Ásatrú and Odinism

Historical Influences and Precursors HistoricalHistorical Precursors-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. HistoricalHistorical Precursors-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. Historical Precursors - Odinism

• Social Turmoil in Germany – Wotan/ worship – Swastika = ’s hammer and wheel of sun

• Alexander Rud Mills – The Odinist Religion: Overcoming Jewish Christianity (1930)

• – The Odinist Fellowship (1971)

• Racism/Racialism HistoricalHistorical PrecursorsPrecursors -- AsatruAsatru

• 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 WorldviewWorldview

• Animistic and panentheistic – Nature filled with spirtis, gods – Magic = miracle: asking for aid from spiritual sources

• Cyclical – Ragnarok WorldviewWorldview

• Nature based • Multi-versal • : – Asgard – Vanaheim – Ljossalfheim – Svartalfheim – Midgard – Muspellheim – Joutunheim – Niefelheim – Helheim EthicsEthics

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

• Polytheistic • Aesir: – Odin – Frigg – Thor – Sif – Loki – Tyr TheologyTheology

• Vanir: – Njord & Skadi – Freya & Freyr • Supernatural Beings: – Landsvaettir – Disir – Valkyries – Norns – Wights, etc. OrganizationOrganization

• Kindred • Hearths • Garths • Heathens

• Gydhia/Godhi, Godhar

• Moots, Things, Althings RitualRitual ToolsTools

• Bowl • Ring • Hammer VarietiesVarieties ofof HeathenismHeathenism

• 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” VarietiesVarieties ofof HeathenismHeathenism

• Folkish Asatru – – Polytheistic (not Odin-centred) – No “political” racist/racialist agenda - but, still maintain “genetic” argument re: religion – Stephen McNallen (original founder of Viking Brotherhood) VarietiesVarieties ofof HeathenismHeathenism

• Theodism – Garmin Lord – Heathen Reconstructionism - reviving not only the religion, but the culture, art, lifestyles, of pre-christian – 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 VarietiesVarieties ofof HeathenismHeathenism

• Asatru – Irminsul Aettir – Icelandic model – No racialist message – Not based on Kindred, instead on “aettir” - means extended family. VarietiesVarieties ofof HeathenismHeathenism

• General – The Troth – , but can be Druid with Germanic emphasis, Witch with Germanic emphasis, etc. – Elders (The High Rede) - governing council – Godman, Godwoman (instead of Gydhia/Godhi) VarietiesVarieties ofof HeathenismHeathenism

• Odinism – The Odinic Rite

• Folkish Asatru – Asatru

Asatru Folk Assembly Folk Assembly

• Asatru – Irminsul Aettir

• General Germanic Paganism – The Troth RitualsRituals

• Blots • Sumbels RitualsRituals

• Seidhr • Spirit possession • Hrafnar (Ravens) RitualsRituals

• Galdr

• Making Taufr RitualsRituals –– WheelWheel ofof thethe YearYear

• 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)