A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru

This book was on my wishlist awhile, but like my fellow heathens, Ive read quite a few beginners books and they all focus on the same thing. After becoming Asatru in 2007, I can recite every story of the gods from memory and essentially give everyone a 5 minute run down on every Aesir, Vanir and Jotun, so I waited to buy this book. Now I have to say, there are many beginners books – the most popular being Essential Asatru by Diana Paxson and Asatru for Beginners by Erin Lale. Both are great, well read, informed and friendly authors that offer worlds of information on their books. Lafayllve’s does as well. Patricia’s edge is how new it is. Asatru is evolving every year with new academic research and many people joining the faith. Patricia’s book kicks up the basic information into a more intermediate level with a large focus on wights and alfs. The background on heathen worldview is VERY well worded and presented, allowing many who are entering Asatru from other faiths such as Wicca and Buddhism to get a grasp on how Asatru (and Germanic heathenry) views the world. My only gripes about this book are how a “majority” or “most” heathens don’t honor Loki or Jotuns outside the Aesir/Vanir innangard. If you go to AFA or Troth events, Loki is either forbidden or subjugated to a Ve dedicated to him. The appendix in the back of Patricia’s book is a good addition, but entirely too short. Loki in today’s modern Heathen world is draped in dogmatic Christian baggage that he is a Satan character to Odin’s Yahweh and Baldr’s Jesus. This goes against idea of a world accepting view and one that the past is fixed and influenced the present which creates the future (as Patricia’s book states). And the 2nd gripe – the afterlife. More than once Patricia mentions how Heathens are not so concerned with what happens in the afterlife. This couldn’t be further from the truth. So many heathens scream – SCREAM – Victory or Valhalla! Or even press the opposite, we’re all going to Hel (Helheim). The gung ho heathen Viking crowd is the most vocal and recognized as Asatru by the world as how we are, because they glorized carrying heavy axes, mail, helmets and seem to be overly obsessed with death. This is an extreme focus on a single aspect of Odin which appears in the Sagas written about times when open war was an every day thing. If you compare the Eddas to the Sagas, Odin rarely ever is as blood thirsty as his followers in VICTORY OR VALHALLA groups portray him to be. I do agree that what happens after we die weren’t as a huge a “deal” as many heathens make it be today, and that’s because Valhalla-ism is a Christian left-over. And most heathens will not be going their. Each chapter in the book cites their sources, which makes the reader’s adventures into further works and academia easier. And also sample rituals, and ritual/holiday breakdowns are available at the end of chapters and even a chapter on our holidays. The gods and wights have meditations at the end of each chapter as well. Reading this book, I can easily see it expanding into a library for Patricia, especially into Seidr. I dont practice Seidr, or Galdr but the books I’ve touched on that want to teach people are heavily mixed between Wicca influenced MUS (no offense, but a lot is MUS) to well documented accounts of Seidr practice in modern times by respected members of the community balanced with Academia. Patricia touches on Seidr and her honesty that one cannot learn it from an intro book is very true. I would love to see a more in depth Seidr book from Patricia. Hopefully it will be cultural and not multi-cultural (influenced by non-continental Shamanistic peoples/tribes). Patricia’s book NEEDS to be “required reading” for many new heathens entering Asatru. The book balances academia and modern practice perfectly and offers information available out there for heathens to find, but nothing really “new”. And one shouldn’t expect it to give some all-revealing information lost to us about Germanic heathenry. What this book DOES do, is break down the basic information, with modern educated sources by a modern practitioner in clear wording that is not flowery of Norse-wrapped Wicca. I skipped the first few meditations/rituals (because I do my own private ones), but I went back over a few and these will really help people. I honestly would dump the Hammer Rite. The book only lacks in Loki information and condemnation of Nazi bastardization of our symbols. I would say the latter NEEDS to be addressed in any academic or devotional work, as many casual or new readers could stumble across an Othala symbol and become confused. This book easily scores a 4.5/5 for a beginners/intermediate work for Asatruars. A well versed, long time heathen will probably take little to nothing from the book, but from what I’ve seen a majority of heathens NEED this book.

I came across A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve after I found myself being found but not seeking. It's kind of surprising when you do a ritual and all of a sudden there are three gods present you knew the names of in passing but never gave any thought to! After several months of working with and honoring Them in my life and work with others, I decided it would be wise - if I wanted to deepen and add more formality to my practice - to seek out a good beginner resource on the topic of Heathenry even though I don't consider myself a traditional Heathen. This book has 15 chapters split between two parts - the first section is background information and some short exercises, the occasional example ritual, the second is all on practical rituals that hallmark both sacred life events and general blot giving. Each of the first 12 chapters covers a different aspect of Asatru faith and practice with the thoroughness of an academic volume but with an easy to digest, clear and concise conversational tone. As someone with a great deal of background and experience in research, I was delighted to see that she included footnotes at the end of each chapter as well as providing a very thorough bibliography - this is part of what makes it such an excellent tool for beginners. By being informative without being overwhelming, while also providing the means for further exploration and study, it is a great gateway to deeper study for those who feel called to the Heathen path in a more traditional format or for any person who is working on the academic study of this particular branch of the modern Paganism family tree. As a whole, the text is well-organized and formatted (I am speaking to the Kindle edition but I'm sure it's the same for the printed one.) The pronunciation guide included is particularly helpful and clear for the beginner or non-practitioner as is the fair, rather neutral presentation of the problem that Loki poses in the scheme of general Pan-Germanic/Norse Heathen practice. I, personally, will probably never find myself calling on the Trickster for anything but for those who have dabbled or are curious, the appendix text is a solid assessment of the details. Additionally, the exercises provided in each chapter are very accessible for solitary practitioners and the examples of ritual sumble and blot are both excellent standard backbones for creating one's own rites (which is what I'm using them for) or for the newbie who needs something standalone to jump-start their practice. The only real criticism I have is not actually a criticism - I found the chapters on runes/magic and seidh to be lacking in further material or even a little more than basic depth. This is mostly a gripe for me because I am interested in seidh and spae and was hoping for a little more meat and bibliographical references. For everyone else, even most would-be Heathens, this does not necessarily pose a problem because as the author correctly points out, magic and seidh are done by a comparatively small group within the Asatru community as a whole (setting runes aside, obviously, but they are popular outside of Northern traditions, too.) Overall, I found this to be a delightful read as both a practitioner and as someone with an academic interest in the spiritual. I would recommend it to everyone: newbie Heathens, Pagans interested in other traditions or systems outside those that they are most familiar with, academics studying the subject of religion and spirituality and non-Pagans and non-practitioners who may seek to understand the path of a loved one or a colleague better. Well done and highly recommended.

Brought up a Christian I never felt in sync with the Christian faith. I considered Christianity a religion of force. A perception that all one needed to do was to sincerely repent any sin, and be forgiven. Even that did not rest well. This is not for a debate on what is right or wrong. It is up to us all to decide. Then through research into the Vikings and of their way of life brought me into contact with the faith of that race worshipping the mythological gods of Odin, Thor, Freya Freyr some of the pagan, Gods and the Goddesses. These pagans worshipped all the Gods and Godesses, there was no single deity for these people. The faith is based on nature, and represent those Gods. This is put very simply. We all know that Thor is the God of thunder. This has been learned through movies etc. Then came conversion to the Vikings of Iceland, and Christianity was born again by force, and by the Norwegian Kings. So even back then, there was a given force to accept the way of worshipping one god, and eventually the pagan faith was lost. But was it. Sorcery was still practiced long after the Vikings and ancestors, had been Christian for many years. In recent times there has been a resurgence to the old pagan way and the worship or faith in the Pagan Gods, and the Asatru is back in the minds of the new pagans. This book is an excellent way to embrace this faith. I am new to it, and I am still finding my way, and this book along with some others I have is showing me the way.

I was hesitant to get this book because of the negative comments, but I am glad I did anyways! Of course anything you read, take with a grain of salt, deff christian overtones… but this book has great basic info about a ton of topics. Wonderfully written, great information

I gave this book 2 stars because a) she is an actual Heathen, and b) her writing is clear, and the book itself is written well. Moreover, it isn't Folkish, nor Brosatru. Another thing this book had in its favor is all the archaeological/historical references. I thoroughly enjoyed this part. And for anyone, already established in their knowledge base, it is a wonderful chapter/section. Otherwise, I would not recommend this book to anyone. Especially not to new people with no background. I found myself reading this because it was listed as recommended for new Heathens, and was reading it with a new Heathen. I get to a passage, and have to correct the author. This running list of "corrections" ended with me telling this new Heathen to skip WHOLE sections. Examples: Blòt, does not translate to blood. Blođ translates to blood. Blòt means sacrifice. It's related, sure. BUT NOT THE SAME THING! The author's portrayal of Hamingja seems incongruent with established understanding of it's meaning. These might seem nitpicky, but they are important concepts within the worldview. Less nitpicky: the author forgoes mentioning Freyja's second daughter. When the topic comes up again, she mentions that The ACTUAL SOURCE MATERIAL mentions she has a second daughter, but.... excuses herself for not mentioning it because "reasons". (In the same section about Freyja, the author says she had no other names, then maybe 4 paragraphs later, lists her other names.) She only lists 10 of the 12 handmaidens of Frigga. She also implies that they might *not* be Goddesses. Except they are Aesir, so by right, are Goddesses. THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS! I did not finish this book. I told my friend to not finish the book. And likewise, I would not recommend this to anyone new.

Absolutely fantastic first wade into the Heathen genre. I’ve years off experience in Heathen circles and still loved reading this. I gained a lot from Lafayllve’s work, with her practices and journeys easy to follow. I was very surprised how well they worked from me. I am INCREDIBLY biased towards this author; she is an amazing presence, a phenomenal source of knowledge, and has some of the best seidhr skills I’ve witnessed. She has a realness when not under the veil that translates to someone you gravitate towards, and a surreal ness when sitting the High Chair. ALL of that translates to her writing easily.

Patricia is an excellent author. I enjoyed the book and found it well resourced and researched. She answered a lot of questions and got the basic information to the reader in a precise manner without talking down to the reader. She covered the basics and meets the reader's needs and gives clarifications and questions often raised when they get confused by gathering info randomly off the web. I recommend this book highly to anyone wanting information on heathenry and Asatru in a concise, no-nonsense but respectful manner. Even if you think you know, it's a good review to make sure you have the basics covered and puts together and fills the missing pieces for the beginner/novice.

This overview of Asatru -- written by a heathen for a heathen audience -- covers a lot of ground in a modest sized book. This is both a strength and a weakness: the book gives some idea of about each of the topics covered (history of Asatru, gods and goddesses, ancestor worship, land wights, etc.) but can hardly give comprehensive coverage in a few pages. There is nothing particularly innovative, which is also both good and bad. It is a good resource for someone relatively new to Asatru/Germanic heathenry; it does not reflect any new scholarly research or thought, such as might be of more interest to someone already reasonably well versed in the lore. I disagree with some of the author's interpretations (for example, her definition of land wights seems too far reaching), but found the coverage of most topics to be main-stream and balanced; the author points out some places where current heathen thought varies; she does not pretend to have the one, sole, correct opinion on things. A nice feature is having exercises (e.g., meditations) in the chapters to which they pertain. The chapter end notes on references are also useful.

This is a great book for anyone looking into heathenry, and it came quickly and great condition. Thank you!

So far the book seems interesting enough, however it arrived with a rip on the spine. This was supposed to be new.

This book was on my wishlist awhile, but like my fellow heathens, Ive read quite a few beginners books and they all focus on the same thing. After becoming Asatru in 2007, I can recite every story of the gods from memory and essentially give everyone a 5 minute run down on every Aesir, Vanir and Jotun, so I waited to buy this book. Now I have to say, there are many beginners books – the most popular being Essential Asatru by Diana Paxson and Asatru for Beginners by Erin Lale. Both are great, well read, informed and friendly authors that offer worlds of information on their books. Lafayllve’s does as well. Patricia’s edge is how new it is. Asatru is evolving every year with new academic research and many people joining the faith. Patricia’s book kicks up the basic information into a more intermediate level with a large focus on wights and alfs. The background on heathen worldview is VERY well worded and presented, allowing many who are entering Asatru from other faiths such as Wicca and Buddhism to get a grasp on how Asatru (and Germanic heathenry) views the world. My only gripes about this book are how a “majority” or “most” heathens don’t honor Loki or Jotuns outside the Aesir/Vanir innangard. If you go to AFA or Troth events, Loki is either forbidden or subjugated to a Ve dedicated to him. The appendix in the back of Patricia’s book is a good addition, but entirely too short. Loki in today’s modern Heathen world is draped in dogmatic Christian baggage that he is a Satan character to Odin’s Yahweh and Baldr’s Jesus. This goes against idea of a world accepting view and one that the past is fixed and influenced the present which creates the future (as Patricia’s book states). And the 2nd gripe – the afterlife. More than once Patricia mentions how Heathens are not so concerned with what happens in the afterlife. This couldn’t be further from the truth. So many heathens scream – SCREAM – Victory or Valhalla! Or even press the opposite, we’re all going to Hel (Helheim). The gung ho heathen Viking crowd is the most vocal and recognized as Asatru by the world as how we are, because they glorized carrying heavy axes, mail, helmets and seem to be overly obsessed with death. This is an extreme focus on a single aspect of Odin which appears in the Sagas written about times when open war was an every day thing. If you compare the Eddas to the Sagas, Odin rarely ever is as blood thirsty as his followers in VICTORY OR VALHALLA groups portray him to be. I do agree that what happens after we die weren’t as a huge a “deal” as many heathens make it be today, and that’s because Valhalla-ism is a Christian left-over. And most heathens will not be going their. Each chapter in the book cites their sources, which makes the reader’s adventures into further works and academia easier. And also sample rituals, and ritual/holiday breakdowns are available at the end of chapters and even a chapter on our holidays. The gods and wights have meditations at the end of each chapter as well. Reading this book, I can easily see it expanding into a library for Patricia, especially into Seidr. I dont practice Seidr, or Galdr but the books I’ve touched on that want to teach people are heavily mixed between Wicca influenced MUS (no offense, but a lot is MUS) to well documented accounts of Seidr practice in modern times by respected members of the community balanced with Academia. Patricia touches on Seidr and her honesty that one cannot learn it from an intro book is very true. I would love to see a more in depth Seidr book from Patricia. Hopefully it will be cultural and not multi-cultural (influenced by non-continental Shamanistic peoples/tribes). Patricia’s book NEEDS to be “required reading” for many new heathens entering Asatru. The book balances academia and modern practice perfectly and offers information available out there for heathens to find, but nothing really “new”. And one shouldn’t expect it to give some all-revealing information lost to us about Germanic heathenry. What this book DOES do, is break down the basic information, with modern educated sources by a modern practitioner in clear wording that is not flowery of Norse-wrapped Wicca. I skipped the first few meditations/rituals (because I do my own private ones), but I went back over a few and these will really help people. I honestly would dump the Hammer Rite. The book only lacks in Loki information and condemnation of Nazi bastardization of our symbols. I would say the latter NEEDS to be addressed in any academic or devotional work, as many casual or new readers could stumble across an Othala symbol and become confused. This book easily scores a 4.5/5 for a beginners/intermediate work for Asatruars. A well versed, long time heathen will probably take little to nothing from the book, but from what I’ve seen a majority of heathens NEED this book.

I came across A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve after I found myself being found but not seeking. It's kind of surprising when you do a ritual and all of a sudden there are three gods present you knew the names of in passing but never gave any thought to! After several months of working with and honoring Them in my life and work with others, I decided it would be wise - if I wanted to deepen and add more formality to my practice - to seek out a good beginner resource on the topic of Heathenry even though I don't consider myself a traditional Heathen. This book has 15 chapters split between two parts - the first section is background information and some short exercises, the occasional example ritual, the second is all on practical rituals that hallmark both sacred life events and general blot giving. Each of the first 12 chapters covers a different aspect of Asatru faith and practice with the thoroughness of an academic volume but with an easy to digest, clear and concise conversational tone. As someone with a great deal of background and experience in research, I was delighted to see that she included footnotes at the end of each chapter as well as providing a very thorough bibliography - this is part of what makes it such an excellent tool for beginners. By being informative without being overwhelming, while also providing the means for further exploration and study, it is a great gateway to deeper study for those who feel called to the Heathen path in a more traditional format or for any person who is working on the academic study of this particular branch of the modern Paganism family tree. As a whole, the text is well-organized and formatted (I am speaking to the Kindle edition but I'm sure it's the same for the printed one.) The pronunciation guide included is particularly helpful and clear for the beginner or non-practitioner as is the fair, rather neutral presentation of the problem that Loki poses in the scheme of general Pan-Germanic/Norse Heathen practice. I, personally, will probably never find myself calling on the Trickster for anything but for those who have dabbled or are curious, the appendix text is a solid assessment of the details. Additionally, the exercises provided in each chapter are very accessible for solitary practitioners and the examples of ritual sumble and blot are both excellent standard backbones for creating one's own rites (which is what I'm using them for) or for the newbie who needs something standalone to jump-start their practice. The only real criticism I have is not actually a criticism - I found the chapters on runes/magic and seidh to be lacking in further material or even a little more than basic depth. This is mostly a gripe for me because I am interested in seidh and spae and was hoping for a little more meat and bibliographical references. For everyone else, even most would-be Heathens, this does not necessarily pose a problem because as the author correctly points out, magic and seidh are done by a comparatively small group within the Asatru community as a whole (setting runes aside, obviously, but they are popular outside of Northern traditions, too.) Overall, I found this to be a delightful read as both a practitioner and as someone with an academic interest in the spiritual. I would recommend it to everyone: newbie Heathens, Pagans interested in other traditions or systems outside those that they are most familiar with, academics studying the subject of religion and spirituality and non-Pagans and non-practitioners who may seek to understand the path of a loved one or a colleague better. Well done and highly recommended.

Brought up a Christian I never felt in sync with the Christian faith. I considered Christianity a religion of force. A perception that all one needed to do was to sincerely repent any sin, and be forgiven. Even that did not rest well. This is not for a debate on what is right or wrong. It is up to us all to decide. Then through research into the Vikings and of their way of life brought me into contact with the faith of that race worshipping the mythological gods of Odin, Thor, Freya Freyr some of the pagan, Gods and the Goddesses. These pagans worshipped all the Gods and Godesses, there was no single deity for these people. The faith is based on nature, and represent those Gods. This is put very simply. We all know that Thor is the God of thunder. This has been learned through movies etc. Then came conversion to the Vikings of Iceland, and Christianity was born again by force, and by the Norwegian Kings. So even back then, there was a given force to accept the way of worshipping one god, and eventually the pagan faith was lost. But was it. Sorcery was still practiced long after the Vikings and ancestors, had been Christian for many years. In recent times there has been a resurgence to the old pagan way and the worship or faith in the Pagan Gods, and the Asatru is back in the minds of the new pagans. This book is an excellent way to embrace this faith. I am new to it, and I am still finding my way, and this book along with some others I have is showing me the way.

I was hesitant to get this book because of the negative comments, but I am glad I did anyways! Of course anything you read, take with a grain of salt, deff christian overtones… but this book has great basic info about a ton of topics. Wonderfully written, great information

I gave this book 2 stars because a) she is an actual Heathen, and b) her writing is clear, and the book itself is written well. Moreover, it isn't Folkish, nor Brosatru. Another thing this book had in its favor is all the archaeological/historical references. I thoroughly enjoyed this part. And for anyone, already established in their knowledge base, it is a wonderful chapter/section. Otherwise, I would not recommend this book to anyone. Especially not to new people with no background. I found myself reading this because it was listed as recommended for new Heathens, and was reading it with a new Heathen. I get to a passage, and have to correct the author. This running list of "corrections" ended with me telling this new Heathen to skip WHOLE sections. Examples: Blòt, does not translate to blood. Blođ translates to blood. Blòt means sacrifice. It's related, sure. BUT NOT THE SAME THING! The author's portrayal of Hamingja seems incongruent with established understanding of it's meaning. These might seem nitpicky, but they are important concepts within the worldview. Less nitpicky: the author forgoes mentioning Freyja's second daughter. When the topic comes up again, she mentions that The ACTUAL SOURCE MATERIAL mentions she has a second daughter, but.... excuses herself for not mentioning it because "reasons". (In the same section about Freyja, the author says she had no other names, then maybe 4 paragraphs later, lists her other names.) She only lists 10 of the 12 handmaidens of Frigga. She also implies that they might *not* be Goddesses. Except they are Aesir, so by right, are Goddesses. THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS! I did not finish this book. I told my friend to not finish the book. And likewise, I would not recommend this to anyone new.

Absolutely fantastic first wade into the Heathen genre. I’ve years off experience in Heathen circles and still loved reading this. I gained a lot from Lafayllve’s work, with her practices and journeys easy to follow. I was very surprised how well they worked from me. I am INCREDIBLY biased towards this author; she is an amazing presence, a phenomenal source of knowledge, and has some of the best seidhr skills I’ve witnessed. She has a realness when not under the veil that translates to someone you gravitate towards, and a surreal ness when sitting the High Chair. ALL of that translates to her writing easily.

Patricia is an excellent author. I enjoyed the book and found it well resourced and researched. She answered a lot of questions and got the basic information to the reader in a precise manner without talking down to the reader. She covered the basics and meets the reader's needs and gives clarifications and questions often raised when they get confused by gathering info randomly off the web. I recommend this book highly to anyone wanting information on heathenry and Asatru in a concise, no-nonsense but respectful manner. Even if you think you know, it's a good review to make sure you have the basics covered and puts together and fills the missing pieces for the beginner/novice.

This overview of Asatru -- written by a heathen for a heathen audience -- covers a lot of ground in a modest sized book. This is both a strength and a weakness: the book gives some idea of about each of the topics covered (history of Asatru, gods and goddesses, ancestor worship, land wights, etc.) but can hardly give comprehensive coverage in a few pages. There is nothing particularly innovative, which is also both good and bad. It is a good resource for someone relatively new to Asatru/Germanic heathenry; it does not reflect any new scholarly research or thought, such as might be of more interest to someone already reasonably well versed in the lore. I disagree with some of the author's interpretations (for example, her definition of land wights seems too far reaching), but found the coverage of most topics to be main-stream and balanced; the author points out some places where current heathen thought varies; she does not pretend to have the one, sole, correct opinion on things. A nice feature is having exercises (e.g., meditations) in the chapters to which they pertain. The chapter end notes on references are also useful.

This is a great book for anyone looking into heathenry, and it came quickly and great condition. Thank you!

So far the book seems interesting enough, however it arrived with a rip on the spine. This was supposed to be new.

Very good book. Educational and easy to read. My only struggle was pronunciation of some of the words, but that’s on me and my reading comprehension issues and nothing caused by the book. Very glad I bought this book and highly recommend it.

I'm completely new to Asatru. I have been assembling my family tree since I took a DNA test in which I discovered I am basically some flavor of Anglo-Saxon mixed with about an eighth Scandanavian. To that end, I have been re-familiarizing myself with the Northern stories (I had an interest that I fed in the library when I was in grade school). As someone starting with this knowledge base of, essentially, 0, this book was perfect for me. I now feel moderately conversant in Asatru. I am also interested enough to learn more. Thank you for the intro!

;^)

Would've been a 5 star, but the book has some damage on it. I try to keep my books put up and in good condition. To receive it like this is kind of a damper

It's a wonderful guide to new and experienced heathens alike. It is the first book I reccomend to people interested in Germanic culture or Asatru as a faith. Patricia explains even difficult concepts with ease. People often suggest the eddas or havamal and while I consider them all required reading, this is your starting point. A must have for every heathen.

Great book, very informative and helpful. Cane damaged though.

This has been very helpful for someone like me who is interested in Germanic Heathenry but wants to know more before taking the leap. Very easy to read. Covers a good range of topics, but since it's an introduction it only skims the surface. Use it to see if you're interested in Heathenry, and if you are, then read more books about the beliefs of our ancestors.

I’m not much of a reader, but this book is something I love to read. I got it taken away at basic training, and fought to get it back. I’m so glad I purchased this book!

This was the first book I attempted to read regarding Asatru. At first glance, there is a ton of information and the chapter titles give a sense of this. However, my excitement led into dread as I began reading and getting further into the book. The writing is really horrible, I'm sad to say. Most sentences are run-ons or just make no sense at all. The sentences seem as though they were cut and pasted from parts of other sentences. The most problematic issue in the reading is that the paragraphs are not cohesive at all. The author jumps back and forth in time from one thought to another all within one paragraph which makes it beyond frustrating to read. I forced myself to read to page 70 and had to put the book away. After completing another book on the subject, I went back to finish this one. After 2 more attempts I just wasn't able to complete it. It's a shame because the author seems quite knowledgeable but the writing should have been edited properly and by someone more professional.

I am just delving into heathenism and I think this book had a lot to offer as far as mindsets and beliefs. There is a lot of information in this book and I look forward to rereading it and digging into some of the cited works. It was a smooth read and the concepts were well explained

Great book for people new to Asatru and looking to learn the basics of the religion itself. It is a good reference for me, some things are a little off for me, but all around a fantastic read for new comers to Asatru and Heathenry.

Good general introduction to Asatru as a viable religious alternative, that explains a lot of the interaction of the Gods while also giving the reader a baseline idea of some of the Blots and rituals associated with this ancient faith.

This feels more like a biography but has very good information also wish it had some more rituals

This book is very informative about the heathen way of life. She not only shares her outlook on it she also gives examples of how other people might view it or how they follow it. I really enjoyed this book and it emphasis on heathenry done in the pre Christian era and modern day.

Soooo happy with this book!

As an introduction/overview of Asatru, this book is very good. I wish I would have found it a couple of years ago. I do not agree with all aspects of the book, but most. Take what you can use....you know the rest. It has a fair but not full glossary and a bibliography. A good study book.

As a Someone just starting to discover asatru it was difficult to find a good introduction to the faith but this book is a great starter for anyone looking to learn about asatru however since it covers such a wide range of subjects it doesn't really get too in depth on any one subject but if your a beginner looking to start practicing this is the book to buy

Really nice reference whether you're just looking into heathenry for first time or we'll versed. Nice job comparing/contrasting with monotheistic beliefs without being disrespectful.

An excellent read that covers all ground necessary in order for a beginner to get started. Very well researched. Patricia Lafayllve is an excellent author and I would go on to recommend her other books as well, especially for more advanced practitioners.

I’m so excited to get this book. I’ve heard so man amazing things about this author. So far it has my attention

I was expecting a bit more historical substance to norse culture and belief systems to this book, which is my own fault. Better to find that in the Eddas and the Havamal. This book is alright for someone who genuinely wants to take up practicing Asatru. It has prayers, invocations, and seasonal/lifetime celebrations and their guidelines. Wasn't really to my taste, but it delivered on what it promised.

It’s a good starter book. The author, albeit learned, seems a bit too hippy. I don’t understand the “universalist” approach to Asatru, because I’m not sure why someone from Kenya would have any ancestral ties to the Aesir and Northern Europe in general. I would recommend Stephen McNallen’s writings for a good practical guide to Asatru.

I've read a few introduction books on Asatru, and I found this one the most rounded of the lot. The author organized the material in a fluent and entertaining way. If you can buy one book to start you study in the Heathen ways, I recommend this one.

I love it! I am learning new stuff about Asatru that I did not know before and highly recommend it.

very informative.

Decent book would recommend , along side other books you should have a good solid foundation into asatru. Again good read

Great book for beginners who are looking for information on practicing Asatru, this book will help you build a great foundation for personal practice.

I'm sure some might like this but I did not.

Great book

This is a very informative, easy to read and novel approach to Heathen religion, both in theory and practice. No boring academic tome here. Just good, easily accessible writing. Contains enough meat for the advanced practitioner to appreciate and at the same time a useful guide to the faith for new students or even the merely curious.

I am new to this subject (even Norse mythology to a certain extent). I found this book fascinating - it's written in an engaging, unassuming style that is happy to educate the basics without lingering overly long on foundations that some may have already. I am learning a lot, and feel inspired to understand more details!

Very new to all of this and this book is so helpful covering alot of the basic things you need to know .Thank you Patricia for making this book

It's great to rediscover the world and find myself if only for 30 minutes a day!

I would recommend having this one along with Paxsons, after reading them both it seems that they make sense together.

This is an excellent guide for a beginner heathen. It really helps with a lot of the more complex concepts and the development of a heathen worldview. I do wish there was more information regarding holidays, however.

Well written, with historical citations. Does an excellent job of acknowledging UPG as well as reconstructionist ideas. I would recommend this book.

It is full of information and I've had my copy for almost a year and can't imagine my love without it.

Good information

came on time, however the pages were a little weird. the book isn't affected so its perfectly fine,just weird looking!

Great book

Full of good detail and excellent points.

It's a decent starting place if you have general questions. It would have been nice to see an appendix with other references

I have found the exercises in this book to be the kind that will keep you interacting with the Gods in a simple yet profound manner. Very good beginner book, and also good for folks that want ideas and a reminder of what Asatru is about.

Easy read, explains things in a easy to understand way.

Learned alot from this book . And with prime you save money. . Well in the long run anyways!!!

As far as I have gotten into the book, it is well written and interesting in that it presents Asatru in a new perspective. I look forward to finishing it!!

This is a very nice book that provides a good introduction to Asatru. It is easy to read and follow and provides detailed examples of ceremonies

A good read. Definitely worth the money

Great book, it's one of the most informative out there. It's already been recommended in TAC.

As described

It's a great beginner guide to all things Heathen.

Good look into the gods , very interesting.

This is probably our favorite book on Asa-tru. We read from it every night. It's a great introduction to The Way.

Ms. Lafayllve's ability to give depth into Ásatrú and simplify understanding the practice of Ásatrú through various ceremonies is remarkable. As a "novice," I highly recommend this book.

I rarely give anything 5 stars. But this is a close one. Very good read and very informative book. I'm just not a fan of writing reviews.

Great book lots of Info

It really has a lot of information about Asatru! It has the morals and ways of the Asatru life! Definitely a must get book for Asatruars.

One of the most amazing introductions to Asatru and made me want to learn more. Perfect for beginners.

In the process of reading, not terribly thrilled with the content. I expected it to be more than basic information. Nice read for a beginner though

It was written by my niece who is a very bright woman who researches thoroughly and writes well. So there. Uncle Jim

Thank you!

Lots of good information, especially if you're just beginning.

Good intro she shows some of her Wicca roots in here but a solid beginning for anyone interested.

Good introduction to the practice of Ásatrú for either those considering becoming a part of the movement or for the just curious.

Great book. Highly recommended

This book is very informative and easy to follow. A must have. Highly recommend this to anyone, from new Asatruar to Elder.

This book is a great introduction to Asatru.

An excellent.read. Very informative , without talking down to person new to this path.

A down and dirty guide with tons of rituals and rites sugeestions.

Really good intro-moderate book. Definitely will recommend

Great read. Very informative

Amazing book for those starting or who want to learn more!

Everything I have been looking for!

Simply amazing

This was a very educational book. I really enjoyed it.

Good starting point - more to read

Perfect book for beginners.

Well written

Everything I expected. :)

Best Asatru book i read so far

Great book. definitely recommend.

Great book,easy to understand

Excellent book, excellent author!

A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru offers a decent historical perspective with plenty of personal experience and understanding to give the reader a good idea of what Heathenry is like for someone that’s been one for a long time. Lafayllve defines Heathens as "members of a primarily reconstructionist, polytheistic, animistic faith that reflects the cultural and religious paradigms of our pre-Christian, post Proto-Indo-European ancestors" (1). While I do not believe this definition includes all Heathens, it does reflect a large number of us. The author's honesty, integrity, and experience is what sells the book. While there are aspects of Lafayllve's work that will conflict with academically inclined Heathens, I personally think she does a good job of informing the reader with academically sound information before offering her own interpretation and experience. I never felt like she was misleading me, I just felt informed and inspired. I feel A Practical Heathen’s Guide is a great book to read to gain a personal sense of what Heathenry is like to an individual. To complement Lafayllve’s book I recommend the two

Good info, especially if you’re just starting out. I wish they could’ve done some more editing though.. there are a lot of run on sentences as well as tons of repitition. Otherwise, I like it overall

I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it (to my standards, at least) to be be well written, easy to follow and understand, and unlike some other "intro to x,y,z" books, I didn't feel as if I was being talked down to. I also liked the open-ended nature of some of the explanations, as leaving room for interpretation in religious matters can be very make or break for people exploring different belief systems (i.e., the current book on Norse religion that I'm reading is very insistent on "how things were" and what the author thinks people should believe, leaving zero room for personal experience). I also appreciate that sources are listed at the end of every chapter, so if something was particularly interesting you can make a note to remember it, instead of getting to the end of the book and forgetting you wanted to further research anything.

Just about done with is and enjoy what it has to say for the most part. The instructions for blots are very helpful as well as the chapter on Heathen Ethics. Overall a decent if not too detailed intro I think. 1000% better than the current #1 book under asatru "Asatru: A Native European Spirituality" which is written by the founder of the asatru folk assembly, a known far right hate group.

This was the second beginner's book I read. It's by far the best I have read to date as far as a beginner's explanation goes. This is the book I give to anyone curious about Asatru now.

Good book

A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru, Patricia M. Lafayllve, Llewellyn Publications, 2013, $16.99 As the recent movie Thor: The Dark World has shown, the gods and goddesses of Asgard are quite popular. But what does it mean to be a modern day follower and practitioner of the ways of the Aesir and Vanir? This comprehensive yet easy to understand guide provides answers that heathens of all experience levels can use and appreciate. Written by a certified Godwoman and heathen of 17 years, the book begins with an introduction to the meaning of Heathenry and Asatru — those who are “true or faithful to the gods and goddesses.” This is done by reading, interpreting and practicing the faith of the pre-Christian Europeans — the English, Icelandic, Norwegian and Germans — whose stories Thor and his kindred are based upon. — Mary French, New Connexion Journal

its a lot of more from the female perspective then I care for but is a decent book to learn some of the rituals. I have read most of it, and will use it as I need it. I however already had an understand of our faith, so this book just allows me to make sure to perform certain rituals correct.

I expected more from someone with so many religious titles.Why are there no good( how to) books on this subject?

It's a good introduction to Asatru

Absolutely amazing for someone beginning to look into Asatru. This will be my second copy, the first is marked up and labeled for steady use in my deeper pursuit of Heathenry. Like she suggests, it’s a practice with homework which has led me to purchase many many more sources and interpretations. Hail to my unmet brethren and sisters.

But it was the book I ordered so that's good

Worked my way through it. Enjoyed and keeping it.

Tenía mucha curiosidad por lo que venía en este libro y es bastante explicativo Fácil de digerir y me gustaría saber más de esta religión