Type Asatru into Viki.
Although this question does make me think. I'm Pagan and have alto of Pagan friends yet none of them are Asatruist.....
Anyway mainly the Norse Pagan Gods and beliefs.
I have studies the Asatru, a little, I intend to go back to it, some time later, but I have a friend who is an Asatru, as for gods being practically all I know of Heathenism, at this time, I can recall Odin, Thor, uh, Thor has a wife, I forgot her name, but all the Gods and Goddesses are forces of Nature, the Asatru never intended that they be taking as living beings. best I could give you is that you read the book of "Odsmal"
Edit: as for 'r'- it is Asatruars, not Asatruans, where ever you got that from, and they prefer to be called Heathens, I ha vent found any thing to show that the Asatru ever used Rune magic, and the other things you had mentioned, my Asatru friend and I both agree that Runes, which is just a language/form of writing, has no magical qualities, your friends sound funny to me, ask them if they think that any other language has magical qualities for every word, for me please!
I am Heathen but not Asatru or ?slenska ?satr?arf?lagi? although they are branches of Heathenry; neither am I a Theodist.
I hon our (not worship) Woden (Odin), Thunar (Thor), Freo (Freya), Ing (Freyr) and many more as well as my human ancestors and the wights (land wights, house wights etc). Our method of veneration is generally ritualised drinking rounds and feasting, oath making and sacrifices (of food, blood/life or items of monetary value such as coins, jewellery etc). I don't believe in an afterlife but I will continue in this world sleeping with my body and living on in the memory and stories of the generations to come.
The Asatru I know are the most historically accurate religious deconstructionists I know. They take academic reading of "Prime Sources" to a new height. They base their religion almost completely on these references, and note any extra aspects as 'Unverified personal Gnosis.'
My husband has been practicing Asatru for 13 years and I have been practicing for over 3 years.
Even as a solitary you could practice this religion as it is very much a private relationship with your God or Gods.
Even though people come together to worship in ritual together, it is still a very private and solitary religion for most Asatrurs.
For the most part our Kindred is a re constructionist religion, meaning we are very much about worshiping as those did in the days before. We speak as much as possible in Icelandic, and we still keep the rituals on the dates that seem to be for the most part authentic.
Our rituals consist of a Feast, Blot and Sumbel. Those rituals we follow as a Kindred are: Yule ,Ullerblot, Springfeast, Walpurgis, Summerequinox, Loaffest, Autumnequinox, Disirblot, Einheriar.
You will find that for the most part, most Asatrurs believe in some kind of value or morals, some virtues that are valued are, Courage, Steadfastness, perseverance, Faithfullness, Hospitality, and Industriousness to mention a few.
This is but a small amount of what our Kindred does and believes in. But like I said before this is a private religion between you and your God or Gods. You can find more inforamation about Asatru, its beliefs, the rituals, and the many, many books available to you here: http://runestone.org/
There are several types of Asatru, our Kindred is very Universal, we do not believe you must be of Germanic descent to practice Asatru. There are groups out there that believe you must be born into the religion or race that practices this religion.
Does anyone here practice the religion of Asatru?
