by Steven P Robinson

Created on: June 06, 2010

As a practitioner of Asatrú since mid-1989 and a seeker for much longer than that, I have run across many varied ways of approaching the Holy, both religious and philosophical.

In my travels, I had occasion to become acquainted with a retro-Heathen manner of worship and society quite different than mine own Icelandic based Asatru; Þéodisc Geléafa - Théodish Belief.

From the manner in which I conducted myself, both in person and in correspondence, Garman Lord, who founded Théodism in 1976, invited me as the first Asatrú visitor to a Théodish Gathering in several years.  It was Litha (Midsummer) in 1999 and I got to see the workings of Théodism close up, from their societal by-play to a testing and initiation for one of their clergymen.

Garman said that I had the best grasp of Théodism of any non-Théodsman he'd ever met.  I told him it was because I had grown up in a remnant Anglo-Saxon Yeomanry culture in rural New England.

In late 1999, I wrote an extensive review of his book about Théodism, "The Way Of The Heathen."

That being said...

Théodism is at its most basic, a recreation and rebirth of the pre-Christian Beliefs, Faith, Religion, Society and Culture of the Angles and Saxons who settled in Great Britain beginning on and around 446 CE.

It is Retro-Heathen; that is, a recreation based upon the available folk lore, history, archaeological evidence and scholarly interpretation with a mind to being as authentic as possible.  In Garman's worldview as presented to me, one can not be fully Théodish unless one is willing to immerse oneself in the mindset and heartset that made the worldview in the first place.

Théodism is as hierarchical as the original society it seeks to emulate.

One starts as a Learner, Skalk or Thrall, depending upon Tribe.

Tribe: a side note here...Théodish Folk will look to their ancestors and settle on a Tribal Folk whose particular culture, language and customs they think will enable them to advance as a group in the best way possible.  Garman's Winland Ricé (Vinland Kingdom) was decidedly Anglo-Saxon in nature.  Other Théods have been based on: Continental Saxons, Frisians, Normans, Jutes, Goths, to name a few.  The Anglo-Saxon groups have the oldest and longest lasting lineage in Théodism.

Once one has successfully gotten through the Learning process, one gains the "Freedom of the Ricé."

A Freeman can swear a Hold Oath, pledge of support and fealty, to a Sergeant/Thane, Lord/Hlaford, Earl/Jarl, Prince/Aetheling or King.  This can, in many ways, be looked upon as the origins of Feudalism, with its vows, vassalage and fee hierarchy.

One's place in this hierarchy is not necessarily static, as merit promotion is the norm.  Accomplish a lot and you'll be accorded a greater share of honor; accomplish little and stay little.

One thing which quite struck me about Théodish practice as I was their guest, a love of poetry and song, in their entertainments and in their religious observances.  An important concept I learned from them is the idea of the Poetic Significance of occurrences.  It sparked my own return to using poetry as a mode of expression, both sacral and profane.

I'll not amplify more, as the other articles cover much of the ground in an adequate manner.

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