Introduction To The Runes Some Frequently Asked Questions

Book: Introduction To The Runes Some Frequently Asked Questions by The Troth

A futhark is a runic alphabet. Just as the word “alphabet” comes from the names of the first two Greek letters, alpha and beta, the word “futhark” comes from the first six runic letters: F, U, Th, A, R and K. This flyer focuses on the oldest runic alphabet, the Elder Futhark. Different futharks were used at different times and places; the Elder Futhark is a little different from the Anglo-Saxon or Scandinavian Futharks.

Where and when did the runes originate? The runic letters were derived from an alphabet used in north Italy, related in turn to the Latin alphabet. The letters were modified for easier carving in wood, and to express sounds not used in Latin. Their shapes were also influenced by preliterate signs that the Germanic Peoples carved for religious or magical purposes. The oldest runic inscription, on a medallion found at Meldorf, Germany, dates from the first century. Use of runes in Scandinavia continued into the 14th century, and
in a few areas even later.

In Heathen myth, the runes were first grasped by the god Odin, after an ordeal in which he hung from the World Tree for nine nights, pierced by a spear. Odin later gave knowledge of the runes to all beings, and rune knowledge was taught to humans by the god Heimdall. These myths refer not so much to the origin of the letters, but rather to grasping the meanings and connections that the letters represent. This wisdom is a great gift to us.

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The Troth - Introduction To The Runes Some Frequently Asked Questions

Sidelights On Teutonic History During The Migration Period

Book: Sidelights On Teutonic History During The Migration Period by Mg Clarke

THE following chapters are the outcome of two periods of stud}7 undertaken during the tenure of research scholarships awarded by Girton College, and form an attempt to discover the amount of historical truth under lying the allusions to persons and events in the Old English heroic poems. The essay deals with an aspect of these poems, which has not, so far as I know, been treated systematically byanyone who has previously written on the subject. Thus, in the absence of any model, I have had to work on independent lines, especially as regards the grouping and arrangement of different traditions, and the method of discussion followed in the several chapters. The actual arrangement has been adopted for convenience of discus sion, according to the nationality of the persons concerned, except in cases where a particular section forms a complete epic narrative with a personal (as opposed to a national) interest of its own: in these cases the tradition has been discussed under the heading of the poem in which it is contained, or that of the character round whom the
narrative centres.

Each chapter is arranged thus :

I. An account of the tradition respecting the nation or hero in question, pieced together from the scattered allusions in the poems.
II. The evidence of other authorities dealing with the same traditions or with the same characters.
III. A comparative view of the evidence of these authorities in its relation to the substance of the Old English poems.
IV. A summary of the inferences as to historical truth which may justifiably be deduced from the allusions in the poems.

The positive results obtained are often extremely meagre, and in no case do they make any claim to finality. Though much work has been done in this direction, much still remains: and any value which this study may possess lies chiefly in exploring new possibilities and in indicating the paths along which further research may in time lead to more definite conclusions.

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Odinism And Asatru

Book: Odinism And Asatru by Anonymous

The Asatru movement began in the 1970's, as a revival of Germanic paganism. Begun in Iceland on the Summer Solstice of 1972, the Islenska Asatruarfelagid was founded recognized as an Official religion the following year. Shortly afterwards, the Asatru Free Assembly was formed in the United States, although they later became the Asatru Folk Assembly. An offshoot group, the Asatru Alliance, founded by Valgard Murray, holds an annual gathering called "Althing", and has done so for over twenty-five years.

The Asatru are divided into Kindreds, which are local worship groups. These are sometimes called a garth, stead, or skeppslag. Kindreds may or may not be affiliated with a national organization and are composed of families, individuals, or hearths. Members of a Kindred may be related by blood or marriage.

A Kindred is usually led by a Godar, a priest and chieftain who is the "speaker for the gods".

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Siegfried The Hero Of The North And Beowulf The Hero Of The Anglo Saxons

Book: Siegfried The Hero Of The North And Beowulf The Hero Of The Anglo Saxons by Zenaide Alexeievna Ragozin

The hero of the Nibelungenlied. Siegfried was the son of Siegmund (Sigmund), the king of the Netherlands, and Sieglind (Sisibe or Hjordis). His counterpart was the hero Sigurd, who appeared in many of the Icelandic and Scandinavian sagas, such as the Volsunga Saga. Siegfried was knighted at the age of eighteen. Siegfried hearing of Kriemhild's great beauty, the hero decided to woo Kriemhild. Siegfried also hoped to win fame and glory through his own prowess in warfare. Siegfried became lord of Nibelungland, after killing the two brothers, Schilbung and Nibelung. Siegfried gained the Nibelungs' treasure and the cloak of darkness (Tarnkappe) from Alberich, the dwarf and Nibelungs' treasurer. Siegfried also possessed the sword Balemung and the horse. Siegfried skin became invulnerable when he killed a dragon and was bathed in the dragon's blood. The only vulnerable spot on his body was on his back where a large leave covered fell on his back between his shoulders. Only Kriemhild knew of her husband's weakness. Hagen would later tricked Kriemhild to reveal this weakness to him. When Siegfried arrived in Worms, a city in Burgundy, Gunther won his friendship. Though he sought to woo Gunther's sister, he did not see her until a year later. They were only formerly introduced, after helping the king to win the war against the Saxons and the Danes, when Siegfried captured the two kings. Siegfried fell in love with Kriemhild, and her brothers approved of the marriage, if the hero would help Gunther win Brunhild in marriage. Siegfried does so by defeating the warrior-queen, using his magic cloak, Tarnkappe. Brunhild thought she was contesting Gunther. There was a double wedding. Whereas Siegfried's marriage was happy, Gunther was humiliating. When Gunther had tried to make love to his new wife, Brunhild fought him, bound the king, and hanged the king up on the wall. Gunther was no match for Brunhild's superhuman strength. Again, Siegfried had to secretly overcome Brunhild for Gunther. When Brunhild finally submitted to husband, Siegfried stole her ring and girdle, gave them to Kriemhild. The ring and girdle became symbols of their deception over Brunhild.

A man of great strength, Beowulf, pits himself in struggle against a monster, Grendel. Hero defeats Monster, and is rewarded with Treasures and his praises are sung. Then the plot twists, even in the ancient manuscripts of yore, Grendel's mother seeks revenge. She is a demon from the line of Cain, cursing humanity and hating all that brings happiness to mankind. Beowulf must also slay her to free the land from it's curse and to allow the people in it to rejoice and enjoy life in the mead hall. Later ,in old age, Beowulf must don his armor once again. he must wear the fine web mail to face yet another monster. A fierce dragon attacks his kingdom,and Beowulf faces his last battle. He Kills the dragon, but is himself fatally wounded. His kingdom falls into disarray , without it's strong hero to protect the people they are soon overrun by neighboring tribes. In the latest incarnation, however, it is mans own weakness,and lust that is the down fall of all great heroes. The monster of pride, arrogance, greed, and lust is the most terrifying opponent, and it is our own internal weakness that brings us all down, preventing us all from being heroes.

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Asatru Holidays April Ostara

Ostara 9,
Day of Remembrance for Jarl Hakon of Norway: As ruler of the western part of the realm, Hakon restored the worship of the Old Gods and cast out the alien religion. In the process, the common folk regained political liberties which were erased under the kristjan yoke, and the flame of our Troth burned brighter in an era of gathering gloom. It may be that Hakon’s defense of our ancestral ways helped encourage the survival of our Traditions in Iceland, where they eventually became the seeds of modern day Asatru. On this day reflect on how the actions of the individual can impact world events and the future of Odinn’s Nation.

Ostara 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.

Ostara 22,
Yggdrasil Day: On this day we realize the great significance that the World Tree plays in our culture, heritage, and native spirituality. It is from the World Tree that we came, and it shelters and nurtures the Asatru today, and will offer refuge to the Folk come Ragnarok. Trees are the lungs as well as the soul of Midgard. Plant a tree today, nurture it, and protect it. In this act the Folk must abide.

Ostara 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.

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Asatru Faq Part 5

What do You Have to Say About Good and Evil?

Good and evil are not constants. What is good in one case will not be good in another, and evil in one circumstance will not be evil under a different set of conditions. In any one instance, the right course of action will have been shaped by the influence of the past and the present. The result may or may not be "good" or "evil", but it will still be the right action.

In no case are good and evil dictated to us by the edicts of an alien, authoritarian deity, as in the Middle East. We are expected to use our freedom, responsibility, and awareness of duty to serve the highest and best ends.

Does Asatru Involve Ancestor Worship?

Asatru says we should honor our ancestors. It also says we are bonded to those Ancestors in a special way. However, we do not actually worship them.

We believe our forebears have passed to us certain spiritual qualities just as surely as they have given us various physical traits. They live on in us. The family or clan is above and beyond the limits of time and place. Thus we have a reverence for our ancestry even though we do not involve ourselves in ancestor worship as such.

Where Did the Universe Come From, According to Asatru?

Our myths describe the beginning of the universe as the unfolding of a natural process, rather than one requiring supernatural intervention. Followers of Asatru need not abandon modern science to retain their religion. The old lore of our people describes the interaction of fire and ice and the development of life from these - but this is symbolic, and we will leave it to our scientists to discover how the universe was born.

What are the Runes, and What do They Have to do With Asatru?

Runes are ancient Germanic symbols representing various concepts or forces in the universe. Taken together, they express our ancestors' world view. Their meanings are intimately connected with the teachings of Asatru. Our myths tell how Odin, father of the Gods, won them through painful ordeal so that Gods and humans alike might benefit from their wisdom.

How is Asatru Organized?

Asatru is non-authoritarian and decentralized, expressing our love of freedom. While we do have definite tenets, we have little dogma. There is no all-powerful spiritual leader whose word is law, no "pope" of Asatru to dictate truth. No guru or priest has an exclusive direct line to the Gods. The Gods live in you!

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The Eight Great Festivals Of Asatru

Yuletide (December 20-31) - This is a time for honoring the clan, both living and dead, and for celebrating the rebirth of the Sun in the depth of winter. It is marked by feasting, gift giving, visiting friends and kin, and remembering those family members who have died. Yule marks the death of one year and the birth of another, as a turning of the endless cycle.

Charming of the Plow/Disting (around February 14) - Disting is sacred to the female ancestors, to Freya, and to Vali, God of vengeance and rebirth. The earth was traditionally prepared for planting at this time, and local assemblies, or "Things," met to discuss legal matters and to give the people a chance to get together and socialize.

Easter (around March 21) - Easter, or Ostara, is named in honor of the Goddess of the Dawn. Her tokens are eggs, rabbits, and all things concerned with the coming of life with the coming of warmer weather in the springtime.

Walburga/May Day (April 30-May 1) - Walburga is a Goddess Connected With the dead who sleep in the burial mounds awaiting rebirth. Her mood is somber and foreboding, in contrast with the next day, May Day, when the theme shifts to rebirth, life, and fertility.

Midsummer (June 21) - The Sun stands at her highest stead on this, the longest day - ready to begin her gradual withdrawal towards the cold and darkness of Yule. We send her our praise and loving support at this, the moment of her highest glory. Major assemblies of the Folk, such as Iceland's Althing, were held at this time.

Freyfaxi/Thing's Tide (around August 23) - The powers of fertility are honored toward the end of August, as the beginning of the harvest season draws nearer. Frey, God of fertility, is give honor at this festival.

Harvest (around September 23) - At the autumn equinox, we give praise and thanks to the group of Germanic deities known as the Vanir, whose specialties are fertility, plenty, and pleasure. The best known Vanir are the twins Frey and Freya, but there are others among their ranks as well.

Winter Nights (October 13-15) - We exchange Blessings with the essence of the female ancestors, considered collectively as the Disir. They give us their blessings as the season of cold closes in on the world and life retreats into hiding. We honor the Disir, knowing they look on from beyond the grave with loving concern for their living human kin.

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