Wayward Wanderer (Ryan Smith)

Frigga and Freya are two of the most prominent Goddesses in modern Nordic practice, but is it possible they are both the same deity? Join your host for a discussion of both of these Powers, the differences between hard and soft polytheism, and more!

Wolves and their imagery are very popular in modern Heathen and Pagan practice. What they represent, in myth and history, tells a much deeper story about the relationships between modern society and the natural world. Join your host for this journey spanning continents and centuries.

CW: Discussions of genocide, ecocide, and colonialism.

Things in the US are looking quite a bit more fascist dystopia lately. Join your host for a dive into the different strains of the modern US Right, how they are related and connected to Folkish Heathenry, and what the experiences of inclusive Heathens can offer for the broader challenges facing society.

Recommended Reading, Listening, and Viewing:

Alt America by David Neiwert

American Rule by Jared Yates Sexton

The Power Worshipers by Katherine Stewart

Bringing the War Home by Kathleen Belew

Fascism Today: What it is and How to End It by Shane Burley

American Fascism: How the GOP is Subverting Democracy by Brynn Tannehill

Hitler's American Model by James Q. Whitman

Behind the Police podcast miniseries hosted by Robert Evans and rap artist Propaganda

The Family on Netflix

Welcome to the episode that answers some of the questions about ecstatic practice that you may have been afraid to ask! Join your host for a discussion of techniques, tools, and tips for reaching the ecstatic state and using altered states of consciousness as part of your practice.

Welcome to the episode where I start dipping my toes into the vast ocean that is mutual aid. Join your host for a brief jaunt through what this is, why we need it, how it is as Heathen as the Eddas, and more!

Links:

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/petr-kropotkin-mutual-aid-a-factor-of-evolution

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8653332/

https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/asap.12275

https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2020/10/california-mutual-aid-networks-pandemic-relief/

https://pdx.eater.com/2020/9/11/21431328/restaurants-helping-oregon-fires

For news and information:

https://itsgoingdown.org/

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-it-could-happen-here-30717896/

Welcome to the episode where I start dipping my toes into the vast ocean that is mutual aid. Join your host for a brief jaunt through what this is, why we need it, how it is as Heathen as the Eddas, and more!

Links:

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/petr-kropotkin-mutual-aid-a-factor-of-evolution

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8653332/

https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/asap.12275

https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2020/10/california-mutual-aid-networks-pandemic-relief/

https://pdx.eater.com/2020/9/11/21431328/restaurants-helping-oregon-fires

For news and information:

https://itsgoingdown.org/

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-it-could-happen-here-30717896/

CW: Discussions of religious violence, sexual assault, and colonization of the Sami peoples

What if someone told you the Vikings were a key player in destroying pre-Christian Nordic spirituality? Join your host for a conversation on how this happened, why this is important to modern Heathens, what we can learn, and more!

Who is interested in talking about some angry dead? Join your host for a spooktober special on the draugr, the Nordic world's walking corpses, what moves them, where they dwell, what they are like, and what they tell us about animistic views of death and the world.

Everything is getting a bit hot in the United States of America, but how bad could it really get? Join your host for a walk through America's history of moral panics, political purges, and some more modern parallels that may help answer that question.

CW: Frank discussion of transphobic and anti-LGBT violence, historical racial violence, anti-Semitism, and the far-right

Yule is the most important holiday of the year for modern Heathens. Join your host for a journey through the history of Yule, its origins, some ancient practices, and for a brief bout of wrestling with the age-old debate: how much did Christmas take from Yule?

Welcome to the second foray into the craft and art of history. Join your host for a deeper dive into how historians work with primary sources, what they mean, and some of the major cautions that any scholar engaging with such material should heed.


https://www.livinganthropologically.com/archaeology/guns-germs-and-steel-jared-diamond/

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/08/03/guns-germs-and-steel-reconsidered

https://reviews.history.ac.uk/review/51

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6DiA_7AjcU

https://www.arnastofnun.is/is/konungsbok-eddukvaeda-gks-2365-4to

Over the course of the past year, far right violence and action has become more aggressive and visible than ever. From drag shows and children's hospitals to coup plots on two continents, there is no question the forces unleashed by Trump and Bolsonaro aren't going away anytime soon. This month your host will be conducting a short-run special series on the current state and shape of the far right. Tune in beginning February 7th for interviews with Heathens, antifascists, exvangelicals, and more on where the Far Right is, what they're up to, and what we can expect.

Welcome to Part 1 of Streams of Resistance, a Wayward Wanderer special limited series. In this episode, we dive in to the state of the Far Right in 2023, the antifascist response, where everything might be going, and what you can do about it with Shane Burley, author of Fascism Today: What it is and How to End It, and Alexander Reid Ross, author of Against the Fascist Creep.

Welcome to Part 2 of Streams of Resistance, a Wayward Wanderer special limited series. In this episode, we dig in to the world of modern Nordic spirituality, also often known as Heathenry, who have long been seen by mainstream society as a major source of Far Right extremism. Tune in to find out how true that actually is with Rune Rasmussen, creator of the Nordic Animism YouTube channel, Scott Earnest, former white nationalist and founder of Hands of Eir, and Eric O. Scott, writer and editor at the Wild Hunt.

Welcome to Part 3 of Streams of Resistance, a Wayward Wanderer special limited series. In this episode, we dive into Christian Nationalism, their favored methods and recent successes, the exvangelical movement, what to expect, and how we can fight back featuring Blake Chastain, writer of the Post-Exvangelical Post newsletter and host of the Exvangelical and Powers & Principalities podcasts.

Welcome to Part 4 of Streams of Resistance, a Wayward Wanderer special limited series. In this episode, we find out more about eco-fascism, fossil fuel fascism, what these are, how they are connected to climate change, and what we can do about them featuring Steve Ongerth, co-founder of the IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus and long-time environmental activist.

Welcome to Part 5 of Streams of Resistance, a Wayward Wanderer special limited series. In this episode, we will be finding out more about the relationship between the far right and elements of law enforcement featuring Austin Lawrence, criminologist and co-founder and Steward of Raven's Knoll.

Welcome to Part 6 of Streams of Resistance, a Wayward Wanderer special limited series. In this episode, we will be discussing the far right in the US armed forces featuring Dreya Taylor, a long-term active duty US Navy sailor and anti-racist Heathen.

Welcome to Part 7 of Streams of Resistance, a Wayward Wanderer special limited series. In this episode, I sit back down with Scott Earnest, founder of Hands of Eir and a former white nationalist, to talk about dogwhistles, a rhetorical tactic that is very commonly used by the Right and Far Right.

Ragnarok is, without a doubt, one of the most well-known of the Nordic Myths. Join your host for a dive into why it matters, what it signifies, its possible influences, and more!

Welcome to a special episode on how trans identity and Heathenry. Joining your host are three trans practitioners describing their reasons why they Heathen spirituality appeals to them, how they feel Heathen lore is trans-positive, and what allies can do in these times of growing danger for trans people everywhere.

GoFundMe for Dee Shull: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dqhtp-raise-money-for-rent-and-bills?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Developing relationships with Gods is a major element of Pagan and Heathen spirituality. Join your host for a dive into some dos and don'ts, the possibility of holding to no Gods at all, why having a relationship with a God does not grant anyone special power or authority, and more!

Welcome to the episode where we really get the ball rolling on why social justice ideas should be incorporated in your Heathen spirituality and the ways that existing Heathen concepts gel really well with them. It will also discuss why the whole, "don't get political" argument has nothing to stand on, especially in these times.


https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/politics-and-religion/article/abs/political-profile-of-us-pagans/5EBF4A0BCFCB4B96FDC235505F5A9A16

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-mayor-food-not-bombs-17839562.php

https://www.vice.com/en/article/7bmwgq/jesus-christ-king-of-poland-876

https://thefederalist.com/2019/09/26/climate-worship-is-nothing-more-than-rebranded-paganism/

https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/child-sacrifice-is-nothing-new

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/montana-lawmaker-suggests-she-d-rather-risk-child-s-suicide-than-allow-her-to-transition-171661893607

The Jötnar are one of the most controversial groups of the Nordic Gods. Treated as demons by some and often maligned in many discussions of Nordic myth, these Powers of the wilderness are more than meets the eye. Join your host for an introduction to these beings and how Heathen practice benefits from integrating them into your spirituality.

The Havamal is the most important of the surviving primary source texts for understanding Heathen ethical philosophy, morality, and practice. This episode dives into this saga, its form, contents, and what we can learn from it today. What you will find may surprise you.

Welcome to the episode where we talk about the elephant in the room: what is Paganism? Join your host for a conversation about the new religious movement that Heathenry is a part of, the factors behind its emergence, why people are attracted to it, and more!

https://thefederalist.com/2019/09/26/climate-worship-is-nothing-more-than-rebranded-paganism/

Welcome to a spooky season offering on some of the creepier creatures in Nordic myth. Join your host for a little visit with trolls, huldra, nokken, nattmara, cryptids, and more!

CW: This episode deals with conspiracy theory, the origins of racism and whiteness, colonialism, genocide, anti-Semitism, and other related topics. Listener discrection is advised.

Can myth, as it is understood in Heathenry and Paganism, help us better tackle the problem of conspiracy theory? Join your host and find out as we explore how myth can help us better understand conspiracy theories, why conspiracy theories are so appealing, and how they twist reality to reinforce themselves as shown by the history of the white genocide myth.

Sources:

Online:
https://theintercept.com/2016/06/06/in-1971-muhammad-ali-helped-undermine-the-fbis-illegal-spying-on-americans/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exxon-knew-about-climate-change-almost-40-years-ago/
https://knowledgefight.libsyn.com/865-chatting-with-anna-merlan
https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/racist-obsession-south-african-white-genocide
https://www.adl.org/resources/report/hate-beyond-borders-internationalization-white-supremacy#canadian-influencers
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/05/13/conservatisms-wunderkind-is-getting-swallowed-by-the-far-right/ https://theconversation.com/politiques-identitaires-et-mythe-du-grand-remplacement-117471 https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/white-supremacists-praise-rep-steve-kings-racist-tweet https://twitter.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1282320656500174848
https://www.mediamatters.org/laura-ingraham/laura-ingraham-vote-republican-or-you-will-be-replaced-immigrants https://www.mediamatters.org/jeanine-pirro/fox-host-jeanine-pirro-pushes-white-supremacist-great-replacement-conspiracy-theory https://www.businessinsider.com/tucker-carlson-endorses-white-supremacist-replacement-conspiracy-theory-2021-4
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13548565221091983
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2018/11/29/tucker-carlson-neo-nazi-favorite/ https://www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-institute/assets/conspiracy-belief-among-the-uk-public.pdf
https://www.cato.org/blog/new-research-illegal-immigration-crime-0
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2014704117

Books:
Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and Politics of Identity by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism by Mattias Gardell
How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev
White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

Polytheism. It is easily one of the most well-known defining characteristics of Heathen and Pagan spirituality. So what is it and why do modern people find it to be so appealing? Join your host for a deep dive into what polytheism is and why it holds meaning for modern practitioners.

2024 has definitely started with the world in a messy place. Join your host for a walk through how our increasingly tumultuous world may impact Heathens and Pagans and, despite all appearances to the contrary, why our movement's may have a brighter future than you think.

Notes:

*Growth of Paganism
https://www.newsweek.com/witchcraft-wiccans-mysticism-astrology-witches-millennials-pagans-religion-1221019
https://www.christianpost.com/news/witches-outnumber-presbyterians-in-the-us-wicca-paganism-growing-astronomically.html

*Growth of Charismatic Christianity
https://www.csmonitor.com/1987/1223/zheal2.html
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2396939320966220?Tag=security
https://www.gordonconwell.edu/blog/pentecostal-charismatic-christianity/

*Gaza
https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-dropped-as-many-bombs-in-gaza-us-afghanistan-2019-2023-11
*https://www.newsweek.com/gaza-strip-size-us-cities-maps-1833863

In this explainer, Ryan dives into what makes the Nordic Gods what they are. This explainer will cover how all Gods are not the same, the attributes that unite the Nordic Gods and set them apart from other forms of deity, their main groups better known as the Aesir, Vanir, Jotnar, and Others, how they interact, and what this means for modern Heathen and Pagan practitioners.

What could spirituality look like if you remove the concept of ultimate evil? Join your host for an exploration of what a spirituality without ultimate evil might look like, how the concept of the Devil emerged, and why Nordic myth and spirituality have no devils of their own.

*https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/aug/02/book-job-religion-judaism
*https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zhsjscw/revision/6
*https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/history-devil-medieval-art-middle-ages
*https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/06/02/return-to-paradise
*https://www.onblackwings.com/post/christian-bias-in-the-prose-edda

The Wayward Wanderer welcomes Shane Burley back to the pod for a dive into how Richard Spencer of AltRight fame is rebranding by stealing from Dune and Greek myth, fascists ditching Heathenry and the Eddas for highly antisemitic reasons, the infighting plaguing the non-Christian far-right, the Asatru Folk Assembly cannibalizing the Ku Klux Klan, and what Heathens, Pagans, and antifascists can do to fight fascism in 2024.

How is the world made and shaped?  By co-creation, of course!  Join your host for a deep dive into what co-creation is, how it is founded in Wyrd, why it empowers people, and more.

In this explainer, Ryan explores ritual and sacrifice in modern Heathenry. This explainer will cover why ritual is important, what the words sacrifice and offerings tend to mean in modern Pagan and Heathen practices, and the core Heathen rituals and blot and oathmaking.

Welcome to the Aesir episode.  Join Ryan for a short journey through the Aesir's roles as Gods of society, humanity, and community.  Highlights of this episode include naming some of the more well-known Aesir and what they are associated with, the Aesir and war, and the Aesir's place in the grand cosmic drama of Ragnarok.

Hey folks I'm pleased to announce that I will be presenting on confronting white supremacy at the Harvard Divinity School this April!  The event is free to attend, both in-person and online, so please register and find out more at the following link:

https://hds.harvard.edu/faculty-research/programs-and-centers/program-evolution-spirituality

Community.  It can be a source of support and joy, a cause of frustration, and often a mix of both.  Join your host for a walk through the advantages offered by organized community, the state of community and organizing within Heathenry, the causes of cults of personality, more sustainable options for community organizing, and more!

In this episode, your host guides you through the twisting paths of Nordic mysticism.  Along the way, you will learn why modern people engage in mysticism and how seiðr and runework, the two main forms of Heathen mysticism, work. 

Abuse and the toleration of abusive practices in spiritual communities is a significant problem in Paganism and Heathenry, as has been especially shown with Diana Paxson's recent removal from the Troth.  Join your host for a journey through what enables abusive systems, their structures, and what brings about the institutionalization of abuse in communities. 

https://wildhunt.org/2024/05/the-troth-removes-diana-paxson-from-all-positions-in-unanimous-decision.html
http://glassewitchcottage.com/2024/05/13/breaking-the-pedestal/

Welcome to the Vanir episode!  Join Ryan for a short journey through the Vanir's roles as Gods of the liminal, the mystical, and humanity's relationships with the natural world.  Highlights of this episode include naming some of the more well-known Vanir and what they are associated with, the Vanir and magic, and how the Vanir as best understood as deities of relationship and moving between worlds rather than simply as gods of nature.

The shadow, in Jungian psychology, is all of the things about ourselves that we have repressed and refuse to acknowledge as being a part of who we are.  In the case of Heathenry, the core of our collective shadow is our movement's troubled, messy relationship with authority and how it is built.  Join your host for a journey into our shadow, what makes it tick, and how we can resolve these deep problems to build a better, more sustainable Heathenry for all.

Animism.  For some, it is a shorthand for spiritualities that worship what is in the world around them but there's a lot more to this concept than simply worshipping rocks and trees.  Join your host for a journey into what animism is, why it is relevant to Heathen practice, and what it says to a world facing climate crisis.

Click here to schedule a rune reading with Ryan!

Joining us today is author and musician David Bramwell.  Bramwell is a co-creator and producer of The Wicker Man sing-along, the host of the podcast Adventures in Nutopia, author of The Cult of Water, and a member of the Order of Bards, Ovate, and Druids.  We talked about The Wicker Man and its enduring appeal, ecological spirituality, and more!

You can find out more at www.drbramwell.com

The words Pagan and Heathen mean a lot of different things.  In the mouths of modern Pagans & Heathens, they are badges of honor.  For Christians and religious conservatives, they are a shorthand for everything they see as sinful, degenerate, and unholy.  Join your host for a journey into their history, why they matter, and what they say in these times of increasingly aggressive Christian nationalism, Project 2025, and more!

Click here to schedule a rune reading with Ryan!

Sources:

https://wildhunt.org/2024/04/editorial-new-book-is-ripe-with-dangerous-anti-pagan-rhetoric.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/29/opinion/christianity-paganism-woke.html
https://www.ncregister.com/in2:21 PM 7/30/2024terview/post-christendom-and-the-return-of-paganism-in-the-west
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/29/1234843874/tracing-the-rise-of-christian-nationalism-from-trump-to-the-ala-supreme-court
https://globalextremism.org/post/project-2025-a-heightened-threat-of-christian-nationalism-and-authoritarianism/
https://www.au.org/the-latest/church-and-state/articles/destroying-life-and-liberty-a-christian-nationalist-playbook-outlines-a-broad-scheme-to-overthrow-american-democracy-and-install-a-theocracy/

Did you know there are Nordic Gods who stand apart from all the rest?  Join Ryan for an exploration of who the Others are and their strong ties to the most primordial of all forces in the Nordic cosmos.  Highlights of this episode include naming some of the more well-known of the Others, what they are associated with, and how the Others represent the forces that even other Gods heed and respect.

Click here to schedule a rune reading!
Click here for the Jotnar episode

Joining us today is Witch, author and teacher Fio Gede Parma (she/they).  Fio is the author of the newly-released The Witch Belongs to the World, and a teacher in the Reclaiming tradition of Witchcraft.  We talked about her new book, The Witch Belongs to the World, the upcoming Ecstatic Witchcraft, the relationship between Witchcraft and colonialism, and so much more!

The Pagan, Heathen, and Witch movements are very much products of a protest against the modern world.  Join your host for a journey through what modernity is, the place of the Pagan and Heathen movements in our present times, and what we can do to help sew the seeds of new possibility.

Click here to schedule a rune reading with Ryan!

Joining us today is author, Nordic witch, and folk magic practitioner Siri Vincent Plouff (they/them).  Siri is the author of the upcoming Queering the Runes published by Weiser, co-author of Lessons of the Empress with Cassandra Snow, and host of The Heathen's Journey podcast.  We talked about their new book, gender in Nordic myth, runelore, and more!

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

Want to know how Heathens celebrate holidays and why?  Then join Ryan for a journey into the why, how, and what of Heathenry's biggest holidays.  Highlights of this episode include a short trip through the Heathen calendar, some practice tips on doing feasting right, and giving a deeper understanding of the reason for the celebration of the seasons.

Click here to schedule a rune reading with Ryan!
Click here for the Yule episode

Joining us today is author Tim Rayborn!  Tim is a highly prolific author with a PhD from the University of Leeds who has published in history, mythology, and many other topics and has recently published a new book, Northern Mythology: Tales from Norse, Finnish, and Sami Traditions.   We talked all about it, what makes myth true and relevant today, and more!

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

These days, it feels like everything is in a state of crisis.  Join your host for a dive into how Nordic myth addresses the question of systemic crisis through the myth of Ragnarok, our present polycrisis, and whether we can avert the horrors of the Wolf Age and the destruction it promises.

Hatian Community Support and Help Center:

https://www.haitiansupportcenterspringfield.org/

Sources and links:
*https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-22-ragnarok--53067190
*https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160419083247.htm
*https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/03/polycrisis-adam-tooze-historian-explains/
*https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/extreme-weather-climate-change-displaced/
*https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics-2024/
*https://redgreenandblue.org/2024/09/03/klamath-dams-finally-come-freeing-salmon-liberating-indigenous-peoples/
*https://www.sonomacountygazette.com/sonoma-county-news/dillon-ranch-graton-rancheria-land-back/

CW: Extensive discussion of Neo-Nazi ideology and history, terrorism, and other political violence

Joining us today is author and antifascist researcher Spencer Sunshine!  Spencer has a PhD in Sociology, has written extensively on the U.S. Far Right, and has a new book out with Routledge called Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism.  We talked all about the central figure of his work, neo-Nazi ideologue James Mason, Mason's influence on the modern far-right and connections to critical figures in the occult, Pagan, and Satanic far-right, and more!

Boyd Rice: Neo-Nazi Collaborator
Spencer's Patreon 
Routledge Discount Code: nntcf30

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

It's Spooktober, so let's start the month off right with a little explainer about death, dying, and the dead in Heathenry!  Join Ryan for a journey into the why, how, and what of death, dying, and the afterlife in Heathenry.  Highlights of this episode include a short trip through the Heathen hereafters, attitudes towards life and death, and dispelling any notion that your afterlife is a reward or a punishment for how you lived.

Click here to schedule a rune reading with Ryan!

I am taking a break from the usual programming to talk about mutual aid, disaster relief, and disinformation in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

*Mutual Aid
*It Could Happen Here
*Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
*Appalachian Medical Solidarity
*Appalachian Regional Commission Hurricane Helene Resources
*Is Chimney Rock Being Bulldozed?

Ancestor veneration is a major component of modern Heathen spirituality and many forms of Paganism.  Join your host for an exploration of veneration for the dead, the foundations of ancestor worship in modern Heathen practice, how to deal with awful ancestors, and more!

Click here to schedule a rune reading with Ryan!

Many core Pagan and Heathen practices are often described as supernatural, but is that really the right word for what we do?  Join your host for a dive into the origins of the concept of the supernatural, what it implies, and how we could move beyond its logic of separation and isolation.

Click here to schedule a rune reading with Ryan!

Hey everyone I'm holding a special live online Q&A with Shane Burley this Thursday, October 31st at 5PM PST!


Join me, the author of "The Way of Fire & Ice" and "Spinning Wyrd", for a live Q&A with Shane Burley, co-author of "Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism" and author of "Fascism Today: What it is and How to End It", on antisemitism today, antisemitism in the Pagan community, and how Pagan and Jewish communities can resist the conspiratorial Right and rising Christian Nationalism through unity and solidarity.


If you would like to participate in this live, online event then please register now using the following form:


https://forms.gle/jwPSCqopmp4hCMd69

Election 2024 is only days away and the choices couldn't be more stark.  Join your host for a walkthrough of what is at stake, why we need to reinforce the sandbags holding back the fascist flood, and more!

Project for a New American Century:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/10/decades-after-9-11-what-became-of-the-uss
Project 2025:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bTpbDL5dcgProject Esther:
https://religiondispatches.org/heritage-foundations-christian-nationalist-project-esther-wont-combat-antisemitism-but-it-will-weaponize-jews/ 
https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

On October 31st, Ryan hosted a livestream and Q&A with Shane Burley, co-author of "Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism" and author of "Fascism Today: What it is and How to End It", on antisemitism today, antisemitism in the Pagan community, and how Pagan and Jewish communities can resist the conspiratorial Right and rising Christian Nationalism through unity and solidarity.

You can also watch the livestream on YouTube here!

Shane's article on antisemitism in American Paganism: https://safetythroughsolidarity.substack.com/p/antisemitism-and-the-american-pagan

You can purchase Shane's book here!

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

Hey everyone I'd like to make some updates on what is coming from this podcast and let you all know about ways you can help support my work.  Please tune in to find out what's coming in 2025 for the Wayward Wanderer and more!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/waywardwanderer
Calendly: https://calendly.com/ryan-fireandice/reading-appointment
Classes: www.onblackwings.com/classes

How reality is made and functions is a central concept in every form of spirituality. Join your host for a journey into the intricate dance of creation and destruction that lies at the heart of Nordic myth!

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

The US election has happened and fascism won at the ballot box.  It's time to get to work on what can best sustain the Pagan, Heathen, and Witch movements in the days ahead and help build a better world for all.  Join your host for a walk through what can be done and where we can go from here.

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

COVID-19
*https://www.who.int/data/stories/the-true-death-toll-of-covid-19-estimating-global-excess-mortality
*https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00493-2/fulltext
*https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/10/the-rich-got-richer-during-the-pandemic-and-that-s-a-daunting-sign-for-our-recovery/

Discourse Forum Software
*https://www.discourse.org/

Margaret Killjoy
*https://margaretkilljoy.substack.com/p/the-sky-is-falling-weve-got-this

Sunrise Movement
*https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-on-climate-change

Never Again Action
*https://www.neveragainaction.com/

Joining us today is author and podcaster Sif Brookes!  Sif is a reconstructionist Nordic Heathen writer and artist who is the Marketing Officer for the Committee of Asatru UK, the National LGBTQIA+ manager for the Pagan Federation, co-wrote and illustrated The Wyrd Less Woven, an Alternative Heathen Prayer Book with Dan Coultas, was a founding host of the Heathen Wyrdos podcast, is currently creating content as Valsif on Youtube, and has a new book coming out called, Valkyrjur, Servant or Master: An Exploration of the Valkyries throughout the Medieval Period.   We talked all about her book, the history and myth of the Valkyries, how the Choosers of the Slain are relevant today, and more!

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

Divination is probably one of the most commonly used spiritual tools in the world.  Join your host for a discussion of why divination is worth doing, some key dos and don'ts while using it, and a short introduction into Heathen divination methods.

Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

Laura Cohen's Presentation: https://www.hds.harvard.edu/publications/diasporic-mysticism-psychology-tarot-path-decolonizing-intuitive-development
Episode on the Supernatural: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-41-supernatural--62492392
Episode on Nordic Mysticism: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/explainer-4-nordic-mysticism--59924324
Queering the Runes: https://www.lore-books.com/shop/p/queering-the-runes-by-siri-vincent-plouff?rq=Runes

Elizabeth Sandifer is an author, the creator of Eruditorum Press, and is a practicing Pagan. She currently writes Last War in Albion, a history of the magical war between Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. She used to write TARDIS Eruditorum, a history of Britain told through the lens of a ropey sci-fi series. She also wrote Neoreaction a Basilisk, writes comics, and presented the workshop "Heretical Heathenry" at Northeast Thing this past summer.  We talked about that workshop, her questions for the workshop, and more!

Links:
https://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/author/elizabeth
https://www.patreon.com/elizabethsandifer
https://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/heretical-heathenry
https://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/exiting-the-draugr-castle

Hey everyone I have some big announcements for the spring 2025 conference season.  I've been accepted to present at Paganicon in the Twin Cities, Sacred Spaces in Baltimore, and will be returning to the Harvard Divinity School this April! 

I'm also going to need everyone's help to make all of that possible.  If you would like to help then please tune in, head on over to my Ko-fi and Patreon, consider booking a rune reading with me, and share this info far and wide.

Ko-fi link: ko-fi.com/ryansmithwfi
Patreon: patreon.com/waywardwanderer
Book a Rune Reading: https://calendly.com/ryan-fireandice/reading-appointment

One term most people who have spent time in Pagan spaces has probably heard is UPG or unverified personal gnosis. Tune in for a wander with your host through what this term means, why it is essential to the modern Pagan movement, and the best way to handle UPG.

I'm hitting the conference circuit!  Find out more how you can help get me out to Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Maryland this spring at this link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/spring-conferences-fundraiser--63344095
Want to support this podcast and my other work?  Check out my Patreon!
You can also help out by scheduling a rune reading with Ryan!

Welcome aboard! This episode kicks off the podcast with information on your host, what this podcast will be covering, what Radical Heathenry or Radical Norse Paganism is, and why this spiritual practice is relevant and important in the present day.

If you liked this episode and want to help support this podcast, please visit patreon.com/waywardwanderer

Welcome back! This episode dives right in to the concept of Living Tradition, one of the core ideas behind the Way of Fire & Ice. Join your host for a discussion of what Living Tradition is, the origins of this concept, and how it works on individually and communally.

Antifascism, Antifa, and inclusivity are all hotly debated in modern Heathenry. Join your host for a journey through the white nationalist influences on modern Heathenry, the antifascist answer, and some time spent totally disregarding that rule about not discussing religion or politics in polite company.

This episode jumps in to the topic of decolonization: what it is, why it matters to Heathenry and modern Heathens, and how you can start applying the ideas of this school of thought to your spiritual practice. During this journey through a very big topic we'll cover subjects like the history of empire, systems of power, and more.

Useful links:
https://decolonizingheathenry.com/
https://kanyonkonsulting.com/darced/

This episode, inspired by the whole "hex Allah" fiasco on Reddit, takes you down the rabbit hole that is the occult to far right pipeline. Tune in for this examination of what this pipeline is, its history, its parallels to the neo-Volkisch movement, and what you and your communities can do to halt the flow.

Wyrd is one of the most central cosmological concepts in modern Heathen practice and understanding it is essential for grasping the greater cosmos. Join your host for a dive into Wyrd, how it works, co-creation, and more!

Heathenry's history of entrenched racism has, in part, been driven by the demands of people who literally deified whiteness. This episode dives into what whiteness is, how it was created, and why modern Heathens should question it & confront the institutions it sustains.

Greed is, without question, one of the central drivers of conflict in the Nordic lore. Join your host for a deep dive into greed in the lore, how this relates to modern society, and what this might say about Heathen practice in the 21st century.

Christianity is, without question, one of those topics that hits a powerful hot button with all Heathens and Pagans which is very gladly exploited by far right, neo-Volkisch organizations. Join your host for a journey through some very valid critiques of institutional Christianity, how the far right exploits them, and asking how Heathens and Pagans can build spirituality that is free of such abuses.

History is easily one of the most central and contentious topics in modern Heathenry. Join your host for a peek behind the curtain at how historians do their craft and how history, as we know it, develops.

John Tosh's Pursuit of History: https://www.routledge.com/The-Pursuit-of-History-Aims-methods-and-new-directions-in-the-study-of/Tosh/p/book/9781138808089

Welcome, everyone, to the runes episode! Join your host for a journey through the history and myth surrounding the runes, some new ideas for why they are a valid part of Nordic Pagan and Heathen practice, and more.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of The Language of Fire & Ice send a ---friends/family payment-- to Sophia's venmo or paypal with their address in the description. $15 to US, $17 anywhere worldwide.
Venmo- thewickedbrow last four digis are 2071
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