Essential Asatru

In Essential Asatru, renowned author and priestess Diana Paxson demystifies an ancient, rich, and often misunderstood religion, and offers a practical guide for its modern followers. A Journey to Fulfillment and Renewal Filled with clear, concise instructions on living Asatru every day, this truly accessible guide takes you on a journey from Asatru’s origins in Scandinavian and German paganism to its recognition as an official religion in the 1970s and its widespread acceptance today. Essential Asatru also includes: · A complete history of Asatru gods and goddesses, including Odin, Thor, and Ostara · The life values, such as honor, truth, fidelity, and hospitality, that shape Asatru’s tenets · Indispensable information on rituals, rune casting, ethics, and divination Essential Asatru is an elegant and splendid introduction to a centuries-old religion that continues to enrich and fascinate its followers today. Praise for Essential Asatru “This mainstreamed book on Asatru offers a thorough grounding in both history and the present and shows how those values—the true heart of any religion—are expressed in the lives of its faithful. This book is recommended for personal education, library shelves, and world religion classes.” —Facing North “A solid and thorough yet concise introduction to the religion, its history, the gods and goddesses, and the basics of modern practice.” —Idunna

An introduction to the history, beliefs, rituals and deities of this popular Neo-Pagan belief drawn from ancient northern European traditions. Asatru is a modern Pagan tradition whose roots lie in the ancient myths, folklore, sagas, and historical artifacts of those who lived in pre-Christian times in what is now Iceland, Scandinavia, Scotland, Germany, and other parts of northern Europe. It is also one of the fastest growing religions in the United States and Europe. A clear and accessible introduction to this heathen religion, this book covers all the basics and answers the essential questions about Asatru. Key topics include: A brief exploration of Asatru’s mythology The role of Asatru’s gods and goddesses, rituals, magical practices of divination, spells, and berserkgangr (a form of trance magic) The moral virtues of Asatru: courage, honor, loyalty, truth, hospitality, industriousness, self-discipline, self-reliance, and steadfastness A look at various interpretations of the Asatru tradition and the “hijacking” of its symbolism over the last two centuries Readers new to Asatru and experts alike will find this book to be an invaluable resource in understanding this heathen tradition.

"From its pre-Christian beginnings to its contemporary practitioners, Heathenry has long fascinated people from every corner of the world. Written from the unique perspective of a Heathen gythja, or Godwoman, A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru shows how to bring the beliefs and traditions of this ancient faith into your life today. In this complete guide to Asatru, you will discover: The mythology, folklore, and historical sagas of Northern European Heathens. How to conduct rituals for birth, naming, entry into adulthood, weddings, divorces, funerals, and holy days. Practical techniques for meditation, trance-work, prayer, and working with runes and charms. Heathen perspectives on the nature of time, creation, worship, ethics, oaths, and hospitality. An in-depth glossary, index, pronunciation guide, and bibliography for further study"--Publisher description.

Robert Sass has been studying and practicing Heathenry for twenty years. The goal of this book is to educate Heathens on ""how to do"" Heathenry, based on a historical perspective first. How to do Sumble and Blot based on historical passages, as well as educating Heathens on the various Germanic Heathen calendars that survived from the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries. Truly bringing the Old Ways into Heathenry based on solid research, as oppossed to just saying ""We do the Old Ways."" If this book does not have at least ten times as many historical sources, Edda, and Saga passages quoted than any other Asatru 101 book on the market, I will be most disappointed. I quote sources left and right. Studying where our Ancestors left off is essential.

Revised 20th anniversary edition. Embrace your magickal awakening with this essential guide to modern paganism. From Wicca to Druidry, Shamanism to Heathenry, Paganism is bound together by a collection of spiritual paths that are rooted in the ancient religions of our world. In this enlightening guide, pioneer of the modern Pagan movement Pete Jennings introduces the core concepts of each unique strand of Paganism, explaining their foundations, beliefs and practices to help you in your own personal spiritual journey. Exploring magick, sacred sites, celebrations and organisations and the pivotal role of nature and the divine, this is your guide to finding the path that feels good and true to you.

Norse Revival offers a thorough investigation of Germanic Neopaganism (Asatru) through an international and comprehensive historical perspective. It traces Germanic Neopaganism’s genesis in German ultra-nationalist and occultist movements around 1900. Based on ethnographic research of contemporary groups in Germany, Scandinavia and North America, the book examines this alternative Neopagan religion’s transformations towards respectability and mainstream thought after the 1970s. It asks which regressive and progressive elements of a National Romantic discourse on Norse myth have shaped Germanic Neopaganism. It demonstrates how these ambiguous ideas about Nordic myth permeate general discourses on race, religion, gender, sexuality, and aesthetics. Ultimately, Norse Revival raises the question whether Norse mythology can be freed from its reactionary ideological baggage.

Provides an overview of Heathenry, a modern polytheistic religious movement based on the ancient religion of the Germanic and Scandinavian peoples.