar traditions, they followed patterns and shared foundations that didn't distance them too much from each other and kept them traditionally viable. Our faith wasn't a fully organized religion (mainly due to the difficulties of the time), but this doesn't mean it wasn't organized. Our spiritual traditions were strictly followed, so much so that not even kings could disregard them without consequences. Religious hierarchies existed, the use of money as offerings and to support temples (and their priests) was normal, we knelt before the gods and avoided making circular movements during important dates so as not to anger them. Fear of the gods, superstition, respect, traditions, consequences, rules, organization—all of these exist within our faith and are what helps us rebuild and create solid foundations that can change over time, naturally, and not just from one day to the next because it's more convenient for us. Historical authenticity is not for those seeking a place to belong or a mental placebo, but for those who strive to restore our worldview to its former glory—not for ourselves, but for the gods, the giants, the ancestors, and those who will inherit everything after us.

Good morning, fellow heathens!

This Sunday, April 13th, marks the arrival of Sigrblót – the heathen festival that signals the beginning of summer.

It’s also the time to make a blót to the gods for victory, strength, and success in the brighter half of the year. The celebration lasts for three nights, filled with offerings, fellowship, and reverence for the gods.

How will you be celebrating this year?
Will it be a solitary blót, shared with loved ones, or with friends?

Victory and strength to you all!

Hail the speargod!

Chilling in the hot sun I love nature I can't wait to see what it brings through the year.

The following text was written by Frank Ottosson, a board member of the Nordic Asa-Community, for a Facebook group associated with the Nordic Asa-Community.

Oaths and Oath Rings – The Bonds of Honor and Law in the Old Norse Society

In Old Norse society, an oath was one of the most binding actions a person could undertake. A promise was not merely a verbal assurance but a sacred obligation, a bond between individuals, the gods, and örlög (fate) itself. Swearing an oath meant placing one’s life, honor, and future in the hands of the gods, and breaking it was to defy both human and divine laws.

Oaths permeated all aspects of society and were used in legal proceedings, alliances, trade, warfare, and daily life. At the thing (assembly), an oath could decide a dispute when evidence was lacking. The one swearing an oath before the legal assembly often had to place their hand on an oath ring, a sacred object made of silver or iron, which was kept in temples or carried by chieftains and jarls. These rings were not merely symbolic—archaeological finds from Uppsala, Uppåkra, and Torsbjerg bog show that such rings were indeed used in ritual and legal contexts. In Njál’s Saga, the law-speaker Hrut swore an oath before the thing to assert his right to an inheritance, and in Eyrbyggja Saga, an accused man attempted to prove his innocence through oath-taking. The oath functioned as a legal guarantee, and anyone who lied under such an oath risked not only their reputation but also the wrath of the gods.

But oaths were not sworn only in court. In war, the oath was a way to bind men to one another and to their chieftain. Warrior bands swore oaths of loyalty by touching an oath ring, a custom mentioned in the Kings’ Sagas. Breaking such an oath was an insult to both men and gods and could lead to blood vengeance. In the Völsunga Saga, Sigurd swore loyalty to King Gunnar but broke his oath through deceit and manipulation, setting off a chain of vengeance and bloodshed. Similar themes appear in The Lay of Atli, where betrayal and broken oaths are described as the cause of King Atli’s downfall.

For a Norseman, oaths were also part of everyday life. In marriage, vows of fidelity were made; in trade, oaths were sworn regarding the quality of goods; and between friends and foster brothers, oaths could seal eternal loyalty. In Laxdæla Saga, a broken oath of loyalty led to a prolonged feud where honor demanded bloody retribution. Those who broke their word risked being labeled a níðingr, an outcast with no rights or protection in society. Being called a níðingr was one of the worst insults a person could suffer, and there were few ways to restore one’s honor after such a disgrace.

The gods do not look kindly upon oath-breakers. Loki, who once swore a blood-brother oath with Odin but later betrayed the gods, is destined to be bound in a cave while venom from a serpent slowly drips onto him. His fate reflects the inevitable justice that befalls those who break their oaths. The gods demand loyalty and honor, and those who violate their oaths can expect divine wrath to find them sooner or later.

The oath was not only a promise between people but also a connection between humans and the gods. In the Landnámabók, an oath ring in the temple at Uppsala is mentioned, used in religious ceremonies and legal proceedings. Similar finds have been made in Norway, where large silver and iron rings connected to temples and chieftain seats have been discovered. In Heimskringla, it is told how kings and chieftains carried such rings and had their men swear oaths of loyalty by placing their hands upon them.

Thus, oaths were more than just words. They were a link between people and gods, between the past, present, and future. Archaeological finds, sagas, and legal texts show how deeply rooted oath-taking was in Old Norse society. To swear an oath was to take örlög (fate) into one’s own hands, to place one’s life in the scales of the gods. Keeping one’s oath was to preserve one’s honor, one’s rights, and one’s place in the world. Breaking it was to lose everything. And even today, the gods watch over the oaths that are sworn, and those who break them do so to their own ruin.

How do you view oaths today? How seriously do you take the promises you make?
And what does it truly mean to keep one’s word in a world where oaths and promises have, in many ways, lost their value?

Took these pictures last year in Wales I loved every second of it with nature I loved the sun and the rain. I love what nature brings for Norse.

SOME NEW OPINIONS ON LOKI

Loki is needed in the cosmology he brings about a lot of change through chaos he has his utility we can see Loki in our lives when things happen to us that seem bad but ultimately result in learning something new or entering a better phase of our lives now would I venerate Loki never I do not encourage chaos or want to bring it about but much like his devotees self titled Lokeans seem to have the same utility in the heathen community as Loki does in the cosmology when it comes to calling out certain people or shedding light on certain things or wrong doings Lokeans seem to have an affinity for it and most of it causes chaos but after that chaos emerges a new understanding or a new outlook

Does anyone know of any smaller businesses in the UK that make and sell norse jewellery using natural materials for items like pendants and an arm rings?