Donald Van Den Andel

Tales from the Ironwood Donald Van Den Andel

The author recounts a life that had been "normal" until he realized that he was not living in a way that was true to his inner being. His story reveals a spiritual journey from early childhood memories, through years of atheist rebellion, to recommitment to Christianity, and finally to his discovery of Germanic Heathenry and the worship of the nearly forgotten gods of the North. While this book shares one man's pursuit of something greater, it also serves as an introduction to the religion of Asatru for any who may find themselves on a similar course. Beyond that, it relates to any and all who feel dissatisfied with the bland world of modern consumerism and desire to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Van den Andel describes his book as "an unconventional travelogue." The travel however is purely on a metaphysical plane as it relates his adventures on a spiritual road from the strange place of exile that he dubs the Ironwood to Midgard-a world where worship of the old gods is both honorable and expected. Ultimately this is a story of one man's quest to fill the void left by the modern world by finding and embracing the native spirituality of his ancestors.