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continued from cover

Those who are curious about the
philosophy of Asatru need look no
further than a pamphlet published
by the Asatru Free Assembly
which states: “We believe in an
underlying all-pervading energy or
essence which is generally hidden
from us because it surpasses our
direct understanding. We further
believe that this spiritual reality is
interdependent with us—that we
affect it, and it affects us. We
believe that this underlying
divinity expresses itself in the
forms of the Gods and Goddesses.
Stories about these deities are like a
sort of céde; the mysterious
‘language’ which the divine reality
speaks to us.”

Members of the Asatru faith
honour both the gods and god-
desses through ritual, as well as
during various seasonal gather-
ings on both the solstices and
equinoxes and on other ancient
festival days. Some groups per-
form circle rituals and “boasting”
rituals known as the Bragi ( after
the long-winded god of poetry)
wherein one’s deeds are recounted
to the group, using symbolism
related to the elements.

According to the research of
Margot Adler, these symbols may
include: a sickle or cakes for the
North; a spear (symbolic of Odin’'s
spear Gungnir) or rune wand for
the East; a sword for the South;
and a hunting horn for the West.
The form is not unlike Wiccan or
Native American circle rituals.
Some groups decline to take part in
these practices, preferring instead
to pay homage to six of the eight
known pagan sabbats, represented
by a six-spoked wheel of the year
as opposed to the more traditional
eight. All groups profess a strong
bond of kinship with, and respect
for, ancestral spirits, not unlike
Japanese Shintoists.

Unfortunately, as with many
misunderstood faiths, Asatru has
gained a certain amount of infamy
by attracting a negative element
into its sphere of influence. Many

groups find that a strong racist/
Neo-Nazi strain has entered their
ranks. Some are attracted by the
importance Asatru places on
ancestry, hence “race.” Some fringe
sects have formed, often with ties
to militia groups, attracted by what
they perceive to be the trappings of
Viking machismo and/or Nazism,
openly endorsing this viewpoint
and _ basing the acceptability of
members upon bloodline and
political leanings as opposed to
their belief in paganism. The
Odinist Fellowship’s journal, “The
Odinist” which, unlike the other
groups mentioned, has decidedly
“political” leanings, with a very
right-wing, even racist slant. Racist
groups often prefer to be referred
to as Odinists; conversely, Asatru
groups often reject using the terms
Odinist, or Odinism.

This is a cross that Norse/
Teutonic culture and imagery has
had to bear since the post-World
War II era. It is well-known that
Hitler’s SS adopted the trappings
of Nordic symbolism to further
their own cause, particularly in the
case of the swastika, an ancient
symbol common in a number of
different cultures predating
Nazism by several thousand years.
This appropriation has been
continued by modern Neo-Nazis.
In Norse mythology the swastika
was the symbol of Thor’s hammer
Mjollnir, as well as for the Wheel of
the Sun. It is not an inherently evil
symbol, but sadly, due to its
modern connotations seems
doomed to be considered as such
[even at Douglas College, where our
new logo was criticised by some as a
Neo-Nazi sign].

Granted, many people who are
attracted to Asatru in the first place
are slightly more patriarchal and
conservative in their mind set than
those of other pagan groups. They
reject vegetarianism and mind-
altering substances in favour of
alcohol, martial arts, and warrior
values. Although many adherents
are uncomfortable with feminism

 

Feature

 

and alternate lifestyle choices,
many women are attracted to
Norse paganism, enjoying equal
status without harassment. In
ancient times Norse women had
equal rights with their male
counterparts, such as rights of
property and divorce, long before
their sisters in Christian Europe
and elsewhere.

Some of the more violent and
disturbing incidents involving
fringe groups have taken place in
Norway. This mayhem is
interlinked with the recent music
trend known as “Black Metal,”
featuring bands such as Burzum,
Mayhem, Emperor, Immortal,
Enslaved, Mysticum, Satyricon,
Helheim, and DarkThrone. Some
of these bands have been accused
of combining elements of Norse
mythology with overt Satanism
and, in some cases, leaning
towards fascism, promoting this
dark hybrid ideology through
loud, fast, and extremely brutal
music. Two cults based in and
around this scene include “The
Norwegian Black Metal Syndi-
cate,” and “The Inner Circle.”

In 1993 Count Grishnakh, front
man of the band Burzum, stabbed
Euronymous, front man of the
band Mayhem, to death in the
culmination of a long-running feud
between the two. Grishnakh, one
of the scene’s most infamous
figures, espouses Neo-Nazism and
violence. He has also been con-
nected with a long string of church
burnings and desecrations which
currently plaguing much of
Norway.

nother incident arose
during the 1994 Winter
Olympics at Lillehammer

wherein Faust, drummer for the
band Emperor, stabbed a man who
had sexually propositioned him.
Grishnakh and Faust are both
currently serving 15-25 year
sentences at the Bergen Correc-
tional Institute in Norway. These
are but two ina series of similiar
cases involving members of
Norway’s Black Metal scene
which, it should be stated, cannot

EVO

be held accountable. As a genre of
music, it has spawned many
talented and credible musicians
who are not involved in criminal
activity. As with Asatru, its
reputation suffers as a result of the
deeds of a few extremists.

In Denmark the escalating
warfare between youth bike gangs,
while not directly connected to the
Black Metal music scene, is also
symptomatic of a rising tide of
violence. Many attribute this to a
youthful fascination with, again,
perceived trappings within Norse
mythology and ideology, including
warrior virtues and violence. The
irony is that these individuals are
painfully ignorant of their own
history. Between the 8th and 11th
centuries, the majority of the Norse

Asatru, like Wicca and other

pagan sects, was all but
exterminated by the

Christian church over 900

years ago

people were peaceful farmers,
merchants, and fishermen, while
only a relatively small percentage
actually followed the Viking path.
The even greater irony of these
individuals and their activities is
they have only helped to add fuel
to the fires of detraction which
have long been burning away any
semblance of credibility that
proponents of paganism, Asatru or
otherwise, can claim. To com-
pletely condemn the philosophy
and ideology of Asatru as the root
cause of these incidents is mis-
guided at best, as the individuals
involved represent a small, if
decidedly vocal, fraction of
confused extremists. One may ask,
is the philosophy and ideology of
Christianity the root cause of the
madness that swept through
Europe during the Inquisition? The
genocide brought to the Americas
in 1492? Can the recent violence in

reward

mnt

education...

Get $750 towards the purchase or lease of any new GM vehicle.

connection with Sikh fundamental-
ists in Surrey be attributed to the
philosophy and ideology of that
faith? Objectively speaking, no, it
cannot. Those who would con-
demn Asatru, or any other pagan
sect, for the same reasons may be
given pause to reflect upon this
point.

a spiritual outlook upon the

world which celebrates an all-
pervading link between mankind,
the earth, the forests, the oceans,
the animals, the spirits of our
ancestors, Our progeny, and. most
of all, the joy of the life experience
as a whole. Asatru promotes the
principles of freedom, strength
and vigour, honesty and
honour, the value of a
person's word, living in
harmony with a healthy
environment, placing the
concept of principle
above that of gain,
courage over cowardice,
realism over dogmatism,
and overall, leading a
worthy life according to
individual choice and
decision.

Ultimately, as with any philoso-
phy, ideology or religion, Asatru’s
success or failure to enrich and
enlighten people’s lives will be
determined by the character of
those who embrace the faith. In a
world sadly devoid of respect for
the earth, its creatures, and even
our fellow human beings, perhaps
the time has come for us to re-
examine, and learn from, these
ancient gods and goddesses who
have refused to die. Ragnarok has
not come.

I nits purest form, Asatru offers

 

 

The Other Press January 211997 5