Viking Descendent Hails Past With Pagan Rites On Columbia California Based Group Worships Earth And Sky
For 30 years, Stephen McNallen has struggled in obscurity to revive the Viking form of worship his Scandinavian ancestors practiced before they were conquered by Christians.
Wednesday was his moment to shine as he stood on the banks of the Columbia River, surrounded by a circle of fellow pagans. He raised the hammer of Thor high above his head and called to Odin.
Outside the ceremonial circle was a gaggle of television and still photographers. And a few curious onlookers.
“In the sign of Odin, Balder, Frey and Thor, may all evil be banished from this place,” McNallen shouted. “May peace and goodness remain as we work our will in the world and the will of the mighty powers!”
He led a dozen other pagans in a ritual that honored the forces of life they believe Kennewick Man honored.
The pagans called out the symbol for fire, which warmed Kennewick Man; ice, which tested him; air, which he breathed; and water, which washed away his thirst.
McNallen gave thanks to Earth, which “nourished him and protected him and which has delivered him to us.”
One of the few onlookers was Bernt Hillesland, a 24-year-old Yale divinity student who grew up across the river from where the remains were found last year. A Lutheran of Scandinavian descent, he was curious to see the rituals.
“My parents took a lot of effort to preserve the family history and Nordic traditions,” he said. “I never thought I’d live to see the day when there was a Norse pagan ritual right across the river.”
McNallen’s group, Asatru, is an Earth- and sky-centered religion based in Nevada City, Calif. It emphasizes personal strength and free will, McNallen said.
McNallen, 46, was a disillusioned Catholic college student in the 1960s when he stumbled upon the ancient beliefs. A schoolteacher by profession, he has devoted his life to reviving the faith.
“I’ve kind of combined methods,” he said. “I started with a good scholarly basis. Once you understand the concepts and mind-set (of the Vikings) you’ve got to turn inward and get creative. I wonder if we don’t tap into some kind of genetic memory by doing that.”
The result, McNallen said, is a modern interpretation with a message of strength, courage and kinship.
“We believe the gods and goddesses - because a religion without goddesses is halfway to atheism - are intimately linked to our very nature,” he said.
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