Lesson Content

This would be a great time to read through Signals of Belief in Early England, to enhance your understanding of the sort of  archaeological sources that we draw on in this section!

Fyrnsida

Break it Down!

The Old English word “sidu” (plural “sida”) is found in most Germanic languages, and it’s really important for preserving and passing down ancient Germanic beliefs. You can think of it as meaning “the way we behave,” “traditions,” and “customs.” In this section, we want to figure out a set of core Heathen customs that we can support with historical sources. These customs will serve as a foundation for creating modern traditions that reflect the spirit of ancient Heathen beliefs, kind of like a prototype for being a Heathen today.

We call these customs “Fyrnsidu” or “Old Ways” when they can be linked to practices from before the time when people converted to Christianity or from the time before industry changed things. From these customs, we’ll take what we think is valuable for us as modern folks and build a new Heathen tradition that honors the old ways. We believe that people who find value in this tradition will probably adapt it in their own way among their groups or communities.

Each topic we talk about here represents one of these “Fyrnsidu” or old customs. We have a central idea, a thesis, about what early Heathen people believed and did, and we’ll back it up with evidence. While we’re all about creating a living religious practice today, we also believe that to make the most of the wisdom from the past, we should base our modern traditions on what we know about how Heathen religion used to be. It’s important to note that Heathen customs were mainly passed down orally and weren’t written down, so they could vary a lot over time and from place to place and among different tribes.

1. Spiritual Communion through Sacrifice and Gifting: This means connecting with the spiritual world through acts of giving and offerings. It’s about showing respect and building a relationship with the divine by making offerings or sacrifices.
2. Veneration of the High Gods of the West Germanic Tribes: This involves showing deep respect and honor to the major deities worshiped by the ancient West Germanic tribes.
3. Veneration of Ancestors, Elves, and Ideses: Here, we see the importance of honoring not only our ancestors but also spirits like elves and ideses (female spirits or goddesses).
4. Veneration of the Earth: This is about revering and respecting the Earth itself, considering it a sacred and vital part of spirituality.
5. Inclusion of Inspirational Topographical Features in Rites: It means incorporating the natural landscape, such as mountains, forests, or rivers, into religious ceremonies. These features can hold spiritual significance.
6. A Magical Worldview, Inclusive of Animism and Naturopathy: This involves believing in the magical and spiritual aspects of the world, including the idea that all things, like rocks and trees, have spirits. Naturopathy implies using natural remedies and practices for healing and well-being.
7. Cultivating Personal Honor through virtue-based ethics: This is about developing strong personal values and ethics based on virtues. It means living with integrity, honesty, and moral principles.
8. Cultivating Strong Social Bonds and Communities: Building and maintaining strong relationships and communities is a vital part of this belief system. Being connected and supportive of others in your faith is important.

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