Exploding Heathen Myths

an exposé by Stormerne Hunt-Anschütz

No, this article is not about Heathen myths describing things that explode, despite the reputation some Heathens have for being pyromaniacs! Nor will it debunk the stories that Heathens have told about their gods for centuries. It’s about setting the record straight on a few odd ideas that some people have about Heathens and Heathenry.

Why bother? Good question, since I’m perfectly happy to get on with my religion, relate to my gods and let other pagans think what they like about me! On the other hand, I don’t like misinformation and I doubt that you do. And I’m convinced that if pagans care about non-pagans getting good information about themselves, they’ll also take every opportunity to understand pagans of other religions.

So here are some modern myths about Heathens and Heathenry — nine of them because in Heathenry nine is a magic number — together with some pointers to facts. Some things are comical while others are more serious. And, of course, it’s by no means an exhaustive list. But it’s a start…

Myth #1: Heathenry is a nature-based religion

Not really. Heathenry is more of a deity-based religion that also reveres spirits found in nature. We don’t particularly follow a wheel of the year either though we’ll talk to the wights of the land before we do an outdoor ritual and check they approve. What’s more, Heathen gods and goddesses are not personifications of natural forces any more than you or me. Old Thor does occasionally get linked with storms, but so do some of our other deities too. And with a name like mine, even I do!

Myth #2: Heathenry is a male-dominated religion

Definitely not. If you were a woman alive in the Dark Ages, the best place you could have been was Heathen Iceland, which was the most egalitarian place in Europe as far as equality between the sexes. Today you’ll find as many women involved in Heathenry as men. For example, when the Heathen group Wightspace did the closing ritual at the London Pagan Federation conference last November, we had five men involved and five women. We weren’t trying for equality — it just happened.

Myth #3: All Heathens worship Odin

Maybe that’s what Odin would like, but he’s out of luck! Odin is a big name god and every Heathen has respect for the old one-eyed bastard. But his son Thor is probably more popular, and a Thor’s hammer pendant is more often seen around the neck of a Heathen than any symbol of Odin. But even Thor is just one of many: Heathens venerate a huge number of gods and goddesses, and in ancient times occasionally revered a deity that Celts and Romans also worshipped (like the goddess Nehalennia in Holland). Even nowadays, that small group of Heathens who call themselves Odinists are more often than not focussed elsewhere.

Myth #4: Heathens are racists

I don’t think people believe this anymore, but some seemed to a few years back. Now people are wiser. I don’t think any religion has escaped racism. There’s always a minority in any religion, pagan or otherwise, that keep to their prejudices or who would like to justify their politics with their religion. Heathenry is no exception. But as with any other group, most Heathens have nothing to do with racism.

Myth #5: Heathenry is not a ‘Scottish’ religion

Heathenry is an indigenous pagan religion of all the lands round the North Sea. It’s more Scottish than that imported Mediterranean religion called Christianity that seems to be reasonably popular here at the moment, or even than the Native American pagan traditions that some follow. There’s plenty of old Norse and (dare I say it) Anglo-Saxon influence in many parts Scotland and runes adorn many a stone in the Northern and Western Isles. You don’t need to be Celtic to be a pagan in Scotland. And you certainly don’t need to be Nordic to be a Heathen.

Myth #6: Heathens don’t do spells

Some Heathens never do spells. Others do them very regularly. It’s not an essential part of the religion and many Heathens will negotiate for what they want with a god first before they do magic. But there are magical practices that Heathens use and rune magic is probably the best known. In fact runes were probably used for magic fifteen centuries or more before they were used for divination. Spells were used for healing, in battle, when travelling… and the same sort of thing happens now — we just don’t crow about it, that’s all!

Myth #7: Heathen rituals are just an excuse for a piss up

So you’re telling me that you don’t enjoy a piss up? It’s certainly true that all Heathen rituals involve a bit where we drink a toast using some alcoholic beverage or other. This, in fact, is the minimum Heathen ritual. And it’s certainly true that nearly all my best Heathen friends brew beer. And it’s definitely true that I have a glass of McEwan’s Champion by me as I type. But the reason we hold a ritual is to honour our gods. Afterwards, however, there are sometimes opportunities to party…!

Myth #8: You can’t be a Heathen unless you join a Heathen group

There seems to be an obsession — perhaps I should be kind and say ‘an inner need’ — with some pagans that they can’t follow their religion unless they’re also with other people following the same religion. Some even feel the need to ‘lord it over’ their fellow pagans. Sure it can be nice to associate with other pagans but with Heathenry it’s not necessary. Some people are solitary Heathens for years. We don’t need high priests or priestesses. Most of us form close relationships with their gods and goddesses and for some that’s enough. Some do like to be with other Heathens. Yet others, like me, simply like to choose our friends, and if they’re Heathens then so much the better.

Myth #9: All Heathens are loudmouthed, big, bearded and hairy — even the men

OK, I own to up to this. Yes I am! And, to use the Wightspace group as a sample again, two of us fitted the description completely and four of us (men only) had beards. Loudmouthed? Hmm… that’s interesting. One thing I’ve noticed about Heathens and that is they’re often self-confident — certainly they’re often more so than some pagans. Perhaps that comes from working with real gods. Or maybe it’s because the new religion of Heathenry is built on an old one which is well documented. Or maybe it’s just the booze!

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