Our idols (sometimes incorrectly called "totems") are an extremely important part of Heathenry, and the sources tell us about the grandeur of these idols, which are the physical bodies of the gods in which they reside and to which one can turn when worshipping them. These idols were worshipped and treated as something sacred and living; they were adorned and worshipped in temples or carried around in processions, with all the honor and devotion. Even so, these have been relegated to a secondary level for the convenience of practitioners (which I personally consider disrespectful), to the point where many practitioners do not know the names they were usually given, which are the following. - Blótgoð: a heathen god to whom sacrifices are made, referring to an idol or statue of a god. Maybe the most effective word to name these idols. - Trégoð: a tree god or wood god. - Skurðgoð: carved god.

Archbishop Ælfheah of Canterbury was killed by Thorkell the Tall’s liquored up Vikings on this day, April 19, in 1012. Thorkell’s men had captured the Archbishop, who was a central figure in the negotiations around Geld (tribute) payments. The captors saw an opportunity to fill their pockets with silver through demanding a ransom for their hostage. Things didn’t go their way though – the Vikings were dealing with a stubborn and pious man. After 7 months of captivity, the Archbishop still refused to allow a ransom to be paid for his freedom on the grounds that he didn’t want to further impoverish his countrymen. The captors reached the end of their patience and killed him during a drunken feast fuelled by southern wine on April 19 1012 at Greenwich. Archbishop Ælfheah’s death appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: “… the raiding-army became much stirred up against the bishop, because he did not want to offer them any money, and forbade that anything might be granted in return for him. Also they were very drunk, because there was wine brought from the south. Then they seized the bishop, led him to their “hustings” on the Saturday in the octave of Easter, and then pelted him there with bones and the heads of cattle; and one of them struck him on the head with the butt of an axe, so that with the blow he sank down and his holy blood fell on the earth, and sent forth his holy soul to God’s kingdom.” Some sources mention that the final, killing blow with the back of an axe was delivered as an act of kindness by a Christian convert by the name of Thrum. Another contemporary report tells that Thorkell the Tall attempted to save the Archbishop from being killed by offering the mob everything he owned except for his ship, in exchange for the Archbishops life. The offer was clearly ignored by the angry, drunken warriors who had reached the end of their patience.

Loki, the God of Mischief, is a truly unique figure – the ultimate trickster and jester. He is capable of doing anything, with no challenge beyond his reach. There is no place he cannot access, nor any form he cannot take. However, he never acts for personal gain but always with a purpose that serves the greater system. With vast powers and resources inherited through his bloodline and his own abilities, Loki can assume any shape or role. Each time, he embarks on a specific mission, achieving results whose true nature and meaning remain known only to him, until the right moment. https://youtu.be/Sh3h-lUQqhY?si=4k9cx_OCI0bIz8Tc

One of the best (if not the best) Heathenry themed bands I've ever heard. The lyrics are written entirely in Old Norse, crafted on historical and mythological primary sources.

Original post and images by: Mathias Vidas Olsen When it comes to hair fashion in the Viking Age, it's often not an element we see attempted to be recreated very often. But here's my attempt. I went to the hairdresser yesterday, who somewhat reluctantly collaborated in recreating the hairstyle and mustache from the Oseberg wagon. When we do reenactment, I think it's important to remember that we shouldn't necessarily aim for what we consider cool, beautiful, or perhaps the most comfortable by modern standards. In my opinion, the most important thing is that we stick as closely to the sources as possible and let them take us wherever they lead us.

The topic of Loki as an LGBTQIA+ icon or a symbol for the community and a common God among members of the LGBTQ community has always been something that has puzzled me a great deal I’ve heard the arguments that “loki is queer “ witch I can understand where they are making that connection but however I believe this to be somewhat true in the sense that Loki does engage in homosexual interactions but his motivations are not that of someone who values these relationships but someone who utilizes these relationships and their dynamics for his own selfish benefit and to use them to shield himself from consequences for his wrong doings not because he values the individual’s he’s engaging with but because of the possible benefits of this interaction and I personally don’t think that is a particularly good mascot for LGBTQ heathens we see this in the eddic material sources on loki I would argue that Thor or freyer is a better mascot

Úlfhéðnar: The Óðinnic Wolf Cult To preface this, this won't be a historical post on the Úlfhéðnar. This is something from my personal practice, inspired by history and used for the current modern time of Norse Paganism. For me and my journey Wolves have been a staple of my practice, and my own personality. Something I have embraced fully this past year. My middle name being Ulfr, and from a very young age I knowing my Fylgja. She is a black wolf that watches over me, I have seen her in a few dreams, but mostly others who dream of me see this wolf. My aunt most notably when I was a young boy. And today, most often when my fylgja is seen by others, they see the wolf in distress, and this has alerted a few within my circle of hard times I am dealing with, as I am not generally one to openly speak on what I am dealing with. Anyways, for a long time I was lead to believe the wolf was just bad, untrustworthy, angry, and dangerous, a force of destruction. I've been told many negative things through my life about the wolf, but I looked to the positive aspects of the wolf, protection, loyalty, and one huge factors for me, the untamed primal spirit, Freedom. Now onto this whole "Úlfhéðnar" and "Óðinnic Wolf Cult" thing. In 2022, I started my organization, Úlfung (Wolf Tribe) for all those following the Norse spirituality in my area, and over this last year I've worked on a sort is side project within my organization, The Óðinnic Wolf Cult, something we know somewhat of as we know about the Berserkir, the Úlfhéðnar, and the phenomena of the Germanic Männerbund (Koryos), that became what these warriors were. In general it's been common through history, for many shaman, and warriors alike to wear the pelts of animals and take on their aspects in rituals and battle. So one day I really sat down and asked myself, how would the Óðinnic Wolf Cult today look like? (And of course can't be called Wolf Tribe without some wolf stuff going on 🤣). Now of course, we as Norse pagans, are not warriors like they were in the Viking Age, and before. And we certainly are not Vikings. But the spirit of this Wolf Cult doesn't just die off. So I got to writing, and doing far more research on the subject of the old Koryos, and the Úlfhéðnar in the Viking Age, looking at the phenomena. We know little of what was really practiced, but we can make educated guesses, and interpretations. This is a Faith after all, and we are reconstructing day by day, so long as we don't try and change/rewrite the history and properly acknowledge our Personal Gnosis and Interpretations and make the right distinctions then all is well. So in my interpretation, it looks something like this: To start, it is a Männerbund, or Koryos, a Brotherhood or Band of men, so the first requirement for our group is of course being a man. (Sorry ladies! We also have female only positions within our organization though!) Now as stated we aren't Vikings, and we arent the Úlfhéðnar of legend either. Its 2025, we aren't 'berserking' into battle. So on that, we won't just allow any would be dude with anger issues, who bought same faux fur shoulder pelt all the dudes from the Beard Struggle wear off of Etsy, claiming that he 'See's red when he's angry' and nothing can stop him! (You can see I've had some personal experience there...) And being in America... For Helvede... It seems there's a plethora of guys who know nothing about the spirituality, but they saw something about Berserkers once and it was super MANLY so they become BerserkerVikingKing9000. Now I won't say that fighting is off the table within this though, My inspiration aside from wolves of course, does come along from my profession in Private Contracting. Fighting is kind of a big deal, and being capable of handling yourself and protecting others is a key factor. So we do take a dedication to fitness, and training, and believe each person who chooses to follow this, should be very capable even if it is not exactly necessary. For me, there is no separation between my faith and my work life or anything else. My faith is with me always, and in everything. Infact, my wolf pelt is sitting out on the passenger seat of my car while I'm at work, it's never far from me! Within our 'Wolf Cult' one of the biggest aspects is further embracing the Animistic aspect of the old ways, digging deep into the primal elements of ourselves. Heavily embracing the spirit in all things, and taking it upon ourselves to join efforts in cleaning up parks, wildlife areas and more. While we encourage all of our members to do so, as this faith being Animistic should drive one to that, being conscious of the natural world greatly, it is a Requirement for those in the wolf Cult to do so with their brothers. The Dedication to Óðinn. It is an Óðinnic Wolf Cult after all, and with that we swear not only oaths of fealty, and Loyalty to one another, but we swear to Óðinn, we fight for, learn and follow Óðinn's path. We follow the god of fury and frenzy, acting as his howling winds in the wild. Embracing the wild and primal wolf spirits! Many of our practices involve Utiseta, and trance dancing. Going to sit out in the woods which are most sacred to us in just Wolf Skins, as we work to connect and learn from the ancestors before us, or dancing wildly by the fire howling out in the woods and embracing the primal and free spirit of the wolf. Among all the other practices of Forn Seð. To avoid writing a book here, I am condensing a lot, and keeping it simple, but overall being a part of our Wolf Cult takes a lot of dedication and an unwavering faith in the Animistic ways of Forn Seð. And in terms of dedication, we also require that those who want to be part of it have a genuine wolf pelt to wear. We have ethical sources the pelts must be obtained from, and it benefits Wolf Conservations and efforts. And on the off chance a member hunts and kills a wolf, so long as it isn't them just going out targeting and killing a wolf for the sake of its pelt, and they actually had a reason they had to defend themselves or another from the wolf, we allow them to have that kill be made into a pelt to wear. Anyways, this may all sound silly to some, be an inspiration to others, or something that some don't care much for, and that is okay! But if it inspires you somewhat, than I am glad! Enjoy this fun video in the Koryos for further inspiration and learning as well: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LbIwi1HxmpE Image from the Torslunda Plates

🇬🇧 further down. 🇸🇪 Nytt på hemsidan: Utesittning – Útiseta Idag, den 14 mars på fullmånens kväll, firar vi Disablot till ära för diserna och väsen som vakar över oss. Vi passar också på att meddela att nu finns det en informationssida om Utesittning (Útiseta) på hemsidan. Utesittning är en gammal sed som omnämns i källorna, där den användes för att få syner, vägledning och kontakt med makterna. Genom att sitta ensam i mörkret, på en gravhög, i skogen eller vid en helig plats, kunde man få inblick i sitt örlög (öde) och framtiden. Denna tradition lever kvar än idag och är en kraftfull metod för att söka svar, finna styrka och fördjupa vår förståelse av världen och oss själva. Läs mer om utesittning här: https://asa-samfundet.se/utesittning-utiseta/ 🇬🇧 New on the website: Sitting Out – Útiseta. Tonight, on March 14th under the full moon, we celebrate Disablot in honor of the Disir and the spirits who watch over us. We also take this opportunity to announce that an informational page about Sitting Out (Útiseta) is now available on our website. Sitting Out is an ancient practice mentioned in historical sources, used to receive visions, guidance, and connect with the powers. By sitting alone in the darkness—on a burial mound, in the forest, or at a sacred site—one could gain insight into their (orlog) fate and the future. This tradition lives on today and remains a powerful method for seeking answers, finding strength, and deepening our understanding of the world and ourselves. Learn more about Sitting Out - Útiseta here: https://asa-samfundet.se/en/sitting-out-utiseta/

The question of whether or not to share the books you purchase, especially in the context of magical or esoteric knowledge, often arises. On one hand, books are open sources of information, available to anyone with the desire to explore and learn. But on the other hand, magic, like many other fields, values knowledge, time, and resources, which often require careful consideration before being shared freely. Magic is not just about reading; it’s about personal transformation, practice, and commitment. So, why should someone you know benefit from your labor and resources for free? If they want the same knowledge, they should ideally invest the time and effort to acquire it themselves. This is a basic principle that ensures respect for the work involved in obtaining that knowledge. By freely sharing the resources you've worked for, you may inadvertently devalue your own effort. Magic, by its nature, often operates in the spaces of secrecy and discretion. Not all knowledge is meant to be shared indiscriminately. Some information is sacred and can be misunderstood or misused by those who are not prepared for it. It is important to evaluate the recipient and ensure they are both respectful and capable of receiving such knowledge with the proper mindset. Remember! True learning comes from primary sources. Always guide others to the original teachings, not filtered interpretations. The integrity of magic lies in the wisdom passed directly from the source Respect your knowledge, your time, and those who seek wisdom. Menshikova School

The Connection Between the Sinking of the Titanic and World War I PART 1 "Recently, I became intrigued by the connection between two significant events: the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Historically, these events are closely spaced, and from an occult perspective, a connection can also be discerned. To initiate and conduct a war, a substantial amount of energy is required, and it seems this energy was gathered through the sacrifice of the passengers who perished on the Titanic. But how can we truly determine if these two events are linked?" Between 1912 and 1914, there was also the year 1913, which saw another crucial event that influenced the trajectory of the 20th century up to the present day. This event is as significant as the onset of World War I in 1914: the establishment of the Federal Reserve System, which later became effectively the world bank. Conspiracy theories suggest that the sinking of the Titanic was primarily connected to this event rather than the beginning of World War I. These theories assure us that among the Titanic's passengers were industrialists, bankers, and magnates who were staunchly opposed to the formation of the Federal Reserve System. This system is not a government entity of the United States but rather a consortium of private banks. The project had grand plans and great prospects. The sinking of the Titanic is said not to be linked to sacrificial offerings or even ritualistic murder, but rather to the assassination of undesirable opponents. This is the narrative put forth by conspiracy theories. The subsequent formation of conditions that escalated into the war of 1914 is a consequence of the events of 1913. For such a new systemic formation to arise, an event that disrupts the economy and resources of those who might oppose it more seriously than mere words is generally required. The competitors included the states of Europe and the Russian Empire, which was still a monarchy at the time. A few provocative steps were taken, and the war was unleashed, incorporating both ritualistic actions and occult motives. Ksenia Menshikova