| User: | ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} valkyrieofodin |
| Date: | 2008-05-23 13:38 |
| Subject: | Why Is Lore Important? |
| Security: | Public |
| What I'm Feeling |  hopeful |
| Tags: | community spirit, lore, orlog, upg, wyrd, yesterday today and tomorrow |
I am writing two entries here. One on why Lore is important and one defining what UPG is. The reason these are separate entries is that I think it will make things easier for the individual to see, and not to mix together or feel that they need to try and work through a bunch of stuff to get to the meat of one or the other. I hope that those who come to this community will take the time to read both entries.
Lore is important to us as a community because it gives us a common language. Without being able to find that point of reference we'd be, frankly, lost. I can always say that I found this in the Poetic Edda and what precise translation. I can then ask if other people find within it a certain meaning or whatever, or if I am jumping into unknown territory. I can find myself learning about Scandinavian culture through studying the sagas, the more sagas I study the more I find of the culture as to whether or not it is consistent. I can tell when a translation has more of the translator’s values over a period of time (especially if the translator is more modern) or whether or not the values reflect the period that is being represented if, I have a good basis in lore. But, I have to have really put the time and energy into it. Otherwise I'm going to be, for all intents and purposes, lost. So, giving yourself the opportunity to really immerse yourself in Lore is not simply doing so because 'everyone does it' or because you've been told that Heathenry is the religion with homework if in fact you are Heathen. But, it is a good way to find yourself becoming capable of treading that common ground. And, once you have taken enough information into yourself and processed it, you may find yourself making connections you never thought you would. But, without having that grounding, simply pulling ideas out of thin air is not going to get you very far because most people are going to not have any idea of what you are talking about, or where those concepts might have developed. Lore connects us with the past, and gives us a way of projecting ourselves into the future. It helps us to keep from making the same mistakes over and over again. Because without understanding history, we are bound to repeat it as the saying goes. As you progress you may even begin to see where many of today's laws have evolved from, and what customs have carried over. Many have not. But the facets are in fact terrific. So, Lore is more than simply reading a book and putting it down to forget about later. It is filled with the weight of those who have come before, making themselves known in a myriad of ways even today. This is what in fact Wyrd and Orlog are all about. So enjoy your Lore, don't thump people over the head with it as though the Eddas were a bible, and don’t talk as though each Saga were something that was absolute. But look at our world and see where the world of yesterday overlaps, look at the world of tomorrow and how we today are going to affect it. Imagine our history today as Lore. And realize that this is in fact the impact that Lore should have in your life. Realize that UPG grows in many cases from Lore Study and give some room for each to learn from the other. Let there be frith in this community. Let the interchange here be of such a nature that we benefit. And know that whatever interpretations you put forth are going to be listened to.
Frithfully Yours,
Frithfully Yours,valkyrieofodin
geeky