Warrior cult is complex to me. And yet, to me it can be atomized into two definite characteristics: Offensive and Defensive. It’s easy to see the warband troupe in play contemporarily, even in the non-religious. You have multiple brands of clothing started by soldiers, marines and the like tailored for those in the service and those who support the service, but also those who wish to be the self sacrificing servile honor driven warrior. It’s not just clothing either. It’s also Facebook pages, youtube channels, instagram accounts etc. Of course, this is just the non-religious. (Grunt Style is a big perpetrator of this.)

On the religious side, you have organizations (that I refuse to name here due to associations with nationalism, racism and fascism) that capitalize on that troupe by appealing to the younger crowds (most often male) driven with a desire for a return to romantic warrior imagery (read: Vikings and Valhalla), a sort of hiraeth without the connotations of ‘place’. These organizations include ex-military at times, but are not limited to it. Some are even in the game of being subversive to conventional society due to this ‘warrior hiraeth’. The idea is that the overculture is broken and if warbands become a thing again, maybe things could change to everyone’s (read: their) benefit. Religion is just a coat for them more often than not, an excuse to behave in the manner they do. (I understand that some may actually be religiously inclined genuinely, instead of politically. Most often however, it is not that way.)

The focus is almost entirely driven on the idea of offense. Words like fight, battle, blood, iron and such evoke stirrings of courage and bravery. That is until it’s time to utilize it. Some find these organizations and join, the others make rationalizations as to why they don’t. This is the same phenomenon as those who use the classic military memetic line ‘I would’ve joined up but…’. Those who do join find themselves often in a fight club dedicated to the physical and pseudo-philosophical as well as pseudo-spiritual. It is not surprising to me that most if not all of these ‘männerbunds’ are Norse based. I can already hear the screeching of Hávamál quotes from an out of breath shirtless ‘chieftain’.

There’s also the attempts a more socially driven warband cult like the Coru Cathuboda priesthood. I don’t know exactly how well they would stack as an actual warband. Their actions in videos on Facebook would show that they are more of resistance (defensive) type of warband contrary to the conventional society which they would argue is inherently corrupt. The chief Brennos utilizes a more medical approach when dealing in protest against racism and fascism, carrying a backpack filled with supplies to aid protesters. And despite this, they teach their members martial arts with a focus on self-defense. Clearly I would label this as a defensive type of warband cultus .

Medical Equipment Chieftain Brennos and others

Photos by Coru Cathubodua and Brennos Agrocunos Gunn

I have no doubt that if any of the groups read what I wrote, they might argue that they were both offensive and defensive in their dealings of ‘war’. In any case, I only point those out as examples of two different types of war cult.

As for my warrior cultus, it started out with the offensive slowly transitioning to the defensive. Perhaps it’s historically inline, perhaps it’s not. As I wrote on my first entry here, Matir Boudâ came to me with a vicious dream before Benning. Later on, Camulos came to me with a similar tone. But it truly wasn’t until I found Magusanus/Magusenos (Germanic/Celtic spelling in that order) that I found how much I’ve changed. While my military career hasn’t been as illustrious and glorious (or horrific in some cases) as some in my team, squad, and platoons over the almost 6 years I’ve been in, there has been some danger (minefields, live fires etc). Magusenos is that watcher over those in the military who join young and retire from it alive, as well as being a patron of athletics and soldiers in general. The day that I passed my LAST PT test during a thunderstorm (which he is also attributed to) was also the day I received one exit counseling (the military loves it’s counseling and I’m sure I’ll have more exit counseling to make sure I want out).

**A quick note: I thank those I’ve mentioned in the paragraph above for teaching me the best they could and also for keeping me safe during my time. All of you.**

The point is that warrior cultus isn’t JUST violence and bloodshed and machismo. It’s also about survival, commaradery, and protection. I always pray to Matir Boudâ, Camulos, and now Lenus and Magusenos for protection during drill and annual training. They’ve kept me from deploying and joining my ancestors for reasons unknown at this time. I love them for that.

And that’s what I want to convey to those who are reading this and are drawn some how to a war god. You don’t have to be a warrior or a soldier to have a god who is associated with war. Just because you see crows and ravens doesn’t mean you were ‘chosen’ for the warrior’s path. In all honesty, to me, it just means you caught a glimpse of the divine as they happened to be around. And even then, I support you praying to a war god. Not JUST for bravery or courage to fight symbolically or physically, metaphorically or literally. But also for protection against illness, and famine, and for family and friends. For protection of yourself. That’s why they are war gods. They fight for us at times. Just like soldiers. They go to war for us.

Not everyone can or should be going to down the path of the warrior. It’s a title hard earned that to me has a hardline definition (one that I very much struggle to rationalize myself as, even though the US Government considers all it’s soldiers as warriors). The mother with cancer ‘fighting’ for her life should not wish a trip to Valhöll. Trust me, it’s like Annual Training but never ending. Fun in some instances but it mostly involves sweaty soldiers, never ending fighting, drunkeness and those soldiers are the only family you have now. Some soldiers are cool with that. In regards to that, I say Valhöll is nice to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there.

Again, there’s nothing to say that mother mentioned above can’t pray to a war god like Thor or Odin to fight the cancer for or through her.

I know it’s odd for a Bolgos (read: Belgic Gaul) to speak of Norse stuff, but hopefully it demonstrates my point. I honestly shouldn’t be advising praying to Odin for much anyway, considering one of his epithets is ‘Maddener’.

So for the non-warrior who wishes to have a war god: I support you in praying to them. Don’t just ask to be a ‘warrior’ in all aspects in life. Be confident enough to ask for their love, devotion and protection. They’re gods. It’s okay.

For the ‘warrior’ or soldier who wants to be in a war cultus: If you joined up because you wanted to make a difference or protect your loved ones, in State or overseas, don’t ask for galā (warrior’s rage) when you’re not gonna be in combat. Pray for your gods to watch over you and protect you as well. Only pray for galā when you need it.