OUR BELIEFS

Helgafel Heathen Fellowship is a polytheist, animistic, ancestor-worshiping religious group. We also believe in compassion and inclusion for all who feel called to these same beliefs and denounce those who would use Norse/Scandinavian/Germanic religious elements to propagate hate or supremacy of any kind.

Polytheism: We worship many Gods and Goddesses. We also have a host of other supernatural beings we revere, including Norns, Jotuns, Elves, Valkyries, and Dwarves.  Of great importance are a family’s Housewight and Landwight.

Animism: We believe that all things have a soul. Places, plants, animals, water – yes, even rocks. This includes the Earth itself and informs our attitudes and actions towards environmental knowledge and stewardship. Many of our rituals involve asking permission of a spirit before we engage with it.

Ancestors: Ancestor worship is of extreme importance to us. We make regular offerings and prayers to our ancestors as we believe that they continue to exist after their mortal death. We look to them for wisdom, luck, healing, and intercession.

Wyrd: Among the ancient Indo-European peoples, there is an idea that a deep well exists from which all energy flows. For the early Scandinavian peoples, this idea was expressed as “Wyrd.” All things are connected through Wyrd, and its veins cover and penetrate everything like a giant web. Anything done to the web of Wyrd effects all other things within it – including ourselves, so we value compassion and inclusion within our community as we believe our own fates are tied to the quality of our interactions with all beings.