Comments for A Heathen's Day

Comment on Free Your Mind in 2012 by nikki broadwell

nikki broadwell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:03:22 +0000

I came upon your blog while searching for pagan+blog. To be quite honest, I’m a pagan and trying to find like-minded people who I think would read my upcoming book(s)–I’ve also been trying to figure out how to stay free of politics (as in not get caught up in and become completely insanely furious) and still feel like I belong in this country–I put the url to my books website up here but my other blog is: http://niksblog-authorinprogress.blogspot.com where I write about self-publishing, druids, Celtic holidays and other eclectic stuff…

Comment on Paganism and Opposition to LGBT Rights by Snooze Hamilton

Snooze Hamilton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:16:39 +0000

Kenneth: “a greeting.
you are wrong on the left review of homosexuality, especially in pre-Christian era Germanic warrior ethos where kings, princes governors had comitatus warriors, shepherds of men, some in full-time professional house-carles, some part-time farmers / artisans. Each and every person had to take the holy oath that he had not committed any act of homosexuality, or tended the woman. You want to rewrite history by, communist lies. And one thing good warrior Teuton, akin to the burning blood Skyþa, charge, with the same Nordic Indo-European blood flowing in the veins of their was ANTI-communist and hated big government, he could turn a blind eye to kvenligs kynmanns or towns people so he would not fight or drink with him”

This could, of course, be rendered more accurately by a better source than Google Translator, but I work with what I got at hand. I think I get the general gist though.

When I hear people make statements about the shame etc. of a man acting as a woman, I tend to ask them what they have to say to The Old Man about going in drag to learn women’s magic. Thus far, the only answers I’ve gotten have been along the lines of “You’re not a real heathen, so STFU”, “He didn’t want to learn the magic, he just spied on the women”, or “Loki was right about him; hail Loki”. Not much there to give credit to.

Comment on Free Your Mind in 2012 by Hrafnkell

Hrafnkell — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:31:53 +0000

Metalgaia, that's a good question. Heathenism and Paganism are quite different from one another. Heathenism has a rather unique worldview. Heathens pledge troth to our own gods and do not tend to view the gods in terms of Zeus=this god or Isis=that goddess. We tend to be less eclectic in our approach to the divine than with your average Pagan. There is also the approach to magic, which seems to have replaced ritual for many modern Pagans. Heathens also tend to take a more historical approach to their religion, trying to some degree to reconstruct or revive ancient practices. Many Pagan and Heathen bloggers have addressed some of these differences. I can think of a couple off the top of my head: The Pentagram and the Hammer Asatru: The Black Sheep of the Pagan Community Heathen, Pagan, the Difference

Comment on Free Your Mind in 2012 by Hrafnkell

Hrafnkell — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:08:00 +0000

That’s pretty sad, Ashley and I know what you mean. They can’t imagine somebody wouldn’t be like them – they seem to have no comprehension of even the possibility of other belief systems. I’ve gotten used to explaining myself. I feel as though I should develop a pamphlet and next time asked, just hand it over.

Comment on Free Your Mind in 2012 by Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:48:42 +0000

I know exactly how you feel! I just found this website btw. Someone asked what my religion was today and I said “Heathen” but they didn’t even know what that was. They said the only religions they know is “Catholic, Jewish, Baptist, and Methodist.” I was shocked they never even heard of the words “Pagan” or even “Atheist”. Is the world really so narrow minded?

Comment on Free Your Mind in 2012 by metalgaia

metalgaia — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:48:54 +0000

How do you differentiate heathenism and paganism?

Comment on Free Your Mind in 2012 by Hrafnkell

Hrafnkell — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:29:21 +0000

Absolutely. As Jan Assmann writes of the Mosaic Distinction, monotheism has always denigrated everything outside itself as Paganism – and that includes not just us Pagans but all the other “Others”

Comment on Free Your Mind in 2012 by Makarios

Makarios — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:41:19 +0000

I get the impression, from the context, that a lot of the religious nutters use the terms “Heathen” or “Pagan” as a sort of verbal shorthand for “any aspect of contemporary culture that I happen not to like.” i agree, however, that the use of the term in a derogatory sense in unfortunate and needs to be corrected.

Comment on Gone A Viking – and Back Again by Snooze Hamilton

Snooze Hamilton — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:31:40 +0000

Glad to hear your son is doing better – may the rest of his dealing with Gaucher’s be a breeze. Also, I’m glad you posted this about your Dr. Greene. I hear a lot (and have experienced some) about how medical professionals treat people like bric-a-brac or merchandise, and it’s good to hear better. May her performance of her calling be rewarded with good luck and prosperity on several levels.

Enjoy Maryland! My Better Half’s family is there, and it has some good things to say for itself. If you’re a Jim Henson fan at all, and haven’t ever been to the main UM campus in College Park, there’s a lovely memorial for him there. In front of the Adele Stamp student center is a stone bench with a life size bronze statue of Henson, sitting casually in a conversational pose, as if talking earnestly to the other bronze occupant. Perched on the back of the bench is Kermit, listening to his creator. The bench is made so that you can sit with them, and be back in Jim Henson’s world for a few minutes.

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Jim_Henson_Statue

Comment on Gone A Viking – and Back Again by cinnabari

cinnabari — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:18:38 +0000

Wow. That’s the Chinese curse kind of excitement, right there. I’m glad your son is, if not well, then at least mending. May the winter be healthier for him.