Do you know what the Norse religion is? When most people are asked this question they wouldn’t know the answer. Some of you out there have seen jewelry with symbols that look like this: cszyad. They just look like strange symbols don’t they. What is the World Tree? Just who is Odin? What is that hammer-looking necklace you are wearing? These questions and many others are all referring to the Norse (Teutonic) religion. There are still many misconceptions about this old religion. This paper will explain the basics of this vast religion and cover ideas such as its message, its origin, a sample ritual, the roles of people, and some of the major texts.
The actual date of when the Norse religion began is unclear even today. There is evidence that elements of the religion existed all the way back to the Bronze Age. The Norse people as we know from history today developed around 1000 BCE. This marked the end of the migration, which began approximately in 4000 BCE and lasted till approximately 1000 BCE, of different peoples from the east who populated the European area. These Indo-European people came from a common stock but as they settled in different areas throughout Europe they developed different languages, customs, and religions. The Norse people, as we know them, were born out of the stormy and turbulent times of the migration. The religion still has traceable roots to the Indo-European but has grown and changed, shaped by the migration and the harsh climates of the north where these peoples settled (Scandinavia & Germanic regions).
What are the basics of the Norse religion? First, to answer that question, is a quote from the Ring of Troth web site:
"One of the greatest duties of the believer in the gods and goddesses of the North is to keep the holy feasts, or blessings, of the year, which bring humans together with both the seasons of the Earth and the might of the deities which is shown forth in the changes of the world. The holding of these feasts, alone or with a group, is one of the things that all Troth members have in common: it lies at the very heart of the Northern religion. At our blessings, we meet with the gods and goddesses and with the spirits of our ancestors: we hallow ourselves together with the worlds around us."
The Norse religion is polytheistic, meaning the belief in more than one god and/or goddess. It is a pre-Christian religion that existed over a 1000 years before Christianity. The Norse tradition is not only a religion but also a way of life. The Norse ways teach a fundamental way of living called by some the Nine Noble Virtues: courage, honor, hospitality, independence (and liberty), individuality (with self-reliance and self-responsibility), industriousness (and perseverance), justice (including an innate sense of fairness and respect for others), loyalty (to family, friends, and the society of which one is a part), truthfulness, and a willingness to stand up for what is right. This religion is not made to sit by and watch happen. You as an individual must take an active part in making it your life. The Norse religion is a multifaceted term. The main parts of the religion include: Reverence for the earth, Belief in the Asa gods and goddesses, the Nine Noble Virtues, and (for many but not necessarily all) a belief in and practice of magick. A brief and basic definition of magick is the manipulation of the world through the power of visualization and personal will (placing you will on the world to produce change). All of this together shows the basic tenants of the Norse religious system.
The Norse people had a class system that is very similar to today’s. There was no warrior class like one would think. Everyone was expected to learn the art of war. Even the women were allowed to learn and participate in the arts of war. In fact, that trait of a woman knowledgeable in the art of war was something sought after by the men. In the religious aspect there really was no major distinction that said women could not learn the same as the men. Typically the Runemasters were men but some women also learned the sacred trade. Everyone had the right to work with his or her gods and/or goddesses. There was the equivalent of a high priest and high priestess. They helped in facilitating the ritual for everyone gathered to participate.
There are many different rituals that are performed yearly by the Norse people. These rituals can range anywhere from the rites of passage as a child grows up to the seasonal rituals to honor the gods and goddesses to food and drink blessings. These rituals were a part of the daily life of a Norseman/women. Most all of the major rituals followed a basic formula.
One of the most common rituals, The Greeting of the Sun, was preformed on the morning of the Summer Solstice (Ritual is included in Appendix B). Runes were also a major part of the rituals. When you wanted to get something accomplished one or more runes were used in conjunction with the rituals and meditation to bring about the desired outcome. Each rune has a specific meaning and purpose. Some believe that the runes are physical representations of different aspects of the universe. And when using them for a specific purpose or ritual you can bring about change in the world and your life (See Runic Translation Table – Appendix A).
There are no Norse "Bibles" per say. There are no holy books that are used by everyone practicing the Norse religion. There are, however, some basic texts that pass on the history and mythology of this religion. Texts such as the Prose and Poetic Edda pass on the mythology of the religion. Other texts such as Edred Thorsson’s A Book of Troth retell the history of the Norse people as well as the basic guidelines for the major seasonal rituals. There are many other books out there on the subject. Some going into specific parts of the religion (Such as runic divination) and others the cover a basic understanding of the whole (Such as Kveldulf Gundarsson’s Teutonic Religion).
The Norse religion is a vast system that would take a lifetime to fully discover. This paper just scratched the surface and touched on the basics of this religion. This is a religion that was a part of everyone’s life and was used and worked with daily. The gods and goddesses of this polytheistic religion were there to help you on your path of life, but not tell you exactly what to do to achieve happiness in the afterlife. They acted as your guides through life. These old ones of the north have been there for the centuries in the past and will be till the end.
Wassail and Blessed Be!