Kindred
Encyclopedia
In the Heathen movements, a kindred is a local worship group and organisational unit. Other terms used are hearth, theod (only within the Theodish movement), blotgroup, sippe, and other less popular ones such as garth, stead
, and others.
Kindreds are usually grassroots groups which may or may not be affiliated with a national organization like the American Asatru Folk Assembly
, the Ásatrú Alliance
, The Troth
, rather than the Swedish Forn Sed Assembly or the Odinic Rite
. It is more typical for a kindred to not be affiliated to any organization within the US than elsewhere.
s or families as well as individuals, and the members of a kindred may be related by blood or marriage, or may be unrelated. The kindred often functions as a combination of extended family and religious group. Membership is managed by the assent of the group.
The kindreds usually have a recognized godi
(priest) or gydia
(priestess) to lead religious rites, while some other kindreds function more like modern corporations or communes.
Stead
Stead is a surname, and may refer to* C. K. Stead , New Zealand writer and critic* Christina Stead , Australian writer* Dave Stead , drummer...
, and others.
Kindreds are usually grassroots groups which may or may not be affiliated with a national organization like the American Asatru Folk Assembly
Asatru Folk Assembly
The Asatru Folk Assembly, or AFA, an organization of Germanic neopaganism, is the US-based Ásatrú organization founded by Stephen McNallen in 1994. Gardell classifies the AFA as folkish....
, the Ásatrú Alliance
Ásatrú Alliance
The Asatru Alliance is a US Ásatrú group, succeeding Stephen McNallen's Asatru Free Assembly in 1987, founded by Michael J. Murray of Arizona, who is a former vice-president of Else Christensen's Odinist Fellowship. The AFA seceded into two groups, the other one being The Troth...
, The Troth
The Troth
The Ring of Troth, now called simply The Troth, is an American-based international Germanic neopagan organization. The Troth was founded on December 20 , 1987 by former Asatru Free Assembly members Edred Thorsson and James Chisholm. However, neither is any longer involved with the organization...
, rather than the Swedish Forn Sed Assembly or the Odinic Rite
Odinic Rite
The Odinic Rite is a religious organization, practicing a form of Northern Indo European religion termed Odinism after the chief god of Norse mythology, Odin...
. It is more typical for a kindred to not be affiliated to any organization within the US than elsewhere.
Internal structure
Kindreds are often composed of hearthHearth
In common historic and modern usage, a hearth is a brick- or stone-lined fireplace or oven often used for cooking and/or heating. For centuries, the hearth was considered an integral part of a home, often its central or most important feature...
s or families as well as individuals, and the members of a kindred may be related by blood or marriage, or may be unrelated. The kindred often functions as a combination of extended family and religious group. Membership is managed by the assent of the group.
The kindreds usually have a recognized godi
Gothi
A goði or gothi is the Old Norse term for a priest and chieftain. Gyðja signifies a priestess.The name appears in Wulfila's Gothic language translation of the bible as gudja for "priest", but in Old Norse it is only the feminine form gyðja that perfectly corresponds to the Gothic form...
(priest) or gydia
Gothi
A goði or gothi is the Old Norse term for a priest and chieftain. Gyðja signifies a priestess.The name appears in Wulfila's Gothic language translation of the bible as gudja for "priest", but in Old Norse it is only the feminine form gyðja that perfectly corresponds to the Gothic form...
(priestess) to lead religious rites, while some other kindreds function more like modern corporations or communes.