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The Northern Dawn: A History of the Reawakening of the Germanic Spirit: From the Twilight of the Gods to the Sun at Midnight
Throughout the United States and Europe, a revival of interest in all things Germanic is taking place. This can be seen in the growth of pre-Christian religious movements, and in the much wider popularity of movies, novels, and television shows about the Viking Age. Just as other ethnicities show a healthy desire to reconnect with their indigenous past, the revival of Germanic culture appeals to people of European descent who feel cut off from their deepest ancestral roots.
But as Stephen Flowers argues in the pages of his far-reaching book, this is only the latest phase in a larger reawakening with a rich, if troubled, history. He defines what constitutes the Germanic Tradition, and explains how this tradition was fragmented and submerged with the coming of Christianity to the Goths, the Franks, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Scandinavians. More importantly, he shows how the northern spirit survived in myriad and sometimes surprising places: from literary works such as Beowulf and the Nibelungenlied, to the teachings of Christian mystics like Meister Eckhart, and in the religious, political, and legal institutions of medieval England, Iceland, and Scandinavia.
The first volume of a trilogy, The Northern Dawn series will chronicle the ways in which the Germanic Tradition has shaped our history, how it still speaks to us today, and how it may yet help to forge a meaningful and promising future in the midst of an increasingly aimless and atomized world.
But as Stephen Flowers argues in the pages of his far-reaching book, this is only the latest phase in a larger reawakening with a rich, if troubled, history. He defines what constitutes the Germanic Tradition, and explains how this tradition was fragmented and submerged with the coming of Christianity to the Goths, the Franks, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Scandinavians. More importantly, he shows how the northern spirit survived in myriad and sometimes surprising places: from literary works such as Beowulf and the Nibelungenlied, to the teachings of Christian mystics like Meister Eckhart, and in the religious, political, and legal institutions of medieval England, Iceland, and Scandinavia.
The first volume of a trilogy, The Northern Dawn series will chronicle the ways in which the Germanic Tradition has shaped our history, how it still speaks to us today, and how it may yet help to forge a meaningful and promising future in the midst of an increasingly aimless and atomized world.
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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148 people want to read
About the author
Stephen E. Flowers
53 books109 followersAmerican Runologist and proponent of occultism and Germanic mysticism.
Flowers is an advocate of "Esoteric Runology" or "Odinism", an occultist version of Germanic Neopaganism
Flowers has graduated in Germanic and Celtic philology.
Flowers is an advocate of "Esoteric Runology" or "Odinism", an occultist version of Germanic Neopaganism
Flowers has graduated in Germanic and Celtic philology.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 24, 2019
In modern times there has been a call to revive the ancient Germanic culture. By Ancient culture the Heathen or Pagan past is what is meant. So the research begins to recover this lost German past, before it was Christianized.
Has the Germanic culture been completely lost to the process of modernity and Christianization? Author Edred Flowers says no it has not been lost. In fact it has not even been buried. It is still alive and kicking.
One of the places it is still alive is in the literature and folktales. In the Ancient poetry, bard songs and even fairy tales the Germanic ideas still live on . Germanic Literature focused on heroism and overcoming great opponents. The literature put an emphasis on bravery and martial courage.
Christianity was not supposed to be a violent religion or at least not one of warfare. If so then where did the tradition and ethos of knighthood come from? From the Norse ideology, of course.
As Christianity crept into Europe it had to exist side by with Heathenism Often times Roman Christianity absorbed so much German culture that it became Germanized. One example of this is the Helmand which rewrites the story of Christ and his twelve apostle. In the Heliand Christ is depicted as a warrior.
Many Saxon laws originate from the Germanic time and in many an instance have remained unchanged. Customs and tradition of Ancient German culture were retained in the courtly and secular level.
It wont be hard to revive Germanic Heathen culture . It might not look the same as it once did but still there is enough of it alive.
Has the Germanic culture been completely lost to the process of modernity and Christianization? Author Edred Flowers says no it has not been lost. In fact it has not even been buried. It is still alive and kicking.
One of the places it is still alive is in the literature and folktales. In the Ancient poetry, bard songs and even fairy tales the Germanic ideas still live on . Germanic Literature focused on heroism and overcoming great opponents. The literature put an emphasis on bravery and martial courage.
Christianity was not supposed to be a violent religion or at least not one of warfare. If so then where did the tradition and ethos of knighthood come from? From the Norse ideology, of course.
As Christianity crept into Europe it had to exist side by with Heathenism Often times Roman Christianity absorbed so much German culture that it became Germanized. One example of this is the Helmand which rewrites the story of Christ and his twelve apostle. In the Heliand Christ is depicted as a warrior.
Many Saxon laws originate from the Germanic time and in many an instance have remained unchanged. Customs and tradition of Ancient German culture were retained in the courtly and secular level.
It wont be hard to revive Germanic Heathen culture . It might not look the same as it once did but still there is enough of it alive.
August 8, 2018
Thoughtful and objective
One of the most well-reasoned and supported works ever written on the transition of Northern Europe to monotheism, which much-needed examples and explanations regarding how the Old Ways changed Christianity as much or more than Christianity changed the European people. A timely analysis that should be on every revivalist’s bookshelf.
One of the most well-reasoned and supported works ever written on the transition of Northern Europe to monotheism, which much-needed examples and explanations regarding how the Old Ways changed Christianity as much or more than Christianity changed the European people. A timely analysis that should be on every revivalist’s bookshelf.
November 16, 2023
great book
His book explained the history and the reawakening of the wrkings of my ancestors. I strongly recommend this book for reading.
His book explained the history and the reawakening of the wrkings of my ancestors. I strongly recommend this book for reading.
January 27, 2024
Excellent book on the history of the Germanic peoples and the reawakened flame that burns in the hearts of their descendants. Would highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews