Natural cycles play a key role in shaping the beliefs of Asatru. These cycles reflect the constant interplay between life and death, light and darkness, and the seasons’ rhythms. From the changing of the seasons to the cycles of life and death, Norse myths remind followers of the delicate balance in nature. Asatru practitioners honor these cycles through various festivals, ceremonies, and blóts (sacrifices or offerings).
One significant cycle in Norse mythology is the changing seasons, especially tied to winter and summer. The myths of Skadi, a goddess of winter and mountains, and Freyr, a Vanir god of fertility and summer, highlight this balance. Skadi’s marriage to Njord, a god of the sea, symbolizes the union of harsh winter with bountiful summer, connecting both parts of the year. This natural flow was essential to Viking life, as their survival depended on it.
Many festivals in Asatru, like the Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) and Summer Finding, reflect this seasonal cycle. These holidays honor deities associated with fertility, protection, and the harvest. This focus on natural balance also ties into Yggdrasil, the World Tree, which represents the cosmos’ constant regeneration. Asatru teaches that humans must live in harmony with these natural rhythms.
The Cycle of Life, Death, and Rebirth
Norse mythology’s natural cycles extend beyond seasons to life and death. Baldur’s death and eventual return in Ragnarök symbolizes death’s inevitability and rebirth’s hope. Baldur, the god of light and beauty, is killed, sending him to Hel, the realm of the dead. However, it’s prophesied that he will return after Ragnarök, the apocalyptic end where the world is destroyed and reborn.
The Elder Futhark rune Jēra, which means “year” or “harvest,” represents these cycles. Associated with the turning of the seasons and the harvest, Jēra signifies reward after hard work and patience, much like the natural cycle itself. This rune is a symbol of life’s continuous growth and renewal, paralleling both the agricultural cycle and spiritual journeys in Asatru.
By honoring natural cycles, Asatru practitioners remain connected to the world and their ancestors. Each festival, each season, and even the daily rhythms reflect an ongoing relationship with nature. This connection is not just symbolic but vital, reminding followers of the need to honor the earth and the life cycles that sustain them.
