A question(s) regarding Asatru?

I'm trying to raise my children(2- one is almost 4 and the other is almost 4 mos.) in an Asatru lifestyle. The only problem is, is that I am basically solitary as up to a year ago. I was drawn to it because the symbolism seem to have a resonant frequency with what I already felt...but, I may have come to many conclusions which are incorrect. Could anybody(into Asatru/Wotanism/Odin's please give me their opinions( hopefully educated) on the following.
1) Asatru is about Family?
2) There are not really gods and goddesses. They are just the anthropomorphic representations of the forces and Laws of Nature, and moral teachings. (Wotan was an exiled tribal leader who sacrificed himself to the self above him [Higher Self]... and later deified after his death?
3) Were the Norse customs the same regarding male and female (I mean, I know that it was a Patriarchal Society, but, were women equal socially)?
4) When were the Nine Noble virtues made? (I find them listed on every site dealing with Asatru-but not actually listed as such individually in the Eddas)?
5) Same with the Six-fold Path?

what's Asatrus?

I think you should look up a kindred in your area, and direct your questions at them. A kindred is your support system.

1. Yes, it's a Folkish religion. Family is crucial.
2. Depends on who you ask. Some say it involves Jungian archetypes. Some say the gods are literal beings.
3. Men and Women were not equal. But Women had more freedom in Norse Pagan society than in neighboring Christian states.

Don't know about #4 and #5.

I believe that the gods/goddesses are literal beings.
I'm new at Asatru too. you asked a good question! ^_^

1. Yes, family is very important in Asatru. There's a lot of emphasis on community and the folk.

2. It depends on the Asatruar you talk to. Most Asatruars are hard polytheists who believe the Gods are literal beings; there's only a very small percentage who do not believe in them as actual and living beings (hence they're atheistic). In the case of the later, they they see the values and rituals as vital and worthy because they represent enduring cultural patterns from their heritage. They tend to take a bit more, I believe the word is, "Modernist", approach. [But like I said, most Asatruars are hard polytheists.]

3. Well, the Norse women had more rights than other women around the same time. You can probably find more information on this at: http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/

4 & 5. The NNV are just a modern summary of the ethics found in the Eddas. They were originally put together by John Yeowell and John Gibbs-Bailey of the Odinic Rite in the 1970s. Other variations, such as those from the AFA, exist as well and contain very similar ideals.

if you wish to raise your children as heathen I can only give you the advice of how I was raised up until I was 10. my family didn't see the gods as anthropomorphic and saying such would have gotten your jaw popped. art the age of 5 I was taught to fight. our females are our social equals they may hold land and lead just as well as a man the Viking were the first people to have females who had absolute power over a kingdom. although we have different responsibilities in a home stead our women had the same rights. teaching your son the nine noble virtues is very important. also the Edda's are not books of law they were written by a christian man and as such things were altered. remember to put family and home before all else do not ever allow your children to become lazy encourage physical activity not necessarily sports but just exercise in general. also instill morals and ways of life not religion for only fools and slaves are born into a religion the religious part should only take place when they reach an age that they can fully understand religion. and never shield them from truth for they must always understand the world and it's dangers and it is through lack of understanding that Christians can fear them into a path. and most importantly always enforce honesty and honer the greatest offense in our path is oath breaking and lying.

stand strong you will figure it all out sooner or later. you now guide our future my brother. guide them well and do your best and may they be strong in mind body and soul..

1) Asatru is about Family? yes

2) There are not really gods and goddesses. yes there is.

They are just the anthropomorphic representations of the forces and Laws of Nature, and moral teachings. To some people they might say yes to this too.

(Wotan was an exiled tribal leader who sacrificed himself to the self above him [Higher Self]... and later deified after his death? this is a answer you could find out for yourself in the Edda's.

3) Were the Norse customs the same regarding male and female (I mean, I know that it was a Patriarchal Society, but, were women equal socially)? yes

4) When were the Nine Noble virtues made? (I find them listed on every site dealing with Asatru-but not actually listed as such individually in the Eddas)? I believe they are about theory years old but the general out line of the nine noble virtues is in your HamelALnd stories of beowulf and sigurd. The 9 noble virtues is like the tenets/laws we live by.

5) Same with the Six-fold Path? I would have to say my answer for this is the same as your forth question. the 6 fold goal is a day to day thing we work.

*Note* I am answering this as a fundamental hard deconstructionist with super orthodox views with Heathenism


1) Asatru is about Family?
Its the cornerstone of the folkway. With out family and community you are nothing.
50. On the hillside drear | the fir-tree dies,
All bootless its needles and bark;
It is like a man | whom no one loves,--
Why should his life be long?

Hovamol (Bellows tr)

2) There are not really gods and goddesses. They are just the anthropomorphic representations of the forces and Laws of Nature, and moral teachings. (Wotan was an exiled tribal leader who sacrificed himself to the self above him [Higher Self]... and later deified after his death?
Wrong. We are the direct descendants of the gods, they are our Elder Kin. They are THE ancestors of the ancestors and they are all separate and discreet individuals.

3) Were the Norse customs the same regarding male and female (I mean, I know that it was a Patriarchal Society, but, were women equal socially)?
Hmm define equal and give me time frame. It depended on the culture and area as well. Women were used to seal truce and land and secure family blood lines but they were also keeper of the keys (where the weapons, wealth, and spices were held) and had the right to demand divorce. Men were head of the family, but women were head of the household and especially during the Migration Period that put a LOT of power at the hands of women.

4) When were the Nine Noble virtues made? (I find them listed on every site dealing with Asatru-but not actually listed as such individually in the Eddas)?
That's totally modern and I personally don't subscribe to them. Virtues and social law are clearly laid on in the Edda's with no need to condense them into spoon fed rules. Its a shortcut and I don't believe in shortcuts in Heathenry.

5) Same with the Six-fold Path?
Modern and rejected with in recon

Heathen Princess said it very well, all I can do is second her words.

Let me start with, wow those are some great questions! Questions like that tell me a lot about you and your thinking, that is great!

The issue with Asatru is that if you ask a question you will get 10 different responses, sometimes from the same person.

There are a lot of great web sites out there but I must say that one of my favorites is WNW.runstone.org it is the home of the Asatru Folk Assembly. They are a great bunch of people that will help you down the path, only as much as you want.

So, on we go with my opinions

1. Is Asatru about family?

Absolutely! I have 2 children of my own 5 and 8. I give them the option of joining in our Blots and Sumbels. I often read to them at night before bed, book about the lore. There are several out there that are great and aimed at various age groups. The best way to get your children involved without pushing them is to just live Asatru as a part of your life, as a part of your culture as opposed to your religion, as our ancestors did. Now in my family it is difficult because my wife is not Asatru, so the kids don't get that from her only from me. They seem to want to do it of their own free will (very important) not because I want them to do it.

2. I believe that the Gods and Goddesses are real living beings. I think that universalism who want to practice Wicca-tru or shaman-true came up with that idea so that they can justify taking only the parts of various religions they like without having to be restricted by the laws and rules of any one, or my Christians trying to explain our ways in such that they can be easily dismissed as "Folk Lore" instead of religious myths and a cultural life style. (Again just my opinion)

3. In the Norse and Germanic cultures, according anthropological and archeological evidence, male and female were equals. Both could hold land both could speak law and both had power. Now there was a separation of sorts, however, no one was high that the other. The seer in Sather was no more important that the Gothi, who was no more important that the Githia. The myths that surround the Norse and Germanic peoples are primarily thanks to Hollywood and not a reality.

4. The nine noble virtues were "Invented" or "Created" sometime in the 1960's there are not going to be found neither in the Eddas nor in any other lore. It was a group of men and women that got together studied the lore and came out with these. The reasons are many as to why, but one reason is that Asatru is a organic evolving religion, things like the virtues need to be written to give a guideline in the modern world for people to follow, they are not law, like the 10 commandments, they are a guideline of how we as Heathens should live our lives, and what we should strive to do.

5. Six fold path, see above

I hope that was a help. Check out that web site I mentioned and if you have questions that you need to ask Steve McNallan the Founder of the AFA is also one of the founding fathers of Asatru in America. He is a great resource of unbelievable information.

Hail to you on your path!

Bill