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Ásatrú and Odinism

Ásatrú and Odinism 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

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Ásatrú and Odinism

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  1. Ásatrú and Odinism Historical Influences and Precursors

  2. 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, giants, dwarfs, warriors, farmers, etc. all interacting - role models for how to live, love, die in honour.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Worldview • Animistic 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 Based

  7. Worldview • Multi-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

  8. Worldview • Cyclical • Ragnarok • Order vs chaos, cosmic battle in which universe is destroyed, then recreated • Yggdrasil - image of growth, destruction, renewal • Not reincarnation

  9. Courage Truth Honour Troth Self-Discipline Hospitality Industriousness Self-Reliance Perseverance Tribalist Nine Noble Virtues Hávamál (from poetic Edda) Ethics

  10. Theology • Polytheistic • Aesir: • 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

  11. Theology • Vanir: • Njord - wind and sea, safe harbours • Skadi - the Huntress, war, hunting, independence • Freya - love, lust, war, magic, death • Freyr - the land, harvest, fertility • Supernatural Beings: • Landsvaettir • Disir • Valkyries • Norns • Wights, etc.

  12. Organization • Kindred • Hearths • Garths • Heathens • Gydhia/Godhi, Godhar • Elders • Godmen/Godwomen • Moots, Things, Althings

  13. Ritual Tools • Bowl • Ring • Hammer

  14. Varieties of Heathenism • Odinism – The Odinic Rite • Folkish Ásatrú – Ásatrú Folk Assembly • Theodism - Winland Rice (Garman Lord Gering) • Ásatrú – Irminsul Aettir • Godhordh (community) model • General Germanic Paganism – The Troth

  15. Rituals • Blots - a sacrifice to the gods and goddesses • Sumbels - “ale-gathering” - ritual toasting

  16. Rituals • Seidhr • Spirit possession • Seeress, Seidhkona, Völva • Guide • Hrafnar

  17. Rituals • Galdr • Making Taufr • Futhark Runes

  18. Rituals – 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)

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