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Published On: Apr 26, 2006 10:02 PM
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Published On: Apr 26, 2006 10:02 PM
The Occult: A Place in Heathenism?
Y'know, it's strange, but I can't think of a
single religion that doesn't in some way acknowledge the existence of the
occult.
Maybe it's not all that strange. After all, religions are generally based on the existence of something (or many somethings) that cannot be sensed using the five senses. One cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or feel (physically) the gods.
Even odder? Probably at least 75% of the population denies believing in the occult, apart from their god or gods.
I see the religions of the world as falling along a spectrum when it comes to the occult (and more specifically what may be termed magic). As usual, at one furthest extreme, you have Christianity. Modern Christianity (of almost all varieties) warns against any dabbling with the occult (this once led me to have issues with a Baptist minister/sheriff's deputy, but that's another story). Any such dabbling or more serious study is Evil with a capital E (as opposed to evil with a lower case e, which is almost anything else that one might enjoy, such as lustful thoughts). Any existing references to it are barely mentioned (for those of you raised Christian, who was taught in Sunday School about Solomon practicing sorcery and raising people from the dead? Don't try to claim it was inappropriate for the age group; I'm sure they told you he was willing to cut a baby in half).
Judaism and Islam fall closer in on the spectrum because neither has divorced itself completely from its magical folk beliefs.
At the other end of the spectrum, we have some Wiccan groups. These are the ones who never even mention a god or goddess, unless the name happens to fall within a spell. Their sole intent is to do magickal workings, and they believe that to be the purpose of wicca (they are mistaken, incidentally, but have generally been led to that conclusion by the books of a certain publisher. For the purposes of this blog, they shall be referred to as Llewyccans).
So where does Asatru fall on this spectrum?
It's not an easy question. First off, the Lore affirms the existence of magic. Seidhr, Spae, Galdr, and other forms are repeatedly mentioned within the Lore.
Here's the thing, though: with a few notable exceptions, magic is not practiced in an overtly religious context. There is no element of magic in blot or sumbel, the two main forms of ritual in American heathenry. Do some groups incorporate it into those rituals? Absolutely. HIstorically, though, it just ain't there.
The main notable exception would be Galdr (runework), which could be considered religious magic, as Odin is the source for the runes.
I would therefore posit that magic has a role in Asatru; just not a religious one. There is nothing forbidding the use of magic (although certain forms may be considered perverse in men) in the teachings of Asatru. It is just something that one does. Does that mean I believe we should let go of this part of our heritage? Absolutely not. We should continue to ensure that people understand that borrowing from heathenry to flesh out some amalgamation religion will not be tolerated. It is an important part of our heathen heritage, and that cannot be bartered away.
Maybe it's not all that strange. After all, religions are generally based on the existence of something (or many somethings) that cannot be sensed using the five senses. One cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or feel (physically) the gods.
Even odder? Probably at least 75% of the population denies believing in the occult, apart from their god or gods.
I see the religions of the world as falling along a spectrum when it comes to the occult (and more specifically what may be termed magic). As usual, at one furthest extreme, you have Christianity. Modern Christianity (of almost all varieties) warns against any dabbling with the occult (this once led me to have issues with a Baptist minister/sheriff's deputy, but that's another story). Any such dabbling or more serious study is Evil with a capital E (as opposed to evil with a lower case e, which is almost anything else that one might enjoy, such as lustful thoughts). Any existing references to it are barely mentioned (for those of you raised Christian, who was taught in Sunday School about Solomon practicing sorcery and raising people from the dead? Don't try to claim it was inappropriate for the age group; I'm sure they told you he was willing to cut a baby in half).
Judaism and Islam fall closer in on the spectrum because neither has divorced itself completely from its magical folk beliefs.
At the other end of the spectrum, we have some Wiccan groups. These are the ones who never even mention a god or goddess, unless the name happens to fall within a spell. Their sole intent is to do magickal workings, and they believe that to be the purpose of wicca (they are mistaken, incidentally, but have generally been led to that conclusion by the books of a certain publisher. For the purposes of this blog, they shall be referred to as Llewyccans).
So where does Asatru fall on this spectrum?
It's not an easy question. First off, the Lore affirms the existence of magic. Seidhr, Spae, Galdr, and other forms are repeatedly mentioned within the Lore.
Here's the thing, though: with a few notable exceptions, magic is not practiced in an overtly religious context. There is no element of magic in blot or sumbel, the two main forms of ritual in American heathenry. Do some groups incorporate it into those rituals? Absolutely. HIstorically, though, it just ain't there.
The main notable exception would be Galdr (runework), which could be considered religious magic, as Odin is the source for the runes.
I would therefore posit that magic has a role in Asatru; just not a religious one. There is nothing forbidding the use of magic (although certain forms may be considered perverse in men) in the teachings of Asatru. It is just something that one does. Does that mean I believe we should let go of this part of our heritage? Absolutely not. We should continue to ensure that people understand that borrowing from heathenry to flesh out some amalgamation religion will not be tolerated. It is an important part of our heathen heritage, and that cannot be bartered away.
Posted: Sat - March 27, 2004 at 04:13 PM