Heathenry is a term used to describe the religious practices of two main groups of people, one historical and one modern. A Heathen religious ceremony is known as a Blòt.
The original Heathens were the pre-Christian North European peoples who lived a thousand and more years ago in the lands around what is now called the North Sea. These included the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England, Scandinavia, Germany and Frisia (Modern day Belgium and the Netherlands).
Modern Heathen groups around the world are reviving these old practices under various names including Asatru, The Northern Tradition, Forn Sed, Germanic Pagan Reconstructionism or, simply, Heathenry. In Iceland, which did not convert to Christianity until the 11th Century, Heathenry has once again become an official (nationally recognised) religion, and there are groups and individuals working for the same level of recognition in many other countries. Heathens work to build healthy relationships with Gods and Goddesses, ancestors, spirits of the land, and others in their communities, both through holy rites and through their day-to-day actions.
Join Kieran Gregson, founder of Heathens of Lothian, to learn more about this ancient religious practice, and experience a typical modern Heathen Blòt.
Reviving the Ancient: Experience a modern Heathen Blòt and learn about this ancient religious practice