Welcome to Gaia! ::

Anser these questions and tell us alittle about yourself:

1)Why asatru?

2)What led you to asatru?

3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?

4)How long have you been an asatruar?

5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you?

6)Do you belong to a kindred

7)Do you have a patron deity?

cool If so then who and why? If not then why not?

9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft?

Answer these questions and tell us a little about yourself:

1)Why asatru?
It is the religion of my Norse and Teutonic ancestors, and the faith with which I feel the strongest kinship.

2)What led you to asatru?
I was given a set of runes by a girlfriend, and interested in the mythology behind them picked up a copy of Futhark: A Guide to Norse Magic by Edred Thorsson. From there I became interested in Asatru, and converted to the faith in 1987.

3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?
Most definitely. I feel more connected to the world and have acquired hope, faith, and courage.

4)How long have you been an asatruar?
Since 1987. (see above)

5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you?
No.

6)Do you belong to a kindred?
I'm associated with the Great Oak Kindred here in California, and when possible attend the "pancake moot" once a month for breakfast at a local restaurant.

7)Do you have a patron deity?
Yes. I follow both Odin and Freyja.

cool If so then who and why? If not then why not?
I am a mystic and occult scholar with a strong attraction to shamanism, and after converting to Asatru began practicing galdhr and seidhr magic. Since Odin and Freyja are the patron deities of these two paths, it was only natural that I choose them--or rather, that they chose me.
Ask me sometime about my third patron deity...

9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft?
As mentioned above, I practice both galdhr and seidhr magic, and am a vitki who practices runic divination. I also received some interesting insights into the Runes while performing the runic meditations outlined in The Nine Doors of Midgard by Edred Thorsson.

I guess its alright if I do mine now.

1)Why asatru?
Its the only religion that really fits me.

2)What led you to asatru?
Well I started out as a christian then was a norse wiccan then when I came to the conclusion that wicca wasnt for me I turned back to christianity. Then one day I felt the calling of the gods Odin and Thor so strong that I couldnt resist. I realized no other religion would do so I turned to the one of my ancestors.

3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?
Alot. Like a complete 180.

4)How long have you been an asatruar?
A little over a year [no, not long].

5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you?
No, I dont.

6)Do you belong to a kindred
No, Im the only heathen in my area. But I do plan on being a godi one day and starting one.

7)Do you have a patron deity?
Yes I do.

cool If so then who and why? If not then why not?
Odin. I gave it alot of thought and realized that out of all the gods/eddess I was most like him and would be able to learn most from him.

9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft?
Rune casting and some galdr. I'll also do other divinational works with the runes but I work mainly with runes.

1)Why asatru?
I clasify myself as a germanic heathen. It was the Religion of my Early Gothic and Frankish ancestors
2)What led you to asatru?
I had become a part of the wiccan community here in canada and i always knew wicca came from ancient pagan beliefs, so it led to the study of my ancestors religion (my ancestors being Goth and Frankish) I found Germanic paganism to be astounding so i converted smile
3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?
I see winter to be beautiful and i feel more connected to the divine and to my ancestors.
4)How long have you been an asatruar?
about a year
5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you?
There are no germanic/norse heathens where i live sadly sad
6)Do you belong to a kindred
no sad
7)Do you have a patron deity?
I have a few that i worship
cool If so then who and why? If not then why not?
Wodan- He is the all father and he gave us the runes and tought us thier magic.
Donar (Thor)- Worship for my protection and that of my family and friends.
Tyz (Goth name for Tyr)- Dominant diety of my goth ansestors
Freyja- For magical reasons
9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft? I am currently studieing rune magic along with shamanism and witchcraft.

Heilsan Allir,

Updated 21st October 2010

1)Why asatru?

My ancestry is primarily German, and as such, I see it as the natural Folkway for myself.

2)What led you to asatru?

The short answer is Dungeons and Dragons. The more involved answer is that I remember, when young, attending a Rudolf Steiner school, where they had a book called 'Gods and Heroes from Viking Mythology'. The book certainly connected with me (and I have since owned two copies - one I have gifted to friends of mine for their daughter, and the other I still own). What I wasn't aware of, was why it connected with me at that age, and so, I ensued living life in a fairly atheistic family (our Church attendance was primarily for Christenings, Marriages and the odd Funeral). I first encountered spiritualism as a systemic thing at Catholic High School which I attended due to my parents being of the opinion that their education standards were higher than the State system (I am dubious as to this being the case - my own childred are attending State schools and will remain to be so). At any rate, by Year 10 (age 16) I was an avowed atheist and was quite contemptuous of Roman Catholicism. It was around this age that I found an interest in Dungeons and Dragons. One of the main factors in my finding my ancestral Folkways was the book 'Legends and Lore' which had adapted gods and goddesses of various folkways to the game system, and amongst these were the gods and goddesses of the Germanic/Nordic folk. This combined with an interest in magic, led me to start looking. And I found my way back home via the Runes. My first book on the Germanic Folkway was 'Norse Magic' by D. J. Conway (anyone whom knows anything about this book, knows that it's absolutely woeful, but, it was where I started).

3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?

It has grown to include more of the ethical considerations of our ancestors, tempered with a more humanistic element.

4)How long have you been an asatruar?

I would say that specifically of the Germanic Folkway would be now about 10 years. Of the time frame of my interest in Runes, et al, that would be 19 years. Of the core of whom I am, then, my whole life really.

5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you?

No.

6)Do you belong to a kindred

I have my own Hearth - Vek Almuginn which comprises my own family, and am oathed Kin to Brambleforge Kindred. I am also associated with the Germanic Folkways Fellowship Australia.

7)Do you have a patron deity?

No.

cool If so then who and why? If not then why not?

I am Vinr to Odhinn, Frey, Freyja, Sunna, Mani and Forseti. I hold all the gods and goddesses in high esteem though. The reason I see none as being a Patron, is the particular nature of whom and what a Patron is. I see the relationship I hold with the gods and goddesses as being more along the line of a friendship with persons whom are my elders and whom hold great power and great responsibility.

9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft?

Yes. I still use the Runes on occassion when I consider it necessary. I don't consider Galdr to be divination, but rather a focussed magical process, and yes, I do undertake Galdr on occassion. Seið is something that I do to a degree, but outside the nature of divination, insofar as I work with seið more in the way I work with Galdr. Spae I don't do.

Ver thu heil

As I have recently joined, I thought it would be the polite thing to do:


1)Why asatru?
It fits me, and it makes sense. The metaphors of the creation of the 9 worlds kind of goes along with the big bang-theory, and I found that the most interesting. I also like the 9 Noble Virtues, although I don't always follow them to a perfect "T" I still think they make sense. I also like challenges, and it's a trip trying to decipher the old sagas and eddas in their english translations from the 'old' wording. I also feel closer to the Gods, than of any other path. I'd been a seeking pagan for about 15 years and out of the other paths I had read many things on, Asatru makes the most sense.

2)What led you to asatru?
Well, basically it all started when I was talking to a woman on AOL who was Asatru. I was studying Druidry at the time, and she got me wondering about Asatru. Right place, right time, I guess.. smile

3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?
Definitely. Life isn't as terribly confusing as it was. The broader view is different also.

4)How long have you been an asatruar?
Only for around 2 years and some change..

5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you?
Not particularly. I've met other female Asatru who are quite happy to see another woman interested in our way.

6)Do you belong to a kindred
Not currently no.. I wish there were more like minded folks in my area. I don't live far from the home-base of that horrid Witchschool out of Hoopeston, IL. So there are more of them around then other pagan paths. I do know a few Druids in real life though. I'm involved with the local chapter of Dagorhir Medieval reenactment, and there are quite a few pagans of different sorts involved in that also. I find myself checking for Thor's hammer necklaces at events. lol

7)Do you have a patron deity?
Yes wink

cool If so then who and why? If not then why not?
Freyja and Odin.

9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft?
I've made runes that work well from FIMO brand clay.

If anyone is particularly interested I have an Asatru homepage at Tripod, and it has my 'complete version' of my path to Asatru on it, and some really good links (including links to videos on Youtube that are Asatru related), also recipes, and how to make Runes with FIMO. I've recently updated it, so all links should still be working. I'm still working on the site, but I've got quite a bit up already.
My Asatru Pages

Been in the guild a while now, but since I'm bored its about time i answer.

2)What led you to asatru?
Catholicism.^^ When i was a youngen 12-15 delving deep into the church and its teachings i ran across many many inconsistancies. Tracing the path of those traditions, rites, ceramonies and legends led me to the Norse path. I became a actual norse pagan in 1999 when i met Hel at the age of 19. She showed me the way.

3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?
Um... well how i feel inside is no longer a mortal sin ^^. Its the reason i was chosen. So i feel better about myself and better in life.

4)How long have you been an asatruar?
Well technically since 1999 but really since 1995 when i discarded catholicism. From that point on I dabbled in many religions some of which interested me more such as Demonology, Native American Shamanism (mostly North Eastern Tribal lore/magic), the Asatruar (mostly under Ohdinn and Thorr, boy was i off on that one) and Shinto.

5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you?
I look as much like a pagan or wise man as George Bush looks like the Dhali Lama. So ya they don't think much of me when we first meet but when we get to talking they keep inviting me back to hang out and teach them interesting stuff.

6)Do you belong to a kindred
Nope.

7)Do you have a patron deity?
Hel, but i get subleased out out sometimes ^^' Fenris, Jormungand, Loki, Agrbolda. Basically to the abominations ^^. I feel the pull of Fenris in the summer. Hel in the fall. Jormungand in the spring. Agrbolda in the winter.
Loki is kind of random, but Hel is always looking out for me.

cool If so then who and why?
Hel claimed me. She kissed me and said "You are alive. Find me." So now I am alive and i found her.

9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft?
Some... Divination can be an awful power. Be very careful how deep you dive least you drown in the power you sought. So yes i have and not anymore.

1)Why asatru?
Its what has felt right.

2)What led you to asatru?
When i was small my father told me stories of the Norse Gods, gave me books and play sets that included vikings. we would watch documentaries on the Scandinavian people and their beliefs, history. And i have a heavily Swedish heritage.

3)How has your world view changed since you came to asatru?
I am more content with myself and the world.

4)How long have you been an asatruar?
ever since high school i have been looking into other religions and pantheons, i kept getting drawn back to the Norse Pantheon, but i really did not consider myself a heathen until a year and a half ago.

5)Do you feel that your age or gender has affected the way other heathens see you? I have not had much interaction with other heathens. I don't think I'm quite ready to seek out a Kindred yet, and I'm not sure my beliefs will sit well with theirs.

6)Do you belong to a kindred
nope- see above ^.^

7)Do you have a patron deity?
Yes

cool If so then who and why? If not then why not?
Baldr and Hodr, Why? I'm not sure, but i do believe that as the years go by i will be able to answer that, i'll keep you up dated.

9)Do you practice any kind of divination such as runecasting, galdr, seidr, or spae craft?
No, i think i will go about making my own rune set soon though, weather or not i'll really use them is another story, might not have the aptitude.