Over the Equinox weekend, I had the opportunity of attending a gathering of something over 30 Asatruar, mostly godhar, at the Wise family Hof, near Bouse, Arizona. The gathering was made most extraordinary by the attendance of Jo"rmundur Ingi, the Allsherjargodhi of the A'satru'arfe'lagidh, the principal Asatru organization in Iceland. Jo"rmundur told us all quite a bit about Icelandic Asatru, and many of us got several chances to discuss a wide variety of topics in informal conversation as well.
Based on Jo"rmundur's remarks, it seems apparent that Icelandic Asatru has a very strong orientation toward nature, and the "unseen beings" whose presence Icelanders, together with many of the Irish, continue to feel about them. This is combined with an appreciation of the cyclical nature of things, from the year to human life to the life of the earth. There seems to be very little emphasis upon doctrine or specified beliefs, and Jo"rmunder was quite clear that he had no ability or authority to tell people what to believe; indeed, he attributed the recent decline in Christian church membership to the fact that, after many centuries of largely tolerant practice of Christianity "in a Heathen way," the Church has recently been emphasizing that its members should actually believe in Christian doctrine. He mentioned that the Asatruar there had wanted to call their religion simply "Our Way," but decided upon "Asatru" because the Prime Minister at the time they were seeking recognition had previously written an article, stating that if "Asatru" requested recognition, it would have to be granted under the Icelandic Constitution.
The following excerpts from the English version of their informational pamphlet should give some idea of their practice of the religion.
"MICROCOSM MACROCOSM: The whole of creation is reflected in the smallest. The course of the year reflects the life-span of the Earth. The Sun is reborn at Midwinter's. All plants are reborn in the spring, only to die in the fall. This cycle is repeated every year and so things will go while the world stands. So is the life of man. We are born, reach our prime, age and die. But life goes on. That is the promise that is fulfilled every time a child is born."
"THE CYCLE: Our religion is based on the eternal cycle of nature. All things succumb to the negative forces in the end, even the gods. We must fight on nevertheless, that is our destiny and has to be accepted.
RITUALS: Modern pagans keep one eye on the past when setting up their ritual. Most of our inspirations originate from the Edda, the ancient book of divine poems. However we live in a twentieth century environment and that shapes all our actions.
BLOT: The word blot is used for all religious ceremonies. It indicates both offering and strengthening through solidarity between Gods and man.
SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS: These are four and are determined by the old Icelandic calendar. They celebrate the continual creation through stages of increasing complexity and higher order, from the primitive beginning to the complex final creation of the great Gods.
THE BEGINNING: The first blot celebrates the creation of matter. It is held in the autumn, the beginning of the new year according to the old reckoning.
YULETIDE: The second blot is held at Yuletide on the 21st of December, the shortest day of the year. This is the celebration of the creation of light and the birth of the new sun.
LIFE: The third blot is the celebration of life, the highest form of the creation. The Gods, human beings, the Earth and all that lives has one beginning and all life is sacred.
THE PARLIAMENT: The fourth blot is dedicated to the law, civilization, society and other rules in the world of man. This blot is held at Thingvellir around the 20th of June on the opening day of the Althing, the old Icelandic Parliament.
THE CYCLE COMPLETED: The fifth blot is to give thanks for the fruits of the Earth. It also reminds us of the inevitable end of life and all creation. This blot falls together with the first. All is renewed. This is the promise given in the rainbow, the bridge between men and Gods. While the rainbow stands there is order in the world.
THE EARTH: Our way is an ecological way. We are expected to revere the earth and respect her. She is our mother and deserves all our respect."
"EXTRACTS FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT
We base our religion on the belief in AESIR (the gods of old Pagan
Iceland).
It is permitted to worship other gods and other sacred beings.
Everyone is responsible for himself and all his actions.
Statues may be dedicated to the gods, but no one is obliged to
worship them.
All forms of worship are permitted, within law and order.
Those that deem themselves pagan and reside in Iceland can join the
association.
We promise to honor the religion and culture of our ancestors.
ASATRU - NATURE RELIGION
Asatru, or Our Way, is a religion that is based on the living nature, that part of the creation of the Gods that our senses perceive.
The gods did not make the world from nothing, but created it from the eternal energy of the cosmos, according to the laws of the World Tree, Ash Yggdrasil.
According to Our Way the gods do not rule the universe but are part of it and subject to its laws, just as we humans are.
Creation and destruction are an endless process. The final creation did not take place in a distant beginning and so there is no sudden end. Creation and destruction are a continuous cycle that maintains time and space.
All things are transient. The universe, the gods, the Earth and all mankind are subject to the perpetual cycle.
All things are transitional but at the same time reiterative.
Eternity forms a spiral. All is restored but never repeated. Every cycle is new, unique.
We do not worship the Gods. We revere them and place ourselves on their side in the eternal struggle between Gods and Giants, light and darkness, life and death.
The Tree of Life, the Ash is the middle of the world. In it come together all the threads of existence. In the Ash are united past, present and future. Also burth, being and death. As well as Gods, Giants and humanity.
In the Ash there life four stags that graze on its limbs. Every life is but a leaf on the Tree of Life. When one is bitten, a new bud is formed. In this manner the world is maintained. One event leads to another. This promise is fulfilled every time a child is born.
All existence is an interaction of two opposites. The creative forces of the Gods and their adversaries, the destructive horde of Giants. This interaction creates time and the human consciousness.
We have an obligation to revere the Gods and their masterpiece, nature itself. We have an obligation to revere Mother Earth and respect her resources.
All exploitation of the Earth is wrong, but total preservation is not the answer. Both tend to upset the balance. All things are part of the eternal cycle.
Death is as integral part of life as is birth. All life is nourished on life, directly or indirectly. All disruption of this balance is equally dangerous and only results in quickening the inevitable judgment of the Gods and their handiwork, Ragnarok.
Ragnarok is however only a transitory phase akin to the night between two days, such as the winter between two summers or like a death that sustains another life."