Gnosis Diary: Life as a Heathen

My personal experiences, including religious and spiritual experiences, community interaction, general heathenry, and modern life on my heathen path, which is Asatru.

  • Home
    Home This is where you can find all the blog posts throughout the site.
  • Tags
    Tags Displays a list of tags that have been used in the blog.
  • Bloggers
    Bloggers Search for your favorite blogger from this site.
  • Login
    Login Login form

The Gods Helped Me Find My Way

I was trying to navigate to a new destination, where I was planning to present gifts. Gifts are holy in heathenry. So, although outwardly I was just driving to a party, spiritually I was traveling on my path as a gythia. When I arrived at the point where public street met private street, I had an adventure.

Gifts have spiritual significance in all sects of heathenry, not only the gifts presented to gods but also gifts given to other human beings. Gifts that have special significance for life events and for important occasions within the culture also have special spiritual significance, both in heathenry generally, and in American Celebration style Asatru as we practice in my kindred, in particular. This occasion was for three co-occurring special life events for the recipient. The gifts I had made included a bottle of my home grown lavender brew dedicated to Sigyn, so this gift also had a special significance for the goddess as well. The recipient had recently participated in a ritual I had led honoring Sigyn, and this gift was meant to help her deepen her relationship with the goddess.  

I had started my journey by donning some of my sacred jewelry. I had on the butterfly necklace made by a local artist, for which I had traded some art I had made, and which I had dedicated to Sigyn. The butterfly necklace appears in the photo above. I also had on the Eye of Odin ring. I usually only wear it for formal rituals and major heathen events, and I feel that wearing it draws Odin's gaze. 

When I arrived, I was supposed to text for entry, but it didn't work. I had no cell service. I saw some men walk out of the gate and get into a car, and intuitively knew they were neighbors of my kindred member. I thought they might help if they didn't drive away first. They were trying to pull away from the curb as I approached, and then I heard the sound of an engine revving out of gear as their gear shift failed to engage. So they were stuck until they helped me get in. They provided the help I needed to finish my journey. Then their car magically repaired itself and they went on their way. 

Image: sacred jewelry on gythia robes, including four pendants, the top pendant being a locket made by Bones Wings & Shiny Things containing a real preserved butterfly, photo by Erin Lale.

Last modified on
Erin Lale is the author of Asatru For Beginners, and the updated, longer version of her book, Asatru: A Beginner's Guide to the Heathen Path. Erin has been a gythia since 1989. She was the editor and publisher of Berserkrgangr Magazine, and is admin/ owner of the Asatru Facebook Forum. She also writes science fiction and poetry, ran for public office, is a dyer and fiber artist, was acquisitions editor at a small press, and founded the Heathen Visibility Project.

Comments

Additional information