AN INTRODUCTION TO ASATRU

Compiled and partially witten
by GardenStone

Asatru is an Icelandic word meaning True to the Gods.
Having said this, the discussion start all around.
Some 'specialists' mean, it it old norse, but most mean, it is not Old Norse. It is a modern Icelantic word which is a translation of the Danish word Asetro. This word was invented in the mid 1900'th century by scholars studying both the Edda and Sagas and the pagan remains in Nordic folk belief.

Originally, the word doesn't mean "Troth" or "loyalty" to the Gods. What the scholars meant, as they invented the word was the *belief in the Asir*. The actual interpretation, 'true to the Gods', is a much later one.
It is understandable, why some people rather want it to mean loyalty than belief, and for "modern Asatruar" is is allright to interpret it that way, but it is not the obvious interpretation in Scandinavian languages. This is why people in Scandinavia prefer to use the term Forn Siçr which is coming from Old Norse and means the old custom or the ancient way.

The earliest use of the term anybody was able to come up with was its use in a song written by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. around 1870.
It was written around 1872/3 by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, part of the third scene of Grieg's opera Olav Trygvason, of which only the first act - the Heathen one - was ever written.

Evige Asatro, alt Livet elsker du!
Evige Asatro ånder i Alt!
Evige Asatro, Ære og Mod din Æt!
Evige Asatro elskelig dyb.

But the word was coined sometime before that, earlier in the 1820s or 30s, as part of the Scandinavian Romantic movement.

The term is used in modern times to refer to the practice of the ancient pre-Christian religion of northern Europe in a modern jacket.
This religion involves the worship of the Gods and Goddesses of Norse, Germanic, Anglo-Saxon, and other mythologies of northern Europe, as well as other practices native to the region such as the use of Runes. These gods and goddesses are best known by their Norse names of Odin, Thor, Freya and so on, but these same gods and goddesses are also called by their names in other languages: Odin is also Odhinn, Woden, Wodan, Wotan, and Wuotan; Thor is also Thorr, Thunar, Donner, and so on. There are members among the worshippers of the germanic Gods and Goddesses, who mean, thatOdin is not exactly the same as Wodan. It is argued, that differences between germanic tribes in geographic circumstances, in climate, in food, in neighbours, etc., also include differences in culture and in religion, which means, that f.i. Wodan would have had other attributes than the nordic Odin. It might be, that it still is the same God, but each region worhsips other aspects. This discussion hasn't come to an end yet.
The basic religion of Asatru involves keeping the major festivals of the year, which generally fall on the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days with one or two exceptions. These festivals can be kept personally, with the family or one or two friends, or with an organized Asatru group which is known as a kindred, hearth, garth, or by other names. The two main rituals which are done to honor the Gods and Goddesses and to keep ones troth are called the blot and the sumbel. Blot is an Icelandic word meaning blessing, and involves pouring out mead, ale, or other drinks on an altar to the gods, as well as sharing that blessing with the participants by passing around a drinking horn with that mead or ale, or by sprinkling some of the mead or ale on the participants. The sumbel is a ritualized toasting in which a horn with mead or ale is passed around and each participant makes a toast, a boast, an oath, or says something significant over the drink. It is said that the words spoken at a sumbel echo throughout all the Nine Worlds so words spoken there should be thoughtful and meaningful.

Those who practice Asatru are called Asatruar, Asafolk, Tru Folk, of just worshippers of the germanic religion. Many who practice Asatru merely practice the religion, keeping the festivals with blots and sumbels, but many are also involved in related activities. One of these activities is Germanic magick, including the use of Runes and a shamanic practice known as Seidhr, but there are also full-skilled ceremonial mages among them. Another activity is traditional crafts and skills, including archery, mead and ale brewing, and the like. Many Asatruar are avid scholars and will read a great deal, including pursuing obscure texts, in order to gain more knowledge. Asatru places a high value on self-reliance, individuality, strength, trust, staying true to ones word, and comraderie; individualism and community are not seen as mutually exclusive, but as complimentary.

Finally it should be emphasized that Asatru is not a political or racial supremacy movement. There have been some in the past who have tried to use Asatru as a cover for a political agenda but nowadays the major Asatru organizations are all religious organizations which are not interested in being used as a platform for any racist or political propoganda. Those who wish to do so would not be welcome in any of the major Asatru organizations. Asatruar span the political spectrum from conservative to liberal, and many have libertarian leanings, and in any case they usually keep their religion separate from their politics. A lot of them are involved in the ecological movement.

Unfortunately, new groups are formed, for instance the 'Asatru Folk Assembly' which has been formed to take an explicitly racialist approach to Asatru. Anyone, who is interested in the germanic religion, should be very carefull and alert, to avoid contacting such a group, which main goal isn't the old religion, but extreme-politics. Germanic mythology and religions is abused there in a terrible way.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
The following can be found in most new-age and some larger bookstores:

Leaves of Yggdrasil by Freya Aswynn
Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic by Edred Thorsson
Runelore by Edred Thorsson
At the Well of Wyrd by Edred Thorsson
Northern Magic by Edred Thorsson
Rune Might by Edred Thorsson
Rune-Magic by S. A. Kummer, translated by E. Thorsson
Our Troth by the Ring of Troth
A Book of Troth by Edred Thorsson
Teutonic Religion by Kveldulf Gundarsson
Teutonic Magic by Kveldulf Gundarsson
The Masks of Odin by Elsa Titchenell
The Galdrabok: An Icelandic Grimoire by Stephen Flowers
Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition by Nigel Pennick

There are numerous other texts, a lot of them available on
boudicca's Bard. Look for that at:

www.boudicca.de/cat-e.htm, where you can view a list of files, which can be ordered on CD.

The following can be found in university or other large bookstores:
The Poetic Edda
Any of the Icelandic Sagas, especially Egil's Saga, Saga of the Jomsvikings, and Saga of the Volsungs
The Kalevala
The Rig Veda
Gods & Myths of Northern Europe by H.R. Ellis-Davidson
Myths & Symbols in Pagan Europe by H.R. Ellis-Davidson
The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England by H.R. Ellis-Davidson

The Road to Hel by H.R. Ellis-Davidson
Feud in the Icelandic Saga by Jesse Byock
Medieval Iceland: Sagas, Societies, and Power by Jesse Byock
In Search of the Indo-Europeans by J.P. Mallory
The Germanic People by Francis Owen
Runes by Ralph Elliot
Runes by R.I. Page
Runes & Magic by Stephen Flowers

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