The Book of Shadows of a Broom Closet Dweller *EDITING*

Norse Paganism

Also known as Asatru/Norse Germanic Heathenry. Asatru is a reconstructed religion, as are many pagan religions, since most traditions have been lost through time.

Overview

Asatru is a Scandinavian term consisting of two parts: ASA (Genitive of Aesir) referring to the Germanic Gods and Goddesses (of both the Aesir and the Vanir), and TRU meaning faith. Thus, Asatru literally means "faith in the gods".

Asatru is a polytheistic, nature-oriented faith grounded in an honouring of the High Gods of the Aesir and the Vanir, the reverence for ancestors and the moral code is implicit in the observance of the Nine Noble Virtues.

Those who practice Asatru are known as Asatruar, Asafolk, Tru Folk, Odinists, Germanic Heathens or just worshippers of the Germanic religion.

History

Asatru's beginnings are far older than Christianity. Strictly speaking, since Asatru is the religion which springs from the specific spiritual beliefs of the Northern Europeans, so it is as old as this particular branch of the human race.

The earliest use of the term Asatru is its use in a song written by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. It was written around 1873 as part of the third scene of Grieg's opera Olav Trygvason.

The term Asatru became official when the religion was recognised by the Icelandic government in 1972 at the urging of the poet, Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson. Today the term refers to the re-birth of the ancient ethnic pre-Christian religion of northern Europe in its modern manifestation.

Deities

There are two groups of Gods in the Germanic pantheon; the Aesir, who are the predominant group, and the Vanir, some of whom have been adopted into the Aesir. The gods are mysterious and unknowable in some sense, but in another, they are very knowable. One may know them from the stories of their various actions, and one may further know them by spiritual experience. They seldom announce who they are when they appear in a dream or in some other way, but one has a feeling of general knowing.

These deities of Northern Europe are best known to most people as the Gods and Goddesses of the Old Norse legends. Because the Old Norse legends provide the best knowledge of them, we usually refer to them by their Norse Germanic names.

Some of the most notable of which are:

The Aesir:
Baldur, Odin, Frigga, Tyr, Loki, Thor

The Vanir:
Freyja, Hoenir, Freyr, Mimir, Njord

Ethics & Morals

The Asatru moral code of conduct is known as the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru. These are: courage, honour, hospitality, independence (and liberty), individuality (with self-reliance, family and self-responsibility), industriousness (and perseverance), justice (including an innate sense of fairness and respect for others), loyalty (to family, friends and folk), truthfulness, and a willingness to stand up for what is right.

Holidays

The two main styles of ritual celebrations are called the blot and the sumbel.

Blot (pronounced "bloat") is an Icelandic word meaning blessing and is a religious ceremony. They involve pouring out mead, ale, or other drinks onto the Earth as a sacrifice to the gods and goddesses, as well as sharing that blessing with the participants by passing around a drinking horn with that mead or ale, or by sprinkling some of the mead or ale on the participants.

Eight major Blots are celebrated by Asatruars each year. These are listed below, with the modern English name of each given first, followed by its Old Norse name in parenthesis, Wiccan equivalent in brackets, and its approximate date - although the usual practice is to hold the Blot on the nearest weekend.

Disfest        (Disablot) [Imbolc] - 31st January

Ostara         (Ostara) [Ostara] - 21st March

May Eve       (Valpurgis) [Beltane] - 30th April

Midsummer   (Midsumarsblot) [Litha] - 21st June

Freysfest    (Freysblot) [Lammas] - 1st August

Harvestfest  (Haustblot) [Mabon] - 21st September

Winter Night (Vetrnaetr) [Samhain] - 31st October

Yule            (Jol) [Yule] - 20th December -  1st January

There is also the Alfablot to honour the Alfar. Other Blots are also held for special life events such as weddings, funerals, coming of age rites, etc.

The Sumbel is a kind of formalized religious toasting. Sumbels are held whenever people want to hold them. A horn with mead or ale is passed around and each participant makes a toast, a boast, an oath, or says something significant over the drink. It is said that the words spoken at a sumbel echo throughout all the Nine Worlds so words spoken there should be thoughtful and meaningful.

Magick & Practices

Some who practice Asatru only adhere to the religion, but many are also involved in the esoteric arts of Germanic magick, such as the use of Runes and the shamanic practice known as Seidhr.

Source: www.odinsvolk.ca/O.V.A.%20-%20ASATRU%20INTRO.htm

(I've added that link as the External Link for this part)