I feel i might have been a bit sloppy and angry when i was writing a post on certain tendensies within SOME US Asatru..
It was in a period when i was feeling more or less bombarded with strange sentiments, incorrect history and weird oppinions.
The post was meant to reflect on a certain video and and their ilk and not “mainstream” (in lack of a better term) US Heathenry but i can see how it came across like a general
elitist abrasiveness.
Placing a picture on there without making clear that this kindred was NOT implied in the critizism was downright stupid.
The picture was really meant to illustrate that some Heathens DO wear historical clothing, but NOT in a “LARPy” way.
Some do in Sweden too (besides, i have nothing against LARPs or re enactement. I have LARPed for years myself).
Since then i have written a post on some things about US Asatru that i like and admire (and that sometimes are missing here ).
Neither post, ofcourse, is “general”. Nobody could write a post on Heathenry or Heathens anywhere that covered all Kindreds or individuals.
It is merely my oppinions or observations and might be totally incorrect or unfair.
Heathenry ,being orthoprax, there are all kinds of oppinions, traditions and “flavors” of it.
Historically that would be the case too, with farms, villages or groups having the same basic traditions, but with variations suited to them (even looking at Iceland and Sweden is enough to see that there where some differences in how things where done. Heathenry has varied in praxis with region as well as time ).
I should also repeat what i have alredy said, any complaints (whining) i have are not about any Heathen community in general, that is, it is not meant to mean the majority of Heathens anywhere (and neither would i prefer Heathenry to be identical everywhere. That would go against it´s nature)but certain tendensies that bugged me at the time.
I know several kindreds (Asatru and Anglo-Saxon) in the US that i respect and like a lot and who obviously does something that works very well.
I also know a whole bunch of nutcases in Scandinavia using Heathen symbolism but who would not get any sympathies from most Heathens anywhere.
I do however sometimes come across all from simple difference of oppinion (wich is as it should be) to people getting upset with me for thinking Fenris worship is unhistorical.
There was a period when my feeling was that “my” culture was up for grabs and could be presented anyway anyone pleased without anyone speaking up.
As if Scandinavian (and other Norse) history was a matter of personal agenda and taste.
This is fine in art but not if presented as history (for instance) .
As a matter of fact i was even told once (on the web) that me, being European (actually the term used was “white”), had no right to complain about anything and should “shut up”.
If anyone feels that my whining doesent fit them at all, it is probably because it doesent.
I have stated before that the majority of US Heathens are just that, Heathens that happen to live in the US.
There are regional differences in Heathenry even within (todays) Sweden and there always have been.
It is quite common to see “What is your Sed (custom)”, in writing here, indicating that differences are expected.
There are traditions within families or individual traditions too (as i suspect there are everywhere).
There ARE people wearing viking age clothes here too and there are also Blóts where the presiding/officiating Godi is wearing special garb.
I must say i feel stupid for posting pictures in a way that could be understood as if the people on them where the ones i whined about.
I have practiced thinking twice since i wrote this in an attempt to avoid lashing out at the wrong people.
I am really sorry for any offence!
I have taken down the post and hope frith will be restored.
Marcel
Marcel Gomes - Sweden 