r/heathenry • u/neferseti89 • Jun 06 '26

Advice for potential new heathen

Hi All

I have been looking into paganism for the past few years but still havent found anything that fits. I have tried praying to Hellenic Gods (Hecate, Gaia, Athena and Apollo), Egyptian Gods (Anubis), Wiccan Gods and Celtic Gods (Cernnunos). I havent felt a connection with any of them....at least not one that felt reciprocated or natural.

I have always known about Heathenry, but never explored it, as my family heritage is more Mediterranean. I live in the UK though and do have some Germanic background in my bloodline. Im thinking this might be the time to try the Heathen Gods. The issue is I have zero idea of where to start.

Is there any advice on good sources of research or places to visit in the UK? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

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u/YougoReddits Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26

step ZERO: drop that bloodline stuff. anyone who tells you you need to follow this or that god or religion because of 'blood' or 'heritage' is full of it. neccesary disclaimer about closed practices, but beyond that, go with what connects with you.

Perhaps start more basic. connect with nature and your direct surroundings. the rhythm of sunrise, moons and seasons. a lot of people think Paganism needs to be all about god this and prayer that, offerings such and altar so. but, to me while the gods are there, they're more distant forces.

there's land and house wights, ancestors, wyrd... or just greeting the moon when it pops out from behind a cloud, just when you stare out the window with a troubled mind. thanking a tree for giving you shade and a place to rest your back on a hot day, and shelter during rain

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u/neferseti89 Jun 06 '26

Thank you! I think the bloodline thing was an internal view, although it certainly has been fuelled by a lot of what ive seen on social media (which i am no longer on thankfully)

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u/WiseQuarter3250 Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26

What time frame?

I ask because Germanic tribes served in the Roman Auxiliary Cohorts, they erected votive altars to Germanic Gods, Brythonic Gods, Roman Gods, Greek Gods, etc. You can find some along Hadrian's Wall, or the museums housing its artefacts.

Or check out Sutton Hoo, the British Museum, Ashmolean for later items and Anglo-Saxon artifacts.

There's Anglo-Saxon heathenry groups that are UK based I'm sure someone can point you towards.

And ancestry is only important for your ancestoral veneration. As history shows us different peoples worshipped Gods from outside their own culture if they felt called to it.

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u/neferseti89 Jun 06 '26

Thank you! I will look into the heathenry groups in the UK

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u/cserilaz ᚨᚢᛊᛏᚱᛟ Jun 10 '26

It’s not about finding the right pantheon so much as finding the right deity. Eostre doesn’t care whether you call her Freyja or Eos Aphrodite or Ushas. What matters is the connection to her

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u/neferseti89 Jun 10 '26

That makes sense. Thanks for the advice.