Courses?

[Aella]

Hi,

I am very new to Heathenry and have much to learn. I wonder if anyone can advise me one the best place to start? Obviously I aim to read plenty of books (Currently reading HR Ellis-Davidson) but do any of the groups run training courses? I quite like the look of The Odinic Rite but can find find no mention of lessons etc.

Any help/advise would be much appreciated.

[Asbrandsson OR]

Hello,

The OR does offer some course to members, but you have to be a member to get them.

Asbrandsson OR

[Asbrandsson OR]

Hello,

Check out Odinism in the Modern World. Wulfstan OR also runs the OR correspondence course and if you have questions from the book you can e-mail Asrad CG and he will forward the questions on to Wulfstan OR.

Asbrandsson OR

[Hveðrungur Kveldúlfsson]

Id say not to take any "courses" because any "course" you take is basically something from one persons point of view. Our faith slumbers inside us and you shouldnt be told what to or not to believe when it comes to our folkway. My advice would be just read the eddas, the sagas and other books from various authors. Learn the lore and the history of our ancestors, know how to look past the literal storys of our gods and see them from a symbolic point of view, find the lessons you can learn and take with you along with finding out how the lore relates to modern day life. The book of blotar the Odinic Rite puts out is supposed to be really good when it comes to blot and ritual and it something you could learn from. In my opinion, when it comes down to it just read and read again, write opinions and views on paper and find out what you believe and how you take things on a personal level.

[aud_friggsdottir]

Id say not to take any "courses" because any "course" you take is basically something from one persons point of view. Our faith slumbers inside us and you shouldnt be told what to or not to believe when it comes to our folkway. My advice would be just read the eddas, the sagas and other books from various authors. Learn the lore and the history of our ancestors, know how to look past the literal storys of our gods and see them from a symbolic point of view, find the lessons you can learn and take with you along with finding out how the lore relates to modern day life. The book of blotar the Odinic Rite puts out is supposed to be really good when it comes to blot and ritual and it something you could learn from. In my opinion, when it comes down to it just read and read again, write opinions and views on paper and find out what you believe and how you take things on a personal level.


Ahh...but sometimes a learned author or tutor can really make things click for you. I agree with the above since I never took any "courses", but it also took forever for me to really articulate my beliefs...even in my own head, but when I had he opportunity to "pick" a well respected Heathen for several hours (about 5 years ago), things just really clicked...I think Wulfstan could really do this for someone, hence the correspondence course.

FFF
Kathy

[Katia]

Greetings Aella! Nice to see you here :) The OR course is good, but as someone mentioned, you need to be a member before being able to order it.. I would suggest reading some books like Germanic Heathenry by James Hjuka-Coulter and Our Father's Godsaga by William Reaves, and Odinism in the Modern World is great too. These would be a really great base for learning about Odinism. And we are all still learning so always feel free to ask us all anyting ;)

[Hveðrungur Kveldúlfsson]

Ahh...but sometimes a learned author or tutor can really make things click for you. I agree with the above since I never took any "courses", but it also took forever for me to really articulate my beliefs...even in my own head, but when I had he opportunity to "pick" a well respected Heathen for several hours (about 5 years ago), things just really clicked...I think Wulfstan could really do this for someone, hence the correspondence course.

FFF
Kathy

A learned author can give good ideas but in the end dont you think that little extra time it took for you to build things up for yourself was worth it? Our faith is within us not books or authors, while reading various books can help it is nothing compared to going out there and holding a blot, even if its your first time and you are alone as long as the intent is there I dont think the gods would have any quams about how you sacrafice to them as long as it is meant with nothing but good and positive intentions.

No offence meant to anyone here at all, this is all personal opinion but I think "Courses" are a little Christian in nature, similar to preaching. Any course you take even by someone who is a well learned and respected author is still one person and their opinions might not agree with yours. When it comes to our folkway its all about how we view and see things on a personal level and how we connect with the devine on our own personal level. There is no set right or wrong way to follow our folkway, as long as one is embracing positive energy you cant go wrong IMO. Reading and forming your own opinion and beliefs is always the best way for someone to grow. Like how I used to be worried about the way I would blot, there isnt any "right" or "wrong" way as long as you follow a pattern similar to what you read about in the various sagas of our ancestors. Today I blot often to various gods and goddesses of our folk and I have constantly updated and changed the way I blot since I am alone with no other Asafolk around me. I always write things down, what feels right, what does not feel right for me on a personal level.

The bible has the set rules and laws on how to follow and worship their god, we do not. Maybe 2000 years ago we did but as of today there arnt any "rules" for us to follow aside from the common sense ones. (The 9 noble virtues and things of the like)

Besides Courses, like Katia said Mr Coulter's and Wulfstan's books are both great reading. I own both and they are well worth it. Id suggest you look at The Norroena Society website linked in me or Katia's signatures aswell as there is a great wealth of knowledge there to learn from. Allso Lonnie, a forum member has great links and reading material on his website if you'd like to give it a visit.

[æinvargR]

I agree with Hveðrungr here, ásatrú is an individual faith that never was and shouldn't be organized and no one should tell you what to believe really. But reading others stuff is of course ok, and you definitively should read the sagas and songs etc.

[Der Einzelgänger]

I think the best thing is to read the sagas and Eddas before reading anything else on Asatru. Read them and interpret them in your own way. I agree with Hved and Einvargr, this is an individual religion. Sure you can do things and learn with others, but ultimately I think it should be yourself who forms what you feel about the nature of the gods and what it written in the sagas and Eddas. I don't know what a "course" would include, but what more can you really learn from them than what is already said in the writings of old? Read the Havamal, alot. I must have read it atleast 50 or more times by now, and everytime I read it I feel I gain something new from it.

[aud_friggsdottir]

I agree and disagree...of course it is an individual religion, but it is also a Folk Way. Folk had not only family rituals, but group ones. Frankly, I think that besides Seers, Seeresses, or other Folk that did personal rituals to strengthen themselves and connect individually with the Gods/esses, our Ways are more for the group rather than the individual! Only now with being so fragmented that do we have "Solitary" rites. I think that is great...because it is a reflection of our modern situation, but to say that we should all just be like that...well I think that is wrong.


If we all just did what we felt was right, we would be flying off in all kinds of directions, which I think to an extent our movement as a whole is. We have folks that are bent on going on total individual whim... they are called Wiccans. Not really saying that you all have said that, but one's argument could variably end up there. The world does not revolve around you. (see the thread on Wyrd)

Having Elders and garnering their knowledge and forming the individual is a very important aspect of our Folk. I believe that the "learned" are just that Elders from which advice should be sought. Hved, you asked my opinion on matters, no? Did I "poison" your thoughts or did your free will take my advice and create your own opinion? I hope the latter...LOL. That is all a course is, an organized manner in which to efficiently get advice from a wise person. Often one can come to deeper knowledge on one's own, but sometimes there are folks that need a little direction....I think one's free will and individuality will personalize any knowledge garnered. We are not cartoon characters that are flat and unable to think for ourselves.

I agree one should read the Poetic Edda first! Then perhaps Sagas in tandem with one of the excellent above mentioned books (actually we have a "recommended book section"). I would suggest not reading the Edda Prose until one is well versed in the Lore. Simply, it could really confuse a newbie. And reading other authors, how is that different than chatting with them about the very thing you are reading, especially if what you are reading is written by them!! I think much of the argument is cutting off ones nose to spite his/her face!

Anyway, I hope you find your way. I hope the scholars of our Folk help you find your way...really that is all a course, a book, or a conversation is.

[aud_friggsdottir]

never was and shouldn't be organized and no one should tell you what to believe really.

Never an organized religion? Huh? You think those ancient massive ritual sites were for just one person? Or do you mean a centralized dogma that everyone had to adhere to? Now that I do agree on. There is no Asa Pope ;). Everyone should participate in a group Blot. It takes the experience to a different and potent level. No longer is it just about you and the Gods, but the Gods and the Folk.

When someone offers an opinion of a belief...it isn't telling them what to believe..it is offering an opinion of a belief. No one "tells" someone what to believe ('cept maybe the gov ;)), and I refuse to believe that folks can't think for themselves. I may disagree with their opinion and believe that is an uneducated opinion, but I don't feel folks are telling me what to believe, just voicing their opinion. Again...we aren't cartoon characters.

FFF
Kathy

[Aella]

Many thanks to all for the advice. I think for now I shall take that advice and start off by reading the sagas etc. Mythology more often than not contains answers if one is prepared to be open to suggestion. So that, as many of you said, seems like a good place to begin.

Thanks again,

Aella

[battleax]

These "courses" that were mentioned before.

Can someone tell me if I'm right or wrong here on question 1 and 2

1) I thought the "course" was just a correspondense type thing where you study from the odinic mythology books 1 and 2. You then discuss your thoughts on the myths contained within.

There are no right or wrong answers just your opinion. I know from personal experience discussing myths with others just as discussing the Havamal helps you gain further insite to information that lays hidden within all of us.

2) The odinic mythology series were written to help give a different opinion of our myths to purge some of the foriegn christian influences. ie the Prose Edda.

I have read many books but none of them really effected me the way odinic mythology 1 and 2 have. These books totally clicked for me and I could relate to thier contents. The myths that the books contain just seem right.

[Asbrandsson OR]

Id say not to take any "courses" because any "course" you take is basically something from one persons point of view. Our faith slumbers inside us and you shouldnt be told what to or not to believe when it comes to our folkway. My advice would be just read the eddas, the sagas and other books from various authors. Learn the lore and the history of our ancestors, know how to look past the literal storys of our gods and see them from a symbolic point of view, find the lessons you can learn and take with you along with finding out how the lore relates to modern day life. The book of blotar the Odinic Rite puts out is supposed to be really good when it comes to blot and ritual and it something you could learn from. In my opinion, when it comes down to it just read and read again, write opinions and views on paper and find out what you believe and how you take things on a personal level.

Hello,

I think that there is a difference between learning and being told what to think. I think that a person can do some personal research with what material is widely available then take that information and discuss it with someone that is wiser and more learned in order to make sense of it. This is not to say that you can not make sense of it on your own, but I like others believe that it willl make the same sense with or without help, except that with help it will make sense sooner.

Asbrandsson OR

[Asbrandsson OR]

Many thanks to all for the advice. I think for now I shall take that advice and start off by reading the sagas etc. Mythology more often than not contains answers if one is prepared to be open to suggestion. So that, as many of you said, seems like a good place to begin.

Thanks again,

Aella


Hello,

Do the base research before you broaden your understanding. Just do not limit it to a certain set of books. Read the Eddas, Read Germania, Read Rig Veda. This is by no means the limiting of the beginning. It only means to me that when you are going to engage in meaningful conversation, you can form the basis of your opinion from what is known.

Asbrandsson OR

[Asbrandsson OR]

I agree with Hveðrungr here, ásatrú is an individual faith that never was and shouldn't be organized and no one should tell you what to believe really. But reading others stuff is of course ok, and you definitively should read the sagas and songs etc.

Hello,

I think that the problem with not organizing Odinism is that other religions that are not friendly towards us are organized so it makes it easy for them to destroy us.

However, that does not mean that we need to be organized along strick lines of orthodox or unorthodox. The basic - believe this or die philosophy. It just means that what are commonly excepted beliefs and practices can be codifed and taught by more learned people to less learned folks what we are can flourish and spread. How knowledge is interpreted is left up to the individual, but someone must be a standard bearer for the light of our holy faith.

Asbrandsson OR