Germanic Worldview, Cosmology, and Ethics.

Often, when people compare Indo-European faiths, they love to focus on the concept of Karma, Dharma, and even Ŕta.

This comparison isn't wrong and was the approach of many of the authors and philosophers of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

The issue is that more often than not, those of a Germanic Pagan / Heathen approach forget to see these comparisons and will get overshadowed by them or Greco-Roman ideas such as Logos etc.

What they tend to forget the Germanic world view had its own approaches to these. Frith, Ørlǫg, and Wyrd are some of the terms and concepts that were integral to The Teutonic / Germanic world view. Just like the aforementioned Sanskrit terms (at least in the Vedic context), these too were ideas that even the Gods were subject to, and part of, and worked to uphold and enforce.
But for the Germanics, they had unique aspects and understanding that were closer to the most ancient approaches.
Ones that were more honor bound and a part of one's family, kindred, self expression, and totality of world and cosmic view.

The Book The Culture of the Teutons, by Vilhelm Grønbech, does a great job highlighting these approaches and their deep meanings to the Germanic peoples.

https://www.group-telegram.com/survivethejive did an amazing review that covers some of these core takeaways.

https://youtu.be/jVxRekwq0Is?si=qAqwTyJ2ZhJ0m2tl

I own an older release prior to Antelope Hill Publishing's recent release, but this seems to be the way to go.

https://www.copperfieldsbooks.com/book/9781956887914

Hammer and Vajra.

NEW FIND: Anglo-Saxon coin with a "Valknut", dated to the 7th century, pre-dating the Viking era and therefore disproving the claim that the pagan symbol was unknown in Britain prior to the Vikings.

It could be the oldest Anglo-Saxon coin ever found. Some are saying the figure wields a Christian cross over the Valknut, a pagan symbol, and that would seem to indicate a representation of Christian faith beating Paganism.

Alternatively, it is an expression of the religious pluralism of a transitionary dual faith period when both religions were practised by the English. The Valknut does seem much more prominent than the cross on that side, and the other side has a Christian cross which is sort of arranged in the shape of a Swastika, which was a symbol of the god Woden.

We know from Bede that a king who lived in East Anglia, where this coin was found, around the same time it was made, practised dual faith, keeping an idol of Jesus next to those of the English gods. So this seems plausible...

Odin by Max Friedrich Koch (1859-1930)

What are the Gods?
https://www.group-telegram.com/hammerandvajra.com/4323

What are the Gods?

The Gods/Divine are symbolic and real, metaphysical and allegorical, metagenetic and archetypes, metaphoric, and cosmic. Legendary, and the reason there are legends.
Theological and logical.
Philosophical and factual.
Once you have this approach, many things become easier.

When I stated the above, someone replied, stating that our ancestors "really" experienced the Gods, and all we do is give them rational descriptions and intellectualize them.
To this my reply is; if you have ever had a Near death experience, a deep meditation or trance, or been in the wilderness or on the ocean for a long time, then you have experienced the Gods.
However, I experience them both as natural forces and through my intellect as well as my blood, breath, and flame in my heart.
The fact I am breathing and have an inner monolog and cognition is proof of the divine.

The image / meme states that the Gods in myth are just sexual, carnal, and human, like with the representing raw human emotions, virtues, and natural phenomenon.

That in Worship they are seen as loving providers, protectors, guides, and empowering figures.

Lastly that in Theology they are the divine Cosmos itself, the expression of the deeper spirit that connects all things even witihn you and within the forces that make up the world around us and the world's beyond us.

I don't agree with this meme for one major reason.
The Gods are all of these at the same time.
Your understanding at the base human level requires you to categorize the divine into archetypes and functions. And the heriarchy they have set in places can indeed be seen this way. But they are much more than that.
They are the blood on your veins, the wind in the trees, the air you breathe, the spells you pray, your ancestors who watch over you, and the stars in the Sky.

In addition
The Gods being horny is on one hand primarily metaphoric, and on the otherhand it a primal reflection of creation, relationships, and life. Life is sexual. Sex is natural. Having children is natural. Sex isn't something Pagans shun or hide away from. But like in all thinks mastery and control over such is greatest expression of the divine.

Regardless of what myth you look to, primarily in the European and Eurasian / Indo-European subsets, the Gods being a complete picture of all of these aspects is the proper way to understand then and what is ultimately expressed in the scripture as well as folk culture.

Hammer and Vajra!

Fortress of Lugh has an interesting video comparing the Greek and Norse / Germanic Gods and what they are by their nature and cosmological interaction here.
https://youtu.be/cAptd35CSSM?si=7kUHbVenRxaiOvpE

Of course, there is more to it than this, but it is an interesting perspective that can be added to what I wrote above for a more well-grounded view

European Paganism (regardless of the flavor) was very legalistic. And in my opinion, it should still be slightly so. Rituals and rites reflect those of both faith and conduct.
We wouldn't know Dane Law, Greek politics, Roman Republic governance, the Germanic Thing /folkmoot, as well as others, if it weren't for the fact that the people had legal systems of governance, conduct, and spiritual life.

Responding to: https://x.com/FortressLugh/status/1923258694214500676?s=19

1) exercise
2) read
3) pray / meditate
4) create IRL groups / gangs / Kvlt

On this day in 363, 1,662 years ago, Julian the Apostate went to the Gods after he was mortally wounded in battle.
“And as all around were weeping, he reproved them with still undiminished authority, saying that it was a humiliating thing to mourn for an emperor who was just united to heaven and the stars.”
~Ammianus Marcellinus
Painting by Angus McBride. ᛣ

There was a discussion on X (with BAP and others) about a man's age and quality of life. I posted the following:

”Every stage of life has its ups and downs.

Aside from my recent woes, I am more potent in every way now at 35 than I was at 25 or 15. Quality of life is also higher – just being feels better now. I must peak at 60 (just as Leonidas at Thermopylae).

That said, a wish I have for this summer is to play a game of Diplomacy. I am honestly unsure if I will be able to – it requires seven players and 7-8 hours. At 15, this was not a problem – now, it is a bit harder.

So, my two goals for this year are to:

1. Shift the Moral Framework to save European civilisation.

2. Play a game of Diplomacy (if that is not too much to ask 😅).”

Pictured: The game in question.

If you have your head on straight.
Your eyes set on goals.
Your heart with your people.
And your spirit with the Gods.
Then, 30s and even 40s of as much unlimited potential as any set of years.

Very much this.
Ancestor reverence is one of the Core and Primal aspects of any spiritual / religious practice and belief.

The Cosmos brought forth the Gods.
The Gods brought forth your ancestors and are there by also your most ancient ancestors.
Your ancestors brought forth you.
It is a divine sacred circle and continuum.