Ásatrú and Odinism

Ásatrú and Odinism
Historical Influences and
Precursors
Historical PrecursorsHeathenism
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Pre-Christian Germanic Religion and
Culture
- Tribal - “Carl” or clan leader = civil and
spiritual head of clan
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Religion integrated into daily life
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Vikings as farmers, hunters, and
warriors
Elder (poetic) and Younger (prose) Eddas
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Tell stories of gods, goddesses, men,
women, giants, dwarfs, warriors,
farmers, etc. all interacting - role
models for how to live, love, die in
honour.
Historical PrecursorsHeathenism
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Icelandic Sagas
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Multi-generational family
stories - very real details
about the daily lives,
religious practices, etc.
- Olaf Tryggvason
- Raud the Strong
- Queen Sigrid of Sweden
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Snorri Sturlusson - compiled
Eddas in 11th c., but stories
predate this.
Historical Precursors - Odinism
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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)
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Racism/Racialism
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
Worldview
• Animistic and
panentheistic
– Nature filled with
spirtis, gods
– Magic = miracle:
asking for aid from
spiritual sources
• Cyclical
– Ragnarok
Worldview
• Nature based
• Multi-versal
• Yggdrasil:
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Asgard
Vanaheim
Ljossalfheim
Svartalfheim
Midgard
Muspellheim
Joutunheim
Niefelheim
Helheim
Ethics
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Courage
Truth
Honour
Troth
Self-Discipline
Hospitality
Industriousness
Self-Reliance
Perseverance
• Tribalist
• Nine Noble Virtues
• Havamal
Theology
• Polytheistic
• Aesir:
Aesir
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Odin
Frigg
Thor
Sif
Loki
Tyr
Theology
• Vanir:
Vanir
– Njord & Skadi
– Freya & Freyr
• Supernatural Beings:
Beings
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Landsvaettir
Disir
Valkyries
Norns
Wights, etc.
Organization
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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 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)
Varieties of Heathenism
• Odinism – The Odinic Rite
Asatru Folk Assembly
• Folkish Asatru – Asatru
Folk Assembly
• Asatru – Irminsul Aettir
• General Germanic
Paganism – The Troth
Rituals
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Blots
Sumbels
Rituals
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Seidhr
Spirit possession
Hrafnar (Ravens)
Rituals
• Galdr
• Making
Taufr
Rituals – Wheel of the Year
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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)