Our sources on Heathenry are unfortunately very scattered. We rely on a combination of historical sources and modern relations with Scandinavian countries.
Historical Sources
Old Norse religions were passed down through oral tradition. While the Norse did have a form of writing, it was almost exclusively used for short commemorative messages on objects like runestones. The Norse didn’t produce long codexes like other civilizations did.
When people refer to the “primary sources” of Heathenry, they’re technically referring to second-hand accounts written by observers of Old Norse culture, rather than first-hand accounts written by members of that culture. These sources are “primary” only in that they are the forefront authority on the matter. Some of our most important sources, the Eddas, were written after the Christianization of Scandinavia within a Christian culture.
These sources still are very valuable to Norse Paganism. Their authorship just means we need to approach them as biased and potentially misrepresentative. In other words, we need to take our sources with a grain of salt.
Some of our most important extant texts are listed below.
A Note on Scripture
Our extant sources on Heathenry are not religious scripture. Scripture is a very specific kind of text designed to foster religious practice, belief, and community; it’s often treated as divinely-inspired. Most of all, it’s written by and for members of that religion. Some Heathens derive spiritual connection from our secondary written sources, particularly the Hávamál. But this is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
Archaeology
Archaeology remains an important source for understanding Old Norse and Viking culture. We gain insight into the Norse culture by looking at the things they made, the tools they used, the burials they laid, and the settlements they established. While archaeology can’t tell us everything about their ancient religions, it can help inform our modern-day Heathen practices.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of culture. Echoes of Old Norse culture can still be seen in Scandinavian countries today. By comparing these with what we know of the Norse past, we can identify key values and observances that endured throughout time.
Folklore
Many regional stories, creatures, sayings, and superstitions persist in Scandinavian countries. For example, Iceland is careful about where it builds roads and houses so as not to disturb the Alvar. Folklore gives us further depth into the animistic worldview that informs Norse Paganism.
