The Germanic Path

[Ade Sundog]

Hello again!

Some books i have found useful - 'Rudiments of Runelore' - Stephen Pollington
-'Looking for the Lost Gods of England' - Kathleen Herbert

Both avaliable from http://www.asbooks.co.uk/ - I've also managed to bag 'Leechcraft' by Stephen Pollington at a rare bargain price , but haven't read it yet.

-'Reassessing Anglo-Saxon England' - Eric John
-'Our Troth' - by various and sundry writers - still reading this , talks of there being a 'Heathen religion' back in the day ,and 'folk migrations' which i don't think was the case , but thats just me .

A couple of other points - Vikings , were a highly specialised lot , and to be descended from one would be pretty rare ( a bit like being a descendant of one of the S.A.S.) , most Norse folk would have been farmers, artisans etc etc .

Which parts of England are Celtic and which parts Anglo-Saxon , Norse etc by place names. Dover is from Celtic ,and Prestatyn is from English . Some place names beginning with 'Wal' indicate a Celtic presence . The inhabitants of Hereford still spoke Welsh in the English civil war . I don't think that these massive invasions took place , i tend to think that it was the aristocracy that got replaced , mainly , and the ordinary bods stayed put - mostly , and some new ideas got brought in and some older ones disregarded , over quite a number of years . Reading about Britain pre1066 is confusing! But i don't think some received wisdom from this era is so cut and dried as it is sometimes presented. But that's just my opinion . Cheerz

[Eilthireach]

Hello Wintersundog!

Thank you for your book recommendations, I don't know any of them. I suppose from the titles that they are especially of importance for the English reader?

I do know 'Our Troth' which is published by an American Asatru organisation. I have the first half as a donation by a Canadian friend, the second half printed from the internet. This book is unfortunately out of reach for a German reader.
It is a huge amount of material and I don't agree with everything myself, both on the historical/archaeological and on the spiritual side, but I think it is still the most complete and summa summarum best compendium on 'modern Germanic paganism' (however you name it) that is available. I especially like their suggestions for the seasonal festivals.

From a Southern Germanic viewpoint Vikings are a rather exotic lot (they never were here) and it is true that I tend to throw Viking/Norse/Scandinavian all into one pot. Some authors seem to make the same mistake and it's easy to adopt this view.

Some place names beginning with 'Wal' indicate a Celtic presence .

Most interesting. Some villages where a Celtic population managed to remain intact in the time of the Roman occupation of Bavaria are called "Walchen" villages. They have names like Walchensee, Walchstadt, Seewalchen... Seems to be something we share. Besides the "ch".

Thank you very much for your interesting contribution!

Many greetings from beneath the Bavarian Alps,

Eilthireach /|\.

[Ade Sundog]

Hello again Eilthireach

Yes the books are probably more of interest to the English reader , sorry i tend to forget
'Our Troth' does have it good points , if you like you can borrow it when i've read it , no probs - it is vol.1 btw (history and lore) .

I'm working my way through a huge pile of books at the moment , so i'll add a few more notes later .

Nice one.

[Serpentia]

Well, there's another order placed to be shipped from the US. What would I do without Amazon and my credit card?

Talking about books on the Germanic path, I think we should mention Jan Fries here. Most of his books, I believe, are also available in German. I just thought whether he's more Celtic or more Germanic, and I think he is both and more. For the Germanic path, his Seidways book should probably be mentioned here, Seidr being basically the Germanic equivalent to Shamanism, with interesting differences. I wonder, where would the study of Seidr fit into the OBOD system of thought?

MoonDancer

[Eilthireach]

Hello!

Wintersundog,

thank you for your kind offer! I have part one as book and part two printed from the internet, so I do have the information, just not completely in book form.

Moondancer,

Jan Fries' "Helrunar" is mentioned somewhere in the depths of this thread. He has written both Celtic and Germanic works. His "Cauldron of the Gods - A Manual of Celtic Magick" is also good, even if it stays more on the theoretical side.

In theory, the study of Seidr would fit into the Ovate grade, which is the most 'shamanic' of the Grades, if we want so. In practice, Seidr is a very advanced technique and I doubt if it can be learned from a book alone.

Have a nice weekend!

Eilthireach /|\.

[Explorer]

Well, there's another order placed to be shipped from the US. What would I do without Amazon and my credit card?

Talking about books on the Germanic path, I think we should mention Jan Fries here. Most of his books, I believe, are also available in German. I just thought whether he's more Celtic or more Germanic, and I think he is both and more. For the Germanic path, his Seidways book should probably be mentioned here, Seidr being basically the Germanic equivalent to Shamanism, with interesting differences. I wonder, where would the study of Seidr fit into the OBOD system of thought?

Has anybody actually read that book and tried his method of shaking-trances?

[Eilthireach]

Hello Explorer,

I did read the book. It is interesting. I didn't try the technique as it is described as a very advanced method that should be done under supervision/guidance by at least one person who is experienced in Seidr/inner work in general. Since I am a solitary, I skipped that.

I have to admit that I like Jan Fries' other books better:
"Cauldron of the Gods - A Manual of Celtic Magic" (the Celtic path in general)
"Helrunar" (one of the best Rune books I know)
"Visual Magic" (visualization - highly recommended for people with difficulties in this field)

Eilthireach /|\.

[WinterRose]

I am interested in both Anglo-Saxon and Celtic (Welsh and pre Anglo-Saxon England). Is it possible to celebrate the traditions and faiths of both without one or the other being compromised, or should I focus on one or the other?

[Alfarera]

I don't think you have to stick to a single pantheon.
It depends who speaks to you.
You can always look up the names of characters, spirits or dieties who you meet along the way to find out more about them afterwards.

[Snægl]

I am interested in both Anglo-Saxon and Celtic (Welsh and pre Anglo-Saxon England). Is it possible to celebrate the traditions and faiths of both without one or the other being compromised, or should I focus on one or the other?

Also being of an Anglo-Saxon persuasion, here's my take on it.

If I'm doing an OBOD ritual, I feel very comfortable asking the gods to watch over me during my work. However, if I want to honor or connect with a specific A-S deity, then I use a more "traditional" reconstructed A-S ritual. The blend has been working pretty well so far!

Best of luck,
Snægl

[DaRC]

Like Snaegl if a ritual is OBOD specific I will ask the A-S Gods I honour to work with me - but if I'm working directly as a Heathen then I will prefer to Blot.

Here's an excerpt from my journal / home web site... (although I think I'm repeating myself here)

I am a Heathen Druid (for those based in Northern Europe it can be called the Gewessi path - which is much more about working with the land) and early on, I am happy to admit, I struggled to reconcile the Druidic teachings with the Heathen approach. I kept trying to intellectually associate Heathen Gods with Celtic ones, or mix and match (which never felt 'right'). Then once something reminded me of the Chinese approach to cooking and religion; in cooking the basis is garlic, spring onion and ginger, in religion it is confuscionism, taoism and buddhism everuthing seemed to click into place.

For me a stable worldview is based upon a trium / triangle (one of mathematics most stable shapes) that fits with Druidry. I describe them as the strands of Awen:
(Meso)Druidry - provides a philosophical basis and structure for living.
Heathenism - provides a spiritual / religious grounding for working with the gods of my land.
Logic - provides a basis in the 'art of thinking' that grew from classical philosophy into modern scientific thought.

This also reflects the Druidic approach to life of Knowledge, Experience and Inquiry. So, as OBOD itself states, Druidry is a philosophy rather than a religion. The logical corner is the western scientific method - as a Computer bod and product of a Western society it's part of my technical training and culture, which helps keep my feet on the ground.

Heathenism means that I work with the Anglo-Saxon / Germanic gods - this means Thunor rather than Thor (Norse) or Taranis (Celtic) - but am happy to use appropriate places in the landscape. Locally I have the Anglo-Saxon named Thundersbarrow and also Chanctonbury Ring - which archaeologists think was a Romano-British temple dedicated to Taranis-Jupiter. This is where the landscape talks; in this part of the country thunderstorms usually move up from the South West and then travel along the South Downs. The closest place to the thunder and lightning is up on the hills where both of these places are - which explains the associated with a Thunder god. So honouring Thunor is appropriate at both of these places.

[WinterRose]

Thank you everyone, particularly for the explanation of the triangle with druidry, heathenism and logic in it - that really helped me sort things out in my head if you know what I mean.

[DaRC]

a quick bump...

[Ulfsark]

Greetings,
I was bored and was doing a google search on my name, when I came across this thread! My name is Michael Kouvatsos, and I noticed I was mentioned for some pictures and essays I wrote YEARS ago for that oathbreaking outlawed Northvegr site.

I have to admit, I'm touched that my research and essays have been read, and that the pictures made an impression

So thank you I'm of course registered, and so if anyone has any questions, i'd be more than delighted to answer them.
___
Cheers, and In Frith,
Michael

[Kernos]

Welcome Ulfsark!

I am wondering what "what oathbreaking outlawed Northvegr site" really means

[Michael C. Page]

Greetings,
I was bored and was doing a google search on my name, when I came across this thread! My name is Michael Kouvatsos, and I noticed I was mentioned for some pictures and essays I wrote YEARS ago for that oathbreaking outlawed Northvegr site.

I have to admit, I'm touched that my research and essays have been read, and that the pictures made an impression

So thank you I'm of course registered, and so if anyone has any questions, i'd be more than delighted to answer them.
___
Cheers, and In Frith,
Michael

Welcome to the OBOD Message Board Michael! Have a grand time looking about and please feel free to introduce yourself in the Hearthfire if you wish.

Bright Blessings - Mike

[DaRC]

Hi Ulfsark - glad to see that you're still around

Kernos - if you want to see the flame war that surrounded Northvegr search the archives of alt.religion.asatru on usenet. We probably don't want to attract it here

[DaRC]

Another Bump for this one....

[Ludwick_Germanic_King]

Hello from American Iam a German American with roots to king Ludwig I of Schwangau Bavaria my rots go deep into Germany with family last names of Wynacht and Ludwig Americanized to Ludwick I am we'll verse in my roots but Iam now looking for a spiritual path to follow and have not got the slightest idea where to start and I was also wondering why you are against the farth belief (sorry cannot remember the exact name) is it because it leans more towards Viking then Druid thanks for your time

[DaRC]

I am now looking for a spiritual path to follow and have not got the slightest idea where to start and I was also wondering why you are against the farth belief

The best thing is to explore the various paths and choose one that works for you. I would recommend looking at OBOD (as you're here) for a modern druidic path
http://www.druidry.org/
then there's reconstructionist Druid group : http://www.adf.org/core/

I assume that by 'farth belief' you mean Asatru or other heathen paths? It's worth looking at these:
http://www.thetroth.org/
http://www.englatheod.org/

I have concerns with modern heathenism because there are a number of right wing groups (afaik The Troth have a definite statement against bigotry) and some 'folkish' heathens who maintain bigoted views.

In addition to this my roots include strong Celtic links.
My personal path is a blend of OBOD druidry and Heathen religion, it's land based and called the Gewessi path (however it is firmly rooted in Europe)
http://gewessi.faithweb.com/