Ásatrú for Beginners: A Modern Heathen's Guide to the Ancient Northern Way

by Mathias Nordvig PhD

Overview

Explore the ancient gods and goddesses of Ásatrú—and find your spiritual path

Ásatrú is a spiritual belief system based around the pre-Christian folklore and mythology of Northern Europe. It gained popularity in the 1970s across Europe and North America and is still thriving today, sought out for its non-dogmatic structure and emphasis on individuality, hospitality, and community-based values.

Ásatrú for Beginners is a newcomer's guide to this spirituality. It breaks down everything from the history and traditions to the gods and goddesses, ancient texts, sacred rituals, and the use of runes with simple language anyone can dive into. It's an inclusive and practical guide that makes it easy to apply Ásatrú in your modern-day life and find greater spiritual satisfaction.

Ásatrú for Beginners offers:

• See yourself more clearly—Ásatrú centers around ideas like friendship, community, and sharing. Discover what's important to you and how to worship in a way that fits your life.
• What's old is new again—Explore the thousand-year-old roots of the original Ásatrú religion and what makes its recent rebirth so powerful.
• Gods and goddesses—Find wonder, purpose, and inspiration in the stories and poems about gods like Thor, Loki, and Frigg.

Enter the world of Ásatrú with a simple guide that puts you on the path to spiritual health.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647397630
Publisher:	Callisto Publishing
Publication date:	09/08/2020
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

DR. MATHIAS NORDVIG has a Ph.D. in Nordic mythology from Aarhus University in Denmark and has been teaching Viking studies, Norse mythology, Scandinavian folklore, and Arctic culture at the University of Colorado at Boulder since 2015. He also runs a YouTube channel called The Nordic Mythology Channel and is co-host of The Nordic Mythology Podcast.

Editorial Reviews

In a time when people are seeking spiritual answers, Mathias prepares those who seek the Northern Way with a wide knowledge of important matters impacting the worldview and practice of Modern Heathenry. This book also contains enough challenges to the status quo in Ásatrú to keep any seasoned practitioner turning the pages. Ásatrú For Beginners belongs on every Heathen shelf!” —Lonnie Scott, Coauthor of Elhaz Ablaze: Compendium of Chaos Heathenry, and Host of Weird Web Radio

“While there is no perfect first book for Heathens, Mathias Nordvig has come closer than anyone, with this accessible and informative guide to learning and practicing the Heathen faith.” —Rich Blackett, Pagan Federation Officer & Chair of Asatru UK

“This book is a down-to-earth and well-researched guide for Heathen practitioners and non-Heathen scholars. Dr. Nordvig brings to bear his expertise and wide-ranging insights into Heathen history, lore, and practice in different countries and across decades in an accessible format. He provides encouragement and advice on how to make Heathen practice our own.” —Dr. Jennifer Snook, Senior Lecturer of Sociology, Author of American Heathens

“Breaching the gap between an academic outlook and the lived experience of a revived religion, Ásatrú for Beginners builds upon the wealth of personal and scholarly experience of its author to deliver what very well could be the most accessible book focusing on Norse religion in recent memory. Clear, succinct, and to the point, this book is perfect for newcomers and curious minds alike.” —Lyonel Perabo, International Columnist at wildhunt.org

From the Publisher