A Collection of Essays on Asatru by Mark B.

Pope 2/18/2013

Essay 1: A brief intro to the pagan faith of Asatru.

Introduction T e !or" Asatru literally translates to fait in t e #o"s. Asatru is a pa#an fait . $t is t e reconstructe" reli#ion of t e pre%C ristian &er'anic people. T ese people inclu"e t e (can"ina)ian* An#lo%(a+on* an" &ot ic et nic #roups. T e fait is foun"e" fro' t eir beliefs* but anyone can be an Asatruar. ,ou "o not a)e to be of bloo" relation to any &er'anic person* in or"er to ail t e -ort ern #o"s. $t is a fait t at ol"s ancestors* spirits* an" "eities in i# re#ar". T ere are se)eral #o"s an" #o""esses in t e fait of Asatru. T ere are t!o #roups/tribes. T e Aesir an" t e .anir. T ere !as at one point a !ar fou# t bet!een t ese t!o but peace !as soon #aine" an" no! t ey inter'in#le. T e c ief of t e Aesir is /"in. T e Allfat er an" creator of 'an an" t e !orl" as !e kno! it. /f course e a" a little elp in t ese en"ea)ors. Asatruars also ol" !i# ts* el)es* an" ot er bein#s in i# re#ar". -ot all Asatruars re#ar" t e 0otnar 1#iants2 because t ey are seen as e)il. 3o!e)er* t is is not t e case. &iants are 4ust as !ise an" po!erful as t e #o"s an" s oul" recei)e respect as !ell. 5e#ar"less of t e bein# Asatru is a fait t at re)eres an" respects t e "i)ine* t e spirits* an" our ancestors. Most of t e kno!le"#e of Asatru an" -orse Pa#an fait s is "eri)e" fro' t e E""as an" (a#as. T ese are a collection of poe's an" tales t at "escribe t e !ay people li)e" an" !ors ipe" at t is ti'e. T e Prose an" Poetic E""as are stu"ie" an" interprete" to rebuil" t e fait of t e -orse/&er'anic people. Ethics T ere are no set rules on o! to li)e your life in Asatru. 3o!e)er t ere are su##este" et ics. T e 'ost stron#ly stresse" is t at of bein# true. T is 'eans bein# true to yourself* t e #o"s* an" your nei# bors an" kin. 6o not be "eceitful or "is onest. ,our actions 'ake you ! o you are. Anot er su##este" co"e of et ics is t e -ine -oble .irtues. T is is a list of be a)iors an" )alues t at !ill 'ake you true an" #oo". T ey are as follo!s coura#e* trut * onor* fi"elity* "iscipline* ospitality* in"ustriousness* self%reliance* an" perse)erance. 3a)e coura#e in t e face of your obstacles. Be true to t ose you kno! an" yourself. 6ont 'ess aroun" ! en 'arrie". Be "iscipline" an" "iscipline t ose ! o are not. Be ospitable to all. 6ont be la7y. 6ont be nee"y. Perse)ere in t e face of all c allen#es. T ese are i# ly su##este" 8ualities for an Asatruar to a)e. T ey are not la!s. T ey are su##estions. $t is a #oo" i"ea to li)e your life closely !it t ese )alues. ,ou !ill

be appy an" a beneficial 'e'ber to society. Worship T e #o"s* !i# ts* el)es* etc are aile" in rituals. T ere are t!o co''on rituals t at Asatruars use. T ese are t e blot an" t e su'bel. Bot are 8uite si'ple an" co''on a'on# )arious -orse Pa#an pat s. T e blot is a sacrifice. $n t e "ays of ol" our ancestors sacrifice" ani'al an" t e !or" blot "eri)es fro' bloo". $n 'ore 'o"ern ti'es !e use 'ea"* beer* ale* etc. A sacrificial be)era#e for t e #o"s. T ere is a process in ! ic t e #o"s are aile" an" a "rinkin# orn is fille" !it 'ea" an" t e 'ea" is blesse". T en t e participants take in t at blessin# by sippin# fro' t e orn an" t en t ey pour t e 'ea" into a bo!l t at !ill be t e sacrifice to t e #o"s. $n a nuts ell t at is blot. $ !ill #o into furt er "etail later. T e su'bel is 'ore like ritualistic "rinkin#. A "rinkin# orn is fille" !it 'ea" or anot er "rink or preference an" eac participant ail t e #o"s or bein# an" t en "rinks. (u'bels can also be use" to s!ear oat s an" 'ake toasts. Organization T ere are se)eral or#ani7ations t at try to keep Asatruars to#et er an" establis t e nor' a'on# -orse pa#ans. A co''on #roup kno!n in Britain is t e /"inic 5ite. T ere are ot er or#ani7ations like t e Trot an" t e Asatru Alliance t at also or#ani7e Asatru #roupin#s. T ese #roups are co''only calle" 9in"re"s. T ey are also so'eti'es referre" to as eart s or alls as !ell. :a'ily an" t e co''unity are i# ly i'portant to 'e'bers of t e Asatru fait . 9in"re"s inclu"e ! ole fa'ilies an" 'any )arious an" uni8ue 'e'bers of t e co''unity. T e ! ole #roup beco'es a fa'ily. T ere is a cler#y syste' of a sort to Asatru as !ell. T ere are priests an" priestess of t e fait . A priest is calle" a #ot i ! ile a priestess is a #yt ia. Bot are e8ual in lea"in# t e 9in"re" an" 'any 9in"re"s try to a)e a #ot i an" a #yt ia present "urin# rituals an" cere'onies. T ey perfor' !e""in#s* lan"takin#/lan"lea)in# rituals* seasonal blots* an" na'in# rituals. T ey are also a source of !is"o' an" a")ice. Holy Days ,ule%Ti"e % 6ece'ber 20t % 0anuary 1st 6istin# % 0anuary 31st /stara % Marc 21st May E)e % April 30t Mi"su''er % 0une 21st :reyfest % 0uly 31st :allfeast % (epte'ber 23r" ;inter -i# ts % Mi"%/ctober or /ctober 31st <esser :easts= T e 6ays of 5e'e'brance 1t ere are 'any <eif Ericson 6ay bein# one2

A Few Divines ( ort list of &o"s /"in % C ief of t e Aesir an" Allfat er. Co%creator of 'an an" t e !orl" as !e kno! it. &o" of poetry* !is"o'* an" !ar. T or % (on of /"in an" #o" of t un"er. T or is t e patron of t e co''on 'an. 3e "islikes frost #iants an" !iel"s t e a''er M4olnir. Bra#i % Bra#i is t e son of /"in. 3e looks like an ol" 'an yet e is a youn#er #o". 3e is 'arrie" to $"unn. 3e is t e #o" of 'usic* poetry* an" inspiration. Tyr % Tyr is t e one%ar'e" !arrior #o". 3e is also t e #o" of onor an" trut . 3e lost is ar' by 'akin# a pro'ise e "i" not inten" to keep. :reyr % :reyr is one of t e .anir but e spen"s ti'e 'in#lin# !it t e Aesir. 3e is t e brot er of :reya. 3e is t e #o" of fertility an" ar)est an" e is t e lor" of t e l4osalfs 1li# t el)es2. 3ei'"all % 3ei'"all is t e !atc 'an of As#ar". 3e stan"s #uar" at Bifrost 1t e rainbo! bri"#e fro' As#ar" to Mi"#ar".2 3e !iel"s t e orn &4allar orn ! ic !ill soun" on 5a#narok. 3e is also kno!n for is e+cellent si# t an" earin#. <oki % <oki is t e #o" of c aos an" c an#e. 3e is actually a #iant ! o li)es a'on# t e #o"s. 3e !as boun" to a rock !it t e entrails of is son for is in)ol'ent in Bal"rs "eat . Bal"r % Bal"r is t e eternal #o" of li# t. 3e !as belo)e" by t e #o"s an" 'en. <oki o!e)er coul" not stan" Bal"r an" plotte" to kill i'. 3e e+ploite" Bal"rs blin" brot er an" a" i' t ro! a 'istletoe "art 1Bal"rs only !eakness2 at is eart. Bal"r "ie" an" !as stuck in 3el ei'. 3e !ill return after 5a#narok. ( ort list of &o""esses :ri##a % :ri##a is t e !ife of /"in an" consi"ere" t e 8ueen of t e Aesir. ( e is sai" to be able to kno! all t e fates of 'en an" #o"s. ( e as a palace calle" :ensalir in As#ar". (if % (if is t e !ife of T or. ( e as 'a#nificent #ol"en air an" s e is t e 'ot er to Ma#ni* Mo"i* an" >llr. ( e li)es in T ors palace Bilskirnir As#ar". $"unn % $"unn is t e !ife of Bra#i. ( e represents eternal yout . ( e is t e keeper of #ol"en apples t at keep t e #o"s youn# fore)er. ( e is "epicte" as youn# an" beautiful. :rey4a % :reya is t e #o""ess of lo)e* se+* an" 'a#ic. ( e tau# t /"in t e basics of (ei"r. ( e is t e sister of :reyr. ( e ri"es a c ariot pulle" by cats. <ike /"in s e collects c osen slain fro' t e battlefiel" to stay at er palace (essru'nir. 3el % 3el is t e #o""ess of t e "ea". ( e rules of 3el ei' an" !atc es o)er t e "ea". ( e is seen as bot beautiful an" 'orbi". /stara % /stara is a #o""ess of rebirt an" rene!al. ( e is t e 'atron of er oly "ay of /stara. ( e is t e #o""ess of sprin#* rebirt * an" fertility.

Sources Thorsson, Edred. Northern Magic: Rune Mysteries & Shamanism. Saint au!, MN: "!e#e!!yn ub!ications, 1$$%. rint. Smith, Michae! &. 'ays of the (satr) *e!iefs of the Northern, Modern +eathens. N.p.: Athe!ingu!f ,e!!o#ship and +ar-est.Moon, /001. rint.

Essay /: 2ntroduction to Ritua!s

T ere are t!o 'ain types of rituals in Asatru. T ese are t e (u'bel an" t e Blot. T e Blot in 'y opinion is 'uc 'ore co''on an" si'ilar to rituals of ot er pat s of Pa#an fait s. Blot is is a ol" 3i# &er'an "eri)ati)e of blut* or bloo". $n ancient ti'es bloo" !as sprinkin# on t e altar for blessin#s. As you can #uess not a ! ole lot of people "o t at t ese "ay. But it is a ritual of blessin#. Essentially you are #oin# t rou# a process of ritual an" askin# t e &o"s for t eir blessin#s. Tra"itionally ani'al sacrifices !ere 'a"e to t e #o"s for t eir blessin#. 3o!e)er 'any to"ay see t is as 'essy an" unnecessary. T e ani'al sacrifice as been replace" of a 'ore sanitary offerin# of a "rink. Most #enerally t e "rink is 'ea" 1 oney !ine2 but "ue to le#ality concerns of 'inors* t in#s like apple 4uice an" ci"er are #oo" replace'ents. T ere are a fe! tools you !ill nee" to perfor' a Blot. T ese inclu"e a "rinkin# orn or cup* a bo!l 1blotbolli2* a t!i# to sprinkle t e 'ea" 1 lautteinn or blessin# t!i#2* an" so'et in# to "rink of course? Make sure you ac8uire t ese tools before atte'ptin# a Blot. A Blot al!ays as t!o t in#s. A purpose an" a process. T e process is a series of steps. T ere are usually aroun" nine steps* but it "epen"s on t e person@s preference an" t e ! at t e Blot is for. T ese steps are usually

T e &at erin# % T is is ! en t e &ot i an"/or &yt ia 1priest AessB 2 #at ers an" 'e'bers of t e kin"re" #at er to be#in t e Blot. T e 3allo!in# or T e ;ar"in# % $n t is step t e area of t e ritual is 'a"e sacre" an" pure. $n 'y practice $ !oul" in)oke t e si#n of t e a''er M4olnir an" ask for T or to 'ake t e area clean an" safe. T is is personal preference t ou# . T e 5e"e or T e Meanin# % T is is ! en t e &ot i an"/or &yt ia state t e purpose of t e Blot. Pretty si'ple process. T e (i#nalin# or T e Callin# % T is is ! en t e kin"re" an" t e &ot i an"/or

&yt ia in)okes t e "eity t ey are onorin#.

T e <oa"in# or T e 3allo!in# % T e 'ea" is 'a"e oly an" t e &ot i an"/or &yt ia asks t e "eity to bless t e 'ea". T e ( arin# % Eac participant "rinks fro' t e 'ea" an" 'akes a ail to t e "eity in)oke". T e "rink is t en passe" on to t e ne+t person. Eac participant only takes a sip. (o'e as to be left o)er for t e "eity? T e rest of t e "rink is poure" into a bo!l 1blotbolli2. T e Blessin# % Eac participant an" t e altar is sprinkle" !it a little bit of t e 'ea" an" recei)e a blessin# fro' t e "eity in)oke". T e lautteinn is use" to sprinkle t e 'ea" on t e participants. T e &i)in# or T e Eart in# % T e 'ea" is t en poure" fro' t e t e blotbolli an" back to t e Eart for t e "eity in)oke". T e Closin# % A conclusion of t e Blot is 'a"e an" a final t anks is #i)en to t e "eity t at !as onore".

T ere are t ree basics ele'ents to any Blot re#ar"less of steps in)ol)e". 6e"icate so'e sort of foo" an"/or "rink to t e &o"* &o""ess* or !i# t you !is to onor. 3a)e so'e yourself an" t e #roup partakes as !ell. ( are it !it t e &o"* &o""ess* or !i# t t rou# libation 1pour it to t e Eart 2. T ese ele'ents are consistent in 'ost Blots. T e su'bel on t e ot er an" is 'ore like a ritualistic "rinkin# celebration. $t is usually c eerful but ot er ti'es serious an" "eeply 'eanin#ful. A su'bel can be like a si'ple toast or an elaborate an" structure" ritual. T e 'ost co''on purpose of a su'bel is to ail t e #o"s* !i# ts* or ot er bein#s. T ey can also be use" to publicly 'ake an oat or "eclaration. T ere are a fe! ot er uses as !ell. Personal interpretation an" uses of any particular ritual is i'portant. (u'bels can be relati)ely unstructure" but really it is up to you o! you set t e ritual up. $ts basically sort of like a bar"ic ! ere e)eryone #at ers* tells tales* sin#s* an" "rinks 'ea". T ere are usually a fe! steps to t e su'bel ritual. T ey usually nu'ber aroun" t ree to four steps. T ese are usually t e follo!in#.

T e /penin# % T e ritual be#ins as t e #ot i 1priest2 an"/or #yt ia 1priestess2 be#in by pourin# t e 'ea" into t e "rinkin# orn an" statin# t at t e ritual as be#un. 3ailin# t e &o"s % &o"s* ;i# ts* 0otun* etc are aile". Eac participant ails* eit er "rinks fro' t e orn or kisses t e orn* an" t en passes it on to t e ne+t participant. 3ailin# t e 3eroes an" Ancestors % 3eroes of ol" an" t e ancestors are aile". A#ain eac participant ails* eit er "rinks fro' t e orn or kisses t e orn* an"

t en passes it on to t e ne+t participant.

T e :ree for All % Poe's* stories* an" son#s are recite". A lot of 'ea" is consu'e"?

A su'bel is a fun an" so'eti'es "eeply touc in# ritual for anyone to perfor' !it frien"s an" fa'ily. $t is also a #reat ritual to perfor' after a !e""in#. (i'ply pore a "rink 'ake a toast an" pass t e orn. (ources Ca'pbell* Eric . CBlot Basics.C Eric @s 3all. -.p.* n.". ;eb. 28 :eb. 2013. /l"s* Manny. CBlot= <inks Man to Aesir D .anir.C 5ee)es 3all of :ri##a@s ;eb. -.p.* E 0an. 1EE8. ;eb. 28 :eb. 2013. /l"s* Manny. C(u'bel= <inks Man to Co''unity.C 5ee)es 3all of :ri##a@s ;eb. -.p.* 0E :eb. 1EE8. ;eb. 28 :eb. 2013. /5* 3en#est. CE+plorin# t e Blot Part 3= Artifacts.C T e /"inic 5ite. T e /"inic 5ite* 8 :eb. 2011. ;eb. 28 :eb. 2013 CT e 5ituals of Asatru.C 5a)en /nline. -.p.* 1F Mar. 02. ;eb. 28 :eb. 2013.

Essay 1: "andta3ing Ritua!s

; en an Asatruar 'o)es into a ne! place it is custo'ary to perfor' so'e sort of lan" clai'in#/takin# ritual. T is is to establis t e o'e as a place of !ors ip an" connection !it t e #o"s an" local lan" !i# ts. T ere are se)eral !ays to perfor' a lan"takin# ritual. T e 'ost co''on is t e circle your property !it fire. T is of course is not to be taken literally or else your o'e 'i# t be re"uce" to as es. A co''on !ay to "o t is is to li# t a can"le at ni# t an" !alk aroun" t e e"#e of your property an" t us circle t e lan" !it fire. /nce t e area as been circle" it is 'a"e clean t en a "eclaration is 'a"e. ,ou 'i# t 4ust si'ply state CT is is 'y o'e* 'ay t e #o"s be !elco'e an" bless 'e an" 'ay t e !i# ts be !elco'e ere as !ell.C T ere are e+tra factors t at one coul" incorporate into a lan"takin# ritual as !ell. $t is co''on to place a7el !oo" poles at eac car"inal point of t e property. (o'e e)en car)e T urisa7* t e rune of T or* to in)oke T or@s protection for t eir o'e. A""itionally* so'e 'ake t e allo!in# si#n of t e a''er M4olnir for a""e" protection fro' T or. T is is of course personal preference. Anot er a""e" ele'ent is t at if you a)e clai'e" lan" before take a little bit of it !it you to t e ne! o'e. A little less co''on but still practice". (o'e take a bit of so" an" "irt fro' t eir pre)ious o'e an" sprinkle it upon t e site of t eir ne! o'e. T is of course !elco'es any passin# !i# ts t at appene" to a)e )isite" your ol" o'e.

T e follo! up to your lan"takin# ritual is to s are a 'eal !it t e !i# ts. T is !elco'es t e' an" 'akes your connection 'ore personal. Also a s rine or altar coul" be erecte" to place offerin#s to t e !i# ts upon. $t is i'portant t at you let t e !i# ts in your area kno! t at you appreciate t e' an" !elco'e t e' to your lan". (ort of like ! en you brin# your ne! nei# bors so'e bake" #oo"s an" say ello. /t ers !oul" #o far to "o a su'bel or blot "e"icate" to t e -ort ern #o"s an" ail eac #o" an" #o""ess in t eir su'bel or blot. T is of course !oul" be )ery spiritual an" inspirational but you s oul" be prepare" to spen" a lot of ti'e as t e -orse pant eon is 8uite lar#e an" "i)erse. $ "o su##est if you a)e any particular "eity t an per aps perfor' a "e"ication blot to t e'. Sources C(acre" (pace in t e <ore an" Mo"ern Pa#anis'.C ;e"nesbury ( ire. ; ite Mars T eo"* 2011. ;eb. 2G :eb. 2013. 3a)ilan"* C ris. C<an"takin# % A (acre" Part of /ur 3erita#e.C T e 9in"re" of 5a)ens!oo". T e 9in"re" of 5a)ens!oo"* n.". ;eb. 2G :eb. 2013. C3allo!in# 5ite.C A 3eat en T in#. 3eat en T in#* n.". ;eb. 2G :eb. 2013