When we discuss Heathenry for beginners, it is important to remember it has accomplished something pretty remarkable in our modern world – it’s one of the few pre-Christian religions that’s gained official recognition, especially in Iceland where it’s formally acknowledged as a legitimate faith. This ancient spiritual path pulls from Germanic and Norse traditions and has grown into a solid community of approximately 20,000 practitioners spread across Europe and North America.
The 1970s marked a real turning point for Heathenry. That’s when this nature-connected spiritual practice really started gaining momentum again, attracting folks looking to build deeper relationships with ancient Germanic gods like Odin, Thor, and Freyja. Unlike many other spiritual paths you might encounter today, Heathenry gets described as a “religion with homework” – and that’s pretty accurate. You’ll need to commit to continuous learning and personal exploration to really get anywhere with it.
I’ve put together this guide to walk you through the essential aspects of Heathenry, from the basic principles to important rituals like blót and symbel. Whether you’re just curious about Norse spiritual practices or seriously thinking about following this path, you’ll find the fundamental knowledge you need to start exploring this rich tradition. The good news is that while it takes work, the rewards of connecting with these ancient ways can be deeply satisfying.
What is Heathenry? Understanding the Basics
When people ask me what Heathenry is, I tell them it’s a modern religious movement that draws from pre-Christian beliefs of Germanic peoples who lived in Northern Europe during the Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. It first started gaining real momentum in Europe in the early 20th century and has since grown into this amazingly diverse tapestry of spiritual practices.
Origins of the term ‘Heathenry’
The word “Heathen” has an interesting history. It comes from the Gothic “haiþno,” which was originally just a neutral term for a “gentile” or someone from town who wasn’t familiar with Christianity. Tracing it further back, it derives from the Greek word “ἔθνος” (ethnos, meaning “nation”), which was used to translate the Hebrew word “goyim“. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the word picked up some negative baggage along the way.
English speakers historically used “Heathen” specifically to describe Viking raiders during Scandinavian incursions, though it’s worth noting that not all these “Heathens” actually practiced the old religions, especially as the Viking Age was winding down. Today’s practitioners have done something pretty powerful – they’ve reclaimed this once-derogatory label as a proud self-identifier for those who honor pre-Christian Germanic traditions.
Key differences from other pagan traditions
Heathenry really stands apart from other modern pagan paths in several important ways:
- Hard polytheism: Unlike Wicca, where gods and goddesses are often seen as aspects of a single divine pair, Heathens honor numerous individual deities as completely independent entities. I’ve found this creates a very different relationship with the divine than what you might experience in other pagan paths.
- Ritual structure: You won’t find Heathens “casting circles” or “calling quarters” during their ceremonies. They also don’t follow the “Eight-Fold Wheel of the Year” based on solstices and equinoxes that many other pagans observe. The ritual structure has its own unique flow.
- Relationship with magic: While some Heathens practice rune divination or seiðr, magic isn’t central to the practice. Many Heathens don’t consider themselves “witches” at all. This surprises people who assume all pagan paths heavily emphasize magical practices.
- Orthopraxy vs. orthodoxy: Heathenry focuses more on correct action than correct belief. It’s about experience and integrity of practice rather than dogmatic adherence to specific beliefs. This might be the biggest difference from mainstream religions that many newcomers notice.
Above all, Heathenry is animistic, recognizing that all things in life have agency with no clear division between sacred and profane. This worldview fundamentally shapes how Heathens interact with their gods, ancestors, and communities.
Modern Heathenry vs. historical Norse religion
Modern Heathenry differs from its historical roots in several important ways. Despite what some might claim about unbroken traditions, there’s no evidence of secret practices or families passing down the faith in an unbroken line since ancient times. The historical Heathen religions were largely abandoned after the 12th century. Simple as that.
The revival we see today really got going during the 1970s when groups like the Ásatrúarfélagið in Iceland and Bifrost in Norway formed. Many of these groups emphasized environmental and tolerant aspects of paganism. Meanwhile, in America and England, early organized movements had more conservative elements.
Generally, modern Heathenry falls into two broad approaches:
- Reconstructionist: These folks prioritize historical accuracy, using lore and historical sources to design rituals according to historical calendars. They’re the ones you’ll find pouring through old texts and archaeological findings.
- Eclectic: This approach is broader, sometimes incorporating non-Germanic elements and modern innovations. These practitioners tend to be more flexible in their practice.
This diversity has led to various traditions within Heathenry, including Ásatrú, Forn Sed, Odinism, and the Northern Tradition, each with their own emphases and practices.
The important thing to understand is that modern Heathens aren’t trying to perfectly recreate ancient practices. Instead, they’re adapting the wisdom of their spiritual ancestors to contemporary life. I think that’s what makes it such a living, breathing tradition rather than just historical reenactment.
Meeting the Gods and Goddesses of the Norse Pantheon
The Norse pantheon sits right at the heart of heathen practice. What makes Norse paganism stand out is how truly polytheistic it is – we’re talking about a diverse collection of gods and goddesses with unique personalities and domains. Unlike some modern spiritual paths, heathens honor many different deities rather than seeing them all as aspects of a single divine power.
The Aesir: Thor, Odin, Frigg and others
The Aesir make up one of the two main tribes of Norse deities. They’re generally associated with power, war, and cosmic order. These gods make their home in Asgard, which sits way up in the highest branches of Yggdrasil, the world-tree.
Odin is the “All-Father” and chief of the Aesir. He embodies wisdom, poetry, death, and magic – quite the combination, right? This one-eyed wanderer travels through different realms constantly seeking knowledge, with his ravens Huginn and Muninn (which represent thought and emotion) always by his side. One of the most remarkable stories about Odin is how he sacrificed himself by hanging on Yggdrasil for nine days and nights to discover the runic alphabet. That’s some serious dedication to wisdom.
Thor, Odin’s son, serves as the protector of both gods and humanity. He wields that mighty hammer Mjölnir you’ve probably heard about, defending Midgard (our world) against the jötnar (giants) and bringing thunder with his goat-drawn chariot. Unlike his father who’s all about cunning and secrets, Thor represents straightforward, honorable strength. He’s the god you want on your side in a fight.
Frigg, Odin’s wife and queen of the Aesir, governs fate, marriage, and motherhood. She has some serious divinatory powers but keeps a lot of secrets. Along with Freyja, she’s one of the most important goddesses in Norse mythology.
The Vanir: Freyr, Freyja and fertility deities
The Vanir are the second tribe of Norse gods, and they’re typically associated with fertility, prosperity, and natural forces. According to the myths, there was once a war between the Aesir and Vanir, but eventually they exchanged hostages and created a united pantheon.
Freyr is one of the most revered deities in the entire pantheon. He presides over fertility, fair weather, peace, and abundance. He’s often depicted with some pretty explicit phallic imagery emphasizing his connection to virility. Freyr brings prosperity to his followers, which made him extremely popular among ancient farmers and merchants. He owns some pretty cool magical stuff too, including a ship that can be folded into a pocket and a golden boar named Gullinborsti.
Freyja, Freyr’s twin sister, embodies love, beauty, fertility, and war. She’s complex – a goddess of both creation and destruction. One interesting thing about Freyja is that she receives half of those slain in battle, with Odin taking the other half. She also taught seiðr (magic) to the Aesir and is known to weep golden tears for her missing husband Óðr.
Njörðr, the father of Freyr and Freyja, governs the sea, wind, and wealth. I always found his failed marriage to the giantess Skadi pretty relatable – he couldn’t leave his beloved shoreline for her mountainous home. Sometimes geographic incompatibility really is a dealbreaker!
Lesser-known deities worth knowing
Beyond these major gods, there are numerous important deities that don’t get as much attention but are absolutely worth knowing. These include Tyr (justice and law), Heimdallr (guardian of Bifrost), Skadi (winter and hunting), Idunn (youth and rejuvenation), and Forseti (meditation and justice).
Connecting with deities as a beginner
If you’re just starting to explore relationships with Norse deities, here are a few simple practices I’ve found helpful for building meaningful connections:
- Pour a libation – This is super easy. Just open a bottle of ale or cider (non-alcoholic works perfectly fine), go outdoors, take a few deep breaths, and say something like, “[Deity], I thank you for your many gifts.” Then pour some of the liquid out as an offering.
- Set an offering plate at dinnertime with a portion for the gods, then place it outside overnight. This simple act of sharing your meal creates a tangible connection.
- Light a candle and quietly listen for divine wisdom. In my experience, this often comes from “the still center of your heart” rather than as a booming voice from the sky.
When you’re first starting out, I’d suggest approaching a deity who either seems to be calling to you (through dreams or intuition) or whose qualities you really admire. The key thing to remember is that heathens emphasize reciprocal relationships with deities—we establish a “gifting cycle” where offerings are given in exchange for divine blessings. It’s not about worship so much as relationship-building.
Essential Heathen Rituals and Practices
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Rituals really are the foundation of heathen spiritual practice. They provide tangible ways to connect with gods, ancestors, and community. These ceremonies range from elaborate group celebrations to simple daily devotions, and they create a sense of harmony between practitioners and the divine world.
Blót: The sacred offering ceremony
The blót (pronounced “bloat”) is probably the most important heathen rite you’ll encounter. It centers around the concept of sacred offerings to the gods. The word originally meant “sacrifice,” and the ritual essentially transforms ordinary items into sacred gifts worthy of divine reception.
Having participated in several blóts over the years, I can tell you they typically take place outdoors and involve a bowl of mead or other appropriate drink. The ceremony starts by creating sacred space, often through purification with fire or water. Next, the offering gets blessed, sometimes using Thor’s hammer symbolism, before participants invoke specific deities. The leader then uses an evergreen sprig to sprinkle mead onto deity representations and the assembled participants. Finally, the mead gets poured onto the earth or fire as a libation to the gods, and this is frequently followed by a communal meal.
For those practicing alone, simpler blóts work just fine – setting aside food or drink for gods or wights, sometimes without any formal words at all. Some heathens perform these rituals just occasionally, while others make them part of their daily spiritual discipline.
Sumbel: Ritual drinking and toasting
Sumbel (also spelled symbel) is another core heathen ceremony – essentially a ritual drinking celebration that often follows a blót. During sumbel, participants pass around a drinking horn filled with mead (or apple juice for kids) around the gathering.
The ceremony traditionally follows a three-round structure:
- First round: Toasts to gods and goddesses
- Second round: Toasts to ancestors, heroes, or wights
- Third round: Open for personal toasts, boasts of accomplishments, or oaths
Words spoken during sumbel carry special weight. Many heathens believe these words flow directly into the Well of Wyrd, influencing fate itself. Because of this, oaths made during this ceremony are considered especially binding. I’ve seen people be very careful about what they promise during a sumbel – it’s not the time for casual commitments.
Daily devotional practices for beginners
If you’re new to heathenry, establishing simple daily practices creates meaningful divine connections. These might include:
- Regular offerings: Leaving small gifts like juice, bread, or ale for house wights, land spirits, or specific deities
- Prayer: Speaking to gods through formal or informal communication
- Meditation: Listening for divine wisdom through quiet contemplation
- Study: Learning about deities through stories, lore, and others’ experiences
Some folks dedicate specific weekdays to different deities—for instance, offering to Tyr on Tuesdays or Thor on Thursdays. This creates a structured devotional rhythm that can be really helpful when you’re starting out.
Creating your first altar
A heathen altar gives you a dedicated space for offerings, prayer, and connecting with the divine. While some people create elaborate setups (and these can be gorgeous), beginners can start with simple arrangements.
Essential altar elements typically include:
- Representations of deities (statues, pictures, symbols, or natural objects)
- A drinking horn or vessel for libations
- Offering bowls for food or drink
- Candles or other light sources
- Personal sacred items connecting to ancestors or wights
Your altar location should be someplace quiet that can remain undisturbed. I’ve seen heathens use bookshelves, small tables, or even dedicated outdoor spaces. The key is creating a space that feels sacred to you—a physical center for your spiritual practice that reflects your personal relationship with the gods.
I started with just a small shelf in my bedroom with a candle, a horn, and a simple wooden carving. Over time, it grew as my practice deepened. Don’t feel pressured to have everything perfect from the beginning – your altar will evolve naturally as your practice does.
Living the Heathen Way: Values and Ethics
The ethical foundations of Heathenry aren’t just abstract concepts – they’re the practical framework that guides everything from how we relate to the gods to how we treat our neighbors. Unlike the “thou shalt not” commandments you might find in other religions, heathen ethics emphasize values that support both personal growth and harmonious communities.
The Nine Noble Virtues explained
The Nine Noble Virtues are probably the most widely recognized ethical framework in modern heathenry, though their origins might surprise you. They weren’t handed down from ancient times but were actually developed by the Odinic Rite back in the 1970s. These virtues include: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Self-Reliance, Industriousness, and Perseverance.
Despite how popular they’ve become, it’s worth noting that these aren’t directly pulled from ancient sources – they’re a modern interpretation. You’ll find numerous alternative virtue sets within different heathen traditions, which really reflects how decentralized the faith is. Still, I’ve found these virtues provide useful practical guidelines rather than rigid commandments. How you apply them depends a lot on your specific context and relationships.
Understanding Wyrd and Orlog
At the heart of heathen ethics are two interconnected concepts: wyrd and orlog. Wyrd (pronounced “weird” – yes, really) represents this ever-shifting tapestry of cause, consequence and connection. It’s essentially the web of fate that connects everything throughout space and time. Meanwhile, orlog, often translated as “primal law,” refers to the accumulated patterns and layers of past actions that shape our present reality.
Together, these concepts create a profound sense of ethical responsibility. I think about it this way: every action I take affects the web of wyrd, so I need to consider how my choices will ripple outward, affecting both myself and others across time. This isn’t some abstract philosophy – it changes how you make decisions on a daily basis.
Honor and frith in modern life
Honor in heathenry goes way beyond just having a good reputation. Instead, it functions as this internal moral compass that guides your personal conduct. Working alongside honor is the concept of frith – which gets inadequately translated as “peace” but is better understood as a kind of sacred inviolability within community.
Frith represents the bonds that create well-functioning communities at every level, from families to nations. It encompasses mutual obligation, hospitality, and the maintenance of harmonious relationships. In my experience, modern heathens apply these principles by valuing honest speech, keeping their oaths (a big deal), and pursuing relationships that promote both individual and community well-being.
What’s interesting about these ethical concepts is how practical they are. They’re not just philosophical ideas – they’re tools for navigating real-world situations. When faced with a difficult decision, asking “What promotes frith in this situation?” or “What is the honorable path here?” often provides surprisingly clear guidance. These ancient values turn out to be remarkably applicable to modern challenges.
Finding Your Community: Groups and Resources
Heathenry works differently than most mainstream religions. Instead of big hierarchical institutions with clergy telling everyone what to do, it thrives through decentralized communities. Building connections with fellow practitioners isn’t just nice to have – it provides invaluable support for walking this spiritual path.
Local kindreds and how to find them
Kindreds are really the grassroots engine of modern Heathenry. These are the local groups where practitioners share collective experiences, luck, and honor. In my experience, these close-knit groups often feel more like extended families than religious organizations, providing a context and support network you just can’t get going solo.
Finding a kindred takes a bit of work. You can check listings from organizations like The Troth or Asatru UK, take a look at the Worldwide Map of Asatruars and Heathens, or search Meetup.com for local groups. One word of caution though – be careful about which communities you join. Heathens believe you bind your wyrd (your fate) with those you practice alongside. Choose wisely.
Online Heathen communities
What if you’re a solitary practitioner or live somewhere without established kindreds? Don’t worry – virtual communities can provide valuable connections. The Longship website is an excellent starting point, and Discord servers like Skíðblaðnir give you interactive spaces for discussion.
I’ve found the r/heathenry subreddit and various Facebook groups foster some great educational exchanges among practitioners. Even if you have local folks to practice with, online spaces expose you to diverse perspectives that can really enrich your practice. I’ve learned things from online discussions that I never would have encountered in my local group alone.
Books and resources for deeper learning
There’s a ton of information out there about Heathenry, but not all of it is reliable. For newcomers, I’d recommend “Ásatrú for Beginners“ by Mathias Nordvig and “A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru“ by Patricia Lafayllve as accessible introductions.
If you prefer video content, Jackson Crawford’s YouTube channel is excellent, and the Nordic Mythology Podcast provides solid educational content too. For more academic resources without commercial interests, check out organizations like Mimisbrunnr.info.
Attending your first Heathen gathering
Regional gatherings create fantastic opportunities to build face-to-face connections. These are essential for really understanding fellow practitioners. Before attending your first event, try to familiarize yourself with local customs. Something that might seem “wrong” to you might simply reflect different traditions.
At these events, you’ll typically experience blóts, sumbels, workshops, and social activities that strengthen community bonds. The first time I attended a large Heathen gathering, I was nervous about doing things wrong, but I found people were extremely welcoming as long as I showed respect and a willingness to learn.
Remember that hospitality remains a sacred value in Heathenry, with both hosts and guests expected to demonstrate respect and appropriate behavior. Show up with an open mind, be willing to help out where needed, and you’ll likely find yourself welcomed into the community more quickly than you’d expect.
Conclusion to Heathenry for beginners
Heathenry really is a living, breathing spiritual tradition. It offers meaningful connections to ancient wisdom while still being totally relevant to our modern lives. While it might seem complex at first glance, this path actually provides lots of different entry points for sincere seekers – whether you’re drawn to relationships with specific deities, ritual practice, or the ethical framework.
From what I’ve seen, successful practice depends on finding that sweet spot between historical knowledge and personal experience. Modern Heathens aren’t trying to perfectly recreate exactly what our ancestors did. Instead, we’re adapting their wisdom to contemporary life while holding onto those core values like honor, hospitality, and reciprocal relationships with the divine powers.
If you’re just starting out, remember that Heathenry grows primarily through direct experience and community connections. Don’t overthink it at the beginning. Start with simple daily devotions, study from reliable sources (not just random internet posts), and gradually connect with like-minded practitioners. This creates a solid foundation for spiritual growth. Keep an open mind, but also exercise some discernment – not everything labeled “heathen” actually reflects the tradition’s values.
The thing I love most about Heathenry is how practical it is. It’s a spiritual path deeply rooted in ancient wisdom yet perfectly suited for modern life. Those who approach it with dedication and sincerity often find it becomes much more than just a belief system – it’s a transformative way of living that deepens your connection to gods, ancestors, and community.
Whether you decide to dive deep into this path or simply take some of its wisdom into your life, I hope this guide has given you a useful starting point. The gods have called people to this path for thousands of years, and they continue to do so today. Maybe you’re one of those they’re calling.
If you would like to see how Heathenry fits in with other beliefs, you might want to read this article on the history of paganism.
