I am proud to welcome home The Donar’s Oak Kindred of South Carolina as a official Kindred of the Asatru Folk Assembly. Gaining Kindred recognition is not a easy thing, it takes dedication and loyalty and willingness to stand with our church and family. The Upper South region continues to grow. Recently we acquired our second Hof in North Carolina. And now we have another Kindred to help support this second Hof and Upper South region. Thank you for stepping up and joining our family of local congregations.

Hail the Donar’s Oak Kindred!
Hail our Families!
Hail 25 years of the Asatru Folk Assembly!!!

Jason Gallagher
Kindred Coordinator,
Asatru Folk Assembly

A Statement by Stephen McNallen
from The Runestone Summer 1999 #26

After much discussion and thought, I have submitted the following statement to the Board of Drectors of the Asatru Folk Assembly, which has given it their endorsement:

All members and supporters of the AFA, and indeed all Asatruar within or without our organization, are strongly encouraged to emulate our Mormon friends and set aside a year’s supply of food and other basic provisions.

“Strongly encouraged” means just that – this is not a requirement for association with the AFA, but neither is it a halfhearted recommendation which will be mentioned once and then forgotten. My intention is that a spirit of readiness becomes a permanent part of the “culture” of the Asatru Folk Assembly, and that such precautions become the norm rather than the exception.

This is not done with any particular disaster in mind – neither war nor computer failure nor financial collapse. We are not becoming “survivalists” any more than are the local Mormons when they carry out an identical program.

On the other hand, Asatruar have two parts of our religion which validate a program of preparedness. One is the calamitous time predicted in the Voluspa when the Gods and their allies, and the giants and their minions, will do battle with each other. Asatruar are not bystanders in this conflict, nor will we be spared through some equivalent of the Christian “rapture” which will bear away all believers. I strongly believe we will be here, on the scene, aiding the Gods in whatever way we can – and before anything else, that means surviving as individuals, as families, and as Folk. The exact form of Ragnarok is not known to us, nor is the time of it’s coming, but we would do well to prepare just as do the Einherjar in Odin’s hall.

Additionally, the very spirit of the Havamal – of Odin’s practical advice to the ordinary men and women of Midgard, rather than to his chosen heroes – is one of prudence and preparedness. A program for storing food and other supplies is entirely in keeping with these principles.

In short, the two most renowned poems of the Poetic Edda validate this project: The Vlouspa, with its heroic and cosmic vision, and the Havamal, with its very down-to-earth practicallity. With such documentation, it is clear we are working within the purview of our religion rather than merely responding to temporary crises on the world stage.

Finally, we would not want to be a burden on our neighbors, or on relief efforts, in times of mundane catastrophe. If we are prepared, attention can be given to those who need it more than we do.

With all these things in mind, I am asking each of you to begin setting aside food and essential items sufficient to last your family a year. For those in position to do so, thought should be given to food PRODUCTION in addition to storage. And remember that survival is not merely an individual affair but a group endeavor, so network with your fellow Asatruar where possible to assist each other.

In the weeks and months to come, we will show you ways to do this that are not a drain on your resources, or on your storage capabilities Guidelines will be provided, and advice and assistance given. In the meantime, I suggest that you not wait for further instructions, but exercise your initiative and begin now to prepare.

I would like to introduce to you the Asatru Folk Assembly’s newest Apprentice Folkbuilder, Benjamin Tiemeier of Ohio. The Midwest in general and Ohio in specific has been a area of great growth and enthusiasm in the last year and we see big things on the horizon. Ben will be working with Zach Cato to build the AFA’s Midwest region and help our Midwest family reach their fullest potential. Huge thank you to Ben for stepping forward.

Hail the Doers!

Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi,
Asatru Folk Assembly

by Stephen A. McNallen
from The Runestone Spring 1999 #25

On December 12 of this last year, Dick Johnson shucked off an ailing, pain-ridden body and departed Midgard. He was 78 years old.

To all but a handful of you, this is not a statement that conveys a lot of meaning – another name, another death; it happens countless times a day. But there is a story here, one relevant to the history of Asatru in Vinland.

After returning from four years of active Army duty, in 1976, I had moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and was living in Berkeley. Upon returning Stateside, I thumbed through the card file of RUNESTONE readers, located a few people in the immediate area, and made tentative approaches toward a meeting.

Dick was the first to respond, and I remember well the day he walked into my upstairs apartment on Channing Way. In the years that followed, his insurance office at 1000 University Avenue became the focus for organized Asatru in the Bay Area. We offered blot in his back room, and met with a few other memorable renegades – people like Hal and Gerald and John – who dared remember the old Gods and Goddesses of our Folk. Sometimes we gathered in nearby Tilden Park, in the Berkeley hills; occasionally we would assemble at places like Rodeo Beach – but Dick was always a constant feature. he was there at the first public Odinblot in Codornices Park, and at the first Althing, in 1980.

It’s a cliche to say that a friend’s wife is charming and his daughters lovely, but in this case it is only the truth. Esther was always a warm hostess, and although Karen and Linda had their own llives and were seldom in evidence, I remember them as two very different, but very attractive, young women.

Dick moved from Berkeley to the nearby community of Richmond, then escaped the Bay Area entirely and took refuge in Klamath Falls Oregon. We didn’t see each other much after that, but we’d exchange the occasional phone call or letter, and I sent him THE RUNESTONE as a matter of course. I knew he was ill with parkinson’s Disease and severe anemia, and the maladies took their toll on him as the years went by.

When Esther’s note arrived to tell me that Dick had died, I was hardly surprised. But I was saddened, and knew that an era had died with him.

Fare well Dick. We’ll all follow you eventually, so save us a seat on the mead benches. The fight continues here, and we’ll be thirsty when we arrive.

Jarl Hakon is one of those rare men who, by the sheer force of will changed history. Hakon was a strong practitioner of the old ways and likely an Odinn’s man. After Hakon’s father was burned alive by the grandsons of Harald Fairhair he vowed revenge and set about seeing that those responsible would pay dearly. Hakon was able to kill the grandson responsible and also, with the aid of the king of Denmark, to gain the jarldom of western Norway. Immediately upon his gaining power in Norway, Hakon began rebuilding the old temples and holy sites and encouraged the worship of the Gods again undoing much of what Fairhair and his family had done for Christianity.

Eventually Hakon was called upon to come to the aid of his Danish ally against Emperor Otto II of Germany. The ensuing war did not go well for the Scandinavians and it happened that Hakon was forcibly baptized and ordered to convert Norway back to Christianity. He was given a ship to sail home filled with priests of the desert faith. Hakon sailed out away from the shore and forced every priest off his ship. From there he sailed to islands off the coast of Sweden and gave blot to Odinn as ravens flew overhead.

After this great omen Hakon returned to Norway and repelled the incoming invasion. Now he was able to rule in peace for some time and continue his revival of the ancestral ways unhindered by outside influences.

Men like Hakon are rare, but each of us has the ability to change our immediate surroundings or, at the very least, change our perception of those surroundings. Hakon took misfortune and turned it into fuel to drive him to achieve great things. We too have that ability, we can decide how we react to things and how we deal with things. We can rise to the occasion or we can slink off and hide in the shadows. As Asatruar I dare say the only real option for us is to rise up. Asatruar -real sons and daughters of the Gods- do not hide in the shadows or slink off anywhere! We, like Hakon, must always stand tall and proud.

Hail Jarl Hakon Sigurdsson!!!

The AFA is proud to welcome Katee Allen of Idaho as the newest member of our Folkbuilding team. We are very excited to see the growth of our Northwest region and to welcome the new members. Katee will be a great help to Joe and Johnny as we move forward. Thank you Katee for stepping up.

Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi,
Asatru Folk Assembly

From The Runestone Spring 1999 #25

The Asatru Folk Assembly has hosted dozens of local and regional events, but until now there has not been a national meeting specifically for the Asatru Folk Assembly. WELL, IT’s TIME!

June 24-27, in Northern California, we will hold the Gathering of the Tribes. This will not be “just another Asatru gathering;” it will be the beginning of a new phase in our movement’s history. If you are an AFA member or sympathizer, we hope you’ll be here!

The core of the Gathering of the Tribes, as the name indicates, is tribalism. It is time to form organic groupings of our Folk, and we will begin that undertaking during these four days. I have put a lot of preparation into some ideas which I hope will excite and inspire you as we carve our path into the next century.

We’ll also address intentional communities as the core of these evolving tribes, and take a long look at the social, political, and religious environments in which Asatru will operate in the coming century.

Other items on the agenda include a very relevant talk by Dr. James Russell, author of THE GERMANIZATION OF EARLY MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY, a class on y2k preperation by the Back to Basics Guild, a presentation on the challenges of forming intentional community by an expert in the field, and a traditional weapons demonstration by the Warrior Guild.

We’ve long felt that the women of Asatru needed to take a higher profile – so our GYTHJUR or priestesses will be more visible as we honor the Mighty Powers. Womanly wisdom will also express itself in seithwork or runecasting. There will be a blessing of children, as well.

As if this wasn’t enough, the Western Regional Thing of the Asatru Alliance will meet during the course of the Gathering – making this event especially attractive to members of Alliance kindreds, and setting new precedents for inter-organizational cooperation in Asatru.

Those who attended the Gathering of the Tribes will remember it always, as the time when “business as usual” and “status quo Asatru” were burned up on the fire of passion of forward movement. You will want to be here!

It is with Immense joy and pride that I announce that the AFA has established a Hof in honor of Asa-Thor in North Carolina. This is the Second Hof of the Asatru Folk Assembly, coming four and a half years after the establishment of Óðinshof in California. This hof comes after more than a year of effort, of trial and error, of excitement and heartache. We have the very best people in the AFA, and many devoted sons of the Aesir put their all into making this a reality.

I promised you all that once we paid off Óðinshof, we would immediately begin making the second hof, Þórshof, a reality. It took longer than I had anticipated but I swear to you that we did our best from January 1, 2019 to make good on that promise.

Sincere thanks are due to Gothar Coordinator Blaine Qualls, Folkbuilder Jason Gallagher, and Ryan Hanson for their efforts over and over to push the rock up the hill.

Special thanks go to Law Speaker Allen Turnage for his steady wisdom.

The greatest of all thanks and appreciation go to Gothi Svan Herul, Champion of Thor, this hof exists because of him and his family’s dedication to this holy purpose.

The AFA is overjoyed to establish this hof for the benefit of our AFA Family.

Most of all, the AFA proudly offers this hof as a testament to our worship and loyalty to the divine thunderer, Asa-Thor.

Hail the Folk!
Hail the AFA!

HAIL THOR!!!

Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi,
Asatru Folk Assembly

I am pleased to announce Adam Hudak of Pennsylvania as the Asatru Folk Assembly’s newest Apprentice Folkbuilder. Adam will be working with Gythia Catie Erickson and me to build our AFA family in the Northeast North America region.

Adam is a valued member of the Lansdale Tru Folk kindred and we are thrilled to have him join our AFA leadership team. Adam has already hosted several Wotan on the Peaks hikes with AFA members and we look forward to seeing Adam’s continued efforts to bring all of our Folk back home.

Hail the Gods!
Hail Adam Hudak!
Hail the Asatru Folk Assembly!

Clifford J Erickson
Folkbuilder, Witan
Asatru Folk Assembly

by Stephen A. McNallen, Gothi
From The Runestone Spring 1998 #21

“Be all here blessed. May all ill be banished, all hatred cast out, and weal and well-being prevail, that we may listen to the wisdom within us and without us. In the sign of the Hammer, so may it be!”

So begins another public religious service of the Asatru Community Church, now in it’s fourth month of, bringing the Aesir and the Vanir to our community.

When the AFA first announced our “church services”, some muttered that we had sold out to Christianity – but as anyone who has attended our ceremonies can say, that’s not the case! Quite the contrary; the ACC honors the Aesir and vanir in ways entirely comfortable to the average Asatruar.

After the opening, we call on the Gods and Goddesses, asking them to give us their blessings, then I talk for a few minutes on some subject relevant to Asatru. This might be an exhortation to strive for higher spiritual development, or it might be a lesson on the nature of the Holy Powers. I tell a story from the myths. A reading, generally from one of the Eddas, concludes this part of the ceremony.

Up to this point we have dealt with the deities, so now we turn our attention to our human kin… “In the heart of each of us do the Holy Ones dwell, as we strive for the best. As in one, so in many, for we are a host, a people, a Folk vigilant and mighty.” We state our will to be strong and free, and to endure despite all hardship.

“Let the shining Sun ever find our Folk as it looks over the affairs of Midgard! Let our people be plentiful in the world, that all humankind knows of our greatness! Let the tongue of our Folk be always heard in the land that the Gods may rejoice in us! Let us not be an autumn without a spring, but rather a people ever-born and ever new, with mighty deeds on the loom of Fate. To this we bend our hearts and our wits, that we may live in the Gods, and they in us. By our ancestors, and by our descendants yet unborn, so be it done…”

Having honored the Folk, we call upon Odin in song and then and then transition into a blot honoring one of our deities. The structure now is more familiar, with the usual invocation and the filling of mead with might. I walk in a circle around the standing people, sprinkle them with the power-infused fluid to give to them the blessing of the God or Goddess.

After the blot is ended, I change into mundane clothes and we chat over coffee and cookies. Once again Asgard is honored, and the Folk affirmed…

So come join us, and see for yourself!