Admirable Heathen Organizations
I crave community, I am an extrovert so maybe this is to be expected. However even very introverted individuals often desire a community to be part of even if it is online. Finding religious good community can be difficult regardless of faith. Due to the prevalence of white supremacy I would say it is particularly challenging for anti-racist heathens. Here are some heathen organizations I feel confident in recommending.
The Troth
The Troth is a prominent inclusive Germanic heathen organization, with bylaws specifying “non-discriminatory groups and individuals”. The organization has educational opportunities, including clergy training, and has a focus on scholarly information.
Why I recommend them
I don’t have much personal experience with The Troth. I have used their online resources and have enjoyed their scholarly approach.
The Asatru Community
The Asatru Community, commonly called TAC, is the largest, fastest-growing Non-Profit Asatru organization in the world. TAC is structure a bit different from many other heathen organizations. The organization serves as a network, for individuals and kindreds to come together. They aspire to offer resources and space to develop community.
Why I recommend them
I have been a member of TAC several years. They are active online and in person (depending on the area). Many organizations online are static, or localize so if you leave your immediate area you lose your faith community. They provide resources and training for those looking to create community and grow as individuals. I am currently going through their clergy training program. They are vocally anti-racist and back it up with action. When they have made mistakes, they do more than quietly corrected them. The organization has publicly admitted their mistakes, apologized to those affected and asked for input so they could do better in the future.
Recently there have been organizational and leadership issues but TAC is working to resolve them and get back to creating inclusive communities.
Macha’s Justice
Macha’s Justice is a group that provides an interfaith space to support pagan, polytheist, magical, and faith-adjacent survivors of domestic and gendered violence. It is powered by volunteers with a mix of personal and professional experience with domestic and interpersonal violence, and all of whom practice some form of paganism, polytheism, or magic.
Why I recommend them
While Macha’s Justice is not specifically a heathen organization it is an extremely important resource to anyone who is pagan or pagan adjacent. I have been lucky enough to attend multiple courses/webinars with Macha’s Justice over the past few years. In my darkest times I could not have dreamed of the support this organization offers, it gives me so much hope to know that someone else has these resources to turn to. They provide excellent evidence based information, and the organization is run by professionals who are also pagan.
Skald’s Keep
Skald’s Keep is an independent project that aims to provide free, carefully-curated educational material on Norse Heathenry, a pagan spiritual movement.
Why I recommend them
The organization focusing of providing accessible resources and keeping them devoid of neo-volkish influences. They have a solid library and good articles.
Odin’s Gifts
Odin’s Gift is a website by Michaela Macha that offers a large collection of poems, prose, invocation and even music.
Why I recommend them
Michaela Macha is a prolific creator of poems and songs about the gods and Norse mythology in general. In addition to his own works he has gathered contemporary and classical poems, music, myths, and artwork. I often go here when looking for inspiration for the wording of my own invocations and rituals. He also states clearly that his site has no room ‘for political, racist or otherwise intolerant agendas.’ The site continues to accept submission to add to the collection.