Gangleri, God ov Cargoes

He knows alone who has wandered wide,
and far has fared on the way,
what manner of mind a man doth own
who is wise of head and heart

Hail Gangleri, Wodanaz, Odin.

The day I became a true heathen in spirit was the day I sacrificed for Odin, I left behind a life of comfort, entertaining a bog standard existence, working in a factory, unable to adapt to the society, living broke and lovesick, without the ability to connect to the world in any authentic way. I found a gild, calling themselves the :GALDRAGILDI: and left behind everything I knew and went to live in the northern Canadian wilderness to do something I would love. That is the day I became a wanderer, one of Odin’s sons. It has been nearly two and a half years since that time when I took the first step out of my comfort zone. Now it fills me with pride that I have evolved, and am currently only carrying one pack. This has been a dream, and over the years, as my haul has been sorted out with various garments, taufrs, animal pelts and bones, books, journals, gifts, hammock, tent, electronic tools, and other things beside survivalist needs, I have parted with some of these and am happily carrying one pack containing everything that I currently need. It is a true challenge to fit one’s life into a backpack. Some may see it as a penance and ask, why give everything away, but I would answer I already have everything. Sometimes it has felt similar to penance, as I carry some things the average traveler would never even consider having, but that is the point, not to be average. and I joke to myself saying that the bear skull I carry is added weight for the bad things I might have done in the past life as an outlaw.I also like my comforts probably as much as others, but am also comfortable roughing it, for my own company and wisdom is often better to have than all the finest luxuries.

A better burden can no man bear
on the way than his mother wit;
’tis the refuge of the poor, and richer it seems
than wealth in a world untried

It has been a hard, long road, and for a long time Odin has fooled me, he has fought me to toughen me and teach the lessons I rarely wanted to learn.Yet besides being brought to my knees, I knew I would reach this point. My spine which is the trunk of Yggdrasil has taken extreme pressure, but it is best that one grows strong to stand in the harshest of conditions. To now live by the watch words of magic, art, and ritual, and take life by the aurochs horns. I saw the Runes time ago, and i’m still learning to understand their mysteries. I have been branded by the Gods to carry a message, to live Viking, a wandering merchant, a skilled farmer, magical warrior, lover, and allly. I feel real pride knowing now that I do not have to carry anything in my hands if need be, whether pavement, mountain, sand, or shore, I continue to see past the new horizon, and carry my own, if the least to honor a man once known as Odin, the Allfather. May I meet with Freya in her hall, and in her arms find the love of the Goddess, May I cross the Bifrost bridge, when the next destinations edges me ahead, May I continue to sit with Saga in her hall of stories, and sing my own myth, the only way I know how.