I am content with the eternal meadows among my dead ancestors in Neorxnawang. Neorxnawang (which could be modernised as Narxenwong), is used in Anglo-Saxon literature, which is almost entirely Christian, to translate the word paradise, but clearly represented something pre-Christian.

Neorxnawang is the wong or meadow of the corpse-rushes (according to Jane Roberts, though the meaning of the first element is unclear), though in Leechdom III we find earxnawang or eorxnawang as a translation of Latin Campi Cyperorum or Egyptian Sechet-Aaru, the fields of rushes. The word's second element is the same as Norse Fólkvangr, the folk-meadow ruled over by Freyja where half of the share of the battle-slain go, the other half to Óðin in Valhǫll (Walhall), and Þrúðvangr (strength-meadow, the field where Þór resides, however it is solely recorded by Snorri in the Prose Edda and Heimskringla).

Based on its meaning, Neorxnawang seems closer to the Norse Iðavǫllr (recorded in Vǫluspá which may correspond to a place along the Weser river recorded by Tacitus' Annals as Idisiaviso, plain of the Dísir, where Arminius commanded his armies against Germanicus), or Glæsisvellir (glittering fields, recorded in Bósa Saga ok Herrauds and Hervarar Saga).

Furthermore such beliefs correspond beyond the Germanic world to something common to other paganisms such as Greek Ἠλύσιον πεδίον, the Elysion Plains, and the earlier Asphodel fields, which were initially separated from ᾍδης, Hades (which according to Jaan Puhvel, derives from *sm̥weyd- and means 'see-each-other', like Russian свида‌ние (svidánije) and comparable to Sanskrit संगमनं जनानां (saṃgamanaṃ janānāṃ)). Such heavenly meadows of paradise in Indo-European tradition were not beyond this world, but located on earth, further to the unknown west where the sun sets, as Homer says of Elysion which lies in the west by the stream of Ὠκεανός (Ocean). Likewise the Biblical Eden is said in Genesis 2:10-14 to be at the head of the Persian gulf where the Tigris and Euphrates run into the sea.

While there are various common Germanic correspondences between the Anglo-Saxon Neorxnawang and the various heavenly meadows in Norse beliefs and in traditions common not just Indo-European but even to the Egyptian Sechet-Aaru and Semitic Garden of Eden, we can be certain that this pre-Christian paradise was a place in which Anglo-Saxons heathens believed they would go after death, to see their dead ancestors again. And this I too believe.

Rites of Passage; Kóryos, Mannerbund, Agōgē and their Significance Today.

Part 3

The dogs remains found there almost universally show that they reached the ages of between 6-8 years old and had been looked after until the moment of death. They were also butchered in the dead of winter. It is strongly believed that these ritual killing and consumption of beloved animals was a rite of passage, meant to forcefully separate the time of a boys life (literally the boys metaphysical “death”) and the “birth” of the man he would now become.

The Vedic tradition would continue many of these rites of passages, as the boys would begin studying the Epic Poetry from the age of 8 and at 16 would go through the Ekāstakā; a winter solitude ritual where they would be reborn as warrior dogs and be cast out for four years to steal everything they needed to not only survive but thrive from foreign communities. After four years of raiding they would destroy their old clothes and join their host community as accomplished men.

Changes

The birds are singing loudly
Leaves falling from the trees
Everything is changing now
As everyone can see

The sun is waning faster
The night is taking hold
The warmth is slowly drifting
Soon it will be cold

The greenery is dying
Another year has past
Looking to the gods I ask
How long will this cold last

It’s a never ending cycle
Like the lives we all live
Nerthus will surly take from us
As quickly as she gives

By Harley severin richards
Oct. 9 th 2022


The birds are singing loudly
Leaves falling from the trees
Everything is changing now
As everyone can see

The sun is waning faster
The night is taking hold
The warmth is slowly drifting
Soon it will be cold

The greenery is dying
Another year has past
Looking to the gods I ask
How long will this cold last

It’s a never ending cycle
Like the lives we all live
Nerthus will surly take from us
As quickly as she gives

~ Harley Severin Richards
Oct. 9 th 2022

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The term 'whiskey' derives originally from the Gaelic 'uisge beatha', or 'usquebaugh', meaning 'water of life'. Whiskey has been distilled in Scotland for hundreds of years. There is some evidence to show that the art of distilling could have been brought to the country by Christian missionary monks, but it has never been proved that Highland farmers did not themselves discover how to distill spirits from their surplus barley. The southern Whiskey tradition is another artifact of the Ulster-Scots & Scottish roots of the American South. Kentucky bourbon originated in the 18th century, where the frontiersman brought distilling. Tennessee whiskey is a distinct style of whiskey that originated with the Jack Daniels company and must adhere to strict requirements and can only be produced in the state of Tennessee. Moonshine is ultimately untaxed, and often unaged whiskey.

"The O.E. word [orcneas] occurs only here, orc is found glossing Latin Orcus [Hell, Death]. neas seems certainly to be né-as, plural of the old (poetic) word né 'dead body'.... 
'Necromancy' will suggest something of the horrible association of this word. I think that what is here meant is that terrible northern imagination to which I have ventured to give the name 'barrow-wights'. The 'undead'. Those dreadful creatures that inhabit tombs and mounds, They are not living: they have left humanity, but they are 'undead'. With superhuman strength and malice they can strangle men and rend them. Glámr in the story of Grettir the Strong is a well known example."

- Tolkien on 'orcneas', draugar and barrow-wights from his Beowulf commentary.

Logadōm - Part 4

Logadōm is a topic that’s much deeper than what’s laid out here with the Marvel-Disney & Vikings examples. In truth, it’s a eoten-poison affects us all, universalist & folkish alike, knowingly & unknowingly. There’s an Anglo-Saxon word, Ælfsiden, meaning Elf-magic, which describes the (mental/emotional) influence of elves or evil spirits, which could harken back to the first fīfelwynter, when the gods, ylfe & eotenas warred (after the arrival of Wade’s (Ìvaldi) sons in Eotenhām). Siden is cognate to Old Norse Seiðr, the black magic art of manipulating thoughts & feelings. Extrapolating, we could theorize that our ancestral memory retained how the Ylfe & Eotenas, when exacting chaos, affect the minds of men. The Old Norse Fimbul-, as in Fimbulvetr, generally means mighty or great, but it comes from the Proto-Germanic *fimbulaz, giant or monster; possibly another ancestral memory remnant. Fīfel is the Anglo-Saxon cognate, retaining the Proto-Germanic meaning.

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Rites of Passage; Kóryos, Mannerbund, Agōgē and their Significance Today.

Part 4

Most famous of all is the Spartan Agōgē system that began at age 7, and would not end until age 29 or death. The crucial part is the initial education between the ages of 7 & 14, where the boy would also be cast out of polite society for a period to utilise survival skills they had been learning and demonstrate their resilience. The colony of Taras was founded by a group of disinherited Spartan men, this being the most famous example.

The Athenians also had a rite of passage where 17 to 20 year olds would be cast out to the edges of society to protect the boarders while wearing only black tunics. Upon completion they would be reintegrated and awarded full citizenship.

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Logadōm - Part 5

Unfortunately, Loga is viewed through a distorted lens, where his crimes are condoned and justified. This is a direct result of the chaos that has been afflicted upon us (though not entirely by him alone). In our native state, our folk have always been a folk of order; a folk of law. Our morality is intrinsic within our character, arising from our soul , evidenced in the civilizations we built & greatness achieved. Tacitus stated, “Good morality is more effective in Germany than good laws”. To stray from the knowledge of right & wrong is to stray from the path Wyrd has placed us. To fight against our orlæġ is to weaken those threads that make up the web of life; thus, tarnishing our name & ultimately our judgement at the Hellþing.

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Rites of Passage; Kóryos, Mannerbund, Agōgē and their Significance Today.

Part 5

The Romans very foundation myth involves two children being raised by a she-Wolf. During Romulus’ reign he took in the outcasts of the surrounding settlements and stole wives for his peoples from his neighbours (known today as the Rape of the Sabines). This foundation myth is a clear throwback to the ancient Kóryos (the Proto-Indo-European reconstruction of this rite of passage) practices of the Indo-Europeans and at the start of it a canine was involved.

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Logadōm - Part 6

When we speak of Loga, we must view him in his entirety, for one is cannot be viewed outside of all they’ve done. Today, Loga is bound for the crime of murdering Bældæġ, the god beloved by all. How is it right to honor a eoten who was once accepted into the Ēse & an accepted god & oath-brother of Wōden, yet stripped of these honors & titles to be bound by the entrails of his children while snake venom drips over him. The gods clearly punished him, yet so many today stand in defiance of the gods & ally themselves with the enemy. The Logisċ are traitors to the gods & man, as Loga seeks not only to destroy the gods, but all of middanġeard.

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Rites of Passage; Kóryos, Mannerbund, Agōgē and their Significance Today.

Part 6

Finally let’s talk about the Teutonic tradition. One of the most famous examples of these rites of passage and warrior bands come in the form of Hengest & Horse’s initial invasion of Britain. These were simply the earliest precursors to the later Viking raids and invasions. In the Volsunga Saga, Sigmund and his nephew Sinfjotli conducted a rite of passage when they went to a house, found Wolf skins and upon donning them became wolves. They behaved like a pack of wolves for some time until they were able to take off the Wolf skins. This clearly indicates a continuation (an evolution) of the canine ritual that dates all the way back to the genesis of our peoples roughly 3500-4000 years ago.

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Rites of Passage; Kóryos, Mannerbund, Agōgē and their Significance Today.

Part 7

The Ulfhednar (Wolf cult), Berserkers (Bear cult) & the Jöfurr (Boar cult) are another clear extension and evolution of the ancient Kóryos in Germanic traditions. These were all prominent within our Saga’s and Skaldic Poetry, warriors that took on the characteristics of these animals in battle. They were linked to Woden, the God of Death, battle and divine frenzy.

The rite of passage was an important aspect to our ancient forefathers, so much so that it survived the Christian conversions in the guise of many festivals (that seem to have influenced the Wild Hunt folklore), especially in rural areas. These rites of passage are a key reason as to why our people were able to spread from a small population just North of the Black Sea to cover all of Europe, North America, Australia and Central Asia.

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Logadōm - Part 7

What were the other crimes that Loga committed? At Éagor's (Ægir’s) feast, his guests greatly praised the excellence of his servants, Fimafinger & Ǣled (Eldir). This upset Loga, so he killed Fimafinger. In another instance, he cut off Sibb’s (Sif's) hair, thus attempting to mark her as an outcast whore & violating her body & honor. Then there was when he assisted in Idunne’s (Iðunn’s) kidnapping & the time he worked to interfere with the creation of Þunor’s dwarven-forged hammer. His worst crime however, was his manipulations, which led to a war amongst the higher powers. Even in this briefest of list, he is not one to be emulated.

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Rites of Passage; Kóryos, Mannerbund, Agōgē and their Significance Today.

Part 8

What made these rites of passage so useful to our ancestors? It forced our youth to become the very best they can possibly be or they would not survive. Only the best survived, only the strongest could take what was needed to sustain themselves, and only the smartest would be able to pick their moment when their enemies were most vulnerable to maximise their rewards with minimal risk. Over many generations this breeds success and competence. The killing of their childhood dog would be an emotional trauma to build mental resilience among these adolescent men. You would be required to be able to kill as a full member of a tribe, you cannot flinch in a harsh world when faced with a foreign threat, and this ritual was the first great test of the boys.

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Hail the Day - Happiness is a Choice

When you let anger, depression, bitterness, regret, and other negativities linger, they become a cloud that hovers over you & the shadows begin to whisper their darkness in your ear. The shadows are only downward thoughts & voices, speaking deep within yourself. This is where the madness lies. If you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. Though, the sun shines her rays from above; illuminating and casting aside the shadows and builds a bridge over the abyss, but the shadows are never truly gone however, for shadows & light live together & are only covered by the bridge. When we turn our eyes upward & peer into the illuminated sky, we no longer see the shadows & therefore, stand a better chance of living in the light. It’s not about perfection, but effort. It’s not about always feeling good, but about knowing your direction. Loving your family, living your faith, & building your folk. The keys to healing.

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Havamal advice illustrated by Graman Folcwald