Norse vs Celtic Paganism || Which Pagan Path is Best for You?
So many of you have reached out asking for help finding a pagan path. Making this choice can definitely be confusing, there are so many different pagan paths you could follow. And before I start I should say that you don’t even need to follow one specific path, you can decide to be an eclectic pagan and pull in elements from different paths. Though if you do want to follow one specific path there are a few things to consider when making your choice. While there are many paths out there, today I’m going to introduce you to two of the most popular pagan paths so you can see if either of these paths might be a good fit for you.
What is Norse Paganism?
We’re going to start with Norse Paganism, which recently has seen a huge resurgence in interest which is super exciting! Modern Norse pagans base their beliefs and worldview around the old Norse religion which developed in the Proto-Norse period (around the 1st Century CE). This religion primarily flourished in Scandinavia and Iceland but during the Viking age expansion it spread to other areas in Europe. That’s why when you study a God like Odin you’ll find lots of variations on the spelling of his name and his various attributes.
Norse Paganism is similar to many other forms of Paganism in that it has a specific cosmology and a collection of different Gods and Goddesses. There is an origin story on how the world came into being and the famous tree Yggdrasil and the 9 different realms make up a large part of this cosmology.
Primary Sources
So what should you read to see if you connect with this path? Unfortunately, very little religious content written by the Norse Pagans survives. However, we do have some important texts about Norse Pagan beliefs that were written down after the area converted to Christianity. If you are starting out with Norse Paganism, I would recommend reading the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. These sources reveal the Norse Pagan cosmology and they contain the many stories about the Gods. Reading these texts will help you decide if you connect with this particular pantheon.
I would also recommend reading The Havamal, which is more of a guide on how to live. The Havamal contains wisdom about topics like how to be a good host, how to maintain strong friendships, and how to ensure your legacy is remembered by future generations. This is a great text to help you understand the culture of the Norse Pagans and what they valued in society. While you’re reading the Havamal, ask yourself if you share these values and if you find the bits of wisdom inspiring. If you do feel inspired by these Norse texts it’s a really good indication that Norse Paganism might be for you.
The Norse Deities
There are two main groups of deities in Norse Paganism, the Æsir and the Vanir and you’re probably already familiar with many of these deities. The most popular deities in the Æsir are Odin, Thor, and Tyr. In the Vanir the most popular deities are probably Frey and Freyja. Along with the Æsir and the Vanir you also have spirits of the land, ancestral spirits, and other beings such as the Norns, the dwarfs, and the giants.
Unfortunately, we don’t know much about how the Gods and spirits were historically worshiped. Though today the practice of giving offerings, such as food or alcohol, is one of the main ways Norse Pagans connect with the Gods. And if you are considering the Norse path, the giving of offerings will most likely become one of the main ways you interact with the Norse Gods. So ask yourself how you feel about the practice of giving offerings and if it’s something you would enjoy doing.
The Community
Community is a big part of Norse Paganism. When reading the Havamal you find that there are many passages about the importance of maintaining friendships and a strong overall community. Most modern Norse Pagans likewise seek to form groups and meet often so that they can worship the Gods together as the ancient Norse Pagans would have done. So if you’re looking not just for a spiritual path, but also a strong community, then Norse Paganism might be a really good fit.
What is Celtic Paganism?
Historically the Celts were a collection of tribes that existed primarily in Ireland, Britain, France, and parts of Spain. And since the Celtic world was quite large there were a lot of variations in religious practice. One of the unusual things about modern Celtic Paganism is that it usually ties together the culture and beliefs of two vastly different time periods. The majority of Celtic Paganism is based around the Celtic world which started to evolve in 1200 BCE. However, most modern Celtic Paganism also tends to incorporate the prehistoric stone circles and mounds such as Stonehenge and NewGrange. This is a bit odd as these structures were made around 3000 BCE and were built by a group of people that were very different from the Druids and other Celtic peoples. So if you’re considering becoming a modern Celtic Pagan keep in mind that you’ll likely be working with quite a huge timespan featuring a variety of different cultures.
Primary Sources
Like Norse Paganism we don't have much material that was actually written by the Celtic Pagans. This is in part because the Celts viewed the oral tradition as more important and sacred. Most of the primary sources we have actually come from the Romans writing about the Celts, so the content is biased and not always reliable. Additionally, there are a lot of valuable sources written after the conversion to Christianity and while these sources are also likely biased they do provide valuable information about the Celtic deities. To get started, I recommend these Irish and Welsh sagas: Cath Maige Tuired, Lebor Gabála Érenn, Mabinogion.
The Deities
Understanding the Celtic deities and cosmology is a bit tricky so if you’re considering following this path be ready to do a lot of research. Many of the popular Celtic deities such as The Dagda, The Morrigan, Brigit, and Lugh are considered part of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Tuatha Dé Danann live in the underworld but still interact with humans, especially in places like the ancient passage tombs which were viewed as portals to the underworld. They were considered more like a supernatural race of humans who had special powers. However, this could just be because most of their stories were written by Monks who may have wanted to diminish their status as deities.
Many other Celtic Gods and Goddess are also localized and based around sacred sites so it can be tricky to connect with these deities if you don’t live in the region. Additionally, folklore is a large part of modern Celtic Paganism and many believe that the surviving folklore contains traces of Celtic Pagan wisdom that survived the conversion to Christianity. For example, the stories about the Fae could be considered a modernized version of the Tuatha Dé Danann. So if you have a strong affinity for Fairy-lore then modern Celtic Paganism might be a really good fit for you.
The Community
Like Norse Paganism, being part of a Celtic pagan community isn’t just about the deities or spiritual beliefs. It’s also important to engage with areas beyond religion. In the case of Celtic Paganism, you can also find community by learning other facets of Celtic culture, such as language, music or dance.
There is also a large community of modern druids that is pretty active. The druids in Celtic times were religious leaders and teachers and the modern Druid community is a great place to start if you are looking for someone to teach you the ways of Modern Celtic Paganism.
I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Norse Paganism & Celtic Paganism. Do either of these pagan paths resonate with you? Share down below in the comments.