February Book Review: A Practical Heathen's Guide To Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve

This month I'm reading and reviewing a book often recommended for newcomers to Heathenry, Patricia M. Lafayllve's A Practical Heathen's Guide To Asatru. I read this book for the first time in 2015, shortly after I decided I wanted to learn more about Asatru.

As a newbie, I found it to be very helpful. I haven't read a better newbie guide anywhere. Part One was particularly useful to me, especially chapters seven through nine. The book is worth buying for those chapters alone. Lafayllve does a fantastic job of "dumbing down" complicated concepts for the beginner. If you're having trouble understanding the basics, A Practical Heathen's Guide can help.

While Part One explains the "why" of Heathenry, Part Two attempts to explain the "how". Lafayllve seems to use a format for her blots and rituals that is very similar to (perhaps inspired by) Wiccan rituals. Compared to the blots that I've attended in person, Lafayllve's tend to be longer and more complicated. In particular, she uses certain Wiccan practices during her rituals such as Calling The Corners, which feels out of place to me. I don't put much stock in the hammer sign, either, which she uses to consecrate. However, she does include some pretty prayers, so take from it what you will.

I have come back to this book occasionally for ideas on how to celebrate holidays and inspiration on writing my own rituals, but as I've gotten a more solid understanding of Heathenry I haven't needed it as much. I would recommend buying this as an ebook. Those who already have a good foundation probably won't find this book useful, but it's a solid introduction for newbies. Though I would take Part Two with a grain of salt.

If you'd like to purchase this book, you can find it here! I purchased the Kindle version for $9.99.

This year I will be reading and reviewing one Heathenry-related book per month. If you'd like to recommend a book, let me know in the comments! If you read A Practical Heathen's Guide To Asatru, let me know what you think of it!

January Book Review: Sheathenry by Alvilldr in fagra

Sheathenry Volume I: Ritual Practices of Modern Heathen Women is a book that came out pretty recently. It's written by Alvilldr in fagra, alternating between first person stories from the author and excerpts from interviews with 20 or so Heathen women (and one gender-neutral person). At just over 200 pages, the book is just long enough to be satisfying.

I purchased this book in paperback from lulu.com for $14.99. Using a coupon code for a discount, my purchase came out to about $12, shipping included. Overall, I would say that this book is definitely worth the purchase. The quality of the book itself is good. I didn't notice any spelling errors or the formatting problems that are common in self-published books. IT has obviously been produced with care. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners, but this book makes no pretense of being beginner friendly - it assumes that the reader comes to the table with a working knowledge of Heathenry.

One of the best things about Sheathenry is it's diversity. The author made a big effort to interview a wide variety of individuals, and it shows. When discussing the various topics, the author always presents multiple viewpoints, demonstrating both the similarities and the variations between different practices. The takeaway seems to be that there is no wrong way to be a heathen woman, or at least, that there are many right ways to be a Heathen woman. The author never pushes her own opinions on the reader, and she never endorses one point of view over another. Additionally, as a lesbian woman, it's fantastic to see a book featuring people on the LGBTQ spectrum. While the number of LGBTQ Heathens is certainly growing, it's still uncommon to see us represented in Heathen media.

Another thing I liked about Sheathenry was the distinct lack of scholarly research and pandering to academia. It's very readable and accessible to the average person. While I have read and loved the standard Heathen reading list, a huge drawback to most Heathen books is that for the average joe, they tend to be difficult to read and understand. Heathenry and Asatru have been referred to as "the religion with homework" for years, but it's nice to see a departure from that mindset. After all, we can't all be scholars. I think perhaps it's better sometimes to focus on what modern heathens are actually doing rather than rehashing the same old discussions about ethics and worldview.

I would recommend this book for anyone with a basic understanding of Heathenry. It's an asset to any Heathen's library, regardless of gender. I would definitely buy this book again, and when Volume 2 comes out, I'll be first in line to purchase it!

If you'd like to read Sheathenry, you can purchase the paperback or the ebook here!

This year I will be reading and reviewing one Heathenry-related book per month. If you'd like to recommend a book, let me know in the comments! If you read Sheathenry, let me know what you think of it!

Freyfaxi Celebration & A New Doctor

Last weekend I was away to Heathen Michigan's Freyfaxi Celebration! It was great. I met a bunch of people I've been chatting with online, traded a woman a painting for three dozen eggs, and shivered in a tent with my fiancee in a thunderstorm!

[description: photograph of 19 people, ranging in age from children to an old man, who mostly appear to be fair-skinned or white, dressed casually for late summer weather, standing on the side of a road in front of a forest]

My fiancee decided two days in that she wants to become a heathen, too. I'm so happy! While I would support any decision she makes in regards to religion, it does make things easier if we're walking the same path.

I also discovered a new found respect for my ancestors. Logically, I knew that my oldest ancestors didn't have the same modern conveniences we have now, but even cooking food over a campfire is a difficult process! And I didn't even have to kill and butcher my food! But campfire chicken and potatoes are so very delicious.

We stayed an extra day because I had a doctor's appointment in Lansing on monday, so it didn't make much sense to drive all the way home only to drive back the next morning. We ended up being the only people in the campground on sunday night! It was a little creepy, and I was slightly afraid of being attacked by coyotes, but there's nothing more fun than walking around your heavily-wooded campsite totally naked while trying to wash up.

So I met the new doctor, and I'm pretty sure I don't like her. But she is starting me on Lyrica, which we should be picking up today, and she also convinced my fiancee to start buying me more fruits and vegetables. All in all, it was a successful weekend, and I'm very tired now, but happy.

Garage Sailing

I met another heathen today!

Someone I've been talking to on facebook was having a garage sale, conveniently enough for me, the same day I had plans to visit my pregnant best friend, who's staying about 15 minutes away from his house! So I decided to stop by. Unfortunately, I think I came off a bit shy and I didn't talk too much, but I might be joining a DnD game they host! Hahahahaha.

I also picked up a rice cooker, the Lord of the Rings box set (books, of course), and a metal bowl and a pair of metal incense burners. All for $10!

So lots of exciting news for me! I'm also getting ready for the Freyfaxi camping trip and potluck and public blot I'll be attending. So nervous, yet so excited. This month is gonna be all full of heathen-y goodness. Plus I'll be seeing my internal medicine specialist for the first time, so that'll be a huge plus as well.