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The Frithstead focuses on Sedish Heathenry, via the works & insights of Folcweard Lárġyfa, author, founder & creative of The Frithstead, and Norroena Society member.
On Bældæġesdæġ, Baleday's Day,
We honor tales that never sway.
In the depths of Hell, his spirit's bound,
His story's strength still echoes 'round.
In legends old, his hope we find,
A guiding light for heart and mind.
Though shadows linger, darkness looms,
His tale dispels the deepest glooms.
On Bældæġesdæġ, we recall,
The promise held within his thrall.
For in his tale, we find our way,
To brighter days, come what may.
thefrithstead.com
This Bronze Age petroglyph at Tanum is thought by many to be the oldest depiction of a maypole.
Happy May Day!
Bældæġesdæġ, Baleday’s Day, or May Day
Summer is here, the sun shines bright,
As we honor Baleday, with all our might,
He's a symbol of hope, in times of need,
A beacon of goodness, for us to heed.
Amidst fear, anger, and strife,
Baleday shines on, a compass for life.
His legacy lives on, even after death,
He inspires us all, with every breath.
As we stand at the edge, of the great unknown,
Baleday reminds us, we're not alone,
For Wyrd has decreed, we'll survive,
With his light to guide us, we'll thrive.
So let's embrace the day, with a smile,
Look to the heavens, for a while,
Thanking Baleday and the gods divine,
Whose blessings and favor upon us shine.
As we move forward, with intention,
We know we'll handle any contention,
We light the flames and hail Baleday true,
His spirit alive, we'll see it through.
*********
May your Mayday celebrations be true and joyous. Hail our folk and hail the gods.
thefrithstead.com
A great post above by IGHF, especially for one new to the faith, but one must be cautioned against taking things too far, for our religion is still one of tradition, law, and dogma.
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Wyrdeblót, Wyrd's Blot
We address Wyrd, the Goddess of fate & death, who rules over Hell & the Hellthing at Wyrd’s Spring, seeking her guidance and insight on the hidden things of fate. Our desire is to have the wisdom to comprehend the threads of orlay, the power to modify our surroundings, & the mettle to maintain awareness of the interconnected tapestry of creation. We recognize the entwined lives of our blood-kin & the share of luck inherited from our forefathers. We honor our children as our portion of the collective honor that all kinsmen preserve and enjoy. We accept our soul-gifts, given by the gods, & our Followers, who journey with us through life and& speak for us at the Hellthing. We implore Yeven (Ġeofon), the premiere Norn & weaver of the wyrd’s web, to help us remain steadfast on our life’s path. For those things that are hidden, may they be revealed.
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Easter, a Dawn Goddess Honored
In times of yore, Easter month (April) & Three Milks month (May) marked the onset of summer for the Saxons; both those dwelling in Britain or Germany. They celebrated Baleday (Bældæġ). It’s believed the origins of the May Pole involved the spear dancing reenacting the fatal game that led to his death.
Conversely, the Angles of Northumbria & Mercia, heralded summer's arrival by honoring Éastre, a goddess of the dawn. Originating from what we now know as Denmark, they revered their homeland, as their national anthem sings, a land graced by ancient beech trees and salty shores, deemed “Frejas” hall. Today, the May Pole in likely includes her honorings, such as white-clad dancing maidens stringing colorful ribbons.
As the Angles & Saxons became one folk over times, many of their traditions entwined.
On this full moon evening of Éastreblót, we blót for peace, prosperity, fertility, & abundance, as safeguards against the perils of war, strife, and hardship.
thefrithstead.com
For the start of Summer, with Éastreblót (Easter Blot), Siġeblót (Seyblot), and Wyrdeblót (Wyrd’s Blót), I offer the PDF to
The Rimebook: A Book of Days
Which is also found on The Frithstead’s website here and the physical copy on LuLu.
Click the links above to discover our ancient holy days of honoring the gods & participating with the divine.
#Folcsida #Sedian
thefrithstead.com
We proudly present our newest video on the Mythological Schools of Thought: The Epic Method.
Join us as we examine the research method that has paved the way towards reconstructing our sacred lore and ancestral traditions.
https://youtu.be/BUFtbAtZMLE?si=OS-Is5sMS_2DdMmr
Fate Passages related to Events & Actions:
The Wanderer:
“‘Fate is fully fixed, that passed; so may this”
“All is difficult [here] on earth; Fate’s creations changes [the] world under the heavens”
Gautreks saga, 35th stanza of “Víkarsbálkr”
“With this result, that Þórr shaped for me the name of traitor, distress of many kinds; inglorious, I was fated to perform evil deeds.”
Gesta Danorum bk. 7
“Whatever foreknown links are fastened by the Nornir, whatever the mysteries of divine reason sketch out, whatever events are foreseen and held in the sequence of örlög, no change in our fleeting world will cancel”
Helgakvida Hundingsbana I
“It was night,
Nornir came,
they who did shape
the fate of the nobleman,
they proclaimed him
best among Budlungar,
and most famed
among princes. With might they twisted the örlöþættir that he will settle burghs”
thefrithstead.com
Fatalism holds that events are subjected to predetermined actions. In Vǫluspá, the Norns established laws, allotted life & established orlay (destiny), so as such, we submit to the will of the Norns & Gods. Fate & prophecy pervades our religion, as evidenced in the poems, sagas & myths; therefore, we affirm that predeterminism & fate are of natural law. There is no radical free will; however, limited free will, or soft fatalism, emerges from our ancient texts. An example of a Hnefatafl game, we acknowledge the predetermined nature of the game's rules & limited choices in moves. Players retain limited autonomy & decision-making; still possessing freedom to select moves & devise strategies. External factors & opponent moves influence the game, but the choices & decisions made carry significance & shape the game’s happenings, despite that the final outcome is predetermined. This exemplifies how fatalistic thought allows the interplay between predetermined parameters & outcomes & our free will
thefrithstead.com
Sources
Let’s look at sources which document our religion. The Poetic Edda & Skaldic poetry are primary sources upon which we build our Faith. After these, secondary sources should be used when they don’t contradict the primary sources. Examples include Prose Edda, Béowulf, Tacitus’ Germania, Saxo Grammaticus’s Gesta Danorum, Norse Sagas, Bede’s An Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Jacob Grimm’s Teutonic Mythology & Viktor Rydberg’s Investigations into Germanic Mythology. Third, we can know the gods by studying the culture & traditions of our forebears. Examples include Vilhelm Grønbech’s The Culture of the Teutons & Paul Du Chaillu’s The Viking Age: the early history, manners, and customs of the ancestors of the English speaking nations. Next, linguistics opens up a world of understanding. Our faith is encoded within our speech & examining our ancient words shine light on previously hidden understandings. Not all, but these are main sources to learn from
thefrithstead.com
Archaeologists Discover 7000-Year-Old Boats Near Rome
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Interactive map of place names ending with words deriving from Old English leah meaning a "clearing in the forest", often the focus of Heathen activity. Cognate with Latin lucus "sacred grove"
shorturl.at/ehsM8
Folcsidishman
He follows the Wodenic path, seeking knowledge of the gods, understanding of the holy law, & wisdom. He places high thew upon belief, honors bloodkin, & edifies his folk. We are the descendants of the gods & what we do today we leave to our children. He controls his emotions, steadies his thoughts, speaks carefully, & doesn’t offend easily. He should represent the gods & seek a life of uprightness, be truthful & true, value wisdom & godliness, be mettlesome when afraid, maintain selfdom without neglecting folkmindedness, be guestly & kind, unless given reason. He is forbearing & still, but ready to speak & do. A Folcsidishman is he who embraces his heritage & seeks to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors & stand upon the shoulders of those who’ve come before him. Our Followers are watching. Be aware. When mistakes are made, learn from them & move on. Yesterday is gone & tomorrow is not guaranteed. We only have today. Rise up & seek greatness.
thefrithstead.com
Recommended Channels, Pages, & Sites:
The Frithstead: Focused on Traditional Heathen education (Sedianism) with 30+ articles/essays with a host of independent informational posts, YouTube videos, a Spotify playlist with over 52 hours of music, & published books.
Norrœna Society: Focused on Traditional Heathen education (Sedianism) with countless articles/essays & numerous invaluable published books
The PNWWP: The Pacific North West Wolfpack is a confederation of independent and local kindreds/clans. Their site offers educational articles.
Irminfolk: The Irminfolk serves as a philosophical, educational, religious, & social community of Folkish Heathens. Their site offers educational articles.
The Traditional Heathens: A Sedian channel devoted to the traditional Germanic worldview, their ancient practices, spiritual beliefs, myths, & cultural values.
Æhtemen: An Anglo-Saxon channel offering educational material
Sacred Stew: Focused on authentic germanic theology, history, & philosophy
International Germanic Heathen Fellowship: A Continental German Heathen channel
Survive the Jive: Focused on ancient European archeology & Indo-European/European genetics
Chad Pastoralist: Focused on ancient European archeology, Indo-European/European genetics, & Heathendom
Slavic Spirituality & Culture: A Folkish Slavic group that supports & promotes Slavic Paganism, Culture and History
Anglish Times: An Anglish site offering current event news & and extensive Anglish Wordhoard
Sigmund’s Metaphysical Männerbund: Paganism, culture, self improvement, outdoorsmanship.
The Mead Hall: A channel by Black Hills Medu exploring the history, science, & techniques of mead making
Celtic Europe: Online museum and repository for historical and ancestral knowledge.
In 1661 a 130 foot tall Maypole was erected in the Strand, London to celebrate the restoration of the English monarchy. A previous Maypole that had stood nearby at the remains of the medieval stone Strand Cross had been destroyed by the Puritans in 1644 for being seen as heathen in its nature.
Another famous London Maypole once stood at the crossroads by St Andrew Undershaft church, which got its name from the fact that the Maypole stood taller than the church, hence the church was under-the-shaft. The Maypole was kept in Shaft alley but by 1517 celebrations had been stopped as they had become to rowdy!
The British & German Saxons marked the onset of summer by honoring Baleday (Bældæġ) in Three Milks month (May). It’s believed the origins of the May Pole involved spear dancing, reenacting the fatal game that led to his death. In earlier rimebook (calendar) studies, I theorized that that the Saxons held this observance on the Three Milks full moon (with Easter honored a month prior on Easter month’s full moon by the Angles). In early & modern times, this honoring falls on or around the 1st of May. Over time, the “May Pole” appears to have incorporated elements from both Easter and Baleday observances, which I have spoken about being likely from the merging of the Saxons & Angles. Tom Rowsell mentions similar thoughts here. Interestingly, he also echoes the theory of “May Day” originally being held on the full moon.
thefrithstead.com
In addition to my new video about Easter, you should check out this older one which explains the connection of Easter to May day
https://youtu.be/SkYkF184ceo
There are many people who, for whatever reason, will try to insist that there is one "true" way to be Heathen. The thing is, that, that's simply not true.
As an ethnic spirituality, it all comes down to two very simple principles:
ᛟ If you’re of Germanic ancestry (Deutschblütig or “of Germanic blood”), then you are Heathen; and
ᛟ If you are honoring the Germanic gods (that is to say, the gods of your Germanic ancestors), your Germanic ancestors themselves, and your Germanic folk traditions, then what you are doing is essentially Heathen.
Ultimately, nothing else really matters.
Segen für alle! 🍺😇🙏
⊕ 𝔚𝔦𝔯 𝔰𝔦𝔫𝔡 𝔢𝔦𝔫 𝔙𝔬𝔩𝔨 ⊕
/channel/weareonefolk
https://twitter.com/WeAreOneVolk
https://www.facebook.com/weareonefolk
⊕ ℌ𝔢𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔲𝔪 𝔦𝔰𝔱 𝔡𝔢𝔯 𝔙𝔬𝔩𝔨𝔰𝔤𝔩𝔞𝔲𝔟𝔢 𝔡𝔢𝔯 𝔊𝔢𝔯𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔢𝔫 ⊕
🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇱🇮 🇨🇭 🇱🇺 🇧🇪 🇳🇱 🏴 🇮🇸 🇳🇴 🇸🇪 🇩🇰
Siġeblót, Victory Blot
[Inglingasagu] mentions a summer-day victory blót to Wóden, who grants strength & victory. Losing brings peril & endangers oneself, family, & folk. Adam of Bremen records [Wóden] carries on war & imparts to man strength against his enemies. In [Hundesléoþ] we are told he “gives victory to some & wealth to others”. [Héanmæðel] 156: speaks of leading friends into battle using victory [ġealdor] for safety. The Ealdfæder gives victory; evident from his names: [Siġefæder] Father of Victory, [Siġeġyfa] Giver of Victory & [Siġegod] God of Victory. However, as a martial god, as one who serves as a priest over battles & is the Prince of Temples, Tíw is mentioned in [Siġedrífemæðel], “[Siġerúne] shall you know, if you will have victory, & rist on the sword’s hilt, some on the ridge, some on the blade, and twice name [Tíw].” As summertide dawns, may Wóden and Tíw give us victory in the struggles & battles that await.
*Old Norse words wended into Old English
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On this full moon Easter, the start of summer, may your blots be blessed.
Radiant Easter, goddess of dawn's light
With joy & blessings, we greet your sight
As summer begins & growth abounds
May peace & prosperity be found
Let fires blaze & folk dance free
In honor of the joy you bring to be
May water drawn on this holy day
Be healing to those who come our way
Maidens clad in white in nature's embrace
Reflect your glory in our place
Springtime blooms Eastertide is here
May peace & harmony be ever so clear
With painted eggs & stories of old
May our hearts be filled with love & gold
With dancing & baked Folcsidish delights
May it bring us closer & cast aside our fights
Easter divine dawn goddess of light
Guide us with blessings & joy so bright
With your grace & your strength at hand
May we find peace in our land
Let us embrace this springtime cheer,
& welcome Easter’s light so dear
May peace & love reign supreme,
In this world a fulfilled dream.
Easter, a Pagan Goddess
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Summer Time Is Upon Us
The Anglo-Saxons observed, as well as Folcsidish Sedians today, the Germanic system of timekeeping of two seasons: winter & summer, as seen in various Old English poems (like Beowulf, The Wanderer, & The Seafarer). As late as the 1200s, as seen in the song 'Sumer is icumen in', the lyrics suggest that "sumer" meant springtime; thus, "sumer" encompassed a longer period. Winter began on the Winterfilling (October) full moon, which incorporates Fall, thus summer begins on the Easter Month (April) full moon, which incorporates spring. For informational purposes, the Latinate seasons were Fall (Weed month 7th to Blot month 6th), Winter (Blot month 7th to Sun month 6th), Spring (Sun month 7th to Three Milks month 8th) & summer (Three Milks month 9th to Weed month 6th (Bosworth-Toller). Within Folcsidish Sedianism, summer begins with three blots: Easter, *Sey, & Wyrd’s blot.
* Sey being the Modern English form of Old English Siġe, see Easter month.
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For even the gods are subjected to fate.
In the woeful tale of Baleday's death, foreboding dreams foretell his fate. Woden, driven by forlornness, seeks answers, giving even his eye and beseeching Wyrd herself for knowledge of the future. Despite Friye's pleas to protect their son, fate remains unchangeable. Woden, the foremost god and utmost of wisdom, finds himself powerless against the unswayable hand of fate. Even his utmost awareness, gained by the giving of his eye, proves lacking to alter the course of fate. Even the mightiest of gods is humbled by the unstoppable force of fate.
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Fate: Predetermined Events or our Death Date?
Some say that fate is predetermined actions and events; others say it’s just our death-date. Let’s look at some words to glean insight.
Wyrd, f., fate, destiny. From Proto-Germanic *wurdiz, f., fate, destiny. from Proto-Indo-European *wert-, to turn.
Orlay, from Old English orlæġ, n., fate, destiny. From Proto-Germanic *uzlagą, n., fate, destiny. Itself from *uz-, out, + *lagą, situation, law. Orlay: from the law. What law? The first law; natural law.
In & of themselves, strictly linguistical, one could argue both viewpoints; however, we must view words from within the context in which they’re used. To do otherwise is intellectually faulty. One example is the Old English déaþwyrda, f., death-fates, i.e. death-events.
If fate only refers to our death, then déaþwyrda (deathweirds) becomes redundant. Why would our forbears have a word that’s saying death-death or die-die? It makes no sense.
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On the Subject of Fate & Castes
There always seems to be a struggle, in the minds of folks, to rationalize fate; boil it down to a simple & concise explanation. Do we have near-total free will? If so, then fate is watered down. Is fate ever pervasive & all-controlling? If so, then we’re all automatons. Reality however, is usually in between. Fate is neither good nor bad, but neutral. In some things, we are controlled; others maybe not. If we are fated to have a bad outcome or go through trials, then it is so. If we give up, then it indicates our lower position, but if we strive for better in spite of the odds, then it indictates our higher position. Our actions & mentality will prove where we stand. Look inside your soul & discover your place. If you don’t strive for better, to learn & grow, to achieve greatness, ask yourself why? If you do, than may the gods continue to bless.
Faraþ ġesunde; be well.
thefrithstead.com
Rune Meanings
The main source of runic meaning comes from the Anglo-Saxon, Norwegian, & Icelandic Rune Poems, with an element derived from runic inscriptions, found on various items such as jewelry, runestones, weapons, coins, boxes, urns, & various bone & wood. Most inscriptions are mundane; however, some were used as charms. The Anglo-Saxon poem was likely composed in the 600s, the Norwegian in the 1200s, & the Icelandic in the 1400s, thus making the Anglo-Saxon the oldest of the three. The *Kauną rune is sometimes known as *kenaz, from the Anglo-Saxon Ċén rune meaning “Torch”, but sometimes represented Ċéne “Bold”. Representing the letter K, the Elder Fuþark has ᚲ & the Younger Fuþark ᚴ while the Anglo-Saxon fuþorċ ᚳ represented the ch sound. An interesting note is the Scandinavian use of the rune. As Ċen wasn’t a Norse word, they represented it by via their nearest corresponding sound, kaun (a boil or scab), which bears witness of the Anglo-Saxon origin of the old Norse Runic poem.
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An interactive map of place names in Britain indicating cult activity for the god Woden /Grim
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After discussing this topic, we have determined it was time to revise Sedian tenet #1. We want to separate ourselves from those who follow new age practices while solidifying Sedianism as a religious and philosophical practice that follows in traditional Germanic polytheism.
Here is the revised tenet.
1. Sedianism embodies the traditional worldview of Germanic polytheism. Our religion manifests itself in the morality, customs, and practice of the faith as it has been handed down to us from our ancestral sources.
We are here to declare our faith as a central belief system of the ancient Northern European people, and that we are here as moral, religious adherents to what we know is a recognition of the divine and their holy creation. We believe in a fundamental truth that spans into ancient history, and will not compromise our views for modern interpretations. This truth exists within our lore and within our experience with the divine, and cannot be shaken. We can prove, without a shadow of doubt, that our religion is devotional, that we have a system of ethics and morality, and that our eschatology reflects this system. We kneel before our Gods, we pray to them with great reverence, and we offer to them as followers of their path.
Thewful Wisdom
1. Be godly; have godliness
2. Be guestly; have guestliness
3. Be kind; have kindness
4 . Be mettlesome; have mettle.
5. Be selfstanding; have Selfdom
6. Be true; have trueness
7. Be truthful; have truthfulness
8. Be upright; have uprightness
9. Be wise; have wisdom
1. Shun folklying, don’t be a Folklier
2. Shun greed, don’t be greedy
3. Shun harshness, don’t be harsh
4. Shun murder, don’t be murderly
5. Shun oathbreaking, don’t be an oathbreaker
6. Shun theft, don’t be thieving
7. Shun ungodliness, don’t be ungodly
8. Shun untrueness, don’t be untrue
9. Shun wedbreach, don’t be wedbreachful
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