NORSE PAGANISM FOR BEGINNERS: A Beginner's Guide to Explore the Secrets of Norse Magic, learn about the Realms of Paganism and Shamanism in the World

NORSE PAGANISM FOR BEGINNERS

A Beginner's Guide to Explore the Secrets of Norse Magic, learn about the Realms of Paganism and Shamanism in the World

Jessica Wicca

©Copyright 2022 Jessica Wicca All rights reserved

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1  Norse Mythology Origins

Chapter 2  History of Norse Paganism

Chapter 3  The Beginning of Norse Paganism

Chapter 4  The Most Important Norse Gods and Goddess

Chapter 5  Norse Monsters and Legends

Chapter 6  The Values of Norse Paganism

Chapter 7  Paths of the Norse Faith

Chapter 8  Norse Paganism Main Concepts

Chapter 9  Norse Paganism Organizations and Worship

Chapter 10  Norse Rituals

Chapter 11  Norse Paganism Practices

Chapter 12  Norse Paganism Ethics

Chapter 13  Norse Afterlife

Chapter 14  Ragnarök

Chapter 15  How it Unfolds

Chapter 16  Norse Paganism in the Modern World

Conclusion

Introduction

Norse Paganism is a religion practiced by the ancient Norse. The religion dates back to the late Iron Age and early Medieval period. It has been recorded in various literary traditions, but most notably in Old Norse texts from Iceland, such as the Poetic Edda, a collection of poems from Scandinavian mythology compiled from earlier oral traditions.

After the conversion of Iceland to Christianity in the 11th Century, many of these works came to be seen as part of a Christian forgery. However, historians today believe that much was lost in translation and much is likely still religious. There remains enough evidence to indicate that most other societies generally shared many of the beliefs associated with Norse Paganism. There is even some evidence to suggest that it may have influenced certain elements of later European cultures.

The Old Norse Religion is not quite old. It is one of the most widely practiced non-monotheistic faiths. It is also recognized as one of the most important mythologies for the comparative study of Indo-European mythologies, owing to the vast amount of surviving material and the fact that Norse mythology is the best recorded of all Germanic myths and faiths.

The phrase Old Norse religion is the most popular name given to the pre-Christian religious system in Scandinavia, with titles such as Old Norse Paganism, Odinism, Northern Heathenism, and North Germanic Paganism being used. It arose from the Germanic religion found throughout Europe wherever people spoke Germanic languages.

A few facts are known about Old Norse religious activity, such as Norse chieftains also acted as spiritual leaders or priests and that horse sacrifices were part of pagan worship activities. While not much else is known, academics have recreated certain parts of the Old Norse religion. This is supported by archaeological discoveries, toponymy, historical linguistics, and runic inscriptions. Researchers uncovered a Norse ceremonial site in southern Sweden, near Lilla Ullevi. It was scattered with stone and silver artifacts and tableware. Most Old Norse religious ceremonies are said to have taken place in comparable outdoor settings, such as lakes, riverbanks, fields, and under trees. Aside from that, Old Norse temples have been uncovered in Iceland, Sweden, and Norway, demonstrating that they also created unique locations to worship their gods.

The religion included shamans who performed a type of magic known as Seir. Seir is said to be involved in both the molding and telling of the future. The Old Norse faith also includes a number of funeral customs. The most well-known are ship burials and cremations, both of which are accompanied by the deceased's personal things. On the other hand, simple funerals were a component of these ceremonies, albeit not as prevalent as others.

Despite a significant shortage of knowledge about worshiping activities, the little material on Norse mythology that has remained is rather astounding. Norse mythology is extensive and vivid, serving as the lore and tradition of Norse Paganism. It's teeming with many races such as dwarfs, elves, spirits, and giants that lived in several kingdoms.

The arrival of Christianity probably restricted our understanding of Old Norse beliefs and behaviors. Regardless of how rich the surviving Norse writings and stories are, they were nonetheless preserved and transcribed by Christian scholars under Christian control. Aside from such sources, legends may be found in Scandinavian and Icelandic folklore and poetry. Skaldic poetry has a number of mythological references and mentions, some of which may still be found in books and runic inscriptions. Cross-allusions to stories from other areas of Germanic literature, such as the Anglo-Saxon, Battle of Finnsburgh, and the Old English poem, Deor,  confirm some of these references.

Norse Paganism appears to be undergoing a Renaissance at the moment. People interested in it are typically individuals who want to reconnect with their roots or seek something ancestral and closer to their soul. A rising number of people are becoming dissatisfied with the more mainstream faiths and are turning to older belief systems. Norse Paganism is primarily concerned with paying homage to Norse deities and spirits and worshiping your ancestors.

This book is intended for anyone who wants to learn more about Norse Paganism and have a more complete grasp. It covers everything from the beginning to the present. It discusses how to start practicing on your own, the various pathways you may choose, and how to connect with other Norse Heathens and like-minded people. Now, let’s get started.

What is Norse Paganism?

Norse Paganism is a contemporary spiritual path based on the old folkloric customs, beliefs, practices, and views of the Old Norse Pagans of pre-Christian Northern Europe. It is a branch of an expansive religious movement known as Modern paganism or Heathenry. Other terms exist, but people who practice Norse Paganism or Heathenry usually call themselves Heathens.

Just as with the Old Norse religion, Modern Norse Paganism is not text-based. This results in a vast difference in ways to practice Norse Paganism. Norse Pagans do not have scripture or a Holy book, although one might argue that the Prose Edda may be considered as such. As there is no dogma in Norse Paganism, beliefs and practices wildly vary. However, as Norse Pagans encourage practitioners to develop their own rituals and practices, no version of these things is more accurate than others. The goal of Norse Paganism isn’t to indoctrinate or proselytize but to revive, reconstruct, and reimagine the ancient polytheistic faith of the Norse people.

Unlike most monotheistic religions, and very much like other polytheistic faiths, the Norse faith lacks the prevalent duality of Good vs. Evil that Middle Eastern faiths have. A duality does exist in the Norse faith, but it is more along the lines of Order versus Chaos.Óðinn and Hel aren’t polar opposites, and neither are Loki and Thórr. Loki doesn’t exist to oppose the Gods, and he seems to take extreme pleasure in messing with Thórr. In addition to that, the giants are seen less as evil and more as chaotic, uncivilized, and rude.

The core of Norse Paganism nowadays is the worship of Thórr, Óðinn, and Freya, while the focus of the spiritual beliefs stems from what we know of the Old Norse religion. Not much has changed regarding that. It depends on the particulars of which Norse path you’re interested in following. Being inducted is quite informal. Converting is open to anyone who embraces the core Norse beliefs. There are, however, groups that would restrict membership.

While the revival of the Old Norse Religion is often called Neopaganism, this is an inaccurate term. There were old Norse adherents that never really stopped worshipping their gods. Because of Christianity, they had to worship in secret under the guise of being Christian. Even though public and large-scale practice ended with the advent of Christianity, there is evidence of private worship from several consecutive centuries. Some of the practices, rituals, and beliefs have even survived to this day throughout the Northern European diaspora.

Since religious freedom has only been around in the last fifty years, Norse Pagans have been feeling more comfortable in practicing openly, hence the resurgence of pagan worshippers. There are countless ways to worship and practice, depending upon the region and the community of modern Norse Pagans, just as it used to be with the Old Norse. Even though each community opts for its own preferred way, it is fascinating to observe that all Norse Pagans follow a similar framework, no matter where they are or come from.

The Vital Beliefs of Modern Norse Paganism

The worship of the Gods in the Norse faith doesn’t involve submission, but it’s about facing them as equals and honoring them with gifts in return for the ones they provide. The beliefs of modern Norse pagans are on a spectrum of their own, ranging from humanism to reconstructionism. Some practitioners treat the Norse deities as distinct and well-defined entities, whereas others view them as metaphors or symbolic constructs that represent ideas and concepts.

The main deities worshipped in modern Norse Paganism are those venerated by the Old Norse, with a focus mostly on the Allfather Óðinn, Thórr, and the goddess Freyja; however, unlike the old Norse, some Norse Pagans also worship other beings and entities from the Norse Mythos. Unlike mainstream religions, Norse Paganism doesn’t focus on an afterlife but on one’s deeds in their current lifetime. Practitioners avow that the summation of one’s actions is of crucial significance.

Despite the branch of Norse Religion, they all share the same central beliefs. Even though the details of modern Norse Paganism greatly differ from one region to another and from one kindred to the other, these are the fundamental spiritual elements.

Polytheism

Like most religions prior to the advent of the Abrahamic God, the Norse faith has an extensive pantheon of deities, each of whom has its own domain, associations, and aspects. The relationship between the Norse adherents and the Gods is more akin to day-to-day interaction with fellow humans than with a strict and austere God. An element of it is reciprocity - essentially the act of doing and returning favors. For example, an offering should be reciprocated with the granting of a favor or a wish. In ancient times, gift-giving was a sign of trust, respect, friendship, and kinship. Not only was it a good way to show someone appreciation, but it also had a superstitious element where not returning a gift could affect someone’s hamingja (luck and happiness).

Animism

An Animistic view of the world means that religion (or spirituality) and culture are inherently tied to each other. The divine is part of life as the gods and spirits are present everywhere in nature, from animals and plants to human-made objects. The deities are allies to Norse Pagans, who collaborate and aid each other.

Reverence for the Ancestors

One of the Norse faith teachings is that our ancestors are meant to be revered, memorialized, and commemorated. However, they are not meant to be worshiped in the same way they would worship a deity. That doesn’t mean that one is obligated to pay homage to unworthy blood relations but to people whose stature and achievements are worthy of reverence.

Decentralization

There is no rigid and austere structure in the Norse faith, nor is there any authority figure to follow. Each congregation is free to practice as they see fit.

Rituals and Ceremonies

The central ritual of modern Norse Paganism is called Blót, which means sacrifice in Old Norse. It is a ritual during which practitioners make offerings to the deities and spirits of the land and deceased people of importance. A Blót usually takes place outdoors, and offerings are usually in the form of alcohol, most often mead, ale, or beer. The Blót is the core of the seasonal holidays, but the ritual can take place as frequently as the congregation wishes.

Wyrd

One of the primary teachings of the Norse Faith is the concept of Wyrd. This means that everything in the cosmos is interconnected, resulting in the actions one takes (or doesn’t take) that potentially impact not only this person’s life but the lives of others, whether they are present around them or not. True to the concept of Wyrd, respect for nature should be inherent. Norse Pagans are environmentally aware and recognize that for our Earth to remain bountiful, we must care for it and nurture it.

Fridh

Fridh is the sense of kinship, hospitality, and community that we all should share with one another. This reflects the concept of reciprocity. The Norse faith is a path of peace, tolerance, life, and nature. A focal point is the harmony of personal life with the harmony of nature. True to the spirit of Fridh, most Norse Pagan organizations have openly denounced extreme-right and fascist groups that have been trying to get involved with the path. Instead, they made it very clear that they stand for equality, human rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights in particular.

Veneration of the Gods and Goddesses

The Norse gods are not meant to be worshiped as gods but rather respected and treated as peers and embraced as such.

The Tenets of Norse Paganism

The Norse Paganism tenets mainly exist to be loyal to the Æsir and Vanir, live one’s life according to the Nine Virtues, and exchange gifts with the Gods and your kin. Modern Norse Pagans see the Æsir and Vanir as living, autonomous beings and their eldest kin and ancestors. One basic tenet of the Norse faith is to remain worthy of one’s ancestors and strive to follow the Nine Virtues in their lives and actions.

Courage

The most valued virtue for a Norse Pagan is courage, which helps one live up to their values and codes. One needs to be courageous to stand up for what they believe is right and live according to their ethics. Some might think that being courageous only applies to conflict. However, it does affect all