Stuck in the past

After writing stuff about historical jotun worship, I thought I'd do a more broader piece on the subject of historicity within Heathenry. This isn't a research topic or anything interesting like that, more of an editorial (I'm not sure what that really means, but it sounds super smart, so I'm going with it) and commentary on practices that are not "historical."

We see so often, people getting all mad and flustered when it comes to any sort of practice that isn't "historic." Why is that? Is it the little bitch recons that get all whiny and cry "not historical, no place names blah blah" when someone's worships Loki, or when the topic of the Vegvísir or the Helm of Awe (Ægishjálmr) comes up in whatever context and it just has to be pointed out that it is Christian. The trolls cross is totally modern. You get the point. 

Average redditor depicted when discussing non historical practice.

Now sometimes some of these arguments are valid in the right context - If someone is claiming these things as historical then, well they are not. But that's OK, isn't it? Why isn't it is more the question, there seems to be a bit of a over correction happening in a lot of spaces. I'm sure you've seen it before, this strange phenomenon when someone posts their Vegvísir (or other Icelandic stave) tattoo on the Reddits or whatever platform, and there is always some pompous jerk who has to point out "umm you know that's not Viking right and it's akshually a Christian invention" and they probably say other things after this, but I've stopped reading because they are insufferable twats. 

The true, historical Viking age symbol of Vikings, Invented by Vikings, dated back to the beginning of time, which is where the Vikings are from as they were the first to ever do anything and nothing can or should change after the Vikings. VIKINGS.

Runes is another one that is immensely popular amongst all different types of pagans, and with that comes a variety of styles, applications and pompous jerks. Now there is something to be said around the historicity of the application of runes, largely they were primarily a writing system, and as far as divination or magical practice goes, we don't know a whole lot, a little, but not a lot, which is fine. However there is always someone who just needs to "um akkshually" you in regards to your runic praxis, be it divination, bind runes or staves, which set is most appropriate (obviously younger is the best because that is what the Vikings used right?), did you spell it right, omg I cant believe you reversed runes, or the most problematic, "You have to blooden your runes for them to work", OK sure Dianna, get the fuck out of here with that shit. Runes are magic when you intend them to be, much like anything else. There is really no wrong way to do them, as long as you aren't claiming to be the "right way". You don't need to be historic about it, because if we did, then it would be largely just using them to write emails and argue with people on the internet, because historically they were primary an alphabet. As long as we all collectively agree that armanen runes can suck the fart out of a garden hose, and boomer pagans from the 80's and 90's were fucking whack about them, then go nuts, rune your life away.

We get the same issue when it comes to seidr, well same but different. The argument here is "We don't know enough so what you're doing isn't seidr." This is a little tricky to navigate as a subject - because while we don't know a lot, we do know some, probably more than most give credit for, it's just unfortunate that there are a ton of charlatans out there claiming all sorts of bullshit sacred lineage and hidden knowledge, so I do get the knee jerk reaction to it, but there is a bit of throwing the baby out with the bathwater happening here because I personally know of several people who have a seidr inspired practice, but are often ostracised or are unable to discuss this because of the stigma of being ahistorical. They are often completely written off at the mere mention of the word, but there is room for modern seidr practice inspired by what we do know.

Now I don't have an issue with discussion, education and all that sexy stuff that comes from reading books and articles, and there are a TON of them out there discussing the history and meanings and all the stuff you want to know. However we seem to be so eager, hungry even to jump on people and to flex the little bits of knowledge we know, or sometimes do not know, often in a condescending way and talking down to someone who just wanted a cool tattoo to feel more connected to their faith, community and their gods. I ask you, who gives a fuck? Why is there so much emphasis on being historical? You know who wasn't historical? people in history. Things changed, new things were introduced, old things were forgotten or replaced.

There is this growing trend of pagans eating pagans (honestly, its always been this way, but the internet makes it far more visible), and more often than not it's centred around tradition and praxis and what is "the right way." (BTW this isn't a post about all the bad shit that's out there, I'm very aware of all that, and they can get eaten). Tradition is important in many aspects of life, not just religion and practice, but its not the be all and end all of everything. If we were to only do things that are historical, then nothing would ever change, and that's terribly boring. Let the past inspire you, don't let it restrict you.