Ive noticed that many Asatruar practice magic (especially rune magic); is this a requirement of the religion?
A. The religion does teach that magic is real and acceptable; and many people do indeed come to Asatru through an interest in runecraft. However, this does NOT mean that everybody is expected to study or practice magic. (Spell-working does not play as strong a role in Asatru as it does in Wicca, to name the most obvious example.) Conversely, a person can practice rune magic in some form without following the Asatru religion–as long as the magician is familiar with the Germanic gods, myths and symbolism, and takes the runes in their cultural context. Q. I remember reading that the Norsemen believed that only fallen warriors lived with the gods after death–that everyone else was doomed to end up in Hel. Is this true, and do modern Asatruar still believe this? (If they do, there’s not much point in following Asatru unless you’re on active duty in the military!) A. The idea of an either/or afterlife (one place good, one place bad, and no other possible destination) is common in Middle Ea
