Heathen Stuff

I’ve been getting a lot of asks/messages lately from folks who want to practice Norse paganism and join the heathen community but are worried about white supremacist blogs. That’s totally valid - there’s a lot of them and some of them are well hidden under “aesthetic norse” blogs. So, I wrote up a little lists of indicators to look out for and avoid. Most of the runes and images(like Odin’s ravens) aren’t inherently racist/problematic and should be considered in context of the blog. Please keep in mind there are many more symbols and names/titles that could be included, I am just focusing on the Norse aspect from the USA.

Odinist/Wodenism/Wotanist - Oidinist is most often the term norse leaning white-supremacists lean towards. The term “Odinist” was first used as a self-descriptor by Alexander Rud Mills, an Australian Nazi sympathizer who founded an Odinist church in 1934. The name was carried on by Else Christensen and her Odinist Fellowship; Christensen’s newsletter, The Odinist, contained more far right-wing political content than religious content. If you go the official Odinists website(link) you will find they support many white-only groups like the Asatru Folk Assembly. The Holy Nation of Odin is a church that is run from a maximum-security cell in California and is only open to whites.

Volkish/Folkish -  Volksfront is a hybrid racist skinhead gang/neo-Nazi group that started in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s. It’s still a very active group and only alt-right would really use this terminology.

“ —often termed “folkish” within the community—by viewing Heathenry as an ethnic or racial religion with inherent links to a Germanic race that should be reserved explicitly for people of Northern European descent or white people in general”. 

Not to be confused with folklorist/folklore heathens who practice heathenry because of Scandinavian folklore(i.e. disir, dwarves, etc.).

HH or 88 -  88 is a white supremacist numerical code for “Heil Hitler.” H is the eighth letter of the alphabet, so 88 = HH = Heil Hitler. One of the most common white supremacist symbols.

The number is frequently combined with another white supremacist numeric code, 14(shorthand for the so-called “14 Words” slogan: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children”) in the form of 1488, 14/88, 14-88, or 8814. - ADL

Brosatru - I’m mostly adding this because it used to be a popular alt-right subreddit for “Asatru” practitioners that got removed. I’ve still seen it referenced in other pagan subreddits and some twitter profiles!

General keywords to look out for: heritage, ethnic, aryan, ethno-nationalism, nationalist, tribe

**Use reasonable doubt for runes and imagery**:

Othala. While not actually/originally a symbol of hate but a rune for family/ancestry, Othala has been appropriated by the alt-right regardless and should be judged by the context it’s seen in. It is frequently used in nazi marches, merch, and their websites. The U.S. National Socialist Movement replaced the swastika with the Old Norse Othala rune, which was previously used on an SS infantry flag in World War II. So if you see a blog with a red banner and a black Othala in the middle, just know it’s a replacement for the swatsika.

Algiz. Another Futhark rune appropriated, originally representing the Elk/Divine. It has been adapted by the far right as a “Life Rune”. Used in the “Free American Rally” and “National Alliance” and also used in the “Volksfront” logo. Like Othala it is used to replace the Swatsika in imagery where it’s illegal - it is  not used as frequently as Othala.

Huginn and Muninn. “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, VA featured two flags with Odinns ravens. Here’s the twist: some white supremacist groups claim the Raven flag was flown when Leif Erikson landed in North America in the year 1000 and thus is the “pure European: flag of the nation.” And for some white supremacists, according to David Perry of the University of Minnesota, “the concept of Vinland asserts a historical claim over North America, stretching from the northeast coast to the Pacific Northwest. They use the myth of Vinland to position themselves as righteous defenders in the wars of race and religion they believe are coming.” 

Valknut -  It is often considered a symbol of the Norse god Odin. Some white supremacists, particularly racist Odinists, have appropriated the Valknot to use as a racist symbol. Often they use it as a sign that they are willing to give their life to Odin, generally in battle. It was also seen on many shields at the Charlottesville, VA march. Many pagans may also use this symbol, so one should carefully examine it in context rather .

Tiwaz. Another rune appropriated, originally a rune for the Norse god of justice Ty.r Free America Rally is a loosely-coordinated network of white supremacists who hold protests and rallies on white supremacist-related themes. The logo for Free America Rally is an amalgam of several runes(Algiz and Uruz).

Mjolnir. This feels horrible to say because I know countless pagans and Marvel fans with Mjolnir necklaces/tattoos. However, I have also encountered many alt-right accounts with a BFG(Bound for Glory) banner or icon.

Additionally, I would highly suggest going through their follows/likes if you can’t find an obvious answer. Most modern Norse pagans who aren’t anti alt-right make it known in their bios but you an do further digging if necessary. 

Y’all need to get up in arms over our runes. Othala is THE recognized hate symbol of the US white-supremacist group. It replaced the swatsika in the 90’s and has been used since. It is used in EVERY march and is incorporated in a lot of neo-Nazi logos. Óðinn sacrificed himself for these runes. He gifted these runes to us, so we could learn and teach. Our runes for family, ancestry, healing, and protection literally stand for hate. People look at Othala, Algiz, and Tiwaz and see h a t e.

^^^^ THIS is the current, official USA flag for the NSM(National Socialist Movement) aka the alt-right. I’ve seen additions/posts saying that only the Othala with wings(link) symbolizes white-supremacy. Maybe in other countries but not in the U.S. I’m sorry but seriously, put Mjölnir aside, every Marvel fan and it’s ties to pop culture will make sure it’s fine. We need to be fighting for our runes or a large portion of our religion will be further tied to antisemitism and racism.

The Gods do not turn away worshippers because they “just aren’t into you.”

The Gods are not picky unless you’ve done something to offend them.

The Gods are meant to be worshipped.

The Gods do not “lose interest” in any worshipper.

You’ve researched Apollo a lot and want to worship but don’t know where to start? Or you think he may be ‘calling’ to you but you don’t know what to do?

Find a Homeric Hymn or an Orphic hymn to Apollo.

Take a glass of clean water.

Say the hymn while holding the cup up.

Say something like “this is for you Apollo.”

Pour the water onto the ground (or sink).

TAH DAH YOU MADE YOUR FIRST STEP!!!!

You do not need a sign.

You do not need to hear anything.

If you do hear or feel a calling you do not need to wait for anything else.

Say the hymn.

Pour the libation.

Then start researching on what else worship entails.

Still having a hard time figuring all the Hellenimos stuff out? Still trying to understand all those 101s? Or maybe your practice isn’t exactly Hellenimos but you are still working on it and don’t know what to do in the meantime?

Pick a hymn.

Give a libation.

You don’t need to wait to know everything.

You don’t need to wait even if you are stumbling through the 101s.

Nothing needs to be flushed out for you to start.

Keep doing what you know even if its just saying a hymn.

Has your god not reached out to you? Maybe they are distracted. Maybe you haven’t called them lately, so they’re tending to other matters. If you want to work with them again, reach out to them!

The worst I’ve ever gotten in response is a “I’m giving you space because you are not in the right place to do this work right now,” in which case I called another god and worked on something else.

Feel free to study and appreciate and learn from and what not, but if you’re not Native/African/Initated/Celtic/Norse/Greek/ect. then don’t steal those practices. There are plenty of local entities and open ideas to work with if you know nothing about your background. But dont steal someone else’s tradition, practices, or pantheon.

Irish (Celtic), Norse, Greek, etx practices are all open and it’s often only very bad people with very bad intentions saying otherwise. (You notice how all of those are white, European traditions? Yeah. …yeah.)

You don’t have to have blood in those to work with them, at all. No good, native practitioners in those traditions will say anything else but that these practices are open. You should definitely not make a horrid mockery of the traditions, but that just kind of stands for anything you look at. That’s just rude.

The actual reason that Native and African practices are closed is because of hundreds of years of genocide and oppression that has caused practitioners to say that they are closed. Consider that it’s only been 40 years since native people could practice their religion without being jailed for it. The other traditions do not have that happening.

My understanding is that “closed” means you can’t practice without initiation/training/induction of some form, and that faiths you can’t practice without heritage are just a subset of that. For example, people describe Catholicism as closed, because many of the rites are reserved for the baptized and confirmed, and many rites can only be performed by priests (compare/contrast to Protestant faiths, which tend to be more “open”).

I don’t know that continent of origin is a deciding factor, either. There are also practices that are closed because they belong to specific European cultures, like the Saami.

I agree on the horrid mockery point. I’d also warn people that borrowing from open faiths without practicing them is a gray area. Certain rituals and symbols only make sense in their original context and can be dangerous if misused (e.g. tattooing runes and valknuts, for the Norse). I learned this the hard way when I messed with British folk spirits.

And I’m sorry if this takes a while, my manager has lost her mind and I’m texting under my desk honestly.

Closed generally means “cannot even get initiated without certain specifications” (ie: being from the tribe, etc). There’s a halfway point between open and closed where things like wicca fit into— anyone can be initiated but you…still need to be initiated. So it’s closed CLOSED but it it requires some work. (I don’t know the word for it.) catholic honestly almost doesn’t even fit into that, because you can be wandering about, worshipping, without ever seeing a church. It’s pretty easy.

Re: European. The problem with saying “but saami!” Is that saami traditions fit the “indigenous/native” slot verses the standard European slot. In general, European practices tend to be open. There’s the obvious exceptions.

On the second half of the answer, I think I’m more lost now.

It seems strange to me that a culture from Europe and their associated faith would not be considered European because they are indigenous.

I’m also confused why other faiths from Europe wouldn’t be considered native to Europe. Is it because they had to be revived after Christianity moved in? I might be getting confused about the definition of the word.

I understand that indigenous denotes a specific status when applied to people and cultures, and from what I’ve read on here I agree the Saami need more protection for their way of life than any given Heathen, but as far as I know that has more to do with persecution of their ethnicity and disagreements over sovereignty than any particular differences in their faith or where/how it originated.

Feel free to study and appreciate and learn from and what not, but if you’re not Native/African/Initated/Celtic/Norse/Greek/ect. then don’t steal those practices. There are plenty of local entities and open ideas to work with if you know nothing about your background. But dont steal someone else’s tradition, practices, or pantheon.

Irish (Celtic), Norse, Greek, etx practices are all open and it’s often only very bad people with very bad intentions saying otherwise. (You notice how all of those are white, European traditions? Yeah. …yeah.)

You don’t have to have blood in those to work with them, at all. No good, native practitioners in those traditions will say anything else but that these practices are open. You should definitely not make a horrid mockery of the traditions, but that just kind of stands for anything you look at. That’s just rude.

The actual reason that Native and African practices are closed is because of hundreds of years of genocide and oppression that has caused practitioners to say that they are closed. Consider that it’s only been 40 years since native people could practice their religion without being jailed for it. The other traditions do not have that happening.

My understanding is that “closed” means you can’t practice without initiation/training/induction of some form, and that faiths you can’t practice without heritage are just a subset of that. For example, people describe Catholicism as closed, because many of the rites are reserved for the baptized and confirmed, and many rites can only be performed by priests (compare/contrast to Protestant faiths, which tend to be more “open”).

I don’t know that continent of origin is a deciding factor, either. There are also practices that are closed because they belong to specific European cultures, like the Saami.

I agree on the horrid mockery point. I’d also warn people that borrowing from open faiths without practicing them is a gray area. Certain rituals and symbols only make sense in their original context and can be dangerous if misused (e.g. tattooing runes and valknuts, for the Norse). I learned this the hard way when I messed with British folk spirits.

Why not use brushing your teeth, something we do everyday, as a means of witchcraft?

Toothpaste and mouthwash’s:

Wintergreen: Luck, Healing, Fortune, Protection

Cinnamon: Lust, Curses, Energy

Peppermint: Cleansing, Divination, Dream Work, Spirit Work

Spearmint: Love, Wishing, Dream Protection

Sweet Mint: Sweeten a Situation, Love, Protection, Psychic Abilities

You could Invision what you want while you brush or even charge/say an incantation before you brush!

Use Cinnamon when you want to make your words matter. Use peppermint when you want your words to be calm and collected. Use Sweet mint to make your voice more friendly in nature.

a fun little game for the witchblr community, taking place OCT. 1st - NOV. 1st.

please tag all answers or related posts #trick or treat game so people can blacklist the tag if they want to avoid it

how it works:

reblog this to let people know you’re participating!

if someone sends you an ask saying “trick or treat”, reply with either a trick or a treat, suggestions for those below!

you can stop at any time though, and please don’t feel pressured to answer all of them if it becomes overwhelming.

when you receive an ask that says “trick or treat”, reply with either a “trick” or a “treat”, perhaps use a random generator to decide which.

TREATS: sigils, tarot reading, shufflemancies, drawings, simple spells or charms, witch tips, or whatever you like!

TRICKS: silly gifs, cat pictures, rickrolls, random pictures, memes or whatever. please don’t use gore, flashing, or sexual images!

You can’t tell how old a kid is just by looking. I’ve known multiple 5th graders who were taller than I am, and I’m 25 years old. With their faces hidden by masks, you won’t be able to tell they’re elementary schoolers, but they still are. 

Lots of older siblings are expected to take their younger siblings trick-or-treating, and they only get paid in candy. 

You don’t know if that teenager is developmentally disabled. 

You don’t know if that teenager spent most of their childhood in a hospital or sick and has never had the traditional trick-or-treat experience before.

You don’t know if this is that teenager’s first Halloween in America, and they just want to experience a piece of American culture.

You don’t know if that teenager ever gets candy any other day of the year. 

You don’t know if that teenager has eaten anything at all today. 

It's All Hallow's Eve. It's dangerously close to Disablot. Maybe don't forsake hospitality on the most spiritually dangerous night of the year because you think someone looks out of place.

I talk like I want everyone in a five mile radius to hear me and Express my energy in a frantic way. - Blame it on my ADD

I want a lover who makes me look good - Maybe? Also, rude. But maybe. *Stares off into space and second-guesses life choices*