Asatru - A Modern-Day Germanic/Scandinavian Faith
My religious path is that of my Germanic and Scandinavian ancestors, which we today call, "Asatru". That is, we follow a religion based on the pre-Christian religious beliefs of the northern European and Germanic peoples, which is both polytheistic and animistic. We have two young children who are currently being raised in our faith, as well. In our faith, we honor our Gods, our Ancestors, spirits of place, and the folk. I am also a member of Der Heidevolksstamm tribe, a small family of folkish Asatru PA German's who, above all else love gardening, cooking, spirituality, healing, and crafting (we feel very strongly and passionately about art).
This section is dedicated to Asatru. First I start off with a few works of my own. These works have not been written in perfect order, that is, the subjects will bend this way and that instead of following a systematic approach in topics. Additionally, some of the work may be from my earlier days in heathenry and may be more generalized while others may be more specific to PA German heathenry, which is the path I walk this days (certainly not to be confused with Urglaawe, which I'll be covering in here at some point, as well). I do not much feel the need to re-create a heathen library since there are so many really great ones out there, but a few good things for reference are always a good thing.
Enjoy, and Heil!
What is Asatru? A Rudimentary Glimpse at Germanic Heathen Faith
A basic article discussing the basics of Asatru which was written a few years back at the request of a local shop who wanted to add a page about our religion on their website, therefore it was written with that crowd in mind. Considering the age of this, I might consider revising sometime in this decade, hehe.
Blóts, Fainings, and Sumbels
Describes the three of them first in an outline, then afterward in detail, including the rite itself, etymology, and so on.
Fundamentals of Lore in Asatru
A small blurb I put together in March 2011 for the local Berks County Asatru & Heathen regional groups lore and rune study. Generally covers some of the more common sagas and poems in Asatru, including where they came from, who wrote them, when, and a few sentences about each one. Helpful if you're new to heathenry and are overwhelmed by the lore reading.
Thorrablót: A Celebration of Modern Viking Descendants
Written originally for a local heathen group, this is a small one-page write up on the Thorrablot feast; the four of us who host the heathen group also held a Thorrablót feast with *some* of the foods cooked at this time of year, as well samal in honor of Thor. Enjoy!
Voices of Modern American Asatru Women
This isn't written by me, rather by a woman who is majoring in Scandinavian studies, wrote a thesis based on, well, you read the title. I was one of the Asatru women who she interviewed, along with other women in the heathen community. A really good piece that I thought I'd share here. Cheers!
The Groundhog and the Squirrel: Is the Groundhog Related to Ratatosk?
I wrote this article on a whim based on an article I read online about groundhogs being akin to squirrels. I felt compelled to research this, and this is the information I found based on that. It's not written fancy or long, but has some useful insight.
This section is dedicated to Asatru. First I start off with a few works of my own. These works have not been written in perfect order, that is, the subjects will bend this way and that instead of following a systematic approach in topics. Additionally, some of the work may be from my earlier days in heathenry and may be more generalized while others may be more specific to PA German heathenry, which is the path I walk this days (certainly not to be confused with Urglaawe, which I'll be covering in here at some point, as well). I do not much feel the need to re-create a heathen library since there are so many really great ones out there, but a few good things for reference are always a good thing.
Enjoy, and Heil!
What is Asatru? A Rudimentary Glimpse at Germanic Heathen Faith
A basic article discussing the basics of Asatru which was written a few years back at the request of a local shop who wanted to add a page about our religion on their website, therefore it was written with that crowd in mind. Considering the age of this, I might consider revising sometime in this decade, hehe.
Blóts, Fainings, and Sumbels
Describes the three of them first in an outline, then afterward in detail, including the rite itself, etymology, and so on.
Fundamentals of Lore in Asatru
A small blurb I put together in March 2011 for the local Berks County Asatru & Heathen regional groups lore and rune study. Generally covers some of the more common sagas and poems in Asatru, including where they came from, who wrote them, when, and a few sentences about each one. Helpful if you're new to heathenry and are overwhelmed by the lore reading.
Thorrablót: A Celebration of Modern Viking Descendants
Written originally for a local heathen group, this is a small one-page write up on the Thorrablot feast; the four of us who host the heathen group also held a Thorrablót feast with *some* of the foods cooked at this time of year, as well samal in honor of Thor. Enjoy!
Voices of Modern American Asatru Women
This isn't written by me, rather by a woman who is majoring in Scandinavian studies, wrote a thesis based on, well, you read the title. I was one of the Asatru women who she interviewed, along with other women in the heathen community. A really good piece that I thought I'd share here. Cheers!
The Groundhog and the Squirrel: Is the Groundhog Related to Ratatosk?
I wrote this article on a whim based on an article I read online about groundhogs being akin to squirrels. I felt compelled to research this, and this is the information I found based on that. It's not written fancy or long, but has some useful insight.
Resources, Books, and Other PDF Files
The Volsunga Saga, by Morris & Magnusson, 1888 (pdf)
The Eddas: Keys to the Mysteries of the North, by James Allen Chisholm (pdf)
The Poetic Edda, by Henry Adams Bellows, 1936 (pdf)
The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturlson, Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, 1916 (pdf)
The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature, by Hilda Roderick Ellis, 1968 (pdf)
Investigating the Afterlife Concepts of the Norse Heathen: A Reconstructionist's Approach, by Bil Linzie, 2005 (pdf)
Germanic Spirituality, by Bill Linzie (pdf)
The Gods of the Indo-Europeans, by Edgar C. Polome (pdf)
Revival of Germanic Religion in Contemporary Anglo-American Culture, by Stephen Flowers (pdf)
Heimskringla: The Chronical of the Kings of Norway, t. by Douglas B. Killings, 1996 (pdf)
The Meanings of Elf and Elves in Medieval England, by Alaric Timothy Peter Hall, 2004 (pdf)
Lady of the Elves: The Great Germanic Goddess, by Timothy J. Stephany, 2006 (pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 1, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 2, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 3, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 4, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Eddic Mythology, Volume 2, by John Arnott MacCulloch, 1930 (pdf)
Edda, by Anthony Faulkes (pdf)
The Germania by Cornelius Tacitus, t. by Duane Reed Stuart, 1916 (Google pdf)
The Germania of Tacitus, t. by Alfred J. Church, 1869 (Google pdf)
The industrial arts of Scandinavia in the pagan time, by Hans Hildebrand, 1883 (Google pdf)
On heroes, hero-worship, and the heroic in history, by Thomas Carlyle, 1840 (Google pdf)
The Viking age: the early history, manners, and customs..., Volume 1, by Paul Belloni Du Chaillu, 1889 (Google pdf)
The Viking age: the early history, manners, and customs..., Volume 2, by Paul Belloni Du Chaillu, 1889 (Google pdf)
The sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald the Tyrant by Snorri Sturluson, t. by Gustav Storm, 1911 (Google pdf)
The Orkneyinga saga, t. by Joseph Anderson, 1873 (Google pdf)
Sturlunga Saga, t. by Gudbrandur Vigfusson, 1878 (Google pdf)
The religion of the Teutons, by P. D. Chantepie de la Saussaye, 1902 (Google pdf)
Ahmad ibn-Fadlan: Letters On the Vikings (pdf)
Ibn Fadlan and the Rusiyyah, Ibn Fadland, t. by James E. Montgomery (html)
Links
Northvegr (a very informational site)
Asatru Folk Assembly (an Asatru organization full of great folk, I highly recommend joining)
Wikipedia's Article on Germanic Neo-Paganism (not my favorite place to reference, but it's a good starting point)
Sagas and Eddas accessible online for free via Squirrel.com (pretty good site)
Free English Translations of the Sagas and Eddas Online via Squirrel.com (similar to the above)
Temple of Our Heathen Gods (a website from Jotun's Bane Kindred that is one of the more helpful Asatru sources online)
Erich's Hall: Asatru Basics (a good website to if you're just beginning, he has some great information here)
The Troth (another Asatru organization)
Odin's Gift (mildly informative, this site is mostly for artistic creativity in honor of our Gods, and is open for anyone to submit - some really inspiring stuff on this comprehensive site)
Other Useful Resources
Types of Old Norse Literature (pdf)
Grimm's Fairy Tales, Edna Henry Lee Turpin (edited), 1905 (pdf)
English-Old Norse Dictionary, by Ross. G. Arthur, 2002 (pdf)
Bridging the Gap: Finding a Valkyrie in a Riddle, by Jennifer Culver, 2007 (pdf)
Beowulf (a few translations)
The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, by Benjamin Thorpe, 1855 (Google pdf)
Beowulf, Chauncey Brewster Tinker, 1902 (Google pdf)
Beowulf: A Translation of the Anglo-Saxon Poem of Beowulf by John Mitchell Kemble, 1837 (Google pdf)
Beowulf, by Gummere (pdf)
Epic and Saga: Beowulf, The Song of Roland, The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel, and The Story of the Volsungs and Niblungs, Harvard Classics, 1910 (Google pdf)
The Volsunga Saga, by Morris & Magnusson, 1888 (pdf)
The Eddas: Keys to the Mysteries of the North, by James Allen Chisholm (pdf)
The Poetic Edda, by Henry Adams Bellows, 1936 (pdf)
The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturlson, Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, 1916 (pdf)
The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature, by Hilda Roderick Ellis, 1968 (pdf)
Investigating the Afterlife Concepts of the Norse Heathen: A Reconstructionist's Approach, by Bil Linzie, 2005 (pdf)
Germanic Spirituality, by Bill Linzie (pdf)
The Gods of the Indo-Europeans, by Edgar C. Polome (pdf)
Revival of Germanic Religion in Contemporary Anglo-American Culture, by Stephen Flowers (pdf)
Heimskringla: The Chronical of the Kings of Norway, t. by Douglas B. Killings, 1996 (pdf)
The Meanings of Elf and Elves in Medieval England, by Alaric Timothy Peter Hall, 2004 (pdf)
Lady of the Elves: The Great Germanic Goddess, by Timothy J. Stephany, 2006 (pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 1, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 2, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 3, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm, Volume 4, t. by James Steven Stallybrass, 1882 (Google pdf)
Eddic Mythology, Volume 2, by John Arnott MacCulloch, 1930 (pdf)
Edda, by Anthony Faulkes (pdf)
The Germania by Cornelius Tacitus, t. by Duane Reed Stuart, 1916 (Google pdf)
The Germania of Tacitus, t. by Alfred J. Church, 1869 (Google pdf)
The industrial arts of Scandinavia in the pagan time, by Hans Hildebrand, 1883 (Google pdf)
On heroes, hero-worship, and the heroic in history, by Thomas Carlyle, 1840 (Google pdf)
The Viking age: the early history, manners, and customs..., Volume 1, by Paul Belloni Du Chaillu, 1889 (Google pdf)
The Viking age: the early history, manners, and customs..., Volume 2, by Paul Belloni Du Chaillu, 1889 (Google pdf)
The sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald the Tyrant by Snorri Sturluson, t. by Gustav Storm, 1911 (Google pdf)
The Orkneyinga saga, t. by Joseph Anderson, 1873 (Google pdf)
Sturlunga Saga, t. by Gudbrandur Vigfusson, 1878 (Google pdf)
The religion of the Teutons, by P. D. Chantepie de la Saussaye, 1902 (Google pdf)
Ahmad ibn-Fadlan: Letters On the Vikings (pdf)
Ibn Fadlan and the Rusiyyah, Ibn Fadland, t. by James E. Montgomery (html)
Links
Northvegr (a very informational site)
Asatru Folk Assembly (an Asatru organization full of great folk, I highly recommend joining)
Wikipedia's Article on Germanic Neo-Paganism (not my favorite place to reference, but it's a good starting point)
Sagas and Eddas accessible online for free via Squirrel.com (pretty good site)
Free English Translations of the Sagas and Eddas Online via Squirrel.com (similar to the above)
Temple of Our Heathen Gods (a website from Jotun's Bane Kindred that is one of the more helpful Asatru sources online)
Erich's Hall: Asatru Basics (a good website to if you're just beginning, he has some great information here)
The Troth (another Asatru organization)
Odin's Gift (mildly informative, this site is mostly for artistic creativity in honor of our Gods, and is open for anyone to submit - some really inspiring stuff on this comprehensive site)
Other Useful Resources
Types of Old Norse Literature (pdf)
Grimm's Fairy Tales, Edna Henry Lee Turpin (edited), 1905 (pdf)
English-Old Norse Dictionary, by Ross. G. Arthur, 2002 (pdf)
Bridging the Gap: Finding a Valkyrie in a Riddle, by Jennifer Culver, 2007 (pdf)
Beowulf (a few translations)
The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, by Benjamin Thorpe, 1855 (Google pdf)
Beowulf, Chauncey Brewster Tinker, 1902 (Google pdf)
Beowulf: A Translation of the Anglo-Saxon Poem of Beowulf by John Mitchell Kemble, 1837 (Google pdf)
Beowulf, by Gummere (pdf)
Epic and Saga: Beowulf, The Song of Roland, The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel, and The Story of the Volsungs and Niblungs, Harvard Classics, 1910 (Google pdf)
