Membership

Free and open to women everywhere. All we ask is that you keep the Hearth Pledge.

Line drawing of a tree with three roots reaching to three wells

Who can join

Membership is open to any woman aged eighteen or over who practices Heathenry or is seriously exploring it.

You do not need to belong to a kindred. You do not need any particular ancestry or nationality. You do not need to have been Heathen for any length of time. Trans women are women and are welcome as members. Nonbinary people who feel at home in a women's fellowship may also join as full members.

What members agree to

One thing only: the nine commitments of the Hearth Pledge. We do not ask what tradition you follow, which gods you honor, or how you practice.

What membership gives you

  • An introduction to a hearth circle, in person or online.
  • A place in the Fostering Program, if you would like a mentor for your first year.
  • A voice and a vote at Disting, our annual assembly.
  • The right to stand for the Council after one year.
  • Recordings of past Distaff Lectures.
  • The company of women in nineteen countries who are glad you came.

What it costs

Nothing. There are no dues and no fees for any program. We are run entirely by volunteers.

How to join

  1. Read the Hearth Pledge. Make sure it is something you can keep.
  2. Write to us at info@heathenwomenunited.org with "Membership" in the subject line. Tell us a name to call you by, the country you live in, and the languages you speak. You are welcome to tell us more, but you do not have to.
  3. Have a short welcome conversation. A member of the Hearth Circles working group will reply, usually within two weeks, and arrange a brief conversation by video or by message, whichever you prefer. This is not a test. It lets us find the right circle for you, and it helps us keep the fellowship safe for everyone in it.
  4. Meet your circle. You will be introduced to a hearth circle and invited to its next meeting.

Your privacy

We know that many Heathens cannot be open about their religion. We keep only a name of your choosing, an email address, your country, and the languages you speak. We never publish a list of members, never confirm to anyone that a person is a member, and never share your details outside the fellowship. You may leave at any time, and we will delete your record. See our privacy notice.

Friends of the Hearth

People of any gender who share our aims are welcome to stand with us as Friends of the Hearth. Friends keep the Hearth Pledge, may attend Disting as observers, and are welcome at all of our open programs: the Distaff Lectures, Lore Circles, First Steps, and frithkeeper training. To become a Friend, write to us in the same way with "Friend" in the subject line.