Tag: heathenry
-
Raid 14: Norse Mythology – Midgard and Asgard
It’s not a stretch to say that Midgard and Asgard are the two most important worlds of the Norse cosmos, for they are the homes of us humans and our gods. But…have you ever wondered why they’re both conceived of as fortresses? It’s not a coincidence. In this raid, we’ll go through the must-know details…
-
Norse Mythology: Midgard and Asgard
It’s not a stretch to say that Midgard and Asgard are the two most important worlds of the Norse cosmos, for they are the homes of us humans and our gods. But…have you ever wondered why they’re both conceived of as fortresses? It’s not a coincidence. In this raid, we’ll go through the must-know details…
-
Raid 13: Norse Mythology – Creating the Cosmos
The Norse imagined the creation of the cosmos as a story of ice and fire—but it’s really nothing like the more well-known Song of Ice and Fire that people prefer to talk about now. Well, perhaps they used to until a certain show ended on a less-than-popular note. But I digress. In this raid, we’re…
-
Norse Mythology: Creating the Cosmos
The Norse imagined the creation of the cosmos as a story of ice and fire—but it’s really nothing like the more well-known Song of Ice and Fire that people prefer to talk about now. Well, perhaps they used to until a certain show ended on a less-than-popular note. But I digress. In this raid, we’re…
-
Raid 10: Norse Mythology in Eddic and Skaldic Poetry
The first remnants of Norse Mythology we’re discussing are, of course, eddic and skaldic poetry. They’re not the friendliest sources for those unfamiliar with the lore, but they are, perhaps, the most ‘reliable’ of the scanty source material we have to work with. Yet, even though their origins are often in the Viking Age, you’ll…
-
Raid 6: The Viking Age (c. 750-1050 CE)
What was the First ‘Viking’ Raid? To be honest, the ‘first’ raid of the Viking Age (c. 750-1050 or, more conventionally, 793-1066) isn’t as straightforward as you might think. You might have heard about Lindisfarne before, if you’ve been into Vikings and Norse things for a while—but, spoiler alert, that’s not really the first raid.…
-
Raid 5: The Vendel Period (c. 550-750 CE)
How did the Norse ‘become’ Vikings? Okay, so “becoming Vikings” is hardly historically appropriate…but let me explain. In this raid, we ‘conclude’ the prequel to the Viking Age by covering the Vendel Period. Dates vary, as always, but we’ll be using 550 to 750 CE. During this discussion, we’ll learn how the North quite literally…
-
Raid 4: The Migration Period (c. 400-550 CE)
Let’s raid the Migration Period (dates vary, but 400-550 CE is what we’re using) to show how it set the stage for the Viking Age. It’s just a brief overview, but we talk about how the ‘fall’ of the Roman Empire was a bit more complicated than most assume, how catastrophic eruptions a world away…
-
Raid 3: Wends, Balts, and Finnar
We’re wrapping up our coverage of the people inhabiting the Viking Age North! This time we focus on the ‘side’ characters: Wends, Balts, and Sámi/Finns. As you’ll learn in the raid, these groups frequently mingled with the Norse, creating complex settlements and cultural expressions. We’ll also emphasize just how much environment affects cultural development, including…
-
Raid 2: Northmen, Danes, and Swedes
The ‘Viking’ homeland was more diverse than you’d think—but of course we’re going to start with the classics: Northmen (aka Norwegians), Danes, and Swedes. We’ll cover their Old Norse names, the regions where each group primarily lived, and even talk about their natural resources and how they survived/shaped their cultural identities in their respective environments…
-
Raid 1: The Vikings
Vikings. What do you think when you hear that word? Whatever comes to mind, this raid will help separate popular fantasy from historical reality. Presented by a medievalist with a master’s degree in history, Fjorn offers another way to access the academic side of the complex and often misunderstood medieval world. Key moments: Reminder: this…
-
Yule with Fjorn (2024)
ᚶᛚᛂᚧᛁᛚᛂᚶ:ᛁᚢᛚ — Gleðileg jól! It’s that time of year again. All my pagan and heathen friends are extra festive, sharing feasts and wishes of warmth with everyone. I love seeing their meals, offerings, and personal customs! After several difficult years (personally), I’ve found this Yule particularly refreshing. Having healed enough to celebrate again, I managed…
