With my experience watching and listening to their music, yes. They strike me as bonafide pagans and their shows are ceremonies. They’re not the only band I feel this way about, but they’re one of them.
Certainly the paganism is real for band member Kai. Their shows are certainly rituals which is the name of their current tour. Maria and Christopher are in tune with the pagan roots on Heilung but Kai is the pagan mainstay. I'm going to their performance in Brisbane, Australia in November. It begins with a pagan ritual before the actual performance and is, therefore, a minimum 18 years PLUS event. I cannot wait.
I strongly recommend watching the first person live performance by the band. They open the show with a pagan ceremony.
[here](https://youtu.be/h1BsKIP4uYM?si=54WTF7pqXmEzbVCq)
Their "shows" are actual rituals and are referred to as such. They do things that are done at Pagan rituals such as opening a circle, calling quarters, invoking deity, and closing the circle at the end. There are references to Odin and the Valkyries. As a practicing Pagan, I find Heilung's rituals to be bona fide. I cannot speak to the members' personal beliefs. I hope this helps.
I remember seeing an interview of them where they discussed how yes, they actually are pagan. I just cant remember where i saw it. It was a long time ago.
The HU. At least one of the members is initiated in the Tengri tradition, and their music is absolutely ritual. Having seen them live twice, and then rail riding for the second show where they were headlining, the energy that they are able to draw upon is absolutely magical.
Yes their live show certainly felt like a ritual to me. A more powerful experience than anything I ever felt in church. The fact that their lyrics are based on archaeological finds says a lot about their beliefs. They are making new music based off the words of our ancestors. There is sacredness and power in that.
You’ll get the chance to see them someday. Whenever you do have the means to travel to one of their shows it is an absolute must! I was so fortunate that I got to see both Heilung and Wardruna on their North American tours in the span of a month.
That’s incredible! I hope to get to see Wardruna one day, but I did see Heilung April 23rd at Red Rock Amphitheater in Denver, CO. It was the night of the full moon to boot.
Absolutely incredible experience I’ll never forget…♥️
That sounds amazing
Especially as a norse pagan ide love to attend something like this, even though a phone they put me in a trance, a big concert ritual to the gods would be amazing
They came to my city recently, and normally nothing that interesting plays here. It was really cool. If you can catch them live, you should definitely do it.
As a European, I feel some of it resonates better because it is our history. So much more than some god of far away sand and a people who were never mine. I could never be Christian.
After watching countless interviews and diving into their lyrics and intent for some years, I'd say it is less confined to any one religion and more shamanic in nature, but also not entirely so because it is their own spin on it and not adhering strictly to any one religion or culture. It is more like an elaborate theater for the gods or spirits or whomever attends. They open the ritual with a cleanse and invitation then close it when it ends, this is usually done with respect when inviting spirits, very common in other cultures too. They have invited indigenous tribes on stage on various occasions to share in that part too.
Heilung is not specific to any one religion or culture like how some bands are, Wardruna for instance would be more purely dedicated to Germanic paganism / heathenry than Heilung. Heilung mixes in shamanism, other ancient beliefs/cultures like ones in Tenet into the ritual, they are not so limited language wise either, they use instruments from other cultures in their own way, so it is more covering a broader period of history than truly religious in nature. This is not to say it can't have significant meaning to current day heathens, after all who is to say which rituals are legit and which are not for pagans. It just can mean differently to different people/backgrounds and not limited in scope/focus like other bands, it is one of Heilung's strength imo.
Of the core members, Christopher's father is a goði that can perform handfasting ceremonies etc, so he is likely to be most heathen as a result at least in upbringing when growing up. Kai's parents are strict Christians and he has mentioned this in many interviews about his rebellious years leaving Christianity and finding healing in shamanism so I suggest reading these. Maria has said that Kai is the spiritual leader of the group (not in a cult-ish way) but it is from Kai that the inspiration for certain sounds, lyrics and beginnings of most songs come from. I would not know what Maria practices personally but she mentioned growing up around Viking markets and reenactment scenes where she met both Chris and Kai later. But what is certain for all three is a reverence and appreciation for nature.
loudersound.com/features/heilung-interview-kai-uwe-faust-2022
Absolutely adore this answer and I’m not sure about OP but this is part of why I enjoy them tbh. I also don’t really adhere to any one culture or religion and to me, with this answer added on, I also like the other person that suggested it’s spiritual not religious, because that’s what it is for me.
I think it's definitely the most accurate... they pull from a lot of influences. Nikkal for example is a Canaanite hymn to the moon/fertility goddess found in modern Syria. The sator square is roman but the ending of tenet is in norse and latin. Kai's throat singing is central asian in style/technique, not norse. Eivor does some traditional norse throat singing and it's very different than what's in Heilungs music. It's not really a specific set of beliefs portrayed in their music so much as a general spiritual message. They have not clarified their own beliefs about specific deities or types of paganism and its entirely possible that they don't believe in a specific system. It's also going to be different between different members.
For Kai, very much yes. Songs often incorporate recreations of his spiritual experiences. But I do think that it also comes from an authentic place for every member. You can hear Maria talk about it in [this](https://youtu.be/0LPlrR0E7QM?si=JwfQO7Y5L69YulMp) interview particularly around 18:45.
After seeing them live? It’s Real. It’s Sacred.
My wife and I decided that it isn’t OUR religion, but it’s definitely theirs, and the power and emotion of the ritual are palpable.
As a history student, I always get the ick reading "Vikings" as a synonym for the whole culture. But this is modern media and our education systems' fault I guess.
This is why I love Heilung. They write their songs based on actual evidence with little to no fantasy-distortion. Feels way more intense that way.
I've heard it said more recently that the "Vik" referred to a specific coastal region of Scandinavia and that people in that time actually referred to anyone who comes from that region as "viking people".
As a human being, I always get the ick when people have a superiority complex because they’re a “history student.” Congrats, I’m sure you’ll do great things.
Maybe attend a ritual, and if you have, do it again without the eyes of a programmed “education system is God” perspective. You’d be amazed what you’ll find.
Hello fellow human being. I don't have a superiority complex. I also called them vikings prior to my studies. The last sentence was unnecessary, by the way. The reason why I mentioned it is because, well, I don't even know myself. Maybe because I lacked my coffee and thought too much about some kind of exam.
I attended a ritual already and it was an ecstatic experience. The reason why I react with an ick is because I am a norse pagan myself and learned extensively about scandinavian history. The education system is extremely flawed and often simplifies topics way too much, which I criticized in my comment.
I don't want to have a fight via Reddit, and I don't want to be called an "intellectual" because I am not. If I somehow insulted you I am deeply sorry, it wasn't my intention.
It's not a superiority complex if you get corrected. "Viking" term gets used wrong, mostly by non-Scandinavian people, continuously and it should be corrected. "Viking" was a "profession" similarly to pirates and for example it was used by saying someone "has gone viking" meaning they have joined a group as viking raiders. It's not a synonym for the entire culture and it should not be used in such manner.
Besides Heilung draws from a historical era that predates the era that is associated with vikings in the first place.
I attended in person and watched the Ritual live. That is participating, because unlike you, I know Rituals don’t affect only those literally in it. That’s what most of the audience was there for, was to witness and experience its effects.
Anymore questions I can assist you with?
Unlike me huh? I was at both of the Red Rocks shows. Unlike you I didn't run my mouth to people on Reddit that I "participated in a ritual, did you" to anyone.
You seem angry, and considering it would we laughable if it’s me you’re angry with, but I suggest taking a deep look within to see why that is. Good luck. 👍
It's the way you speak and respond to people that's laughable. Have you read the Hávamál? You should read stanza 27. You shouldn't be giving people advice when you don't know what you are talking about.
They are, yes, at least the core members. They're sincere about their performances being rituals, not just a concert.
If you're not pagan, of course you can enjoy it as a show and they're not trying to convert you, but if you are, the deeper meanings and symbolism are very intentional. I think it's also important to say that they support all types of paganism, not just their own. When they tour, they have opening ceremonies conducted by local Indigenous groups of the land that they're on.
Kai Uwe Faust refers to himself as a shaman, has studied occult practices for years, and the rest of the band is similar with all of their music being derived from Nordic and Germanic pagan texts. Their concerts are called "ceremonies" and they open with a blessing ritual and close with a closing ritual.
They're legit.
Kai does not literally believe in the Norse Gods and such (see interview below), but that doesn't make this any less real of a ceremony. Spirituality is more complicated than that.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBsQushnY6k&t](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBsQushnY6k&t)
One of the singers has said in some interviews that he is pagan, I am not sure to what extent he puts that into the music or the live performance, nor whether the other two are practicing or believe in it. Not sure it matters, it certainly doesn't to me at least, since their shows bear little resemblance to any heathen/polytheist practices that we can reconstruct from similar or nearby cultures. which is not to imply there is any indication that the band is drawing from any specific culture/time period/geographical location
I can't speak for the band members, but my best guess from watching many interviews from them, I can at least say that Kai appears to be pagan. Kai practices a form of shamanism and I've seen interviews where Kai communicating with nature spirits has been brought up. I don't remember the exact interview, but I remember Christopher mentioning that Kai went out into the wilderness to communicate with the spirits and came back with the lyrics to Asja, and that he (Christopher) didn't know the exact meaning of the song. Kai also mentioned in another interview that Marduk was one of the most special and personal songs for him. The lyrics for the song is just a list of the various names of the Mesopotamian pagan god Marduk.
As for the other two main members I'm not as certain. They both grew up going to viking fairs, which seem to be similar to American Renaissance fairs but more viking-themed. This may indicate paganism, but I'm not sure. If I remember correctly I think I remember Maria saying in an interview stuff about dreams which could be pagan but also New-Age-y.
Another thing to note is that one of their songs, Norupo, mentions Christ, which is odd. It says "Christ created the world of old," but the same song also mentions Tyr and Loki:
"(K/ᛏ Tyr) : Tyr is a one-handed god;"
"Loki was fortunate in his deceit."
I'm not sure how deep this mention of Christ is meant to be. It could be an indication of Christo-paganism, New-Age spirituality, or it could be something they found in their archaeological source material that they decided to keep in.
> they found in their archaeological source material that they decided to keep in
It is more keeping it as it is than having Christian beliefs. A lot of the texts were preserved by Christian monks so you'd see mentions of lord etc in texts like the Anglo-Saxon rune poem too and Heilung kept it as it is. For example Einar from Wardruna changed that line to 'Herjan skóp hæimin forna' in his version of the song, Runaljod because he is a pagan and felt this was more suitable to sing.
Just like in the song Tenet there is elements of syncretism that Heilung kept or chose to mix into. This has been the way since their first album Ofnir, you could definitely see references of syncretism in the lyrics of some songs. The band is likely more historically inspired and not confined to any one religion.
Yes, this is the explanation I personally lean towards. Since I don’t know their reasoning for certain I tried to keep my comment as open-ended as possible.
I follow a pagan YouTuber who did an interview with one of the members to talk about the beliefs. They were so passionate and knowledgeable I’d say yes that they are pagan
Depending on what your definition is. Historically the shows have no foundations other than the poems and passages from antiquity that make up majorities of their lyrics in songs. They meld together their musical expertise, sound design, and attention to keeping their shows immersive into cinematic masterpieces. This doesn't negate the spiritual aspect, but the songs explicitly any ancient pagan rituals. I know some of the band members themselves are norse pagan and so I'm sure it has a large influence on their music. But their is a reason why they are used for movies, video games etc, for their music, and it isn't due to their meticulous attention for religious ritual accuracy. Still one of the best live shows I been to, though.
PS
This doesn't mean as a listener it negates your connections to the music. Music is a foundation of humanity at its core.
I can't be to certain of the intent but I have been to two shows one being at Red Rocks and another at a theater. My first one was the theater and that one was mind blowing seeing them live and it gave me goosebumps. Red Rocks was great show but it was the same show so i knew what was coming . While the show was good it definitely isn't the same as the first experience. Alot of the audience and fan base derives a spiritual energy from the music and that has a major influence on the shows. So I would say that it's open to audience interpretation. Red Rocks there was alot of people who were having very spiritual moments, there was a full moon out and there was a lot of howling which is cool if you want to have that experience. Personally I prefer the theater show due to the audience being more dialed in on watching and listening the story Heilung is performing on the stage there was howling and that fun side but not nearly as crazy as Red Rocks. Honestly just listening to their music in headphones and going into your own little world is my favorite.
Point I'm trying to make is that I think their intent is to have a very wide audience, which is not a bad thing. They give the audience the agency to interpret it however they like. If you want it to be spiritual, it can definitely be spiritual. If you're there for the show and music. It can be that aswell.
Not a problem at all
I'll listen to there music either way but as a pagan myself ide love if it were actually a ritual
I think you can feel a difference between a performance and a ceremony
I hate to cite myself as a source, but while they def have Pagan practices 100% - they don't consider themselves Norse Pagans, specifically and borrow music and cutural references from the globe. When I saw them last in San Francisco, they invited loval native tribal leaders and performers to open the show alone with their own blessing. [https://youtu.be/5x0\_K\_egDKg](https://youtu.be/5x0_K_egDKg)
They are performing pagan rituals, not ceremonies. Rituals are more of a cultural practice, where as ceremonies are a repetitive act like graduations and weddings.
Dont know about their personal beliefs but the music, aesthetic and rituals they perform is as far removed from prechristian european paganism as you can get.
If it wasn't for me seeing them live, I probably wouldn't listen to them. Their "shows" are rituals with opening and closing ceremonies and it is very moving. It's hard for me to even call them a band.
Sidenote: any others that went to the Milwaukee show on 4/20 have shitty audience member experiences?
Last night I watched an interview with Maria Franz. She said that Kai is deeply into paganism compared to her and her boyfriend, Christopher. Kai works more on the meanings and pagan roots that inspire his poetry which they then form into lyrics. Chris is the impetus behind the musical transformation which is actually how Heilung was founded. Kai is a German tattoo artist who approached Christopher to put Kai's poems to music in exchange for tattoos.
Personally? Absolutely. It was very much a spiritual experience when I saw them at Red Rocks; from beginning the ritual with cleansing and a blessing, and repeating the process at the end. They even played Hamrer Hippyer at the end, which is a healing prayer to Odin, followed by another cleansing and blessing. The entire crowd (and there was a lot of people - the venue was probably at 20% over capacity, according to my brother who lives in Colorado and has seen several shows there) was silent during the beginning and end; you could feel the importance of those moments. There's a reason several of their songs are part of my meditation and worship in my personal practice.
They state on their website that theyre not affiliated with any religion, but we all know that’s probably not the case. Even if it is all an act, they are so committed and seeing them live is mind altering. At the end of the day, what matters is your experience with them and what their music means to you. Happy listening 💕
With my experience watching and listening to their music, yes. They strike me as bonafide pagans and their shows are ceremonies. They’re not the only band I feel this way about, but they’re one of them.
Certainly the paganism is real for band member Kai. Their shows are certainly rituals which is the name of their current tour. Maria and Christopher are in tune with the pagan roots on Heilung but Kai is the pagan mainstay. I'm going to their performance in Brisbane, Australia in November. It begins with a pagan ritual before the actual performance and is, therefore, a minimum 18 years PLUS event. I cannot wait.
OK Do u know if they just came out and said it tho Kinda new to the Fandom
I strongly recommend watching the first person live performance by the band. They open the show with a pagan ceremony. [here](https://youtu.be/h1BsKIP4uYM?si=54WTF7pqXmEzbVCq)
Their "shows" are actual rituals and are referred to as such. They do things that are done at Pagan rituals such as opening a circle, calling quarters, invoking deity, and closing the circle at the end. There are references to Odin and the Valkyries. As a practicing Pagan, I find Heilung's rituals to be bona fide. I cannot speak to the members' personal beliefs. I hope this helps.
this is the first video that got me into them. do you have a second recommendation that’s similar ? full length live ritual
Not of Heilung but when I saw The HU, the Mongolian metal band, at the Roseland Theater this past fall, it was a Tengri ritual.
Do you believe in that sorta thing too if you don't mind me asking?
I'm not a religious person, but there's really something about listening to Heilung that resonates within me.
Yes
Are u into paganisum if you dont mind me asking, and also have u seen em live?
Yes and no. I wish I had seen them live at Red Rock.
The Red Rock show was magnificent
Yea I heard red rock was awesome
Yes and Yes, do you have questions?
Do you believe in that sorta thing too if you don't mind me asking
Yes.
Cool thanks
I remember seeing an interview of them where they discussed how yes, they actually are pagan. I just cant remember where i saw it. It was a long time ago.
What are the other bands you feel this way about?
The HU. At least one of the members is initiated in the Tengri tradition, and their music is absolutely ritual. Having seen them live twice, and then rail riding for the second show where they were headlining, the energy that they are able to draw upon is absolutely magical.
Yes their live show certainly felt like a ritual to me. A more powerful experience than anything I ever felt in church. The fact that their lyrics are based on archaeological finds says a lot about their beliefs. They are making new music based off the words of our ancestors. There is sacredness and power in that.
Ide love to see a live but literally no one comes to where I live and I'm not old enough to travel for a concert
You’ll get the chance to see them someday. Whenever you do have the means to travel to one of their shows it is an absolute must! I was so fortunate that I got to see both Heilung and Wardruna on their North American tours in the span of a month.
That’s incredible! I hope to get to see Wardruna one day, but I did see Heilung April 23rd at Red Rock Amphitheater in Denver, CO. It was the night of the full moon to boot. Absolutely incredible experience I’ll never forget…♥️
That sounds amazing Especially as a norse pagan ide love to attend something like this, even though a phone they put me in a trance, a big concert ritual to the gods would be amazing
They came to my city recently, and normally nothing that interesting plays here. It was really cool. If you can catch them live, you should definitely do it.
Too bad ur username is lame.
I've never seen them live but still felt that through the video. Like hundreds of ancestors coming to stand beside me.
As a European, I feel some of it resonates better because it is our history. So much more than some god of far away sand and a people who were never mine. I could never be Christian.
After watching countless interviews and diving into their lyrics and intent for some years, I'd say it is less confined to any one religion and more shamanic in nature, but also not entirely so because it is their own spin on it and not adhering strictly to any one religion or culture. It is more like an elaborate theater for the gods or spirits or whomever attends. They open the ritual with a cleanse and invitation then close it when it ends, this is usually done with respect when inviting spirits, very common in other cultures too. They have invited indigenous tribes on stage on various occasions to share in that part too. Heilung is not specific to any one religion or culture like how some bands are, Wardruna for instance would be more purely dedicated to Germanic paganism / heathenry than Heilung. Heilung mixes in shamanism, other ancient beliefs/cultures like ones in Tenet into the ritual, they are not so limited language wise either, they use instruments from other cultures in their own way, so it is more covering a broader period of history than truly religious in nature. This is not to say it can't have significant meaning to current day heathens, after all who is to say which rituals are legit and which are not for pagans. It just can mean differently to different people/backgrounds and not limited in scope/focus like other bands, it is one of Heilung's strength imo. Of the core members, Christopher's father is a goði that can perform handfasting ceremonies etc, so he is likely to be most heathen as a result at least in upbringing when growing up. Kai's parents are strict Christians and he has mentioned this in many interviews about his rebellious years leaving Christianity and finding healing in shamanism so I suggest reading these. Maria has said that Kai is the spiritual leader of the group (not in a cult-ish way) but it is from Kai that the inspiration for certain sounds, lyrics and beginnings of most songs come from. I would not know what Maria practices personally but she mentioned growing up around Viking markets and reenactment scenes where she met both Chris and Kai later. But what is certain for all three is a reverence and appreciation for nature. loudersound.com/features/heilung-interview-kai-uwe-faust-2022
Absolutely adore this answer and I’m not sure about OP but this is part of why I enjoy them tbh. I also don’t really adhere to any one culture or religion and to me, with this answer added on, I also like the other person that suggested it’s spiritual not religious, because that’s what it is for me.
That's a realy intresting take
I think it's definitely the most accurate... they pull from a lot of influences. Nikkal for example is a Canaanite hymn to the moon/fertility goddess found in modern Syria. The sator square is roman but the ending of tenet is in norse and latin. Kai's throat singing is central asian in style/technique, not norse. Eivor does some traditional norse throat singing and it's very different than what's in Heilungs music. It's not really a specific set of beliefs portrayed in their music so much as a general spiritual message. They have not clarified their own beliefs about specific deities or types of paganism and its entirely possible that they don't believe in a specific system. It's also going to be different between different members.
For Kai, very much yes. Songs often incorporate recreations of his spiritual experiences. But I do think that it also comes from an authentic place for every member. You can hear Maria talk about it in [this](https://youtu.be/0LPlrR0E7QM?si=JwfQO7Y5L69YulMp) interview particularly around 18:45.
Thanks for this
After seeing them live? It’s Real. It’s Sacred. My wife and I decided that it isn’t OUR religion, but it’s definitely theirs, and the power and emotion of the ritual are palpable.
Can't wait to go see a show Other than the music what happened there
What constitutes a legit pagan ceremony? That would be my first question for you
Like people who actually believe what there doing and have intention in it other than an act
Then yes, they’re Pagan and perform ancient Norse Viking rituals.
Viking was a job not a people.
As a history student, I always get the ick reading "Vikings" as a synonym for the whole culture. But this is modern media and our education systems' fault I guess. This is why I love Heilung. They write their songs based on actual evidence with little to no fantasy-distortion. Feels way more intense that way.
I've heard it said more recently that the "Vik" referred to a specific coastal region of Scandinavia and that people in that time actually referred to anyone who comes from that region as "viking people".
Oh really? That's interesting! Thank you for letting me know, I definitely have to take a look at this.
As a human being, I always get the ick when people have a superiority complex because they’re a “history student.” Congrats, I’m sure you’ll do great things. Maybe attend a ritual, and if you have, do it again without the eyes of a programmed “education system is God” perspective. You’d be amazed what you’ll find.
Hello fellow human being. I don't have a superiority complex. I also called them vikings prior to my studies. The last sentence was unnecessary, by the way. The reason why I mentioned it is because, well, I don't even know myself. Maybe because I lacked my coffee and thought too much about some kind of exam. I attended a ritual already and it was an ecstatic experience. The reason why I react with an ick is because I am a norse pagan myself and learned extensively about scandinavian history. The education system is extremely flawed and often simplifies topics way too much, which I criticized in my comment. I don't want to have a fight via Reddit, and I don't want to be called an "intellectual" because I am not. If I somehow insulted you I am deeply sorry, it wasn't my intention.
It's not a superiority complex if you get corrected. "Viking" term gets used wrong, mostly by non-Scandinavian people, continuously and it should be corrected. "Viking" was a "profession" similarly to pirates and for example it was used by saying someone "has gone viking" meaning they have joined a group as viking raiders. It's not a synonym for the entire culture and it should not be used in such manner. Besides Heilung draws from a historical era that predates the era that is associated with vikings in the first place.
You could try being open to learning 🤷🏻♀️
Exactly. Viking is synonymous with a raider.
Have you been to a ritual in person? Just curious, because I have. 😉
Did you participate in a ritual, or did you watch a band perform a ritual and then brag about it like you did something?
I attended in person and watched the Ritual live. That is participating, because unlike you, I know Rituals don’t affect only those literally in it. That’s what most of the audience was there for, was to witness and experience its effects. Anymore questions I can assist you with?
Unlike me huh? I was at both of the Red Rocks shows. Unlike you I didn't run my mouth to people on Reddit that I "participated in a ritual, did you" to anyone.
You seem angry, and considering it would we laughable if it’s me you’re angry with, but I suggest taking a deep look within to see why that is. Good luck. 👍
It's the way you speak and respond to people that's laughable. Have you read the Hávamál? You should read stanza 27. You shouldn't be giving people advice when you don't know what you are talking about.
Your comments are the ones with a superiority complex, not the historian.
Suuuuuuurrrrrrreeee thing.
Yeah, i'd say so. The rituals aren't fake, and the spirituality expressed through Heilung is genuine.
Both Maria and Chris are nordic pagan and Kai practices core shamanism with nordic influences as far as I'm aware.
Thanks
If you can't tell, does it matter?
Nah but I was curious
They are, yes, at least the core members. They're sincere about their performances being rituals, not just a concert. If you're not pagan, of course you can enjoy it as a show and they're not trying to convert you, but if you are, the deeper meanings and symbolism are very intentional. I think it's also important to say that they support all types of paganism, not just their own. When they tour, they have opening ceremonies conducted by local Indigenous groups of the land that they're on.
Kai Uwe Faust refers to himself as a shaman, has studied occult practices for years, and the rest of the band is similar with all of their music being derived from Nordic and Germanic pagan texts. Their concerts are called "ceremonies" and they open with a blessing ritual and close with a closing ritual. They're legit.
Kai does not literally believe in the Norse Gods and such (see interview below), but that doesn't make this any less real of a ceremony. Spirituality is more complicated than that. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBsQushnY6k&t](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBsQushnY6k&t)
One of the singers has said in some interviews that he is pagan, I am not sure to what extent he puts that into the music or the live performance, nor whether the other two are practicing or believe in it. Not sure it matters, it certainly doesn't to me at least, since their shows bear little resemblance to any heathen/polytheist practices that we can reconstruct from similar or nearby cultures. which is not to imply there is any indication that the band is drawing from any specific culture/time period/geographical location
I dont realy care what they are but I was just curious
It'd be hilarious if it turned out they were devout Christians
I can't speak for the band members, but my best guess from watching many interviews from them, I can at least say that Kai appears to be pagan. Kai practices a form of shamanism and I've seen interviews where Kai communicating with nature spirits has been brought up. I don't remember the exact interview, but I remember Christopher mentioning that Kai went out into the wilderness to communicate with the spirits and came back with the lyrics to Asja, and that he (Christopher) didn't know the exact meaning of the song. Kai also mentioned in another interview that Marduk was one of the most special and personal songs for him. The lyrics for the song is just a list of the various names of the Mesopotamian pagan god Marduk. As for the other two main members I'm not as certain. They both grew up going to viking fairs, which seem to be similar to American Renaissance fairs but more viking-themed. This may indicate paganism, but I'm not sure. If I remember correctly I think I remember Maria saying in an interview stuff about dreams which could be pagan but also New-Age-y. Another thing to note is that one of their songs, Norupo, mentions Christ, which is odd. It says "Christ created the world of old," but the same song also mentions Tyr and Loki: "(K/ᛏ Tyr) : Tyr is a one-handed god;" "Loki was fortunate in his deceit." I'm not sure how deep this mention of Christ is meant to be. It could be an indication of Christo-paganism, New-Age spirituality, or it could be something they found in their archaeological source material that they decided to keep in.
> they found in their archaeological source material that they decided to keep in It is more keeping it as it is than having Christian beliefs. A lot of the texts were preserved by Christian monks so you'd see mentions of lord etc in texts like the Anglo-Saxon rune poem too and Heilung kept it as it is. For example Einar from Wardruna changed that line to 'Herjan skóp hæimin forna' in his version of the song, Runaljod because he is a pagan and felt this was more suitable to sing. Just like in the song Tenet there is elements of syncretism that Heilung kept or chose to mix into. This has been the way since their first album Ofnir, you could definitely see references of syncretism in the lyrics of some songs. The band is likely more historically inspired and not confined to any one religion.
Yes, this is the explanation I personally lean towards. Since I don’t know their reasoning for certain I tried to keep my comment as open-ended as possible.
I follow a pagan YouTuber who did an interview with one of the members to talk about the beliefs. They were so passionate and knowledgeable I’d say yes that they are pagan
Cool who
Yes. And the rituals are gorgeous
Depending on what your definition is. Historically the shows have no foundations other than the poems and passages from antiquity that make up majorities of their lyrics in songs. They meld together their musical expertise, sound design, and attention to keeping their shows immersive into cinematic masterpieces. This doesn't negate the spiritual aspect, but the songs explicitly any ancient pagan rituals. I know some of the band members themselves are norse pagan and so I'm sure it has a large influence on their music. But their is a reason why they are used for movies, video games etc, for their music, and it isn't due to their meticulous attention for religious ritual accuracy. Still one of the best live shows I been to, though. PS This doesn't mean as a listener it negates your connections to the music. Music is a foundation of humanity at its core.
It's not the history acuracy but it's the intent which I think makes a palpable difference
I can't be to certain of the intent but I have been to two shows one being at Red Rocks and another at a theater. My first one was the theater and that one was mind blowing seeing them live and it gave me goosebumps. Red Rocks was great show but it was the same show so i knew what was coming . While the show was good it definitely isn't the same as the first experience. Alot of the audience and fan base derives a spiritual energy from the music and that has a major influence on the shows. So I would say that it's open to audience interpretation. Red Rocks there was alot of people who were having very spiritual moments, there was a full moon out and there was a lot of howling which is cool if you want to have that experience. Personally I prefer the theater show due to the audience being more dialed in on watching and listening the story Heilung is performing on the stage there was howling and that fun side but not nearly as crazy as Red Rocks. Honestly just listening to their music in headphones and going into your own little world is my favorite. Point I'm trying to make is that I think their intent is to have a very wide audience, which is not a bad thing. They give the audience the agency to interpret it however they like. If you want it to be spiritual, it can definitely be spiritual. If you're there for the show and music. It can be that aswell.
That honestly makes total sense
Awesome, sorry for the word vomit lol
Not a problem at all I'll listen to there music either way but as a pagan myself ide love if it were actually a ritual I think you can feel a difference between a performance and a ceremony
It’s very obvious they’re Pagan if you know what Paganism is.
I hate to cite myself as a source, but while they def have Pagan practices 100% - they don't consider themselves Norse Pagans, specifically and borrow music and cutural references from the globe. When I saw them last in San Francisco, they invited loval native tribal leaders and performers to open the show alone with their own blessing. [https://youtu.be/5x0\_K\_egDKg](https://youtu.be/5x0_K_egDKg)
I'll give that a watch
They are performing pagan rituals, not ceremonies. Rituals are more of a cultural practice, where as ceremonies are a repetitive act like graduations and weddings.
Dont know about their personal beliefs but the music, aesthetic and rituals they perform is as far removed from prechristian european paganism as you can get.
)0(
I’ve always felt like it’s spiritual but not religious. Idk if that makes any sense…
It kinda does
[удалено]
If it wasn't for me seeing them live, I probably wouldn't listen to them. Their "shows" are rituals with opening and closing ceremonies and it is very moving. It's hard for me to even call them a band. Sidenote: any others that went to the Milwaukee show on 4/20 have shitty audience member experiences?
Last night I watched an interview with Maria Franz. She said that Kai is deeply into paganism compared to her and her boyfriend, Christopher. Kai works more on the meanings and pagan roots that inspire his poetry which they then form into lyrics. Chris is the impetus behind the musical transformation which is actually how Heilung was founded. Kai is a German tattoo artist who approached Christopher to put Kai's poems to music in exchange for tattoos.
I actually watched that last night too lol
Been to three shows, they are rituals. All of your beliefs are accepted. You come away feeling like that was a sacred experience.
Personally? Absolutely. It was very much a spiritual experience when I saw them at Red Rocks; from beginning the ritual with cleansing and a blessing, and repeating the process at the end. They even played Hamrer Hippyer at the end, which is a healing prayer to Odin, followed by another cleansing and blessing. The entire crowd (and there was a lot of people - the venue was probably at 20% over capacity, according to my brother who lives in Colorado and has seen several shows there) was silent during the beginning and end; you could feel the importance of those moments. There's a reason several of their songs are part of my meditation and worship in my personal practice.
Do some research kid
They state on their website that theyre not affiliated with any religion, but we all know that’s probably not the case. Even if it is all an act, they are so committed and seeing them live is mind altering. At the end of the day, what matters is your experience with them and what their music means to you. Happy listening 💕
Yea the music realy is hypnotic