Norse Paganism

Norse Paganism—also referred to as Ásatrú, Norse Polytheism, or simply just “Heathenry”—is a religion based in the customs, beliefs, and practices of pre-Christian Scandinavia, particularly regions associated with the modern-day Nordic countries. It’s consider a form of Heathenism.

As an animistic and polytheistic religion, Norse pagan practices revolve around various Scandinavian supernatural beings, such as the Aesir, Vanir, Jötnar, and other spirits. People's belief in these things vary since “Faith” doesn’t play a major role in Norse pagan practices. Practitioners might refer to themselves as “Heathen,” “Ásatrúar,” “Norse Pagan,” or “Norse Polytheist.” What term is used is a matter of personal preference.

Heathenism emerged alongside other forms neo-paganism during the late-1800’s, when national romanticism grew as a philosophy in Germany. Inspired by a growing interest in a Germanic pre-Christian past, people began to form groups around venerating ancient pagan deities, particularly Odin.

Unfortunately, these early groups were co-opted by the Germanic Völkisch Movement, which sought to tailor the religion to its racist, anti-Semitic, and white nationalist agendas. The result has muddied the waters of what Norse paganism is ever since. However, a better understanding of the Old Ways is gradually emerging with the advent of global communications.

Norse paganism is decentralized, animistic, pluralist, polytheistic, life-affirming, and orthopraxic in nature. This framework informs the ways someone goes about their practice.

It has no central authority and there’s many different ways to practice it.

It views all things in life as part of the same ecosystem, including the divine and the mundane.

It understands reality as something built on many principles. Other religions may interpret reality based on two opposing principles (dualist), or as emerging from one principle (monist).

It acknowledges multiple gods, with none being more supreme than others.

Norse pagans focus on cultivating the lives we currently live, instead of on transcending life or on earning a specific afterlife.

Norse pagans practice by doing, rather than by believing.

Many Norse pagans venerate, work with, and/or worship the Norse pantheon of gods. This includes figures like Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya, Frey, Frigg, and many others. These gods are attested in place-names around Scandinavia as well as in many medieval Icelandic texts, particularly the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda, which preserve many stories from Norse mythology.

There are many ways to practice Norse paganism. The following options are most common:

Norse mythology is a big piece of what informs our understanding of the Old Ways. Learning the Norse myths can be done by reading the Prose and Poetic Eddas, or by reading a culturally-informed retelling of the myths, such as the D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths.

Norse pagans venerate the deities and spirits of Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. Some choose to honor the entire Norse pantheon while others focus on a few gods, perhaps even just one. Practitioners often build altars or shrines for gods and give offerings to them. Some Norse pagans also choose to venerate their ancestors.

Pre-Christian Scandinavians celebrated many different holidays depending on the time and region. Because of this, Norse pagans also differ on which holidays they observe. Some choose to follow the neo-pagan Wheel of the Year while others opt to follow historical holidays.

Runic divination was invented in the 1970’s based on ancient rune-meanings. It has since become a widespread and popular form of divination. Norse pagans will use runic divination to communicate with deities, tell fortunes, gain insight into something, or as a contemplative practice.

While not all Norse pagans do this, some choose to adopt magical practices as part of their pagan paths. Scandinavia has a long and storied history of developing many different magical practices, which include Seid, galdrastafir, and trolldom. But perhaps the easiest and most versatile form of Norse magic today is crafting bindrunes, which can be used as sigils as well as spell-components.

Switching religions is more than just a matter of switching gods. It involves switching worldviews as well. Those coming from a Christian background might be interested in learning about the differences between Christianity and Heathenry, or learning about animism.

For a more comprehensive overview of what Norse paganism is and how to practice it, visit the Intro to Norse Heathenry module.