Stephan’s dedication to examining and practicing the rituals of Northern Europe’s Germanic people made him an admired and influential figure in the revived Nordic faith known as Ásatrú and often termed Germanic Heathenry.

Writing as Kveldulf Gundarsson, Stephan explored Germanic cultural and religious rituals in multiple works, starting with Teutonic Magic and Teutonic Religion. He produced several publications for the organization The Troth, compiling two editions of the guide to history and practice known as Our Troth. He also published a series of Studies Towards the Practice of Germanic Heathenry: Elves, Wights, and Trolls; Heathen Garb and Gear (with Ben Waggoner and Diana Paxton); and the massive compilation Amulets, Stones, Herbs, Runes and More.

While at Cambridge he focused his study on the God Odin, delving into ancient sources that included poetry, sagas and archeological evidence to explore Odin’s multiple roles in Norse beliefs – god of battle, god of kingship, god of magic and poetry and, ultimately, god of death. 

While some advocates of heathenry sought to limit its practice to those of direct Nordic descent, Stephan steadfastly fought to keep the faith open to everyone, regardless of background. He laid his ideas out clearly in “Ancestry and Heritage in the Germanic Tradition,” where he evoked an ancient inheritance story.

“We learn of the meaning of inheritance from a deed wrought by Egill Skalla-Grimsson, one of the wisest runesters of the Viking Age,” Stephan wrote. “When Egill felt himself about to die, he took the English silver he had saved and went to a secret place. He was unwilling to pass it on to his children, whom he thought unworthy; instead he hid it in the water, a mighty inheritance waiting for whoever was strong, lucky, or wise enough to find it. Just so, the inheritance of our god/esses and our true ways has lain hidden in the waters of Wyrd’s well for many years—waiting not for those who were simply born to it, but whoever is able and willing to find and take it!”

Bibliography

Rune: Mannaz