Questions for the Norse Heathens?

Question

How many of you practice ancestor veneration and how many of you believe that the Gods are also your ancestors?

Yes, within many tales, the Gods walked among humans. It's very tempting to practice ancestor worship, however it wouldn't truly be Heathen to do so. We toast the Gods, kin and ancestors separately, you're right. Thanks for your answer.

Answer 1

In the Rigsthula we are told how the god Heimdallr, under the name of Rig came down to earth and, after staying with three separate couples he brought about the Three classes of mankind, Thralls, Carls and Jarls, or in more modern parleyance Workers, Merchants and Leaders.

That being said then...technically the only "Ancestor" that we can be certain of having any trace of godhood within them is Rig himself. Yes the ancients have many tales of the gods taking human form, but since there is no way of tracing ancestros back THAT far for most of us, the assumption that one some of our ancestors MUST have been a descendant of one of the gods is just that...an assumption.

Make no mistake, I will always remember those ancestors, either in name or in deed in one way or another, venerate them even for living and surviving in such times and for the legacy of blood and birthright that has been left to me. Revering them as actual deities, not so much.

I know that several of the royal houses in Europe have historically, or at least traditionally traced their lineage back to one of several deities, most notably Odin and Freyr (In fact the Brittish royal family traces their lineage back to Hengst and Horsa, the first Saxon rulers of England and THEY traced their lineage back to Odin [Woden0 himself.)

Veneration of ancestors and treating them as deities aer two entirely different things. One can venerate, remember and honor ones ancestors without seeing them as deitis of any sort. I realize that the inaccuracy of colloqual english makes explaining the distinction difficult when the terms have been so often used (erroneously) interchangably.

So to answer the question...I do venerate those ancestors, but I do not deify them.

I worship the gods as deities as is fitting to do.

I recognize that, through the actions of HeimdallR (Rig) we are bound by blood and gene to the gods and recognize that they then are as much our ancestors as are the mortal men and women that came after.

Answer 2

Veneration and worship are different. Completely separate.

We can honor our ancestors, through the Disir, without worshiping them.

The Gods, however, are our literal physical ancestors, as well. So, in that essence there is the tiniest bit of ancestor worship.

I will praise my ancestors for their knowledge of the Gods and contact with them on a personal basis, and for their holding of the old ways.
But I don't worship my ancestors... other than the Gods. :)

Answer 3

I honor my ancestors. I don't worship them as.... divine entities so it's not ancestor worship. I'm open to the possibility that the gods walked on the earth and mingled with humans. The Greeks, Romans and our own Eddas say that our deities walked among mankind. Do I believe it, not sure. Do I disbelieve. Not sure.

When we have a blot (ritual) the drinking horn is filled with mead/ale/cider. A little is poured out on the earth (or in a bowl inside) for the gods/goddesses and land wights to bless our blot and those attending and our kin. Then the horn is passed and the first round is a toast to the Gods/Goddesses, the second round is to our ancestors to honor them, the third to our kith and kin living. The fourth - whatever you wish.

Answer 4

That's the one I have problems with. My ancestors were mostly Christians, and doing things I can't really be too proud of.
I'm trying to respect them, but I somehow can't bring myself to honour them properly. Besides that, I'm so mixed that I don't even know 3/4 of my ancestors past the grandparents...
(okay, folkish, don't kill me...)

As for the Gods, yes, I do feel a close connection to them. That's probably the way why this belief called to me so much. It certainly wasn't because of my no-good christian ancestors.

Answer 5

I honor my ancestors as they have gone before me and still concern themselves with me. We are a family, and you don't turn your back on your family just because they have passed to the next world.

Those who we call "gods" are our far distant ancestors, They have evolved and progressed to a higher state of existence and can still help us. I prefer the term Old Norse"reginn" (Tribal leaders) to "god." They are here to direct us to improve ourselves.

What you call worship sounds more like what is demanded by the gods of the south from their followers - the gods of pharaohs and tyrants

Answer 6

I don't. Father was of Danish blood.

Answer 7

I honor my ancestors.

I don't worship them.