Path to the Ancestors: Exploring Ancestor Worship within Modern Germanic Heathenry
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Path to the Ancestors: Exploring Ancestor Worship within Modern Germanic Heathenry

Path to the Ancestors: Exploring Ancestor Worship within Modern Germanic Heathenry

by Swain Wodening

Product Details

BN ID: 2940046140095
Publisher: Wodening Publishing Company
Publication date: 08/29/2014
Sold by: Smashwords
Format: NOOK Book
Sales rank: 620,167
File size: 289 KB

About the Author

Swain Wódening, one of the founding members of Englatheod and the Ealdriht, started his Heathen life back in 1984 along with his brother. He learned of the AFA the year it disbanded, but in 1989 he learned of and joined the Troth. Shortly thereafter, he learned of Theodism, then solely an Anglo-Saxon phenomena, and joined the Winland Ríce in 1993. He rapidly advanced to the arung of lord by writing articles and attracting new members. In 1996, after several disputes with the leadership, he left to form the Angelseaxisce Ealdriht with Winfred Hodge Rose. The Ealdriht grew to be the largest Anglo-Saxon Heathen and Theodish organization to ever exist. The Ealdriht eventually became the Miercinga Theod in an effort to encourage regionalism, and to return to a purer form of Theodish Belief. He led that organization until June, 2006 when he resigned to seek a deeper spirituality. His former wife Teresa then took over leadership. The Miercinga Theod disbanded in March, 2008 when Teresa sought a more private life, and left public Heathenry. In June of 2007, Eric, Swain’s brother formed a new theod, Englatheod, and Swain became one of the founding members. Englatheod eventually became a part of White Marsh Theod. Swain is currently a member of Wednesbury Shire of White Marsh theod. He has one son, Oswin, and resides in Missouri.

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Path to the Ancestors: Exploring Ancestor Worship within Modern Germanic Heathenry 5 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 1 reviews.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
This monograph should be a welcome addition any serious heathen's book hoard, especially for fans of the author's previous volume. It is not is not strictly reconstruction, though it does make use of several references to historical sources, and where unverifiable personal gnosis is relied upon tje author makes this very clearly known to the reader. Instead, it is an extended essay on the author's personal belief and custom, which is informed by several decades of reconstructionist reasearch and practice. I particulary find value in this as it begins to move beyond historical reconstruction toward true heathen revival, in a thoughtful and measured way tempered by hands on experience. I think it would have been useful to include reference to the ancestor worship practices of related, neighboring tribes given the gaps in the available evidence on these customs among the Anglo Saxons and other Germanic folk. Specifically I would readers to the Lithuanians and other Balts. These were the last and most superficially christianized people is Europe, who interacted and exchanged with the Germanic tribes for millenia, and whose mythos and heathen customs deeply paralell those of thier neighbors. Deep veneration and prayers to their ancestors are recorded among the Balts well into modern times and still practiced even to some extent. I highly recommend this book and hope to see more works along these lines, extending reconstruction