Hail, sons and daughters of the old ways!

My name is Rhaz and I'll be your Bardic emissary from here on. I wanted to write you asking you for a favor! Don't worry, it's easy and will help this group grow!

If you have art of a Nordic/Asa bent, then please feel free to submit it here! Either as a note, or as a shout on the front page, [Edit: OR IN REPLY TO THIS JOURNAL] for us to find. If the art is NOT your own, we will be adding it as Favorites to the group to build up a gallery of awesomeness for us all to browse through when we're needing a taste of home.

Get on it! Give us links! More links for the link gods!

- Rhaz

Hail everyone!
I'm interested to find out who of you involve yourself in anything with Viking influence within modern culture? Be it literature, movies, games, music or anything else, how many of you display your faith with a pendant, a tattoo, things of that nature?
I'm thinking up of doing a reference list and posting it covering books, music, art, games and film.

My music choices are wide and cover pretty much every genre, though I mainly focus on Viking/Folk/Death metal; my favourite bands being Amorphis, Wardruna, Amon Amarth, Tyr, and Ensiferum just to name a few!

Literature ranges from the Eddas and sagas, the graphic novels Northlanders, Wheel of Time (fair few references if you're searching!), the Viking series, and most recently Wolfsangel and Fenrir.

Film is a tough one, I love 13th Warrior as a cult film, but I dislike the historical accuracy; for me there is Valhalla Rising, Severed Ways, Beowulf and Grendel (Gerard Butler as lead, not CGI), and uh, that's about it, films are hard to find!

Games are easy to find in ways of influence, and many of you would recognise Skyrim as being one of those games, but it stops at influence (But who doesn't love pretending to be a Viking and kill dragons?), others include Rune, Mount & Blade (Fantasy game, but a Nord faction, total Vikings -- Historical based armour and weapons), and of course the Total War series. Another game worth mentioning is Viking: Battle for Asgaard; a fun game, but frustrating, a bit far fetched in the way of Vikings and a huge disappointment after the utter awesome of Spartan, but fun none the less!

Now, onto displaying my faith? I am quite simple, I look the part, long blonde hair with some braids and a beard, other than that I wear a Valknut pendant, and am hoping to get a few tattoos in the coming year as well.

That's me done! Would love to hear from you guys, and if you've got reviews, feel free to write it! The more the better, I'm hoping this gets a bit of attention, really hoping to discover some new things!

-Volund

Yep, I'm alive, just been forgetful to get my lazy ass on here, well, that's fixed!
Hail to all our new members in the past few months since I've been missing. So many of you! ;-;

How many of you here celeberate Yule in the Asatru sense, or do you celebrate Christmas? This doesn't include most of the Scandinavians, as Yule is still somewhat practiced in a sense, from what I get told.

How many of you are on facebook? Considering a matching facebook group for those who are interested, I think it would offer a better community, if combined with here, thoughts?

What are your plans for Yule; and what are your goals for the new year? Stay safe these holidays, and raise a horn to the Gods, I'm definitely planning to!

EDIT:
:userarygwen: is considering selling his mead online to members here, contact him for details!

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/aapur
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/aristokat
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/arygwen

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/balorkin
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/bampDEER
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/BlackJoker

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Demure-Perversion
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/devilkitty
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/dog12
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/DraconicArcher

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/FA-groups
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/fenrirs_child
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Fox_Winter
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Freki-der-Wolf
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/furryovrlord

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/gnowun
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Goatopus
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Grausig

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/JJacker91

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Kabuto228
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/krigulv
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Kyian

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Leppy
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/linkinsbane
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Little-Monster

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Mancoon
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/McRoz
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Mekiota
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Mix
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/mudpaw
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Mx_Scade
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Mystic_Furs

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Nagir
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Niilo

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/PolarisMalamute

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Qzurr

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/RDstarjourney
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Rhaen
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Rhazafax

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/SamanthaSkyena
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/ScarTheWolf34
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/shadie
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/shadster
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Siberia_Tigra
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/SilverTheWhiteWolf
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Siroc
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/StrongPawz
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Super-Murdoc
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/svarta-perlan
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/swmmp

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Tanya_Foxy
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/TartanCaribou

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Ulfstan
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Uni.....-Universalists

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Varulv
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Vasory88
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Volund

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/WanderingPariah
~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/wojta

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Xemmy_Friehd

~ http://www.furaffinity.net/user/Yoshi_Yosuke


Sorry about the links, everyone! I did try to use icons, but there's a limit. -_-

(Yes, there are only a few links here, as many of the sites repeat the same information, not of interest, or actually harmful to your computer)

http://www.asatru-u.org/ - One of the most useful collections I have ever found, a lot of the links no longer work, and it's been stuck for a few years, but still very useful!

http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/index.html - A site dedicated to the Runes, rune magic, and the magic of Asatru in general.

The Asatru Alliance at http://asatru.org/

The Troth at http://www.thetroth.org/

The Asatru Folk Assembly at http://runestone.org/

The Odinic Rite at http://www.odinic-rite.org/

Hwitmersc Theod at http://www.englatheod.org/

http://www.sagadb.org/index_az - Icelandic Saga Database

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/ - Poetic Edda online (will post a downloadable PDF link when I find it again)

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/pre/index.htm - Prose Edda online, will do the same when I find a decent PDF.

http://www.aetaustralia.org/ - Elder Troth in Australia

http://wyldcircle.bigforumpro.com/ - A forum for pagan furs.

http://asatru.is/ - Asatru Iceland

If there is any other links you would like added here, please note me!

Will be updating tomorrow.
Starting with the futhark, moving through on the major gods/goddesses, to heros/heroines.
They will be coming as stories most likely, though with pictures of course.
I need thoughts;

-What do you guys think of the eddas and some sagas being available for download here as stories (From a free online database of course)?
-A journal full of links, articles, different styles of practice (ie lone vs group practice, etc)?
-A monthly calendar marking pagan holidays?

Will be posting a member list update as a journal too, will do so on the first of each month if we have new members.

Hail Furs!
We're finally back, computers are working and everything is getting back underway.
I wanted to welcome all the new members!
Should be posting a flurry of things over the next few weeks, profiles on the gods, holidays, things of that nature.
Is there anything you want to see from the group? Just ask!
As well as if you want anything posted/fav'd just let me know.
That's about it for now, keep your eyes open.

Hail everyone!

Just letting you know, it's going to be a little while before we're back up and running.
I have about an hour left on the laptop, and then I'm gone for an unknown amount of time. This time the problem is the power adaptor receiver, inside the computer. -_-
No idea when I'll be back.
Til then, stay safe, eat, drink, and be merry!

~Vol

Hail all~
Just letting you know, things are finally under control again on a management point.
I'll start posting the things I agreed to soon, just gotta find the time to do it!
And there are a few remembrance holidays coming up soon, too, so info will be up asap!

Hey everyone!
You may have noticed the massive lack of inactivity over the past few weeks.
I lost my main computer for a about a month, only having come back to using my old laptop.
That, and I've been dealing with severe mental health issues.
But anyway!
Sorry about the disappearance, everyone!
Will do my best to be more active, now.

January (Snowmoon - Æfter-Giuli - Thorri) 19th - 25th
Thorrablot (Thor's Feast)

This holiday began the Old Norse month of Þorri. Today this festival starts on the Friday of January between the 19th and 25th (the 13th week of winter in Iceland). Thorrablot (or Thor's Feast) is still observed in Iceland with parties and a mid-winter feast. It is, of course, sacred to Thor and the ancient Icelandic Winter spirit, Thorri. On this day ...a blot is dedicated to Thor; he who protects us from the Rime-Thurses (the Frost Giants). It is a time to get to know the other Gods as it is winter's coldest month and a time to be by a warm fire. Thorrablot (Icelandic: "Þorrablót") takes place in the coldest dark days of the year, and many of the foods served are the smoked/pickled produce of the previous year. It is a Scandinavian tradition with lots of viking history. After the Thorrablot dinner, get ready for group games, old songs and stories, accompanied by drinking (another famous Viking past-time). Later in the evening, dances start and often continue until the early morning when the Thorrablot celebrations draw to an end.

On this day, raise a horn, and gather family and friends together for a great feast, music and celebration. Share some stories and maybe do a little drinking. Now don't forget to thank Thor for all of this, after all this is his feast.

So, holding true to my word to post things about pagan holidays, here's the first one!


January (Snoowmoon - Æfter-Giuli - Thorri) 9th
Day of Remembrance for Raud the Strong

Raud was a landowner in Norway who was put to death by (St.) Olaf Tryggvason for his loyalty to Asatru by having a snake forced down his throat. Rauds lands were then confiscated in the name of the king and his monks. Raise a horn in honor of Raud and all of his kinsmen who gave their lives, rather then submit to the forced love of a medieval Chr...istian empire.

Olaf Tryggvason was King of Norway from 995 to 1000 CE. He played an important part in the conversion of the Vikings to Christianity. Olaf traveled to the parts of Norway that had been under the rule of the King of Denmark. He demanded that the citizenry be baptized, and most reluctantly agreed. Those that did not were tortured or killed. Despite King Olaf’s persuasive efforts, many of the Vikings were reluctant to renounce their Gods and accept Jesus as their savior. New and increasingly painful tortures and executions were devised by Olaf and his men. One of the most famous incidents of recalcitrance to Olaf’s attempts at coerced conversion to Christianity is that of Raud the Strong.

Raud the Strong was a large landowner, a leader-priest of Seid (an Old Norse term for a type of sorcery or witchcraft that was practiced by the pre-Christian Norse), and a sea-farer. Raud was known for his beautiful longship, a boat larger than any of Olaf’s, with a dragon’s head carved into the bow. The ship was called “The Dragon” or “The Serpent.” Raud the Strong, who also had the reputation of being a wizard, was defeated by Olaf in a sea battle. He escaped on his vessel, using the technique of sailing against the wind, which was a sailing technique unusual in northern European waters at that time. Raud outran Olaf and escaped to his settlement in Gylling and Haering, a part of the Godey Isles.

After the weather calmed, Olaf sailed under cover of darkness to Godey and seized Raud from his bed. Then the king told Raud that if he accepted Christian baptism, he could keep his lands and ship and the king would be his friend.

But Raud refused, saying he would never believe in Christ, and mocked God. Olaf became incensed and said Raud should die a horrible death. The king ordered him to be bound to a beam of wood, with his face pointed upward, and a round pin of wood put between his teeth to force his mouth open. The king then ordered a snake to be put into Raud’s mouth, but the snake would not go in. Olaf then ordered a drinking horn to be put into Raud’s mouth, and forced the serpent to go in by holding a red-hot iron at the opening of the horn. As a result, the snake crept into Ruad’s mouth and down his throat, and gnawed its way out his side and Raud died.

Olaf seized Raud’s gold and silver, weapons and many valuable artifacts. All the men who were with Raud were baptized, or, if they refused, were killed or tortured. The king also took the dragonship that Raud had owned, and steered it himself since it was a much larger than any ship the he had.

According to legend this is how the famous Viking ships got their distinctive shape (that is just legend not the truth).

On this day of remembrance I try to keep in my mind the memory of my ancestors strong, stubborn and true to the old traditions and Gods. Raud the Strong is a prime example of the personal principal of, that just because I'm different does not mean that I am wrong.

Sorry for the slow journal updates of late! Had a bit of personal issues and the like.
First off, Happy New Year, brothers and sisters! Hope you all had a good and safe holidays!
And I hope most of you had a few hangovers to nurse.
So, with the dawn of the new year, I have a few proposals.
~I want to make this more community orientated, I'll start posting once a month the names of all members in a journal. What do you think?
~I would like more community discussion, and that we can turn to each other for help. Yes? No? I'll get you to note this account, or my personal account, and I'll post the questions up for everyone to see, if that is what's wanted, of course. Once a fortnight.
~I'm thinking of posting a journal for every holiday have, and why we have it, and what it is.
~Submission entries: I'll type up once a fortnight a profile on a God/Goddess, a hero, a figure, group, or place for resources for those new comers. (Would alternate with the community discussion)
~If you have submissions/journals you want seen by the group, note me with the link and I'll add it to favourites, or link it in an update.

Those are some ideas, feel free to add your own, or yay or nay on the ideas.

But finally, the question. I read a few months ago an article on Wicca vs Asatru. It said that Wicca is quite open in where people get their ideas from on how to practice something, or what it means. Whereas Asatruar tend to only believe something if it's been historically proven.
What is your opinion on that matter?
I lean toward the Wicca open mindedness on practicing/ideas/personal beliefs, etc as I think that is the way our ancestors would have had it.
I can try to find the article and post a link for those who are interested.

Hey everyone!
Sorry for the lack of journals/updates.... I've been stuck with family, etc, doing Christmas things.
I'm curious, how many, if any of you, celebrate Christmas?
I don't, as it's not a pagan holiday, not to mention I despise the commercialism of it all.
Though, I do celebrate Yule, which is the pagan festival where the majority of Christmas 'traditions' came from.
Annywaayy, I just wanted to wish you all a Good Yule-tide, and a happy new year.
Stay safe over the holidays, brothers and sisters.
And may you find a prosperous future in the dawning year. ^^

Hail everyfur!
This is a question I've been wanting to ask for a little while, to see where you're all from. :3
I realise this may be a personal question for some of you, so just keep it to country, if you'd like.
I'm from Australia, 3rd generation Swedish family, I spent around 2 -3 years in Sweden as a kid. ^^

A question similar to this has been asked before, but I shall ask it again, anyway.
Do you have a patron God or Goddess, or multiple patrons?
Also, to the main question of this article; how do you spell their names, as there are a few different variations.

Personally, I am a devotee of both Oden and Tyr, and I also use the Swedish spelling.

Hail Brothers and Sisters!
I'm working on bringing our community together, and getting it more active.
I've been looking for ways on doing this, I got a suggestion from the lovely  Rhazafax to ask you all, "What Rune represents you best, and why?". There's your question, get to answering! :3
Also, any suggestions, or ideas for what you want, post 'em here too!

For me;
Rune?: Tiwaz (Tyr's Rune)
Why?: A few reasons, I guess. I've always felt connected to Tyr, I am a devotee of Oden and Tyr, respectively. I've always stuck to a tight code of honour, I've tried to be as level headed as I can be, I've always taken, or given the punishment deserved. I am always happy to sacrifice myself for the good of others, no matter the cost, be it my own life. I am surprisingly logical in certain aspects of life. And, well, I shall spare you the rest of my ramblings!

Hail everyone.

As all, or at least, some of you know, Ulfstan no longer wanted to run Asafurs, and he looked for a change in leadership.
That's been found, so, let me introduce myself.
I'm Volund, some of you may know of me, I know one of you does, at least.
Myself, I've been with the Gods since I was 12, I've been a solitary practitioner since that day, recently, I've met a lot of helpful people who've pointed me in the right directions, so I'm beginning to find more and more of us.
As for knowledge about our beliefs, sagas and faiths, I suppose I am well versed (I'm not one to be up myself), I know, and own the Poetic Edda, I am attempting to learn the Havamal and Voluspa by wrote, much like our ancestors. I am learning to cast and read the Runes, as well as delving into the magical, and spiritual side of our faith.
That's just a brief overview, as I see that as enough information for now.

If there's any suggestions, comments, ideas, etc you guys want, either comment here, or send me a note.
If you want to get in personal contact with me, go here  volund
I look forward to guiding, and learning from you all in the future.
~Volund

"Leadership" for lack of a better term at the moment. I just woke up and this is awkward and sort of sad to say.

I recently gave up on religion altogether. As a science student, keeping faith in anything is extremely difficult and I just feel like I'm not offered enough proof by Asatru or any other religion. Yup. Atheist.

Sooo it doesn't seem right for an atheist to head an Asatru group, does it? Whoever feels like they would be more active than me and actually get things done can message me for the password. Just make sure you can make more of this group than I ever did.

I'm sorry for being so inactive, and I hope the best for all of you.

Has anyone ever done anything crafty or artsy with an Asatru bent or theme to it? I've brewed my own mead (from a kit I bought at the Renn Faire) and I'm planning on making my own runes, but that's about it. What about y'all? :)

How many of us are members of a kindred? A National Organization? How many of us practice alone?
What sorts of rituals/ceremonies do you perform? Community service/outreach?
Is your family involved? Do you plan on raising your children (if any) Asatru?

"Patron" Gods and Goddesses! Do you have one? Why? Why not? What brought you to this deity? What do you think brought them to you! Other questions! Go!

Sorry for all the silence and inactivity! I'm not used to this whole socialization thing. My excuse is that I've just started attending the University of Maryland and EVERYTHING is hectic!

Anyhow, I propose a challenge! Asatru art. Make some! Literary, traditional, photographic, whatever! Lets finally get something in that gallery!

p.s. My spring break starts on Friday, so I'll actually be able to do this!

Yeah, two because  ulfstan and I are the same person.

Sooooooo are we the only three? It wouldn't surprise me at all. Spread the word!

So. I've never done this group account thing before. What sorts of things should we be doing? Asatru-related art, for one I suppose.