Rökkatru and the Nine Worlds

Norse shadow walkers. Lokeans and Jotunkin. Most think us limited to one or two of the Nine Worlds, but is not the Agent of Discord free to roam the entirety of Yggdrasil? And if that fluffy-tailed creature isn’t Rökkr, I am not sure what you would consider him to be. We would be limited to only certain realms, forbidden from other planes by the beliefs of others. But in truth we have every right to walk where ever our Gods and Ancestors do.

Yes, realms like Jotunheim and Helheim are where you are more likely to find the Rökkatru spirit because those are the type of places we are drawn to, where we find solace and comfort. The fires of Musplheim or the frozen plains of Niflheim call to others as they are what offers peace to their souls and beauty to their eyes. The old and primal places, where dark twilight is eternal and beautiful, dark that soothes away the self doubts and where a misfit need not hide away.

But think about this. All the realms bear their shadows because there IS light. A realm of pure light? How could you know anything but blindness and pain? We are in all the Realms, even Asgard. There is Rökkr even in Valhalla. No? Then what would you consider Odin’s face as Lord of the Dead, Necromancer, Bringer of the Wild Hunt? Is that not a dark aspect, a shadow side?

We, the Rökkatru will be where we wish to be. None shall bar our path or our choice. We, as the Norse Left Hand Path, have the right to be where we desire. Just because others fear what we revere and seek to understand should not bar you from exploring the places our curiosity take us. Nor should we have to be made to feel shame for living in out truth, following our path.

I for one see the way we are treated on this plane, here on Midgard. Too often I see at festivals that are “Path Inclusive” the Heathen element are often regulated to manual labor when they want to help, rarely thanked, and when they have something to say many don’t want to listen because of their path. They are looked at as brainless muscled work mules. Those that do get heard are often put in a position that if something goes wrong, fault finds it’s way to Heathen hands. And other paths wonder why Heathens are a bit stand-offish. Personally I have witnessed Heathens walk completely away from festivals dear to them because they could no longer allow themselves to be treated as work horses and pack mules.

And within Heathenry the Rökkatru and Lokeans are often treated as the “bastard children” until they are needed. They/We are called on to “fix it”. Even if we weren’t the ones to cause the issue in the first place, others don’t want to get their hands “dirty”. Blood and Death are a needed part of Life, and while healing and light work is amazing and needed the opposite is true as well. Mercy is often a gentle thing, quiet and quick.

Safety and protection. Defenses and shield are effective. But it doesn’t stop the attacks. Violence is part of the cycle as much as love. Wisdom is only a step and a half away from Madness.

So for those reading this, remember that Heathen or no; the misfits have a place. The outsiders of your circle? Look at them closely and see how many wounds they have taken to keep you safe that you never knew of the threat. Open your eyes to the Left Hand for it is of the same body. To the Heathens that see this; we on the outside see you. We hear you speak of Honor and Ancestors. We watch from outside the sacred space as you call to the Divine of the Asatru and Vanatru and do your rites. We bow our heads and give our respect even from without. We hear your whispers degrading and belittling our Patrons and Patronesses, our Gods and Goddesses. We know that you don’t even see them as Divine. Yet we remain among you, silent and either unseen or kept at arms length. There must be a balance.

And I have seen that the truth is the fact that many think because of our path we will come howling for blood at Ragnarok. And we will, as we sail with the Rökkr proudly, but we will choose those of arrogance and willful ignorance. We will know the truth of what lies behind the shine of “Honor” and the palaces built on the backs of others. Use the Gods to justify Hate and we will know. Use the Goddesses to be exclusive, we will see. Use the Ancestors as an excuse for racism and we will hear. And we will howl as we hunt.

The drums are beginning. They call the Others from all of the Nine Realms. We are beginning to gather. We are the Jotunkin and the Lokeans, Children of Fenris and of Jormungadr. Voices for Ginnungagap. Those who dance with the wights and witches, sing with the trolls and giants. Those who remember that not all the ancestors names survive, but they did. Daughter of Hella, those not afraid to speak to Nidhogg. Drums whose beat reach Svartlheim and those who sit with the Dakkalfar, into the reaches of Niflheim calling back the spirits of those seeking the forgotten wisdom buried in ice. That beat that is drawing together souls to each other in Midgard.

We no longer walk alone. We have found each other. And we continue to find more. We walk the Nine Realms because we can.

The High Road

Hey. Hey you. Yeah you. The one holding a sign for equality. Or BLM. Or LGBT+ rights. Yeah, the screaming student from the local Uni that is so very angry over the treatment of those different (i.e. anyone not straight white male cis). Yes, you. I see you. HEAR you. I know what you are saying. It has been being screamed for years. And yes, that screaming voice is important because it is being heard. But is it stopping anything, bringing any change?

Now in 2020 with people like AOC and Bernie, I have a bit of hope. A bit. But that would also require me to put faith in the masses of humanity which are little more than stupid, easily panicked herd animals when in large groups. And Fear is one hell of a weapon that the current regime is becoming very adept at wielding. Scared yet college kid? You should be.

Go and Vote, be heard! Great sentiment. It has made for some great leaders, but it also got an orangutan voted into the office of POTUS. Yes, voting has made great and amazing changes. Ending segregation. Establishing the work week, and putting an end to child labor. These are all good things.

Now let’s get to the low road where most of us are trapped because we can afford the high road. Yes, it costs to take the high road. What is the price you ask? Well, easy enough. Coin or blood. Your blood. You think that car-jacker is going to go easy on you if you don’t resist? The tweeker that is mugging you not going to take your money if you turn the other cheek? The rapist won’t do it if you only are nice enough? Gods whatever drugs you are taking, PLEASE send me some cause I would love to live where you are.

And this is where we are folks. The protests are laughed at and bastards in Mustang GT’s feel it’s ok to plow into a peaceful group. Police and government groups are closing ranks, look what happened after Ferguson MO. What the media DIDN’T tell you were the exchanges of gunfire from multiple points. It was a free for all.

Folks there is only ONE race and that is Human. Mortal. And taking the high road ended as an option a while back. Now all it will do will get you or your loved ones hurt. So stay on your knees and whisper your prayers behind closed doors. City or country it doesn’t matter. Groups like the KKK are everywhere, the Wolves of Vinland infiltrating peaceful events. Proud Boys showing up at Pride Events. Yup, and they just get screamed at, told to go away at most. What do they do? Continue forward. Hospitalized people. Another grave. And it certainly wasn’t one of the people carrying hate. Consequences? Oh that poor white boy just made a mistake. Three months incarceration should teach him a lesson.

But take heart. You aren’t wired to be on that path. It’s ok. Your strengths are elsewhere. But you would shame those that would stand toe-to-toe with a white hood. That would punch someone that openly admits they are a Neo-Nazi. Take your offense and shove it up your ass. Your apathy when you heard screaming down an alley? Yeah. When you saw the different kid getting bullied in school and you just walked on cause it wasn’t you? Gotcha.

We are finding each other. There is virtue to be found on the low road, and there are those of us that are coming together. Soon enough there will one day be a shield wall in front of a Nazi march, Thurisaz gracing each one, and the Rökkatru slowly move forward. Tiki torches and MAGA hats? Rather fragile in truth. Oh, they have the numbers? So do we. We are stepping out of the shadows. We are waking and turning our attentions back to the world for the cries of the innocent and kind can no longer be ignored. “Wolves” of Vinland? Pups I say that are playing at what they want. The Preacher screaming all day of Homosexuals going to Hell and dreaming all night of a huge cock sliding down his throat or up his ass. Oh yes we see you all.

The real monsters are waking up, and they are the ones that value innocence and difference, hate inequality and prejudice. The Jotun are rising and see into the shadows where you hide. Tower time indeed. Time to take that ivory tower down.

Take your High Road. I’ve got your back.