The more history I read and a better grasp/understanding of life I have. Religion has never been topic for me and personally I’ve seen it do more harm than good. I’m not saying religion is bad, just in my experiences with family & friends. It’s divided most or worst. Growing up my father was a rather religious person, mostly stemming from his parents. As he got older and exploring life, realizing it was the people twisting religion for their own gain and not the teachings themselves. When I was rather young I remember him leaving the church and starting his own path. He always told me to read history and read the bible. Specialty if I find myself in a debate about such topics. Knowledge was the key to everything he said. As time went on, I have found that he was right and sadly I fear a lot of people don’t read up on history anymore. They go off of some bastardized version on Tik Tok or whatever a politician is selling them.

When COVID happened, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. Spent more of it reading, writing, photography and over all spending time outdoors. So how I found myself going down a bunny trail on old Paganism and Norse Paganism/Norse history. While reading all this, I found that there wasn’t just one book or area you can go to learn about these topic. You actually have to put in the work and learn, translate what is being said. I picked up a number of books like Poetic Edda, Havamal and The Wonderer’s Havamal. Then something clicked, something started making sense about the life philosophies and history of the Norse Pagan. Also started to explain why I was always pulled toward that path. Just didn’t realize it till recently haha.

Both my Father and Grandfather had a love for the wilderness. I know I got that from them, long with the love for history. While I was growing up my Father had a love for the sea, even to his last day. He always loved the sea…. I use to love the sea as well, but I find myself more in the forest. Specially after his passing, I don’t know if it’s my subconsciousness trying to protect my feelings. While I still enjoy the ocean, it reminds me of him and that’s where all those memories come back. Then the pain of losing him becomes real again… Being in the forest helps me find my claim and allows me to reset from life. To find focus and move forward with life. The same affect happened while reading the Poetic Edda & Havamal. While I’m still learning everything about Norse Paganism, I feel that is where my path is going.

I’m sure some of you might have picked up on that with the number of quotes I have posted with my photography. Oddly enough I’ve always been rather secretive or safeguard this fact, mostly in fear or worry some family/friends might not understand. But like I said before, the older I get the more I stopped caring what other people think. All that matters is my wife and children, maybe one or two friends haha. Personally I feel I am on the right path that is meant for me.