Latest Update

22nd March  2007

Aims and Beliefs of the Kith of Yggdrasil

STATEMENT OF BELIEF

Introduction:

The Kith of Yggdrasil believes that there is one mystery underlying the whole of this earth, and that as individuals we are each in our own way, and in our own time, seeking to be one with that mystery by awakening our inner God Force.

Therefore most religions and their adherents, in their own way and in their own words, will be seeking the same destiny, that of being one with the mystery.

However to achieve this, it is necessary to accept that one is a part of everything which happens and everything that lives on this Midgard, along with animals, plants, rocks, and the seasons. All of these things look different according to where an individual lives, and thus a Northern European won't experience things in quite the same way as, for example, a Pacific Islander.

As a consequence of this, a variety of ways of faith have arisen to accommodate the differing experiences of their adherents. This link between a faith and its perspective on the mystery is seen as being organic to that path and means that the deities, the spirits of the earth, or whatever, will present an aspect of themselves that is in accord with the local conditions. The legends and manifestations of the God Force which sustain a faith will naturally vary accordingly.

Specifics:

Members of the Kith of Yggdrasil are aware that from the primal mystery arose Midgard, along with our deities and everything else with which we share this world.

But even though we share one experience, we humans live on a mundane level, whilst our deities (inspired as they are by the God Force) inhabit a higher plane - that of Wyrd, which is the realm of  potential, and to which we aspire.

As individuals we are seeking that realm of the potential through an emulation of the teachings and inspiration of our deities. Our faith is the means by which we can hope to reach the God Force that resides within every one of us. We might be seen as voyaging on an individual road of discovery: a road which is rich with the lessons and examples of our deities and their legends.

We are supported and sustained on our way by our fellow voyagers, who in their own time and in their own way are on the same road.

As individuals we are seeking to become whole, which means being one with the entirety of Midgard, as well as being whole in ourselves. This in itself is a most arduous task of both self discovery and learning about our environment, and is a task which takes many cycles of being upon this earth, and requires an understanding of life in all its many facets.

As followers of the way of the Kith we look to the entire pantheon of our deities, as they all have lessons for us to learn. It is probable that we each will look to a specific deity in this life, with whom we can forge an affinity. However we look to Odin Allfather as the prime exemplar of the path we must each follow. We say this because of his continual search for knowledge and experience, and for his sacrifice of self to self in order to learn the secret of the runes. This is not in any way to diminish the roles of the other gods, as they each play a part in our search for the mystery. However it is well to remember here that our deities are aspects of that one inspiration and so might be seen as aspects of the one God Force to which we aspire.

The legends of our faith tell us that death is not the end and that nothing persists for ever, and that upon the end of this reality (be it the macro reality of the totality that is Midgard, or the micro reality  that is our own life) there will be a rebirth into a new reality. We have no doubt at all that this is a clear statement that reincarnation is a tenet of our faith since it is only through rebirth in this mundane plane that we can amass the experience and wisdom that will enable our soul to advance upon its spiritual path towards being one with the mystery. Or, as we would say, attaining the realm of Valhalla, through accessing our own inner God Force.

Aspects of our faith:

We do not see any deep theological differences between those who might call themselves Asatru, Odinists, followers of Thor, or between taking a Saxon  or Norse approach. We are all approaching the same mystery, and the only difference is the minor one of how we observe the peripherals of our faith. To this end the members of the Kith are encouraged to observe their faith in their own way, and in light of their own organic relationship with the aspect of Midgard that is presented to them.

It is entirely natural that such things as the history of a land, its culture and language will influence the way of faith practiced by individuals and groups, but the Kith appreciates that such things are ever evolving and so in a constant state of flux. It is not, therefore, the role of the Kith to endeavour to sustain such things as culture, for our faith is a constant thing, and could only be diminished by any attempt to fix something so mutable. For the same reason the Kith of Yggdrasil sees itself as being above such things as politics, and the inevitable compromises of thought and deed any such involvement forces upon an organisation. The values and ways of our faith are for neither compromise or negotiation.

There is nothing in the above which would inhibit a member of the Kith from holding to their own political and cultural views, although it is to be expected that the ethical stance of the Kith will guide their actions.

Who can be of the Kith?

There can only be one rule: that an individual holds our faith dear to them in their true heart, and is a genuine seeker after their own spiritual advancement. The Kith does not see membership of other organisations of our faith as being any bar to an association with itself, as it seeks to build bridges  between followers of our faith, rather than create divides.

Any concept of discrimination in respect of age, gender, race or physical attributes is entirely alien to the moral and theological precepts of the Kith of Yggdrasil

The Ethics of the Kith:

Once again, there is only one rule: that  members will at all times do everything in their power to live an entirely honourable life. Thought upon this will show that such a way of living must include respect for the totality of all things, and for such considerations as hospitality, honesty, and mutual respect.

This, of course, extends to green and environmental issues.

The Kith will always try to foster a positive exchange of ideas and debate in an atmosphere of mutual respect and co-operation.

Note: As part of our ethical stance the Kith has developed a policy statement on the use of hallucogenic substances in ritual practice. To read the full text click HERE.

Your Questions:

It is not possible to cover everything in a simple statement on a web page, so if you have any questions in respect of the text above, or about our faith in general, please address them by post to the Information Committee at:

26 Essex Road,  Dartford Kent DA1 2AU

©The Kith of Yggdrasil. October 2004.

"These things are thought the best: Fire, the sight of the sun
Good health with the gift to keep it, And a life that avoids vice."