Ásatrú and Odinism

Historical Influences and Precursors

Historical Precursors- Historical Precursors- HeathenismHeathenism

• 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.

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Historical Precursors- Historical Precursors- HeathenismHeathenism

• 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.

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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 - AsatruHistorical Precursors - Asatru• Norse Mythology books - Norse Mythology books -

Kveldulf Gundarsson• The Broader Neo-Pagan The Broader Neo-Pagan

MovementMovement• “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 AsatruIcelandic Asatru

WorldviewWorldview

• Animistic and panentheisticAnimistic and panentheistic– Nature filled with spirits, gods– Landsvaettir– Aesir/Vanir deities: gods in,

and above, nature– Magic = asking for aid from

spiritual sources• Seidhr (spirit possession)• Runes (spirit inspiration)

• Nature BasedNature Based

WorldviewWorldview

• Multi-versalMulti-versal• Yggdrasil:

– Asgard - home of aesir– Vanaheim - home of vanir– Ljossalfheim - light elves– Svartalfheim - dwarves– Midgard - our world– Muspellheim - fire giants– Joutunheim - chaos giants– Niefelheim - ice/fog world– Helheim - land of the dead

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WorldviewWorldview

• CyclicalCyclical– Ragnarok

• Order vs chaos, cosmic battle in which universe is destroyed, then recreated

• Yggdrasil - image of growth, destruction, renewal

• Not reincarnation

EthicsEthics

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

• TribalistTribalist• Nine Noble Virtues• Hávamál (from poetic

Edda)

TheologyTheology

• PolytheisticPolytheistic• AesirAesir:

– Odin - All father, wisdom, magic, war

– Frigg - Silent One, marriage, family, fibre arts

– Thor - the Thunderer. Order, strength, working class

– Sif - the Golden, harvest, beauty

– Loki - the Trickster– Tyr - the Skyfather - justice,

loyalty, war

TheologyTheology• VanirVanir:

– Njord - wind and sea, safe harbours

– Skadi - the Huntress, war, hunting, independence

– Freya - love, lust, war, magic, death

– Freyr - the land, harvest, fertility

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

OrganizationOrganization

• Kindred• Hearths• Garths• Heathens

• Gydhia/Godhi, Godhar• Elders• Godmen/Godwomen

• Moots, Things, Althings

Ritual ToolsRitual Tools

• Bowl• Ring• Hammer

Varieties of HeathenismVarieties of Heathenism

• OdinismOdinism – The Odinic Rite

• Folkish ÁsatrúFolkish Ásatrú – ÁsatrúÁsatrú Folk Assembly

• Theodism - Winland Rice (Garman Lord Gering)

• ÁsatrúÁsatrú – Irminsul Aettir– Godhordh (community) model

• General Germanic PaganismGeneral Germanic Paganism – The Troth

RitualsRituals

• Blots - a sacrifice to the gods and goddessesBlots - a sacrifice to the gods and goddesses• Sumbels - “ale-gathering” - ritual toastingSumbels - “ale-gathering” - ritual toasting

RitualsRituals

• SeidhrSeidhr• Spirit possession• Seeress,

Seidhkona, Völva• Guide• Hrafnar

RitualsRituals

• GaldrGaldr

• Making Making TaufrTaufr

• Futhark Futhark RunesRunes

Rituals – Wheel of the YearRituals – Wheel of the Year

• Yule - (Dec. 21st “mothernight”-Jan.1)• 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 (Fullmoon between 15th-30th

October)