Norse Paganism

Ahhhh, Norse paganism, not something I was initiated into or that I even incorporated into my practice until after my first trip out to Sacred Space in Baltimore several years back. Now I have relocated to Minnesota, and it seems to be an ever-growing aspect included in our practice on a daily basis. If I had a crush on any of the Gods, these would be the Gods lol. I mean how can you not feel a bit of a tingle for Tyr or Loki, lol. What I have always loved about the Norse pantheon and its magickal accompaniments is that they keep it simple and direct. How do you not respect that? 24 runic implements, earth-based casting methods, and one of the most effective forms of energetic healing out of all the modalities of magick. There is also humility here. In Hellenism we make a very big deal out of our offerings. In the Norse world, Odin would accept offerings of poems and songs from the most destitute and broken amongst his people. When I was first introduced to runic healing, I was hooked. It actually gave birth to the original handpoke tattoo runic kit and prescriptions I created a number of years ago. Using the runes in a very specific order, and then using blessed and charged ink and porcupine quills (or modern handpoke tools), these runic combinations (prescriptions), or bindrunes in some cases, are tatted onto the body part which correlates with the healing required on a physical, sexual, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. What I found fascinating is as this individual did in fact heal, the handpoke tattoo would sometimes fade, or even disappear altogether. Amazing. You have Brig at White Dragon Healing to thank for some of those runic prescriptions, he really was an asset when creating that kit/treatment. Tattoo has always been a ritual for healing, from Hathor practices all the way through Aphrodite practices. It is Yantra. Living in Minnesota has also offered me great opportunities to mingle with the Viking culture here since they have many Viking festivals each year, which has helped me to solidify my investment in this pantheon and method of energetic manipulations. It has brought me to the Norse goddess Njorun, the Norns, and amplified my dream work practice, specifically ancestral and or visitation dreamscaping. It also has reinvested me into a lost form of divination, lithomancy with precious gems. Embodiment of the runes is pre-Christian, 20,000 BCE. Stemming back to the Bronze age we have the elder futhark runes. In Norway we find the oldest. The old poems, or Edda’s are still used. In years 600-700 we saw a transitional Viking era shift with staff runes, the runes were sung and danced. There was the creation of ‘community’ runes. One of the things I love most is the reclamation of time, there is not a future, only the past and the now. I love that. There is a cultural memory that is magic in this tradition, pulled from lakes, Birch, and the earth. They acknowledge we are born with karma, with debts owed to ourselves, the past, the now, and to each other. Both good and bad. Their rules are simple, don’t take advantage of someone weaker, they have zero tolerance for oath breaking, and you are expected to pay your debts. They were the original pirates lol. Runes can be seen anywhere and everywhere in nature, they have genesis, hyper dimensional awareness, they manifest in movement and in designs all around us, we only need to pay attention. 

In my current practice I access the runes and the Norse pantheon for soul retrieval work, fragmentation clearage work, in the runic prescription handpoke tat kits, in projective divination where I create runic wreaths, runic divination (traditional), and I even once every few months bring over my 9 Muses to work with this pantheon, they work together well lol. 

Another inclusion is in my magickal arts program. I actually have paintbrushes for watercolor and acrylics, where I have altered and craved those brushes and turned them into miniature runic staffs, to infuse the energy of specific runes, and bindrunes, with water sigil work as I charge a canvas as an art manifestor display relic. 

Norse paganism, also known as Heathenry or Ásatrú, centers on working with  the deities of this pre-Christina pantheon like Odin and Thor. It is a polytheistic and animistic system with practices that vary but often include honoring the gods, ancestors, and spirits, observing traditional holidays, the world tree Yggdrasil, the various realms, and the final battle known as Ragnarök. 

There are many gods and goddesses, which are divided into two main groups: the Aesir (like Odin and Thor) and the Vanir (like Freyr and Freyja).

Animism is paramount which is the belief that all things, including nature and phenomena, have a spiritual essence.

Ancestor veneration is prominent, honoring ancestors is a significant part of this practice.

The historical belief system is rooted in the rich mythology of Norse gods, giants (Jötnar), elves, dwarves, and other spirits.

The cosmos is often conceptualized as being structured around the world tree, Yggdrasil, with different realms connected by it, including Asgard (home of the gods) and Midgard (the realm of humans). 

Deity reverence can involve acts like making offerings, celebrating holidays, or saying prayers.

Unlike some other practices, there is no single sacred text or set of rules, and practices can vary significantly between individuals and communities.

While individual practice is central, community is considered crucial, with many practitioners finding value in group settings to learn from one another's experiences. 

Norse paganism has experienced a significant revival in modern times, with practitioners around the world.

Today, it is also known by terms such as Heathenry and Ásatrú. It’s all one and the same.