An introduction to Asatru



Less than a thousand years ago, the elders of Iceland made a fateful

decision. Under political pressure from Christian Europe, and faced

with the need for trade, the Allthing declared Iceland to be an

officially Christian country. Within a few short centuries  the last

remnants of Nordic Paganism, which once stretched through all of

Northern Europe were thought dead. However, Iceland was a tolerant

country and the myths stories, and legends of Pagan times were left

unburnt to kindle the fires of belief in later generations. Under

pressure from the famous poet, Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson, Iceland once

again recognized Nordic Paganism as a legitimate and legal religion. A

restoration of our ancient faith is likewise in full bloom in America.



This ancient Pagan religion was known as Asatru, an old Norse word

which means Troth (loyalty) to the Gods, and modern Asatru is nothing

less than the complete revival of the ancient Norse Pagan religion.



Asatru recognizes many familiar Gods and Goddesses. Thor is the

Thunderer, the wielder of the divine Hammer Mjolnir. the thunder is the

sound of his chariot, the rain his gift that allows the crops to

prosper. Odin, the Allfather, is the God who gifted mankind with a

divine nature. He is the One eyed God, who traded his eye for wisdom,

and hung on the world tree to learn the mysteries of magic and the

runes. Odin receives slain warriors in his hall, where they prepare for

the final battle of Ragnarok. Frey is a God of peace and plenty who is

King of the Elves and brings fertility and prosperity to the land. But

a religion without Goddesses is halfway to atheism. The most well known

Goddess of our faith is Freya, who wears the sacred necklace

Brisingamen and rides in her cat drawn chariot. She is the Goddess of

love and beauty, but she is also a fierce Goddess of battle and takes

half the battle-slain to her. Frigg is Odin's wife, and she shares in

his leadership of the Gods. She is the only other deity allowed to sit

in Odin's Seat from which she can see all of the Nine Worlds, and is

the patron of the household and of married women. Living alone in the

icy wastes, Skadi is a Goddess of strong independence and a patron of

hunting and of skiing. Other Gods and Goddesses are worshipped by the

Asatru, including Tyr, Balder, Eir, Gefjion, and many others.



Our religion does not concern itself solely with the Gods and

Goddesses. We seek the old mysteries of the land, and honor the

Landvaettir (land spirits) who dwell in the trees and rocks and are

tied to the land and waters. We also honor our ancestors, both those

who have gone to the other worlds, and those such as the Disir, who

remain connected to Middle Earth in order to watch over and protect

their family.



We of the Asatru believe that the goal of living is to lead a

worthwhile and useful life, and we reject both the decaying fabric of

modern culture as well as the phony moralisms of those who would plunge

us back to the dark ages. Our values are based on individual liberty,

tempered with responsibility, as outlined in the Nine Noble Virtues:

Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality,

Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance. In keeping with this

independent spirit, we reject religious hierarchy and dogma, even as we

respect learned teachers and the ways of our faith.



No individual can stand alone without kinsmen and we believe strongly

in the power and importance of the family. A strong religious community

is also very important to us and we gather into groups, known as

kindreds, to worship our Gods.



While we do not believe any religion is for everyone, the Asatru

welcome anyone to our faith who is sincerely interested in pursuing the

old ways. If you are interested in Asatru please contact us at the

following address:



The Raven Kindred Assc. 

11160 Veirs Mill Rd L15-175 

Wheaton, MD 20902



(301) 593-9316 - lstead@cais.com