Asatru: A Beginner's Guide to the Heathen Path
Asatru is a modern pagan tradition whose roots lie in the ancient myths, folklore, sagas, and historical artifacts of those who lived in pre-Christian times in what is now Iceland, Scandinavia, Scandinavian-influenced Scotland, Germany, and other parts of northern Europe. In Asatru, Erin Lale provides listeners with an accessible introduction to this heathen religion, one of the fastest growing religions in the United States and Europe. The book includes these key topics:
- A brief exploration of Asatru's mythology and prehistory, its contact with Rome, and its history up to the present day
- A comprehensive survey of Asatru's many gods and goddesses
- The rituals, including holiday celebrations, toasting rituals, weddings, and other life events
- The moral virtues of a true Asatruar: courage, honor, loyalty, truth, hospitality, industriousness, self-discipline, self-reliance, and steadfastness
- The magical practices of rune divination, spells, and bersarkrgangr
- A look at the "universalist" and "folkish" interpretations of the Asatru tradition and the "hijacking" of the symbolism of the northern European religions in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
