Introduction to “ The ASATRU EDDA “( excerpts )
While we greatly value the contributions made by mainstream scholars over the past 120 years, the time has come for this movement to break away from our dependence upon these institutions. No longer should outsiders be allowed to dictate the shape of the lore or the beliefs we adhere to, when in many cases these do not reflect the best interests of the Ásatrú nation…
It is the strong reliance upon non-Ásatrú scholars that holds us back from achieving our maximum potential. Ásatrú is one of the only religions in the world that finds members placing academics outside the community upon a pedestal, according them the same prominence asreligious leaders. As if adopted into some sort of pantheon or canon, these scholars’ writings have become gospel to many…
It is time to begin a new era, where traditions can be coalesced as part of the evolution of the religious movement, rather than merely co-opted from the work of outsiders. This is a part of our sacred heritage, and as such must be expressed in a body of lore that comesfrom the nation itself.
Although it was put together to be a sacred text, rather than just another “mythology” book, the sanctity of the work is in re-establishing holy storytelling traditions in the form of the Teutonic epic. Like a great puzzle, the fragments of lore have been pieced together, cleansed of Christian elements, and presented as a source for Ásatrúar to enjoy as part of our legacy.
Before the age of Bibles and Korans,tales of the worlds’ religions were shared over hearths or near children’s beds. The lore was not a concrete rule of divine law that had to be maintained, word for word,at all costs. Rather, it was a vibrant, fluid development that constantly changed and evolved, while keeping in line with what had come before. Although the stories themselves are sacred, what’s more important are the lessons one walks away with, the true inspirations of the Gods and Goddesses. The inspiration is the holy experience in reading or hearing the lore, and remains so to this day. Ourconnection to the divine should not be considered any less potent than it was among our ancestors, so we should not shy away from contributing to the traditions now. In fact, it should be considered our duty to do so. The Ásatrú Edda is an attempt to live up to this obligation. The idea is to try to keep the heathen customs intact…
…. Only by accepting the power within ourselves, to take our destiny within our own hands, can we truly take our rigthful place as the children of Óðinn.
As our faith renews itself, new customs are born, new ideas are formulated and coalesced, and new wisdom is shared that only accentuates our heritage, building something we can call our own. We pick up the pieces of our charred past, then move forward in a way that would make our ancestors proud.
- You can get a First edition digital copy with endnotes here on Norroena.org
-Or buy a second edition here via Amazon
