Spiritual Warfare

[Bloodeagle]

After reading Psychonaut's post on Urban Living, I began to think of him in Hawaii and wondered how the spirits of the islands might react to his heathen rituals.
The world is a spiritual place and the European Heathen traditions are native to Europe. What happens if one relocates to a new land and then practice ones own religion.
Would the gods and goddesses of the new realm hold sway to the invader?
Is heathenry something that follows the individual or is there some sort of environmental turf?

I live in a historically non European environment with a spectacular beauty and similar climate to that our European ancestors experienced during the Last Glacial Maximum. The traditions of the natives go back just as far as our own. Culturally we are as opposite as can be!

What are your opinions on this?

[Baron Samedi]

It obviously did not deter the Norsemen who invaded Ireland.... Nor the Saxons when they invaded southern England.

[Tabiti]

So, in that logic you are also on enemy land, flooded by Native American energies, ghosts and gods.
Our ancenstors used to change their places of inhabitation in ancient times and seems their gods followed them. Maybe, it's just the population structure that matters and how many people believe in one thing, how many in other. For example, how many natives live in your area and still believe in their gods?

BTW, your words make sence, never thought about that.

[Psychonaut]

After reading Psychonaut's post on Urban Living, I began to think of him in Hawaii and wondered how the spirits of the islands might react to his heathen rituals.

No doubt, I've thought about this myself. There are still plenty of places on the island where you can see evidence of Hawaiian paganism. Although I don't particularly care for the locals, I do make a point of respecting their holy spots. I would not knowingly conduct a sacrifice on a spot that was sacred to the locals.

As to the land wights, some very interesting questions get raised. The Hawaiians have a long standing tradition regarding the Menehune, beings that are short in stature, superb craftsmen, and live in the mountains. Does that sound familiar at all?

It might be that the Menehune are the same entities that our ancestors described as Dvergar or Svartalfar. It could be that they're a divergent species of the same class of beings (just as we are to the Hawaiians) that are tied to both the blood and soil of the Hawaiian people. It's an interesting question to which I don't really have a good answer. I do a lot of hiking and I'm always hoping that I'll catch sight of one of them so I can have an informed opinion.

[Brynhild]

A thought provoking question, Bloodeagle! Australia is alive with Aboriginal folklore and equally alive with spirits of the land. I've been involved with rituals and blots where the spirits have been most prevalent. My kinfolk and I are aware of this and we make a point of firstly, asking permission from them to conduct our rites, thanking them afterwards and leave an offering of some sort.

I remember having a group meditation and an ancient Aboriginal elder came to me, laying his hand on my shoulder. He reassured me that all is well, and that my Heathen path isn't unlike their own - and there are similarities, including Mother Earth, Father Sky and the Rainbow Serpent.

However, where it would be taboo is on a known sacred site. You respect the spirits in this instance and leave them be.

[Bloodeagle]

I guess the spirit mirrors the life. Show respect and respect will be shown.

[Barreldriver]

The world is a spiritual place and the European Heathen traditions are native to Europe. What happens if one relocates to a new land and then practice ones own religion.
Would the gods and goddesses of the new realm hold sway to the invader?
Is heathenry something that follows the individual or is there some sort of environmental turf?



What are your opinions on this?

I personally believe this is reasonable given that I can feel native presences in my own land here in Ohio mostly in the woods and swamps, and back in Overton County Tennessee where I grew up, oddly my family is always drawn back to Overton County as if it is a family curse or something, especially considering that during the last migration phase the Reeder farmhouse burned down in an unexplained fire and my great uncle was killed in that fire. I also feel that the Amerindian spiritual forces are hostile towards me and my ways given some events that took place in Pittsburgh when I was attending college out there, also the emphasis on "realms" in many ancient faiths leads me to believe that there is a territorial and tribal element to these faiths, each set of spiritual forces is specific to a native people and land IMO.

[Lady L]

Is heathenry something that follows the individual

In a sense sure it does. But, I am thinking its more along the lines of us following it. Therefore, we can take it anywhere we may go. Its in the heart, the mind and the soul.

[Ulf]

Gods and spirits are not limited to certain landmasses, they travel with the blood and soul of their folk.

Also, I believe in the universality of earth-bound wights.

[Lyfing]

The Gods and Goddesses are my ancestors. They are with me everywhere I go and when I do things they live through me.

They are in my blood.

Wherever our blood has soaked the soil is sacred.

..

Later,
-Lyfing