Essential Asatru
Explore the Ancient Wisdom of Asatru
Ever been curious about the old gods of Scandinavia? Or wondered how an ancient pagan practice could fit into modern life? "Essential Asatru" by Diana Paxson is your gateway to understanding and embracing this rich and often misunderstood spiritual tradition.
This guide isn’t just about history—it’s about how Asatru’s values and practices can bring fulfillment and renewal to your everyday life. Whether you’re just beginning to explore or looking to deepen your connection, this book has all the tools you need.
⚡ What You’ll Discover:
- The stories of Asatru’s gods and goddesses, including Odin, Thor, and Ostara.
- Core life values like honor, truth, fidelity, and hospitality that define this faith.
- Practical how-to’s on rituals, rune casting, ethics, and divination.
From its origins in ancient Germanic and Scandinavian paganism to its recognition as a modern religion, "Essential Asatru" shows how this centuries-old practice continues to inspire and enrich lives today.
✨ Why You’ll Love It:
- Perfect for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
- Combines fascinating history with actionable insights for daily life.
- Written by renowned author and priestess Diana Paxson.
Bring the wisdom of Asatru into your world. Discover how this ancient tradition can guide you toward a life of honor, connection, and purpose.
About the Author
I was brought up in southern California, but came north to attend Mills College and never left. I got my M.A. in (medieval) Comparative Literature from the University of California in 1966, the same year I put on the first tournament of what was to become the Society for Creative Anachronism. Since 1971 I've lived at Greyhaven, a hundred-year-old house in Berkeley, with successive generations of family, friends, cats, and dogs.
It's a literary family, including my husband, Jon DeCles, and the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, who was my mentor as a writer as well as a colleague in founding Darkmoon Circle. My first published novel was Mistress of the Jewels, which began the chronicles of Westria. After I had written several historical fantasies, Marion, whose health deteriorated after she wrote Mists of Avalon, asked me to help her with The Forest House, which is how I ended up writing the Avalon series.
Much of the spiritual experience in my novels comes out of my work in the pagan community. I have now begun to publish that material in a series of non-fiction books, the most recent being Trance-Portation. My most recent novel is Sword of Avalon, set at the end of the Bronze Age, which gave me an opportunity to explore the end of the Homeric Age and the techniques of bronze- and iron-forging.
For more about my work, see:
www.westria.org, www.avalonbooks.net, www.seidh.org
