Can someone give me some info on Asatru? What are the deities, theology, beliefs and rituals of those who follow Asatru?
I wouldn't call my previous beliefs asatru, but I used to follow the old norse gods (Odin, Thor, etc.).
astratu has got that whole right-wing, white-is-right, nazi thing going on, right? yea thats not something anyone with a half a brain would want to follow out of true religous conviction. Just look into nordic neo-paganism or pagan reconstructionism if you are inclined towards ancient scandanavia.
Asatru is a religion based on the worship of the ancient Norse deities (Odin, Thor, Freyja, Njord, Baldr, Loki, etc.) There are 2 types of God/desses in Asatru, the Aesir (associated with battle, intellect, and spiritual pursuits) and the Vanir (associated with nature, prosperity and human emotions). These two factions were at war with each other for a long time but reached an agreement and are peaceful allies. Most Asatruar worship both the Aesir and Vanir, however if you are compelled more one way than another, that isn't a problem. (Generally people who devote themselves to the Vanir are called Vanatru.) Groups of Asatruar are called kindreds, hearths and/or garths. The male leaders of a kindred are called Gothi, the women leaders are called Gythia. There is no hierarchical clergy in Asatru. Some prefer to practice alone similar to some Wiccans. This is totally acceptable, as one does not have to ally themselves with a kindred to be a practicing Asatru. There are several holy days in the faith, most notably Yule which starts on December 21 and runs for about 12 days. Some others (whose celebration may or may not vary according to the inclinations of the kindred or individual) are: Summer-Finding, Walburga, Midsummer, Winter-Finding, Winter Nights, and Einherjar. The most common rite is called a Blöt (pronounced 'bloat') This is used for holidays, special occasions and any other circumstance to honor the Gods and Goddesses. The Blöt is usually performed outdoors unless the weather prohibits it. There are 9 parts to a Blöt: Hallowing, Reading, Rede, Call, Loading, Drinking, Blessing, Giving, and Leaving. Another common form of ritual is called a Sumbel (or Symbel) which usually consists of passing around a drinking horn usually filled with mead or ale, 3 times around in the group in attendance while extolling the Gods and Goddesses, ancestors and heroes, and various other blessings. There is also a ceremony known as the Adoption of the Faith, which should be self-explanatory. Asatru believe in the Nine Noble Virtues. These were developed in the modern practice and cannot be found in ancient lore. They are: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance. Oaths are sacred in Asatru and should only be broken in dire circumstances, so therein lies the emphasis on truth and honor. Most Asatru believe in life after death. Due to the complexities of the Gods/Goddesses and their various halls and domains, a uniform trend of thought among Asatruar is nearly impossible. Most common beliefs are residing in Hel (not like the Christian hell) or in Valhalla (although Valhalla is traditionally reserved for slain warriors). The dead can also remain in their graves to watch over their relatives and travel between the realms. The dead can also reside in any domain or hall belonging to the Gods/Goddesses. Reincarnation is also popular among Asatruar. Some people mistakenly believe that Asatru is connected to Neo-Nazism. A different branch of Norse Paganism is Odinism. Odinists are people that are loyal only to Odin and generally are not Astruar and it is within that community that most of those perceptions come from. There was also an association called the Asatru Free Alliance. This group split in the early 1980's due to internal conflict over who was able to be Asatru. Some claimed only those with Scandinavian and Germanic ancestry were eligible while others maintained that anyone with an honest desire to worship the Aesir and Vanir was eligible. The split modes of thought are Folkish and Troth. Folkish thought maintains that ancestry is a major factor while Troth welcomes people of any heritage. True Asatru does not discriminate against anyone based on age, race, political views, physical handicap or anything else. If you EVER hear discriminatory talk in a kindred, there is a very high chance that what is being practiced is not pure, or has been warped to suit different agendas than worship. Asatru beliefs hold that the world was created from the fog that occurred after fire met ice. Odin, Vili and Ve created the first 2 humans, Ask and Embla, from trees. The world is divided into Nine Realms all of which are a part of Yggdrasil (the World Tree) divided as follows: the lowest is Hel, land of the dead. Second-lowest is Svartalfheim, home of the Dwarves. Third lowest is Jotunheim where the Jotnar (giants and enemies of the Gods/Goddesses) and other forces of chaos live. Next is Midgard where humans live. Midgard is connected to Muspelheim, the land of fire, and Niflheim, the land of ice (the two elements that created the world). The top three realms belong to the Gods/Goddesses. They are Asgard where the Aesir live, Vanaheim where the Vanir live, and Lightalfheim where light elves live. The end of the world is called Ragnarok and will be violent and deadly. This world will end and a new one will begin. Most of the Gods and Goddesses will die and only 2 humans will survive. Belief in magic is varied among individual preferences. Some Asatruar believe and practice, some believe but do not practice, some do not believe at all. The most common form of divination in Asatru is runecasting. The Futhark runes were given to Odin after a tortuous ordeal, Odin shared them with humans. Runecasting requires great study of the Elder Futhark and lore. Most of the beliefs and practices are based on the Eddas, a collection of 13th century Norse poems. The Poetic Edda tells of the mythological sagas of the Gods/Goddesses and heroes. No one knows when the poems inside the Poetic Edda were written, but scholars think as early as the 9th century. The Prose Edda was written around 1220 by Snorri Sturluson and contains additional mythology as well as instructions on writing Norse poetry. Most scholars believe most of the poems were written in Iceland, but some may have come from other countries. No one knows how or when the legends came to be, as the Norse relayed their sagas orally for countless generations before they were written down. In Iceland where most of the poems come from, today Asatru is a legally recognized religion and is the fastest growing religion in the country. The myths of the Gods and Goddesses are far too vast to relate here, but there are many books and websites available to help you. If you or anyone else reading this lengthy explanation has any questions, feel free to PM me.
