Are those old saxon or norse religions still around?

Question

Somebody told me they were or at least people are trying to revive them. I'm a student of mysticism and I'm wondering what type of mystical element they had/have - how abstract they were in their concepts,for example.

Answer 1

You bet! Wow, where to begin - Anglo-Saxon and Norse religions are being rebuilt by modern day believers. The beliefs can actually be fairly complex. The soul, for example - is seen as many components that come together as one. The majority of this goes onto the next world (one of the known realms) while part of that soul comes back to the family line (or close family friend's line) for example: "You act just like your grandfather and he died before you were born!"

The worlds are also complex with 9 different realms and a variety of deities, spirits, giants, berserkers, Valkyries and other beliefs.

Check some of these links:
http://www.irminsul.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asatru
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/
www.thetroth.org
http://www.northvegr.org/northern/book/praiseworthy.php
http://www.ealdriht.org/
http://englishheathenism.homestead.com/introduction.html

email if you want indepth discussion - there are several heathens around here. I'll star the question so they can offer thoughts and links as well

Added: Mooose.... bud! There are modern heathens and some of us are here.

Answer 2

Yes there are Norse Reconstructionalists, otherwise known as Asatru, and Anglo Saxon recons around. Asatru as it is known was founded in the 1970s. Not all Norse Pagans are Asatru though...I consider myself a Norse Pagan, and sometimes a Heathen, but I don't consider myself Asatru.

I don't know about Anglo Saxon Heathenry, but among the Norse some of the more mystical practices we engage in include the Runes, a form of Norse shamanism known as Seidr, Galdr which is basically Rune singing, Spae, and a few others.

I have some links on my page to some sites that have information on some of them, namely Runes and Seidr since I am a practicioner of both.

Answer 3

Another Norse Heathen here.

Not to be a smart-bum, Jocko and Lokiskona, but you said:
"Asatru as it is known was founded in the 1970s." -
that is only partly true. It was revived and named in the 70's, and the beginning of its popularity and world-wide worship dates then.
But in some remote regions of Scandinavia, a lot of beliefs and practices actually survived from the early middle ages to today almost intact. It's still a hot item of debate whether Asatru is actually a reconstructionist belief or not. I bet those grandpas in Iceland, who are doing what their great-grandads were doings for centuries, know nothing about reconstructionism. Yet they believe the same thing as we do.

Answer 4

Yes, there is a Norse revival that started in Iceland a few years ago. They call their faith Asatru - there is some information on the subject at Wikipedia.

Answer 5

Celtic Reconstructionism and Asatru or Heathenry are what you are looking for. There are several people on here who practice those religions.

I myself do not, but I practice Hellenismos (which is a revival of the Classical Greek religion.....)

Answer 6

Yeah, when I worked as a bartender, one of the waitresses was from Lulae, Sweden (it's somewhere in the northern region. Anyways, she was a follower of Odin and Thor, and was always teaching me some of her rituals and things that went along with her belief. So I could definately say there are still followers of Odin about.

Answer 7

There are modern Druids. They go to Stonehenge every summer solstice and have their rites and ceremonies there.

Answer 8

Some Nazi sects at least emulated the Norse religion. I don't know of any modern worshipers outside of comic books.

Answer 9

yes see asatru

Answer 10

Boars Heart, alive and well. ; )