--- On Tue, 29/3/11, audreydc1983 <[email protected]> wrote: Mel: Glad to know that there's someone, somewhere that knows where I'm coming from! :) ---------------------------------------- MEL: Hey there Audrey!(*smiles*) -------------------------------------------- I still have friends in Asatru, and still participate somewhat in the "shop talk" about past events and whatnot. I go to gatherings every now and then - everyone understands why I don't participate in the rituals; I just want to see my friends. :) ---------------------------------------------- MEL: I wished that the above was the case with me as well. Unfortunately, my experience has been that once an individual leaves the fold, he/she is then an 'outlaw', so to speak...an outsider..a vargr/lone wolf, and not one to be ever trusted again
I struggled with Asatru in my last 1-2 years within it, and then just disappeared without goodbyes. There was no point saying anything to anyone, especially with my Asian background and all. The folkish camp would just turn around and say... .."See that? We knew Mel was unreliable, and could not keep up the faith. Mel was just not one of us, and never will be. We were absolutely right about him from the beginning!"... Folkish families like the Wodenings were open-minded about me, but any goodbyes would have just made it worse. I broke frith and faith. That's the only thing that will concern all Asatru, and I imagine even the likes of Diana Paxson and Jordsvin If memory serves me right, well-known Asatru figure Lewis Stead was headed towards the Buddhist path as well, or so Arlie Stephens told me so a few years ago...which was not taken too well within the community. Maybe he changed his mind One big problem with Asatru is this honour thingy. They say that either one has it, or not. So much emphasis on academics, exact wordings/translations, promises, etc...and the arguments that fly back on forth does get anal at times. No thanks, not for me ------------------------------------------------------------- I've emailed/chatted with many Asatruar around the globe (Australia, UK, Europe, the U.S., Argentina, etc), and it seems that many who leave "the fold" are drawn to eastern religions. It would be interesting to see the motivation(s) behind this dynamic, as I didn't even know about it until I was drawn to Zen. ----------------------------------------------------------- MEL: I also personally don't know why myself. What I have become aware of was that many of the Odinic factions tend to lay claim to zazen practices. In one rune-group I was with, they called zazen..a meditation on the rune ISA. I may have interpreted this rune differently..which caused controversy with a minority(just like I did with some Christians, when I interpreted the bible for myself which did not conform with then church rulings and norms) Audrey if you're still interested, my postings on the runes(complete) and the HAVAMAL(might not be complete) are still accessible in the public-accessible messages of the RUNES-DIVINATION group within Yahoo. I just found out myself, beginning from 16th May 2007, and onwards. For me personally, I've left for good. It's just my past now ------------------------------------------------------------ Glad to meet you! ~Audrey ---------------------------------------------- MEL: And same to you..take care!(*smiles/peace*) Buddha be praised Mel
