Norse Paganism, also known as Heathenry or Ásatrú, is a modern-day revival of the ancient Norse religion practiced by the Scandinavian and Germanic people. As a polytheistic religion, Norse Paganism worships a pantheon of gods and goddesses, with Odin, Thor, and Freya being among the most prominent deities. Norse Pagan beliefs and practices are based on written sources such as the Eddas and Sagas, as well as archaeological evidence. These texts provide valuable insights into the Norse myths, cosmology, and rituals. However, due to the limited nature of the surviving sources, much of Norse Paganism has been reconstructed based on scholarly research and personal interpretation. For those interested in learning more about Norse Paganism, there is a wide range of books available that explore various aspects of the religion.
For those interested in learning more about Norse Paganism, there is a wide range of books available that explore various aspects of the religion. These books can provide a valuable resource for both beginners and more advanced practitioners. One popular book on Norse Paganism is "The Poetic Edda" translated by Carolyne Larrington.
OZZY OSBOURNE On BLACK SABBATH: 'The Only Black Magic We Had Was Chocolates'
Julian Marszalek of Spinner recently conducted an interview with legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Spinner: It's good to have you back musically. You've got a new line-up for the album — you and Zakk have gone your separate ways after three years.
Ozzy: He was just holding up my fort for two, three years. He's got his own thing, BLACK LABEL, he's doing very well on his own, a great player, but I knew I had to move on eventually but I kept making excuses because when you go to auditions you don't say, "oh you're one, let's go" you've got to go to 500 guitar players, most of them nuts, then you get a short list and shorter list and there ain't that many people around anymore.
Spinner: The new album, thematically, picks up where "Black Rain" left off. Are you getting more pessimistic as you get older?
Ozzy: No, I'm not pessimistic, it's just I like something with bit of a twang to it, not some bullshit about boy meets girl and they all live happily ever after, that's bullshit you know. It's a question of something, in other words, how bad has it fucking got to be here before, they say "He's going to return, how bad has it got to be before He returns? If He returns — if He's true."
Spinner: It's been forty years since your first album came out. It occurred to me that you're sort of part of that generation that didn't do art school, did you?
Ozzy: Oh, no — fucking art school? I didn't go to regular fucking school, always played truant all the time nicking gear.
Spinner: How important do you think that was to what you did? You've got people like Pete Townshend, Keith Richards — all those guys did art school.
Ozzy: When we were starting BLACK SABBATH it was all, "If you go to San Francisco be sure to wear a flower . " and we were like what the fuck does that all mean? We wanted a few pints, a few chicks and a laugh you know? And Tony [Iommi] said one day, I think it was Tony, he said, "If these people pay money to watch horror movies let's start writing horror music," and it was just from that. We never practiced fucking black magic; the only black magic we had was chocolates.
Spinner: The other thing is you've signed up for this year's iTunes festival at the Roundhouse in London.
Ozzy: Oh yes.
Spinner: How do you feel about that? You're not someone known for playing intimate gigs are you?
Ozzy: I always .. .for instance on the BLACK SABBATH reunion tour we played in Oxford or somewhere like that, tiny venue, and it was great. I loved the closeness, the proximity, it's what metal is all about for me. The kids and you can touch them and get one on the stage. I love that. I mean the bigger the gig, it's good for your ego but . I can play a gig, small, big, whatever but I do like doing a small gig.
Spinner: Would you ever fancy doing a small, back-to-basics tour?
Ozzy: Absolutely, I'd love it.
Spinner: Have you ever considered the idea of an on-the-quiet side project, not under the Ozzy name?
Ozzy: Oh, absolutely.
Spinner: What would it be?
Ozzy: I have but being me I can't diversify. "Oh well you can't do that, time won't wait, you're Ozzy." I mean I don't want to do "Iron Man" for the rest of my fucking life. I mean, not that it's bad. It's like, I've tried to stop doing "Paranoid" but people go, "Oh why didn't you do 'Paranoid'?" That's my anthem." It's like THE KINKS and "You Really Got Me"; they play that all the time but yeah I'd like to do something like that thing [Paul] McCartney did — "Fireman", it's a great, great album. I loved it, loved that album. It's a really, really good album.
Read the entire interview at Spinner. You can also watch video of the chat below.
It wasn't until the band played their first shows in America that they began to realise that they had tapped into forces they might not be able to control.
This collection of ancient Norse poems delves into the myths and legends of the gods and heroes, offering a glimpse into the spiritual world of the Vikings. Another notable book is "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman. This work presents a modern retelling of the Norse myths, making them accessible to a wider audience while capturing the essence and beauty of these ancient tales. For those looking for a more scholarly approach, "The Viking Spirit" by Daniel McCoy provides an in-depth exploration of the Norse gods, rituals, and cultural practices. It examines the historical context of Norse Paganism and offers insights into the beliefs and worldview of the ancient Norse people. Additionally, there are various books specifically focused on the religious practices and rituals of Norse Paganism. "The Book of Blots" by Robert J. Wallis and Jenny Jochens' "Ourselves and Our Deeds: The Waldorf Book of Norse Mythology" offer guidance and practical information on how to celebrate and worship the Norse gods in a modern context. Overall, these books on Norse Paganism serve as valuable resources for those interested in exploring this ancient religion. Whether one is seeking to understand the mythology, rituals, or spiritual practices of the Norse people, these books provide a rich and comprehensive source of information..
Reviews for "Exploring the Dark Goddess: Pagan Books on Norse Underworld Deities"
1. Jane - 1 star - I found the "Nkrse pagan books" to be extremely poorly written and lacking in substance. The author seemed more interested in promoting their own beliefs and ideals rather than providing any valuable information about paganism. The book was filled with overgeneralizations and stereotypes, which only served to perpetuate misconceptions about paganism. Overall, I was thoroughly disappointed and would not recommend these books to anyone seeking genuine knowledge about paganism.
2. Mike - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the "Nkrse pagan books" based on the reviews I had read, but unfortunately, they fell short of my expectations. I found the writing style to be confusing and hard to follow, making it difficult to grasp the concepts being explained. Additionally, I felt that the author was more focused on promoting their own agenda rather than providing well-researched and accurate information. I was also disappointed by the lack of diversity in the topics covered, as the books seemed to focus solely on one specific branch of paganism. Overall, I would not recommend these books for those seeking a comprehensive and unbiased understanding of paganism.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - The "Nkrse pagan books" left me feeling frustrated and unsatisfied. The author's writing style was overly pretentious and convoluted, making it difficult to truly understand the concepts being discussed. I also found the lack of practical advice or guidance to be a significant drawback. The books seemed more concerned with abstract theories and historical background than offering any actionable information for those interested in exploring paganism. If you're looking for a more accessible and practical guide to paganism, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
4. David - 1 star - I found the "Nkrse pagan books" to be completely unreadable. The author's use of language was needlessly complicated and pretentious, making it impossible to fully grasp the concepts being presented. Furthermore, I felt that the books were heavily biased and did not provide a balanced perspective on paganism. The lack of clear organization and structure made it difficult to follow the author's train of thought, resulting in a frustrating reading experience. Overall, these books failed to meet my expectations and I would not recommend them to anyone interested in learning about paganism.