By Hammer, By Spear : About the Asatru Path

by Ryan Smith

Asatru, the faith of the Norse and Germanic Gods, is more than just a belief system, it is a way of life. There are many things that can define what we believe; the Eddas, the Nine Noble Virtues, the writings of many great Asatru thinkers. These are excellent places to start for studying Asatru. What is most important to remember is Asatru is not something done just on the Holy Days and at blots. To be Asatruar is more than just the blots, the jewelry, the runes, and the sagas. It is a conscious way of living that permeates everything we do. Being Asatruar is not just to hold a set of beliefs as the guiding light we follow; it is to fully embrace a new perspective on life.

To be Asatruar is to live life fully and honorably. It is to welcome that life is not a trial to be endured, a lesson to be learned, or a burden to be carried but an adventure that only ends with our last breath. It is knowing that a good life is not just about the affirmations we think, the statements we make, and the beliefs we hold. It is living by the deeds we do and the actions we perform. It is to chart your life by the highest star and strive to always do the best you can and settle for nothing less. It is to not see obstacles as barriers that impede us but as challenges to be overcome. It is to laugh loudly, speak honestly, and give generously.

For us the Gods are not distant stern rulers or abstract metaphysical concepts. They are just as real and immediate as the flesh on our bones or the blood in our veins. Life is not seen as a matter of living by Their dictates to avoid their displeasure or Their disappointment, but to constantly strive to live up to their example and make Them proud. The Nine Noble Virtues and the sayings in the Havamal are not ironclad divine laws to obey but ideals to uphold and advice to be considered. In Asatru favor is not given but earned through deeds worthy of such recognition. Asatruar do not assume to know the minds and wills of the Gods, we instead seek to understand Them as best we can.

In Asatru, life is not just the time we spend in physical existence but the actions and deeds we do while alive. Life is more than just the time between our first and last heartbeats, life is a gift to be cherished and embraced. As was said over a thousand years ago in the Havamal, one of the books of the Eddas, and is as true then as it is now for Asatruar everywhere:

Cattle die, and kinsmen die
And so dies one’s self
One thing I know that never dies
The fame of a dead man’s deeds

Comments

[hadiah heka]

Beautifully said, and smoothly written. My husband follows this path, and so I really appreciate you explaining it in such simple terms.
Good luck