Ásatrú 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, ''Norsemen Landing in Iceland'''. 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 - 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 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 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 • Tribalist • Truth • Nine Noble Virtues • Honour • Havamal • Troth • Self-Discipline • Hospitality • Industriousness • Self-Reliance • Perseverance 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 anglo-saxon/ 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) Rituals • Blots • Sumbels Rituals • Seidhr • Spirit possession • Hrafnar Rituals • Galdr • Making Taufr • Futhark alphabet (runes) Rituals – Wheel of the Year • Yule (Dec. 21 – Jan1) 1st night = “Mother night” dedicated to Frigg and Disir, gods, spirits, ancestors, all close to earth – pine, holly, food for all • Disting/Disablot (Jan 31-Feb. 1) ‘Thing’ of the Goddesses – Charming of the Plow – new beginnings • Ostara (March 21) – Ostara is the goddess of spring, fertility, Easter Hare, eggs - • Maitag/Merry Moon - (April 30-May 1) fairy fire, tricks and games (like halloween) – Dedicated to Freyr, god of fertility • Midsummer - (June 21) – festival of the sun, boldness and daring, justice and judgement. • Loaf-Feast/Freyfaxi -(July 31/Aug. 1) – celebrating the marriage of Thor and Sif – harvest, grain, marriages, binding oaths. • Fallfest/Winter Finding - (Sept. 21) – Vanir deities, harvest, thanksgiving • Dieses/Winternight - (15th-30th October) – 1st full moon of October, beginning of winter, ancestor spirits, landsvaettir, family, friends honoured .