A
clear, straightforward expression of the way many (perhaps
most) true folk see the god/esses of the North is put
forth by Gamlinginn in his statement of troth, "Hér
Stend Ek".
Here
stand I - alone if necessary - for the things that I
believe.
- I
believe that the Æsir and the Vanir are living
Deities who came out of Ginnungagap before the
beginning of time, and have ruled the Nine Worlds
since then, and will rule them until Ragnarök -
whether or not humans believe in them.
- I
believe that the Æsir and the Vanir are inherently
good, and that they always support good and oppose
evil, and that they always want all humans to do what
is right.
- I
believe that the Æsir and the Vanir foster and value
the individuality of each person, and that each person
should be proud of what he or she inherently is - and
that people should never look down on others, or
themselves, for what they inherently are.
- I
believe that Faith in the Æsir and the Vanir
constitutes the Religion of Ásatrú, which is
separate from and not connected to any other religious
faith (although it may be superficially similar in
some respects), and that Ásatrú is my religion and
my only religion.
- I
believe that, as an adherent of Ásatrú, I have a
personal relationship with each and all of the Æsir
and the Vanir, individually and collectively - that
Frigg and Óðinn inspire me, that Týr and Zisa guide
me, that Sif and Þórr protect me, and that Freyja
and Freyr provide for me - and that all of the Gods
and Goddesses are my friends.
- I
believe that every human on earth can and may have a
similar personal relationship with all of the Æsir
and the Vanir, individually and collectively, and has
as much right as I do to be an adherent of Ásatrú,
if he or she so chooses, and that Ásatrú is freely
open to anyone who wants to accept it - regardless of
gender, race, colour, ethnicity, national origin,
language, sexual orientation, or other divisive
criteria - and that no individual or group of
individuals has the right to deny Ásatrú to anyone,
or to try to force it onto anyone.
- I
believe that religious beliefs should always be of
free choice, and that each person who chooses to
adhere to Ásatrú should interpret it according to
his or her own ideas, and that no individual or group
of individuals ever has the right to try to make a
person adhere to any religious ideas or beliefs
against that person's will, or to try to harm those
who do not agree with them, for any reason.
- I
believe that the Ásatrú Religion, guided by the
great Gods of Ásgarð, provides the best Way of Life
for all who choose to follow it, and that the Ásatrú
Way of Life esteems: courage, honour, hospitality,
independence (and liberty), individuality (with
self-reliance and self-responsibility),
industriousness (and perseverance), justice (including
an innate sense of fairness and respect for others),
loyalty (to family, friends, and the society of which
one is a part), truthfulness, and a willingness to
stand up for and do what is right.
- I
believe that when I die my Spirit will live on in
Ásgarð, if I have earned it, in the company of all
of the Æsir and the Vanir - so help me Týr and Zisa.
Gamlinginn
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