Dude, I'm just gonna tell you that if someone leaves a thread telling you how great their religion has been for them, they're trying to sell you something and they don't care about your spiritual health.
I say, look to a culture you like and admire, could be your native (could be from what...
Exactly. Anything can seem barbaric, unnecessary, extremist, down right stupid or a combination of those descriptions if it's foreign. With the Western World having been so dominated by colonialist monotheism for such a long time, most of our Euro-American peers are very quick to judge strange...
I agree, but I have something to add if you don't mind. Although most pagans share the worldview, I've never seen an indigenous culture which didn't have some form of gift exchange or sacrifice. Worldview is a big part of it, but that's because worldview influences our practices. We shouldn't...
I just perform simple offering-rites. I invite the divinities of the Pre-Christian, ethno-linguistic group my tradition is focused on (in my case, The Aesir, Vanir and Rokkr of the Teutonic Europeans) or spirits like my ancestors or wights. Further, I use symbolic items or depictions specific in...
Even the gods are bound by the laws of physics. Historically speaking, the word "supernatural" is somewhat of a new concept, which implies that there is something beyond The Universe ("super" meaning "above" and "natural" meaning "relating to the natural world"). The Universe is existence. To be...
To add something else in I heard about Loki, which I feel well encompasses one of his aspects.
Without tricksters, who would tell the emperor that he's without clothes on?
I feel he's more identifiable with Prometheus.
"Went bad" is an odd way to put it. I think a more proper phrase would be "driven mad" by the venom of a dragon while tied by the guts of his offspring whom he saw viciously massacred by your other son having been turned into a wolf.
I'd be a...
The word magic is ultimately derived from the Ancient Greek word magikos, having identical meaning, and is derived further from the Ancient Greek magos meaning wise man or priest. It's origin further is unknown, but is most likely from the Middle East.
When it comes to Indigenous traditions, including Hellenismos, it's my understanding that it stays within the tradition as long as there's respect in mind and the culture and language of the people in question is used. Other than that, anything goes.
If, however, you're looking for...
Hail Thunraz, Donner, Thórr, Thor, Thunar and Thunder!
Hail Ásabragr, the Æsir lord!
Hail Véthormr, protector of the shrine!
Hail Ásathórr, Æsir-Thor!
Hail Vingthórr, the hallower!
Hail Perun, Dionysos, Perkwunos and Indra, the god venerated far and wide!
Hail the son of Woden and The Earth...
You might be hard pressed to find some as vegetarianism is most common among liberals and progressives and the Germanic Heathen community tends to lean to the right, not that there aren't any out there at all, of course haha.
I know that Loki's real because he accepted my sacrifices and given back the requested gift. He's given to me for more than I deserve. No matter what "kind" of deity he is, I owe him my respect that he's more than a malicious god of chaos.
He's a wise magician who can change reality, even his...
Perhaps I can be of assistance, because I do LOVE comparative linguistics.
Here's a pantheon to refer to:
Djews Pater- Chieftain god of the sky. He's reconstruction is derived from Zeus, Tyr, Jupiter, Dyaus Pita, Dispater as well as others. His name literally means "Sky Father" or...
I've always been fascinated with the evolutionary success of homo sapiens. Although I try to remain biocentric, there are advantages humans have that most other animals don't, at least not all at once. Please keep in mind, I don't pretend to be a scientist.
From what I can observe, the most...