“Tis true without lying, certain and most true.
That which is below is like that which is above
and that which is above is like that which is below
to do the miracle of one only thing.”
The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus
Translation by Isaac Newton
The Gods of our people do not exist apart from nature. They are not distant observers and cruel judges, ever distinct and apart from the world. Rather, they reside within, are participants in, Nature, the Universe, and Us, their people – their manifestation in this realm of existence. They work through us and with us to achieve their ends, and to help us achieve ours.
One of the primary goals of this blog is to help people assimilate Asatru precepts in such a way that they can apply them positively in their own lives. Often, we do not consider the profound impact that our weltanschauung, our worldview, has on how we interact with life on a day to day basis. Many people give little thought to what their worldview, the basic lens through which they see the world, even is. But, whether it is considered or not, the influence is profound.
Imagine someone raised in a negative environment, where all their role models make no effort at self improvement. When they try something themselves, they might be belittled. Life is unfair, they are told. Successful people all got that way from cheating, or were born into it. Over time, without consciously realizing it, they adopt this as their weltanschauung. Unless they have a personal epiphany, they could be stuck in that mindset – pretty much a loser.
This is where embracing Asatru can drastically change people’s lives for the better. Ours is a faith for doers. It emphasizes strength, discipline, honor, and the other traits lauded in the Nine Noble virtues. But, even deeper, the theology we espouse is one in which achieving, self-overcoming, is not just an option, it is a duty. Remember that we are the instruments through which the Gods work their will.
You will recall that when we discussed cosmogony, we described how the prime motivating force for creation, the Cosmic Will that resided in Ginnungagap, had just one desire – to manifest, to Be, and to be more. There is no morality in this primal Will to Be. So, as the creative force utilizes energy and matter to evolve, creation is manifested in an array of patterns (somewhat like the many hues that result from light through a prism). Some of those patterns will be more chaotic, while others, chaotic at first, have within them the potential to advance into ever higher levels of consciousness – as shown in the evolution from Buri, to Bur and Bestla, to the Gods Odin, Vili, and Ve.
The chaotic offspring of creation and the more evolved, higher manifestations of consciousness (the Powers who maintain Cosmic Order), are joined in a continual battle. This perpetuates the eternal cycle of life and creation – birth; being (achieving the highest attainable state of consciousness/existence); decay and death (as the forces of chaos and entropy wear down those of Order); and rebirth. Understanding the cyclical nature of all things is what is really described in the Lore, especially in the story of Ragnarok.
Now, if we accept that there is an eternal “tug of war” between the forces of chaos and those of Order, and we also believe that the Gods created our people as their helpers, the instruments of their will on Midgard, then the importance of living one’s life so that we realize our highest potential should be self evident.
Every decision we make has an impact on this battle, no matter how small it may be. You were given life truly to be a Soldier of Odin in the Cosmic and Eternal War. When you choose to do something that diminishes yourself mentally, spiritually, or physically, you are aiding the Thurses in their quest for decay and destruction. When you take action to improve yourself, your family, and your people, you are fulfilling your duty to the Gods, and strengthening them in their struggle to maintain creation.
The struggles of our Gods and our people are One. The fields of battle may take place on different levels of consciousness, but they are connected through the limbs and roots of Yggdrasil, and every loss and victory in one realm will resonate in the other.
Asatru Illinois 