Post by wyrdwanderings on Jan 25, 2015 22:37:28 GMT -6
Hej der. Call me Ásbjørn. I am agender, transfeminine, and you will see my pronouns under my profile image.
I am a Norse Heathen, particularly of the Forn Siðr and/or Folketro variety. My tradition in this is drawn from Scandinavian - primarily Danish - folk beliefs, folklore, traditions and cosmology, as well as the revivalist/reconstructionist viewpoints of Åsatro (although I would not personally identify myself as specifically as the latter if asked). Side-note: Do not mistake the term "folketro" for "folkish" or any variety thereof. Folketro is tradition derived from folk beliefs, folkism is derived from self-gratifying bigots. Moving on.
I have been on a spiritual journey of growing pains and wonderful experiences for what must be going on 12-14 years. Specifically within Heathenry, I mean. Prior to that, my strongest ties to any remotely spiritual context was of Muscogee animism, although I have not felt comfortable in maintaining active ties with tribal affiliations and politics for a long time now. Otherwise in my formative years my earliest concept of divinity was very much an animist one. These have helped shape my personal system of beliefs as they are now, which can be categorised as reconstructionist polytheism with pantheist and animist associations. I am bound to Óðinn by oath, but have strong ties with and practices related to Frigg, Brage, Loke, Jörð, Óðr, Frøya, Frøy, Njörðr, Æge, Yme, Heiðr, Hjuke and Bil, Mani, Sól, Såga, the Norner, the Vættir, and the Dísir. I practice Seiðr, Galdr, Spådom (Spá), and Trolldom. I also practice a number of other relevant mystical traditions, and am willing to answer any questions on the matter. My personal spiritual pathway is that of the Seiðberendr, and I aspire someday to achieve the station of a Völva. My religious traditions directly intersect with my queerness, of which I will be glad to elaborate at a later time or upon request. I am also very invested in the composition of Heathen sacred music, as I feel we could always use more reasons to sing.
I value good scholarly merit above all else so, please, cite your sources and don’t bullshit others. While I'm at it, here are my academic leanings: I am currently finishing my Bachelor's of Music in performance with an emphasis in Music History and Musicology, and soon enough will be progressing into my Master's-level studies, and onward. My primary instrument is my classical training as a vocalist, but prior to this I had over ten years training as a horn player, and I am also sufficiently knowledgeable in how to play the dulcimer, lyre, talharpa, end-blown flute, drone flute, concertina, bagpipes, keyboard instruments, and a number of folk percussive instruments. While I am pursuing an active career as a classically-trained singer, I am also in pursuit of one as an academic in the fields of ethnomusicology, folklore, music history, and cultural musicology. A major portion of my interests deal with the intersection of gender and music, and I have pursued such topics as women composers, transgender musicians in history and the modern period, gender and voice type, and so on.
Politically speaking, I am passionate about a number of things. These things include, but are not limited to: concerns affecting First Nations/Indigenous peoples, intersectional feminism, transqueer politics, antifa activism, nazi hunting, police-watching, interfaith cooperation, the privacy and agency of the citizenry, and environmentalism. As far as labels are concerned, I suppose I am centrist-leaning, anti-statist, and anarcho-tribalist. I am not affiliated with any national or international Heathen organisation, and certainly none in North America. Staying far, far away from that quagmire.
I enjoy writing. More specifically, fiction and poetry; I upkeep blogs for that on tumblr if you're interested. I am quite fond of homesteading, domestic agriculture, self-sufficient/simple living, and tiny houses; the act of living deliberately and within one's means, providing for yourself as much as possible, speaks to me deeply. I am also fond of firearms and hunting, as another part of a self-sufficient lifestyle in matters of modern means of defence when the state is insufficient to provide thus, and for when game is plentiful to provide sustenance. I am exceedingly fond of travelling, and I see it as the finest way of learning both about yourself and the world (if one has the means to do so). I am a fan of dancing, but I would not consider myself very good. Pottery/sculpting, brewing, cooking, needlecrafts and weaving, traditional photography, candle-making, model-building, pressing wildflowers; making and doing things with your hands that are either practical or for pleasure, I take great delight in. I am deeply pleased by the simple things: reading thoroughly, sleeping restfully, eating heartily, Risalamande, tea, beer, cider, wine, whiskey, akvavit, herbs that are good to smoke, a solidly reliable pair of boots, comfortably warm clothes; perhaps I am something of a Moomintroll or Hobbit at heart, as I certainly find myself favouring similar things! I am also fascinated by the morbid and abandoned: reflecting on last words, collecting the remains of dead animals, reading up on existentialist philosophy, collecting and re-purposing empty glass bottles, reading about the last meals of death row inmates, and others; they draw and keep my attention longer than most. I take great comfort and self-assurance in body modification as well; I always feel as if I have come to own more and more of my own body, so it is something I take no small measure of personal satisfaction from. I am also something of a gamer with vintage consoles, handheld consoles, tabletop games, and PC gaming taking the foreground of this interest.
I maintain several blogs on tumblr: runicbasso (my main/whatever blog), wyrdwanderings (my heathenry blog), whiskeysoakedbandages (my creative inspiration blog), and swampsurvivors (a post-apocalyptic fiction blog). You can reach me by tumblr mail, but also through the private message system on this forum, through Skype, or my private email; the latter two are available upon request.
I am a Norse Heathen, particularly of the Forn Siðr and/or Folketro variety. My tradition in this is drawn from Scandinavian - primarily Danish - folk beliefs, folklore, traditions and cosmology, as well as the revivalist/reconstructionist viewpoints of Åsatro (although I would not personally identify myself as specifically as the latter if asked). Side-note: Do not mistake the term "folketro" for "folkish" or any variety thereof. Folketro is tradition derived from folk beliefs, folkism is derived from self-gratifying bigots. Moving on.
I have been on a spiritual journey of growing pains and wonderful experiences for what must be going on 12-14 years. Specifically within Heathenry, I mean. Prior to that, my strongest ties to any remotely spiritual context was of Muscogee animism, although I have not felt comfortable in maintaining active ties with tribal affiliations and politics for a long time now. Otherwise in my formative years my earliest concept of divinity was very much an animist one. These have helped shape my personal system of beliefs as they are now, which can be categorised as reconstructionist polytheism with pantheist and animist associations. I am bound to Óðinn by oath, but have strong ties with and practices related to Frigg, Brage, Loke, Jörð, Óðr, Frøya, Frøy, Njörðr, Æge, Yme, Heiðr, Hjuke and Bil, Mani, Sól, Såga, the Norner, the Vættir, and the Dísir. I practice Seiðr, Galdr, Spådom (Spá), and Trolldom. I also practice a number of other relevant mystical traditions, and am willing to answer any questions on the matter. My personal spiritual pathway is that of the Seiðberendr, and I aspire someday to achieve the station of a Völva. My religious traditions directly intersect with my queerness, of which I will be glad to elaborate at a later time or upon request. I am also very invested in the composition of Heathen sacred music, as I feel we could always use more reasons to sing.
I value good scholarly merit above all else so, please, cite your sources and don’t bullshit others. While I'm at it, here are my academic leanings: I am currently finishing my Bachelor's of Music in performance with an emphasis in Music History and Musicology, and soon enough will be progressing into my Master's-level studies, and onward. My primary instrument is my classical training as a vocalist, but prior to this I had over ten years training as a horn player, and I am also sufficiently knowledgeable in how to play the dulcimer, lyre, talharpa, end-blown flute, drone flute, concertina, bagpipes, keyboard instruments, and a number of folk percussive instruments. While I am pursuing an active career as a classically-trained singer, I am also in pursuit of one as an academic in the fields of ethnomusicology, folklore, music history, and cultural musicology. A major portion of my interests deal with the intersection of gender and music, and I have pursued such topics as women composers, transgender musicians in history and the modern period, gender and voice type, and so on.
Politically speaking, I am passionate about a number of things. These things include, but are not limited to: concerns affecting First Nations/Indigenous peoples, intersectional feminism, transqueer politics, antifa activism, nazi hunting, police-watching, interfaith cooperation, the privacy and agency of the citizenry, and environmentalism. As far as labels are concerned, I suppose I am centrist-leaning, anti-statist, and anarcho-tribalist. I am not affiliated with any national or international Heathen organisation, and certainly none in North America. Staying far, far away from that quagmire.
I enjoy writing. More specifically, fiction and poetry; I upkeep blogs for that on tumblr if you're interested. I am quite fond of homesteading, domestic agriculture, self-sufficient/simple living, and tiny houses; the act of living deliberately and within one's means, providing for yourself as much as possible, speaks to me deeply. I am also fond of firearms and hunting, as another part of a self-sufficient lifestyle in matters of modern means of defence when the state is insufficient to provide thus, and for when game is plentiful to provide sustenance. I am exceedingly fond of travelling, and I see it as the finest way of learning both about yourself and the world (if one has the means to do so). I am a fan of dancing, but I would not consider myself very good. Pottery/sculpting, brewing, cooking, needlecrafts and weaving, traditional photography, candle-making, model-building, pressing wildflowers; making and doing things with your hands that are either practical or for pleasure, I take great delight in. I am deeply pleased by the simple things: reading thoroughly, sleeping restfully, eating heartily, Risalamande, tea, beer, cider, wine, whiskey, akvavit, herbs that are good to smoke, a solidly reliable pair of boots, comfortably warm clothes; perhaps I am something of a Moomintroll or Hobbit at heart, as I certainly find myself favouring similar things! I am also fascinated by the morbid and abandoned: reflecting on last words, collecting the remains of dead animals, reading up on existentialist philosophy, collecting and re-purposing empty glass bottles, reading about the last meals of death row inmates, and others; they draw and keep my attention longer than most. I take great comfort and self-assurance in body modification as well; I always feel as if I have come to own more and more of my own body, so it is something I take no small measure of personal satisfaction from. I am also something of a gamer with vintage consoles, handheld consoles, tabletop games, and PC gaming taking the foreground of this interest.
I maintain several blogs on tumblr: runicbasso (my main/whatever blog), wyrdwanderings (my heathenry blog), whiskeysoakedbandages (my creative inspiration blog), and swampsurvivors (a post-apocalyptic fiction blog). You can reach me by tumblr mail, but also through the private message system on this forum, through Skype, or my private email; the latter two are available upon request.
From what I know of you, you are well on your way.
