Well I was reminded of something from a few years ago when I first went towards Heathenry (basically Germanic reconstructionist paganism.) Was looking to have a Hammer of Thor (kinda the defacto symbol of heathenry since the other two the vaulknot and the fyfolt cross (swastika) have natsy associations.)
A little background here, Seattle has three occult/new age shops, one of which is pretty much purely occult (uhm we'll call it rim of the circle, or rim for short) another that's more along the lines of new-age ecological buddha-wicca occultism (which I'll call terra-elements), and one that's basically your go to place for oils, inscence (whole and stick), and associated things (which will be menzig toto.)
Ok looking for a Hammer of Thor.... first thought was hey I'm by pike's place, and I know Menzig wont have it, so I'll try terra-elements, they seem to be an ok place.
boy was I wrong... asked if they had any (since the jewelry was kept behind the counter and got a lovely skreed about how I was what was wrong with the earth religions movement (well I know I wasn't but she was meaning heathen not me so I let that part slide), and why couldn't I learn to like something that was older like Wicca, and I forget what else, because I was on my way out the door.
so next stop was Rim which is run by some pretty cool people, ones who actually seem to be interested (one's a member of the local AMORC chapter as well as the leader of one of the local non-fluffy covens) so the reaction I get when perusing the norse/runes/heathen section, not a batted lash, not a single snide comment, just a general can I help you find anything, found both the hammer and a couple of books I've pretty much destroyed through constant reading, re-reading and use over 2 years)
so what's the real rant here... I dunno, guess it's just my distaste for the newapaggicans (new age pagan wiccans, sorta another way of saying fluffy bunny) especially, as well as the oh so great aryan warriors who tend to tarnish a good thing that gives me moral support (Asatru) with their bs (nazism) which is why I have to get "lectures" from fluffy types like the terra-elements lady.
oh yeah there's other reasons why I hate this new breed of wicca (the post-ravenwolf kind where fluff seems to abound) but the general intolerance for those of us who are reconstructionists (Asatru, Hellenismos, Religio Romuva, etc) because obviously we're doing it because we're racists who hate anything that isnt Norse/Greek/Roman or because we tend to be a bit more scientific in our studies of religion (we are trying to RECONSTRUCT the old ways as best we can) rather than pick up a book with OOOH PRETTY COVER and skim is probably the biggest of the lot of why it's bugged me enough to run on and ramble.
The other parts would be tales for another time.
A little background here, Seattle has three occult/new age shops, one of which is pretty much purely occult (uhm we'll call it rim of the circle, or rim for short) another that's more along the lines of new-age ecological buddha-wicca occultism (which I'll call terra-elements), and one that's basically your go to place for oils, inscence (whole and stick), and associated things (which will be menzig toto.)
Ok looking for a Hammer of Thor.... first thought was hey I'm by pike's place, and I know Menzig wont have it, so I'll try terra-elements, they seem to be an ok place.
boy was I wrong... asked if they had any (since the jewelry was kept behind the counter and got a lovely skreed about how I was what was wrong with the earth religions movement (well I know I wasn't but she was meaning heathen not me so I let that part slide), and why couldn't I learn to like something that was older like Wicca, and I forget what else, because I was on my way out the door.
so next stop was Rim which is run by some pretty cool people, ones who actually seem to be interested (one's a member of the local AMORC chapter as well as the leader of one of the local non-fluffy covens) so the reaction I get when perusing the norse/runes/heathen section, not a batted lash, not a single snide comment, just a general can I help you find anything, found both the hammer and a couple of books I've pretty much destroyed through constant reading, re-reading and use over 2 years)
so what's the real rant here... I dunno, guess it's just my distaste for the newapaggicans (new age pagan wiccans, sorta another way of saying fluffy bunny) especially, as well as the oh so great aryan warriors who tend to tarnish a good thing that gives me moral support (Asatru) with their bs (nazism) which is why I have to get "lectures" from fluffy types like the terra-elements lady.
oh yeah there's other reasons why I hate this new breed of wicca (the post-ravenwolf kind where fluff seems to abound) but the general intolerance for those of us who are reconstructionists (Asatru, Hellenismos, Religio Romuva, etc) because obviously we're doing it because we're racists who hate anything that isnt Norse/Greek/Roman or because we tend to be a bit more scientific in our studies of religion (we are trying to RECONSTRUCT the old ways as best we can) rather than pick up a book with OOOH PRETTY COVER and skim is probably the biggest of the lot of why it's bugged me enough to run on and ramble.
The other parts would be tales for another time.
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