Anyone who makes the decision to be a follower of Asatru and honor the Gods/Godesses of our ancestors will want to find out as much as he/she can about our lore and how to develop the free mindset that is Asatru .

There are virtually hundreds of pieces of literature that will give you as much knowledge about how our ancestors lived and believed as you can digest . It's extremely worthwhile to take your time and learn what you can about the rich heritage we possess . I personally belive that this is necessary in the development of our individual identity .

LET'S CONCENTRATE ON LIVING OUR RELIGION NOW .

While looking back is important , we live in the here and now with our eyes toward the future . Lifestyles have changed a great deal over the last thousand years . We no longer have the same concerns our ancestors did , nor do we live the same way .

We still can , and must , live our lives by the Virtues of Asatru ; we can honor our Gods and Goddesses in Ritual ; we can live our lives in balance . By banding together in groups ( Kindreds ) , we are able to do more for the general good of all than we can as solitary practitioners . These are sound old principals that remain constant in any time .

SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT ?

For one thing we have to deal with a more diverse range of circumstances than our ancestors ever had . Understanding and getting along with people of other spiritual beliefs is one of the things we must do . We can't possibly expect others to respect our beliefs if we do not respect theirs . This is what I would call being a responsible member of the community in which we live .

Remember we are not isolated in our own groups . We are part of the work force because we have the responsibility to provide for ourselves and our families in a modern world .

Everytime I hear someone say that we should all move to some central location and start our own community of AsaFolk , I just shake my head . This is a dream to try and recapture the past , and in all honesty , this just isn't going to happen . I'm not about to give up my Ford with the automatic transmission , my electric lights , or my HMO . These are the things of our time , the things of modern reality , the same as living in a multi-culture society is a reality .

We look back to learn how to live useful complete lives , but we must continue to move forward if our religion and culture is to survive into the 21st century . Being able to live in this time and this place is a blessing from the Gods , let's enjoy it for all it's worth .

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