Odin by Max Friedrich Koch (1859-1930)

European Paganism (regardless of the flavor) was very legalistic. And in my opinion, it should still be slightly so. Rituals and rites reflect those of both faith and conduct.
We wouldn't know Dane Law, Greek politics, Roman Republic governance, the Germanic Thing /folkmoot, as well as others, if it weren't for the fact that the people had legal systems of governance, conduct, and spiritual life.

Responding to: https://x.com/FortressLugh/status/1923258694214500676?s=19

More elaboration regarding the "horns" seen on Odinic and berserker figures.

In the Styrbjarnar þáttr Svíakappa, Eiríkr inn sigrsæli says “Óðinn á yðr alla”, Odin owns you all, before he sacrifices his enemies to Odin. In the Gautreks saga, Starkaðr says “Nú gef ek þik Óðni”; now I give you to Odin. Things to keep in mind for blóts of our own. ᚬ

Post-Exiles musings…
Bhutan, an Indo-European theocracy and one of the world’s happiest countries, has an interesting secret to its happiness; people contemplate their mortality for a few minutes every day.

This mentality applied to Germanic paganism historically, and should continue to; see Hávamál 77-78. If your heart stopped right now, what would you have left behind?

What would your legacy be? Have you built or contributed to a real-world community that benefits our Folk? How about children? Will your name be remembered a hundred years from now, or will nothing have changed, with you having been a part of it? It’s important to contemplate these things regularly.

Most importantly…would you be prepared to face your ancestors, and could you confidently say that you’ve lived well and brought honour to them? If yes, you are truly living well in the eyes of our ancestors. If not, get to work. ᛟ

The origins of the Northern European meadhall culture - expressed by the Germanic tribes - ultimately come from the Neolithic period. (Pollington, 2003; Gautier, 2006; Hornsey, 2012, p.341).

"The 'hall' - A high building with space inside to gather and hold a community - comes to the fore with the adoption of agriculture and the establishment of fixed settlements with defined boundaries and resources." -Stephen Pollington, Woden: A Historical Companion.

Image: Reconstruction of a Nordic Bronze Age longhouse at Hunneberget in Vætland, near Kristianstad, Scania, Sweden (from Björk & Carlie 2003, drawing by Björn Nilsson).

Carl Braun as Wotan in Die Walküre (1924)

Franz Stassen 1935

Hey, the Scots beat some of the most restrictive weapon laws in the world by making the dirk and sgian dubh cultural attire. It can be done.
Besides, in a world where these rights are increasingly being stripped away, a case could be made from Hávamál stanza 38 that the rights to bear arms and defend yourself is religious freedom. ᛏ

One of the Exiles hosts brought up an interesting point; due to the geographical isolation of the Germanic peoples in the northern forests, with few external influences, Germanic paganism was likely among the closest to the original Indo-European religion.
Painting by Scythian Warlord. ᛉ

Apply this to everywhere Christianity and Islam spread.

Why would Charlemagne have to have idols to Crodo / Rod cut down if they didn't believe in him? Why did Bede write about Pagan rituals and worship of God's?
Why would the Old Saxon Baptismal Vow have them disavow Gods they didn't worship?
Remember, that was only 1200~ish years ago. A drop in the bucket of time.

Why would Jacob Grimm have a whole book about Folklore, ritual, and belief in the Gods in the late 1800s (only about 200 years ago) if there wasn't common beliefs, folklore, understanding, etc that was being handed down in some form?

Current Christians who tell you that your Gods dont exist versus labeling them as demons, angels, or spirits like they used to are more atheist than they used to be.

A continuation of Paganism, polytheism, animism, and folk belief has always been there.
Don't let them tell you otherwise.

Right now is a time of filtration. Dying are the days when Heathenry was a trend created by media. You now see many folks who considered themselves Heathens, Pagans, etc. switching back to Christianity, atheism, or agnoticism for the sake of comfort and familiarity. We can see a divide between those who take the time to study and ground themselves in their ancestral traditions, and those who only wore it as a counter-cultural guise. These nithings used Heathenry as a tool. To strictly go against the atheistic nature of the modern age or to go against religion/spirituality as a whole.
The Heathen of tomorrow will be intellectually, philosophically, and faithfully rooted in their traditions. There are many great organizations, wisemen, ancient sources, and philosophical works from antiquity to learn from. For a Heathen or Pagan to do otherwise is dishonest with yourself, intellectually lazy, and a dishonor to your forefathers and the Gods.

A heathen oath formula noted by Vigfusson in his dictionary,

sé mér goð holl ef ek satt segi, gröm ef ek lýg

Gods, look graciously upon me if I speak true, and with wrath if I lie.

1920s Danish Poster featuring Heimdall and Gjallahorn that states "Wake up and Vote for Denmark"

I have a new theory; I think Odinic wolf warrior cults like that of the Harii may have conducted night raids under the light of the full moon, like unto the Comanche, and this may have been reflected in later werewolf folklore.
Painting: Death in the Forest by Peter Dennis. 𐃏

AFA regarding "Wholeness" and soul sickness.
https://youtube.com/shorts/okEZ_y1wGtk?si=kCoEbg9RgZCZtOc1

Odin. Mural at the New Museum, Berlin. Restored.

Thor. Mural at the New Museum, Berlin. Restored.

Freyr. Mural at the New Museum Berlin. Restored.