Hrafnar Information

Hrafnar's core group consists of around a dozen members, but over the years we have developed a surrounding community of about a hundred people, many of whom have been associated with Hrafnar for years and consider us their primary spiritual home. Some of them come to most of our activities while others join us when they can. Although we are centered in Berkeley, some members drive considerable distances to participate in our activities. We welcome visitors and newcomers to heathenry. Our belief and our experience has been that our gods call whom they will, and we are not about to argue with them. Therefore, although many of our members are attracted to a heathenry as a way to explore their own Germanic or Scandinavian heritage, we have and have had members of every ethnic background. And despite a common perception of Asatru as a masculine religion, a majority of our leaders are women, and our membership has always included the whole spectrum of gender orientations. Hrafnar is governed by the Gythja, Diana L. Paxson, and the Thul, Lorrie Wood, advised by a 5 person Witan. Communication between meetings is carried on via an active e-list and a group on Facebook. Participation in most of our activities and events does not require formal membership, and none of our activities, events, or groups exclude involvement in other organizations. Locally, Hrafnar is affiliated with the Fellowship of the Spiral Path (a local pagan umbrella organization) and nationally, we are affiliated with the Troth, an international satr organization that seeks to be a resource to all who hear the call of the North. What do we do? In addition to the regular meetings of the kindred, community activities include: Hrafnagaldr, our chorus, a rotating cycle of classes, lore study, devotional rituals, and occasional weekend activities. The kindred also does presentations at San Francisco Bay Area conferences such as PantheaCon, and has a booth at the Pagan Alliance Festival in Berkeley each year.