Filling The Void – Finding a new path
- Exit Hate Guest Writer
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
As a former far-right activist, I always loved nature and it was always an important part of my struggle for the ideals I once held dear, which was based on blood and soil.
Politically, I was a National Socialist, and religiously, I was an Odinist, promoting a warped version of Heathenry, which is a religion based on a belief in the old Norse gods and associated, traditions and culture.
For many years I read everything I could, sagas, poems, anything I could get my hands on, which would help me better understand, Scandinavian culture, and myths associated with the old Norse Gods and anything that would cement these beliefs together.
But that journey was hollow.
The more I read, the more questions I had, and the more I didn’t get any answers too and where there were holes, I simply glossed over it.
Seeking solace in religion, I and others found it powerful. A way of uniting activists from different groups together, for the greater good.
In doing this, I also became aware of other organisations such as Heathens Against Hate and others, who advocated a different form of Heathenism. A looser form of worship, which didn’t lie about old teachings, but was open enough to say, that there was very little information about how people worshiped the old Norse and Anglo-Saxon Gods and by doing this highlighted the lies, misinformation and disinformation, I had seen for many years from Odinists, I had classed as brothers.
When I left the far-right, I felt I had a home, where I could practice my religion, in a way that was inclusive, didn’t pretend they had ancient texts and spoke about people building a religion, based on what was known about the old Norse and Anglo Saxon Gods, but was open enough to say that there was very little information available to build on the beliefs once held and as such we would have to build a modern path.
Embracing this honest approach, I engaged with people in various groups online and face to face and this was an amazing experience, freeing people from promoting and using religion, as a way to promote race hate.
Seeing through the lies and following a path, which was inclusive and welcoming of all meant the faith was growing and I and others over the years, liked this approach.
But sadly, modern day Heathenry, in our humble opinion is still smeared by associations with racists, Nazis and white supremacists.
In respectable online forums, they can be seen promoting ERW (Extreme Right Wing) Odinist texts and symbols, which they hope will snare unsuspecting individuals, who they can then in turn, impress with smart marketing, slick adverts, merchandising, to bring them into the extremist far-right fold.
As a result of this, a trickle of people, who have been involved in the far-right and left are now, with great remorse and sorrow, walking away from Heathenry. Tired of fighting a battle, that in many areas the far-right is winning.
Saddened by what we see, the poisoning of a religion, which because of the activities of racists and extremists, we feel we cannot continue to embrace Heathenry and are now looking at various paths, seeking one we can take, where nature will be the foundation of this faith, something we can see, feel and move forward with.
This is not something we have done lightly.
Letting go of a faith, because of the actions of adherents, is if we are honest, simply realistic and honest.
Having tried for decades to challenge hate and the continued misuse of Heathenry, we are now going to leave this to others to do, on an international scale and this is something we support.
But for us, this is not something I or others I have met over the years, wish to participate in anymore and instead, we will now move forward and seek to follow a spiritual path based on nature.
Looking ahead, I and others will look to outline in simple terms, what we are looking for, why, how we will operate and how this will help us on our journeys away from hate and how it will help us fill the void.
Not easy, we thrive on challenges, numbers are not a concern, and this is because, we know, we are laying the foundations for others so we have a path that can help people put the plant, people and local communities first
Looking for something to fill the void?
Are you spiritual, and love nature?
There is a path for us....................
Jas – Exit Hate Supporter & Volunteer.
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*Further articles will follow with the aim of helping people on their journeys and signposting people forward away from hate and onwards via an inclusive positive path, based on the love of nature.