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I personally am something of a Jungian and a tiny bit Pantheist (though not all Asatruar are). I feel that there is a divine aspect to the universe as a whole, though I do not anthropomorphize it or call it Deity. It is simply the Tao, or what Hindu philosophy calls Brahman - the flame of primal creation. In Norse terms, you might say it is the potential energy that existed as Muspelheim and Niflheim in pre-creation. Simply very complicated and deep. Suffice to say, I feel Everything is interconnected.

The Gods are somewhat closer to home than this abstraction - a fact that many Asatruar appreciate greatly and one of the reasons some of us (including yours truly) were drawn to the faith in the first place. The Gods of the North are generally regarded as living beings who are involved in human life; friendly, practical, dependable and approachable. Some seem to be largely aspects of Nature, while others are very certainly aspects of ourselves; of humanity and the human psyche.

However, it is important to note that the divine entities of Asatru are not bound to simple categories or specific roles -- we do not put them in boxes. They are not restricted to mere "archetypes" in the Jungian sense. They are flexible and multi-faceted with distinct personalities. Indeed, to try to codefy and label them is to diminish their importance and power in our lives; to diminish our own potential.

Just as many people who believe in a single God understand that it is not actually a man with a long white beard sitting on a throne, most Asatruar do not believe that Odin is an old one-eyed man in a blue cloak with a spear and ravens circling around his head. These images are basically tools.

Such images and names are symbols that allow us to focus our mental and spiritual energies to achieve understanding of the God in question, that aspect of ourselves, and the universe as a whole. They are part of a code, a puzzle. decyphering this puzzle the Gods have given us is, partly, the purpose of our existence here in Midgard. Our Lore tells us that Odin, with the help of his brothers, created the "world" - all we percieve. And yet, this world is something smaller, or different than the world which Odin inhabited before he caused history to begin (for instance there were/are conceptual places such as Niflheim, Muspelheim, Ganungagap and Vanaheim). Reality comes in layers as does our understanding of it. To claim you have all the answers is to admit you have none, in my opinion. This is the riddle which which Odin challenges us. Would you know more?

The Norse mythos includes a wide variety of supernatural beings. Three groups, or clans, are of particular importance: The Aesir, Vanir and Jotuns. The latter are respected, but not worshipped really. The Gods are reflective of human society in that they live in family groups with their own lands, homes, jobs, etc. They each have their own strengths and foibles, just as we do.

The Aesir

("AY-seer" singular form Áss ("ACE"): These are the deities of family, society and human endeavor. They represent order, craft, thought and spirit, poetry and dissertation, presence and quantification, etc. In them, we see ourselves as we struggle to create meaningful lives.

The Vanir

("VAHN-eer" singular form Van ("VAHN"): These deities represent the fertility of the earth and forces of nature, life and death, existence and determination. They represent our animal instincts as well as the rhythms of life to which we are bound. It is through them that we may understand our place in the natural world.

Mythology preserves an account of the Aesir and Vanir warring but then pledging a truce with one another. Now they are often referred to collectively as the Aesir. Goddesses are equal in power and holiness to Gods. No God is supreme over another.

The Jotuns

("YO-tuns," also called Jotnar, ettins or giants): These are giants who compete with the Aesir. They are the most ancient of all beings having been descended directly from the first living being to coalesce in the universe; the jotun called Ymir. It seems they have never forgotten that they once held dominion over the world and they resent the Aesir for having progressed beyond them.

They represent chaos and destruction, yet, they are not necessarily evil. In some ways, they represent the primitive or conflicted aspects of our nature. They are the "other", the "outsider". Giants are something of a paradox. Some are hideously ugly while others possess indescribable beauty. Some are certainly evil while other are honorable. Some giants are weak-minded, stingy and petty, while others are wise and generous. A few are actually relatives of the Gods or have married into the clan of the Aesir.

At the battle of Ragnarok, the Jotun will band together to destroy the Aesir in a final conflict of chaos vs. order. Many of the Gods will die and the world will be destroyed, but a new world will be born. Clearly, our ancestors recognized that in order for life to progress, there must be change and for that, one needs a random bit of chaos as a catalyst.

Other Beings...

Landvaettir

Ljossalfar

"LYOS-al-far" or simply the Alfar are the spirits of male ancestors. However, the term Alfar is quite general in the Lore and may be used to describe "spirits" of different sorts. The singular form of "Alf" gave rise to our word "elf" and it is easy to see how the general concept became wrapped up with various visions of nature spirits (both noble and comical) in later times. In practice, Alfar may be a bit of both ancestor and harmonious natural spirit. The Alfar are the subjects of Freyr and live in their own realm on the World Tree; Ljossalfheim, which was given to Freyr as a tooth gift (a gift to celebrate a child cutting his/her first baby tooth). Alfar are also said to dwell in bural mounds and in such a case are usually refered to as Mound Alfs. It was a common practice, especialy among rulers, to visit the burial mound of a powerful ancestor in order to seek his advice. Today, we typically honor our family Alfar during blot, especially during the celebration of Winter Nights.

Disir

"DEE-seer" is a general term for female ancestral spirits. These entities can be friendly, or vengeful against those who harm their descendants or the family at large. They often play the role of disciplinarian against dishonorable people. In battle, it was said one's Disir could grant victory or bring disaster. Today, Asatruar commonly honor their Disir in blot, honoring the deeds of their foremothers and asking for their continued guidance.



Svartalfar

("SVART-al-far," or dark-elves, also called dwarves) These beings were the first created by the Gods from the maggots crawling theough the flesh of Ymir. They live in their own realm on the World Tree and represent industriousness, craftsmanship and the drive to build things out of the earth. They are certainly earthy people! It is the dwarves who crafted most of the famous implements of the Gods such as Thor's hammer, Freyr's sailing ship and Freyja's necklace, Brisingamen.

Odin (Wodan, Wotan) The one-eyed God; Odin, Allfather, chief God, poet, wandering magician and wise one. Odin, along with his two brothers, created Mankind and the Dwarves. He gave up one of his eyes in order to drink from Mimir's Well (the fount of wisdom). He learned the secrets of the runes (the Norse alphabet) by hanging himself on the world tree, Yggdrasil, for nine nights: "A sacrifice of myself to myself." He also stole the Mead of Poetry from the giants so that Gods and men might learn to speak well and make beautiful words. Odin is a father figure and is constantly beset by worry for the future of his clan. He knows of the coming of Ragnarok and his own death. He is always hungry for knowledge and wisdom, in part because he wishes to find a way to avoid the end, and partly because he wishes to be able to accept it. Thus, he is like all us mortals. Odin is also the God of war and of death. Because he travels between all the realms, can see all, and understands secret magicks, he is seen as one who watches over the passage of souls between the worlds. Indeed, he understands well what it is to die and pass on. In his guise as war god, he can determine the outcome of a battle by throwing his spear over the heads of those he wishes to loose. He collects the souls of honorable warriors to serve him in Valhalla, his hall, and swell the ranks of Asgard's army which shall fight at Ragnarok. Odin is honored at Yule - the time of the death (and rebirth) of the year, Sigrblot - when the ships go out to trade and raid in the spring, and Freyfaxi - the time when the victorious ships return. Wednesday is his day. His symbol is three interlinked equilateral triangles, the Volknot; "the knot of the fallen (or slain)". The nine lines symbolize the nine worlds, the power of three times three. Each triangle represents one of Odin's aspects; Warrior, Shaman, and Wanderer. Some Asatruar, who have dedicated themselves to Odin, wear the volknot to represent their willingness to be taken into the ranks of Odin's chosen warriors at any time he requires.

Thor The son of Odin with fiery red hair, he is the Thunderer, the archetype hero/warrior and friend of the common folk. As such, Thor protects Midgard, where we live, from the forces of chaos. He wields Mjolnir, the divine Hammer forged by the Dwarves as remuneration for a crime committed by Loki. Some say that the thunder is the sound of Mjolnir striking a Jotun foe down. Others say it is the wheels of Thor's goat-pulled chariot racing across the sky. Once while traveling, Thor slaughtered these two goats so that he and his host might have dinner. The next morning, he waved his hammer over the bones of the goats and the animals returned to life. Thus, he is seen as a God of plenty, resurrection and holy sacrifice. More importantly, Thor used Mjolnir to bless Balder's funeral pyre and is thus seen as the God of hallowing and warding. He is called upon to protect the fields from harm. Asatruar often use his name and the symbol of Mjolnir to ward sacred space for ritual (see hammer rite under Notes/Terms) and to bless holy mead, other sacrifices, or meals. Men wear his hammer as a reminder of their kinship to the Gods and the Gods' devotion to them. Thor defends the Earth from chaos because he is a son of the Earth itself. Many warriors have an affinity for him, especially those fighting for the common good against a threat to the community. (I personally have no problem with equating resource-gobbling corporations with "Giants") Thor has a bad temper, but it is only ever directed against injustice or evil. When he is in good spirits, he is a tried and true friend who enjoys the good things in life to the fullest. He lives large - and anyone who can drink the ocean should know how! It is for this reason that Thor has his own holiday in January, though I like to think of him as partying with us during Yule as well - or any feast of good cheer. Thor has a good sense of humor. Thursday (Thor's Day) was named after him. His wife is Sif of the golden hair.

Tyr God of war, courage, justice and the sky. Zisa is Tyr's wife. At one time, he was the chieftain of the Aesir, but passed this job on to Odin. He is thought to be a very ancient God, probably prehistoric in his origins. Tyr once sacrificed his own hand so that the Gods could successfully bind the evil wolf beast Fenrir. He alone was willing while the other Gods shrank from the danger. Thus, he is seen as the archetype of those who have the resolve to give of themselves for the good of the community -- the spirit of self-sacrifice. Since he gave up his hand in part to honor an oath, he is seen as the God of honor, laws and oath-taking. He is celebrated during Summer Solstice and the "Thing" -- the great council Norse communities held to hear grievances, dispense justice and set policies.

Freyr (or Ingvi Frey lit. "The Lord") is the God of the harvest, the rain and of Yule (born on the Winter Solstice, typically December 21). He is a God of Frith; peace, fertility, nature and plenty. Essentially, the male aspect of Creation. Images of the Green Man and "John Barleycorn" may be memories of Freyr and similar deities. He is the twin brother of Freya. Frey gave up his sword forever in order to woo the giantess Gerdr - an earth goddess. The Danes believed that he was the originator of their royal house and therefore honored him above other Gods as symbolic of Kingship. He is especially honored at Yule and Freyfaxi; his birth and the height of his powers as a fertility God, respectively. His symbol is the golden boar because he rode such a magical animal into battle. Also, the boar is a symbol of fertility as well as warrior prowess. MORE ON INGVI-FREYR HERE.

Freya (a.k.a. Freyja lit. "The Lady") is the Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, magic, sexuality, passion, exuberance, joy, ecstasy, etc., etc. Many souls reside in her hall in Asgard, some say artistic souls in particular. She leads the Valkyries who take the souls of slain soldiers to Valhalla (Odin's great hall). She is the sister of Frey. Her holiday is May Day. Frey drives a chariot pulled by cats and thus they are a symbol of her. Certainly, she possesses classic feline attributes. The boar is also her symbol since it is one of the most prolific of all farm animals. Her favorite color is gold. Freya and Frey are sometimes considered the Norse and Anglo-Saxon versions or root gods of the modern 'Lord' and 'Lady' of Wicca.

Frigg Noble Frigg (Frigga) is Odin's wife. She is Mother of Gods and Humanity, the patroness of the household and of married women. Her symbols include the spindle and sheep as she is a weaver of cloth - not merely the clothes on our backs, but the fabric of the family. She is a teacher and nurturer. Yet, she must have some playfulness in her nature as her name has been secularized to a slang term which refers to sexual intercourse. Frigga is honored at Yule time and harvest festivals as she is the Goddess of the home and hearth. My wife reminds me heck of a lot of Frigg. ;)

Loki The God of mischief, sometimes evil. Despite his very evil role in some of the myths, many Asatruar prefer to interpret him as something more like the native American Coyote spirit; a trickster, a fool, a clown that points out that the Emperor has no clothes and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. Nevertheless, Loki certainly has dark side and it is he who causes most of the problems for the AEsir. He will lead the Jotuns against Asgard at Ragnarok. He is a reminder that a certain amount of chaos, a random element, is is needed to move things forward.

Balder "Balder the Beautiful" was the most handsome and gentle of the AEsir. He is something a Greek tragedy figure in that his death was caused by the God's own arrogance as they attempted to make sure he would NOT die. The story goes that Frigga, his mother, implored all the creatures and plants of the world not to harm her son. They all agreed. But in her haste, Frigga missed one; the mistletoe plant. Later, the Gods were testing the magic of this compact by hurling axes and stones at Balder. They all bounced off and everyone laughed to see how indestructible he was. Loki, bent on vengeance against the Gods, discovered Balder's "Achilles' heel" and arranged for a dart to be made from Mistletoe. He then coaxed Balder's blind brother Hod to throw the dart at Balder killing him. Odin, it is said, whispered something in his son's ear as he died, but no one knows what. Balder's funeral was a grand affair and marks the end of the Aesir's innocence, as it were. Loki was sentenced to a horrible punishment. Yet, Balder, it is said, will be allowed to return from death at Ragnarok and will carry on the bloodline of the Gods even after the battle. He is thus often seen as a God of resurrection and hope for the future as well as innocence and grace.

Njord and Nerthus This couple is traditionaly held to be the parents of Frey and Freya, they are considered to represent the deeper more mysterious aspects of the natural world. It is possible that they were once the same god/dess and were only later considered as separate sexes. Nerthus is the Mother Earth Goddess mentioned in Tacitus' Germania. Njord is considered a God of the sea and a patron of travelers.

Hela In the mythos, she was the daughter of Loki and her realm was considered one of darkness and suffering where the dead resided. However, this may be a post-Christianization interpretation. Most Asatruar consider her with a kinder eye and see her world tree realm as a transitional place between death and rebirth. Many of us believe in some form of soul rebirth or reincarnation and Hela is the guardian who nurses our souls through this process.

Idunna Goddess of renewal. Seen as a young lady, Idunna is she who nurtures and harvests the golden apples which the Gods eat to preserve their youth. She is seen as emblematic of the strength, beauty and power of youth itself. Of course, her symbol is a golden apple - a favorite treat at Yule!

Skadi This feisty, strong-willed one is the Goddess of independence, hunting and skiing. She was originally a giantess, but married into the Aesir and has a respected place among them. She represents for some the wild and independent side of women. Scandinavia was named after her; the English words shadow, skullduggery and shade came from her name. Perhaps this indicates that it has taken some time for men to accept independant women.

Ostara She is a very ancient Goddess of youth, fertility and Spring's rebirth. She probably predates most of the northern mythos. She is celebrated at the time of the Spring equinox. She was known by the Saxons as Eostre, the Goddess of Spring, from whom we have derived the word Easter. Ostara's symbols are the hare and the egg.

Bragi Bragi is the ancient ancestor of all bards and poets. He was the first to drink of the Mead of poetry, acquired by Odin, and is the bard of the Aesir. He is invoked when one is preparing for a performance or trying to compose a work of art.

Ull Little have I to say about Ull presently save that he is a God of the Hunt. Something of a counterpart to Skadi, though the two are not married or related. Many Asatruar honor him during the USA secular holiday of Thanksgiving.

Heimdall This noble one is the watchman of Asgard who stands on the Rainbow Bridge. When Ragnarok comes, Heimdall will warn of the Jotuns' advance by blowing his horn. He gave up one ear to be placed in the well of Mimir. As a result, he can hear even the growing of a blade of grass.