The Need for Applying Ásatrú

The spiritual fulfillment of Ásatrú is only partially obtained through the study of the ancient Germanic cultures and myths, and the rituals, be it through Kindred or solitarily. To walk the path of the Ásatrúar is to live life based on it's most basic principles. These principles vary from organization-to-organization, but are basically similar.
The Ásatrúar should contemplate what is learned through the history of our ancestors. The values of those earlier peoples are the core values of the Ásatrú movement, but they are not codified by an organization; they are codified by the self. Kinship is indeed an important trait of the Ásatrú community, but not before the understanding of the self. The understanding of the self and the application of those thews, or values, within our lives, is living as Ásatrúar, and thereby completing the spiritual fulfillment our religion offers. By living as Heathens, we will build stronger Kinship, and the Kindred will only grow stronger.
However, it appears to be a common misnomer that living Heathen means living as though we were members of another era. This is a mistake and a setup for failure within society. Respecting the ways of the ancestors, such as their struggle to survive the wild, farm crops, and deal with harsh winters, is certainly something worth doing, but not worth replacing the reality of where it is you reside.

The thews we tend to honor today are based on the behaviors of yesterday. The writings we study and learn from have provided our people with a philosophical scope to work with in a structured form. Our ancestors did not have access to books and education, at least, not as they exist in most of the world today, and thought provocation was instilled in the people through myths; stories that would use the imagination to help develop a sense of moral awareness. These days the myths are still our groundwork, but they are but the roots of a blossoming tre; one that we as Ásatrúar must cultivate. Not through ritualistic aspects alone, but through philosophical understanding and application, ourselves becoming like those heroic ancestors and the gods and goddesses we cherish.

Living Ásatrúar vs. Dying Christians

    Insofar as the online presence of the heathen community, I have found that there are a large number of individuals who place a rather large amount of time and energy into blaspheming and shaking down the "Abrahamic" faiths; typically Christianity. Remarks regarding the Christians and/or Christianity often start off cold and insensitive, which is fine, but they often become incensed with anger and, more particularly, wrath.

    To me, it seems quite obvious that those who expel this energy for the sake of the defamation of Christianity, et al., are doing so because they themselves belonged to the lot, and are fighting a sort of spiritual battle; not in terms of "holy ghosts" and what have you, but in the sense of personal freedom and individuality trying to find its way through years of programmed behavior, emotion, and thought. This is quite natural—indeed, worth applauding. However, it is dangerous to become stuck in this position, as it results in stagnation and the lack of spiritual progression and maturity. Many Ásatrúr believe that the way to gaining the favor of the Valkyries and Woden in order to gain admission to Valhalla, isn't just by being a warrior in the physical world, but of the spiritual world. If you are one of these, than you must consider that your ongoing battle with the faith that was instilled within you during your youth is still winning if you are continuously tormented by what lies within you. There is no favor to be won in this.

    Whether you believe Valhalla a real place, or a metaphorical representation of spiritual accomplishment and bliss, neither will be obtained if you are constantly tormented by the mere presence of the Abrahamic faiths.

    The existence of Christianity, et al., is altogether irrelevant. What should matter most, is that you do good work, grow, succeed, be good to and love your kinfolk, and conquer your enemies when necessary. Persistence of verbally ravaging those religions you disagree with will prove to be counter-productive, and in that sense, you are not living as Ásatrúar, you are living as rebelling Christians (Jews, Muslims). One does not need to defend these other religions, but the amount of energy spent condemning them could very well be redirected towards positive works.

 

To Be Hæðen

The term, "heathen," was originally used by early Christians as a pejorative term. These days, with so many people taking back the religion of their ancestors, heathen has become more of an identification of separation from the Christians. The same could be said for the use of the term, "pagan," though many new-agers have cashed in on this term by publishing materials that merely take the esoteric aspects of different origins and blend them to create a collage of hokey mysticism.

Since "heathen" is used as an identifier, why not use it to describe those cultural elements that resemble, replicate, or share our philosophies and ideals?

Films may have messages in them that are in alignment with our own philosophical belief systems. A piece of art or a particular song might evoke inspiration, or a welling up of emotion that makes you feel more attuned to the gods/goddesses. Architectural styles, literature, decor, these are all things that can be, and often are, heathen.

Heathenry doesn't have to mean wearing ancient styles of clothing, listening to folk music, and turning your home into an indoor version of the outdoors. To assume that our ancestors would still be the same folks we read about is not giving them credit for who they were. They were much tougher back then, and had to adapt and work twenty times harder than most of us do today in order to survive, but I don't doubt that, were they here, they would embrace technology. Bringing our beliefs to the here-and-now, and not getting too tangled in the then, is the next step in the evolution of Asatru.

Our Ásatrú

Ásatrú is something that is both new and old, spiritual and earthbound, and family oriented and individualist, all at once. People tend to practice Ásatrú based on what they consider to be the "right" way, but the reality is, there is far too little evidence to dictate exactly how the ancients practiced and lived their religious beliefs.

The evidence that is provided is beautiful and enlightening, as well as mysterious and perverted. The Christian elements that are found within what is considered sacred texts, can be deleted from the text with no ill effect to the meaning, yet their presence demands contemplation regarding the history. The underlying message of the heathens is present evermore, but as with the Holy Bible, the interpretations depend on the individual. But is this such a bad thing?

Religion is personal, as it should be, and to pretend your involvement is more important than another's personal involvement with their religion is ignorant at best. Personal interpretation is what is most important, providing the individual not become stagnant when it comes to spiritual growth and enlightenment.
Spirit, is not being used here to represent a ghost or supernatural being that resides within living things, but the life force that is nature, and that moves all living things. It is not a sense of the supernatural or otherworldly as it is completely natural, and certainly of this world, though very much a mystery to us humans.
Enlightenment is not being used here in a Buddhist sense, marking the attained state of absense of desire and/or suffering; rather, it is an ongoing process. The enlightenment of the Ásatrúar is attained through personal reflection, strife and success, and self-discovery through the northern mysteries of the ancient folk and ancestors.

Going back to interpretation, the materials we have that extend what knowledge is available to us as Ásatrúar, may be considered the roots from which we may grow. Our paths--our Wyrd--is designed by our choices, while our interaction with each other forms our "destiny"--our Ørlog--and both are affected by our interaction with cosmic nature (Irminsul/Yggdrasil).
Ásatrúar may vary on opinions as to what is the true Ásatrú, but I think it is up to the individual to decide, and once they have decided, then, that truly is Ásatrú.