Asatru Update

Asatru and the Most Heroic Age of All!

2012-01-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

When we first revived Asatru in the United States, back in the early 1970's, our focus was entirely on the Vikings. And no wonder - people are enthralled with the vivid image of these swashbuckling pirates and adventurers. They certainly appealed to me, as a young man in my early 20's!

Our movement has matured a lot since then, and we realize that the Viking Age was maybe ten percent of Germanic history. It's not just about the Norsemen; it's about Germanic tribes everywhere, and it's about us, today, as Germanic people. Many of us, though, still long for salt spray and cold steel in our hands, the ropes of our rigging strumming in the Baltic breeze...and that's okay. One of the best things about the Viking image is that it appeals to those instincts for adventure, hardiness and courage. These values never go out of style, and are as good today as they were a thousand years ago.

With that said, we need to avoid the mindset that pines for the lost heroic age, whether that is seen as the era of the Vikings, the centuries of the wandering Germanic tribes, or any other time in history. "If only I lived back then...that was the real age for heroism!" goes the lament. But was it? Sure, it was a dramatic time, a period of conflict, when the historical stakes were high and bold men and resourceful women could perform great deeds and live lives that would resound through the centuries in the sagas...

...Just like today. These times, this crucial period of the early twentieth century, is no less dramatic, no less a time of conflict. The stakes on the gambling table of history today dwarf those of the Viking Age or any other. How many of us understand the importance of these decisive years? The gray power of the surveillance state looms large throughout our ancient European homelands and the New World alike. We European-descended folk are cut off from our spiritual heritage and flounder, lost, in a swamp of alienation and apathy. Everywhere, our numbers are dropping. Changes in the Earth's climate have produced a world tottering on the edge of an environmental precipice leading to mass extinctions - to include, perhaps, our own. This is the age that demands heroism - not the Viking Age or the Migration Age. The heroes of this epoch, this degenerate and desperate age, will redeem a future not only for our own folk but for all humanity and all life on this planet. This is the age for those who wish to overcome great odds and do great deeds! Ragnar Lodbrok, Harald Hardrada, Sigurd the Volsung - they envy those of us lucky enough to walk the earth at this time in history.

Will you be one to rise to the challenge? Or will you at least aid those who do? This is the heroic age you always wanted: Seize this time!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Twelfth Day of Yuletide - December 31

2011-12-31T04:21:00.000-08:00

THE TWELFTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 31

The twelfth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Wisdom.

What is wisdom? Perhaps it can be summed up in the word “understanding.” It takes only a little wisdom to understand superficial things, while understanding the subtle patterns and flow of events requires much more. Wisdom can come in a flash of inspired initiation but for most of us, most of the time, it is the product of gradually processing information and experience, and casting golden truths from that refined ore. However you define it, Wisdom is very important - without it, we are impotent, but with it we can enact our wills in the world!

Let us be Wise!

This day I will pour a libation to Odin, the very embodiment of Wisdom-seeking.

I will seek Wisdom this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Eleventh Day of Yuletide - December 30

2011-12-30T04:23:00.000-08:00

THE ELEVENTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 30

The eleventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Loyalty.

Elder Germanic society was based on a web of Loyalty - to family and tribe, to a chosen leader, to the Gods and Goddesses. The same applies to us today. We should give Loyalty and expect it of others, reciprocating in a dynamic exchange that grows continually stronger. Loyalty is intimately connected to many other values; it requires Steadfastness and Truth in our oaths, and without it the Community falters and dies. Where there is no Loyalty, there is no honor.

Let us be Loyal!

This day I will pour a libation to Wiglaf, the warrior who stood with Beowulf when all others fled in terror.

I will be Loyal this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Tenth Day of Yuletide - December 29

2011-12-29T05:42:00.000-08:00

THE TENTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 29

The tenth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Steadfastness.

Steadfastness - from the Old English meaning, literally, “staying fast to one’s place” - is vital for success on both the personal and the group level. It is often easy to exert immense effort for a short period of time, but soon we tire, our tenacity wavers, and our will to persevere fades away. A lack of Steadfastness undermines our attempts to diet, to complete a book manuscript, or to fight year after year for a cause that matters to us. Conversely, Steadfastness can give us victory in all these things, great and small alike.

Let us be Steadfast!

This day I will pour a libation to all those who have persevered in the modern Reawakening of the Germanic Way.

I will be Steadfast this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Ninth Day of Yuletide - December 28

2011-12-28T05:25:00.000-08:00

THE NINTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 28

The ninth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Truth.

Lies and deceit undermine our personal lives, our relationships with friends and spouses, and, ultimately, the community of which we are a part. Conversely, when we tell and live the Truth, we build bonds that strengthen and reinforce the good in our lives. On a personal level, the Truth we exhibit adds power to our reputation and our individual spiritual might. While telling the Truth is often painful, lies are an even greater burden to bear.

Let us express the Truth in our lives!

This day I will pour a libation to Var, the Goddess who hears all oaths and promises, that she may strengthen my ability to say and live the Truth.

I will tell the Truth this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Eighth Day of Yuletide - December 27

2011-12-27T05:42:00.000-08:00

THE EIGHTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 27

The eighth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Individuality.

Individuality balances yesterday’s value of Community. The genius of our people has been to combine these two seemingly contradictory ideas in a dynamic system that encourages cooperation for group goals, but at the same time respects the uniqueness and freedom of the individual. A look at the sagas reveals men and women with strong, stubborn, irrepressible personalities - who, at the same time, were fiercely loyal to kin, friends, and leaders.

Let us honor our Individuality!

This day I will pour a libation to Odin, the very epitome of the unique, individual, evolving Self.

I will assert my Individuality today.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Seventh Day of Yuletide - December 26

2011-12-26T04:28:00.000-08:00

THE SEVENTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 26

The seventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Community.

The joy of Yule springs overwhelmingly from Community. We feast with our family and good friends, exchange gifts, send cards and make telephone calls to the important people in our lives. While we are all unique individuals, we are nevertheless enmeshed in relationships with others. These relationships all bear benefits (love, someone to talk to, financial help) and duties (reciprocation, upholding the family’s honor, physical protection). Community also includes the ancestors, who look on from beyond the grave and nourish the souls of their descendants.

Let us strengthen the bonds of Community!

This day I will pour a libation to my kynfylgja, the personified repository of my family’s spiritual might, to honor the organic Community of my living kin and my ancestors.

I will be mindful of my Community this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Sixth Day of Yuletide - December 25

2011-12-25T04:15:00.000-08:00

THE SIXTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 25

The sixth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Moderation.

Now, with the Yule season at its height, surrounded by good food and drink, is a strange time to be reminded of Moderation! There is something about this holy tide that lends itself to excess, and it is certainly not our suggestion that you be ascetic during Yule. Nevertheless, exercise reasonable discipline where you can. No one respects a glutton. Moderation, however, does not mean lack of zeal or of commitment! It means being in control of our desires, conserving our energies, and channeling our will and in such a way as to successfully attain our goals.

Let us be Moderate!

This day, I will pour a libation to Frigga, our divine mother, for the stabilizing and Moderating influence of home and hearth.

I will be Moderate this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Fifth Day of Yuletide - December 24

2011-12-24T04:44:00.000-08:00

THE FIFTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 24

The fifth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Hospitality.

Being Hospitable has all the benefits of being Generous. It has, however, an added dimension of vulnerability - you are vulnerable, for you have let someone into your home, and your guest is likewise made vulnerable to you. The implication: trust. Giving and receiving hospitality builds even better bonds than Generosity, and is something to be sought after and treasured.

Let us be Hospitable!

This day, I will pour a libation to the land wights, the beings inherent in the land on which my home sits, for our mutual Hospitality.

I will be Hospitable this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Fourth Day of Yuletide - December 23

2011-12-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

THE FOURTH DAY OF YULETIDE - December 23

The fourth day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Generosity.

The open-handed and open-hearted have the best lives. The misers are indeed miserable; they are cut off from the flow of energy inherent in the Germanic concept of Fehu (mobile energy, wealth). Sharing with others demonstrates our spiritual power even as it benefits the recipient - both win in the exchange!

Let us be Generous!

This day, I will pour a libation to Jord, also known as Erda, from which we get the word “Earth” - for all the bounty she has bestowed upon us.

I will be Generous this day.

Steve McNallen
http://runestone.org

An Asatru Experience at Sunrise on the Winter Solstice

2011-12-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

As we revive our ancestral faith of Asatru, we need to be open to experiences that give us new insights and nourish our souls.

I've just had such a moment, and I want to write about it while the memory is still fresh.

The Winter Solstice happened at 9 PM or so last night, local time. This marks the true "new year," the rebirth of the sun, whom we perceive in her numinous aspect as the Goddess, Sunna. Today's dawn was the first rising of the new-born sun, and I intended to ceremonially greet it as it rose over the horizon.

I had spent the pre-dawn hours doing my various spiritual exercises, loading the dishwasher, checking the news online, and the other typical activities that fill my time after awakening. When the moment of sunrise came, Sheila and I were on the deck, facing eastward, a horn of mead in hand. As the first rays shot over the horizon, unrehearsed words poured from me. They went something like this: "Hail, Sunna! Hail the new year! You are reborn from the depths of winter, and so are we reborn! We are new, limitless, full of potential! You, who penetrated the chamber at Newgrange a few hours ago*, give your rebirth and renewal to us!"

I was instantly in an altered state. The light of the rising sun on the wall of the house seemed to have a special quality to it, and I had the overwhelming feeling that the sun's rays were re-making everything on which they fell, creating them anew. I walked inside, and paused in awe at a wall flooded with light. I stood in the light, and slowly turned, irradiated with a feeling of power, wholeness, newness. I sat quietly for a few moments as the feeling faded.

That's it. The simplicity of my description cannot begin to communicate its power or its impact on me, personally.

Yule can be a time of transformation. I had consciously told myself that I wanted it to be so - that I wanted to burn away the fatigue, the stress, the disappointments, the weakness, that congeals about us as we move though our days. I wanted rebirth.

On some level, I got it.

Asatru must not be just about wearing a hammer or saying the right words. We must seek inner spiritual experience, as well. Only in this way will we change our lives, empower our faith, and awaken the Folk of Northern Europe to their spiritual inheritance.

*This is a reference to the ancient tomb at Newgrange, part of the religious complex overlooking the valley of the River Boyne in Ireland. Every year, at sunrise on the morning of the Winter Solstice, a beam of light enters the inner chamber and lights up the interior for seventeen minutes. The rest of the time, it is in deep darkness.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Third Day of Yuletide - December 22

2011-12-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

THE THIRD DAY OF YULETIDE -December 22

The third day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Courage.

Courage is all around us in many guises. It is the man or woman who intervenes to drive off a mugger or a rapist. It is the mother cat who gives her life that her kittens might live. It is the scholar who holds an unpopular political opinion and doesn’t back down. It is the internal power to get out of bed and face each morning when everything seems futile, hopeless, and painful. Courage means mastering our fears and doing our duty, regardless of the cost.

Let us be Courageous!

This day, I will pour a libation to Tyr, who gave his hand and bound the wolf.

I will be Courageous this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Second Day of Yuletide - December 21

2011-12-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

This second day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Justice.

Treating others fairly forces us to see the world as it is, not as we would wish to see it. We grow beyond our own emotion-laden perception and see things from the standpoint of an abstract ideal. Likewise, we grow when we insist that others treat us fairly. By serving Justice, we rise to the heroic within us and build a good reputation among friends and foes alike.

Let us be Just!

This day, I will pour a libation to the givers of law and the bringers of Justice who have served the Germanic folk throughout our history.

I will be Just this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The First Day of Yuletide - December 20!

2011-12-20T06:06:00.000-08:00

Sunna begins her return! Let us greet her with the flame of love, as we light a candle - perhaps one on the Yule log decorating our living rooms!

This first day of Yule, we remember Industriousness.

Yuletide is (in theory!) a time of relaxation and recuperation. The rest of the year, however, is a time of work, of projects awaiting completion, of chores. Stressful? Yes, but a job well done, an idea made tangible, can also be a form of stress reliever. Accomplishment gives us peace of mind, inward calm, and a sense of worth.

Let us be industrious!

This day, I will pour a libation to Sunna, to give good speed to her return.

I will be Industrious this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Morning Rites - Part One

2011-12-06T09:02:00.000-08:00

Many religions have specific rites to begin each day. Asatru has no such formal practice, but over the years I have evolved a set of personal rites along these lines. Readers may find them helpful as they develop their own.

I do my morning rites in three parts, the first of which I will present here. I'll cover the other two parts another time.

Doing rites in the early morning has changed the way I see the world around me. I muse that, poetically, the world is re-created with each dawn: You can stand in the darkness and watch, minute by minute, as the world is reborn. First, the horizon in the east takes shape...then the trees around you gradually assume their forms, first as dim shadows which, gradually, become more defined...branches and leaves become visible against the ever-lighter sky... forms emerging from the darkness. Each day is a new start, a new beginning, a new world emerging from the void.

And the sky! Darkness still reigns in the west, stars faded now but shadow prevailing, in contrast to the light forming in the east. You can truly see the new day, an entity unto itself, new and unworn, coming toward you over the horizon! This scene never fails to move and inspire me.

I face east, stand with my arms raised high to my sides - the stance of the Elhaz rune - and say these words:

Hail to the Day! Hail to the sons of Day!
Hail to Night and her daughter!
Gaze on me gently standing here;
Give your blessings on my battles!

Hail to the Gods! Hail to the Goddesses!
Hail to the all-giving Earth!
Wisdom and lore grant me, so long as I live,
And healing hands.

(Adapted from Poems of the Elder Edda, by Patricia Terry)

As I finish this, I hold my hands in front of me and say words to the effect of "Help me to heal myself...help me to heal my people, the sons and daughters of Europe...help me to heal the Earth." I then add the names of specific individuals to whom I wish to send blessings.

Simple, yes? By understanding the setting of the rite, and the background of the verses, you can deepen your experience.

Ideally, I perform this rite just before dawn, facing east. This makes sense, of course, when greeting the day! I am fortunate in that I have a spectacular view of the Sierra Nevada as I stand on my deck and face eastward, and the panoramic beauty spread before me makes the ceremony especially profound. But other times, as when I leave for work long before the sun peeks over the horizon, I recite the words while I drive to work (Taking care not to have a run-in with the local deer or other critters). The important thing is to do it, and feel it, every day or as regularly as you can.

The two stanzas above are from the ancient "Lay of Sigrdrifa," which you can find in the Elder Edda - also known as the Poetic Edda. They lend themselves naturally to morning exercises. In the story, Sigrdrifa (who is actually the valkyrie Brynhild) has just been awakened by Sigurd, the great hero of the Volsung line, when she speaks these verses. She then goes on to initiate Sigurd into the mysteries of the runes and other esoteric subjects. This context applies to you and I, as well. Our destiny, if we choose it, is to awaken from our spiritual slumber and pursue wisdom! Perhaps this simple ritual can help you listen to your inner valkyrie as you go about your day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru and Thanksgiving - Are They Compatible?

2011-11-22T15:28:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again - Thanksgiving, and the beginning of what we habitually call "the holiday season." For some of us it will be a genuinely spiritual occasion, a time to be with family and to enjoy a meal while being, well, thankful. For others it will be just another stressful obligation to cook a meal we don't really want and to be sociable when we'd really rather be doing something else.

The historical Thanksgiving was a Christian event, a celebration in gratitude to the God of the Bible for the blessings he gave his early colonists in the New World. How should we who follow Asatru honor this festival? Are Thanksgiving and Asatru compatible?

When you think about it, Thanksgiving is just a variation on the old custom of the harvest festival. Sure, November is getting a little late for that, but the principle is the same: expressing joy at the reaping of what we have sown. Asatruar can get into that spirit as easily as anyone else - maybe easier, because we tend to be aware of the natural cycles around us. The rune "Jera" comes to mind at Thanksgiving; it means "year" or "harvest," and is an affirmation of the idea that we will prosper to the extent that we have done the right work at the right time - whether it's planting, tending, and harvesting a crop, or making a success of our efforts in the world of jobs and careers! It really does come down to cause-and-effect: effort brings reward.

But the early American pilgrims were thankful to "God." To whom or what should our own gratitude be directed? Certainly not to the God of the Bible. But this is a good time to recall that the word "god" is not a Semitic or a Mediterranean word, but a Germanic one! It comes directly from Gothic, where it originally referred to OUR Gods and Goddesses. It was used for the first time in the Gothic translation of the Bible to gloss what had previously been rendered Greek or Latin. When our pompous politicians stand at the podium and rave about "God," they are unknowingly showing their debt to those Germanic men and women who came before them, and who honored the Holy Powers of our people! So, to that extent, we, too can speak of God - in the original sense!

While we're being grateful, we should remember the life that died that we might eat. Life feeds on life, and while we must take life, we should not do so thoughtlessly. On the contrary, we should try to live our lives in such a way that we justify the death of the animal that decks our table at Thanksgiving, or at any other time - valuing that sacrifice by living lives of honor and right action! Factory turkeys live miserable lives and die miserable deaths. The least we can do is acknowledge that, and honor the bird by our lives and our deeds.

Thanksgiving can be a time of gluttony marking the beginning of the Great American Consumer-Fest...or it can be much simpler, more organic, tied to the Earth and to the cycles of Nature...an opportunity to get in contact with eternal truths. It's up to us, isn't it? This year, let's try to be a little less wrapped up in gadgetry and gimmickry, and more interested in the intangibles, in love and fellowship...and life!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru and the Rune Gild

2011-11-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

I've just returned from the Rune Gild Moot - four days of intense lectures, rituals, and fellowship with men and women dedicated to the esoteric side of Asatru and Germanic religion generally. It has prompted me to make some observations.

The Asatru Folk Assembly and similar organizations represent the exoteric, religious aspect of the Germanic revival. The Rune Gild, on the other hand, is the esoteric and mystical expression of our movement. Both are essential to our development and success, and the two continually interact with each other. I have been a member of the Gild for years, and have greatly benefited from association with other members and from the writings of Edred Thorsson, in particular.

In pre-Christian Germanic culture, the various tribes would regularly come together at sacred places - such as Lejre, in Denmark - to compete in games, trade, and generally interact socially. It was at these gatherings, too, that the ancient fraternity of rune magicians would meet to share lore and techniques across tribal boundaries. Thus the various versions of the rune row, as well as many other things, were transmitted from area to area in a more or less organized manner. With the passing of our native faith, the early gild of runers died out. The modern Rune Gild is that fraternity reborn. Its function is much the same as in the old days - to transmit the rune lore to all who seek the mysteries, regardless of their organizational affiliation or lack of it.

For the individual, the most important feature of the Gild is that it offers a traditional Germanic path of personal transformation. The work of the Rune Gild is solidly based in scholarship; you'll not find fantasies on "Atlantean runes" or the use of fashionable, New Age gimmicks. The official curriculum of the RG is contained in Edred Thorsson's Nine Doors of Midgard, and Learners in the gild are set to work mastering the fundamentals. Those who have not yet committed to being Learners can hold Associate status with minimal obligation.

I have known Edred since the late 1970's and have had many opportunities to observe his leadership style in person - most recently at the Gild Moot in Austin, Texas. He is modest and approachable. I have never seen him disrespect the members of the organization or abuse his position as leader. On the contrary, I know he has made immense personal and financial sacrifices for the sake of the Gild. The fact that he holds a doctorate in Germanic languages and literature makes his writing authoritative and extremely valuable for those of us seeking to revive the way of our ancestors. Anyone who paints him as some sort of sinister character does not know him.

The Rune Gild is not for everyone. Those content simply to practice Asatru require no specialized esoteric training; most men and women in Germanic society did not need to know much about the gift Odin won on the World Tree. However, if you seek not only to worship Odin but to imitate him - you will not find a better organization than the Gild.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru, Winter Nights, Samhain, and Us

2011-10-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago we celebrated the Asatru festival called Winter Nights, at which we honored the female ancestors, or Disir.

Tonight, millions of Americans will celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes and acting bizarrely. Children will go from door to door, decked out as mummies or witches or princesses, and beg for candy. The older set will go to parties at the office or in homes, but the general spirit will be the same as that of their children - a night of fantasy, of the eerie, the strange.

Halloween takes its name from "Hallows Eve," which comes just before before All Souls Day in the Catholic calendar. It is hardly a coincidence that this is the date of the old Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced SOW-an). As always, the Church was adept at co-opting indigenous holy days and using them for its own ends.

If we compare Samhain and Winter Nights, we see strong similarities. The time of year is significant; harvest has ended and the rigors of winter are coming. The dark half of the year is beginning. The nights are longer. Life retreats from the cold. The wall between the worlds is thin, and the ancestors are near.

Samhain and Winter Nights remind us of the closeness of the European peoples. For all our squabbles, and all our distinct cultural differences, we are in many ways the same bunch of people. The Celts, Germans, and Slavs all descend from the folks of the Funnel Beaker Culture. Even today the European genome is eighty-five to ninety percent derived from the earliest hunter-gatherers to inhabit what are now our homelands. Unfortunately, this closeness has not kept us from fighting one fratricidal war after another with our kin. The bloodbaths of World War One and World War Two are the most obvious examples, but countless less spectacular slaughters have darkened our past. Yes, I know we have always fought among ourselves and I am sure we always will. But modern warfare is a dysgenic disaster of proportions which we can no longer accept.

As for me, I will have a Guinness and remember my ancestors - men like Fergus, son of Nellan, who gave my blood a name - but I will also toast those other men and women of Europa who have made me who I am.

Slainte!...and Prost!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Fall, the Ancestors, and Asatru

2011-10-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Fall, the Ancestors, and Asatru

We who follow Asatru place considerable importance on the turning of the seasons, each of which has its own feeling and its own festivals. The changes in the world around us from season to season are mirrored by changes in our own inner life. In summer we are more outgoing, more active. The coming of fall and of winter brings a new mood, and produces an inward turning of the spirit. We can learn a lot by observing these emotional and spiritual responses.

In my case, I am very aware that fall has arrived in the Sierras. Some people note the changing seasons with a calendar, but I do it differently. For me, the first day of fall is that day when I walk out on my deck in the morning and I can see my breath. The new season is confirmed as I note that my fluttering friends, the bats, with no more insects to devour, have disappeared into their winter homes.

However you measure it, Fall is here. The nights are chilly; the days cooler than they were. The leaves on the trees are turning to gold and yellow and red and brown - the rains will come soon...then the frost...and finally the first snows. Life seems to be in retreat as the leaves drop off, leaving the bare, skeletal branches reaching skyward. The grass dies back, the flowers disappear, some of the birds have flown to warmer climes and other animals have sought refuge in their burrows. When the snow comes, you'd swear that life had disappeared, and death triumphed in this landscape.

We all know, however, that spring will come. On the far side of winter, the days will lengthen and the frosts will come no more. The grass will be green again, and the flowers fill the fields. Life will return. Indeed - and this is key - it had never really departed! It was there all along, withdrawn, sleeping under the snow. There is an unseen continuity that runs from summer to fall, and through the cold of winter to the renewed life of springtime. The thread of life may be hidden, but it is not broken. Life abides!

The indigenous religions of our European forefathers and foremothers, of which Asatru is a leading example, knew that this same principle applies to the clan, as well. The line of descent - the bond extending from our ancestors, to us, and on to our descendents is a continuity just like the unbroken stream of life that defies winter's blasts. The lineage, the clan line, transcends time and space and, yes, mortality itself. The ancestors are with us always, sending their blessings and love through the thin curtain that is death. That curtain is especially thin at this time of year - the festival of Winter Nights is a reminder of this truth, and the Celtic celebration of Samhain is very much the same in spirit.

The love and blessings the ancestors give us is only half of the transaction, of course. As the Havamal reminds us, a gift looks for a return. Our duty to the ancestors is simply this: to remember them, to visit their graves when we can, to show their pictures to our children and grandchildren, and to tell their stories. Listen, as October works its magic, for the loving whispers of those who have gone before us, and who remain concerned for our welfare - and respond to them with love and remembrance in return!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

A Response to Recent Defamation

2011-09-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

Many of you will know of the recent attack against the AFA by, first of all, the liberal blog Media Matters, and subsequently by the pagan blog The Wild Hunt. Their respective URLs are

http://tinyurl.com/6jmcz95 and http://tinyurl.com/5uaz5rs

Also referenced is the National Policy Institute, at http://www.thenationalpolicyinstitute.org .

My response is below. I have nothing else to say on the matter.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly

[Statement follows]

I have investigated the current controversy and have discussed it with the AFA Board of Directors. Here is my statement:

Four (not “seven to fourteen”) members of the Asatru Folk Assembly did attend a conference hosted by the National Policy Institute. They did this as private individuals, not as representatives for the Asatru Folk Assembly. The only way the original blogger, Brian Powell of the left-wing blog Media Matters, knew that they were AFA members is because, by his own admission, he craned his neck to see what one of them was writing on a piece of paper. At no time was there any attempt to speak for the AFA or to identify the ideals of the AFA with the subject matter of the conference.

The AFA will not dictate to its members which meetings they are permitted to attend as private individuals. There are suggestions that we discipline them for the crime of being present in a room where extreme statements seem to have been made. We will not do this. There will be no exposure, no witch-hunt, no apologies, and no reprimands.

A careful reading of the original post on the Media Matters blog makes it clear that Mr. Powell “cherry picked” the most extreme comments possible while ignoring the rest. He admitting that he expected “a little more anger, a little more foaming-at-the-mouth hatred of non-whites.” He further notes that “foremost on the minds of the attendees was not white dominance, it was white extinction.” His main objection, in short, was that people of European descent dared to meet to quietly discuss issues of concern to them as a group.

Let me very clearly state these two points: 1. The AFA will never advocate, condone, or excuse illegal or dishonorable acts directed at any person because of their race. 2. That said, men and women of European descent have exactly the same right to meet and to promote their collective interests as do any other group. To demonize them for doing this, when every other group is encouraged to do so, is to indulge in a vicious double standard.

Links - Sustainability, Self-Reliance, and More!

2011-09-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest collection of links:

Links - Sustainability, Self-reliance, and more!

"Prosperity in Any Economy" The Homesteading Mom

A tremendous blog with vast stores of useful information on canning, home remedies, frugal living, recipes, home construction, and much more. Be sure to visit the store, with its fine selection of how-to books! Written by the AFA's own Cat Ellis!
http://tinyurl.com/3va9myd

Do-it-yourself greenhouse for $50

You don't need a lot of money to make a greenhouse!
http://tinyurl.com/66mwkn

Flower Pot Fridge!

The world's cheapest and easiest refrigerator to make, it uses minimal resources and runs completely without electricity. It's called a zeer pot, or the pot-in-pot.

The zeer pot, is just two simple pots, one pot smaller than the other.
The smaller pot is put inside the bigger pot, and we fill the space between with sand. We wet the sand twice a day and cover the top with a wet towel to keep warm air from entering the interior.

Things You'll Need:
Two clay (terracotta) pots, one larger than the other
Sand
Water
Cloth to cover the pots
Clay, cork or other material to plug holes in the pots

See the video on You Tube!
http://tinyurl.com/3vla8em

Solar-Powered Water Treatment System

An electrical engineering student from Instituto Federal de Goiás, a university in Brazil’s heartland, invented a solar power system to treat water that does not require electricity, does not emit CO2 and absorbs material that can damage the environment. The low-cost device can be used by low income communities who do not have access to basic sanitation. Could this be used by the Asatru communities now planned by the AFA?
http://tinyurl.com/3qgzvkr

Extreme Weather - The "New Normal"

Any realistic survival or sustainability plan, or any location for a resilient community, needs to take changing weather patterns into account.
http://tinyurl.com/3mvsxgv

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Operation Butterfly Wings

2011-08-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

The field of mathematics known as “chaos theory” holds that seemingly insignificant actions can, under the right conditions, produce incredibly large results. The example most commonly used is that of a butterfly which flaps its wings and sets in motion a chain of events culminating in a hurricane a thousand miles away. Obviously, we can never know if a butterfly’s wings created a huge storm, but the basic idea - that unnoticed incidents can trigger gargantuan responses - is not only believable but, according to chaos theorists, mathematically certain.

So what does this have to do with Asatru?

In recent issues of AFA Update you and I have discussed the other end of scale. We have touched on public relations breakthroughs, marketing campaigns, and similar plans dealing with the “macro” rather than the “micro.” In this issue, I’d like to put away the telescope and drag out the magnifying glass. Let’s consider how the tiny things we do in our everyday lives can make a big difference - and what that has to do with our spreading Asatru.

Suppose, one day, you decide to wear your Thor’s hammer on the outside of your shirt rather than tucked out of sight. You’re walking down the street when a woman sees your hammer, asks you about it, and is given the address of the Asatru Folk Assembly website. A month later, she gives that URL to a friend who visits our site. This friend in turn mentions it to a multi-millionaire, who is so impressed that he leaves his entire estate to the AFA. Within five years, Asatru has a million adherents from coast to coast and is making significant, long-term changes in the culture of the United States….all because you decided on a whim to wear your hammer where it could be seen by passers-by. You’d never know what you had done, any more than we can blame a butterfly for starting a hurricane, but nevertheless you are ultimately responsible.

Suffice to say that Wyrd’s web is tightly woven.

We cannot predict which of our tiny, daily deeds will bear fruit next week or next century. But we can increase the odds by doing many such deeds, any one of which might make a difference in the long run. I try to build a lot of such occurrences into each day. I wear my hammer proudly. I don my “Odin’s Folk” tee shirt at the gym, or maybe the tie-dye one with runes on it that my son found at the thrift store. I drop comments in public dealing with heritage or the ancestors, just so see if anyone will bite. And of course, when I send out this AFA Update, I’ll wriggle many pairs of wings - amazing how this list has grown! - excluding bad addresses and those who delete these words unseen .

I have no illusion that any of this is going to bring the AFA a million dollars. But then, it might! At the least, it contributes however slightly to building a new culture, one more influenced by Asatru.

I hereby invite you to join in Operation Butterfly. I know many of you are already making these little efforts - but if we do it more deliberately, more often, we can have a greater impact. Who knows what a few hundred of us can do if we try? Get out there and stir that pot of chaos! Vibrate the Web of Wyrd! Flap the wings of your Will and let the storm arise!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Second Thor Movie Set for Release in 2013!

2011-08-31T10:34:00.000-07:00

"Thor 2" is set to hit theaters on July 26, 2013. This time we'll be ready!

The Thor movie that came out this summer stimulated a lot of discussion among those of us following Asatru. On a more positive note, it stimulated questions from people who wanted to know more about Thor. We need to be prepared to answer these questions in a systematic manner, and to be able to respond with well-targeted news releases that can get our side of the story some attention! Two-fold goal: to correct false impressions given in the film, and providing a resource for members of the public who are interested on a deeper level.

http://tinyurl.com/3uzfue3

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Links on Self-Sufficiency and Such

2011-08-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Build It Solar

Plans, tools and information to help you build renewable energy and conservation projects. Hundreds of projects -- from changing a light bulb to building a solar home. Design information and tools for building renewable energy projects. An Experimental section for backyard inventors. Nothing For Sale here -- just free ideas, plans, and information.
http://www.builditsolar.com

How to protect yourself from a flashmob

Given the increasing number of racially-motivated flash mobs, in which European-descended people are usually the victims, this is a useful article.
http://tinyurl.com/5wsgwmq

Passport to Survival

A plan for a year's supply of food based on only four items: wheat, powdered milk, salt, and honey. Many "hard times" scenarios will require that sooner or later we'll all end up growing our own food, but a year's supply of food will get you by while you're planting a garden (assuming you don't have one already).
http://tinyurl.com/3nbffhf

Warming is driving species to higher latitudes and higher ground

A warming climate is driving animal species to higher latitudes and higher ground at a rate far faster than previously believed, researchers from Britain and Taiwan reported Thursday.

The study was released by the journal Science, which is publishing the findings this week. It not only indicates faster changes, but also points more directly to climate change as the cause than did previous studies, said Chen, a researcher at Taiwan's Academia Sinica.
http://tinyurl.com/3l7td5l

Steve McNallen
http://runestone.org

Summoning the Gods: An Important Book for Asatru

2011-08-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

I highly recommend Collin Cleary's Summoning the Gods for all of us who follow Asatru. The first part includes updated versions of articles Cleary wrote in issues one and two of the journal Tyr. They deal with the nature of the Gods and their presence in a cynical world, and show how we can learn to perceive the divine in nature. This approach is a much-needed counter to the atheism now popular among many of our younger generation. Cleary tells us to let the Gods speak for themselves, rather than projecting our expectations on them, and I have incorporated some of his suggestions in my spiritual exercises. Several of my blog posts over the last month or two have been on this subject. Cleary's writing has greatly influenced my thinking on these matters.

Other chapters focus on the nature of Odin, the mechanics of personal transformation, philosophical speculations on the runes, and more. All these topics are discussed with the kind of philosophical sophistication that Asatru needs if it is to gain respect in academia.

Summoning the Gods can be ordered from Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3fjdxtk.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Folkish Summer Hallowing - An Asatru Affirmation!

2011-08-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

Our work for Asatru sometimes takes Sheila and I all over the country. Last weekend, we were guests at the Folkish Summer Hallowing, hosted by the Irminfolk in Pennsylvania. We were overwhelmed with their hospitality from the moment of our arrival Friday afternoon until our departure on Sunday.

On Saturday I gave a talk in which I stated that we European-descended folk are an indigenous people. Our "Holy Land" is not the Middle East, but Europe. In the long discussions that followed, I emphasized once again the need for community. Indeed, community is very much on the mind of the Irminfolk, just as it is with us.

Another special guest at the event was our long-time friend and musician Robert Taylor. His band Changes, consisting of Robert and his cousin Nicholas Tesluk, entertained us with beautiful and stirring songs in the "apocalyptic folk" genre. It had been many years since Robert and I saw each other, and we spent a lot of time catching up on our lives. The band Grafvolluth, led by Paul Guhring, provided an overwhelming sonic experience of the Odinist black metal variety.

One of the best things about the gathering was an opportunity to meet Folkbuilder Pat Hall and a slew of other AFA members. Sheila and I were once again impressed with the kind of men and women the AFA is attracting. Pat and her partner, Hunter Yoder, gave a workshop on hexology - the spiritual and magical use of hex signs, both the traditional ones found in Pennsylvania Dutch culture and innovative ones that incorporate runes and other Germanic symbols. Their web site, http://zaubereigarten.com/, has samples of their wonderful art.

Irminfolk is a vibrant organization, with many young married couples, and babies everywhere. Sheila and I made many friends, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship between our two organizations.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

AFA Photo Gallery

2011-08-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Folks, we've put in place a Photo Gallery for AFA events, Kindred events etc.

People have started adding photos from our recent Midsummer in the Sierras 2011, please go check them out, and if you like, create an account and add your own photos.

If you have any trouble logging in, contact webmaster@runestone.org

The Photo Gallery can be found at: www.runestone.org/photos

Asatru Awakening - Presentations at Midsummer, Part 3

2011-08-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

David James is one of the true Asatru elders in America. The fact that he was a special guest at Althing 1, in 1980, gives you an idea of his experience! David hasn't stopped thinking or writing about our faith in the decades since then. His spirit has remained true to the Aesir, the Vanir, and our Folk.

The Asatru Folk Assembly has had the pleasure of his company at the last three "Midsummers in the Sierras." Last year he was taken ill and missed most of the event, but this time he was back with two important presentations.

On Friday, in a talk titled "Old Worth and New," David spoke of our ancient values. Referring to The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity by Dr. James Russell, he contrasted the ways of our ancestors with the Christian worldview. He noted that "The Christians have paved over our ground, but we keep poking through...The rubble still litters our lives in ways of which we are unaware." David distinguished between good intentions and right action: "It's not Will unless it ends in Deed!".

Later, on Sunday, David stimulated us with thoughts on "Composing Liturgy and Poetry." He began by urging us to drop Latin-based words in favor of those of Teutonic origin, and to be sparing with adjectives. Too many adjectives, he said, weaken the power of the language. David then gave several suggestions on poetic techniques. The study of Old English, he suggested, provided excellent practice in composing sentences that deliver a punch.

Inspired by his talk, I mentioned a poem by Jorge Luis Borges titled "Hengist Wants Men," which I found relevant to the topic. We googled it immediately, and Folkbuilder Coordinator Brad Taylor-Hicks read it aloud for us on the spot! You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/3z2vkrg .

David James is one more reminder of the excellent minds - and spirits! - within the AFA.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Awakening - Midsummer Presentations, Part 2

2011-08-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Last time, I described my own presentations at the Asatru Folk Assembly's "Midsummer in the Sierras".

Stephen Pollington is a well-known expert on the Anglo-Saxons, and we brought him all the way from England to talk to us about this particular Germanic culture. Now, some think that Asatru is based solely on Scandinavian belief, but that's not the case. Yes, we use the Norse cultural models, simply because that was Asatru's most developed historical expression. After all, where would the revival of our ancestral faith be without the Eddas? Our interests include all of the Germanic world. The word Asatru, after all, means roughly "those true to the Gods" - and I take that to mean all the Gods and Goddesses of the Teutonic world.

But I digress. Stephen gave three remarkable Power Point presentations to an eager audience. (In person, Pollington is very personable and is completely comfortable with being called "Steve," but since I am also a Steve, I'll refer to him as Stephen.) The first one was titled Hall and Hoard: Display and Status in the Meadhall. It dealt with the meadhall as an institution in Anglo-Saxon culture. Essentially, the meadhall was a place for social interaction, with emphasis on access to power and politics. In this environment status was everything, and high status was displayed through intricate jewelry and accessories worn by those who had the wherewithal to do so. Stephen showed us many examples of this and showed how this all worked into the broader theme.

Stephen's second talk carried the title Hall and Harrow: Art and Material Culture - A Glimpse into the Iron Age. Despite the secular-sounding label, it focused on religious and spiritual themes sure to capture the attention of all of us who follow Asatru. To choose one example that I'll never forget: The famous Sutton Hoo helmet has a most interesting feature. One eye...and only one eye...contains gold foil behind each of the garnets lining the eyepiece. The other eye also has garnets, but no gold foil. The resulting visual effect is that of a one-eyed, aristocratic warrior - Woden himself - moving among his folk. You can imagine the possibilities for Asatru ritual!

Our final gift from Stephen was a session on Runes in the Anglo-Saxon Tradition. He approached this not from a magical perspective, but a more scholarly one. He included an excellent survey of runic artifacts, with an emphasis on the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc and its development as language changed. Stephen paid special attention to how the transition from tribe to nation-state, and the shift to literacy, affected the balance of political and social power in Northern Europe.

Heady stuff, and well received! For more on Stephen Pollington and his works, visit his web site at http://www.stevepollington.com.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Awakening - Presentations at Midsummer 2011, Part 1

2011-08-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

One thing you can expect at any Asatru Folk Assembly gathering is a variety of lectures, workshops, and discussions. This Midsummer was no exception!

I gave four presentations. The first one, on Thursday evening, was titled "Finding the Gods in Nature." As my recent blog posts show, this is one of the main themes of my recent spiritual development. We must become aware of the holiness in nature. We can do this by seeing things in nature as complete in themselves, rather than just as "resources." Additionally, if we refuse to project our expectations on natural phenomena and just let them "speak for themselves," we can become open to something holy that lurks behind mere appearances. In my talk, I related some of my personal experiments at doing this.

My second talk asserted that European-descended men and women everywhere are "indigenous Europeans." Our ancestors have been in America for a couple of centuries, but they were in Europe for forty thousand years. Europe shaped our bodies, our minds, and our spirits; we are forever a part of Europe, and Europe is forever a part of us. We need to realize we are a people, part of a lineage that transcends space, time, and mortality. "Only when we realize we are a river will we stop drowning in puddles."

If we are a people, then we must think about our community...Hence, the third talk. I examined the definition of community and explored what makes men and women join one. An AFA community begins when two AFA members meet each other and share a drink or a meal. From that simple beginning, they can grow to any size. Kindreds have their benefits (community)and their down sides (not necesarily being guided by the AFA Declaration of Purpose, often incapable of cooperating well with those outside their kindreds). We are developing the Northern California AFA Community, with the intention of using it as a model for others scattered across the country, and eventually around the world.

Finally, I gave an informal talk on the runes and other Germanic systems as means of self-transformation. Everyone knows about runes as a divinatory system, but there is less awareness of runes as a tool for personal evolution. I also shared information on techniques I have developed, based on the myth of Odin's mead-theft.

The topics of these four presentations are all connected. The first and last topics - seeing the Gods in nature and personal transformation, respectively - are strictly spiritual, but have implications for us all. Any progress we make as a group will depend upon our spiritual power. European-descended folk as an indigenous people dovetails neatly with the development of community, for it is as people native to Europe that we come together.

In a future post I will describe other presentations at Midsummer in the Sierras, so you can see what a very rich gathering this was!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Links - Cheap Power, Gardening, Saving Bucks on Gas

2011-08-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some useful links -

A South-Facing Window is Already a Solar Collector
http://tinyurl.com/3aru6fq

Simple Solar Parts 1,2,3
DIY devices for heating and disinfecting water, and cook food.
http://tinyurl.com/3z7qqra

Nine Steps to Starting a Survival Garden
It doesn't get any simpler than this.
http://tinyurl.com/bq9hpa

Survival Gardening with Heirlooms (Free E-Book)
Written by folks who sell heirloom seeds; lots of useful information.
http://tinyurl.com/42tll7y

Eleven Tips to Save You Money on Gas
Good for your wallet, good for the environment.
http://tinyurl.com/35np86

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Midsummer 2011 - Asatru Breaks Through!

2011-08-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend's Midsummer gathering of the Asatru Folk Assembly was a time of demolishing obstacles - not physical obstacles, but psychological ones that have frozen us, kept us from action at a time when action is more important than ever.

For some time there has been a feeling of apathy, of impending catastrophe all across America - not just in the Asatru movement, but in many areas of American life. People are still stunned from the economic ripples of 2008. Countless people have lost their jobs or their homes, or both. No one know what the future holds for the country, and especially for the middle class. Everything is in flux.

Many of us react to this stress by shutting down - by turning inward, cutting off communication, absorbed by our personal struggles. This is the worst thing we can do! At a time like this, we need to be reaching out to our fellow AFA members. I want the AFA to be part of the solution for all the men and women in our organization.

I came to Midsummer energized, optimistic, and determined to turn this attitude around. And guess what - I found myself surrounded by AFAers ready for exactly that! I spoke on three main topics: perceiving the Gods in nature by changing our mode of awareness...the fact that we European-descended men and women are a people; that we are in fact indigenous European peoples...and a call to build and expand AFA community all across the United States and wherever our members were found. It was idealistic, ambitious and (dare I say) even visionary, but the AFA members at Midsummer were up to the task! They were ready to be challenged and eager to take charge of their fate. You will begin seeing actions toward these noble ends in the days to come, and we invite you to jump in there with us and keep the momentum strong.

I give humble thanks to all the many people who contributed to the success of this event. It would have been impossible without the capable and energetic folks who performed the countless duties that go into such an endeavor. Indeed, I sincerely thank all those motivated enough to make the trip to northern California in an economic environment where that was something of a sacrifice. Your dedication produced the most successful, most inspiring AFA gathering in recent history.

More to come later, telling you about what we accomplished!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru, a Day of Power, and Midgard's Glories

2011-07-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Brad (Folkbuilder Coordinator for the AFA) and his lady, Gili, have stayed with us the last couple of days as we prepare for the Asatru Folk Assembly's big upcoming event. We knew that yesterday would be a powerful day when we watched an eagle circling over the house. I've never seen an eagle here before. For that matter, I'm not sure I have ever seen an eagle, so encountering one yesterday morning was certainly unusual.

Soon we were in the car and driving up to Lake Tahoe to show Brad and Gili some of local scenery. We had just passed Emerald Bay when an osprey (see my post on July 8th for more on ospreys) flew right in front of the car, carrying a sizeable stick for its nest - another wonderful sight.

Arriving at Taylor Creek, we walked the nature trail through the meadows and marshes. We passed through groves of quaking aspen which strongly reminded us of the birches that play such a powerful role in Northern lore. As we strolled, we examined our mode of awareness - trying to experience natural things as they were, unmediated and without expectation, attempting to sense the divine in the world around us. The aspen themselves had a presence that was almost tangible. I could understand how our ancestors sensed the numinous "Birch Goddess" behind the phenomenon of the birch tree. When we had finished the walk I felt calmed, relaxed, my soul nourished. When we paused for lunch, I jotted notes on how people might replicate our experience at Midsummer.

An hour later we were at Eagle Falls, where we felt the might of the rune Laguz in the roaring waterfall. We were getting in the car to depart when a woman, who had volunteered to take our picture, recognized our hammers. She told us about her friend, a woman of Scandinavian descent, who wore a hammer and was due to have a baby any time. Getting an AFA business card from the car, I wrote the Berkano rune on it and noted that she should invoke Freya and Frigga for a good birth. Nothing may come of it for the AFA, but who knows? Besides, it was the right action in the situation.

Significant birds, new ways of perceiving the holy in nature, another connection for our ancestral way...It had been a day of power, giving us a new awareness of the wonders of this world in which we live.

May we - all of us! - have many more!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Unlimited - Midsummer in the Sierras!

2011-07-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

We're almost ready to kick off another Asatru extravaganza, in the form of the AFA's "Midsummer in the Sierras." The list of presentations is impressive.

I've chosen my own topics to highlight issues that I feel need to be urgently addressed within our community. My first talk, on Friday, will be on "Finding the Gods in Nature." In it, I'll refine and expand on recent blog posts on how we can perceive the numinous qualities - the divinity, if you will - of the natural world surrounding us.

My second presentation asserts that we men and women of European heritage are, in fact, a people (or, if you prefer, a family of closely related peoples) and contends that we need to start thinking of ourselves as such. How should we treat each other? How ought we relate to other peoples around the world? Why is this subject taboo?

On Saturday, I will talk about resilient communities. One of the AFA's goals is to create communities across the country and around the world. These will be made up of AFA members and will seek to implement the AFA's Declaration of Purpose. Community can manifest in many forms, from a simple network of people to much more complex forms. I will propose the building of a "resilient community" in the Northern California area.

Finally, on Sunday, I will lecture on "Runes for Transformation."

Stephen Pollington, our special guest from England, will speak to us on "Hall and Hoard: Display and Status in the Meadhall," "Hall and Harrow: Art and Material Culture, a Glimpse into the Iron Age," and "Runes in the Anglo-Saxon Tradition." Those of you who have seen his presentations will understand our enthusiasm for his material!

David James, Asatru elder, will show us more of his work in the form of a study on "Old Worth and New: The Values of the Northern Folk" and an exposition on "Composing Liturgy and Poetry." David has been with the Asatru revival in North America from its inception.

Glen Holstein will present on "Why We Need Our Reawakened Gods: A Brief History of our Folk." Glen has a way of taking complex scholarly concepts and putting them into terms we can all understand. His talk will provide us with context and perspective as we experience the rest of the gathering.

Jim Erikson will share valuable information on preparedness and urban survival for these "interesting times" in which we find ourselves. Jim's knowledge and his engaging sense of humor are legendary. On a complementary note, Bill Shelbrick will instruct us in basic first aid. Bill's a highly-trained medic and former Air Force parachute jumper who will give us some skills for confronting medical emergencies.

All this, and I haven't even touched on the blots, the sumbel, the magnificent meals and all the rest! Midusmmer in the Sierrras...It's going to be unforgettable.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly

http://runestone.org

Asatru, the Arctic, and Our Future

2011-07-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

We are Northern people, our bodies and spirits shaped by the ice and snow for forty thousand years. The weak, those who could not cooperate, those who could not plan ahead, perished in the harsh environment. The result is - us. Reduced to our essence, we are strong and stern, able to both compete and cooperate. Our capability for delayed gratification and frugality is well known. We are survivors. While not all of us epitomize all these traits all the time, they are the underlying template of our being.

What a tragedy if the landscape that forged us became only a memory!

In the farthest north, the land where the Pole Star sits atop the World Tree, things are especially bad. The Arctic is heating twice as fast as the rest of the planet. The realm of the Axis Mundi itself is undergoing drastic change. If the Great Ice is gone and only bare ocean takes its place, how will this affect North-folk on a deep psychological level?

Surface temperatures in the Arctic for the last five years have been higher than for any other five-year period since record keeping began in 1880. This comes from a new report from the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, an international group within the Arctic Council.

Higher temperatures means less ice. On July 16, Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, noted that the Arctic ocean had been losing as much as 150,000 square kilometres of sea ice per day. He stated,

“The extent [of the ice cover] is going down, but it is also thinning. So a weather pattern that formerly would melt some ice, now gets rid of much more. There will be ups and downs, but we are on track to see an ice-free summer by 2030. It is an overall downward spiral."

Does this mean that we should reconcile ourselves to the disappearance, at least in summer, of the ice at the top of the world? Of course not. We have the power to influence events. Our will matters. As followers of a religion that treasures the experience of the Gods in the natural world, we cannot help but be concerned about that natural world. A world without polar ice - a world without arctic seals and polar bears and the rest of the intricate northern ecological web - is not the world that shaped us. We owe something to nature, and to the numinous presence that hides behind natural phenomena. The world is alive with essence and being. We disregard it at risk to our physical existence - and our spiritual health.

For a link to things you can do to serve life, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/3jzhs8s

For links to the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program study, go to these two links:
http://tinyurl.com/3nmf4p2
http://amap.no/swipa/

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

New Downloads Area on Runestone.org !

2011-07-24T03:50:00.000-07:00

New Downloads Area! Folks, we are testing a new downloads area for people who want to go and register on the AFA site. We will have things like Rune Fonts, Excerpts from Books and lots more in the days to come.

Even non-AFA members are welcome to signup. Just create an account, we'll activate it, then you'll have access to the downloads area. (which will appear as a module on the top right hand side of the page). Of course there will be additional material only for AFA members, but we also want to provide some fun stuff for friends of the AFA. This will also allow us to be able to send you the Bearclaw newsletter - for those who aren't already signed up.

If you have any problems, please e-mail webmaster@runestone.org Have fun!

http://runestone.org/component/users/?view=registration

Are Genes Telepathic?

2011-07-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

Here's another little scientific tidbit that should interest followers of Asatru.

DNA has been found to have a bizarre ability to put itself together, even at a distance, when according to known science it shouldn't be able to. Explanation: None, at least not yet.

Scientists are reporting evidence that, contrary to our current beliefs about what is possible, intact double-stranded DNA has the “amazing” ability to recognize similarities in other DNA strands from a distance. Somehow they are able to identify one another, and the tiny bits of genetic material tend to congregate with similar DNA. The recognition of similar sequences in DNA’s chemical subunits, occurs in a way unrecognized by science.

The phenomenon of "like recognizing like" seems to run the whole range of life. Apparently, DNA molecules recognize each other. Bees recognize their hive-kin. Higher life-forms do the same thing - humans included. It seems to be one of those little-recognized organizing factors in Nature. Kinship is special; it repudiates the Marxists, the materialists, the social engineers.

The more we look at genes, the more enigmatic they are. My personal belief is that genes are the physical platform for an intangible, subtle essence that is spiritual. This would be comparable to the way the physical body is associated with subtle soul components in the lore of Asatru.

http://tinyurl.com/cfoa6c

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Folk Assembly to Showcase Member Crafts

2011-07-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

As the Asatru community across the country develops, we find more ways of helping each other and enriching our evolving culture.

Visitors to the AFA web site at http://runestone.org can now click on the "Online Store" and see not only items offered for sale by the AFA, but also crafts created by AFA members. This benefits the member, who gets exposure for his or her work, and the AFA gains by taking a commission. AFA members who want to participate in this program should contact hugh.long@asgard-studios.com.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

An Asatru Viewpoint - No More "Mutts!"

2011-07-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Sheila and I spent as couple of days recently at Lake Tahoe, on the California-Nevada border. It's an inspiring setting, with deep blue water reflecting a deep blue sky - and it's a wonderful place to regain perspective after a rough week at work. Besides the natural beauty - there's Vikingsholm! Yes, even on our down-time Asatru is always on our minds.

Vikingsholm is a modern rendition of an early medieval (1200's or so) Scandinavian building, complete with carved dragons and authentic period architecture. If you come out for the AFA's Midsummer gathering, you ought to take a side trip to visit it. But the real reason I mention Vikingsholm is because of...the tour guide!

Nancy has been a volunteer at Vikingsholm for nine years. She's an older woman, charming, with blue eyes set in a lined face and framed by long reddish-blond hair set off with silver. We got in a discussion of history and, of course, of ancestors. Nancy described herself as Irish, German, and Dutch - in her words, a "mutt." I gently corrected her, saying I preferred to think of myself as an "indigenous European," or an "eclectic Northern European."

I've always resented it when people describe themselves as mutts. I know they don't mean anything negative by it, but it's disrespectful to the ancestors to suggest we are dogs. Besides, it is seldom true. Eighty-five to ninety percent of the European genome is still derived from the first modern humans to move into the continent. The Dutch, Germans, and Irish are very close kin...as much as some of us don't want to admit it! Sure, European cultures are all unique - unique, that is, as variants on the basic European pattern. It wasn't that many millennia ago that the Germans, Celts, and Slavs all split off from the Funnel Beaker Folk. All Eurofolk are kin.

We call ourselves Irish, or German, or Dutch, or European-Americans, and that is true. However, we are fundamentally indigenous Europeans. We may have migrated around the world, but our homeland is Europe. Its rugged environment shaped our bodies, our minds, and our souls; it is a part of us, and we are a part of it, forever. We are just as indigenous as are the Amazonian Indians, the Congolese, and Borneo tribesmen. Once we realize this, our outlook on many things cannot help but change. A sense of continuity is a powerful thing.

Mutts? No. Indigenous Europeans? Yes!

Only when we realize we are a river will we stop drowning in puddles!
(In other words...only when we comprehend that we are a people, transcending time and space, will we no longer be frustrated by the seemingly impossible obstacles in our path.)

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Links - Self-Sufficiency, Saving $$$ on Energy, Environment

2011-07-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

Some useful links going out today -

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Part 1 of a five-part series on how to save bucks with solar!
http://tinyurl.com/43ndwnn

Learn How to Cut Your Energy Bill 56% in Three Easy Steps

Get a free booklet by signing in on the right side of the page.
http://www.thediyenergyguy.com/

Earthships

Homes built to live off the grid.
http://earthship.com

Climate Puts Polar Bear Cubs at Risk

Polar bear cubs forced to swim long distances with their mothers as their icy Arctic habitat melts appear to have a higher mortality rate than cubs that didn't have to swim as far, a new study reports.
http://tinyurl.com/3nvcfu7

Here's another good article on this study: http://tinyurl.com/42ceb95

The Elder Gods Arrive on My Front Porch!

2011-07-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Sheila and I were working upstairs when the brown UPS truck wound up our hill and deposited two boxes of Stephen Pollington's latest work, The Elder Gods: The Otherworld of Early England. Prying open the cardboard containers, we were excited to see stacks of this 500-page opus, ready to be autographed and sold at the Asatru Folk Assembly's upcoming Midsummer event.

The arrival of these books was indeed special. Their author will be giving three presentations at our gathering - and Stephen had asked his publisher to print up these copies in the United States so he wouldn't have to carry them all the way from England. What's more, they're his latest work. By "latest" I mean they've just been released in England...in fact, I'm not really sure they've been published there yet. These are new!

The Elder Gods is a sign of how far we've come since the rebirth of Asatru. I remember when the only thing we could find on Anglo-Saxon paganism was Brian Branston's Lost Gods of England (I still have my autographed gift copy, circa 1974 or so, from Stubba of the Odinic Rite!). And now we've got this hefty volume from the prolific Mr. Pollington. Wonderful!

We've come a long way, but the best is yet to come! Asatru and other manifestations of native European religion will rise to be a powerful force in the years to come - thanks to the efforts of thousands of people worldwide!

Those of you not able to come to the gathering can see his books at http://www.stevepollington.com/books.html.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

David James to Speak at Asatru Folk Assembly's Midsummer Event

2011-07-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

David James, a long-time Asatru veteran who performed the Midsummer ritual at the AFA's gathering two years ago, will give a pair of presentations at our July event. One will be "Old Worth and New," which David describes as "the views and values of the Folk of the North." The second will deal with "The Art of Composing Ritual and Poetry."

David was with us at Althing One, the first national Asatru event held in the United States, in 1980. Last year he was beset with health issues, from which he has made excellent recovery. We're proud to have him, hale and whole and vibrant, with us once again!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Last Day for "Midsummer in the Sierras" Early Bird Rate!

2011-07-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

AFA Members and Supporters -

Today's your last chance for "Early Bird" sign-ups for Midsummer! Don't delay - there are some really good air fares right now, but they will start disappearing in the next couple of days as we get closer to the event.

We still have some indoor accommodations available, and plenty of camping!

You won't find rituals like this...talks like this...or people like this!...anywhere else. Make your reservations today!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Links - Sustainability, Environment, Self-Reliance

2011-07-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some links I am publishing in the latest AFA Update/Bearclaw today:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFA_Bearclaw/

Federal Solar Tax Credit

Federal residential solar tax credit - applies to new and existing homes. Claim up to 30% of installation costs for a new system.
http://tinyurl.com/6b7wt9c

Chickens in the Energy Descent

Thinking about raising chickens? Here's how.
http://tinyurl.com/44zenet

Farming With Nature: A Case Study of Successful Temperate Permaculture

Lots of information in this 37-minute video. If you're considering producing your own food (good for you and good for the environment!) here's a good place to start!
http://tinyurl.com/3kud682

An Ominous Warning on the Effects of Ocean Acidification

A new study says the ocean is acidifying ten times faster than 55 million years ago, when a mass extinction of marine life occurred. Current changes in ocean chemistry due to the burning of fossil fuels may portend a new wave of die-offs.

Http://tinyurl.com/ygdzv4z

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Edward Abbey Should Have Been Asatru!

2011-07-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

Edward Abbey was iconoclastic and passionate; an American original. He was a religious skeptic, but I could easily see him as a man of Asatru.

Here are some of his quotes - not even necessarily my favorites, but some good ones:

"Better a cruel truth than a comfortable delusion."

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."

"I am not an atheist but an earthiest. Be true to the earth."

"A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled surfaces. We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may never need to set foot in it. We need the possibility of escape as surely as we need hope; without it the life of the cities would drive all men into crime or drugs or psychoanalysis."

You can find a lot more of his quotes here: http://tinyurl.com/28pkwxz

Years ago, I met with a conservation group that wanted to protect wildlife in an African country. They needed someone who could set up an anti-poaching unit for protection against marauders coming across the border. These poachers carried machine guns and RPGs, and killed elephants or anything else that moved. (We're not talking about subsistence hunting here.) I proposed to go in with a small team, work with the locals in the context of their indigenous religion, train them, and let them take charge. A man involved with the conservation group was one of four people still living (at that time) who knew where Ed Abbey was buried. I felt his presence spoke well of the organization.

Edward Abbey, may your spirit live on!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru, Nature, and Letting the Gods Speak for Themselves!

2011-07-09T05:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's post - Waterfalls, Runes, and Asatru in Nature - got so many comments that I decided to follow up with a quote by Edward Abbey, from page 6 of his book Desert Solitaire. He captures exactly the concept of letting Nature, and the Gods, speak for themselves.

The personification of the natural is exactly the tendency I wish to suppress in myself, to eliminate for good. I am here not only to evade for a while the clamor and filth and confusion of the cultual apparatus but also to confront, immediately and directly if it's possible, the bare bones of existence, the elemental and fundamental, the bedrock which sustains us. I want to be able to look at and into a juniper tree, a piece of quartz, a vulture, a spider, and see it as it is in itself, devoid of all humanly-ascribed qualities, anti-Kantian, even the categories of scientific descriptions. To meet God or Medusa face to face, even if it means risking everything human in myself. I dream of a hard and brutal mysticism in which the naked self merges with a non-human world and yet somehow survives still intact, individual, separate. Paradox and bedrock.

Abbey was a gun-owning, beer drinking, poker playing defender of wilderness and a man of character. He was not Asatru, but in many respects he would have fit in very well with us. I recommend Desert Solitaire and his other writings. Various Asatru-related archetypes have been found luking, presumably without his conscious intent, in his tales.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Waterfalls, Runes, and Asatru in Nature

2011-07-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hail, all!

Once you take up Asatru, it permeates all your experience. A walk in nature becomes a study in spirituality.

Recently, Sheila and I walked along the shore of Emerald Bay, high in the Sierras, watching the osprey soar overhead as they circled their nests. Their call echoed through the tall trees. The weather was warm and the trail not short - but the waterfall at the head of the bay was truly something to be experienced. The roar made your whole body vibrate. Mist filled the air and dampened your clothes. It was a place of power, not merely the mechanical energy of falling water dashing against stone, but other energies - more subtle, but no less powerful in their realm.

Laguz is the rune of water. Usually this is understood as a body of water, a lake or pond or even the waters that flow to and from life. Laguz is the salty sea of amniotic fluid that brings us to Midgard, and the dark waters that carries the ship of the dead to the Otheworld. But on this occasion, on the shores of Emerald Bay, laguz was the waterfall, roaring with the power of mighty Gods, wakening those parts of us that may have fallen asleep. Look at the stave of the rune itself; you can see it as the falling water.

Experience nature. Experience the Gods. Do not "think about" them or project your own images and definitions onto them. Let them speak for themselves. Get off the road, get out of your car, get away from the clamor of your fellow man! Feel the world. This is the way of Asatru.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

AFA Clergy Program Changes Hands

2011-07-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hail, all!

Stefn Thorsman, who helped create the AFA's Clergy program and who has led it since its inception, has stepped down citing personal obligations and life-priorities. Ed Lebouthillier, long-time AFA and Clergy Board member, will assume the role of acting Clergy coordinator.

In his letter to the AFA Board of Directors, Stefn wrote: "I'm very proud of what's been accomplished so far with the AFA's Clergy program, and I sincerely hope that forward progress continues and that the Clergy program continues to grow and serve the Folk. Having the Folkbuilders work hand in hand with the Clergy members can only benefit the Folk at large and spread AFA inspired Heathenry across the US. I plan to remain an AFA member and a member of the Clergy but will do so in a much less visible capacity." His letter was signed "In kinship, honor, and solidarity!".

Ed Lebouthillier is a highly-qualified successor. Along with Stefn and others, he was one of the creators of the Clergy program and is renowned for his dedication to the AFA mission and for his incisive analytical skills.

The Clergy program has been one of the AFA's great successes. It has created a corps of highly-qualified men and women capable of providing religious services, giving spiritual guidance, and speaking to issues of morals and ethics. Our Clergy have raised the standards of scholarship and dedication for all who seek to serve the Gods and the Folk.

We sincerely thank Stefn for his tireless work and inspiration, and for his vision, which ultimately gave birth to the program he headed for so many years.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Had Trouble with the AFA Online Membership Application Lately?

2011-06-29T11:15:00.001-07:00

Hail, all!

A number of you who have tried to join the AFA using the online membership application have reported having trouble lately. We think we have the bugs fixed - so please give it another try! If you still have problems, please email us at afa@runestone.org!

We have been making a lot of improvements to the AFA web site over the last few weeks, to include the membership section. As is so often the case, progress comes at the price of glitches that have to be worked out. Thank you for your patience!

Recent changes include new membership levels, and a monthly payment plan - you don't have to come up with your dues in one lump sum! To learn about this new system, and to see where your dues go, visit our front page at http://runestone.org, then to "About the AFA," then to "Join the AFA." Or simply go to http://tinyurl.com/6y9vfgj.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Article on "Health, Wholeness, and Heritage" Posted to Asatru Folk Assembly Site

2011-06-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Greetings, all!

We've just added another essay to our ever-expanding collection on the Asatru Folk Assembly web site! In it, we explore the interconnected concepts of of health, wholeness, and heritage - and how we can use them in our lives.

Right now, this article is on our front page. It's also filed in our articles collection at http://tinyurl.com/659wavh, along with many others.

Here are the first two paragraphs...

The source of physical illness is the spirit realm. This has been the contention of learned healers the world over for thousands of years (though it is a way of thinking that has begun to find acceptance in modern medicine only recently). The Old Wisdom asserts: As long as the integrity of the spiritual self remains whole and unbroken, disease cannot gain access to the physical body. Spiritual health is dependent upon certain factors, one of which is described as faith. I use that word in its simplest, most literal sense. To have faith means to trust - in the life process (Wyrd) and one's place in the greater scheme of things (orlog). It means to trust in oneself and in the validity of one's own experience.

It is no shocking revelation to point out that a variety of forces have been set in motion in our society over the course of the preceding generations which have seriously undermined the faith of our people, our sense of continuity and belonging. So it is that we asatruari, we who follow the ancient Gods of our Folk, must be willing, sometimes to act as healers of the Folk Soul. - and you can keep reading at the url above!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Stephen Pollington Confirmed for Asatru Folk Assembly's Summer Event

2011-06-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

We received an email from English author Stephen Pollington, our special guest for the Asatru Folk Assembly's "Midsummer in the Sierras." He wrote, "I have bought my travel insurance for the trip and started to prepare the talks and powerpoint shows. They are based on what you saw last time [at the Florida Moot several years ago] but I have revised some of the ideas and had a few new insights..." This is great news, not only because he's definitely "on" but because I've seen the presentations to which he's referring, and you're going to love them!

Another treat - Stephen is having limited copies of his very latest (as in, "not out until later this summer") book printed here in the United States, to save the weight and risk of bringing them across the Atlantic. As an attendee, you'll be able to purchase them at Midsummer and get them autographed by Stephen himself. The book title is Elder Gods: The Otherworld of Early England - just the sort of thing to interest AFA members.

You can visit Stephen's site at http://www.stevepollington.com to learn more about him and his books.

If you're an AFA member or a friend of the AFA, and haven't yet signed up for Midsummer in the Sierras 2011, go to the AFA web site and fill out the application. You won't want to miss this year!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

New Facebook Page for Asatru Folk Assembly's Midsummer Gathering!

2011-06-18T05:18:00.001-07:00

Hail, all!

We've set up a new Facebook page for the AFA Midsummer event, and it's already getting a lot of traffic! You can get in on the excitement by going to Facebook and searching for "AFA Midsummer in the Sierras." (You may find the old site still up, as well; we migrated it to the new "groups" format and the latter is the one you want.)

Check this new page for the latest on who's coming, what's happening, and of course more on why you should be there, yourself!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Evolving - Midsummer in the Sierras 2011!

2011-06-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

AFA members and folkish friends who come to Midsummer in the Sierras (July 28-August 1) will be reminded that Asatru is an evolving religion!

There was a time, decades ago, when being Asatru meant adopting a "Viking wannabee" attitude, drinking too much mead, and reveling in a (largely male-dominated) atmosphere of swords and derring-do. That has changed. Oh, we still drink mead and enjoy fellowship with each other around the campfire, but we've become increasingly sophisticated, ever better-adapted for the challenges of the twenty-first century.

We've come a long way in the last forty years or so. This summer we will take the next steps in the evolution of our organization, and of Asatru itself. You'll want to be here!

Go to our web site today at http://runestone.org and sign up for the AFA's premier event!

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly

http://runestone.org

Visit the Asatru Folk Assembly's Cafe Press Shop!

2011-06-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly now has a Cafe Press shop!

For a long time, members have been requesting more AFA merchandise such as mugs and shirts. To expand our offerings, we now have a Cafe Press shop - Runestone at Cafe Press - featuring five designs and product lines. We've come up with a delightful Midsummer graphic (Thank you, Lars, for the inspiration!) but there are other classic designs that would be perfect for Father's Day. Go take a look!.

Hugh of Asgard Studios will be tweaking the site, but for right now, click on an image and you'll get the product list that goes with it. If you want an item that's not listed, just let us know.

If you have a graphic that you'd like to "donate" to the AFA, we invite you to send it to us for our consideration.

www.cafepress.com/AsatruFolkAssembly

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Now I Can Do What Matters - Asatru!

2011-06-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

At last, my "weekend" is here! Now I can get down to what really matters - working for Asatru! So far today I've written blog/Twitter/Facebook posts, prepared another article for the AFA web site, worked on refining our short term goals, talked to one of our Board members and our web meister, and spent about four hours working on various management issues. Sheila's put in at least as much time.

Now, it's time for Sheila and I to sit on the deck with a glass of wine and admire the Sierras on the horizon!

Hail the Gods! Hail the AFA!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Serves Life!

2011-06-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

The spirituality of Asatru demands a dedication to Life as a principle in the universe. We are enriched when we deliberately experience this principle in our daily lives.

Living as I do in rural northern California, I am blessed with wildlife. A couple of days ago Sheila and I had three young bucks resting in the front yard. A few feet away, "our" stray cat was sleeping blissfully on the porch. A few minutes later, two turkeys strutted into the yard. Out on the deck on the other side of the house, finches were hungrily feasting on niger seed. On the early-morning drive into work yesterday, bats maneuvered above my car, escorting me down the hairpin curves to the valley floor.

Best of all was seeing a new-born fawn, stumbling after its mother. Patiently, she watched as it learned to negotiate the deep grass and scamper off a log. She licked it often, transferring scent to her baby. After a few minutes, she paused and fed it.

Writer Collin Cleary, in his soon-to-be-released book Summoning the Gods, tells us of the importance of being in nature if we are to know the presence of the Gods. I agree. Seek nature! Let it speak to you in its own language. Feel the rightness of the world - and accept your role as a guardian of the natural world around you.

We of Asatru serve life...most obviously, the life of our families and our Folk. But in a larger sense, we serve the principle of Life itself, and the continuation of life on this planet. It is for this that we stand alongside the Aesir and Vanir, and against those who would transform Earth into a desert of devastation.

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly

http://runestone.org

Article on the Disir Posted to Asatru Folk Assembly Site

2011-06-07T19:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings, all -

We posted an article about the disir on the Asatru Folk Assembly web site this afternoon. You can find our small but growing collection of articles and essays at http://tinyurl.com/659wavh.

Here's how it starts...

The disir are those ancient tribal mothers who have departed this life for the Otherworld. These powerful female ancestors, traditionally led by the Goddess we call Freya, look on with loving interest in the affairs of their descendants. Nurturing, advising, helping out from time to time on the borders of perception, they remain an active, though normally hidden, part of the family. As Fall comes upon us, our minds turn to these holy mothers and we prepare to celebrate their special time of year, Winter Nights, which traditionally falls on the Saturday between October 11th and 17th.

The disir serve many functions, but one of these is to remind us that we are more than we appear to be... - and you can continue reading at the URL above!

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

AFA Membership - A way to take part!

2011-06-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Maybe you "follow" the AFA on Twitter (AsatruAFA), or have "liked" the Asatru Folk Assembly's Facebook page. Perhaps you wandered into our web site and saw our announcements about the upcoming "Midsummer in the Sierras" gathering, or watched our video of the 2010 event. Or it might have been our page on "The Real Thor" (http://the-real-thor.info) that got your attention...

If you liked what you saw there, why not apply to join the AFA?

We're here to make a difference. We're here to practice our faith, serve our Folk, build community, and influence the world around us.

We need your help to make that happen. The more of us who stand together, the stronger and more successful we will be.

Please visit the AFA site at http://runestone.org. Read our Declaration of Purpose. If we are what you've been looking for, we welcome your application.

Hail the Gods!
Hail the AFA!

Steve McNallen

Hootesuite Test - Hope you see this message!

2011-06-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

This is a little for test for our Hootsuite Social Media Integration. Hopefully our friends will see this on:

1) Facebook - main page
2) Facebook - Real Thor Page
3) Twitter
4) MySpace
5) BLOG of course
6) and our www.runestone.org feed of this BLOG

Asatru Folk Assembly Midsummer Scheduled!

2011-04-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly's annual "Midsummer in the Sierras" gathering is on the calendar for July 27-August 1 this year.

Midsummer is the biggest AFA event of the year, and we're working hard to make it the most memorable Midsummer ever! Our rituals are renowned for their power, our presentations are lively and thought-provoking, and our food is first class.

Our special guest this year is English author Stephen Pollington, whose 17 works on the Anglo-Saxons include The Meadhall: The Feasting Tradition in Anglo-Saxon England, The English Warrior from Earliest Times to 1066, Anglo-Saxon Burial Mounds, and many more.

More information will soon be available on the AFA's web site.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Folk Assembly on Twitter - Putting on the Valknut!

2011-04-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, you can get tweets from me most mornings. You can follow the AFA by searching Twitter for "Asatru Folk Assembly" or by entering the username "AsatruAFA" in the Twitter search field.

A greatly expanded version of this morning's tweet:

One of my morning spiritual exercises is to put on the three interlaced triangle design known as the valknut, associated with Odin. As I do so, I affirm "This day, I put on the valknut - the knot of the slain [which is how the word translates]...and the knot of immortality!" I believe this exercise nourishes the various soul components and binds them together.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Ostara in Oklahoma with the Asatru Folk Assembly!

2011-04-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

We have just returned from an outstanding Ostara celebration sponsored by the Asatru Folk Assembly in eastern Oklahoma. What a great time!

This gathering was especially important to us because it was hosted by AFA Folkbuilders from two states: Texas and Oklahoma. As such, it was one more step toward our vision of regional AFA gatherings all across the country - and ultimately, around the world. Our goal is to ensure that the Asatru Folk Assembly is "a national organization with a local face."

Folkbuilders Gregg Tharp and his wife Debbie, of Oklahoma, and Jerry and Judy Floyd of Texas, cooperated to make this event possible. It was a model of what we will see happen many times from coast to coast in the years to come.

This gathering was also "a first" because it was held in Wister State Park, near one of America's controversial runic artefacts - the Heavener runestone, a large slab of rock with a runic inscription sitting in a small, quiet dale. The runestone provided a dramatic focal point for the event. We visited it as a group, and two of the weekend's presentations dealt with its history and its meaning.

Socializing, the simple acts of being with our old and new friends, is one of the most important things about any AFA gathering. This one was rich with opportunities in this regard; besides our prominent hosts, there was Brad Taylor-Hicks, leader of the Folkbuilder program, who drove through night with most of his kindred all the way from Florida. Mark Stinson and Gunnar Wodenson drove from Kansas and from Minnesota respectively with their contingents, and of course Sheila and I had flown in from California. The willingness of all these people to travel so far to be with fellow Asatruar was very inspiring.

It was wonderful to meet in person AFA members like Scott and Ralph, whom we had known from the AFA's online forum. Eric from Tulsa stands out in my mind, as does Bryan, the energetic former NCO who gave the excellent presentation at the Heavener Runestone State Park. Bear, the appropriately-named leader of the Franks, provided memorable moments of insight. Gregg, who might best be described as a dapper, savvy, and very social cowboy, oversaw it all.

I experienced a moment of thought-provoking synchronicity when Steve from the Dallas area introduced himself and said that he had come to Texas from Grass Valley, the town where Sheila and I technically live (Nevada City, just over the hill, is where we get our mail). I, of course, had made the reverse trip many years ago, moving from Texas to Grass Valley/Nevada City. Indeed, the subject of synchronicity was a recurring theme through the course of the gathering.

Ritual celebrations are another important part of any such meeting, and this one was no different. Jerry Floyd, one of our Texas Folkbuilders, led the opening rite, lighting the need-fire which was kept alive throughout the event. That evening, he led an informal sumbel in which we introduced ourselves and made three rounds of toasts to the Gods and ancestors.

Judy, his wife, gave the Ostara blot the next day, as birds chattered up a storm in the nearby trees and a pair of puppies cavorted in the distance. Our toddlers-in-arms and the other children added to the sense of surging life as we tied our ribbons to the leafy oak tree which was the center of our blot-area. This day also saw our trip to the Heavener runestone, and the thought-provoking presentation led by Bryan.

That evening, after the feast, I spoke on the meaning of the Heavener stone for us, Asatruar in the twenty-first century. I pointed out that there were two ways to approach the stone - the scientific (factual) on one hand and the workings of Wyrd (intuitive, synchronistic) on the other. While facts are essential, they are not in themselves, meaning. "Meaning" is about a thing's connections with, and implications for, our lives both inner and outer. I will expand on this in a separate document.

Mark Stinson spoke on the importance of community and the role played by gatherings like this one. He invited us all to Lightning Across the Plains, the very well-attended annual event in Kansas which he organizes and leads.

Afterwards, it was time for the Odin-blot. We had rehearsed the call-and-response, so it was interactive and thus very powerful. The usual coincidences - a blast of wind at just the right moment, and a shower of sparks from the fire that enveloped me at one point lent a nice touch and let us know we were "in synch." After the blot, we again sat in sumbel. The toasts to Gods, Goddesses, and ancestors were very good. On the final round I recited from memory a 54-line poem I had been practicing for weeks - one written in the style of a Germanic skald, dealing with the battle of the Alamo. Considering the strong Texas presence at the gathering, it seemed appropriate. (Google "harsh that hearing for Houston the raven" and you'll find it; I made minor alterations in the version I recited.)

This gathering was possible only because so many people worked tirelessly to make it happen. (Well, actually, they probably were tired, but they seemed to never stop!) One such person was Gregg's soft-spoken and understated wife, Debbie. She produced an endless supply of food - awesome chili, goulash, and more. Aided by Judy and a host of other women and men who cooked, washed, and served, she oversaw the activity that fueled our endeavors. Serving in a different way, Jerry was always there when something needed to be done, either taking care of it himself or rounding up his always polite and helpful sons to carry out the task.

Leaving the next day was difficult, as it often is after such a weekend. Rushing back to the airport, we had one more experience that truly capped the entire trip. We were going through airport security when one of the TSA workers saw the Thor's hammer amulet around Sheila's neck...and commented that he was wearing his own beneath his uniform shirt.

This was an extended weekend characterized by synchronicity and the weavings of Wyrd. Deep inside, I know we have not seen the last of the events set in motion there!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Folk Assembly unveils new web team!

2011-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly's staff of volunteers continues to grow!

Joseph Lyons is taking charge of the AFA website. He'll be working with us to give our organization a neater, more efficient online presence. He'll also design the site for the Asatru Military Project, one of the most promising new AFA initiatives.

Chuck Hudson will maintain the Asatru Military Project site once Joseph has designed it.

Albert Ward, who has faithfully done updates and modifications for us for some time, will serve as a backup.

This team will serve us well as we expand the AFA's operations in the months and years to come! I am very much looking forward to working with them.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Two New Asatru Folk Assembly Clergy Take Oath!

2011-01-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

Two new AFA Clergy members have been sworn in by Alsherjargothi McNallen. One candidate was Brad Taylor-Hicks, of St. Augustine, Florida. The other was Suzanne White, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in northern England. In both cases, the oath was administered telephonically.

Once again, I am awed by the caliber of men and women we are bringing into the Clergy program. Both these individuals have produced fine work during their course. Moreover, their personalities and characters have shone. I am confident they will give excellent service to the Gods and the Folk.

Hail the new Gothi and Gythja!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Latest Asatru Folk Assembly Podcast is Up!

2011-01-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

The newest Asatru Folk Assembly podcast is up!

Here's the teaser:

For millions of Americans and other people around the globe, 2010 was a rough year economically and spiritually. Now, however, there is a fresh sense of purpose and energy out there - AFA memberships are climbing, able men and women are stepping forward to help advance our cause, and spirits are high. Where is the AFA going in 2011? What are our priorities? How will we continue our mission of influencing the larger culture in which we are embedded?

Three broad tasks lie before us as this new year opens. To find out what they are, come listen to Steve McNallen at http://asatrurising.podbean.com !

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Where to Find the Asatru Folk Assembly Online

2011-01-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

Here's where you can find the Asatru Folk Assembly in cyberspace:

AFA website - http://runestone.org
Asatru Rising podcast - http://asatrurising.podbean.com
Our videos on You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/smcnallen
The AFA blog at - http://asatruupdate.blogspot.com
AFA MySpace at - http://www.myspace.com/asatruupdate
Follow the AFA on Twitter - http://twitter.com, username AsatruAFA.

Steve McNallen

Okay, Asatru, Yule is Over - Now What?

2011-01-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

For all of us who follow Asatru the Twelve Days of Yule have come and gone. We have lit our candles, said our words, affirmed the values of our religion. Now the candles stand, their light long gone, ready to be put away for next year. We have made our News Years resolutions, of course, and the more willful among us will actually carry them out. (Most of us will forget them before January passes.)

What's next?

Well, for starters, how about joining the Asatru Folk Assembly?

This blog reaches a lot of people - most of whom are not AFA members. To all you non-members out there...How about considering changing your status? The AFA can use good men and women who share our beliefs.

We are on the edge of a new year that holds promise and potential - and, no doubt, problems as well, but we'll overcome those. Take a look at our web site, at http://runestone.org. Read our Mission Statement, and our Vision Statement, and our Declaration of Purpose. If you like what you see...ask us about membership!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Twelfth Day of Yuletide - December 31st

2010-12-31T04:51:00.000-08:00

The twelfth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Wisdom.

What is wisdom? Perhaps it can be summed up in the word “understanding.” It takes only a little wisdom to understand superficial things, while understanding the subtle patterns and flow of events requires much more. Wisdom can come in a flash of inspired initiation but for most of us, most of the time, it is the product of gradually processing information and experience, and casting golden truths from that refined ore. However you define it, Wisdom is very important - without it, we are impotent, but with it we can enact our wills in the world!

Let us be Wise!

This day I will pour a libation to Odin, the very embodiment of Wisdom-seeking.

I will seek Wisdom this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Eleventh Day of Yuletide - December 30th

2010-12-30T07:40:00.000-08:00

The eleventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Loyalty.

Elder Germanic society was based on a web of Loyalty - to family and tribe, to a chosen leader, to the Gods and Goddesses. The same applies to us today. We should give Loyalty and expect it of others, reciprocating in a dynamic exchange that grows continually stronger. Loyalty is intimately connected to many other values; it requires Steadfastness and Truth in our oaths, and without it the Community falters and dies. Where there is no Loyalty, there is no honor.

Let us be Loyal!

This day I will pour a libation to Wiglaf, the warrior who stood with Beowulf when all others fled in terror.

I will be Loyal this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Tenth Day of Yuletide - December 29th

2010-12-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

The tenth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Steadfastness.

Steadfastness - from the Old English meaning, literally, “staying fast to one’s place” - is vital for success on both the personal and the group level. It is often easy to exert immense effort for a short period of time, but soon we tire, our tenacity wavers, and our will to persevere fades away. A lack of Steadfastness undermines our attempts to diet, to complete a book manuscript, or to fight year after year for a cause that matters to us. Conversely, Steadfastness can give us victory in all these things, great and small alike.

Let us be Steadfast!

This day I will pour a libation to all those who have persevered in the modern Reawakening of the Germanic Way.

I will be Steadfast this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Ninth Day of Yuletide - December 28th

2010-12-28T07:16:00.000-08:00

The ninth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Truth.

Lies and deceit undermine our personal lives, our relationships with friends and spouses, and, ultimately, the community of which we are a part. Conversely, when we tell and live the Truth, we build bonds that strengthen and reinforce the good in our lives. On a personal level, the Truth we exhibit adds power to our reputation and our individual spiritual might. While telling the Truth is often painful, lies are an even greater burden to bear.

Let us express the Truth in our lives!

This day I will pour a libation to Var, the Goddess who hears all oaths and promises, that she may strengthen my ability to say and live the Truth.

I will tell the Truth this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Eighth Day of Yuletide - December 27th

2010-12-27T05:35:00.000-08:00

The eighth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Individuality.

Individuality balances yesterday’s value of Community. The genius of our people has been to combine these two seemingly contradictory ideas in a dynamic system that encourages cooperation for group goals, but at the same time respects the uniqueness and freedom of the individual. A look at the sagas reveals men and women with strong, stubborn, irrepressible personalities - who, at the same time, were fiercely loyal to kin, friends, and leaders.

Let us honor our Individuality!

This day I will pour a libation to Odin, the very epitome of the unique, individual, evolving Self.

I will assert my individuality today.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Seventh Day of Yuletide - December 26th

2010-12-26T03:49:00.000-08:00

The seventh day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Community.

The joy of Yule springs overwhelmingly from Community. We feast with our family and good friends, exchange gifts, send cards and make telephone calls to the important people in our lives. While we are all unique individuals, we are nevertheless enmeshed in relationships with others. These relationships all bear benefits (love, someone to talk to, financial help) and duties (reciprocation, upholding the family’s honor, physical protection). Community also includes the ancestors, who look on from beyond the grave and nourish the souls of their descendants.

Let us strengthen the bonds of Community!

This day I will pour a libation to my kynfylgja, the personified repository of my family’s spiritual might, to honor the organic Community of my living kin and my ancestors.

I will be mindful of my Community this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Sixth Day of Yuletide - December 25th

2010-12-25T04:23:00.000-08:00

The sixth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Moderation.

Now, with the Yule season at its height, surrounded by good food and drink, is a strange time to be reminded of Moderation! There is something about this holy tide that lends itself to excess, and it is certainly not our suggestion that you be ascetic during Yule. Nevertheless, exercise reasonable discipline where you can. No one respects a glutton. Moderation, however, does not mean lack of zeal or of commitment! It means being in control of our desires, conserving our energies, and channeling our will and in such a way as to successfully attain our goals.

Let us be Moderate!

This day, I will pour a libation to Frigga, our divine mother, for the stabilizing and Moderating influence of home and hearth.

I will be Moderate this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Fifth Day of Yuletide - December 24th

2010-12-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

The fifth day of Yuletide, we light a candle and remember Hospitality.

Being Hospitable has all the benefits of being Generous. It has, however, an added dimension of vulnerability - you are vulnerable, for you have let someone into your home, and your guest is likewise made vulnerable to you. The implication: trust. Giving and receiving hospitality builds even better bonds than Generosity, and is something to be sought after and treasured.

Let us be Hospitable!

This day, I will pour a libation to the land wights, the beings inherent in the land on which my home sits, for our mutual Hospitality.

I will be Hospitable this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Fourth Day of Yuletide - December 23rd

2010-12-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

The fourth day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Generosity.

The open-handed and open-hearted have the best lives. The misers are indeed miserable; they are cut off from the flow of energy inherent in the Germanic concept of Fehu (mobile energy, wealth). Sharing with others demonstrates our spiritual power even as it benefits the recipient - both win in the exchange!

Let us be Generous!

This day, I will pour a libation to Jord, also known as Erda, from which we get the word “Earth” - for all the bounty she has bestowed upon us.

I will be Generous this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Third Day of Yuletide - December 22nd

2010-12-22T06:24:00.000-08:00

The third day of Yule, we light a candle and remember Courage.

Courage is all around us in many guises. It is the man or woman who intervenes to drive off a mugger or a rapist. It is the mother cat who gives her life that her kittens might live. It is the scholar who holds an unpopular political opinion and doesn’t back down. It is the internal power to get out of bed and face each morning when everything seems futile, hopeless, and painful. Courage means mastering our fears and doing our duty, regardless of the cost.

Let us be Courageous!

This day, I will pour a libation to Tyr, who gave his hand and bound the wolf.

I will be Courageous this day.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Second Day of Yuletide - December 21st

2010-12-21T05:47:00.000-08:00

The First Day of Yuletide - December 20th

2010-12-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

How Does Asatru Honor the Female Ancestors?

2010-10-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Winter Nights is the holy time when we of Asatru honor the Disir - the female ancestors of our line, often thought of as being led by Freya, the Goddess of love and fertility. Is death merely a curtain, a veil, through which the love and inspiration of our foremothers (and all our ancestors generally) can reach us? Asatruar say "Yes!" - the line of ancestors and descendants transcends time and space, and mortality. Join us as we describe how to honor your own Disir, the mighty women who gave you the gift of life!

http://asatrurising.podbean.com

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly

http://runestone.org

Latest AFA Podcast Asks: Where Are Asatru's Cathedrals?

2010-10-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly's latest podcast asks: Where are the cathedrals of Asatru? Medieval cathedrals were built to show the power of the Christian God over the centuries. Should our own faith have any equivalent to these magnificent buildings? How would Asatru “cathedrals” differ from those of Christendom? Would they even be places of worship - or would they be something entirely different?

This is thinking on a large scale, but it is time we who follow Asatru begin envisioning that which is far beyond our current reach. Asatru is not just another form of entertainment in a degenerate age, nor a substitute for video games and television triviality, nor is it a club for Viking “wannabees.” To find out more, listen!

The podcast can be accessed at http://asatrurising.podbean.com.

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly

http://runestone.org

Asatru Folk Assembly Announces Vounteer Coordinator

2010-09-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly has announced the selection of the AFA's first Volunteer Coordinator. Cat Ellis was chosen from a list of candidates for her all-around ability, her communications skills, and her drive to succeed. Cat's first task will be to help select a number of other volunteers who will be recruited over the next few months to give the AFA a highly qualified, well-managed staff.

This marks the beginning of a new era in the AFA and in Asatru generally. We are positioning ourselves to really make a difference...which is what the AFA is all about!

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly

http://runestone.org

New Asatru Folk Assembly Podcast Posted

2010-09-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly has posted a new podcast titled "Asatru Communities - Looking Deeper." This is a follow-up to the episode on Asatru communities posted two weeks ago. From the introduction: "In this episode, we take a deeper look at Asatru communities. We examine how they fall under the 'job description' of the Asatru Folk Assembly, and we consider the numerous possible stages through which they might develop - from the initial meeting of two or more people, to a full-fledged intentional community with a large piece of land and many buildings. Not least, we remind ourselves that a community is defined not by real estate, but by people!"

This new podcast can be found at http://asatrurising.podbean.com.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Latest Asatru Folk Assembly podcast up!

2010-09-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

Hail, all!

Our latest Asatru Folk Assembly podcast is ready for your listening, downloading, and sharing with friends!

There’s a lot of talk on the Internet about Asatru communities. How can we develop these? More specifically, can a national (international, really) organization like the Asatru Folk Assembly engender that sense of togetherness on a very large scale? My answer to that is a resounding “Yes!” and in this podcast I discuss how this can be done. My aim is to make the AFA “the international organization that feels like a kindred.” I know that’s envisioning a lot…but hear me out!

http://asatrurising.podbean.com

Hail the Gods!
Hail the AFA!

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

The Asatru Folk Assembly's Podcast Site

2010-08-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly has established a podcast site, which we have titled “Asatru Rising.”

The great advantage of a podcast is that not only can it be listened to online, but it can be downloaded into iPods or other mobile devices by subscription and thus listened to in any spare moments a person may have.

To date, four programs have been recorded and made available for download. Topics covered so far include a brief introduction to Asatru, a look at the closely related Celtic and Germanic cultures and their implication for the spiritual unity of the European peoples, a talk comparing the current spiritual anomie of the European peoples to the shamanic phenomenon of “soul loss,” and - most recently - a call for all of us to work consciously on our spiritual evolution.

These programs have come out on an average of just about one per week. We intend to keep producing them at this level of activity.

To listen to the current offerings, or to subscribe to have new releases automatically downloaded to your mobile device, pay us a visit at http://asatrurising.podbean.com.

Hail the Gods!
Hail the AFA!

Steve McNallen
http://runestone.org

Follow the Asatru Folk Assembly on Twitter!

2010-08-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

Asatru continues its voyage into social media! I have gotten into the habit of “tweeting” most days - just a quick comment or quote or insight before dashing off to work in the morning. If you have a Twitter account, you can subscribe to these mini-messages. Our Twitter username is AsatruAFA. If you're not familiar with Twitter, go to http://twitter.com.

Hail the Gods!
Hail the AFA!

Steve McNallen
http://runestone.org

Celts, Germans, and Native European Religion

2010-08-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Celts, Germans, and Native European Religion

The second AFA/Steve McNallen podcast is up! Do you have to be a descendant of Vikings to practice Asatru? Get your answer by clicking on the font above...

Hail the Gods!
Hail the AFA!

Steve

Wotan Blot at the Asatru Folk Assembly Midsummer

2010-06-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

My standard ritual at Asatru gatherings is an Odin-blot, simply because I have a special connection to Allfather and giving blot to him is undoubtedly what I do best. But this Midsummer, I changed my routine. One of our clergy students was performing an Odin-blot as part of her certification process, and I did not want to duplicate her efforts. I had done a Wotan-blot last October, near the 2000th (!) anniversary of Hermann's victory over the Romans at Teutobergerwald, and decided to present it at the Asatru Folk Assembly's Midsummer event.

We stood in a large circle, the night held back by blazing torches and a roaring fire. A triangle of tall wooden images representing Odin, Thor, and Frey towered over me. Behind them all an Irminsul, or World Column stretched toward the full moon. Before me was a simple altar, or horg. I made the Sign of the Hammer with my fist and intoned "In the sign of the Doom of Giants, and in the holy names of Wotan and Donar, I hallow the horg to Wotan and bless the place of blot..." We had begun.

My invocation drew a word picture of Wotan himself walking through the forest, and we called him: "Be with us, Wotan! Storm across our souls! Fill us with holy frenzy! Give us your might and main!" In a spirited call-and-response, we affirmed Wotan as the God of the Germanen, as our God. "Wotan!" I called; "Mit uns!" ("With us!") the folk responded, three times. I asked Wotan for his traditional gifts, namely victory, and wisdom, and above all the awakening of our Folk from their slumber.

We gave Wotan our "might, and main, and troth" - through the medium of a horn of fine mead, carried around the circle so that each could put in their gift "from heart to hand to horn." With each step I took, the drums and triangle sounded as Dylan and Robert - of the band Lasher Keen - provided accompaniment. After the libation, a second horn was held high, Wotan filled it with power, and I asperged the assembled folk with an evergreen branch. Thus were the gifts made, human to God and God to human, as befits those who are blood kin and friends.

Our meadow was surrounded by hills, and the pine trees roared our voices back at us. It was a powerful rite - primordial, passionate, an organic connection with the Folksoul.

Indeed, "Wotan...mit uns!"

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Folk Assembly's Midsummer 2010

2010-06-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Asatru Folk Assembly's "Midsummer in the Sierras" was an extremely successful one, despite the fact that it went somewhat differently from what Sheila and I had planned.

What we had envisioned was a dynamic and intense experience that would affect all who participated. We got that! The only thing that fell through was our intention to have it highly connected with the outside world via the Internet.

First of all, the numbers: We had over a hundred people in attendance at the height of the gathering. This is compared to sixty-some last year, and an humble twenty at our first AFA Midsummer!

But the important thing was not the size of the crowd, but the attitude and energy. No doubt the rituals contributed to this, as did the two bands brought in to provide music. The presence of an official guest from Denmark helped, as well. But the biggest factor in our success was the creativity and productivity of the people who attended. This atmosphere, that "anything was possible," was worth more than all the Internet connectivity in the world!

I'll post more on the rituals later, but to give you a bit of a preview: Johnny and Jule Hulsey led us in a healing rite that affected several of us in a very tangible level. Bill, one of our two clergy students conducting their "certification blots," performed the actual Midsummer ritual. Lauren gave us an Odin-blot that left us open-mouthed. Sheila and I renewed our wedding vows. Young Gabe underwent his initiation into manhood. My Wotan-Blot rang off the hills like we had a thousand people in the meadow.

Music? We had two bands. Lasher Keen, experimental artists working in Germanic themes, rocked us. The Blarney Band gave us rousing fireside Irish songs.

Of course, there was work to be done. In a separate post I'll mention the huge accomplishments of the Folkbuilders. (Both Brad, Folkbuilder Coordinator, and Brent, his assistant, were present, along with another eight Folkbuilders.)

No, we didn't get you the minute-by-minute reports on the Internet, for reason's I'll explain later. But let me tell you, this was one incredible event..."Not just another Asatru gathering."

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Midsummer 2010

2010-06-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

The AFA's "Midsummer in the Sierras" was an extremely successful event, despite
the fact that it went somewhat differently from what Sheila and I had planned.

What we had envisioned was a dynamic and intense experience that would affect
all who participated. We got that! The only thing that fell through was our
intention to have it highly connected with the outside world via the Internet.

First of all, the numbers: We had over a hundred people in attendance at the
height of the gathering. This is compared to sixty-some last year, and an
humble twenty at our first AFA Midsummer!

But the important thing was not the size of the crowd, but the attitude and
energy. No doubt the rituals contributed to this, as did the two bands brought
in to provide music. The presence of an official guest from Denmark helped, as
well. But the biggest factor in our success was the creativity and productivity
of the people who attended. This atmosphere, that "anything is possible," was
worth more than all the Internet connectivity in the world!

I'll post more on the rituals later, but to give you a bit of a preview: Johnny
and Jule Hulsey led us in a healing rite that affected several of us on a very
tangible level. Bill Shelbrick, one of our two clergy students conducting their
"certification blots," performed the actual Midsummer ritual. Lauren gave us an
Odin-blot that left us open-mouthed. Sheila and I renewed our wedding vows.
Young Gabe underwent his initiation into manhood. My Wotan-blot rang off the
hills like we had a thousand people in the meadow.

Music? We had two bands. Lasher Keen, experimental artists working in Germanic
themes, rocked us. The Blarney Band gave us rousing fireside Irish songs.

Of course, there was work to be done. In a separate post I'll mention the huge
accomplishments of the Folkbuilders. (Both Brad, Folkbuilder Coordinator, and
Brent, his assistant, were present, along with another eight Folkbuilders.)

No, we didn't get you minute-by-minute reports on the Internet, for reasons I'll
explain later. But let me tell you, this was one incredible event..."Not just
another Asatru gathering."

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Join...the Rising!

2010-06-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

Asatru Rising...this year's Midsummer celebration of the Asatru Folk Assembly...starts Thursday evening, June 24th. And you can be there, no matter where in Midgard you live.

There's a mood in the air, a sense of change, of a subtle but unmistakeable shift in the soul. Odin's breeze rustles the branches of the World Tree. Something new and glorious is about to be reborn.

You can follow the happenings of this powerful meeting of the Folk in many different ways:

News will posted on the Asatru Folk Assembly's Facebook...

Pictures will appear on http://picasaweb.google.com/afaops...

Podcasts, to include major talks, will be on the new site, http://asatrurising.podbean.com/...

Or you can follow us on Twitter; search for AsatruAFA.

There are many Midsummer festivals, but there will be only one Asatru Rising.

Steve McNallen
Asatru Folk Assembly

http://runestone.org

An Asatru Attitude: Worthy of Valhalla, Worthy of Life

2010-05-18T04:49:00.001-07:00

My morning Asatru devotionals are an important part of my religious life. First, I greet the day with the (slightly modified) words of the valkyrie Brynhild in the Eddic poem Sigrdrifumal -

Hail to the day! Hail to the sons of day!
Hail to night and its daughter!
Gaze gently on me standing here;
Give your blessings on my battles!

Hail to the Gods! Hail to the Goddesses!
Hail to the all-giving Earth!
Wisdom and lore grant me, as long as I live,
And healing hands.

Then I recite a rather longish prayer I have developed over the years. It includes the petition, "May I be worthy of Valhalla..." No surprise there; I am sure many of us hope and strive to be accepted into Odin's hall. But perhaps fewer ask the next item: "May I be worthy of Midgard, worthy of life."

We often take life here in our world for granted. Jaded and habit-driven, we ignore the treasures that surround us. The first ray of the sun's rising, the piping of the finch in springtime, the breath of a breeze against our skin...Those who say material existence is evil are wrong; it is a veritable paradise, if only we will look, and listen, and feel. Life is good, and we should daily embrace it to ourselves.

The gift of life is a great one, and I try to be worthy of it by being aware of the beauty around me...by serving life rather than death...by protecting this Earth, our home, as best I can...and, when I sit down to food, by thanking the life that died that I might live - for I would not take that life in vain.

Hail to the ancestors and the Holy Powers, who gave us life! May we live fully and with awareness!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru and Essence: The Neanderthal Question

2010-05-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Just who are we Europeans? If we follow a native European religion - Asatru - it only makes sense to delve into the question of our fundamental identity, our roots, our origins. "Know thyself," as Socrates said.

Along these lines, the most recent research indicates that the earliest homo erectus inhabitants of Europe interbred with Neanderthals, meaning that modern Europeans carry Neanderthal genes.

In the words of the article, "The Leipzig group’s interbreeding theory would undercut the present belief that all human populations today draw from the same gene pool that existed a mere 50,000 years ago. 'What we falsify here is the strong Out-of-Africa hypothesis that everyone comes from the same population,' Dr. Paabo said. In his and Dr. Reich’s view, Neanderthals interbred only with non-Africans, the people who left Africa, which would mean that non-Africans drew from a second gene pool not available to Africans."

This discovery raises interesting questions. I've seen other articles asserting that modern Chinese also have genetic contributions from interbreeding with older Asian populations. Could it be that the origin of races is more complex than we've thought? Shades of Carlton Coon!

http://tinyurl.com/2uuocug

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Attitudes Toward Christianity

2010-05-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Reading through posts on Asatru blogs and lists, I often see derogatory comments made about the Christian faith and its followers. This is understandable. Organized Christianity ruthlessly suppressed all the native religions of Europe, including the Germanic religion we today call Asatru. The several thousand Saxon leaders slaughtered by Charlemagne for their refusal submit to the cross were only a very small fraction of our martyrs; Europe succumbed to Christianity after a sputtering war of resistance lasting centuries. It is possible that every man and woman of European descent has direct ancestors who died in defense of our native faith.

So what are we to do with this history, now that a thousand years or so has passed? The scene is complicated by the fact that (1) Asatru is an ancestral religion and (2) most of our recent ancestors have been Christian. True, most of our line is thoroughly heathen - Europe as a whole has been under the sway of Christianity for only between one and two percent of the time that modern humans have lived on the continent - but things are no longer simple.

Here's my take on it: I went through a stridently anti-Christian phase in the years immediately after I decided to follow Asatru. I was young and brash and angry because I had been cheated of my heritage. Now, I am older and somewhat less brash. I still feel the loss of our traditional culture, and I still honor the martyrs of our faith who fell before the steel and fire of Christians. I certainly believe that Christianity is a faulty faith, a foreign imposition on European soil, a way that has done us great damage...But you know, I find it hard to blame the Catholic or Baptist down the street for what Charlemagne did.

In short, I am still in opposition to Christianity as a religion, but I am not against Christians as people simply because of the faith they profess. And to be honest, many of them live our virtues better than some of us do.

Most especially, I am not interested in "Christian bashing." I don't automatically assume all Christians are bigots or fools - because they're not. My parents were Christians, and my grandparents, and so on for many generations. I honor my Christian ancestors just as I do my pre-Christian forebears, because blood is thicker than water - and, specifically, thicker than the water of the baptismal font.

Our task in regard to Christianity is simple: We are, in some sense, in competition with it for the soul of our people. Reasoned criticism of Christianity is one thing; ad hominem attacks are another. The former helps us accomplish our mission, but the latter hurts our efforts. If we are negative and angry, people who might otherwise regard us well, or even join us, will not hear our message. Hostility stops communication. We must conduct ourselves in a way that reflects well on our beliefs, and that suggests a maturity and confidence leading us to treat others with the respect due them.

Hail our holy Gods and Goddesses! Hail the ancestors, and hail the generations yet to come!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Blond Mummies from Central Asia Touring America!

2010-05-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

Members of the Asatru Folk Assembly - or anyone else, for that matter - living in or near southern California, Texas, or Pennsylvania, are about to get the chance of a lifetime.

The famous blond mummies from Urumchi, on the edge of Mongolia, will be making appearances in Southern California, Houston, and Philadelphia. These are the mummies proven by DNA analysis to be Europeans - the farthest-east expression of our ancestors in ancient times. They are tall, with the long skulls typical of Europe, and their textile weave is similar to that found among the Celts. China occupies the land where they were found; the Chinese call it the province of Xinjiang, while many of the locals think of it as the nation of East Turkestan.

The suspicion that these mysterious European people may have introduced the wheel and other important technologies into China is embarrassing to the Chinese regime, and awareness of the mummies has at times been suppressed by the government.

The exhibit, which closes in Santa Ana, California on July 25, moves to the Houston Museum of Natural Science Aug. 28 and stays until Jan. 2. From Feb. 5 to June 5, the exhibit will be at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia. You won't want to miss these if you live within driving distance!

http://tinyurl.com/3y76jft

Asatru Folk Assembly
runestone.org

Asatru Leader Raises a Horn to Odin Onstage

2010-02-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

A northern California band, Lasher Keen, asked Asatru Folk Assembly head Steve McNallen to invoke Odin's blessing before a recent performance in Nevada City.

Just before the band began, Steve and his wife Sheila walked onstage. Using a ritual formula inspired by the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Sheila handed Steve a horn of mead. He replied, then invoked Odin's inspiration for the evening's performance. Steve carried the horn to each member of the band, offering a drink of the fluid now charged with Odin's might. The task done, Steve and Sheila took their seats, and the music began.

Lasher Keen, whose music is described as "folk/experimental/other" on the group's MySpace page, weaves the imagery of pre-Christian Germania throughout their work. Their song in praise of Wotan (Odin) was very well received. They also played one of their newer numbers dedicated to Audhumla, the primordial cow in the Norse creation myth.

A genuine spiritual impulse drives Lasher Keen. "Raising the horn to Odin was not some onstage stunt or gimmick. It was for the benefit of the band, who actually wanted the blessing of Odin," said Steve.

For more on Lasher Keen visit http://www.myspace.com/lasherkeen.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Asatru Event Hosts International Guest

2010-02-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

The Florida Moot broke new ground for Asatru by inviting the respected Anglo-Saxon expert, Stephen Pollington, as a special guest from England.

"Pollington was awesome," enthused one attendee. "I know a lot more about the Anglo-Saxon contribution to Germanic religion than I did a few days ago!" Pollington, author of nearly a dozen books on the Anglo-Saxons, spoke on the institution of the mead hall and on the symbolic significance of Anglo-Saxon decorative motifs.

The other star attendees were Steve and Sheila McNallen of the Asatru Folk Assembly. McNallen addressed the group on the future of the AFA, which he sees in ambitious terms. "We intend to present our faith to millions of ordinary people who have never heard of it. I am not content to let Asatru be a mere footnote to history, when we have so much to offer," he stated. McNallen also shared his ideas on the afterlife in Germanic religion.

The Moot, while not an official AFA event, is organized by AFA Folkbuilder Allen Turnage with the help of many volunteers, to include many AFA members. McNallen's attendance for the last two years has made the gathering especially relevant for AFA members all across the South.

The Florida Moot attracted about fifty percent more attendees than last year.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Doug Crabtree Joins the Rank of Asatru Clergy

2010-02-18T16:45:00.000-08:00

Doug "Tosti" Crabtree took the oath of Clergy in the Asatru Folk Assembly at the recently-held Florida Moot. The simple ceremony marked the completion of a rigorous course covering Asatru lore and the principles of leadership. "It was my honor to take the oath," he remarked, adding that it was especially significant "to do so face to face with Steve McNallen, and in front of the outstanding individuals attending the Moot."

By taking the oath, Tosti commits himself to serve AFA members and other followers of our faith, and to set an example for those outside Asatru. "It's not just about performing the traditional rites. Our clergy are expected to be leaders in every regard," emphasized Stefn Thorsman, head of the Clergy Board.

The course, conducted through one-on-one mentoring with an existing clergy member, which takes a minimum of one year and is marked by continual evaluation and testing, is open only to experienced Asatruar who have been an AFA member for more than a year and who meet other criteria.

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Thoughts on Asatru's "Feast of Vali"

2010-02-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

(Keeping it short because of my broken hand...)

I wonder about modern Asatru/Odinism's attribution of February 14 to Vali, son of Odin and Rind - it has always seemed a little unlikely to me. Certainly, celebrate it that way if it works for you...but if Edred Thorsson is right and the "heart" shape really represents the buttocks and mons veneris, and is an old symbol of Freya, wouldn't it be more appropriate to honor her? Not to mention more in keeping with the spirit of the holiday! Sure, I know what the Church had in mind, but that doesn't really apply to us, does it?

Hail the Gods!
Hail the AFA!

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org

Advanced Surgery in Europe...Seven Thousand Years Ago!

2010-02-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

Evidence of surgery carried out nearly 7,000 year ago has emerged – suggesting our Stone Age ancestors were more medically advanced than first thought.

Early Neolithic surgeons used a sharpened flint to amputate the left forearm of an elderly man, scientists have discovered.

And, more remarkable yet, they ensured the patient was anesthetized and the limb cut off cleanly while the wound was treated afterwards in sterile conditions.

Scientists unearthed evidence of the surgery during work on tomb discovered at Buthiers-Boulancourt, about 40 miles south of Paris.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/yhte25l

Steve McNallen

Asatru Folk Assembly
http://runestone.org