God Forsetti

Forsetti is fair and impartial, sitting as judge Among the Gods and Goddesses in issues of justice and law. He is the son of Balder and Nanna and can be counted on for Blessings in the settling of arguments.

Books in PDF format to read:

Phil Hine - On Cursing
Mama San Ra Ab Rampa - Flor Silvestre
Ross Arthur - English Old Norse Dictionary
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - You Forever

Oath Ring For Gothi

However, just as important to the Gothi, is the Oath Ring. The Book of Settlements, written in Iceland to describe the Godic Republic, says; "A Ring of a prescribed size should be placed on the altar in every Main Temple. The Gothi of that temple should carry that Ring on his wrist to all regular Things, where he should conduct the procedures. Before that he should wash the Ring in the blood of a bull he had sacrificed himself." Here we learn the importance of both the Ring and the Bowli. I might note here that a surviving 1,600 year old Ring of the Goths with runic inscription still survives, crafted in solid gold. The Ring is brought to all Kindred functions, and is worn by the Gothi at all Blots and Sumbels as a service to the Folk who may wish to take a sacred oath. I know that it may be impossible for some to procure a gold or silver Oath Ring, myself included, but some type of Ring must be used. Mine is made of brass and has served our Kindred for over ten years.

We know from the Myths, that Thorr blessed the funeral pyre of Baldur with his Hammer. We also know from the Sagas that Thorr's Hammer was used to bless brides, babies, and the Folk. A ritual sized Hammer is also a must. Mine was a gift from my foster father, and is hand carved from cherry wood. It has served me and the Folk well for twenty years. The Hammer is also used in some Blot is for the banishing ritual, and later to bless the Feast. I have seen some Gothis use a sledgehammer purchased from the hardware store, and I know of some prison Kindreds who use a rubber Hammer. Again, what is important here is the symbolism, and the power in the blessing projected by the Gothi. Improvise!

The last of the most important implements is the Stalli, Old Norse for altar. We have a stalli made of stone at our Hof, and I know of many who have constructed Stallis in their sacred groves. The Stalli, of course, is the focal point of the Blot, and holds the necessary implements used during the service. I have also used a simple folding camp table, which has served me well, both during the Blot, and the ritual Feast to follow.

Books in PDF format to read:

Aleister Crowley - The Equinox Vol I No I
Ida Craddock - The Wedding Night
Devi Spring - The Emerging Indo Pagans
Aleister Crowley - Songs For Italy

Becoming A Gothi

If you already belong to a Kindred, you're off to a good start. If not, you must found your own. Tough work, but again part of the job. You are fortunate, though, that there is an Alliance of Independent Kindreds who aid those like yourself in forming Kindreds. Contact us, let us know your intentions and little bit about yourself. Perhaps we can help you in finding others in your general area who are looking for Kindred contact, but don't quite have what it takes to take the initiative to actually form a Kindred. You must then use your Gods' given skills and talents to seek these people out and START that Kindred. I am not going to discuss how to form a Kindred in great detail at this time. It will be the subject of my next installment in this series of articles. For now, let's return to the subject of becoming a Gothi.

However noble the concept of a Gothar course may sound, it is a waste of time if you don't have instinctively what it takes. The world is full of people with Masters Degrees who were the best of students, but can't apply knowledge to the real world. So, although it is a must to learn all that you can about our Gods, Folk, Heritage, and Lore, if you are incapable or lack the people skills to form a Kindred, serve the Folk, and profess the faith of our ancestors to the world, you're in the same boat as the guy with the Masters Degree working at the convenience mart as a clerk. What good will be your certificate of graduation from the Gothar course be if no one respects you for such? The course is but one step in your personal evolution as a priest of the Folk. You must earn the respect of your Kindred and the Asatru Community. You must set an example for the Folk by living your life with honor and dignity. Responsibility and personal integrity are keys to earning that respect. As I said earlier in this article, you must be totally devoted, and live your life accordingly.

Books in PDF format to read:

Josh Norton - Charging An Enochian Tablet
Edward Hare - Bewitched And Bothered
Max Heindel - Teachings Of An Initiate
Aleister Crowley - Liber 106 Concerning Death

The Northmen In Britain

Book: The Northmen In Britain by Eleanor Hull

Blue eyed blonde Teutonic Peoples played a strong role in bringing about the end of the Roman Empire. Not so those who lived in the northern parts of Europe, Scandinavia and Denmark. They had almost no contact with the Roman World or the rest of Europe until the eighth century. These were known by different names such as Northmen, Norsemen, and the Danes and later as the Vikings. (Vikings – inhabitants of the viks – bays and fjords)

These northern warriors were known for their ferocity and anger. When attacking their foes they inflicted terrible harm through fire, stoning, and the use of wild hounds. Some have also referred to these Vikings as brave and noble. Between the years of 750 to 950 AD they were notorious for raiding coastal communities throughout Europe.

The Norsemen were not a politically united people. There were different tribes, each with its own leader. Although they did not, and would not, have a king or central government, they all followed certain agreed upon rules. They shared many common customs and religion and many unwritten laws. These oral laws covered important subjects like how to divide the spoils of war and conquest, and punishments for crimes.

The first recorded Viking attacks took place in Britain where the small coastal communities were totally unprepared for the onslaught. The Norsemen would slaughter any inhabitants that got in their way, load their ships with the plunder and sail away quickly. They raided towns and even monasteries in England and Ireland, carting off everything of value. They arrived silently, unexpectedly, and terrorized the coasts of the British Isles.

In the ninth century, the Vikings steered their ships towards Southern Europe. Charlemagne succeeded in arresting the advance of these Northmen by using his fleets to patrol the coastline. He succeeded in driving the Vikings out of Frisia (now Holland) and back into Denmark. After Charlemagne’s death, the Vikings resumed their raids on Europe.

Six hundred Viking boats attacked Hamburg and set in on fire. They attacked Paris and many other French cities. The Vikings caused terror throughout Europe and were now attacking inland with setting up bases. They burned, massacred and plundered everywhere that they went. They eventually sailed into the Mediterranean as far as Genoa, Italy. By 878, they were even threatening to take control of the entire island of England, only a loose collection of small kingdoms. In 1017, Britain became part of the Scandinavian Empire.

The Vikings attempted to add Ireland to its domain but were defeated by Malachy, an Irish king. Nevertheless, the Norsemen established permanent settlements along the eastern and southern shores. In 911, Charles III of France signed a treaty with Rollo, a Danish leader, and gave the northern territory of Normandy to the Danes. The Northmen integrated with the peoples they conquered and accepted the Christian faith. Through assimilation they forgot many of their customs and habits; even Rollo was baptized in 912.

Download Eleanor Hull's eBook: The Northmen In Britain

Books in PDF format to read:

Anthony Arndt - Asatru The Northern Way
Aleister Crowley - The Fun Of The Fair
Eleanor Hull - The Northmen In Britain

Ceremonies And Ministers In Ancient Scandinavia

With regard to the rites of the old Scandinavian religion a considerable amount of information has been preserved, although mainly relating to one part of the subject, the offering of sacrifice. It is clear that this was the central feature in the worship of the gods, and the great means towards propitiating their favour or averting their displeasure. Hence the verb blota, which was the distinctive word for worshipping the heathen gods, very frequently (if not usually) implies the accompaniment of sacrifice; and the noun blot similarly means either the act of worship or that of sacrifice. In the case of the verb, the object of worship stands in the accusative case, the thing sacrificed in the dative, the original sense being 'to worship (the gods) with something.' In this killing of living things as an offering to the divine powers lay one of the most obvious differences between the old religion and the new, and it is consequently one which holds a prominent place in the accounts of the struggle between heathenism and Christianity. One of the first objects aimed at by the kings who adopted the new faith was the suppression of the practice in every form, while the adherents of the old religion clung to it tenaciously as long as they could. Even after Christianity was the established religion of Norway, it was still thought necessary to remind the people that all blot were forbidden, whether to 'the heathen gods, mounds, or sacred cairns.' Here and in other passages where the word is similarly employed, it may be assumed that sacrifices are to be thought of as an essential part of the heathen worship.

Sacrifice might be offered either by individuals on their own account, or by some prominent man on behalf of the community. It was, indeed, the duty of the latter to 'keep up the sacrifices,' on which the public peace and prosperity were believed largely to depend. The king as head of his people was essentially bound to maintain this religious rite, and the adoption of Christianity by the Norwegian kings naturally brought them into direct collision with the national feeling on this point. When King Hakon in 952 proposed that his subjects should worship Christ, give up the Heathen Gods and the sacrifices to them, and keep holy each seventh day, he was met by the reply that they desired him rather to follow the custom of his father, and 'sacrifice for peace and plenty to them.' On the other hand, the importance attached to the practice by the more religious among the people is shown in the case of Loft the Old, who emigrated to Iceland from Gaular in Norway. He 'went abroad every third summer on his own account and that of his uncle Flosi, to sacrifice at that temple in Gaular of which his mother's father, Thorbjorn, had been the custodian.'

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Carl Gustav Jung - Seven Sermons To The Dead Written By Basilides In Alexandria
Mira Ray - Minerals And Gems In Indian Alchemy
David Robertson - Magical Medicine In Viking Scandinavia
William Alexander Craigie - Religion Of Ancient Scandinavia

Welcome To The Troth Honoring The Northern Tradition

Book: Welcome To The Troth Honoring The Northern Tradition by The Troth

The Troth is dedicated to exploring, practicing and promoting the pre-Christian religion of the Germanic peoples, who include the English, Norwegians, Icelanders, Swedes and Germans, among others. This religion is known by various names including Asatru, Heathenry, the Elder Troth, and others. There are many variations in beliefs and practices within this faith, and many ways of describing and classifying these differences. One thing we all share a defining personal loyalty to, or "Troth" with, the gods and goddesses of the Northlands, such as Odin, Thor, Frigga, Freyja and many others. We also have a deep respect for our Germanic religious, cultural and historical heritage; and a strong determination to practice the moral principles followed by our noble predecessors, including Courage, Truth, Honor, Loyalty, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-reliance, and Steadfastness.

In order to help modern Heathens better to understand and practice the Elder Troth, we publish a quarterly journal, Idunna, and carry on other publishing projects. The best-known such project to date is Our Troth, a collective work of over 700 pages incorporating the research, thought and experience of many Troth members and friends, currently available online. Back issues of Idunna are available, and we also publish pamphlets covering several aspects of practicing Heathenry in contemporary society, including a Heathen’s Almanac, due out in Fall 2003.

In addition to publishing activities, the Troth conducts a training program for prospective Heathen clergy, incorporating study, training and experience in lore knowledge, theology, ceremonial practice, group organization, and counseling, and leading to certification after an extensive evaluation and final examination.

Download The Troth's eBook: Welcome To The Troth Honoring The Northern Tradition

Books in PDF format to read:

Robert Mathiesen - Magic In Slavia Orthodoxa The Written Tradition
Donald Tyson - The Magican Workbook Practicing The Rituals Of The Western Tradition
Anonymous - Welcome To The Secrets Of The Root Witch
The Troth - Welcome To The Troth Honoring The Northern Tradition

Thurisaz Rune

Thurisaz means thorn, and it's Connected to giants and trolls. This Rune can be considered as the heart of the giant Hrungnir, which, according to legend, was shaped like this Rune, sharp and triangular. It was Thor who killed this giant; it's well known that this God was the greatest enemy and killer of these beings. Because of it the positive aspect of this Rune is connected to Thor, protector of the Universe, the Most Powerful among all men and Gods; on the other hand, the negative aspects of Thurisaz is connected to giants – chaotic forces of nature. Thurisaz represents an even larger degree of control than the one in Uruz, so Thurisaz can symbolize discipline and directed energy. This Rune is used to overcome obstacles, its action is penetrating, as suggested by the Rune's shape and the form of the thorn. It can also be used for assault or defence because Thurisaz is the Rune of protection and destruction. Thor's battles with giants actually represent the conflicts of these forces – an offensive one and a defensive one, both being potent and aggressive.

Divination:

Positive meaning: reactive force, male sexuality, need for change, self-discipline.

Negative meaning: loss of control, danger, betrayal, an insurmountable obstacle.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Aleister Crowley - Rosa Mundi
Karl Hans Welz - Armanen Runes
Aleister Crowley - Thumbs Up

Galdr Verbal Rune Magic

Book: Galdr Verbal Rune Magic by Anonymous

Galdr or Galdor, from the Old Norse, originally meant 'incantation'. The verb "gala" is also used for "to crow". It later came to mean magic in general. These are the sounds used in runic oral spells.The Galdr sounds are from Edred Thorsson's Futhark, a Handbook of Rune Magic.

This rune provides success, Advancement in career, a turnabout in luck for those in difficulty. The good luck it provides is not permanent, but a single event or a short period of good fortune. After that the charm must be renewed, not only magically but through an act of binding or connection in the social sense. This act can be a gift to charity, help to another, or Some Other action to like oneself to a social order. This rune is good for areas of money, friendliness, and gaining merit. Fehu is a sign of hope and plenty, success and happiness, but also the responsibilities of those at the top and a social binding at all levels. Cooper, Esoteric Rune Magic.

It is the power of generation at its most basic level. Its energies are totally wild and very useful for magick involving swift, radical changes. To hasten affairs to their next stag use after the "subject " rune in your runescript. To increase monetary wealth. Protection of valuables. The "sending" rune use it to send either your energy or the enrgy of the runes out into the formative spheres. Peschel, A Practical Guide to the Runes.

Download Anonymous's eBook: Galdr Verbal Rune Magic

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Al Selden Leif - Pagan Oils Essential Oil Magic
Edred Thorsson - Siegfried Adolf Kummer Rune Magic
Anonymous - Galdr Verbal Rune Magic

Seidr Seid Sol Iss Burs And Nordic Shamanism

Book: Seidr Seid Sol Iss Burs And Nordic Shamanism by Yves Kodratoff

The first part is personal, and it exposes my Practice of seidr, by comparing it several times to the one coming from Diana Paxson’s group and in Jordsvin’s papers. I thus recommend to read at first these papers before mine. The second part explains and supports my own Practice of seidr, but the facts it contains are independent of any belief. It is subdivided in two sections. The first is a rather scholarly Description of the linguistic problems involved with the word seidr in Old Norse, the ancient Norwegian, (and Icelandic, Danish, Swedish) language, used in the sagas and the Eddic and Skaldic poems. The second is an annotated presentation of the runic inscriptions referring or alluding to seidr. (Yves Kodratoff)

Download Yves Kodratoff's eBook: Seidr Seid Sol Iss Burs And Nordic Shamanism

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Franz Cumont - After Life In Roman Paganism
Robert Leo Odom - Sunday Sacredness In Roman Paganism
Yves Kodratoff - Seidr Seid Sol Iss Burs And Nordic Shamanism

Asatru The Way Of Our Ancestors

Asatru is an expression of the native, pre-Christian spirituality of Europe. More specifically, it is the Way by which the Germanic peoples have traditionally related to the Divine and to the world around them.

From Iceland to Russia, from the frozen north of Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, the Germanic peoples wandered and settled over a span of thousands of years. Today, their descendants are spread around the world. We may refer to ourselves as Americans or English, Germans or Canadians, but behind these labels lurks an older, more essential identity. Our forefathers were Angles and Saxons, Lombards and Heruli, Goths and Vikings - and, as sons and daughters of these peoples, we are united by ties of blood and culture undimmed by the centuries.

Asatru is our native Way. Just as there is Native American religion and native African religion, so there is native European religion. Asatru is one of its expressions. It gave our Ancestors comfort in millennia past, and it can give us strength and inspiration today.

The word "Asatru" comes to us from Old Norse, the tongue of ancient Scandinavia, where it means "those loyal to the Gods." Since the ancient Scandinavian version of our Way is the best documented, it has given us much of Asatru's terminology and imagery. The soul of Asatru, however, is not confined to the Scandinavian model, but encapsulates the belief of all the Germanic peoples. Indeed, Asatru reflects the deeper religiosity common to virtually all the nations of Europe.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Valentina Izmirlieva - All The Names Of The Lord
Anthony Arndt - Asatru The Northern Way
Isaac Bonewits - The Enemies Of Our Enemies
Anonymous - Asatru And The Paranormal