Self Sustaining, and Nature Friendly Living.
It's a Pagan Thing, And Always Has Been.
From the very Etymology of the word Pagan, we see that it has a deep context to living in nature. The word Pagus / Paganus, means living in the country. Rural Settlers, or village folk. It was not until Christianization that it took on a Religious context.
In modern day the word almost exclusively is used to describe a person of Norse / Germanic, or Wiccan beliefs. I myself am Pagan, and tend to proudly self apply that word when describing my beliefs. I accept both meanings, first I absolutely support a more self sustaining lifestyle, and way of living. The farmers, cowboys, and rural folks are far less wasteful than city dwellers, and many have begun to collect their own solar and wind energy. This is Odinist way.
Anyone who has read the Eddas, and taken any of it to have direct suggestions on a preferred way of living can see it plainly. Being dependent on only yourself first, then building a family, and strengthening a community. This is Odin’s advice, as we can see by the stanzas of Havamal.
Both of the stanzas 36 and 37 directly imply that a certain freedom is granted to every person should they choose to self sustain. Having your own home means you will never beg for a warm place to sleep. Raising your own livestock means you will always have meat on your table. The bigger implication is that being dependent on only yourself provides a powerful spiritual freedom. Modern homesteaders have the right idea, but many of them are making valiant attempts but are failing because of a common mistake. They are too far away from any other neighboring homesteaders.
This is where the community comes in. Even if the community in question are just neighboring family members, they then have a much greater chance of success. Every other neighboring homestead or farm will exponentially increase their chances of self sustaining. This is because trading, bartering, and helping your neighbor, especially by teaching them the skills they need still exists out there. Owning basic livestock makes you far more self sufficient, and a much more valuable community member. Your knowledge of carpentry, mechanics, and an ability to be creative in problem solving situations, is the most valuable virtue set a self sustaining person can have. Even if one lacks in those skills, they always can trade a neighbor some chickens, or pigs, to assist them in learning the skills while completing the task.
Sure, a person with all of the needed skills can go out and start a homestead, and probably succeed. If they begin their journey in a location where other people are doing similar things, they will find the community is helpful, and often warm and welcoming.
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What Would a Modern Ideal “Pagan” community look like?
We certainly won't be living like it's still the iron age. We would have our own solar and wind power generation, along with other modern technology. Everyone would be free to choose what level of self sustaining they choose, and own their own land, and home. Our social services, and community projects would be more along the lines of coming together for the building of a community asset, like a set of market booths for trading farmed goods, or textiles, or even building a community hall.
The members of the community would all be armed, and not as a preparation of war. This would be solely for the defense of the lives, and property of their Family, and of their other Community members. The community will protect and secure the community from all outside dangers.
Imagine the Amish community, but with Pick-up Trucks, ATVs, Solar Panels, and citizens who are optionally armed to the teeth. Oh, and they are ideally traditional Odinists, who follow the teachings of the Havamal, and not some Nazi cult claiming to be Norse Germanic Pagans. National Socialism as a political belief is directly opposed, to the ideal concept of Traditional Tribalism that I am describing above.
These “Tribal” Homestead and farm communities, would function best as small homogenous villages, or towns. With a population of roughly 100 - 200 people at most, we know that they work the best. When the people all have the same community beliefs, the focus of community resources can be agreed upon much more easily, and without conflict. The way this can be demonstrated, and proven, is by looking at some small tribes like this that still exist to this very day all over the world. From the various denominations of Amish, to the Sami of northern Finland, the Tribes of Aboriginal Australia, along with Alaskan Inuits, and Tribal People of Samoa, we know this community structure works. It's hard wired into us as humans. We find people with similar community beliefs, or Religious beliefs, and we form local places to worship and practice our way of life.
The benefits to this are layered, first you have the benefit of access to locally grown organic foods. That creates better health, and leads to more energy, and all around happiness. It has been proven in several scientific studies that people who are members of a community, be it spiritual, agricultural, or based on a hobby, they are much happier, and exponentially less prone to mental health issues like chronic depression, psychosis, or anxiety. Second, as a member of a small community, your opinion on things, and your needs matter far more. For instance, in a close knit small community, if your barn falls down, the neighbors will come together, and build one in a day. In the city, if something happens you are just someone to be pitied, and looked at as a victim of circumstance. If there are community resources for the help you need in a city, you have to fill out applications, and get on a waiting list, and if you are lucky there may be enough funding available.
The freedom of not being dependent on an electric company, or a landlord, also contribute to a person's self worth, this is the biggest boost to mental health. To anyone who has built something from the ground up, they know the feeling that I am talking about. Maybe not to the same extent, but the feeling of pride and accomplishment is still there. This feeling increases when that labor is building one's own home, and exponentially more so when it is spent assisting a family member, or neighbor in need. It inspires loyalty, and community companionship like nothing else on earth.
The Best Pagan Community Guidelines, Are The Most Basic.
The Portion of the Prose Edda known as Havamal ( Words of Odin ) is full of the basic guidelines for interacting with neighbors, or when you are a guest, or a host to other people. They are my first reference when considering any decision made at a community level. There is however an abridged version of these tenants. It is much more simple, yet encompasses the values prescribed by Odin. The articles of which I speak, are the 9 Noble Virtues.
With a handful of basic freedoms, and effective property rights, a small community does not need a thousand pages of laws. With just a hand full of agreed upon principals and the smallest amount of motivation to be more independent, a group of people can easily come together and live happy and fulfilling lives.
Are you one of them ?
Article by:
Author, And Thane, J. Ash Odinsson.
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