Loss: A Heathen’s Perspective

Loss is a phenomenon we will all experience at a certain point in time. This loss may have next to no impact on your life or it may have quite a significant impact. The loss of a loved one, whether family or friend, will assuredly have an impact on your life, from the initial shock to the final acceptance.

We all deal with loss differently, despite what modern books might teach us about grief and its five stages. We reject these modern “one size fits all” concepts; we as heathens see death and loss differently from the Judeo-Christian modern man.

Academics will tell you we have a poor and fragmented understanding of our pre-Christian Germanic religions, both the ritual as well as the metaphysical aspects due to the fragmented sources we now possess, but what academics think should be of little concern to us.

We have pieced together enough texts to give ourselves (not the academics) an understanding of what these concepts mean, and most importantly we have the most essential entity of all; we have our blood.

“When dealing with loss”

Ever since Christianity has set foot on European soil it has been attacking and decimating our culture, our works of art, our texts, but it still has not wiped out our blood. It has not severed that link between us and nature.

We still hold that link. We are still connected to our roots through our blood.

We are the living embodiment of our religion. We are our own understanding. Texts that have been lost will remain lost, but we instinctively know what we must. The modern man who is cut off from his ancestors will refer to this as a ‘gut feeling’ he will try and explain away the metaphysical. We should never try to ‘explain this away’, but rather accept and embrace this as is and listen to our ‘gut feelings’ as if it was a loved one that has passed and is now whispering nothing but good advice into our ears.

Everything that once was, is and will be is within us. We don’t not need texts or academics to tell us who we are and how we need to cope with the modern world.

When dealing with loss we should remember that, unlike Christian or Muslim faiths, our journey into the afterlife has little to do with a moral element. There is no eternal bliss or eternal torment for us, and this should put some minds at rest. The thoughts of: where have our loved ones gone? Are they happy? Are they sad? Are they ok? are only thoughts we hold as the living. We do not know if we hold these thoughts once we leave this realm and cycle into the next.

We transition seamlessly, be it to Valhöll “the hall of the fallen”, Fólkvangr “the field of the people” or to Helheimr

The endless cycle continues, like Yggdrasil and the well of Urd.

The death of a loved one can come at any time, so you can never fully prepare for the loss even when it is expected, but there are some things you can do to ensure the sting of a loved one parting is slightly dampened.

Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. The words ‘I love you’ may be difficult to say now, but they will be impossible to say when they are gone.

Let your actions speak louder than your words, so show your family and friends you do love and appreciate them.

If you have made a promise, the honorable thing to do is to stick to it. A man’s word is his bond and once trust is lost with a loved one, it is difficult to regain.

Remember the birthdays, anniversaries and important dates. Plan and prepare for these, because you will not have an opportunity to share these with them when they are gone.

Make plans such as lunches and outings, and stick to them. Ensure you make these dates; don’t back out them and more importantly don’t let them back out.

Petty squabbles and bruised egos should be resolved as quickly and as amicably as possible. Draft in the help of a close friend or relative that you both know to try and help with this if the rift between yourself and a loved one is too big.

When putting into action the suggestions above, you are doing it as much for your loved ones as yourself. They may not be preparing to see you go, but they will be grateful for these efforts made by you if you are called away before they are.

The empty feeling of loss will never go away completely. As you reach certain points in the year that have more personal significance than other times, the feeling of loss will come back.

In these times you will be able to look at the quality time you set aside to have with your loved ones. You may have certain ‘rituals’ that you perform, perhaps visiting a certain place by yourself for some self-reflection or meeting with mutual friends and family, drinking and singing songs of their bravery, remembering their names and deeds.

Whatever way you decided to spend it, remember:

Cattle die
kinsmen die
all men are mortal.
Words of praise
will never perish
nor a noble name”
– Hávamál

Source Article from http://renegadetribune.com/loss-heathens-perspective/

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