The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism

Written by Ryan Smith

Narrated by Roger Clark

A Radical New Take On Norse Paganism

The Way of Fire and Ice reimagines Norse Paganism with mystical practices and rituals for today's world as well as tips for building community and resisting fascism. This approach to working with Norse deities and beliefs is a living, adaptable tradition, representing a strong alternative to the reconstructionist perspectives of Asatru and Heathenry.

In this book, the old ways come alive in a radically inclusive form. You will explore the secrets of the World Tree and the mysteries of the gods, work with the many spirits around us, and feel the deep rhythms that drive all life while creating new songs of power. You will also discover how to make these practices part of your every waking moment, developing your own personal spirituality and building healthy, sustainable communities along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Mar 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781705212189

Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith has been a practicing Pagan since his teens with over fifteen years of experience in inclusive and anti-racist Heathen spirituality. He is the author of The Way of Fire and Ice and Spinning Wyrd. In addition to contributing to the anthologies Bringing Race to the Table and ¡No Pasarán!:Antifascist Dispatches from a World in Crisis, Ryan has been published at Huginn's Heathen Hof, Patheos Pagan, and Truthout. He has presented talks and rituals at Pantheacon, the Gathering Paths presented by Between the Veils, Hexenfest, and Many Gods West. He regularly writes at onblackwings.com and produces a Heathen podcast, The Wayward Wanderer. He also has a PhD in modern economic and social history and can be found online at Facebook, Mastodon, and Instagram.

Reviews for The Way of Fire and Ice

[Jesse D · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very progressive and inclusive. A great resource for practitioners looking to exclude White Supremacy and fascism.

[BookskooB · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The narrator is engaging. I wish I had this book to wave around, when i met a group 20 yrs ago. They told me they were inclusive but that was not the case. After my car was blocked in the drive and everyone gathered. The godhi told me he does not like the HAH (heathens against hate) banner, because it "discriminates" against groups who hate. Ummm that was the whole point of the banner. To let fascists know they aren't welcome. Then he told me that he would not marry lesbians (which was not yet legalized) because lesbians are oath breakers. He had married a couple and then it didn't work out, but come wtf on here. I should have figured out something was off as there was no community, only individualism. Where was the community outreach. Where was the giving back. I met later with another member and attempted to communicate my distaste. I asked him to please in the future let folks, like me, know what to expect. I would have stayed home. By the way, I know what it is to hate because I had a school bully a couple years of my youth. I later realized I could not hate this person. He probably had problems at home. and despising a person like that only helps them win. Also I had been on the recieving end of hate crime in the past, I will not mention the details here, but I have documentation and witnesses from 2 or more occasions. So when he said he'd see me next time, I said "No you won't". The bad thing is I was told they were with the largest inclusive organization ( I will not name here). Racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and misogyny are tools of division. We all must unite and not be divided. United we stand.

[Katherine Shaw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well researched and written, with a perfect mix of history and personal practice experience detailed.

[Corinne Clairmont · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well done- accessible and entertaining. Author obviously did their research.

[Greg Ponder · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how in depth it got into the history and current/modern practices of Norse paganism. It's definitely going on my permanent bookshelf.

[cheryl · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really wanted to like this book and it does have some decent elements about it, but there are better and more accurate books out there. This one embraces some of the new wave mythology of Norse cultures and presents it as accurate though it conflicts with known history. The author’s effort to condemn white supremacy in Norse paganism, while admirable in the intent behind it, deviates from factual presentation once again. Unfortunately, his activism, though well intended, interferes with his ability to present a book that that is accurate in both spirituality and history

[Robert Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an awesome book until the last chapter, the author somehow wove ANTIFA and current politics into the matter, that doesnt even make sense. Anyhow, great book, just skip the last chapter, it doent even go with the rest of the book.

[Jamie O'Duibhir · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I appreciate the condemnation of neo-volkische types, but there's so much misinformation and patently false information about reconstructionists in here that it spoils the book. It's a major disappointment.