Tales from the Ironwood

This essay was originally written on 10 August 2024. Shortly thereafter I gave in to the impulse to self-censor. This decision was grounded in the fear of the opinions of others. A more recent talk with an old friend impressed upon me the importance of such ideas. Indeed, if I am not to share this vision, then who shall? Revised during the contemplative morning of 27 December 2025. ********* About ten years ago, I embarked on a search for an answer to the age-old question: Who am I? At the time, I convinced myself that a deeper understanding of my ancestors would reveal that answer. In the course of that search, I discovered Ásatrú—the modern revival of the old Northern gods, intertwined with a strong emphasis on ancestor veneration. I believed I had finally cast off the imposed teachings of Christianity and uncovered my true self in the lives and spirits of my long-dead forebears. Yet today, what once seemed so certain now appears clouded by self-deception. While I had indeed e...