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[zuki_san]

This is a short tiny post, sort of to remind myself that I'm still alive, and that I've got posts I want to make here (talk about totemism and why it appeals to me, make contact with the local Asatru and ADF groups and find out if they're cool or not. ADF does look cool. Their deity set-up as I understand it on the website seems a little bit too

Comments

[makhsihed]

I am very fond of ADF. :) I like that they are scholarly, but not as hardcore recon as most Celtic Reconstructionists (many of whom, in my opinion, are almost more SCA/reenactment/lifeless religion than practitioners of a living faith); they allow for UPG while still being rather respectful to the cultural contexts they work within.

ADF was also my introduction to Paganism. I don't know what the Maryland group is like, but the northeast Ohio grove was pretty awesome. <3

Can't speak for Asatru; haven't had any personal experience with any Asatru groups.

[chironcentaur]

I can understand the irritation with one ritual format for all pantheons, it was something I ignored for a long time before basically leaving aside from the contact with the decent local group (I admit my personal rituals look a lot alike, but I am very simplistic and its a different thing breaking it down to hymn-offering-meditation and what they are doing). They are a decent starting point though, and do have some good points.

I'll likely be there at Yule (not on the solstice, a little before this year I think). Maybe see you there.

[thelettuceman]

I enjoy being my bastion of solitude up here in the quasi-frigid north, since I don't play well with others outside of an informal correspondence. But good luck with ADF. And prepare for a number of Spaceballs cracks.

Asatru, I'm not sure. It depends on how progressive the organization is, in comparison to the typically right-wing conservative nature of most American Asatru groups. I'm a bit cynical over the faith.

[zuki_san]

Right. I've looked over their website in detail--there are somethings that look good, and some things that make me want a little more context before I make up my mind.

I don't really think Asatru is going to be 'for me,' but I want to know what the local group is like so I can inform other people, etc, etc. I'm an officer in the (admittedly tiny) Pagan Student Union at my university, and I few getting to know what the local groups are like, with an eye to either working with them in the future, or just being able to be a resource to point kids to other resources, as something I should be doing.

I might not have a strong religious/spiritual connection to anything (yet?), or a clear idea of what -I- want to do. But I can know what's out there, and help other people find what they might be looking for.

That's the other part of my motivation.

[kodachi148]

Well, you ain't gotta be part of some pagan faith all fast if you don't want to. That stuff should take a lot of personal thinking and me-time. Weigh what you like and what makes you feel really odd. You don't have to be some Holier-than-thou-whatever either, not having a super strong religious or spiritual connection I think is better because you aren't going to be so biased.