My First Experience with the Gods

I have been a self-professed Heathen for roughly a year. However, until recently, I have never given any offering or really any acknowledgement to the Gods that I honour them, save for the occasional, "Hail Woden! Hail Donar!" etc. Here is my explanation of the fact that I know the Gods are real.

Around two weeks ago, roughly, I decided it was high-time to give an offering to the Gods that I claim to honour and revere. This day was an absolutely beautiful day, and fortunately, my Catholic aunt and uncle whom I live with were not home. Now, I didn't really have much to offer, and I have very little knowledge on how to perform a blót, so I wasn't planning on a formal offering. Just a simple, "I acknowledge you" type of offering. So I simply took a glass of milk, and mixed some real maple syrup with it. I took it out into the woods on my property, into a small clearing. I can't remember word for word what I said as the offering, but it was something like, "I offer this to the Gods of my Forefathers and the Spirits of the Land. I offer this that you may watch over and protect the area in which myself and my kin reside. Hail Odin, Thor, the Aesir, the Vanir, and the Spirits of the Land and Water, and of the Rivers and Streams." With that, I took a sip of the milk, and I poured the rest on the ground. The sun was beautifully shining, and there were few clouds. Yet as I walked out of the woods, the sun gently hid behind the clouds, not in an ominous way like one would normally expect, but in a way that suggested the sun was offering my the cool shade. At the same time, a beautiful, refreshing breeze blew directly at me and over my body. This to me was the first time any Gods of any sort had ever acknowledged me back, and accepted my offering, and I had experimented with a few religions before. I could feel within me that they accepted my offering, and it was a great feeling.

My beliefs regarding Ragnarök

When it comes to Ragnarök, that is, the event that brings the Destruction of the Gods and of the World, there are mainly three takes on it. The first, is that a person regards it solely as a myth, and that is never will come to be. The second, is that a person believes that while it may not happen literally as it is written, but that it is symbolic of some event that is yet to come; it's exact date unknown. Then, there is the third view of Ragnarök. When I first became a "Heathen", as I self describe, my beliefs on Ragnarök were that it had already happened. Indeed, that is the same belief I hold now, and it is the third belief regarding Ragnarök. I previously felt as if I was the only one who held this belief, seeing as I came up with it on my own, but I have discovered that other people have developed this same belief on their own.
          This belief is one of a symbolic nature. I believe that the events described in the description of Ragnarök are symbolic descriptions of, not the end of the world as we know it, but the end of the Pagan world as they, our ancestors, knew it. The tale describes the Death of the Gods, and indeed, the Gods had died at one point in our history. It also tells of the end of the world. The world has not ended literally, but for many Europeans, there was a specific time period in which their world ended. Then, the tale tells of a rebirth. I will now explain in detail my beliefs regarding these events.

          The Death of the Gods and the End of the Pagan World

     My belief is that Ragnarök began in the year 496. This is the year that Clovis of the Franks converted to Catholicism. This marks the beginning of the end for the Pagan World, Ragnarök. From this year forward, religious wars were brought into Northern and Western Europe, and to our Germanic Ancestors. Never before had our Pagan forefathers fought over religion, until the baptism of Clovis. From this year and on, there were countless campaigns against the "Heathens", in an attempt to convert them to Christianity. Lies, treachery, deceit, torture, and in many cases outright slaughter decimated the Pagan foothold in the world. The year 793 marked the last attempt to keep Northern Europe Pagan. The Vikings lasted from then until the 11th century, when they were finally snuffed out, and the Gods of Old faded into the shadows. The last great battle that marked the final destruction of the Pagan world took place in 1066 in England. Harold of England defeated the last Great Heathen army, and they would no longer be able to fight for their traditions and beliefs. After this defeat, the Pagans of the Nordic countries were quickly converted, or they faded into obscurity. This marked the end of the Gods and the end of the World, in Pagan terms. The majority of Europe was now Christianized, and the Old Gods were gone.

          Rebirth

     Then, the story of Ragnarök described that there will be a Rebirth of the Gods and of the Old Beliefs. This Rebirth is taking place right here, right now. If you are a Heathen, Asatruar, Pagan, or whatever you like to describe yourself as, you are part of this Great Rebirth. Europeans and people of European descent from all over the world are heeding the calls of the Gods and of their ancestors; Their Heathen spirit is awakening! For hundred of years after the Christianization of Europe, there were no Pagans in the Germanic nations. Now, all over the world, people are reclaiming their heritage and traditions. We are again a growing presence in this world, and I'm sure that one day we will once again make up a large amount of the world.




Those are my beliefs regarding Ragnarök. If you want to discuss further, please feel free to comment. If you'd like to share your beliefs, please feel free to comment as well. All feedback is welcomed!


Hail!
          - Klaufi Wodensson