Alaric embraced polytheism in the summer of 1971, and has never looked back! Over the past four decades his personal spiritual practice has developed as a synthesis of Anglo-Saxon tradition, country beliefs, herbal studies and rune lore. For Alaric, a reverence for the earth and respect for ancestral and indigenous spirits are fundamental defining qualities of Pagan religion.
   During the 70's, living in the Ozark mountains, Alaric had the opportunity to talk with rural people with traditional customs - moon lore, weather lore, healing superstitions - passed on for generations. During this time he was also influenced by spiritist traditions. He eventually moved to Kansas City, where he served as Vice President and on the Board of Directors for the Heartland Spiritual Alliance during the 1990's. In 2001, on the day of the winter solstice, Alaric left the Midwest and moved to Pennsylvania, where he currently resides.
   Alaric and his partner Scott co-founded the Saxon inhíred Earendel in 2003. Like all inhírdas, Earendel is an extended family and not open to the public, but its members strive to foster a greater public awareness and appreciation of Pagan Saxon traditions in southwestern Pennsylvania. As an author, speaker and drýmann, Alaric himself travels around the United States giving presentations and classes throughout the year.

 

 

 

"TRAVELS THROUGH MIDDLE EARTH: The Path of a Saxon Pagan" is now available from Llewellyn Worldwide. A few topics covered in this book include:

  • How Saxon beliefs and concepts are coded into the English language.

  • The concept of "wyrd" and how it shapes our destiny.

  • How to make mead.

  • The skills of the Saxon druid.

  • Rites of Passage in the life of a Saxon Pagan.
    •
    The book, described by one reviewer as an "enjoyable voyage", is a reflection of Alaric's own spiritual practice. Everyone with an interest in earth-centered spirituality is sure to appreciate this book.

    Most recent Blog post

    ‘Witches & Pagans’ Review

    Posted February 9th, 2010 by Alaric

    Travels Through Middle Earth: The Path of a Saxon Pagan has been reviewed in ‘Witches & Pagans’ magazine.  The editor was kind enough to send me a copy of the review:

    TRAVELS THROUGH MIDDLE EARTH: THE PATH OF A SAXON PAGAN

    ALARIC ALBERTSSON

    LLEWELLYN, 2009

     

    In The Path of a Saxon Pagan, Alaric Albertsson decides to share his experiences and his beliefs of this Anglo-Saxon tradition relative to his personal path instead of speaking for all Anglo-Saxon Pagans, and he does this quite marvelously. Travels provides an introduction and more into Anglo-Saxon Heathenry today, while still honoring and reflecting on the contributions of the ancestors and the journeys through Middle Earth, and the other realms and customs within the fyrn sidu, or the “old ways.”

     

    I won’t pretend to know much about Fyrn Sidu, but Albertsson is refreshingly informed in a way that isn’t pretentious or overbearing.  One chapter is dedicated to mead-making, and while the information can seem somewhat overwhelming and daunting at times, he’s clearly aware of this and doesn’t take himself too seriously. Albertsson has a sense of humor you don’t often see reflected on oneself in their work, and that humor made me like him even more. He doesn’t dumb down the information, but does his best to present it in a way that encourages you to read further.

     

    Albertsson also teaches us how to create a wéofod, the Saxon altar, and how to prepare and celebrate the húsel, ritual or ceremony.  There is in-depth introduction into a person’s orlay, or wyrd (“fate”) that kept me wanting to read more, and a discussion of the Nine Noble Virtues that provides a great guideline to incorporate in any spiritual practice.

     

    My favorite elements within Travels Through Middle Earth are his in-depth discussions on the ancestors.  I don’t think I have come across a book in quite some time that relays the importance of honor within the ancestral realm as well as with the deities. Albertsson makes sure we understand that the Gods shouldn’t be viewed as “divine vending machines”; the way we treat them reveals the true value of our personal honor.  This is what I want to hear. This is what I want to read from an author addressing Pagan cosmology.  Our word is crucial in all that we do, and Albertsson doesn’t leave this stone unturned.

     

    Whether you’re a Saxon Pagan or simply someone interested in delving into the mysteries of Middle Earth, this book is full of information and introspection that takes you deeper into a practice that’s rarely written about.  The chapter on “Honor and Wyrd,” in itself, makes this book a worthwhile read.  Travels Through Middle Earth may be the journey of  “a” Saxon Pagan, but I believe Albertsson represents “the”

    Saxon Pagans quite honorably.

    SILVERMOONE.

    4 out of 5 broomsticks. 

    (Before you ask, I don’t know why I didn’t get the fifth broomstick.)

    Posted in General Information | No Comments »


    		  










    © Copyright Alaric Albertsson & Wolfden Designs 2008 - All rights reserved.