Ásatrú and Odinismjporter/06_Asatru_Complete_2011.pdf · • Folkish Asatru – Asatru Folk Assembly – Polytheistic (not Odin-centred) – No “political” racist/racialist

Ásatrú and Odinism

Historical Influences and Precursors

Historical Precursors- Heathenism

•  Pre-Christian Germanic Religion and Culture

- Tribal - “Carl” or clan leader = civil and spiritual head of clan

-  Religion integrated into daily life

-  Vikings as farmers, hunters, and warriors

•  Elder (poetic) and Younger (prose) Eddas •  Tell stories of gods, goddesses, men,

women, giants, dwarfs, warriors, farmers, etc. all interacting - role models for how to live, love, die in honour.

Historical Precursors- Heathenism

•  Icelandic Sagas •  Multi-generational family

stories - very real details about the daily lives, religious practices, etc.

- Olaf Tryggvason

- Raud the Strong

- Queen Sigrid of Sweden

•  Snorri Sturlusson - compiled Eddas in 11th c., but stories predate this.

Historical Precursors - Odinism •  Social Turmoil in Germany

–  Wotan/Odin worship –  Swastika = Thor’s hammer and

wheel of sun

•  Alexander Rud Mills –  The Odinist Religion: Overcoming

Jewish Christianity (1930)

•  Else Christensen –  The Odinist Fellowship (1971)

•  Racism/Racialism

Historical Precursors - Asatru •  Norse Mythology books -

Kveldulf Gundarsson •  The Broader Neo-Pagan

Movement •  “A Wind through the

World Tree” 1972-1973 –  Stephen McNallen’s Viking

Brotherhood (Ásatrú Free Assembly)

–  The Odhinnist Fellowship (John Yeowell)

–  Asatruarmenn (Svienbjörn Beinteinsson)

•  Icelandic Asatru

Worldview

•  Animistic and panentheistic –  Nature filled with

spirtis, gods –  Magic = miracle:

asking for aid from spiritual sources

•  Nature based

Worldview •  Cyclical

–  Ragnarok •  Multi-versal •  Yggdrasil:

–  Asgard –  Vanaheim –  Ljossalfheim –  Svartalfheim –  Midgard –  Muspellheim –  Joutunheim –  Niefelheim –  Helheim

Ethics •  Courage •  Truth •  Honour •  Troth •  Self-Discipline •  Hospitality •  Industriousness •  Self-Reliance •  Perseverance

•  Tribalist •  Nine Noble Virtues •  Havamal

Theology

•  Polytheistic •  Aesir:

–  Odin –  Frigg –  Thor –  Sif –  Loki –  Tyr

Theology

•  Vanir: –  Njord & Skadi –  Freya & Freyr

•  Supernatural Beings: –  Landsvaettir –  Disir –  Valkyries –  Norns –  Wights, etc.

Organization

•  Kindred •  Hearths •  Garths •  Heathens

•  Gydhia/Godhi, Godhar

•  Moots, Things, Althings

Ritual Tools

•  Bowl •  Ring •  Hammer

Varieties of Heathenism •  Odinism – The Odinic Rite

–  Emphasis is primarily on the god Odin, less on other Aesir and Vanir deities

–  Odin as “all father,” the male divine principle, source of all inspiration

–  Religion “genetically” appropriate for certain people and not for others

–  “Without race there is nothing: therefore our first duty is a study of race and the significance of Aryan people to world history”

Varieties of Heathenism

•  Folkish Asatru – Asatru Folk Assembly

–  Polytheistic (not Odin-centred) –  No “political” racist/racialist agenda - but, still maintain

“genetic” argument re: religion –  Stephen McNallen (original founder of Viking Brotherhood)

Varieties of Heathenism

•  Theodism – Garmin Lord

–  Heathen Reconstructionism - reviving not only the religion, but the culture, art, lifestyles, of pre-christian Germanic peoples

–  Self-consciously “Tribal” - hierarchical structure of Lord/Lady (leaders), Carls (active, knowledgeable members) and Thralls (those who seek to join, but not yet found worthy).

–  Stress importance of learning, scholarship

Varieties of Heathenism •  Asatru – Irminsul Aettir

–  Icelandic model –  No racialist message –  Not based on Kindred,

instead on “aettir” - means extended family.

Varieties of Heathenism •  General Germanic

Paganism – The Troth –  Germanic mythology, but

can be Druid with Germanic emphasis, Witch with Germanic emphasis, etc.

–  Elders (The High Rede) - governing council

–  Godman, Godwoman (instead of Gydhia/Godhi)

Varieties of Heathenism •  Odinism – The Odinic Rite

•  Folkish Asatru – Asatru Folk Assembly

•  Asatru – Irminsul Aettir

•  General Germanic Paganism – The Troth

Asatru Folk Assembly

Rituals

•  Blots •  Sumbels

Rituals

•  Seidhr •  Spirit possession •  Hrafnar

Rituals

•  Galdr

•  Making Taufr

Rituals – Wheel of the Year

•  Disting/Disablot (Jan 31-Feb. 1) •  Ostara (March 21) •  Maitag/Merry Moon (April 30-May 1) •  Midsummer (June 21) •  Loaf-Feast/Freyfaxi (July 31/Aug. 1) •  Fallfest/Winter Finding (Sept. 21) •  Dieses/Winternight (15th-30th October)