Ásatrú and Odinism Historical Influences and Precursors.
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Transcript of Ásatrú and Odinism Historical Influences and Precursors.
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)