https://www.midjourney.com
Norse religion, also known as Germanic paganism or Heathenry, is a spiritual path that has deep roots in the traditions of Scandinavian and Germanic peoples, dating back to roughly the 1st century CE. As with many modern pagan religions, there are various branches that people follow such as Asatru, Forn Sed, Vanatru, or Heathenry among others. For the most part, they all embellish the following beliefs which come from the ancient Nordic people. The Ancient Nordic people did not separate their daily life from their “religious” life. The community was important and the divine is present in all things. Today Norse pagan communities may be referred to as Kindreds, Hearths, or Garths. – https://www.celebratepaganholidays.com
Gothi and Vitki
Gothi or goði was a position of political and social prominence in the Icelandic Commonwealth. The word derives from goð, meaning “god”.
A Gothi is a religious figure analogous to the combination of a modern Priest and judge. A priest, scholar, teacher, and judge/decision-maker in areas of dispute. The Gothi is a pagan leader responsible for a religious structure and communal feasts. The gothi would preside over rituals sometimes by opening a vey. The Viking wizards call themselves Gothi. Gothi are priests of the Viking religion, and their magical powers come straight from the Norse gods themselves. All Viking wizards are Gothi, but not all Gothi have the ability to cast spells. They can all open a vey, however, which was a special gathering called by the Gothi and therefore of special significance. – Leif Trollbani, Michael Damian Brooke Baker, Doug Freyberger – https://www.quora.com
From the pagan era in mainland Scandinavia, the only sources for the title are runestones. The Norwegian Nordhuglo stone from around AD 400 seems to place the title in opposition to magic, using a word related to the Old Norse gandr. The inscription’s Ek gudija ungandiz means “I, gudija” followed by “he who is immune to sorcery” or “he who does not engage in sorcery”. – wikipedia.org
Gothi is group focus.
Modern Gothi
It is important for every Gothi to have a library, for study and reference, but also to share with others who seek knowledge of their precious heritage. This, of course, like all of the other requirements of the job, is a life’s work. Begin with the Elder Edda, study The Havamal daily, but also learn the ancient myths of our Gods and Goddesses. Learn the myths and unlock the keys to the Nine Worlds. Study the Runes and obtain a set of them, or better yet, make your own. Learn the Runes, and use them. Read the wealth of information about our heroes in the Sagas, and obtain and read every possible book about the history, culture, customs, and lore of our ancestors. Of course study the Viking Age, but don’t forget that the history of our people began with Ask and Embla, and continues on today. Where are you going to find time to do all of this reading? Why don’t you start by selling your television and using the proceeds to buy books? And please, list your library in your Will so that when you die your precious book hoard doesn’t wind up in the Goodwill box! You must acquire all of the knowledge that you can, because the Folk with come to you with their questions. Be prepared to answer them.- https://www.asatru.org
Modern Gothi – https://www.midjourney.com
Vitki
Gothi is not to be confused with a Vitki.
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The Vitki, on the other hand was more analogous to a Shaman. Usually confined to the end of the village and only brought out at need. Primarily a magical practitioner of magic, he used Runes and other means like entrails and often communed with the dead. Gender was indeterminate and the Vitki may appear as either male or female and often used herbs to induce a trancelike state to enter the realms between the living and the dead. The Vitki was noted for an obsession with dread things and often had their location decorated with them and dressed and decorated themselves with such items. They were not the sort of person you would invite to a party. Typically the smell of death was around their residence which was typically located at the most distant part of the village. – Leif Trollbani, Michael Damian Brooke Baker, Doug Freyberger – https://www.quora.com
The word vitr from which vitki is derived means “wise,” so the term also carries connotations of wisdom and knowledge. A vitki’s practice is often individualistic and may vary from other vitki in their interpretation of mythology and their use of magical techniques. Vitki are often associated with runes and the practice of seiðr, which involves communicating with spirits and influencing the world through magical means.
Today, the ‘title’ of ‘vitki’ seems less ‘official’ than that of gothi: the description tends to be used by many who practice Asatru and heathenism more as a form of evolving personal spirituality. A vitki relies on individual experience, and may differ from others in their interpretation of the mythology: many solitary practitioners follow the religion by themselves. – Wendy Ayers – https://www.quora.com
The Vitki’s philosophy is about living a life in harmony with nature, respecting the world we live on and accepting it as a holistic entity of which we are all a part. The Vitki tradition includes theories of universal evolution and an understanding of our place within that scheme.
Vikti is individual focus.
Ultimately, it all seems to boil down to the ways in which different groups use different words to describe both their religion and themselves. Often, these terms convey as much meaning about their socio-political outlook as their spiritual beliefs.