I understand that Paganism is an incredibly freeing religion for many people (most notably for those coming from Christianity), and that’s wonderful, but Paganism isn’t lawless, and it never has been.

I understand that you don’t like religious dogma, that’s fair. But that doesn’t mean this religion is a free for all. The Gods are authority figures, they are rulers, and they do ask things of us. For some Pagans I fear that they have based their entire religion on being an opposition to Christianity and that’s just… not ideal.

You cannot build a healthy relationship to the Gods if you are constantly comparing them to Christianity. You cannot follow the Gods if you refuse to do anything they ask of you that feels too similar to another religion that has hurt you in some way.

I’ve seen people say that Pagans shouldn’t veil because modesty is only a Christian invention designed to oppress women. I’ve seen people say that blasphemy doesn’t exist and that the idea that Gods (any God(s)) can get offended is a Christian fear tactic. I’ve seen people say that humans are on the same hierarchical level as the Gods and that the idea that humans are servants to God is a Christian tool for denying human power.

Not only are these things blatantly untrue, but it also negates the power of the Gods, and pushes doubt upon the personal convictions of fellow Pagans.

Paganism exists independently from Christianity. I truly don’t know how anyone can build a healthy practice when the only way they connect with the Gods is in a reactionary “screw Christianity!!” sort of way. Despite what society may say; Paganism is not an enemy to Christianity. It exists independently, and it has for thousands and thousands of years.

I really hope everyone who struggles with religious trauma can find the healing they need, but I implore you to not allow that to be the defining factor of your religion, and I beg that to not distract you from the undoubtable authority of the Gods.

Details 🌾🌦️

I’m just wondering where it’s from.

The Hávamál is one of the foundational texts of Asatru religions, and is found in the Poetic Edda. It presents wisdom shared from the Allfather, albeit filtered through multiple centuries of oral records and variously reliable intermediaries.

Line 127, quoted in my bio, is also significant as the eponymous line of Declaration 127, which is an intra-community declaration condemning and anathematizing the presence of white supremacists, antisemites, and other forms of bigotry in our spaces.

Notable is the difficulty in properly translating the word "frið," which I chose to render as "peace" but which is more complex.

By invoking line 127, we verbally affirm our obligations to confront such corruptive elements wherever they arise. We must not break bread with them. We do not meet them under banner of truce. Our business with them is done when they are destroyed utterly, and no sooner.