A community to discuss Norse paganism and other related Germanic neopagan religions (heathenry, Anglo-Saxon paganism, etc). An open and inclusive space.
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On-topic. This community is for discussion of Norse paganism and related forms of modern or historical Germanic religion.
No racism, homophobia, hate. This includes folkism and other forms of racism masquerading as "differences of opinion." This space is explicitly inclusive and affirming of different sexualities and identities.
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Proselytizing is not allowed. If your sole goal here is to attempt to convert people to your version of The Truth, you will have problems.
Neopaganism is not dogmatic. All varieties of belief (theistic, non-theistic, and everything in between) are explicitly allowed here. Discussion and disagreement about differences are allowed, but keep it civil.
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This video was posted on another site, it discusses the trollkors or trollcross and it being a relatively new symbol (from the early 1990s) and despite that being a valid symbol of Norse paganism.
My question regarding it, is its close appearance to the hate symbols based on the Othala rune should it be used? Or is there enough variation that it is its own symbol?
I shy away from displaying anything openly Norse, despite having found my beliefs at age 6 or 7, because I shave my head and I know how a bald white man wearing runes or even a Mjolnir can look to some people. I do always wear my Mjolnir but tend to keep it hidden inside my shirt. If I wore the trollkors I would do the same thing. But I feel it is even more overt should it be seen on accident.
I'm in a similar boat to you, especially as I'm often around leftist circles who tend to be very aware of the connections. Nevertheless, I recently got the courage to get myself a pretty prominent tattoo on a visible, non-hideable spot of my skin.
I made incredibly sure to "de-nazify" the symbol as hard as possible, making it mostly look like it was drawn on with finger paint (since nazis make their shit in a very straight and ordered way without any mistakes).
It does help that I'm openly wearing very leftist symbols on other prominent spots of skin, as well as wearing a visibly left-wing attire.
My point being: there's ways you can openly show your faith without being mistaken for a nazi. Just make sure to de-nazify these things as hard as possible, potentially going into a more tribalist direction, adding symbolics that Nazis wouldn't touch, or being open about explaining yourself at times.
Also: try to avoid symbols that are actively being used by Nazis. I know a lot of folks love their Mjollnir, but not only has it been used by Nazis but its source also stems from the time of christianization (if you flip it around, you got something that resembles a cross. Pretty helpful if you want to trade with christians who only traded with other christians back in those days, while also allowing you to flip it right back when they're gone).
But in the end: do what you want lol. The best thing about norse paganism is that we don't have any rules in books or a church or something like that. Practice however you feel like it's right. Interpret things the way you see it. (with an exceptions to the bullshit that nazis do, though funnily enough, they sometimes admit that they're purposefully doing it wrong but "whatever we just do what we want haha")
Cheers