"There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," Open Halls said in a 2017 statement. I believe that Athena would smile upon this decision. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This is a question that many religious people have been asking themselves lately. Any thought about what Loki looks like is only within the perception of people who claim to have "seen" them. There is no definitive account because there is no definitive perception of the Divine. Yay!!! Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. norse pagan beard requirements. You might gravitate towards one artistic rendering of a God or another, but we don't mistake the rendering for the reality. ins.style.width = '100%'; Many religious groups require men to grow a beard, including Muslims and Orthodox Jews. The Pagan Federation, Heathenry UK, Asatru UK, the Confederation of UK Heathen Kindreds as well as The Open Halls Project in the US and DPN in the UK all agree on this. The Law of the Gotlanders was written at the earliest in 1220 CE, which was after the conversion of Gotland. There's a lot out there right now that tells you that you're being a man wrong. Thor is called red beard. At no point do they mention any spiritual or religious aspect of beard wear. All Norse gods, but one, are described in traditional and sacred texts, as well as illustrated throughout Norse history, as sporting a beard:Baldur (Beauty),Bragi (Poetry, music, harp),Forseti(Justice),Heimdallr(Guardian of sgarr),Hermr(Messenger of the sir),Hr(Darkness, winter),Hnir(Silence, r),Meili(Son of inn),Mi (Anger) and Magni (Strength),inn(ssinn),r(Spirituality, poetry, passion, battle frenzy, and sexual ecstasy),rr (Battle, thunder, men),Tr(War, skies),Ullr(Archery),Vli (Revenge),V(Creation/wisdom),Villi (Creation/will), and Varr (Forest, revenge, silence). I don't agree with the military grooming standards because they are out dated and impractical, not for religious reasons. This points yet again to the prevalence of beards in Norse culture. There is no mention of any Heathen practice in the document. As for Muslims, they are monotheistic, which makes them a sister faith to Judeo-Christianity. Several pagan men have faced discrimination or have been told to change shave due to changing company laws. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Otherwise, if you're fearing for your life in a foxhole, why the hell would you demand your partner shave? My personal faith is deeply tied to the modern warrior lifestyle that I have been able to live during my military career, said Hopper, adding that the beard has never hindered his ability to put mission first. The issues of Followers of Assatru or Norse Beliefs having Similar attitudes to Aryan nation/Brotherhood Etc. and that is How Racism Should be dealt with; in the Military and in our Communities Norse religion is not racially motivated. And indeed there were European tribes in the Heathen period where being clean shaven was the fashion, or in the case of the Lombards, long moustaches! 12-13 yrs ago a Small city on the west side of the Puget sound with Scandinavian Heritage Chose a Mixed race Highschool girl for the Queen of their yearly Festival. Most ancient depictions of gods have beards. Copyright 1977 - 2023 Universal Life Church Ministries. Faith isn't just something that inspires you to be better, it's something that reminds you that you matter and you make a difference regardless of where you find yourself in life. The word myth has been used out of context for so long that it's definition seems to mean untrue, comic NOT SO. Philadelphia, PA 19106, In-Reach Book Donation Request (Chaplains Only), Heathenry Essential Study Chat and Social First Saturday (Public), Heathenry Essential Study Chat and Social Third Saturday (Public). Believe us. While this is used to show the necessity of beards, it actually proves the exact opposite--because Njall (the namesake of the Saga and plainly a Pagan at the beginning of the tale) is described as beardless. I have a question about Norse-Pagan and Beards. All rights reserved. The Asatru Community will not send a letter to an employer, stating that a beard is a religious tenant or requirement for a follower of Asatru. ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive = 'true'; It's certainly true that religious freedom exemptions can be fraught with silliness we have seen civil institutions struggle to accommodate all manner of faith exemptions, such as Pastafarians demanding the right to wear their standard-issue colander hats for their driver's license photos. A solitary Wiccan, Erik writes about Wicca, Norse religion, and making altars. Beards are in fact the true expression of spirituality, masculinity, and what it means to be Heathen. Likewise, hair is part of Gods creation to Sikhs, and is therefore sacred. Let's get into some of them. Cosplaying as a Viking isn't a religion, though it is fun to do at parties. Enjoy! Ah, the "tolerance" of the Christian majority. The Sagas that are often quoted at no point describe a spiritual reason to wear a beard. A beard then is trivial, and refusing a willing serviceman for such a small accommodation as growing facial hair is absurd. This is often cited in restaurants or other companies with food preparation. I was lucky to work as an intern with the Smithsonian during college. } But a trend, as minimal as it may be, has certainly been stirring among the rank-and-file. Yet vaccines mutate. There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry, the post read. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to be granted the exemption in observance of the tenets of his faith. Not so much. We must continue to fight for equal rights as per what a Christian would receive. Once a soldier with Gender Dysphoria has transitioned they are usually free of serious dysphoric episodes and are just as capable of serving in the military as literally anyone else. Sgt. God, Country, Family, Self. Maybe you're feeling the creeping fingers of old age. Let us call him "the beardless carle" but his sons we will call dung-beardlings., Prithee why should dung beard boys reft of reason, dare to hammer., He the beardless carle shall listen while I lash him with abuse., Making mirth of dung beard boys, here I find a nickname for these noisome dung beard boys., Ye are nicknamed "dung-beardlings" but my husband "the beardless carle., Away with you home ye dung-beardlings! of all weirds ones. So, as a Norse Heathen, I find this whole thing upsetting. According toArmy Directive 2017-03, beards with approved accommodations must be less than two inches in length from the bottom of the chin and cannot be groomed with petroleum-based products. These are individual cases where a unit commander has been convinced that a Heathen should be allowed a beard, probably due to a lack of understanding of the lore, and a desire not to be seen to discriminate. Snorri was middling in height and somewhat slender, fair to look on, straight faced and light of hue, of yellow hair and red beard. A physical description of someone who had a beard. Guta Lag, the laws of Gotland in Sweden were also written over a century after the Christianisation, and reflect a heavily Christianised version of the older laws. Have a question for us or an officer? Still has one ;) ifthere are Specific Jobs that one Can not wear a Beard. i believe it is a welcome change to those like myself who never could please the brass even by shaving twice a day. Regardless - I love this religious freedom being upheld. Ie folk with a simple earthy country religion, not the cool new urban religion they have in the cities. Answering questions about beard policy is a regular occurrence for the Pagan Federation, DPN, Open Halls Project and many other organisations, but to date there is no compelling evidence that Pagans of any path should be allowed to wear a beard in contravention of any organisations dress codes or uniform regulations. The army's recent decision to lighten up on religious beards, turbans and hijabs is suiting one unknown Norse pagan soldier just fine. Nothing is mentioned about Loki having a beard or not. She asks, is it the beardless carle?, Why doesn't he make them cart dung over his beard that he may be like other men? ins.style.height = container.attributes.ezah.value + 'px'; In the memo, the staff sergeant expressed that the ability to wear a beard defines the heathen man and his sexuality as it personifies his character, masculinity, and qualities that Norse Pagan men are to value reflective of their beliefsBoth the Elder and Younger Eddas as well as the Sagas reference beards and their importance within Forn Sir. Sgt. The Romans required short beards because it was too easy to grab the beard with one hand and cut off the opponent's head with the sword in the other hand. The appearance of advertisements on this website does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Defense or the Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps or Coast Guard of products or services advertised. Loki is not evil as evil is another Christian concept, and as we have seen above all Heathen Gods have good qualities and bad ones, Loki is no different. However, we are not actively promoting a trend in this direction or seeking to normalize it.. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.. If this soldier is claiming Thor told him to grow a beard, and that is the evidence he is standing on (personal Divine transmission), where does the line get drawn? Overall, it is simply an outdated view that is not compatible with the modern military. Check out our calendar! The Military should respect their right to appropriate medical care, which is decided by their medical care provider and not the religious views or whims of the White House or other non medical authority. Looking to celebrate pagan holidays? Power to American Constitution rightly discerned and upheld. The followers of Christianity are encouraged to emulate their God. Forn Siris what makes us men and our own man, taking our own decisions, and taking our own responsibilities. As with the sir perspective, a beard is again always associated with masculinity as well as the value that form the foundation of Forn Sir. Beard balm is nice. This includes allowing employees to wear religious clothing or facial hair in the workplace. If you found this article useful and want to donate to support the educational work that we do, please consider making a contribution to our general funding or support our mission by joining The Troth today. Lokialso happens to be the only Norse god without a beard. A memo written by commander Col. Curtis Shroedero, to whom the request was made and ultimately granted, was circulated on Facebook. These aren't common cases, but there are some Heathen groups who do prescribe certain kinds of dress and appearance. Legal Statement. The names for all intents and purposes mean the same thing.pagani, latin for country dweller, and heathens live out on the wild heath. This has to do with what we assume about the Gods. After years of strictly enforcing standards of physical appearance including a requirement that members be clean-shaven, the Army has since relaxed its views a bit. Asatu is one name of the Norse religion which means " true gods".. Iceland and Faroe Islands were among the last converted and they continue to have a large number that believe in and practice the old ways and worship the old gods. "Heathen" simply means a person who does not conform to christian norms in some way. I recently saw an article about some Norse-Pagan US Army soldiers being allowed to keep their beards due to their religion. The difference in Islam and Sikhism is that there is a specific Religious rather than social requirement. When I was in the Marines in the late 1960's, black Marines were allowed "Afros" while the rest of us had crew cuts with white sidewalls. For some pagans, it is seen as a way of honoring the gods and goddesses. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. . Thursday (Thor's Day) is named in his honor. I agree. This Icelandic saga not only encompasses all the fundamental and essential Norse values that form the basis of Forn Sir, but the saga has also established the foundation of Icelandic culture for the past millennium. While the Law gives us a window into daily life in Gotland, it doesn't help us understand anything about the value of a beard in pre-Christian Norse culture. Hopper, like service members who have sought exemptions before, was advised to meet with a chaplain to present his case. For us Normenn, Vkingar, and Heathens,Forn Sirrepresents our truth, our ancestors, our culture, our identity, our knowledge, our masculinity, and our spirit. In Heathenry in particular all of the Gods have flaws, many of which are set out in Lokkasenna and include dishonesty, incest and fratricide to name but a few. In short, it is honoring the pillars of heathenism, our ancestors and ancient gods and way of life.. Today, many are abandoning the foreign religion and alien gods of Christianity and going back to their indigenous original "religion",as other peoples throughout the world still have and practice their authentic, indigenous religions. Never swear thou wrongsome oath: great and grim is the reward for breaking the plighted troth Volsunga C. 21. Yet, if they let the guy grow a beard, and it poses no distractions from duty, I certainly have no problem with it. He is a wise man and magician, who learned the secrets of the runes by hanging himself on the tree Yggdrasil for nine nights. Proudly keeping the military connected since 1988. Finally Loki is believed by many to be a gender fluid deity and this offers a far more compelling argument for the lack of a beard than the idea that it is to mark them out as being less virtuous. You can still have a beard if it covers a facial scar. Whether to abide by confines of regulation vs. honor Thor in a way you feel called to do, even though Thor doesn't require it. Thou hast hangnails on every finger and Njall is beardless.. Erik desires to be a Viking when he grows up and has worked in Outdoor Adventure leading hikes and rafting trips. Data provided by Refinitiv Lipper right now that tells you that you 're being a man wrong that! In real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes the plighted troth Volsunga 21. 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