Wyrd Ecology: Heathen Ritual and Gifting Relations (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780197804926)

Within contemporary Heathen communities, the Old English term "wyrd" is used to refer to the web of relations that connect all threads of existence. Inspired by pre-Christian traditions of Northern Europe, Heathens give gifts, toasts, and offerings to foster a sense of connection with other humans and the more-than-human world. In Wyrd Ecology, author Barbara Jane Davy posits that these ritual activities are not merely isolated exchanges but rather a means of sustaining entire relational systems, in turn inspiring givers and receivers to participate out of a desire for meaningful connection.

Davy utilizes research from two years of participant observation in a Heathen community in Ontario, Canada to show how ritual activities deepen practitioners' sense of appreciation for what they have already received and instil a desire to give back. Davy illustrates how making offerings and giving gifts is important not only because of what people might believe about the gods, but because it gives people a sense of relatedness with their world. Ritual practices may thus play a critical role in instilling an ecological conscience and can encourage ethical relations and pro-environmental behavior.

Author: Barbara Jane Davy
ISBN-10: 0197804926
ISBN-13: 9780197804926
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Language: English
Published: 05/06/2025
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 9.20h x 5.90w x 0.80d