norse, saxon, heathen, anglo saxon... um...

[StormVixen]

what are the different paths related to the ones in the title and what are the basics? my boyf is interested...

[Agaliha]

This is not my area of expertise...but I did find this about Asatru that may help:



Asatru (Norse heathenism)
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History/Founder: Although Asatru is an ages old traditional religion of the Norse there is not a continuity of practice. The modern revival of Norse Heathenism dates to the nineteen-seventies, when poet Gothi Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson petitioned the Icelandic government for official recognition of the faith.

Current leader/governing body: None. Asatru is an autonomous faith which consists of many small groups and independent organizations. Asatru gather into family and community groups, often but not necessarily under larger organizations. There is no central authority, except within various groups.
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Number of Adherents: Unknown.
Clergy: Priests and priestesses known as Gothi and Gythia, respectively.

Requirements to join: For most groups, willingness and commitment are the only requirements, the official initiation into the faith is known as an Adoption ceremony, wherein the new member swears loyalty to the Gods.
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Church/temple: Ceremonies are conducted in consecrated space (Ve), which may be temporarily invoked, or a permanent site.
Scripture: No official canon, but the Norse Eddas (epics) are used for their stories of the Gods and Goddesses, and for information about the Gods.

Required observances, dietary restrictions: None.

Code of Conduct: Asatru adhere to the Nine Noble Virtues:
Courage
Truth
Honor
Fidelity
Discipline
Hospitality
Industriousness
Self-Reliance
Perseverance
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Basic teachings and Beliefs of Asatru: As Asatru groups tend to be eclectic, there is some variation in belief. However, Asatruar tend to be Pantheistic, believing in a multitude of Gods. Most Asatru believers choose to identify with one God in particular, and to a tribe, as the Asatru pantheon is divided into two groups, the Aesir and the Vanir. (Odin is an Aesir, Loki a Vanir.) The Asatru pantheon includes traditional Norse Gods and Goddesses, elemental spirits, and Guardian spirits. Ancestors are venerated as well. Politically, Asatruar tend to be conservative and family oriented. The Asatru afterlife is tripartite; warriors slain in battle go to Valhalla, and the good and evil are sorted into Hel (paradise) and Hifhel, respectively.
Holidays and observances: Many Asatru holidays are patterned after ancient Norse observances, and some are thoroughly modern. Important Asatru festivals include the Equinoxes and Solstices, The Charming of the Plow in February, and Fogmoon, a celebration of the Dead, in November. The most important observance is the Blot ritual, an offering or sacrifice to the Gods. (Animal sacrifice is seldom practiced in modern Asatru.)

Symbols of Asatru: Vary, but may include an axe, Thor's hammer (Mjolnir), Odin's horn, the Irminsul, or similar items worn for personal meaning or identification and recognition purposes. Many believers wear rune symbols of special significance.

Myths and misconceptions: A popular misconception is that Asatru believers are racist or discriminatory. This is due to the practice of some racist groups using Asatru traditional symbols in their literature, and misunderstandings about Asatruar emphasis on Ancestral heritage. Some "folkish" Asatru groups believe that the believers are bound to the Gods via their bloodline, and forbid members without Scandinavian or Germanic ancestry, but these groups are the exception rather than the rule.
FROM: http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_asatru.htm (http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_asatru.htm)


That's all I got.

[StormVixen]

ta muchly!!! i dont know ANYTHING about that kind of paganism... apart from runes!

[Hangatyr 13]

Now, for some thoughts on Folkish Asatru: Yes, we are bound to our gods via the bloodline. Asatru (at least in folkish view), is an indigenious religion just like the old Native American religion, or Shinto, or Hinduism. It belongs to a particular people. It's funny that the above opinion on Asatru mentioned racism and and Folkism in the same section, because it only betrays the author's misunderstanding of the real difference between Folkish and Universalist Asatru. It's not simply a matter of "race". This is the kind of thinking one does when he doesn't want to be labeled a "racist". The real difference between Folkish and Universalist Asatru is the motivation one has for being an asatruar. Where as a universalist might decide to follow Asatru for ethical reasons, or because the Gods call to him or her (something folkish Asatruar such as myself usually attribute to heritage), or because he or she thinks vikings are cool, or any other reason one might have for following a non-indiginous religion, a Folkish Asatruar follows Asatru because Asatru is part of his or her heritage. Asatru is in our blood and even after all of these years under the cross, it's still very much a part of our culture. It's not an "alternative religion", it's a folk way and the birthright of all people of Northern European decent. :viking:

Btw, Asatru is not "ecclectic", and Folkism is not an exception to the rule.

[Rick]

This is not my area of expertise...
It is mine... this will get ya started:
http://www.irminsul.org/as/asr.html (http://www.irminsul.org/as/asr.html)
http://northvegr.org (http://northvegr.org)
http://www.thetroth.org (http://www.thetroth.org)
http://www.runestone.org/flash/home.html (http://www.runestone.org/flash/home.html)
http://www.ealdriht.org/ (http://www.ealdriht.org/)

[Hangatyr 13]

Here are a few other good ones.
www.asatru.org (www.asatru.org)
www.asatrulore.org (www.asatrulore.org)

[StormVixen]

thanx from my boyf and me... hes got really interested since i made those runes for him!

[Hærfest Leah]

Now, for some thoughts on Folkish Asatru: Yes, we are bound to our gods via the bloodline. Asatru (at least in folkish view), is an indigenious religion just like the old Native American religion, or Shinto, or Hinduism. It belongs to a particular people. It's funny that the above opinion on Asatru mentioned racism and and Folkism in the same section, because it only betrays the author's misunderstanding of the real difference between Folkish and Universalist Asatru. It's not simply a matter of "race". This is the kind of thinking one does when he doesn't want to be labeled a "racist". The real difference between Folkish and Universalist Asatru is the motivation one has for being an asatruar. Where as a universalist might decide to follow Asatru for ethical reasons, or because the Gods call to him or her (something folkish Asatruar such as myself usually attribute to heritage), or because he or she thinks vikings are cool, or any other reason one might have for following a non-indiginous religion, a Folkish Asatruar follows Asatru because Asatru is part of his or her heritage. Asatru is in our blood and even after all of these years under the cross, it's still very much a part of our culture. It's not an "alternative religion", it's a folk way and the birthright of all people of Northern European decent. :viking:

Btw, Asatru is not "ecclectic", and Folkism is not an exception to the rule.

Great explanations, oh I'm definitely a Folkish Asatruar then.

[Hangatyr 13]

Great explanations, oh I'm definitely a Folkish Asatruar then.Huah!