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Asatru & Heathenry
Asatru & Heathenry
Asatru
þingvellir
in Iceland is a natural shrine of outstanding natural beauty. Many
of the most momentous events of Icelandic history took place at
Thingvellir, where Alþingi
was founded in 930 and continued to assemble every summer until
1798. Thing or Ting and þing in Icelandic is a legistlative
assembly in Scandinavian countries. For 868 years every summer,
chieftains, landed farmers and ordinary men and women from all parts
of Iceland left their homes and villages and headed towards
Thingvellir for the annual fortnight long meeting which would start
on the first Thursday in the eleventh week of each summer.
The
Parliamentary Plains or þingvellir
The assembly site was the area including the Lögberg (the
Law Rock) and the Law Council, where the Alþing performed its
duties. Lögberg, the Law Rock, was the focal point of the Alþing and
a natural platform for holding speeches. The Lawspeaker, a kind of
chairman of the assembly elected for three years at a time, recited
the law of the land. Before the law was written down he was expected
to recite it from memory on the Law Rock over the course of three
summers, along with the complete assembly procedures every
summer.The trip on horseback could take up to 17 days from the
eastern part of the country. Upon arrival, people set camp and
temporary booths to hold meetings and trade. The plains of
Þingvellir turned into a bustling open-air mart with huge crowds
milling about among tents, booths, rocks, sheep and horses.
Reconstructions of the Germanic pagan
traditions began during the early part of the 19th century within
what was coined then as the Romantic Movement[1]
Varying sources suggests that the wording Asatru or Ásatrú is taken
from the Old Norse language, derived from the Danish word Asetro.
This it seems came out in an article in 1885 in the periodical "Fjallkonan".
Other
claims suggest that 'Asatru' has its origins in the late 19th/early
20th century C.E. This primarily derives from the assertion that the
Nazi-affiliated "Thule Society" incorporated, or at least was
similar to, more recent 'Asatru' ideals and beliefs. This is
unproven, and the evidence is against such an association since the
term itself is of much more recent provenance, and the Thule Society
does not even vaguely resemble any modern northern European
reconstructed faith system in any way, ideologically or otherwise.
Other than that dubious idea, people sometimes attempt to use shoddy
points of 'evidence' directly derived from nationalist propaganda
common in the 19th century within northern Europe; again, this is
not a real connection nor a viable lineage with modern 'Asatru'.
The next recorded instance was in "Heiðinn siður á Íslandi" by
Ólafur Briem (Reykjavík, 1945). The title means "Heathen
traditions in Iceland ."Throughout Scandinavia the religion is known
as Forn Siðr (which means the Ancient way or tradition), Forn sed[2]
(the Old custom), Nordisk sed(Nordic custom), or Hedensk sed[3]
(Heathen
custom). The religion's origin is lost in antiquity. At its peak, it
covered all of Northern Europe . In 1000 CE, Iceland became the
second last Norse culture to convert to Christianity. Their prime
motivation was economic.
Ásatrúarmaður
(plural Ásatrúarmenn) is the Icelandic term used to identify those
who practice Ásatrú. English speakers have coined the term
Ásatrúar as a plural form, however it is properly the genitive
of Ásatrú. Some Scandinavians have adopted the similar
Asatroere (with the normal forms Asetroende/Asatroende,
meaning "believers in the gods").
 The
Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið was founded on summer solstice,
1972, and was recognized as an official religion by the Icelandic
government in 1973, largely due to the efforts of Sveinbjörn
Beinteinsson."Vor
siður" was the original naming by the Icelandic heathen group but
the name Asatruarfélag came about because of an a essay written by
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, now the current Icelandic President.
Ásatrúarfelagið is a religious organisation for those who
believe in the Icelandic/Nordic folklore, the spirits and entities
the folklore represents, in addition to gods and other beings from
the Nordic pantheism. The purpose of the organisation is to keep alive the old traditions, beliefs and ways and restore the Ancient
Way to its former glory, reclaim our cultural heritage and honour
the ways of the old Nordic Gods. Ásatrúarfelagið is recognised by
the Icelandic government as a religious organisation.
About membership: According to Icelandic law, only those
foreigners' 16 years or older, who have legal residence in Iceland can
register themselves into any Icelandic religious organisation.
Our address is:
Ásatrúarfélagið
Síðumúli 15,
108 Reykjavík
Iceland
Tel.: (+354) 561 - 8633
E-mail:
http://www.asatru.is/
GERMANIC SPIRITUALITY by Bil
Linzie
"Germanic
heathenry is under fire from within. Although it is a growing
religion, most converts are coming from other religion, and with
them, usually unknowingly, they are bringing with them baggage from
their former religions which becomes entangled into Germanic
cosmology which is eroding that cosmology until it is
indistinguishable from any of the hundreds of generic New Age "mixed
bags" pre-packaged and readily available at local bookstores. First
this article looks at significant changes which have been accepted,
at least partially, into Germanic cosmology, proposes guidelines for
investigating the Germanic worldview, and then seeks to put these
alterations into a proper perspective as foreignisms which are, in
essence, removable. This article then opts to look at the genesis of
some of accumulated baggage, identify and label it, and set much of
it into perspective so that the modern heathen can choose whether to
incorporate some of the superfluous borrowings into local kindred
gatherings being fully knowledgeable of where the concepts came
from. Lastly, this article looks at Germanic spirituality as being
independent of these borrowings and worth pursuing without any need
of support from other world class religions."
See:
http://www.northvegr.org/northern/book/spirituality.pdf
Stephen McNallen
born October 15, 1948 in Breckenridge, Texas was
a former US Army Ranger as well as a folkish character who promoted
the bloodline variant of Asatru within the United States deep south
during the 1970s. McNallen published
a newsletter titled The Runestone independently of the
Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið in the USA. He also formed an
organization called the Asatru Free Assembly, later reorganised
as
the Ásatrú Folk Assembly which is still extant. Because of the white
Europeans only exclusions within the AFA, a major rift ensued
by those who considered themselves Universalists within the United
States. As a consequence of this and by the very nature of sects,
variants of Asatru emerged within Asatru USA which to this day still
remains fragmented. These so called folkish/racial volkish factions within Asatru have attracted white supremacist movements into their ranks.
For this reason, many former members of Asatru USA have chosen to
disassociate themselves from the
vitriolic
race
argument still prevalent in the United States and moved across into
heathenry calling themselves heiðni rather than Asatru!
Racist Wotanism
I recommend these
four works for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the roots
of modern racialist/racist heathenism within National Socialist
White Supremacists and Volkish[4] Asatru groups. It is especially useful to
understand that the racial element in "Wotanism/Odinism"
neither began nor ended with the Nazis, but has been present in one
form or another since the days of Grimm and the onset of the modern
heathen revival. Volkish Asatru USA
are more than often based on
social-political or neo-pagan/secular ideals to include racism
rather than the genuine Northern world-view or ethics.
Hitler's
Priestess: Savitri Devi, the Hindu-Aryan Myth, and Neo-Nazism: (Paperback)
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: NYU Press; New Ed edition (October 1, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0814731112
ISBN-13: 978-0814731116
Black Sun: Aryan
Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity: (Paperback)
Paperback: 378 pages
Publisher: NYU Press; Reissue edition (July 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0814731554
ISBN-13: 978-0814731550
 The Occult Roots
of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology
(Paperback) by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke
Paperback: 294 pages
Publisher: NYU Press (September 1, 1993)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0814730604
ISBN-13: 978-0814730607
Aryan Idols: Indo-European Mythology as Ideology and Science
(Hardcover)
by Stefan Arvidsson (Author), Sonia Wichmann (Translator)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher:
University Of Chicago Press (September 15, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10:
0226028607
ISBN-13:
978-0226028606
Völkische Altnordistik:
The Politics of Nordic Studies in the
German-Speaking Countries,1926-45
by Bernard Mees University
of Melbourne
See:
http://tinyurl.com/39m3ud
Sveinbjörn
Beinteinsson,
was the son of the farmer Beinteinn Einarsson from
Litlabotni-on-Hvaljardsbeach and Helga Pétursdóttir from Drághals in
Svindal, and was born on Apr. 4, 1924. He died on the 24th
of Dec., 1993, from heart failure. In 1972 he founded the
Ásatrúarfélag[5]
the Icelandic heathen organization, of which he was the chief góði
until his death. Since 1991, Sveinbjörn lived on his land in
Drághals in Bergmassiv Skardheiði (approx. 60 mi. from Reykjavik),
where the 6 ½ foot statue of Þor can be found.
To the Asatruar Odin is god for knowledge, poetry and art. Nazism
has nothing that could be compared to this. Nazism is without
culture and artificial possibilities. Nazism despises art. This we
did see when they burned books and imprisoned intellectuals prior to and during
World War II. One should neither think that the neo-Nazis are
especially engaged in poetry or anything else culturally. One thing
is quite certain:
They have not learned anything from Havamal. Since 1996 in Norway
and since 1973 in Iceland, Asatru has been officially recognized as
a religion. Most Asatruar from these groups distance themselves from
all types of extremism. This is documented by their laws, because
this could never combine with their view of life nor with their
religion. In 1994 the Icelandic Ásatrúarfélagið declared this:
"The Asatruar wish to lift up to dignity again the old customs and
the cultural heritage. This they do without expense to other
religions, old or new, or to the cultural heritage of other people.
Fanaticism and hatred against others is not familiar to / holds no
part with Ásatrúarfélagið 's ideology....." and further on:
"The old customs are based on tolerance, honesty, fidelity and
respect for nature, and all life therein. The main principle of the
heathen custom is that every human being is responsible for itself
and its own doings...."
In 1996 the members of Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost
(Asatrufellowship Bifrost) in Norway agreed
on this:
"Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost is a fellowship of åsatru-groups trying
to create a viable community for those who want to honour the old
Norse gods and keep the heathen customs alive. Bifrost would like to
promote the modern understanding of the pre-christian northern
traditions, art and culture in general. We want to preserve our
cultural heritage and keep it alive and updated through practice
based on the old sources, scientific research and new insights into
the history, the ethics, the myths and the Powers seen through
modern heathen eyes. Bifrost strongly oppose neo-Nazi or Satanist
interpretations of the Norse traditions as well as any attempt to
discriminate on racial, sexual or gender-based grounds."
Norwegian
Parliamentary Plains at
Eivindvik in Gulen
Our goal is to gather those who want to worship the old
norse gods and keep the old traditions alive. We want to create a
living forum for everybody interested in asatru and to increase the
understanding of art, culture and traditions with roots in the pre-christian
time. We want to take care of the heathen cultural heritage and keep
it alive and updated through practice based in the study of sources
and innovation in the heathen understanding of history, myths and
the forces. Asatru, the way we practise it in Bifrost, is based on
an individual understanding and interpretation on what it means
following heathen customs. What opinions people have, how they
understand the historical sources and what their personal
relationship to the forces of nature are, is non of Bifrost’s
business. This tolerance and freedom to think for oneself is in our
opinion a central part of asatru. There are no religious dogmas in
Bifrost.
Ref:
The
Great Misunderstanding, - Asatru Versus Nazism
by: Icelander Jón Júlíus Filippusson Translated by: Ulv Tore Skaar
See also:The Norrøne tekster og kvad project is managed by
the Icelander Jón Júlíus Filippusson who, together with Dane Carsten
Lyngdrup Madsen, Faeroese artist Anker Eli Petersen, and a handful
of other volunteers, has built up the largest searchable collection
of Old Norse texts on the Net.
http://www.heimskringla.no/enindex.php
Heathenry
Etymology:
Middle English hethen, from Old English h[AE]then;
akin to Old High German heidan heathen, and probably to Old
English h[AE]th heathHeathen.
Old English hæðen, Old Norse heiðinn was coined as a
translation of Latin paganus, in the Christian sense of "non-Abrahamic
faith". The term heathen originally meant someone who lived
outside in the open country; Suggestions say by an uncultivated
heath[6]
(though this etymology is disputed) that was outside the village
system not covered by the Christian parish boundary nor blessed by
the protective presence of a local priest, was often used as a
synonym of "pagan". In time it diluted down to suggest a person
holding onto pre-Christian customs and beliefs.
In Britain ***heathenry is the most widely used term for those who
are recreating and reinterpreting old Germanic/Scandinavian
religious practices and worldviews from the literary and
archaeological sources and who describe themselves as heathen in
part to distinguish themselves from other pagans whose rituals come
from other sources. Inside Neo-pagan[7]
circles especially in the United States, it often refers specifically
to the ancient religion of the Germanic peoples, which in its modern
form has become more widely known by the term generic term of
Asatru. This should not be confused with the
Ásatrúarfélagið in Iceland.
In Icelandic Sagas, the terms heiðni and kristni
(Heathenry and Christianity) are used as polar terms to describe the
the older and newer faiths. Historically, the term was influenced by
Gothic *haiþi, appearing as haiþno in Ulfilas' bible
as translating gunē Hellēnis, "Greek (i.e. gentile) woman" of
Mark 7:26, probably with an original meaning "dwelling on the
heath", but it was also suggested that it was chosen because of its
similarity to Greek ethne "gentile" or even that it is not
related to "heath" at all, but rather a loan from Armenian
hethanos, itself loaned from Greek ethnos. The
Miercinga Þéod[8] and other groups, narrow the sense
of the word to Germanic neo-paganism in particular, and prefer it
over neo-pagan as a self-designation.
Heathenry
is used for strictly polytheistic reconstructionists approaches, as
opposed to syncretic, occult or mysticist approaches. While some
practitioners use the term Heathenry as an equivalent to
Paganism, others use it much more specifically. It is used by those
who are re-creating the old religion and world-view from the
literary and archaeological sources, and describe themselves as
"Heathen" in part to distinguish themselves from other
neo-pagans whose
rituals come from more modern sources.
Footnotes:
1)
Romanticism
or the Romantic Movement was an artistic and intellectual movement
that originated in late 18th century Western Europe. In part a
revolt against aristocratic, social, and political norms of the
Enlightenment period and a reaction against the rationalization of
nature, in art and literature it stressed strong emotion as a source
of aesthetic experience, placing new emphasis on such emotions as
trepidation, horror, and the awe experienced in confronting the
sublimity of nature.
2) Forn Sed is a term that refers to
the pre-Christian religion and customs of Scandinavia. It is also
the name adopted for an imaginative reconstruction of that religion
in Norwegian and Swedish. A variant in Danish Forn Siðr, and in
Anglo-Saxon variant Fyrnsidu, also exist. The term simply means
"Olden Way".
3) Nordisk Sed
(Nordic custom), or Hedensk Sed (Heathen custom). The religion's
origin is lost in antiquity. At its peak, it covered all of Northern
Europe. In 1000 CE, Iceland became the second last Norse culture to
convert to Christianity, and Sweden became the last after a civil
war that ended with the burning of the Temple at Uppsala in 1087.
4) Volkish
The Volk, or
"folk" is a German term which Hitler used to refer to the people of
Germany, but it is a larger term than a mere body count. It includes
the history, spirit, mythology, language, religious nature, customs,
and so on in which the 'whole is greater than a sum of its parts'.
The unified 'Volk' moves as a whole body, each person is a part of the
whole. More than just a nationalistic concept, it was used as a
reason to dismiss Jews as German citizens, and declare the need for
'Lebensraum'. Certain Asatru groups interchange Volk for folk, hence
the phrase *folkish can also imply volkish.
5) Ásatrúarfélag
The
Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið "Icelandic fellowship of Æsir faith (Ásatrú)"
is an Icelandic new religious movement with the purpose of reviving
the pre-Christianization religion of Scandinavia. It was founded on
the summer solstice, 1972, and was recognized as an official
religion by the Icelandic government in 1973, largely due to the
efforts of Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson. As of 2006, the
Ásatrúarfélagið has roughly 1000 members, referred to as
Ásatrúarmenn.
6) Heath/s
are
anthropogenic habitats found primarily in northern and western
Europe, where they have been created by thousands of years of human
clearance of natural forest vegetation by grazing and burning on
mainly infertile acidic soils. They subdivide into two broad
categories depending on climate, with true heathland developing in
warm, dry conditions, and moorland developing in cooler, wetter
conditions.
7)
Neo-Pagan is a general term used to infer a
20th century
phenomenon that has seen the revival of believed variants of ancient
Pagan religions, such as the Greek & Egyptian Mysteries, the Norse
Religion , Neo-Shamanism and the relative modern Wicca. The occult
renaissance of the 19th Century, combined with the relaxation of
witchcraft laws during the 1950s, as well as New Ageism are
contributing factors.
8) Miercinga Þéod (Miercinga Theod) is a group dedicated to the
study, revival, and practice of the pre-Christian religion of the
Angles of the kingdom of Mercia (one of the seven kingdoms of the
Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy), and Anglo-Saxon Heathenry in general. The
Angles were among the Germanic tribes which migrated from
Continental Europe to Great Britain in the fourth and fifth
centuries. Their religion was related to that of the Scandinavians
of the Viking Age as well as that of other ancient Germanic peoples.
Music:- Strange Land
Artist: Clannad
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