Reviving the Ancient: Exploring the links between Heathenry and Shinto

The original Heathens were the pre-Christian North European peoples who lived a thousand and more years ago in the lands around what is now called the North Sea. These included the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England, Scandinavia, Germany and Frisia (Modern day Belgium and the Netherlands).

Modern Heathen groups around the world are reviving these old practices under various names including Asatru, The Northern Tradition, Forn Sed, Germanic Pagan Reconstructionism or, simply, Heathenry. Heathens work to build healthy relationships with Gods and Goddesses, ancestors, spirits of the land, and others in their communities, both through holy rites and through their day-to-day actions.

Join Kieran Gregson in Lauriston Castle’s stunning Japanese Garden to learn more about this ancient religious practice, and its links to Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan.

Free, ticketed