Asatru Faq Part 2

Why Did Asatru Die Out if it was the Right Religion fro Europeans?

Asatru was subjected to a violent campaign of repression over a period of hundreds of years. Countless thousands of people were murdered, maimed, and exiled in the process. The common people (your ancestors!) did not give up their cherished beliefs easily. eventually, the monolithic organization of the Christian church, bolstered by threats of economic isolation and assisted by an energetic propaganda campaign, triumphed over the valiant but unsophisticated tribes.

Or so it seemed! Despite this persecution, elements of Asatru continued down to our own times - often in the guise of folklore - proving that our own native religion appeals to our innermost beings in a fundamental way. Now, a thousand years after its supposed demise, it is alive and growing. Indeed, so long as there are men and women of European descent, it cannot really die because it springs form the soul of our people. Asatru isn't just what we BELIEVE, it's what we ARE.

Wasn't the Acceptance of Christianity a Sign of Civilization - A Step up From Barbarism?

No! The atrocities committed by Christians, Muslims, and Jews throughout history are hardly a step up from anything. The so-called "barbarians" who followed Asatru (the Vikings, the various Germanic tribes, and so forth) were the source of our finest civilized Traditions - trial by jury, parliaments, Anglo Saxon common law, and the rights of women, to name a few. Our very word "law" comes from the Norse language, not from the tongues of the Christian lands. We simply did not and do not need Christianity to be civilized.

You Say That Asatru was the Religion of the Vikings, Among Other Early European Cultures. Weren't They a Pretty Bloodthirsty Lot?

Modern historians agree that the Vikings were no more violent than the other peoples of their times. Remember, the descriptions of Viking raids and invasions were all written by their enemies, who were hardly unbiased. Both the Islamic and Christian cultures used means every bit as bloody, if not more so, than the Norsemen. It was a very rough period in history for all concerned!

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Miac - Asatru And Odinism
Anthony Arndt - Asatru The Northern Way
Anonymous - Asatru And The Paranormal

Gebo Rune

The Rune Gebo signifies gifts, but we can interpret this in more than one way. One gives offerings to Gods but he can also expect something in return. The connexion between men and Gods goes both ways, and this Rune symbolizes that connexion. Gebo also signifies a connexion between people. Whether it's marriage, friendship or even business communication, these connexions are founded on the balanced Relationships of every factor. Because whether in marriage or friendship, there is always the mutual taking and giving, it's the same with a business Communications. Gebo was used in rituals connected to marriage and it was most often engraved or etched on appropriate objects for this purpose. If we observe the shape of this Rune we shall see that it represents two mutually entwined forces. These forces could be sexual energies of men and women, but also the efforts and ambitions that join business partners, or the love that connects Gods and men. This is the ideal Rune you could use to connect with the Gods as well as your higher Self.

Divination:

Positive meaning: gift i.e. offering, but also a generous gift, balance, partnership, connexion, relationship, exchange, contract.

Negative meaning: loneliness, dependence, too great a sacrifice, greed.

Books in PDF format to read:

Ralph Blum - The New Book Of Runes
Karl Hans Welz - Armanen Runes
Samael Aun Weor - Magic Runes

Goddess Frigg

THIS DAY IS SACRED TO THE NORSE GODDESS," FRIGG", THE DAUGHTER OF "NJORD "AND CONSORT OF "ODIN". HER NAME TRANSLATES TO BELOVED ONE. SHE WAS THE "QUEEN OF THE AESIR" AND WAS ASSOCIATED WITH GODDESS OF THE LOVE, MARRIAGE, AND MOTHERHOOD. "FRIGG" ALSO PROTECTS THE HOUSEHOLD AND IS THE BESTOWER OF CHILDREN. LIKE MOST FERTILITY GODDESSES, "FRIGG" WAS LIKENED TO "MOTHER EARTH," THOUGH MORE ACCURATELY SHE EXERTED INFLUENCE OVER THE ATMOSPHERE. CHOOSING NOT TO LIVE WITH "ODIN", SHE RESIDES IN A HOME OF HER OWN, AND SHE, AND HER MAIDENS, SPIN GOLDEN THREAD AND WEAVE THE CLOUDS.

"FRIGG" CONTROLLED THE CLOUDS AND REPRESENTED THE ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCIRCLES THE WORLD. A TALL, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, SHE IS SOMETIMES DEPICTED AS WEARING WHITE GARMENTS OR DARK GARMENTS, DEPENDING ON HER MOOD, WHICH REPRESENTS THE CHANGING OF THE WEATHER. A QUIET, WISE GODDESS, "FRIGG "ALSO HAD THE GIFT OF PROPHESY, ALTHOUGH SHE WILL NEVER TELL US EVERYTHING THAT SHE KNOWS.

ACCORDING TO MYTH, WHEN HER SON "BALDUR" IS FATED TO DIE, SHE DOES HER BEST TO ALTER HIS DESTINY BY EXTRACTING A PROMISE FROM ALL THINGS IN CREATION NOT TO HARM HIM. ALAS, SHE THINKS THE MISTLETOE TOO YOUNG AND INSIGNIFICANT, AND "LOKI," THE TRICKSTER, USES IT TO HIS ADVANTAGE, AND BRINGS ABOUT "BALDUR'S "DEATH. IT IS SAID THAT THE BERRIES ARE HER TEARS, AND WHEN SHE LEARNS THAT HE WILL BE RESTORED TO LIFE, SHE PROMISES TO HANG IT AND KISS EVERYONE WHO WALKS BENEATH....HENCE, COMES THE TRADITION OF KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

The Death Of Balder

From the wooden stem thus produced he deftly fashioned a shaft ere he hastened back to Idavold, where the Gods were still hurling missiles at Balder, Hodur alone leaning mournfully against a tree, and taking no part in the new game. Carelessly Loki approached him, inquired the cause of his melancholy, and twitted him with pride and indifference, since he would not condescend to take part in the new game. In answer to these remarks, Hodur pleaded his blindness; but when Loki put the mistletoe in his hand, led him into the midst of the circle, and indicated in what direction the novel target stood, Hodur threw his shaft boldly. Instead of the loud shout of laughter which he expected to hear, a shuddering cry of terror fell upon his ear, for Balder the beautiful had fallen to the ground, slain by the fatal blow.

“So on the floor lay Balder dead; and round
Lay thickly strewn swords, axes, darts, and spears,
Which all the Gods in sport had idly thrown
At Balder, whom no weapon pierced or clove;
But in his breast stood fixed the fatal bough
Of mistletoe, which Lok, the Accuser, gave
To Hoder, and unwitting Hoder threw —
’Gainst that alone had Balder’s life no charm.”
-BALDER DEAD (Matthew Arnold)

Anxiously the Gods all crowded around him, but alas! life was quite extinct, and all their efforts to revive the fallen Sun-God were vain. Inconsolable at their loss, they turned angrily upon Hodur, whom they would have slain had they not been restrained by the feeling that no willful deed of violence should ever desecrate their peace steads. At the loud sound of lamentation the Goddesses came in hot haste, and when Frigga saw that her darling was dead, she passionately implored the Gods to go to Niflheim and entreat Hel to release her victim, for the earth could not live happy without him.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Marion Crawford - The Witch Of Prague
Aleister Crowley - The Heart Of The Master
John Musick - The Witch Of Salem
Rabbi Michael Laitman - The Path Of Kabbalah

The Prose Edda Ver 1

Book: The Prose Edda Ver 1 by Snorri Sturlson

Translated by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur [1916]

The Prose Edda is a text on Old Norse Poetics, written about 1200 by the Norwegian poet and politican Snorri Sturlson, who also wrote the Heimskringla. The Prose Edda contains a wide variety of lore which a Skald (poet) of the time would need to know. The text is of interest to modern readers because it contains consistent narratives of many of the plot lines of Norse mythology. Although Snorri was a Christian, he treated the ancient Pagan mythology with great respect. To this end, Snorri created a quasi-historical backstory for the Norse Gods. Hence the Prose Edda is of interest because it contains one of the first attempts to devise a rational explanation for mythological and legendary events. It is also notable because it contains fragments of a number of manusripts which Snorri had access to, but which are now lost.

Download Snorri Sturlson's eBook: The Prose Edda Ver 1

Recommended reading (pdf e-books):

Snorri Sturlson - The Prose Edda Ver 2
Snorri Sturlson - The Prose Edda Ver 1

Recommended Resources On Asatru

The guidelines given in the previous section were pretty elementary, but they will get your feet planted on the Way of our ancestors.

What now?

Now it's time to start learning.

Recommended Resources

There is a vast amount of information on the AFA web site, and most of it will be useful in your quest. In particular, visit the Resources page and examine the growing list of items archived there.

Then, purchase and read some of the essential works on Asatru. You will find our suggested Reading List elsewhere on this site.

The AFA's Living Asatru is a good guide to day-to-day living of our ancestral religion. Also useful is A Book of Uncommon Prayers, which offers some simple and non-submissive ideas for talking with the Gods and Goddesses. In addition, the AFA produces two videos providing a broad overview of our religion; these are Steve McNallen on Asatru and Asatru: A Native European Religion. All these, and more, can be ordered directly from us.

Northern Magic by Edred Thorsson gives information on Asatru and on some of our traditional magical lore, as well. The AFA Book of Blotar and Ritual is an excellent guide to Asatru rituals of every type.

Two volumes of mythological lore and heroic tales are The Poetic Edda by Lee Hollander and The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. The Eddas are available in several different translations, and you may want to investigate several of these.

Of the books that relate to the practice of native European religions in ancient times, almost anything by H. R. Ellis Davidson can be Recommended without hesitation. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe is the best starting place, though Myth and Symbol in Pagan Europe is also superb. For an Introduction to the culture of our tribes as seen through Roman eyes read The Germania and Agricola by Tacitus, available in Penguin paperback.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Arthur Edward Waite - The Hermetic And Rosicrucian Mystery
Antoine Fabre Dolivet - The Golden Verses Of Pythagoras
Asatru Free Assembly - The Lessons Of Asgard

Asatru Holidays March Lenting

Lenting 9,
Day of Remembrance for Oliver the Martyr: He was an adherent of Asatru who persisted in organizing underground sacrifices to the Gods and Goddesses despite decrees by St Olaf the Lawbreaker forbidding such activities. Betrayed by an informer, he was killed by Olaf’s men while Preparing for the Spring sacrifice in the village of Maerin Norway. Many other men whose names are lost to us were also killed, mutilated, or exiled for taking part in such sacrifices.

Lenting 20,
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.

Lenting 28,
Ragnar Lodbrok Day: Ragnar was one of the legends most famous Vikings. On this day in Runic Year 1145 he raided Paris. It just happened to be Easter Sunday. Today toast Ragnar and read from his Saga.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

John Dee - The Hieroglyphic Monad French Version
Miac - Asatru And Odinism
Sepharial - Astrology And Marriage
Anonymous - Pagan Holidays