Stikklestad Day: Olaf the Lawbreaker

Stikklestad Day: Olaf the Lawbreaker (“St. Olaf”) was killed at the battle of Stikklestad on this date in the year 1030 AD. Olaf acquired a reputation for killing, maiming, and exiling his fellow Norwegians who would not convert to Christianity, and for carrying an army with him in violation of the law to help him accomplish his oppression. Today honor the Ásatrú martyrs who died rather then submit to gray slavery. Also honor the warriors who brought justice to the Lawbreaker.

Ásatrú Community Center

YAC Community Center Logo Idea

Most religious organizations have some sort of community center. I live in the City of Providence in a mixed race neighborhood, and on every street corner there is some sort of Christian community center. Some of these centers take the form of a church, others are old storefronts that have been turned into christian missions. There are also religious bookstores selling Christian propaganda to the masses. Christians, Jews, and Muslims have community centers, even Buddhists have community centers, why don't we? 

The Ásatrú community has taken on the idea that promoting religion is bad. This is due to the fact that most of us were raised as Christians or without religion because Christianity was "forced" upon us. My parents were and are Christians, Episcopal to be precise, and they took me to church. They did not make me go because they are evil people, it was because it was their belief and they wanted me to be a part of that. It was their way of promoting their religion. When I was old enough to think for myself I told my parents why I did not think Christianity was right for me. Luckily I had understanding parents who allowed me to find my own path.

As Ásatrúar we should teach our children about our beliefs and bring them into the folds of Ásatrú. We should be proud of what we believe in and wear our religion on our sleeves. We should promote and be present within our communities. Now I am not saying to go knocking on people's doors on Saturday mornings pushing the Ásatrú version of the Watchtower, but we should feel open enough to talk to non Heathens and those interested in Ásatrú. We should be beacons in the community for those who are trying to find their way back to their Trú Gods. 

The YAC does not have a community center. The idea has always been on the table, but community centers are expensive to open and maintain. The first thing that needs to be done is to get non-profit religious status from both the State and Federal government. This can be costly and complicated. You will need capital, and possibly a lawyer, accountant, or someone to cipher the government forms! The YAC is in the process of doing just this. 

I have proposed that we start planning for a future Ásatrú community center. A center that will be a model for Ásatrú centers throughout the the United States. It is my belief that these centers should be a place were Ásatrúar can come together to worship and volunteer their time in support of their community and Folk. We could have a rec-room, worship center, a conference hall, and a small store the possibility are endless.

Making a strong community presence for our Folk is highly important if we want to grow as a community.Our Folk need a place to gather and celebrate our heritage and beliefs.

Friga, the Mother Goddess

Frigga (Frih-gah) is the matron goddess of the home and of the mysteries of the married woman. She is the goddess of motherhood, fertility, love, marriage and housework. Particularly concerned with keeping social order. She is called on for blessings when women are giving birth and for help in matters of traditional women's crafts (spinning, weaving, cooking, sewing) and the magic worked thereby. Mothers who want to protect their children can also call on Frigga. In olden days, this was especially the case with sons going out to battle, for whom their mothers would weave or sew special protective items. Matron of good, strong marriage, childbirth and child rearing, as well as the various necessary crafts of the home- spinning is especially attributed to her care, hence the distaff/spindle are long-held symbols of the beloved Goddess from Heathen times. She is also a seeress, who knows the destiny and fate of all, although she seldom reveals it. While Freyja seems to enjoy the greatest popularity within preserved sources, it is undoubtedly Frigga who is highest of all Goddesses. And despite the likeness of names and a somewhat similar relationship to Odin, Frigga should not be confused with Freyja, who shares none of her essential traits. 

Mythology - Eddas and Sagas

What is mythology and why do we as Ásatrúar use the word to describe our religion? The word myth has come o represent a body of lies, a tall-tale like Paul Bunyan  and his blue ox or Johnny Appleseed. This is not to say that myths are just stories devoid of any truth. Oral histories passed down for generations, long before hey were written, tend to become exaggerated and a bit skewed over time (I think we have all played the telephone game as children.). This does not mean that they are any less valuable to the listener than the 100% truth. The ancient orators who told the histories to the people used poetry, artistic license, and other means in order to educate and entertain.

The Eddas of Ásatrú were written in the 13th century by Christians. Based upon this they are corrupted with Christian influence and we must take that into account when using them. They are NOT an Ásatrú bible. The 13th century was not a time when Christians were kind to heathens and "devil" worshipers. Snorri Sturluson (1179 – 23 September 1241) author of the Poetic Edda was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. From what we know of him he was concerned with the truth of his ancestry, but this does not mean he truly discovered it or interpenetrated it.

The Sagas, which are so often used as biblical like texts in our troth, are no different than that of the Eddas. These stories were orally passed and eventually transcribed into manuscripts by Christian in the 13th century. In many cases the heroes convert to Christianity. This conversion makes for many contradictions within the sagas. A Heathen hero leaves his home in  search of glory and returns to his Heathen homeland a Christian and no-one seems to care. What? Why are so many of our heroes converting? Because these stories were written down by Christians.

I do not believe that a myth is necessarily a bad thing. The myth of Ásatrú are no different than that of the Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The Christian Bible, the Torah, and the Koran are all mythology and no different than our Eddas and Sagas. Myths are unsubstantiated stories based upon oral histories that have been transcribed. As Heathens we need to remember this. We need to take each of the Sagas and the Eddas as what they are and try to examine and remove the Christian influenced elements. Read the Sagas and the Eddas but do not try to make them into biblical texts, they are not. They are stories, mythology, from the days of yore that can help us understand history.