Askr Svarte - Polemos II: Pagan Perspectives

POLEMOS II:

PAGAN
PERSPECTIVES

Askr Svarte

(Evgeny Nechkasov)

Translated and Edited by Jafe Arnold

2021

PRAV Publishing

www.pravpublishing.com

pravpublishing@protonmail.com

Originally published in Russian by Veligor Publishing House

(Moscow, Russian Federation) under the

title Polemos: Perspektivy iazychestva, text copyright

2016 Askr Svarte (E.A. Nechkasov).

Translation copyright 2021 PRAV Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval,

without permission in writing from the publisher.

Copy-edited by Lucas Griffin

Cover image: Statue of Shiva in Rishikesh,

Uttarakhand, India.

ISBN 978-1-952671-16-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-952671-20-3 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-952671-17-3 (Ebook)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

One year has passed between the publication of Polemos: The Dawn of Pagan Traditionalism and the present time in which this second volume, Polemos II: Pagan Perspectives, is being sent off to print. In light of not only the conditions which have overwhelmed experiences of this year for many, but also the very nature of the work at hand, perhaps it would be more fitting to say, as various Native American languages put it, that the/a world has passed. The publication of the first volume of Polemos in the English language opened up a number of worlds which, long thought past, were suddenly retrieved and confronted in their reality here and now, on and off the pages of Polemos - and nonetheless in a year when the experience of time has been severely affected for many people the world over. The time for this (re)opening was evidently ripe - a point which the author himself repeatedly stresses to be central to the line pursued throughout Polemos - and the popularity, interest, and polemics with which Polemos has been received across diverse circles can be said to be a faithful sign of the times. In our recent editorial letter on the occasion of PRAV Publishings first year of activity, we wrote: Polemos, both intensive and extensive in its study and deeply original and inspirited in its manifesto, is already leaving its mark on the landscape of the 21st century. With Polemos in print and making its way around the world, speaking of paganism will never be the same We might also recall what we wrote in our translator and publishers foreword to the first volume: That 2020 would be the year in which a rising Russian intellectual would make the leap from Siberia into the realm of English-language literature, for no less than to herald a new dawn of pagan philosophy and spirituality, is likely a turn of events which even many of the thinkers, movements, and visions invoked in this book hardly could have forecasted. If the present and, we are gladdened to recognize, now muchanticipated publication of Polemos II: Pagan Perspectives is somewhat less unexpected inasmuch as we already then announced our intention to not leave the first volume translated and published alone, then this by no means diminishes the impact of this volumes appearance. Polemos II is, after all, the same work as Polemos, a singular panoramic account which on the pages that follow is deepened, made even more polemosical, timeful, multi-dimensional, and daring in its exposition and propositions. Moreover, with this second volume entering into circulation in the summer of 2021, we have every reason to believe that the now completed translation and availability of the Polemos project will be received for full treatment by those competent and daring enough to take up the questions and challenges which it poses. As was the case with the first installment of Polemos, it can be said that this second volume is both timely and timeful, ahead of its time and timeless.

In light of these anticipations, we would not dare to leave readers without a few remarks which shed light on some aspects of this works translation and publication. Polemos II: Pagan Perspectives is the English translation of the Russian book, Polemos: perspektivy iazychestva, released in Russia in 2016 by the publishing house Veligor. In Russian, the subtitles term perspektivy carries a dual meaning which is more conventionally translated as prospects, as such bears a certain temporally indexed connotation, i.e., that something may possibly and is likely or promised to happen in the future. Upon reading this book, we hope that the reader will understand why we have settled on the semi-false cognate of perspectives: like the first volume, Polemos II is composed of an immense, wideranging outline of diverse yet articulately unified points of view, positions, and polemics on no less diverse, interlocking questions facing what it means to speak at all of paganism today. In Askr Svartes account, we interpret, it is constantly emphasized that these pagan perspectives are foremost in conceptualizing, addressing, and effecting any pagan prospects today and for the future. From our own reading, we would like to add that these perspectives implications and relevance extend far beyond the nominally pagan.

In translating these perspectives into English, we have adhered to the same principles and opportunities presented in our preface to the first volume. On the technical side, this means that the author has taken the opportunity to correct any minor inaccuracies or misprints discovered in the original Russian edition, as well as to provide some helpful clarifications of Russian-specific phenomena and terms. Meanwhile, the only subjects of exclusion for the present English edition were the appendices otherwise available online, namely, Volkhv Veleslavs review of Polemos and a brief essay by the author, Martin Heidegger, skuka i iazychestvo (Martin Heidegger, Boredom, and Paganism). On the substantive side, as concerns the Russian origin and language in which this work came to be, and as such being of a definite refreshing relevance to English-language readers, we have once again striven not only to preserve the authors own voice and style, but also, to the extent such is possible, the culturo-linguistic accent. On this note, special acknowledgement is owed to the copy editor and proofreader, Lucas Griffin, who supplied his crucial efforts and suggestions during the formative stage of the manuscript. In some passages, readers have Mr. Griffin to thank for bearing part of the burden of translation.

Without further ado, on behalf of PRAV Publishing I wish readers and researchers a most fruitful engagement with such groundbreaking pathways of thought as Askr Svartes ensuing here, paths representing originarily posed questions and proposed answers for Thinking and Being beyond the End of History which PRAV Publishing is pleased to have been able to bring forth to the polylogue of civilizations, times, and worlds in which we find ourselves amidst so much idle chatter in the realm of English-language literature.

- Jafe Arnold

PRAV Publishing

17 June 2021

Esteemed reader, you are holding in your hands the second volume of the work Polemos, which is dedicated to systematically expounding the doctrine of Pagan Traditionalism. This book was originally created as a single work and later divided into two separate volumes. Both are permeated by a common plot of methods, values, and arguments. This second volume continues our study of contemporary paganism in its most acute spheres, such as the relations between paganism and the Abrahamic religions, various political theories, the space of Eros and sexuality, and the teachings of the Left-Hand Path, all of which continue to draw stable attention.