Many Pagans choose to support expanded social programs, open borders, and a level financial field for all businesses, regardless of how much each earns. They promote across-the-board global environmental rules, and what they see as kids being raised by a whole community. More than one person has questioned how I can support conservative political stances and candidates, since I am a Pagan. Before anyone (else) jumps, let me clarify that I mean Pagan, not neo-Pagan. To me, “Heathen” fits quite comfortably under the blanket term, “Pagan.” And, because I feel, for now, that certain people deserve an explanation rather than the “go blow” response that comes to mind first, here is a bit more of an answer than I have given.

A recent Target store debacle has people up in arms. Target donated a large amount to an organization that supports Tom Emmer, a conservative candidate for Minnesota governor who has stood against gay marriage. Many are calling for a boycott of Target. This has me buying even things I would normally buy elsewhere at Target. Why? Not because of Tom Emmer’s stance on gay marriage, but because Target’s money, like that of other businesses, went to an organization that supports candidates most in tune with business. It’s not about gay marriage. Target actually has fair employee policies, and it wouldn’t even exist to have them if it didn’t put business first. The outrage over this is more of the same political mudslinging I’ve grown weary of. Yes, the CEO of Target, valuing his business, donated to a candidate who stands up for business. Which brings me to this point.

We support and vote for what we value most. I value freedom most, not just for me, but into the future for my kids and my grandchild, and beyond. While other issues are very important, without freedom there is no way to take them up. There are certain things a government, working for its people, should not be allowed to do. One is to force people to purchase a product or service for simply being born. For existing. This is an example of turning citizens themselves into products. Into slaves. I value protecting our borders, since a country and its local communities cannot grow when they have been invaded and are under attack from within. When we have freedom and are standing on secure ground, we are strong enough to focus on other issues.

Those who question you about your politics being against your religion are often the most outspoken against religion mixed with government. And what we’re voting on is government. The disputed political issues involve government. On the related question of how a Pagan can vote for a very open Christian? Those we elect to our government are, like the rest of us, human, and many adhere to a religion. They are influenced by their individual religions. So the important thing, all that really matters when it comes to this, is to keep everyone from having to adhere to one person’s religion. We need to keep religion out of our regulations and out of our government practices, but not out of the people who believe it. I will vote for an extremely open Christian if we agree on the issues most important to me, and I will stand against them when and if they try to infuse laws with religion. Since the thing most important to me is freedom, at least my hands won’t be tied by an administration that seeks to regulate every breath, and I will still have the ability to act.

I feel that my ancestors would be more respected by my striving to keep the freedoms they fought for, to be responsible for my own, and by my using the common sense and intelligence passed to me from them than they would by my handing these treasures to others. Individuals are the building blocks of community. Strong individuals equal strong community. Strong community equals a better future for our kids and grandkids. One look at my grandson is how I can reconcile my views that fall on either the conservative side or the liberal side with my beliefs.

There’s a recent post by Steve McNallen on the AFA’sMySpace about “Asatru and the Childless.” It’s an excellent post that deals with questions surrounding those without children in a belief system that focuses much on ancestors and descendants.

Well I’ve been blessed with three children and one grandchild. It wasn’t a given. My husband and I were told, once upon a time when we knew we weren’t ready for children, not to worry, that I would not be able to ever have kids. Nope. It could. not. happen. And not long after I had settled into spoiling a cat as my child, the doctor was calling to say there were “abnormal cells” in one of my tests. Those “abnormal cells” are a beautiful young lady now, the mother of my grandson. She’ll probably slug me for sharing that story.

Point being, we have been fortunate. The blog post has me thinking more deeply about another issue that sometimes crosses my mind, and that is how I’ve raised my kids. There hasn’t been a religious focus in our household. This is because there isn’t just one firm set of religious beliefs here. Whatever my husbands reasons have been for not steering the kids in a particular direction, my reasons have been respect for him and, mostly, wanting my children to believe something because they truly do believe after having a good look around. I didn’t want to cram something down their throats.

With my own religious and spiritual journey it wouldn’t have made much sense anyway. It’s hard to come to Paganism from a Christian background somewhat later in life and yet be able to guide your kids toward some defined thing.

At this point it bothers me, a little. But… my youngest has always taken an interest in what I’m doing, and most especially in learning about the “why’s.” And each of our kids has learned the most important thing ever. That’s to question and to think. With that in place alongside the wonderful people they are, everything seems just as it “should” be.

Here’s a thought on folkish religion. I’d say “Asatru,” rather than the broader “religion,” but it’s impossible for me to only consider the one path in this matter. There are many religious belief systems in the world, and many of these are regional or ethnic. None is better or truer than the others.

Striving to be true to the Gods and ways of one’s ancestry does not in and of itself make one afraid of foreign practices, nor does it make one a racist. It is possible and even common practice to admire and respect customs that are not one’s own. I think one will find a strong personal connection, though, with the traditions and beings of his own heritage.

I’m not an expert on religion or spirituality, but am well-practiced at putting things just wrongly enough to raise eyebrows, so that is all. For now.

The Sleepy Eye boy who is refusing chemotherapy treatment for his cancer is missing, and so is his mother. This was discovered Tuesday, when only the boy’s father showed up for a scheduled court appearance. The family had been ordered by the court to get chemotherapy for the boy, who has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Tests have shown the cancer diminishing with an initial chemo treatment, but spreading with natural treatments alone. The family is refusing chemotherapy in favor of “Native American healing practices called Nemenhah.”

Natural therapies and medicines are often a healthier, more effective route than trips to the clinic or pharmacy. Many modern medicines and treatments are derived from common plants that any one of us could harvest. There’s nothing wrong with praying to your God(s) for good health, and hope alone may give a patient the strength to heal.

Religion and its practices ought to grow with the times. As discoveries and advances in medicine are made, religion shouldn’t stand in the way of those that can save lives that couldn’t have been saved in times gone by.

A thorough blindfolding and brainwashing will surely stand in the way. These parents have been wearing blindfolds, and their 13-year-old son has probably not lived enough years to know much different than they have taught him. Certainly not enough years to make this huge decision without responsible parental guidance.

I hope Mom decides to come back and get the best treatment possible for her son. We have the right and the duty as parents to guide and raise our children, but we don’t have the right to abuse them. We have the right to make health care decisions for them, but we should not have the right to deny them reasonable, life-saving treatments.

Add your voice to the call for Thor’s Hammer to be an option on military headstones. Visit the Asatru Military Family Support Program website and click “sign petition,” or go directly to the petition and sign. No matter what your religious beliefs are, all Americans should believe in and stand for freedom, including freedom to believe as you do. Our warriors who have fallen in the name of freedom deserve to be honored and to have Mjollnir on their headstones if that would honor their wishes. Let’s not squander their brave deeds and great sacrifice on pettiness and oppression.

Keep this effort moving ahead. Spread the word! Again, the links:

• Asatru Military Family Support Program
• Hammer Project petition

Books have to be my main source of information on Heathenism past and present, and it’s difficult for this “babe in the woods” to find accurate, reliable reads on the topic. “The Poetic Edda,” Carolyne Larrington’s translation, is one I can’t set aside for long. The opening notes in this book are helpful and thorough, and seem to be well founded. I have noticed slight variations of the wording from what others quote of different, trusted translations, but the gist of it is the same. While offering insight to old, and therefore new Norse and Heathen practices and beliefs, it’s more interesting to me than the purely for entertainment novel I got for “Christmas.” Already dog-eared, this copy of the Poetic Edda is one I will read often.

Soon after picking up a copy of “The Rites of Odin,” by Ed Fitch, and cracking the cover, I noticed the faint smell of… crap. This author obviously wants to turn Heathenism into Wicca. Not to slam Wicca in the least, but when you order fried chicken and the waiter brings you chicken fried steak, it’s a disappointment. Unfortunately, I can’t return the book to the store and request that the author rewrite it.

As the title implies, the largest part of this book offers step-by-step group and solitary rites. It seems to me this section almost mirrors many Witchcraft and Wicca books from the same publisher. Nothing is noted to support the reasoning behind performing these rituals in such a manner. Along with the too abundant “magical, mystical” wording, it leads me to mistrust these and most of the rest of the pages.

Two things that may be helpful are near the end of the book. There is a section on crafting some items and on brewing mead. When life isn’t so “colorful” here, I’ll have to try it. Also, there is a long list of principal sagas that I’ll surely reference while searching for more reading. From a different source.

(Read the rest of this post…)