What is Asatru? Series Intro

[Vinterulf]

This is just to be clear to everyone. If you are commenting on my videos you are, in fact, commenting on the theological aspect of Asatru as I am teaching it through my research and study. So, if you are agreeing with me and the philosophies...don't comment otherwise to speak against this or that in which you've "heard" or seen elsewhere. ...cont.

[Vinterulf]

@Orklord by the way, to illustrate the "assumption to what you do not know"... one of the longest standing members of my group is part Native American (meaning genetically tested, can register as NA) and part German. Although she may "look" Native American, her spiritual urges, way of thinking, etc. all lead her to Asatru. I say, "Look to your ancestrial, indigeous religion(s) first. Then, if you've given it/them an honest try...then, look to others." I don't look for percentages or "looks".

[SirThorgil]

Outstanding job bro

[SeleucidEmperor]

got it thx if u could id like to learn more of the asatru i watched the vids but still have ?s

[Vinterulf]

vinterulf@gsinet.net



[SeleucidEmperor]

your email didnt work for me

[TheCordell420]

i have read some of your books, very good. There better than alot of books i have paid money for. lol. Very good work brother. I need to get new copies of them, since i have lost alot of my literature moving

[av949]

Hey, a fellow Granite Stater! I don't live far from you either! I'm of Norse/Irish descent myself, so I've felt this natural affinity for the old gods and ways after reading stories about them as a child. Not to mention a great love of nature, animals, and the path of the seasons.

I have one question, though. What is your opinion on the Folkish wings of your religion? Asatru calls to me, but I don't want to involve myself in something that glorifies bigotry or racism.

[Vinterulf]

@av949 There's a difference between folkish and racist.. One believes that people should generally, spiritually seek within their heritage for the answers first. The other just hates others for the excuse of not having to improve oneself. There's a large difference. Besides, there are a far larger number of Christian racists than there are Asatru ones. We haven't by any means cornered the market for that. Don't trust the internet and some keyboard-warrior jack-offs to give you the scoop.

[Vinterulf]

@av949 BTW drop me an e-mail vinterulf@gsinet.net if you want to try to meet up sometime. Would be a shame for you to find that there are other heathens in the state and not meet some of us.

[TheDavid2222]

@Vinterulf What would you think of a white guy who felt closer to Shinto than to Asatru? Do you think that the person is "wrong" or misguided? How do you really feel about the value of other cultures? I'm just curious.

[AvylinaLaBelle]

@av949 I do agree with Mike. I am Folkish and most definitely not racist by any means. To me, family is family, no matter what their race is.

In respect to being Folkish, it is about my Norse heritage and legacy I will leave behind for my children. Family and roots are very important aspects of my life.

Warmest wishes to you and all who read this.

[darkwaver111]

I have a question regarding heathen spirituality and culture and ethnicity.

I have been involved in various forms of paganism for a long time, recently I have wanted to get a more in depth look/practice of Asatru/Odin-ism. I am hesitant to involve myself in these community's because I am not of any nordic descent, that is to say, my mothers side of the family is Peruvian, and my fathers side is English. Should my cultural background stop me form looking into Heathanism as a spiritual path?

[Vinterulf]

@darkwaver111 No, it shouldn't stop you. My views in a TINY nutshell is this: Look to your ancestry first, go for the original indigeous religion. If you're of mult-iheritage, at least give'em all a look-see and then go with where you feel "the biggest pull" from your bones/heart, so to speak. You said yourself you have english ancestry, Asatru is more of a Pan-Germanic generally at least here in the USA.

[BodhranGirl98]

@darkwaver111 If you're part English you ARE of Nordic/Germanic descent

[Iron14Hammer]

I have only been Asatru now for about 4 years and I love learning anything I can more on it. I enjoy your videos because they are well spoken

[DuescherStoltz]

Hey mike, i am as we speak beginning to immerse myself in the asatru alliance and i have to ask you, its such a great religion, and returning to your roots like this is more than notable, but im in a bit of a fix here. i live in germany, and my christian colleagues, family, and neighbors are pressuring me to drop this, i dont want to. do you feel any pressure from others to leave asatru? i love it, and i am determined not to leave.

[Vinterulf]

@DuescherStoltz To be honest, no I've never felt pressure from loved ones to not be Asatru. I, fortunately grew up in a household that was not religious at all. Christmas was "presetns day" easter "candy day", etc. No church, never baptised, etc. My mom basically was of the opinion that when we wanted to check out religion we'd do it on our own.

I have felt some slight prejudice, but nothing I couldn't handle.

[DuescherStoltz]

@Vinterulf well, thank you for that input. im unfoortunitelly faced with the fact my grandmother is the archdeacon of hawaii and i am baptized. however, i did renounce my faith because i absolutely LOVE Asatru, i wouldnt leave it for the world. Its a fine relgion and it gives me a feeling of belonging. when i was in afghanistan with the bundeswehr i was met by slight prejudice by my comrades but i shook it off. I guess ill have to continue that. thank you for your help however :)

[jldyr2]

I just wanted to throw a comment in here as well, I hope you don't mind. When I finally explained what religion I followed to my family. There was a period that they didn't really speak to me, but they got over it and I will usually avoid the subject with them unless directly asked. The point is that they will get over it, that's why they are family. Follow what you believe, you will only be happy if you do. Family is always the hard bit. Ignore you colleagues, it's non of their business.

[aubergine2c]

Very good work.

[Vinterulf]

@thepeterlong Nope, I don't use those time-waster things. : ) People get sucked into them and forget to live real life. I have a very negative view on "internet social networks".

[Vinterulf]

@thepeterlong There's a saying in my region, regardless of who's clergy program you've done: If you stand up at a large event (like ECT) and say "I'm a gothi." And no one laughs or snickers... then you are.

[Vinterulf]

@thepeterlong Am I recognized bty any of the national orgs as having done their programs? No, I have not. Do people in my area consider me such? Some do. I'll be blatantly honest here: Most of the nation org's programs..I could've written them myself. Many of my works are required or suggested reading by them all, from what I understand and have heard.

[7spoony]

hail odin the all father

[OregonAlleyCat]

Something I am curious about... the word Asatru derives partly from the term Aesir which is one of the two classes of the gods, the other being the Vanir. Yes, no? Where the Vanir fit into Asatru faith and practice? Pardon me if I sound particularly ignorant, but I know very little about this faith.

[Vinterulf]

Actually, the Asa- portion means basically gods. Which is the same root for Aesir which means "gods". Asatru really is simply "true or loyal to the gods". The Vanir fit just as well. The whole idea of the "Vanatru" stuff is just quite silly in my personal viewpoint.

[BerserkerVikingRUS]

I just believe in oden for fight wtf ofer to gods.

[Metaldude1945]

Are you from Russia? Do you practice rodnovery?

[BerserkerVikingRUS]

@Metaldude1945 Yes i do just like that no beleve just awake my ancenators power;p

[PaulBorda]

I just started watching your videos, Mike. I'm looking forward to seeing them all in order. Thanks for putting them out there.

[Colin24Astonwood]

I always thought Asatru was the old European way of life, living with nature rather then against it.,a way of life as apposed to being a religion so to speak.

Asatru has many great virtues, It has been around for many thousands of years. It has stood the test of time.

[TheHeathenThinker]

Uhmm... Asatru has only been around since the 70's. Asatru and Heathenry are the reconstruction of the old Heathen beliefs and culture.

[thedarkmoonmidnight]

5 stars, GREAT info, i learned a lot about Asatru, thanks for the vid

[imawitchboy]

i really like your videos

[Damitarosie]

I am Icelandic and belong to Ásatrú and I think your side here is really good .-)

[HoundofOdin]

Can someone offer something other than alcohol to the gods? If I offer them something like milk or tea would they accept it?

[Vinterulf]

Yes. So long as the offering has sincerity, you're all set.

[HoundofOdin]

Thanks. I'm 18, so alcohol is kind of a problem for me to obtain.

[maestro666mn]

Lest the government thinks that American heathens talk in secret code (i.e. Scandinavian or other Germanic languages), my last comment is to the Americans among us: You all need to work on your pronunciation of Old Norse. It's painful for me to hear it butchered, when a little education (essential to understand the faith on a deeper level) could do a lot of good. I suggest Gordon's "An Introduction to Old Norse." Or an extended trip to Iceland. I say that with the best intentions mind you!

[maestro666mn]

Till spurgu: ja, på svenska är det Asatro, men i USA använder vi för det mesta den isländska formen, riktigt Ásatrú (med engelskt uttal, Ow-sah-troo eller Ah-sa-troo). Själv använder jag bara hednisk/heathen. Namnet Asatro kommer från 1800-talet (diskutabelt precis när och varifrån det kom).

[maestro666mn]

Jag bor i Minnesota och har svenska förfäder, men inga släktingnar ändå i Sverige. Det är inte vikigt, men det är jätteviktigt att vi nu lär oss svenska och andra språk för att förstå vårt kulturarv, varhelst det ligger.

[Eopyk]

Oj då kul att se Svenskamerikaner som vill lära sig Svenska igen. Hur är dit uttal? Om du vill ha hjälp med något så kan ja ge material till som jag har hittat i några sidor på webben :). Du stavar mycket bra dock :)

[apapat]

Hey--Jeg bor i Minnesota også. Okay, that's just my shoddy Norwegian.

[maestro666mn]

Bra att du förstår Mike. Annars skulle det säkert vara vinterulv på modern svenska. My username is clearly not representative of anything I want to represent, since I am not a serious musician and nor am I into the Christian devil (and the number is incorrect, i.e. 616). Tack i alla fall för videorna.

[Vinterulf]

Emedan min introduktion till den var så Asatru " och JAG också vårda till gå emot den mer Gammal Norse material. Ändå min studerande av Asatru har smal avsats jag till studera mer omkring min Svensk arvedel , JAG er olyckligt den bara en av min familj här vem har så pass intressera nog till försök till lära sig Svensk igen. Min stamfäderna kom till U.S.A. under en tiden när folk försökt till vara mer " Amerikanen " en gång de fik här.

[Eopyk]

Mycket bra stavat också :) Men lite fel här och där mest i böjningar (inflections) for an example it should be '' min svenska arvedel'' With a A siffix at the end. Om du behöver hjälp med något säg till :) Själv är jag inte asatro men jag har bra sidor om Svenska språket för dem som vill lära sig :).Fast jag tycker att astro är intresant dock :)

All kärlek och respekt till dig.

[Spurgu87]

Varför Asatru? Borde det inte vara Asatro?

[7theodinman9]

im with you fuck christans iv ben asatru for two years weres your hammer dude i dident see one on you

[Vinterulf]

Around my neck, tattooed on my body, on the number post in front of my house, over the doors in my house, sitting on my altar inside, sitting on my stone altar outside.

[blazak]

Thanks for doing this - I'm always learning about Odinism/Ásatrú.

[gothi3]

Very nice , I Was raised Asatru and glad you posted this.

Gunnulf

[maestro666mn]

Hey Mike,

Had no idea any American Ásatrú believers knew Swedish besides me. Var har du lärt dig svenska? Jag är faktiskt en lärare i det svenska språket på universitetet här i Minnesota men är helt amerikansk och hednisk.

Just a comment: -f- is pronounced /v/ when followed by a voiced vowel in ON and modern Icelandic ( for example, álfar is /awlva(r)/). Icelandic 'á' is a diphthong, pronounced like 'ow' or 'ou' in 'house'. Ásatrú needs to work on its pronunciation a lot (me included).

[maestro666mn]

We have an especially tough time in English to use Old Norse/modern Icelandic grammar since English has even less grammar than the modern mainland Scandinavian languages. We need to work even harder to understand the basics of old Germanic grammar: the cases, genders, and so on. I work with Old Norse as an academic, and just thought I'd point out that your Ásatrú name is strange. The ON noun for 'winter' is 'vetr' and 'ulf' should have the masculine nominative ending -r or modern -ur. Í friði.

[Vinterulf]

Yup...a mere play on things. I wasn't really going for an "accurate Old Norse" name. Just for soemthing other than "Mike956813155423" for a username. : ) I actually don't go by "Vinterulf", just Mike Smith.

[dragonddff]

I'm 15 and converted away from the church of christ at the age of 2 but had doubts at the age of 7... im always thinking about my beliefs and i have my own thought about the world but it dosent stop me from choosing a relegion.. im very entrested in asatru always have since i chose not be a christian.. recently I was into the mayan and other mesoamerican relegions... but i say all gods are real even the jewish one and they all have influence over the lives of there folowers...

[Superhaze]

Learning a scandinavian language is by no means an easy feat for most non-scandinavians and perhaps germans and dutch. good luck, but remember that its more important to take the tradition seriously, and not just running around playing viking. ;)

[Superhaze]

*unless you are perhaps german or dutch*

[KooKooCow]

im learning german right now and i can pronounce perfect but my reading is bad

[DingoWulf]

ONe thing that has helped me with my reading is to read songs and play them, Farseti, is good as far as an artist in the old ways, Another book I like is Oxford guide to German, it has cartoons and does a good job.

As far as learning the language of the old world I find it an imparative, for American Enlish has so many distortions when someone translates out of German...

[Vinterulf]

I've given the same advice myself to others over the past 18 years.

[WulfgarMacThomas]

several in my tribe have a study group going for Old Norse. Tough going, we all want to pronounce things differently!

[Fedesha]

Superhaze, it is true, I am Dutch and I think I could learn a Scandinavian language easily. I am not studying (yet), but looking through vocabulary and basic grammar summaries I see plenty of similarities.

[Metallicazack]

Though I don't look it* I'm also trying to learn Icelandic

[dutchfreak3]

c'mon.. the only evidence i have of ANY germanic blood is my biological father who has blonde hair and green eyes, I don't even know him, never met him (my mother told me this).. so i know nothing of germanic roots in my blood, but i'm an asatru follower, pretty new, have my þorr´s hammer necklace, i speak old english, some swedish, and a little bit of icelandic, and its going well for me.. you dont have to be germanic to be asatru.. i´m half black even =), hail Oðinn!

[Metallicazack]

Yeah, I'm new also. I'm only 13 and was raised Jewish but I've found the old Gods. I have lots of Northern European blood and I'm also of mixed heritage, though I look like I'm trying to learn Icelandic

[Kunstdesfechtens]

Good luck to you. :) If you don't mind me asking, does your family know?

[joyinacceptance]

I am not sure about my own genealogy, unfortunately, but I have blonde hair and grey eyes and I wonder if I have a Germanic background.

[Kunstdesfechtens]

Nice job! And keep up with the German Longsword too. :)

[erikfofo]

Tak for disse videoer... interessant at der også findes asatroende i USA, det vidste jeg ikke... jeg håber at du kan forstå dansk, ellers kan jeg skrive på engelsk hvis du ønsker :-)

[Vinterulf]

Mig Dansk er værre end mig Svensk. Men , tak for lån nemlig den hilsen!

"My Danish is worse than my Swedish. But, thanks for the compliments! : )

[raggsokkenmin]

Tragisk med at Nazistene tok Åsatru som "deres".

Jeg er stolt over min ætt og liker ikke at den blit besudlet.

[Vinterulf]

Det är upp till oss till betagna sådan negationföreställningar och förgångna missuppfattningar som har skapats av de idioter.

[Forebeaingwolf]

Hailsa, ok komdu sael!

Your efforts are greatly appreciated. There is still much to be done, to re-establish our legitimacy and to overcome the shadows of both the distant and recent past. May all Vanir and Aesir set wyrd in your favor.

Farr heil.

[Asaweb]

Thanks for posting these videos. It's a great contribution to the community.

Kind regards from Denmark.

[ChineseRoom]

New Hampshire, nice

[liljawaslasher]

hey thats cool bro....i am a prospective asatruar and i have been searching around for info and other tidbits about this beleif....im definately subscribing

[bbnflpn]

i have been wanting to learn more about asatru, there are only a few that i know right now, and they are all military and away on float. ill enjoy watching your series.

[crowthedemented]

So far so good brother.

[vaygar]

Great job! I look forward to seeing what else you have!

Vaygar Odden Elmersson, Godi

RheinWood Asatru Assembly (Icelandic)

Wichita, Kansas

[CorsairKing]

Amazing, something to really show us in a postive light.

[TasteMyBlade]

Awesome video brother! New to Odinism/Asatru, have been for about 4/5 months, member of the OR.

Anyway, great vid.

Skal and Hail,

Nikolai

[Irondragon1972]

thank you for making Asatru more clear to those who do not practice. I found your series very informative. i have practiced Asatru for 3 years but have practiced paganism in various forms for 20 years.

Ves Heil,

Irondragon

[lovtrekvist]

Sure, not every Asatru is living strictly after values they find explained in the Edda or other lore, however it might be useful for non-heathens if some of them were explained a bit more profoundly.

[lovtrekvist]

Sounds promising so far. (norwegian asatru speaking here ^-^)

I didn't catch now if you already said you wanted to go over 'heathen values', anyways, many non-heathens are often confused by the ancient values, or at least some of the "12 virtues", especially the term "honour". I never saw any problem there, understanding what honour meant for me, however a former teacher of mine wasn't at all sure how to understand "honour", since e.g. muslims' honour means something totally else.