Opinions on Asatru?

[emraldshadowcat]

My fiance is a die hard Asatru.....and until I met him I had no idea what that was. He has told me alot about it, and how it has affected his life. But we tend to get into tiffs every now and then because before he met me, anything pagan or especially wiccan was "fluffy" to him. And as I have gotten to know his kindred, I notice that many of them have a similar opinion. Anyone ever met someone on the Asatru path?

[Nantonos]

My fiance is a die hard Asatru.....and until I met him I had no idea what that was. He has told me alot about it, and how it has affected his life. But we tend to get into tiffs every now and then because before he met me, anything pagan or especially wiccan was "fluffy" to him. And as I have gotten to know his kindred, I notice that many of them have a similar opinion. Anyone ever met someone on the Asatru path?

There are a couple of stereotypes battling here. First sit back and watch the show as I present them.

There is the stereotype of the mindless airhead wiccan who muddles a bit from this book, a bit from that book, doesn't understand them and doesn't care to. Wildly mispronouncing deity names from a dozen different pantheons and fearlessly invoking Kali, the Morrigan and Artemis for a 'healing and protecting' spell, she (this particular stereotype is a she) responds to any questions about studying with "Huh?" and any argument derived from books with "well no-one really, like, knows, right? *giggle*"

Over in the other corner we have the brooding and intense Asatruer. He (this stereotype is a he ("for balence!" cries airhead in a mixture of passion and bad spelling) plans to attend a Blot very soon, perhaps in the next few years, once he has mastered Old Norse, obtained a PhD in proto-Germanic, and not only read but memorized all of the Kalevala. in the original language. With line numbers. Until then, any actual practice would be too dangerous and too hasty. In addition, he cannot do anything unless it is thoroughly attested in the tradition. He once wet himself on the way to the bathroom because someone asked about Germanic toilet practices in sixth cenury Saxony. He worries that passing round a horn of mead is all very well, but hopes there won't be any of that freaky divination stuff. Ever.

Having laughed at those two fictional characters, destined to never get anywhere far less start a conversation, I invite you to realize two things

a) You are not those characters. you are two individuals. You can share experiences and knowledge and interact with one another, remembering that you are interacting with a unique and individual person not a cardboard cutout.

b) Other people from your peer groups will, often without thinking, put that cardboard mask on your partner and then talk to the mask. Take the mask back off and ask that they speak to the person instead.

[Tullip Troll]

there's no topping that answer

[Atheleisia]

I'm an Asatruar -- though I tend to be a little too... liberal, I guess for most other Asatruar tastes, so I irritate them occasionally (regularly?)

Asatruar pride themselves on using academically legitimate historical sources to (re)construct their path; largely, they won't rely on 'what feels right' and often look down on those who do, because from the Asatruar's perspective, they probably could have found their answer if they just looked hard enough. Some Asatruar, especially those with a folkish perspective, feel that by 'making things' up, Wiccans (or whoever) are somehow diluting their own and other's paths.

Many see Wicca and other non-reconstructionist paths to be watered down, but they fail to realize that many people are introduced to paganism through Wicca, and that Wicca can sometimes be a stepping stone to another path. (I wouldn't be surprised if some of the ones that grumble the loudest were once Wiccans themselves.)

I'll go out on a limb, too, and say that Wicca is probably the most popular pagan path, but even if it isn't, is still the most well known to the general public; pagans -- Wiccans, especially, it seems -- have been working on disseminating the right information about paganism. Whether we're Wiccan or not, I think that helps all types of pagansin the long run.

The majority of Asatruar in my area tend to be uppity, cooler-than-you hardnoses. Among the Asatruar where I live, if somebody comes up with an unusual idea that the others poo-poo, it's a pretty common insult to say things like, "Oh no, Bob's gone Wiccan!" That irks me. Given the choice, I'd prefer to hang out with the "fluffy bunnies" than other heathens I know. :noway:

We're not all obnoxious and bad though, I promise. Well, probably most of us are obnoxious... but some of us for completely different reasons!

[FlyingBear]

Only ever had two encounters. One was a huge delightful man in my then SCA group who, after a public school prayer, let out a huge belch and said " Hail Odin!" _pounce_

The other was a jerk who kept insisting that I'd be perfect breeding stock for sons. I'll spare you further details, but you get the idea. :mad:

[mothwench]

lmao, nantonos! :veryweird
i'm in an asatru forum, but i've never yet met any asatrar irl. i've had lots of good discussions with them but i've never gone to a meetup, cause i'm shy and that. :bigredblu
anyway, i just wanted to add, it's not just a matter of wiccans and asatruar, it's part of the whole neo-pagans vs reconstructionists thing.

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

I've met some through communities on livejournal. not being asatruar myself (though i am devoted to Ullr, and curious about Norse ways and information), i have little to do w/ the communities beside reading posts. From what i've seen there are numerous different types of asatruar, as with any religion really, from uber conservative, to very liberal (self named "bad heathens"). I think it's kinda the same attitude in wicca, from some BTW's who consider ecclectic, especially solitary, wiccans "fluffs".

[Mjollnir]

To put it mildly, there are assholes no matter where you go, or what path you follow. The people on the east coast from what I have been told are supposedly to be really cool, and I met a lot of them and the assumption is correct. I know for a fact there are fluffy wiccans, and fluffy asatru, and..................it happens.

[Mjollnir]

I am so stupid, I forgot to add that I am Asatru as well.

[frigga]

anyway, i just wanted to add, it's not just a matter of wiccans and asatruar, it's part of the whole neo-pagans vs reconstructionists thing.
Couldn't have said it better me self!

[Maggie]

To put it mildly, there are assholes no matter where you go, or what path you follow. The people on the east coast from what I have been told are supposedly to be really cool, and I met a lot of them and the assumption is correct. I know for a fact there are fluffy wiccans, and fluffy asatru, and..................it happens.
I was in a protoGrove in Virginia (which is whole nother story), a couple of people there were Asatru. Right now we meet once in awhile with them at a Blot, they did a really nice one for me after my father died this summer. I'd agree with your opinion about the east coast folks!

Maggie

[Reginleif]

I am Asatru, and all of the Asatruar I have met thus far have been really cool people. I'm on the east coast, and they have been, too.

But anyway, I see Wiccans that aren't Seax(sp?) Wicca, Gardnerian, or Alexandrian Wicca as people who aren't really Wiccan for one reason. Gerald Gardner created Wicca with 161 rules, and this "modern Wicca" (for lack of better words) isn't Wicca because it deviates a great deal from that and what he originally made it to be. You can't belong to a religion if you don't follow what it says/preaches/teaches. I see this "modern Wicca" as ecclectic paganism (or simply Neo-Paganism if the person sticks to one pantheon), which is not bad at all. I don't look down on them at all, they have a right to believe what they want, but I just don't agree with using the term Wicca.

I hope I didn't offend anybody, but this is just the way I feel. And if this wasn't clear, I'm sorry because I'm not good at writing down my ideas.

[aluokaloo]

Only ever had two encounters. One was a huge delightful man in my then SCA group who, after a public school prayer, let out a huge belch and said " Hail Odin!" _pounce_

The other was a jerk who kept insisting that I'd be perfect breeding stock for sons. I'll spare you further details, but you get the idea. :mad:



That's Hysterical!I wish I would have been there! :yayah:

[aluokaloo]

Perfect breeding stock? What does he think you are? A broodmare? Gods! :wtf:

[DebLipp]

But anyway, I see Wiccans that aren't Seax(sp?) Wicca, Gardnerian, or Alexandrian Wicca as people who aren't really Wiccan for one reason. Gerald Gardner created Wicca with 161 rules, and this "modern Wicca" (for lack of better words) isn't Wicca because it deviates a great deal from that and what he originally made it to be. You can't belong to a religion if you don't follow what it says/preaches/teaches. I see this "modern Wicca" as ecclectic paganism (or simply Neo-Paganism if the person sticks to one pantheon), which is not bad at all. I don't look down on them at all, they have a right to believe what they want, but I just don't agree with using the term Wicca.

Gerald Gardner introduced "The Laws" that you refer to after his coven had been in existence for some time, so they are not an original part of Gardnerian Craft. They were also not introduced as rules for the modern Craft, but as supposedly ancient laws that could be adopted for modern use.

There are numerous versions of these Laws online and if you look at them, you will see that they are not a consistent part of even the most conservative Wicca.

Gardner also taught, repeatedly and often, that creativity and creating your own rituals was an integral part of Wicca. To say that people who do exactly that are not Wiccan because they aren't following Gardner's rules kind of misses the point.

[*raven*]

My boyfriend's Asatru and I know a fair few more too and the majority, particularly my bf, are completely accepting of all other paths. However there are certain heathens i know that as much as they appear to be perfectly accepting I've come to discover really aren't and do seem to consider themselves above everyone else. I think like someone else said you're always going to meet some people who give certain paths a bad name, no matter which one.
Blessings,
Raven x

[Wodening]

Well, Asatru, usually called Heathenry anymore has as many different opinions on what it is as any other religion. That makes giving an opinion on it difficult. Afterall, do you mean organized Heathen community that includes all Germanic Heathens or just those that are Icelandic. Do you mean those lone Asatruar that circle with other pagans or hardliners with their own kindred and no Wiccans allowed??? Now if that is not enough, when you start talking individual Germanic Heathens, it gets even more complex! Anyway, just try to be open minded and encourage him to be the same.

Welga!
Swain

[Laisrean]

I am so stupid, I forgot to add that I am Asatru as well.


With a username and avatar like that it's pretty obvious. :)

[Rick]

I think this article is appropriate to this conversation, as well as interesting... http://www.webcom.com/~lstead/wicatru.html