The official dedication of Baldrshof, Third Hof of the Asatru Folk Assembly, was held on Saturday, March 27^th, 2021. Members from each district of the AFA gathered for this historic event.

As Folk entered the hof, there were declarations of amazement and pride in the beauty of the place. Kindred flags billowed from each side of the sanctuary and light radiated from the newly constructed shrines of the Folkmother Else Christensen and the Ancestors. Shining Baldr and Nanna watched over all from the full mural stretching across the entirety of the alcove of his altar. Children were delighted to find a room packed with toys. Our mothers relaxed and cared for their babies in a room dedicated just to them.

Following the welcoming, the land taking and dedication ceremony began. Alsherjargothi Matthew Flavel, surrounded by his folk and with the assistance of Gythias Catherine Erickson and Anna Szczepanksi, conducted a powerful and emotional ceremony. After receiving individual blessings of Baldr from the Alsherjargothi, men and women alike shed tears of joy as they embraced and congratulated each other.

Lunch and frith was shared in the feast hall following the dedication. Laughter echoed through the hall as Folk shared stories of the recent Baldrshof construction, caught up with old friends, and formed bonds with those they didn’t know before. Dying of eggs was followed by an egg hunt for the children as the adults gathered for a Q&A session with AFA Leadership. A beautiful blot to Ostara was led by Gythia Szczepanski  and was followed with a feast so large it took the entire buffet area and another table to hold it all. The night concluded with sumble by candlelight and long goodbyes.

Although the weather was chilly and wet, nothing was able to put a damper on the joy and excitement of the Folk on this amazing day!

Hail Baldr!

Hail the Folk!

Hail the AFA!

Gythia Brandy Callahan

Each year, we award the Folkbuilding Excellence Medal to the Folkbuilder who had stood out as the best of the best for the previous year. this is the 6th year we have awarded this Medal. Adam Hudak set the standard for Folkbuilding in 2020. When Adam came on the scene, he immediately got his own region squared away, not only that but he helped many other Folkbuilders and entire regions improve their Folkbuilding. When anyone struggled or needed extra help, Adam helped efficiently and eagerly. The Asatru Folk Assembly is made better by Adams hard work… it is truly appreciated.

Hail Adam Hudak!

On March the 13th, at Ostara in the South, Under the watching eyes of Þórr and in his hof, Lane Ashby was oathed in as a full Folkbuilder of the Asatru Folk Assembly. We are very proud to have Lane as an oathed member of AFA Leadership. Lane has proven his worth and his commitment through consistent volunteerism and consistent diligence.

Hail Lane Ashby!
Hail the Folkbuilders!
Hail the AFA!

It is my pleasure and honor to announce The Vedrfolnir Clan of Wisconsin as an 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. 

Wisconsin has had a lot growth in the last couple years, wholesome families coming together and growing and creating a home, a future for our folk. These folks are amazing! Hosting monthly moots and books studies. Recently they started doing adopt a highway and helping clean up their local community. Like I said, amazing!

Thank you Vedrfolnir Clan for stepping up and representing the AFA and for all your hard work!

Hail the Vedrfolnir Clan!
Hail the Kindreds of the AFA
Hail the Asatru Folk Assembly!!!

Jason Gallagher
Kindred Coordinator  
[email protected]

Today the AFA is proud to announce the Fríðr Folk Kindred of Texas as an 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. Texas has grown a lot in the last year and this Kindred has been busy hosting events for the folk down there.

Fríðr Folk, thank you for stepping up and being a beacon for our folk, a light in the darkness. We are happy to have another great Kindred join our AFA family!

Hail the Fríðr Folk!
Hail the Kindreds of the AFA!
Hail the Asatru Folk Assembly!!!

Folkbuilder Jason Gallagher
[email protected]

Please welcome James Cummings of Illinois as our newest Apprentice Folkbuilder for the Midwest region of the AFA. James joins a large and dynamic team of AFA leaders in a region that is growing in activity and in numbers. We look forward to the progress this fine team of leaders can make together in the coming months and years.

Hail James Cummings!
Hail the AFA Midwest!

We are honored to welcome Tij Rudd of Australia as the newest Apprentice Folkbuilder for the AFA. Tij brings with him a mighty hamingja as kin to the ascended Alexander Rud Mills. This hamingja positions him well to achieve great things for himself, for his line, for the AFA, and for the Æsir. Oceania is a region swelling with potential and Tij is just the man to lead the way in realizing that potential. We look forward to the amazing things Tij will accomplish in the months and years to come!

Hail Tij Rudd!
Hail AFA Oceania!

Please join me in welcoming Jacob Wells of Virginia as the AFA’s newest Apprentice Folkbuilder. Jacob joins a strong team in the Upper South region and we are very excited to watch this region continue to grow and thrive.

Hail Jacob Wells!
Hail the AFA Upper South!

We are proud to introduce Patrick Cook of West Virginia as the AFA’s newest Apprentice Folkbuilder! Patrick is the founder of the AFA’s Stonewall Kindred and will be a great asset to the Upper South leadership team! Thank you for stepping up Patrick, we are excited to watch you succeed and your region prosper!

Hail the AFA Upper South!
Hail Patrick Cook!

So well-known was the hero, Raud the Strong, that his story comes to us from several Icelandic Saga’s, the most common of which is the Heimskringla (The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway) by Snorri Sturluson. The story tells of a great seafaring warrior who had Thor and Seiðr on his side.

Around the year 1000, the zealous Norwegian King, Olaf Tryggvason, began an expedition to North-Norway to continue his Christianization of the pagan people. Olaf found much success in his efforts, owing largely to his brutal methods of both torturing and killing those who refused, but not all were swayed.

In Godøy, near present-day Bodø, lived the man Raud the Strong. Raud was known to have a strong connection with the Sami people, and to own a remarkable longship that was larger than any that Olaf himself owned. With a gold-plated dragon head, it is what many suppose the popular Viking longship designs are based off of.

Upon hearing that Olaf was heading his way Raud gathered as many men as he could and lead a great assault at sea. Despite everything, however, Raud found himself overwhelmed and had to retreat from the battle. Stories say that Raud was able to Seiðr to call on the winds to speed him home safely while also blocking Olaf Tryggvason’s chase.

It was all for naught, however.

Though he made it home, Raud was eventually caught by Olaf Tryggvasson. Despite the Kings efforts, however, Raud refused to turn his back on his gods despite torture. In the end, he was killed when a live snake was forced down his throat. Many of Raud’s men, following his example, were also killed after refusing to convert.

So, what can we learn from this story?

Some might make the argument that it is better to live another day, to fight another day. In some cases, this might be true. For every one of us sitting here reading this, however, one of our ancestors made a different choice. The choice to convert saved our lives.

For many of our ancestors, death was the best option. Which of us ever choses to be killed in a horrible, painful way? Was death the better option? We must believe that for some, it was. For Raud the Strong, friend of Thor, it was. To convert was to turn his back on his Heritage, on his Honor, and on his Courage and a warrior and leader.

Our ancestors lived in a very different time. They lived in a world in which men and women could be killed for choosing to remain loyal to their Gods. We are exceptionally lucky that we live in a society that allows us the freedom to worship our Gods.

That very same society that allows us to worship our Gods, however, does not do so without stipulations. That society, so unlike the sort of tribal society our ancestors lived in, would tell us how to worship our Gods. They would tell us who is allowed to worship our Gods. And that society would try to harm us for choosing to do it differently than they tell us we are allowed to do it.

We don’t face the same torture and death as Raud the Strong for choosing to worship our Gods our way, but we do face the possibility of ostracization from society. People, even our families, can turn their backs on us for disagreeing with the “rules” they have given us. We are not free from the effects of the multi-cultural paradigm, but we do not have to bow to it.

Like Raud the Strong, we can stand tall and be proud of who and what we are. We are Asatruar. Like Raud the Strong, we can stand against those who would tell us to turn our backs on what we know to be Tru. We can live with Honesty, with Courage, and with Honor.

Hail Raud the Strong!