ADDRESS: Asatru worship groups, called kindreds (also hearths, garths, or fellowships), are essentially autonomous. There is no central authority.
The Frigga's Web Association is a service group which can provide current contact information for most kindreds, associations, and federations.
Frigga's Web Association, P. O. Box 75952, Oklahoma City, OK 73147
Web Site:
http://www.friggasweb.org/
OTHER NAMES BY WHICH KNOWN: Norse or Germanic Heathenism, the Elder Troth, the Old Way. In Scandinavia the religion is called Asetro, Vor Si r (our way), Forn Si r (Ancient way), Forn sed (the old custom), Nordisk sed (Nordic custom), or Hedensk sed (Pagan custom).
One related branch of the religion is most commonly called Odinism or Folkish Asatru. Norse Wicca is also related but distinct (see WICCA).
LEADERSHIP: Asatru has no central leadership.
Frigga's Web Association is incorporated in the state of Oklahoma. It has 6 Trustees, with day-to-day operations supervised by a Maintainer. FWA is a federation of halls and guilds, each of which also has its own leadership.
MEMBERSHIP: Because of the complete autonomy of kindreds, this cannot be determined. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,000 Asatruar worldwide.
Frigga's Web Association has approximately 60 members, representing a variety of kindreds and associations.
HISTORICAL ORIGIN: Asatru is the modern revitalization of the indigenous religion of Northern Europe.
This religion was almost completely displaced by Christianity in the Middle Ages. Sweden was ruled by a pagan king until 1085 CE and Iceland formally converted in 1000 CE to avoid economic sanctions from its trading partners. Although the religion was no longer practiced, many aspects survived in the culture. The old religion left as its rich legacy much of our traditional legal and ethical systems and our folk customs.
Icelanders never forgot their old religion. Led by the poet and Gothi ("godman") Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson, Icelandic Asatru was recognized by the government there as a legitimate religion in 1972. Since the early 1970's, the religion has been in a period of rapid growth in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Asatru in North America was formally organized in 1973, with the formation of the Asatru Free Assembly. This group dissolved in 1987, in large part based on a deep and serious split over questions of who could consider themselves "Asatru"--that is, what kind of people were acceptable as members of kindreds or groups. Those who felt called by the God/desses? Or those who are descendants of Northern Europeans?
This split led to the formation of two competing organizations, the Troth (known also as the Ring of Troth) and the Asatru Alliance. The Troth maintains that participation in the religion is open to all "True folk", whomsoever these might be, regardless of background, race, gender or sexual orientation, while the Asatru Alliance accepts that some members would not wish to worship with those who were "other" than themselves (in a number of ways, chiefly "race" and sexual orientation).
Since then, a number of independent kindreds and other organizations have been formed (in North America and elsewhere). Most of these generally align with either the Troth's non-racial philosophy or the "folkish" philosophy. This difference in philosophy is not superficial, and has led to two separate religious traditions and religious communities. All Asatruers, however, face the problems of being associated in the public mind with Wiccans and other Neopagans, Satanists, white separatists, and those who base their faith on racial hatred.
Frigga's Web was founded in 1995 to support the goddess Frigga's aims of building a strong, multi-faceted, viable Heathen community in the modern world, and to provide a space that is focused on peace, frith, and the practical arts and skills of running and living in that community. The Halls and Guilds of FWA offer services and information to the larger world of Heathenism outside of Frigga's Web.
BASIC BELIEFS: Although there are many variations in beliefs and practices within this faith, and many ways of describing and classifying these differences, Asatruers all share a defining personal loyalty to, or "Troth" with, the gods and goddesses of the North, such as Odin, Thor, Frigga, the land wights (spirits), and many others; a deep respect for their Germanic religious, cultural and historical heritage; and a strong determination to practice the moral principles followed by their predecessors, including Courage, Honor, and Hospitality.
Asatruers take their knowledge of the gods and the universe from "the lore" (the Prose Edda, the poems of the Poetic Edda, heroic and family sagas, the historical record, and folklore); from science (history, anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, etc.); and from their own analysis, insights, and revelations.
Asatruers believe that the world was formed from the fog created by the interaction of fire and ice. The gods created mankind, then gave them mind and will. The god Rig came to Midgard (this earth), fathered several children, and created social order, so they count themselves kin with the gods.
Originally, there were two tribes of gods, the Aesir and the Vanir. They warred until they saw that mutual destruction was the only outcome; then they formed a powerful and lasting alliance. Now the gods, their kin, and other allies are united in opposition to assorted Jotnar and to the disorder and destruction that they represent.
Asatruers believe that they are working with the gods, as kin, to improve the human condition in this world and to resist the Jotnar. They believe that the gods are leading us in an effort to prepare for Ragnarok, the great battle between the Aesir/Vanir alliance and the Jotun alliance. This battle will mark the end of this world-cycle and the beginning of the next one.
Anthropologist Jenny Blain has identified "narratives" that are used by Asatruers to identify themselves and demarcate their practices and beliefs.
- References to "the lore" -- myths and stories of the Aesir and Vanir, sagas, the historic record, and so on. This forms a backdrop to ritual and other events, and to discussion.
- Polytheism, with gods spoken of as real entities, separate and distinct, with rounded personalities
- Blot and Sumbel, the ritual forms of Asatru, are spoken of as suitable ways to worship or honor the Aesir and Vanir, and as distinct in kind from, e.g., a Wiccan circle.
- The possibility of direct communication with these beings, to both speak with them and gain various forms of knowledge.
- The possibility of magic. In particular, many Asatru-folk engage in rune-divination or rune-magic. Not all followers of the religion, however, practice, or even believe in, magic. While magic may often be a part of religious practice, not all ritual is magical.
- A sense that spirituality is not separate from everyday life, but informs it, and what people do, and how they relate to each other, is in turn part of Heathen spirituality. Many Asatruers place a high value on skills of daily living (such as handicrafts). Part of this is the relation of Asatruers with Earth (focused on by some more than others, though all see Earth as living, or speak of her as personified by a deity).
- A sense of individual merit and responsibility, combined with community worth. Asatruers focus on moral values or strictures, individual responsibility, and "being true". Asatruers point out that people have a choice in what they do, and need to accept responsibility for their choice. They contrast this with perceived Christian concepts of either "God's will" or "being tempted into sin" (a word which Asatruers do not use otherwise).
- An elaborate concept of 'soul' and 'self' and a concept of personal or family fate or Orlog, which people, and the Norns, weave.
- A belief that Elder Kin (deities) also are subject to the workings of Wyrd or fate.
Asatruers honor all the Aesir and Vanir, their gods. Some Asatruers are called most strongly to the worship of one or more particular gods within the pantheon.
Frigga's Web is an organization established to honor the goddess Frigga. Frigga's Web promotes the activities, purposes and benefits that are within Frigga's domains of power and interest. First and foremost, it is a frithstead where Heathens coming from different directions can "leave their politics at the gate" and work together in peace on matters that are important to Heathen life no matter what direction one is coming from.
"Frith" is often translated as "peace", but that does not accurately capture the idea. Frith is the foundation of society and culture, the voluntary abandonment of conflict to pursue a common purpose.
PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS: Asatruar are expected to
- honor the gods with regular offerings;
- respect and honor the land and the family;
- live "tru" according to a strict moral code based on honor, courage, and hospitality;
- keep all promises and sworn oaths;
- take bold and decisive action when called for;
- set high goals for themselves;
- be autonomous and yet interdependent with the rest of the Asatru community; and
- take responsibility for their actions and the consequences of those actions.
Frigga's Web is unaffiliated with any other organization. As a Frithstead for all Heathen Folk, it is non-ideological, nonpartisan, and apolitical. Since its inception, Frigga's Web has included members from several major Heathen affiliations, as well as independent Heathens. Members are expected to keep holy frith within Frigga's frithstead, and to refrain from bringing any dishonor, by word or deed, on Frigga and Frigga's Web.
In keeping with the value Frigga places on common courtesy and civility, as well as her support of frith, FWA does not accept behavior or speech that is hateful, malicious, vicious, demeaning, or violent toward anyone, for whatever reasons.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: Asatru worship groups, called kindreds (also hearths, garths, or fellowships), are essentially autonomous. Some kindreds are associated with national or regional organizations which usually operate as federations of kindreds. There is no central authority.
The Frigga's Web Association is a federation of halls and guilds, each dedicated to a different aspect of heathen community, culture, and organization. Each hall or guild has its own head. The halls and guilds all operate under the coordinating authority of the Trustees and the Maintainer.
FWA is incorporated as a religious and educational organization and has received 501(c)3 recognition from the US Internal Revenue Service.
ROLE OF MINISTERS: Asatru religious leaders are commonly called "gothi" (male form) and "gythia" (female form). Gothis/gythias are selected by the kindreds or communities that they serve; kindreds may have one or more gothis/gythias. Each kindred has its own notion of what role a gothi/gythia plays, but generally gothis/gythias develop and lead rituals and handle kindred administrative chores. All gothis and gythias are expected to be familiar with the lore and to be able to lead ceremonies.
The Frigga's Web Association does not select gothis/gythias of its own, although many of its members are gothis/gythias in their own kindreds. The FWA provides a Accreditation Program that allows kindreds to register and document their gothis and gythias.
WORSHIP: Asatru worship may be a group observance or a private offering.
A blot (rhymes with "boat") is an offering to the gods. Usually, a drink such as mead or ale is offered. A blot can be as simple as pouring out a bottle of beer to the gods in your backyard, or it can be an elaborate community ceremony. However, the intent is always the same. In the ancient, traditional societies of Northern Europe, the exchange of gifts created a bond between two people. In a blot, Asatruers thank the gods for their gifts and offer gifts in return. This celebrates and strengthens the bond between the gods and humankind.
A sumbel is a series of ritualized toasts. The participants sit in a circle, and a vessel of drink (a drinking horn full of mead is traditional) is passed around the circle at least three times. In the first round, as the horn reaches each person, he or she offers a short toast to a god or goddess. In the second round, people toast family ancestors or personal heroes. In the third (and later) rounds, people speak however they are moved. They may offer personal prayers, swear oaths, boast of achievements, sing a song, or whatever else seems appropriate. Words spoken in sumbel are witnessed by gods and humans alike and carry great weight. The rite of sumbel can be a profound experience that creates bonds of community among those who share in it.
Asatruers hold blots and sumbels to mark seasonal holidays and the usual life cycles (such as births and weddings) and as needed to give thanks and request assistance. They also commonly hold public ceremonies to witness important oaths, such as formal profession of the religion.
Different kindreds observe different holidays, but there are several observances that are nearly universal in North America. There is generally no specific god or goddess associated with a particular holiday. Each group or individual honors those that seem most appropriate to them.
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