Call for papers for Heathen Women’s Conference in England

LANCASHIRE, England — A call for papers has been issued for an academic conference dedicated to the study of aspects of the lives of Heathen women, which will be held here July 6-8 at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. the multi-disciplinary conference has the aim of bringing together scholars and non-academics “who engage with the juxtaposition of historical and modern approaches to and practices of Heathenry, with an emphasis on women’s voices past and present.”

This will have a dual approach of looking at Heathen women in the past — for example, in the sagas — and in the present, regarding the roles of women in contemporary Heathen practice. Topics may include magic and seidrecraft, women’s relationships with the land, women’s roles in community mediation, and the role of spirits and ancestors. Suggestions for papers also include looking specifically at female forms of Heathen practice, “distinct from the male-oriented ideas of ‘Asatru’,’ and the role of re-enactment. The conference will also be running fringe events with an emphasis on crafts, such as spinning and weaving.