[GUIDE] Asatru

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Hello and welcome to my guide on Asatru!

I am Vi, and this is my guide and discussion thread on Asatru. I would like to take a minute and thank Sanguina-chan for her help in putting this all together blaugh

To start off, I'd like to give a brief overview of what Asatru is.

Asatru is the modern revival religion of the beliefs and practices of the Northern Europeans (the Germanic peoples, Scandinavia, Iceland) prior to their conversion to Christianity. It translates roughly to "god-true" which is to convey being true or loyal to the gods, mostly of the Aesir, but most include some gods from the Vanir as well. Core beliefs and practices are taken from the lore that has been recovered from that time period. The lore and myths are held in very high esteem. They give insight as to the nature of the gods as well as some view into what the culture held in high regard in terms of values and virtues. Not that UPG (unverified personal gnosis; insights about deity that is not supported by myths and lore) is excluded of course; some UPG is now SPG (insights about deity that are not supported by lore, but enough other practitioners have experienced the same insight) and generally well-accepted in the Asatru community.

It is important to note that Asatru is not an unbroken line of practice. While some aspects of the pre-Christian faith have managed to survive by being integrated into social and/or cultural practices, much of the religious connotations were taken away. Asatru started in the United States around the 1970s; it is a very young religion yet.

The symbol of faith for many Asatruar is the Thor's Hammer. A Valknut is a symbol of Odinn and is usually best reserved for those who follow him. I've heard it summed up well before that wearing a valknut is "basically saying you're Odinn's b***h and he can take you whenever he wants." There are also rune pendants, "viking crosses," Irminsuls, and other Norse-themed symbols that are not as common as the Hammer and the valknut.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Source texts and other reading materials

For Asatru, source texts are the Poetic Eddas (sometimes just called "The Eddas" ) and the Prose Eddas (also known as the Snorra or Younger Eddas).

Other books that are recommended, although they are not source texts, are helpful in gaining an overview on Asatru.
"Essential Asatru" by Diana L. Paxson
"Exploring the Northern Tradition: A Guide to the Gods, Lore, Rites, and Celebrations From the Norse, German, and Anglo-Saxon Traditions" by Galina Krasskova
"Our Troth" Volumes 1 and 2 by Kveldulf Gundarsson

For books that deal with the magical practices in Asatru, try:
"Northern Magic" by Edred Thorsson (note: Thorsson eventually left Asatru and became a LaVeyan Satanist, so read him with a few grains of salt)
"Taking Up the Runes" by Diana L. Paxson
"Futhark" by Edred Thorsson (note: this book is usually described as dry and esoteric and might not be suitable for a beginner)
For runes, it is also highly, strongly recommended to also read the Rune Poems in each of their translations.

Books you want to stay away from:
"Norse Magic" by D.J. Conway
"Rites of Odin" by Ed Fitch
Any rune book that bears the name Ralph Blum  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Deities

Please note that what I provide here is NOT a complete list of all deities and divine beings that occur in Nordic myths. For the sake of post length, I am listing the main deities and divine beings.

The gods are mostly divided into two main camps, the Aesir and the Vanir. Early in the time of the gods, the Aesir and Vanir were at war with each other, and peace was eventually made and hostages were traded to each side.

Odinn: Head deity of the pantheon. A god of poetry, learning, war, ecstasy, and sometimes death. He has the hall Valhol in which half of the noble dead train in preparation for Ragnarok. Of the Aesir
Frigg: Odinn's wife and mother of Baldr. The matriarch of the pantheon and keeper of the frith. Associated with the loom and spinning. Of the Aesir
Baldr: Son of Odinn and Frigg. A god of light, peace, and happiness. Baldr is killed when Loki tricks Hod into throwing a mistletoe dart at Baldr.
Loki: A jotun, he is a god of chaos and trickery. He often pulls pranks that go a bit too far, but always makes up for them. Usually by force. Is Aesir by virtue of his blood brotherhood to Odinn. He is also the father of Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungandr.
Freyr: A god of the Vanir. He is associated most often with fertility and war. He is married to the giantess Gerd.
Freyja: A goddess of the Vanir. Is also associated with fertility, sexual matters, and war. Freyja receives half of the noble dead to train and have fight in Ragnarok.
Njord: A Vanic god. He is associated with the sea. He is the father of Freyr and Freyja.
Gerd: A giantess who is the wife of Freyr. She is associated with sex and fertility.
Heimdallr: A god who guards the Bifrost bridge that goes between Asgard (the realm of the gods) and Midgardr (the realm of man). His hearing is so good, he can hear the wool grow on sheep and the grass grow. He can see for a hundred miles around him. He is a god of the Aesir.
Hel: The goddess of the underworld. The daughter of Loki, Hel appears as half of a beautiful woman and half of a dark, decayed corpse.
Thorr: A god associated with thunder. He is also known as "Friend of Man" as he protects Midgardr from the forces of chaos and destruction wrought by thurses. He is a god of the Aesir.
Sif: The wife of Thorr. Is famous for the myth in which Loki cuts off all of her hair. Her hair is then replaced with a wig of gold made by dwarven craftsmen. She is mentioned very little outside of this myth and the Lokasenna. Is associated with corn due to her golden hair.

Wonderful website on the Norse goddesses
Godchecker's index of Norse deities  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Ritual Structures

Blot
This is the basic ritual structure in Asatru. It is simply the act of a drink or other offering to the gods. (note: I am explaining the ritual in a group setting. It can be greatly simplified down for a single person ritual)
The only things needed for a blot are a drinking vessel of some kind, mead/juice/or other offering, a sprig of evergreen or something similar, and a ritual bowl.
To begin the blot, the godhi (priest) or gythia (priestess) invokes or otherwise asks the god that the blot is for to attend and accept the offering. After the deity has been invoked, the godhi takes up the drinking vessel and mead is poured into it. The horn is held up and the deity is asked to bless the offering. The godhi takes the initial drink from the vessel and then passes it around to all in attendance. After the drinking vessel has made one round and returns to the godhi, he then empties the remainder of the offering into the ritual bowl. The evergreen sprig is dipped into the ritual bowl and sprinkles the offering from the bowl on the attendees or on the altar. After this is done, the remainder left in the ritual bowl is emptied onto the earth. This is to offer it to the god invoked, as well as to offer it to the earth.

Sumbel
This is the second most common ritual structure. It takes the structure of the blot and expands on it, including offerings made to heroes/historical figures, ancestors as well as boasts and brags being told.

Another structure of the sumbel is a past, present, and future theme. In the first round, a deed or reflection from your past is shared. The second round a reflection on your present is offered, and on the third round, a hope for the future is shared. This sumbel structure is generally more useful for magical purposes than celebration as typical sumbels are.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Values and Virtues

Many Asatruar abide by the Nine Noble Virtues. These are taken from the Havamal (Sayings of Har) as the most important lessons imparted from that section of the Eddas. It should be stressed that these are not held as commandments or redes even. Not every Asatruar includes the Virtues as part of his/her practice.

The Nine Noble Virtues as drawn up by the Odinic Rite:
1. Courage
2. Truth
3. Honor
4. Fidelity
5. Discipline
6. Hospitality
7. Self-reliance
8. Industriousness
9. Perseverance

The Odinic Rite also codified the Nine Charges, which act as a sort of halfway between the one-word Charges and the full Havamal:
1. To maintain candour and fidelity in love and devotion to the tried friend: though he strike me I will do him no scathe.
2. Never to make wrongsome oath: for great and grim is the reward for the breaking of plighted troth.
3. To deal not hardly with the humble and the lowly.
4. To remember the respect that is due to great age.
5. To suffer no evil to go unremedied and to fight against the enemies of Faith, Folk and Family: my foes I will fight in the field, nor will I stay to be burnt in my house.
6. To succour the friendless but to put no faith in the pledged word of a stranger people.
7. If I hear the fool's word of a drunken man I will strive not: for many a grief and the very death groweth from out such things
8. To give kind heed to dead men: straw dead, sea dead or sword dead.
9. To abide by the enactments of lawful authority and to bear with courage the decrees of the Norns.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Holidays and Celebrations

Asatru doesn't really have a set, specific calendar of holidays. There are a few holidays that are agreed on throughout the faith, but other days such as days of remembrance for the heroes and ancestors are usually up the discretion of the practitioner. What I am posting are the holidays (not including the days of remembrance) that I follow. Note that not all Asatruar will follow all of these days. Also, different groups will honor different deities for the different holidays; for example, on High Feast of Ostara, one group might honor specifically Freyja, another group may specifically honor Freyr, and yet still another group may honor Thorr just to change things up. All are considered acceptable, although it is preferable to honor a deity that has some sort of tie to the day of celebration. I have based my calendar off of a combination of the Asatru Folk Assembly and the Asatru Alliance. What can I say? I like my holidays wink

January 3, Charming of the Plow: This is the date of an agricultural ritual performed in Northern Europe from ancient times. Grains and cakes were offered for the soil’s fertility, and the Sky Father and Earth Mother were invoked to that end. Meditate upon your dependence on the soil, and crumble upon the earth a piece of bread as you call upon Odin, Frigga and the Land Spirits to heal the Earth and keep it from harm.

January 14 (or a Friday between the 19th and the 25th), Thorrablot: This holiday began the Old Norse month of Snorri. It is still observed in Iceland with parties and a mid-winter feast. It is of course sacred to Thorr and the ancient Icelandic Winter Spirit of Thorri. On this day we should perform blot to Thorr and invite the mighty Asaman to the feast.

March 15, High Feast of Ostara: This is the Spring Equinox. The end of Winter and the beginning of the season of rebirth. Today we honor Frigga, Freya and Nerthus with blot and feast. Pour a libation of mead onto the Earth; celebrate the rebirth of nature, Asatru, and the new hopes of our Folk.

April 15, Sigrblot/Sumarsdag: Today we celebrate the first day of Summer in the Old Icelandic calendar. In Iceland it had strong agricultural overtones, but elsewhere in the Nordic world, it was a time to sacrifice to Odinn for victory in the summer voyages and battles.

April 30, Walburg: this is better known as Walpurgisnacht or May Eve. Walberg is a goddess of our folk combining some of the traits of Her better-known peers. Reflect on this day on Freya, Hel, and Frigga as the repository of the glorious dead, and you will have an idea of Wulburg’s nature. On this day pour a horn of mead upon the earth in memory of our heroes.

May 1, May Day: The first of May is a time of great celebration all across Europe, as the fields get greener and the flowers decorate the landscape with colorful confusion. Freya turns her kindly face to us after the night of Walburg. Celebrate the birth of Spring and the gifts of Freya on this day.

June 21, Midsummer: This is the longest day and the shortest night of the year: Now Sunna begins its ling decline, sliding into the darkness which will culminate six months from now at Yule. Identifying the sun with the brightness of Baldur, we celebrate in honor of both. Hold blot to Baldur and High Feast. This was the traditional time for holding the AlThing in ancient times.

August 23 - Thingtide: A time in which Tyr is highly honored and was traditionally the time of the Icelandic Althing. this was an event in which all disputes were settled, laws made or changed, and exchanges of all sorts were done. Everything from arguments, and lawsuits to marriage decrees and alliances.

September 23 - Winter Finding: The Fall Equinox; Summer and Winter balance for a moment and the cold, old man wins - for now. Brace yourself for longer nights and the onset, eventually, of the cold and darkness of Winter. Do blot to Odin for inspiration to get through your personal lean times, whenever they may strike. This is the traditional time for Fall Fest and the Second Harvest Feast.

October 14 - Winter Nights/Vetrablot: In the Old Icelandic Calendar, winter begins on the Satyrday between Hunting 11th and 17th. Winter Nights celebrates the bounty of the harvest and honors Freya and the fertility and protective spirits called Disir, that She leads (often the Disir are seen as our female ancestors). Give glory to Freya and pour a libation of ale, milk, or mead into the soil an offering to the Disir and the Earth itself.

December 21 - Mother Night: As the night before the Winter Solstice, this is the time when the New Year is born. We honor the beginning of Sunna's return and the breaking of Winter’s spell. This is a time to honor Thor and Freyr, celebrate by Blot, Sumbel, and High Feast. Burn a Yule Log and jump the flames for luck and purification.

December 22 - High Feast of Yule - Beginning of Runic Year - Sacred to Thorr and Freyr

December 31 - Twelfth Night: This culminates the traditional twelve days of Yule.

Also in regards to Yuletide, it spans 12 days with each day representing a month of the past year. It is during these days that one should meditate and reflect back on the past year to gain insight and hopefully plan for the new year. This is also a time when oaths can be sworn for the new year on your hammer or a symbol/figure of Freyr's boar. Yuletide is also when the Norse Wild Hunt occurs. Odinn takes on his roles as a god of death and rides through the night sky to take up the dead and make a clean slate for the incoming new year.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Culture-specific Terms and Concepts

As with any culture-specific faith, there are terms that occur only in that culture and usually convey culture-specific ideas and meanings. This section will help to define those terms. This section may expand at any time.

Fylgia: A fetch-animal. The Norse concept of a spirit guide.

Hamingja: The concept of genetic luck/happiness/fortune. The Norse believed that when a person died, they passed down their inherent fortune/luck to the surviving family. This concept can be illustrated by looking at celebrities or others who are well off; it can be thought that their family line has a lot of hamingja, as compared to someone who is lower-class where it would be thought that their family has low hamingja.

Wyrd: This is a central, complex concept in Heathenry. It is a concept very hard to define to someone who is not familiar with the culture and school of thinking that the ancient Norse possessed. Wyrd is like an interactive fate. To use a metaphor, each person has a thread that represents their own life. And everyone's thread is woven into a huge tapestry; threads are next to each other making patterns, images, the texture of the fabric, etc... The starting point of your thread in the weaving, and the color and the nearby threads, those are set to begin with and do not change. But where your thread goes depends on your actions and choices and those of other people.

Another way to think of Wyrd is to understand the Norns. There are three Norns; Urdr ("that which has been" ), Verdandi ("that which is becoming" ), and Skuld ("that which shall be" ). They spin the thread of each person's life. They determine the circumstances a person is born into, including the family and its genetic makeup, time, and place. However, it is not up to the Norns how each person will die. As each person lives thier life, other possibilities are laid down (or taken away) depending on the person's actions. A person's actions will in turn also affect the life-thread of those whom s/he comes into contact with.

To help further explain and define the concept of Wyrd, the essay found here is very helpful.

Note: Things will be added to this post as needed.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

The Runes

The runes of the Elder Futhark were used by the ancient Norse as a crude writing system and for magical purposes. The magical practice of singing or speaking the runes is known as galdr. There is very little historical evidence to support the use of runes as devices for divination. What little bit is around though, suggests that runes were carved onto staves and then scattered on the ground. The reader would then record and take note of which runes appeared facing up, which ones were facing down, and even sometimes runes made by the staves when they landed. In modern times, runes are commonly used for divinatory purposes, usually drawn from a bag, or the traditional method of casting and reading. Runes come in a variety of materials ranging from gemstones to wood.

Runes are believed to represent the primal forces at work in the universe. As such, it can be considered dangerous to play with them and not understand their meanings. It is important to understand the culture of the ancient Norse, as their culture determined the meanings and connotations of the runes.

It should also be stated in this post that Ralph Blum is NOT a good source on the runes, period. Full stop. No if's, and's, or but's. His addition of the blank rune is completely unsupported by historical evidence, lore, and myth. It was not used by the ancient Norse and as such, is not recognized by most Asatruar. Blum has come out and admitted that when he picked up the runes initially, he didn't have a clue what he was doing, what they meant, or the history behind them and promptly went about making s**t up as he went.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Reserved

 

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Reserved

 

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Reserved

 

[Sanguina Cruenta]

**cartwheels in**

**sits down, fills the horn, passes around the mead**  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

*drinks and passes the horn*  

[RubyLight]

*drinks and toasts Bragi before passing the horn*
Violett, could you please explain the different types of wights? I'm a little confused. redface  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

RubyLight

*drinks and toasts Bragi before passing the horn*
Violett, could you please explain the different types of wights? I'm a little confused. redface

*drinks to Baldr*
This sounds odd, but could you perhaps be more specific? "Wights" simply means "beings." There are a places in the Eddas where a line will read ...all wights..." and it's simply the way of saying "everybody." So asking to explain the different wights is sort of broad.