The Northern Folkways

Vanatru - Norse Witchcraft
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Perhaps the first true "Witchcraft" was practiced by the followers of the
"Vanir" a race of Norse Gods and Goddesses said to be older than the "Aesir".
As the Gods of "This World" they are mainly seen as governing the cycles of
the Earth, birth, growth and death, ever renewing.

The Vanir are called upon for peace, prosperity and love. In the spring
Ostara is honoured as the Dawn Goddess who is awakened to bring the birds,
rabbits and first flowers to "Midgard" the World of Men.

In May, Frey and Freyja are honoured as the Lord and Lady who bring love
and fruitfulness to the Earth. At harvest The Vanir are thanked for their
bounty. Frey as God of the Elves (male ancestral spirits) and Freyja as
Queen of the Valkyries and the Disir (female ancestral spirits) are honoured
at this time as the vegetation dies so too are the ancestors remembered.
For riches and wealth Njord, the God of the Sea is called upon as he is known
to give his gifts freely.

Norse Heathenism - Asatru
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Usually favored by those who's heritage lies in the lands of northern Europe.
Countries like Norway, Sweden, Iceland, England, Denmark, The Scottish Islands
and the Faeroes as well as Holland and the surrounding areas.

This is an animistic religion, that is everything has a spirit and these
spirits are known as Wights.

The cosmology of the nine worlds is depicted as "The World Tree" at the top is
Asgard, the World of the Aesir, at the base is Midgard, the World of Men and
below the roots in Hel, the Land of the Dead. Apart from these are Ljosalfheim,
The Land of The Elves, Swartalfheim, The Land of The Dwarves, Jotenheim, The
Land of The Giants lies in the East, and Vanaheim the land of The Vanir is in
the West. Muspellheim is the land of fire to the South and Nifhelheim is the
land of ice to the extreme North.

The World was made by Odin and his brothers from the body of the slain Giant
Ymir. They made Man and Woman from an Ash and an Elm tree giving them breath,
thought and form.

There are two races of Gods, the Aesir and the older, Vanir that after a great
war now live in harmony. They worship the Gods Odin the Allfather, Frigg Queen
of Asgard, Thor the Thunderer, Frey and Freyja The Vana Gods.

Personal and Family Honour are held above all else, a great man has a far-famed
reputation of great deeds and is truthful in all dealings. The only forms
of sin are seen as secret murder and dishonour by breaking a sworn Oath.

Blots are held to honour the Gods through the year and Symbels, (Drinking
Rituals) are given in memory of heroes and heroic deeds as are oaths taken at
those rites. These drinking rites are the precursors of our modern Toasting.

Magic is usually only practiced in the form of Rune magic and Runic divination
but Shamanism is also inherent in the form of Seid Craft.

Ancestor worship is important as are lives lived filled with worthy deeds.
Frey is the King of the Elves (Male ancestral spirits) and Freyja is the Queen
of the Valkyries and the Disir (Female ancestral spirits).

They are all worshiped with a Rite called a Blot wherein drink, usually mead is
blessed and the folk are sprinkled with it, it is then offered to the Gods and
the spirits of the dead.

As the lore is the basis for the whole of the spiritual path of the Norse and
Asatru is well known as the "Religion with Homework" there is much to read from
the sagas and the Eddas.



Anglo-Saxon Theodism
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In 1976 Garman Lord had the idea to reform modern society to conform
closely with that of prechristian Saxony and with it he founded the
Witan Theod. Shortly after this idea was taken up in 1989 with the
founding of the Winland Rice Theod by Ealdoraed Lord.

A Theod is a society in which, after a year of Thrallship, likened to
self-appointed slavery to build character and prove self worth members
swear oaths to those higher up than one's self. All the folk in the
Theod are bound together in this web called an "Oath Ring".

Members of a Theod are forbidden to ever do things for the furtherance
of themselves, rather they seek to further all other members of the
society who in turn do the same for their benefit.

Anglo-Saxon lore and language factor incredibly strongly into the
Theodish way of life. In regards to religious practice, they are very
much like Asatruar.