From oldsma@pobox.com Tue Jul  6 07:53:38 1999
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 11:07:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: Manny Olds <oldsma@pobox.com>
To: The Asatru List <ASATRU@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Subject: Re: A new arrival

On Fri, 11 Jun 1999, someone wrote:

 ) Thank you for the welcome. As I looked over the list of deities and
 ) wht they represent, I found myself attracted to the faith of Thor
 ) and will most likely be praising his name in times to come.

Ah, your first learning opportunity!

Be very wary of any list that says anything like "Name ... God of X and
Y". It might not be incorrect (although I have run across a couple of
lists that had some pretty odd entries), but it will certainly be
misleading.

The Aesir and Vanir are real beings, with complex personalities. Each god
and goddess is interested in many things, active in several spheres.
Roughly speaking, they all have about the same capabilities, but differing
strengths and interests.

Generally, Asatruers find it more sound to develop a rounded relationship
with one or more gods (based on common interests or compatible
personalities). Think of it as extending your family, with gift exchanges,
hospitality, and bailing each other out of problems. The gods are
generally regarded as *very senior* members of the family, however:

"I recently was published in *Idunna* as comparing a Heathen's period
relationships with wights and such as thus: a Viking Age Scandinavian
would go to the wights (di'sir, a'lfar, landwights) on a daily basis, as
s/he would to a neighbor; to the god/esses occasionally, as to a chieftain
(and much more often if the two were close friends); and to the greater
beings (such as Earth) very rarely, as to a king or queen. This is a very
class-oriented analogy, which may beg a lot of argument on specifics, but
I think it makes my general point." -- KveldulfR Gundarsson

Of course, you can blot to honor any god, any time, for any or no reason.
And if you don't have a relationship with a particular god, then a
god-roster can be a starting point if you are seeking help or advice. But
don't let it limit you. Don't take it as gospel.


Manny Olds <oldsma@pobox.com> of Riverdale Park, Maryland, USA

"If people are going to start calling on the Gods as if they were Santa's
reindeer, they deserve whatever they get." -- She Devil With A Modem