About the author
Ryan Smith writes on Norse paganism for Llewellyn Publications, with an explicitly progressive and inclusive framing of the tradition. The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism presents Norse deities and beliefs as an adaptable, living practice, with guidance on ritual, community building, and confronting fascist appropriation within the wider Heathen and Norse pagan movement. Spinning Wyrd: A Journey Through the Nordic Mysteries (2023) continues from that book, focusing on wyrd, the Norse concept of fate and interconnection, as a way of working with the Nordic cosmos. Smith's books are aimed at readers who want a Norse pagan practice grounded in inclusivity rather than the ethnonationalist currents sometimes associated with the tradition, and they read as a paired introduction and follow-up rather than standalone references.
📖 Where to start with Ryan Smith
💬 What our editors say about Ryan Smith's books
“Smith offers a compelling case for adapting Norse spirituality to meet current ethical demands, weaving raw divine power with social justice. However, this approach may alienate readers strictly committed to historical…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism
“Smith delivers a sophisticated exploration of Norse mysticism that demands prior knowledge and serious commitment from its audience. While it excels in guiding advanced practitioners toward active engagement with animistic forces…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Spinning Wyrd: A Journey Through the Nordic Mysteries
