What does community mean to you? More specifically, what does your tribe, kindred, clan and respective wolf pack mean to you? When it comes to the here and now and immediate and distant future what are your feelings and goals?
When I started on this journey of mine much like many other people I felt like I was alone. And for a long time I practiced as such. Hours of time spent online studying history, religions, my family background, reading books, putting pieces together of the big picture. I never would have thought I would have ended up here where I am currently at. And to be honest it would have never been possible without the people I now call my folk. It just could not be possible without them. With kindreds and contacts all over the US it's a good time to be a heathen.
The kindred itself is more than just a group of friends. We are relatives of sorts and we feel it when we meet. We are bound by a common blood and a common goal which is to continue the practice of the old Germanic religion which we now call Asatru, and to share it with other people. There is little that comes close to the rewarding feeling of getting people together who have felt lost and distant into a group of folks that make them feel comfortable and more like family. There is something so special about getting together and getting to do ritual like blot or sumbel. And its even more special when you get to be present for one that is charged and has new members involved in it. To see someones eyes light up, and have a real connection is unparalleled. It is awesome. That feeling you all collectively have in that moment is something magic. You get to see a switch being flipped. Its like you can see them saying "this is it, this is what has been missing." With the options for public meets and gatherings just a click or a phone call a way, I have to say it's a magical time to be a heathen.
Right here and now we're collectively present at what I would say is a pivotal time. An awakening of sorts. A lot of people are coming out of their sleepwalking and mindless droning of everyday life. More people are wanting to break away from the Abrahamic religions and learn more about who they are and who they came from. They are trying to find their true folkish identity. They want to know who their ancestors and gods are. A wave is coming and more people are waking up and more people are being vocal about it. It's a good time to be a truthful heathen.
In the immediate future I would love to help continue to arrange and facilitate a welcoming environment for new folk to come experience this with us. To continue to disseminate and share what Asatru is really about, and to open others up to the ways of the old. And to encourage guilt free living in the light of our ancestors. To build tribal communities and to bring the traditional family units back into the household is of utmost importance. Overall, I would love to see people living with purpose and intent with Asatru as the fire guiding our way. It's a good time to be an honest heathen.
We are paving the way for the future. To build something more important than ourselves for our children and our grandchildren to nurture long into time. What we do today greatly affects and changes the course of our religions but also our people. It is imperative to take care of it. Without our people, and without our folk, these native Germanic gods and our ancestry will cease to be. The modern folkish Asatruar breathes life into our monumental past. We are honoring our folk, the ancestors and the gods by being the best versions of ourselves that we can be. Not just for them but for one another and our children and the future. They deserve our very best. It is a powerful time to be a heathen.
Time and energy are the two things once they are spent we cannot get back. With the kindred, my folk, my people, everything I do is worth it and then some. They deserve the best I can give. And its an honor to be able to do so. I never have and never will regret any of the sacrifices and exchanges I have made to make it up to this point possible. With all of this, I am no longer lost and wandering. I have found my purpose. I have found my people. And I feel so fortunate to the unending support to continue on this journey with such a wonderful group of folk. Its a spectacular time to be a heathen.
We are lucky to be together to see all of it unfold and to build the foundation that will no doubt shape the very future of our faith.
