"Practicing" Heathenry...
Dec. 22nd, 2004 12:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mdehnersIt’s funny how things “Come Up”. A friend’s blog entry, reflecting after a Blot, a Memory while showering. That “Thing” was practicing Heathenry. Not as a Poseur, AS a Heathen. Is a Heathen who actively “Practices” the Equal to a Heathen that doesn’t? I’m not saying that they are not Heathen, just that those that Practice their Heathenry are Greater….a Hard concept in our Egalitarian Time and in Modern Heathen culture.
I can remember a “Rant” back in the late “70s” in the old ‘Earth Religion News’ by Dr Leo Martello. It bothered him Greatly that folks would work so hard to find a coven, work through the Outer Court system, work hard to be accepted to study for Initiation, work hard to Get Initiation, then….zip. As far as “they” were concerned, they WERE Wiccan and had no Interest in Deepening their Beliefs OR taking any Responsibility. In a way, many Heathens have a lot of the same Attitudes, except in some cases they didn’t even have to Study, having Heathen Ancestors “Grandfathered”(literally”) them “In”...
Now, I’m not just talking about BEING Heathen. I’m of the Opinion that if you have even 1 Heathen Ancestor you ARE Potentially Heathen and if you Return to the Regin you ARE Heathen…BUT, you are a Greater Heathen if you Learn, Study and Practice your Heathenry. By that, I mean to Blot, to Sumbel and to Husel as a minimum. While Reading the Lore and Contemplating It Strengthens your Heathenry, Actively doing Blot, Sumbel and Husel Deepens It…
This also means Giving the Rites the Respect They Deserve. Do them on Time, as much and as close as Possible. Don’t accept Excuses not to do so that your Boss wouldn’t. Heathenry is supposed to be Central to Who You Are. Not something you “do” when you have the time IN ADDITION to your other recreational activities!!!!
When you ARE going to Blot/Sumbel/Husel, Prepare for them. Prepare the Site, the Self AND for the Rite Itself. It “Kills” me when I Know Heathens that give more attention to going out for a night with their friends than for a Blot. Remember GEBO. If you haven’t “put in Quality Time”, don’t expect your Life to be as if you HAD…
Troth,
Pat
I can remember a “Rant” back in the late “70s” in the old ‘Earth Religion News’ by Dr Leo Martello. It bothered him Greatly that folks would work so hard to find a coven, work through the Outer Court system, work hard to be accepted to study for Initiation, work hard to Get Initiation, then….zip. As far as “they” were concerned, they WERE Wiccan and had no Interest in Deepening their Beliefs OR taking any Responsibility. In a way, many Heathens have a lot of the same Attitudes, except in some cases they didn’t even have to Study, having Heathen Ancestors “Grandfathered”(literally”) them “In”...
Now, I’m not just talking about BEING Heathen. I’m of the Opinion that if you have even 1 Heathen Ancestor you ARE Potentially Heathen and if you Return to the Regin you ARE Heathen…BUT, you are a Greater Heathen if you Learn, Study and Practice your Heathenry. By that, I mean to Blot, to Sumbel and to Husel as a minimum. While Reading the Lore and Contemplating It Strengthens your Heathenry, Actively doing Blot, Sumbel and Husel Deepens It…
This also means Giving the Rites the Respect They Deserve. Do them on Time, as much and as close as Possible. Don’t accept Excuses not to do so that your Boss wouldn’t. Heathenry is supposed to be Central to Who You Are. Not something you “do” when you have the time IN ADDITION to your other recreational activities!!!!
When you ARE going to Blot/Sumbel/Husel, Prepare for them. Prepare the Site, the Self AND for the Rite Itself. It “Kills” me when I Know Heathens that give more attention to going out for a night with their friends than for a Blot. Remember GEBO. If you haven’t “put in Quality Time”, don’t expect your Life to be as if you HAD…
Troth,
Pat
