Am I Still a Norse Pagan? | (After 7 Years of Practice)

This old pagan from the USA have studied Celtic, Nordic, and some Native American paganism, being guided by my ancestors, which are Celtic, Nordic and Native American. In my 68 years, I have found that there are more similarities than differences and have "blended" the traditions to fit me better. I'm mixed, so should my spiritual path. Some people are obsessed with purity of traditions, but true spirituality must evolve with the humans practicing them.

It's not just Norse, Thor and Odin where known throughout all of Northern Europe, the Norse just held out against the Christians longer then the rest... So yes, any Middle, to Northern European descended person can follow this, because they have ancestors waiting for them on the other side... Because this is overall ancestor worship, the gods are our ancestors, they are not separate from us...

Jacob, it's only natural to deepen and expand and "open" your practice. We did (at first) get drawn to your channel bc of Norse Paganism, but the longer we are on this Path, the older (and wiser and more experienced) we get, we realize that Paganism is more than just following old (and dare I say outdated) traditions. It's growing your practice and evolving yourself through that path. You are one of the rarest (Pagan) content creators, if not THE only one who has continuously evolved, and not just by yourself, but you have taken us on your journey and helped us evolve and learn with you! Expanding your consciousness and never stopping learning is (from my humble pov) EXACTLY what Odinnism is and following the 'path of Odinn'. Haters gonna hate bc their mind is unable to broaden and expand. It's simple as that. Kudos to you and your (holy) work!

I’ve Been watching since you used to start your videos with “I’m a norse pagan” I think that’s what drew me in, your conviction. Following your journey to find your calling is amazing and an inspiration ✨ So looking forward to the videos about Ireland, All my ancestors are pretty much Irish descent as-well as Isle of Man (which I believe has some amazing viking archaeology) and really feel the pull to visit both places. Wishing you all the best on your amazing journey ✨

I've been watching your videos for years now. I have to say this video shows so much personal growth and being down to earth. It shows that that getting out and traveling/studying really improves ones perspective on life and the environment around them. Well done sir!

I really appreciated this video Jacob. Our faith should evolve as we grow deeper into our practice. I would describe myself as "expanding". Shamanism practices, and ancestor veneration have become the dominant forces in my faith in the present, but the Gods are also very important to me. North America, predominantly, is made up of people from mixed ancestry so it only makes sense for us North American Norse Pagans to feel drawn to a variety of places and maybe a variety of old Gods from many different pantheons. I don't think the old Gods mind us reaching out to the deities of our ancestors when we go into our practice with good intention. I don't think that our ancestors collectively practiced exactly the same way from group to group. How could they? Their day to day spiritual practices happened in their homes, with their families and THAT was passed down from the parents to the children for generations. The sagas remained the same perhaps...but I think there was far more work being done with local spirits and ancestors than there was work being done with the Gods EXCEPT for certain times of the year when specific Gods were venerated (like for Spring planting, Fall harvest, Summer and Winter Solstice, etc.). In their homes they found what worked and went with it using herbal knowledge, the sagas, and environmental observation as their guides. So I am on the same page as you my friend. ❤

As I was watching, the rains started coming down hard!. So I opened up my door and put the screen across so I could hear, feel, and smell the rain. Then I yelled out thanking Creator, Mother Earth and my Kin, the rain! It's so beautiful!! I laughed and whooped! So awesome and so fitting that it happened during this video. Thank you so much for sharing. I love your videos. You have evolved tremendously over the years and it makes my heart swell!

Im Norse pagan because I honestly can't argue with the results! Ive dabbled in Wicca and reached out to several pantheons thru the years, but the Norse gods were the first and only to actually reapond ❤

American Celtic folk witch here 🙋‍♀️ the names are quite hard to pronounce lol. It’s actually funny how in order to learn about Celtic paganism you basically need to start learning the language 😂😂 same thing with learning about places in Ireland or Scotland. The original place names are in Gaelic and Gaidhlig and describe the story of the land

I’m so glad I found your page. I appreciate your humility and drive to share your knowledge. Thank you! ♥️🦋🌱

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing with all of us, your intimate spiritual journey. I, for one, agree 💯%

The black crow was crowing in the background when you were speaking in the nature video! I love hearing them crow! Blessed be! ❤❤❤❤

Wow Jacob I'm so proud of you and how you are evolving. So much path has been walked since your beginnings. You are litterally blooming with your journeys. It's truely beautiful to see and to follow❤ the term wisdom has never been so accurate for your page

Absolutely love the direction(s) your path has taken you and the content you create from it. 💚

I started in Wicca in 1986 at the age of 11. I've since studied and been part of several paths, including Norse heathenry, Celtic paganism, druidry, shamanism, and Trad Craft. All of them have helped shape who and what I am, but for the reasons you've outlined here, I've always gravitated back to witchcraft. Mostly a form of Folk/Trad Craft because it takes into account ALL the cultures and practices that went into making the cultures that all my ancestors came from all the way down to me here today, but as you say, we can't really ever fully escape all the influences upon us both individually and culturally/collectively so there is bound to be some of the other paths' methods intermixed into my practice of Trad Craft, including aspects of the Wicca I started with, and I'm perfectly ok with that. If anyone has a problem with the way I do things, then they can take their hubris before the Gods to tell Them why They shouldn't bother blessing me as They've been doing all these years, and they can let me know how that turned out for them lol.

Congrats on staying with it. You look so much happier and healthier with your travels. I like how you show offerings but also take time for yourself off camera to have a spiritual experience. Hail Freyja ❤

i havent tuned in in a while, its a delight to see you really bringing it all together. you are really doing it for yourself! HAILZ

There's much to be said for looking for common threads! For the past few years I've been making a study of the Celtic Triads, The Havamal and excerpts from the works of Gree and Roman philosophers. There is considerable common ground in terms of values and counsel, for example: honor the gods, revere your ancestors, pursue personal excellence, build up your community, practice hospitality--and that's just for starters. As Americans, we are "transplants" and we are genetically and culturally blended in a way that is truly unique. For those reasons (and others) I think the best path forward (to say nothing of the most practical way forward) is for us to look for the lessons and principles of the past--but stay focused on where and who we are in the here and now. Build on the basis of the blending that has already taken place and prioritize forming the bond with the land we live on (as our settle ancestors omitted to do!). Really and truly, I do believe this to be the work and task of Pagans living in the present day (at least in the States). Authenticity can't simply be a matter of looking at the past and trying to "copy & paste" to the best of available knowledge. The traditions and customs we establish amongst ourselves--today--is the foundation future Pagans will look back on. It is authentic for American Pagans to draw upon their whole heritage and build around the commonalities of it. We all experience the changing of the seasons--even if there are different names for similar celebrations and even if we're called to work with different gods. The Seasonal change itself is what we hold in common. The whispers of the land we dwell on is what we hold in common. The desire for Paganism to take it's proper place in the world is what we hold in common. Surely those major factors are enough for us to form lasting bonds, and allowing our differences to become points of interests rather than irreconcilable differences.

Hey Jacob, I think your video is very well done and I appreciate the work put into them. The quality, scenery, all of it. I myself am going through some stages, Atheism, Agnostic, Christian, Islam, Norse Paganism, and Pantheism. I haven't really decided for myself which I believe in or disbelieve in but I find videos like these to help along the journey. Either way I try to live a life of kindness and humor, never taking anything to serious and always treating people respectfully. I have no idea on where I will land when my time on death's door comes, and I don't think that is a problem for myself anyway. Life is living, not worrying about where you might go after. Anyway, thanks again for the work you put into these and I hope your journey's are filled with joy and good food!

I love your videos, whether they're totally Norse Pagan or not. I have a lot of Celtic roots, so it's really nice to see your Celtic Paganism videos, too, and I love your take on Shamanism. You've inspired me to research Shamanism as a potential additional practice in my spirituality. Your worldview is refreshing, as well. ❤