British Anglo-Saxxon Middle Earth

Travels Through Middle Earth: The Path of a Saxon Pagan by Alaric Albertsson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am familiar with Asatru and the Heathen religion taken from the perspective of the Scandinavians and Icelanders. The original follower of the Norse deities were all pretty much Germanic or Anglo-Saxon. This book offers a beginner course from the view point of British Anglo-Saxon practice. For the most part is much the same. Rituals are very similar. The most glaring difference though is how they pronounce their words. For example Odin is not called Odin but he is rather called Woden. Freya is called Freyo, Freyer her brother is called Ing. Asguard is pronounced "Osgeard" (Osyard). Heimdall is called Hama. In Saxon heathenry Freo (the Goddess ) is barely mentioned if at all an has hardly any places named after her in England.

I think it is pertinent to point out that Anglo-Saxon culture has pretty much defined British Religion, Spirituality and ethos. Politics have been the cause of people trying to name everything Celtic. This denial came as a result of German involvement in World War one and two. It was from Anglo-Saxon mythology that Tolkien received much of his inspiration from Anglo-Saxon Lore. For example the ents, those walking tree, were actually giants called Ettins who had a world of their own. They were not interested in the world of humans or Middle Earth at all.

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