Ásatrú,is a contemporary revival of the ancient polytheistic beliefs of Northern Europe. This modern religious movement traces its roots back to 1972 when Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson and eleven fellow Icelanders embarked on a journey to reintroduce public worship of the Norse gods, goddesses, and land spirits. This resurgence of the Old Way quickly gained momentum, spreading across the globe, with nearly 40,000 practitioners in ninety-eight countries by 2013.

The term “Ásatrú” translates to “True to the Gods”” and centers around the worship of the Norse deities.

 Individuals who follow this path often identify as Heathens, and the broader term “Heathenry” encompasses various contemporary religions inspired by Northern European polytheistic traditions dating back to around 2000 BCE.

 Notably, Ásatrú lacks central authority and fixed dogma, resulting in a diverse array of beliefs and practices throughout the Heathen community.

The historical roots of Northern European polytheism stretch from the Bronze Age through the Viking Age, fostering unique variations among the Germanic peoples across continental Europe, the Nordic regions, and the British Isles. While mass practice waned with the spread of Christianity, evidence of private worship persisted for centuries, and elements of these beliefs and rituals endured into the twentieth century as components of folk religion among the Northern European diaspora.

The Icelandic government officially recognized Ásatrúarfélagið in 1973, making Ásatrú the largest non-Christian religion in Iceland. In the United States, Ásatrú and Heathenry gained official recognition by the Department of Defense in 2017, granting practitioners full religious rights across all service branches.

Since the establishment of Iceland’s Ásatrúarfélagið, or “Æsir Faith Fellowship,” in 1972, modern Ásatrú has expanded globally through national organizations, regional gatherings, local worship groups, and solitary practitioners. 

Contemporary Ásatrú encompasses a wide spectrum of beliefs, ranging from humanism to reconstructionism and from metaphorical interpretations of the gods to the acknowledgment of distinct divine beings. While figures like Odin, Thor, and Freya are revered, respect is also extended to numerous other entities. Ásatrú places a strong emphasis on ethical actions in the present life, prioritizing “we are our deeds” as a fundamental principle, which underscores the significance of one’s actions.

At the core of Ásatrú is the ritual known as “blót,” which serves as the central religious practice. This Old Norse term for “sacrifice” involves making offerings to gods, goddesses, land spirits, and revered ancestors. Blót ceremonies are often conducted outdoors, with the most common offering being various types of alcohol, such as ale, beer, or mead. Communities can perform blót rituals as frequently as desired, and they form the foundation of major celebrations like Midsummer and Yule.

Followers of Ásatrú draw inspiration from a diverse range of texts, including Greek, Roman, and Arabic accounts of Germanic cultures, as well as myths preserved by medieval scholars like Snorri Sturluson and Saxo Grammaticus. They also delve into Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Middle High German mythic and heroic poetry, legendary sagas of Iceland, and later folklore collections. Many Ásatrú practitioners engage in the study and production of modern scholarly works, exploring disciplines such as archaeology, history, medieval studies, and religious studies.

. Many of our community wear hammer pendants, symbolizing their commitment to Ásatrú and the positive values embodied by Thor.