{"id":3366,"date":"2010-03-01T01:10:28","date_gmt":"2010-03-01T06:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=3425"},"modified":"2010-02-24T20:22:59","modified_gmt":"2010-02-25T01:22:59","slug":"the-moonlit-path-a-discussion-on-pathways-and-traditions-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2010\/03\/01\/the-moonlit-path-a-discussion-on-pathways-and-traditions-4\/","title":{"rendered":"The Moonlit Path: A Discussion on Pathways and Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Asatru Path<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n
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There are few paths that are as firmly rooted in their beliefs as the Asatru path.\u00a0 Even among Pagans they are often misrepresented and misunderstood.\u00a0 Fortunately, I\u2019ve had some exposure to this path as good friends of mine practice this belief system.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to share a bit about what I have learned with you.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Asatru is the modern recreation of the Old Norse faith which came out of Germanic tribes.\u00a0 Like the name suggests they strongly adhere to the Norse Pantheon and most will only work with Norse Gods and Goddesses.\u00a0 Like most Pagan paths there isn\u2019t a definitive text, though the mythology is preserved and referenced in the Eddas<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Norse deities fall into a couple of main categories: the Aesir and Vanir, and the Jotnar.\u00a0 The Aesir and Vanir are those that deal with natural forces and fertility.\u00a0 The Jotnar are those associated with war, chaos, and destruction.\u00a0 From these main divisions of deities there are a few that may be familiar to you.\u00a0 A few of the deities associated with Asatru\/Norse Paganism are Odin, Thor, Freyr and Freya. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Asatru venerate their ancestors and the Gods.\u00a0 These are observed in their rites.\u00a0 There are two main rituals that are practiced. They observe the sumbel and blot, which is pronounced bloat. <\/span><\/p>\n

The sumbel is a ritualized toast that takes place in rounds.\u00a0 Typically there are three rounds to the sumbel, though there can be more, where a horn is passed from one participant to the next.\u00a0 These are for toasts, boasts, and oaths.\u00a0 Though not always performed in this order a typical sumbel follows the following format: <\/span><\/p>\n