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.