Return to Information Return HomeAsatru is a living religion, currently practiced by a growing number of people in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Asatru is separate from, and not connected to, any other religious faith (although there may be superficial similarities in some respects).
The word Asatru means Faith in Aesir and the Vanir, who are best known to most people as the Gods and Goddesses of the Old Norse legends, although these same Deities were once worshipped by most of the peoples of pre-Christian Europe and others as far east as India (they are the Deities of the Rig Veda). However, because the Old Norse legends provide the best knowledge of them, we usually refer to them by their Old Norse names: Frigg and Odinn, Tyr and Zisa, Sif and Thorr, Freyja and Freyr, and so on. Traces remain in modern English: — Tuesday means Tyr's day, Wednesday means Odinn's day, Thursday means Thorr's day and Friday means either Frigg's or Freyja's day (scholars debate which).
Asatru is open to everyone and there are many different kinds of Asatruers (members of the Asatru religion). Anyone who wants to join Asatru can do so – regardless of gender, race, colour, ethnicity, natural origin, language, sexual orientation or other divisive criteria. Asatru today is no more "European" than Christianity is "Jewish" or Islam is "Arabic", etc.
Asatruers often form local groups for the same reasons that people of other religions band together. These Asatru groups are sometimes called Hearths or Kindreds or other names. However, many Asatru believers live too far away from any of their coreligionists to be able to join such a group.
The Asatru Way of Life esteems: Courage, honour, hospitality, independence (and liberty), individuality (with self-reliance), industriousness (and perseverance), justice (including an innate sense of fairness and respect for others), loyalty (to family, friends and the society of which one is a part), truthfulness and a willingness to stand up for what is right.
An Asatru religious ceremony is called a Blot. (NOTE: Linguistically the Old Norse word Blot means a blessing and has nothing to do with blood.) Eight major Blots are celebrated by Asatruers each year. These are listed below with the modern English name of each given first, followed by its Old Norse name in parenthesis, and the date (although the usual practice is to hold the Blot on the nearest weekend).
Disfest (Disablot) 31 January
Ostara (Ostara) 21 March
May Eve (Valpurgis) 30 April
Midsummer (Midsumarblot) 21 June
Freyfest (Freysblot) 31 July
Fallfest (Haustblot) 23 September
Winter Night (Vetrnaetr) 31 October
Yule (Jol) 21 December
Other Blots are held for special events, such as weddings or occasions such as the Feast of Vali (14 February). Besides the Blot there is another kind of Asatru ceremony called the Sumbel, which is a kind of formalized religious toasting. Sumbels are held whenever people want to hold them. There are also numerous social and cultural activities.
For more information about Asatru, contact PFPC.
Raven Kindred
http://www.asatru.com/
http://www.irminsul.org/
http://alliance.eagleut.com/
http://www.webcom.com/~lstead/links.html (many site links on this page)
From Terrie
http://members.aol.com/jordsvin/kindred/AboutRunes.htm
Ring of Troth
Introduction to the Troth Gods and Goddesses of the Troth Religion and Culture: our focus and membership policy Rites and Ways of the Troth Clergy Program Information Kveldulfr Gundarsson: Selected...
The Ring of Troth Europe
The Ring of Troth Europe A Fellowship of the Kindred of the Aesir and Vanir. The Ring of Troth is a worldwide network of folk who follow the Heathen traditions of the Germanic peoples, a broad cultural group which includes the Scandinavians.
The Troth
Asatru organization with members throughout North America, and including several members in Europe and Australia as well. They publish a quarterly journal, Idunna, and carry on other publishing projects. "TROTH", Odinist, and Asatru-related web sites: The Ring of Troth Assembly of the Elder Troth "Heathengyldas", Covenant of Anglo-Saxon Heathenry GARDARIKI KINDRED (in Russian) The Rocks of Ale GERS EY GOPORP A Heipni Fellowship
http://www.thetroth.org/links/
Troth Wisconsin
The site of the Ring of Troth's Wisconsin Stewardship. It contains basic information on Asatru, an events calendar, articles on the religion, and links to comprehensive resources. Located in Wisconsin, USA.
Assembly of the Elder Troth
Australian-based alliance provides subscription information for its quarterly journal and its purpose and dedication to the practice of Asatru.
Fiskiörn Kindred
A Nova Scotian kindred of the Elder Troth. Contains information on kindred organization, events, and links.
Irminsul Aettir — Western USA
Directory of Asatru organizations in the Western US.
Tract
is a general term for beliefs and practice based on the old religion of the Germanic peoples of the continent and in England, Scandinavia, and Iceland. It may be called "Norse religion", "Teutonic" or "Germanic Religion", "Ásatrú", "Odinism", or other...
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Want to Join as a Freond? Do it here! The Ealdriht has two levels of membership.
One level consists of its oathed members of the various maethels. They
have their duties in respect to experience and services performed. The
other level is that of Freond...
http://www.webcom.com/~lstead/links.html
(many site links on this page) by Jason Frenkel
http://www.witchvox.com/basics/intro.html
The first legally binding Heathen Wedding in Norway - http://www.neopax.com/asatru/WeddingNorway/index.html
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/ravenbok.htm
http://www.student.oulu.fi/~trimpine/relig.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/asatru.htm
Asatru, or some of its symbols, have unfortunately been taken up by white supremacists, and so some of its symbols are included on this Anti-Defamation League website.
An update on the ADL website reads:-
"Although its traditional origins are non-racist, the Thor's Hammer symbol was adopted by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists, especially racist practitioners of Odinism, a neo-pagan religion related to Ásatrú. Today, the symbol is displayed by many white supremacists in the form of jewelry, tattoos, and clothing, because they believe that Thor's Hammer signifies the strength and purity of the "Aryan race." Sometimes white supremacists include swastikas (sometimes connected with Thor's Hammer in Old Norse symbology as a symbol of a spinning hammer) in the decorative scrollwork. However, because it continues to be in use by many non-racists, one should never assume that the Thor's Hammer symbol appearing by itself necessarily denotes racism or white supremacy, but instead should judge it by the context in which it appears.
Some Asatruars have started a website campaign to reclaim their symbols. See:- http://members.tripod.com/redwolfs_hall/redwolf.htm