Hello Beatrix,

While I am not the community host for the Asatru board (to be honest I am unsure who that is at the moment) i should let you know a few things.

As you may have noticed, it's been a bit slow around here lately. We've somewhat droped membership since moving to the new format, and so there are not many users who post here on any sort of frequent basis, at the moment anyway.

While the board may become more active in the future, for the time being I can offer some suggestions:

I'd suggest looking through the older threads on the board, as they may touch in topics you need information in.

I would also suggest checking out the Welcome Reconstructionist board as there are a few threads which do provide resources, which again may help you in your search.

I wish you luck,

Gorm,

Community Host

Celtic Religions

I've been around here before, back in the day. I recognize a few names, some of whom may remember me. Folks around here used to Call me "Odi", if that rings a bell.

I used to belong to a Kindred, moved out of state and haven't been with one for a while. Actually, I was in a deep funk for a long time, and neglected my faith, in that I really did no blotting or anything, just spoke at/with the Gods on my own time when I thought of it, and lived my life while holding to the value system as well as I could.

now, things are getting back on track for me. I am starting up a new Kindred in my area, and getting back onto the message boards.

Hi everyone, I'm from England and just found this group - you seem like a pretty good bunch of people, so I'll try to give a decent account of myself!

What branch of modern Germanic religion do you consider yourself (Asatru, Irminism, Theodism, Forn Sed, ASH, just "regular ol' Heathen")?

I'd describe myself as ASH, though I'd not say Theodish as I'm a bit more modern in my outlook than that. Maybe Fyrn Sidu might be a better term!

What do you like about being Asatru/Irminist/ASH/etc., what are your favorite aspects of your religion?

I'd have to say that ASH just "fits" me better than anything else - I've been following the faith now for around 15 years and I've hardly looked back since.

What are the particulars of your religious practice? Do you hold regular blot and sumbal, daily prayers, walks in the woods, or any other activity you consider religious/spiritual?

I fain the gods and my ancestors, landwights etc regularly (I follow the old English lunar calendar outlined by Bede, and tend to honour different gods and wights during different moons.) I'll do a mini-symbel too on holy tides. I do try to think of the my connection to the holy on a daily basis, and quite like the Sigdrifa prayer, though I've concocted a prayer to my ancestors myself.

Are you solitary? Practice with a group? Practice just with family? Part of any national or regional organization?

I'm pretty solitary, though I have worshipped with friends in the past. I'm a member of the GFS, though was thinking of joining the Troth.

Is there any particularly Deity (or more than one, if you please) that you feel particularly close to? What do you do regularly to worship/honor/otherwise interact with this/these Deity(ies)?

I've always felt close to Woden and Hrethe, though more recently I've felt quite a connection to Tiw as well. There are 3 weohfods in my home - 1 to the gods in general, where sit idols of Woden, Thunor and Eir, 1 to Hrethe, and 1 to Freo, Frea and my ancestors. I try to keep each of these altars "alive" with regular prayers and offerings.

Is there anything unique about your own personal spirituality or practices that you'd like to share?

Not much really, other than that I'm interested in Anglo-saxon wiccecraeft, leechcraft, folk magic etc as well (scholars such as Audrey Meaney, Stephen Pollington, Martin Carver etc have all written stuff that's right up my street!) I don't do any sort of formal spae or anything, but have done lots of oracular readings for people using runes and other methods, and have been told I'm not too bad at it. I used to go around people's homes to do readings as a sideline, but haven't done this since I moved house. I'm hoping to take it up again though.

Feel free to share anything else about yourself or you beliefs that you'd like to add. Also, since we'll have plenty of time for debating, disagreeing, and even arguing, let's keep this particular thread about sharing who we are and what we're about.

I'm pretty much of a universalist, and would describe myself as something between a recon and a modernist, perhaps a "progressive traditionalist" might be the best way to put it.  I like to attend things like archeology lectures when I can (the last one I went to was back in may this year, given by Martin Carver in the village near Sutton Hoo - it was well, well worth the train-ticket, and I'm dying to go to more!) I love to visit places like Bede's World and West Stow too. I'm developing an interest in dark age weaponry currently, and would like to get to grips with the Danish long-handled axe and maybe also the shorter handled "throwing" version (not sure wether to go for a Francisca or the more regular unbearded "Viking" one - I've heard good things about both of them..) I already have a short seax and used to have a broadsword but had to sell it as I was on the skin of my whotsit at the time unfortunately! I've long had an interest in martial arts and used to do Shotokan Karate, but more recently have been interested in learning such as Crav Maga as well.

Anyway, enough blather from me, I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!