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Vanatru: Frequently Asked Questions


 

While I am not claiming to speak for all who honor the Vanir primarily, or all who identify as Vanatru, I do feel both with myself and many of the Vanir-friends I have encountered, there is a certain commonality of perception and experience that should be discussed as there are many who are either confused what Vanatru is about, or who even (erroneously) promote Vanatru as a different form of Wicca, etc.


Q: What is Vanatru?

A: In a nutshell, Vanatru is a Northern Tradition religious practice -- perhaps a denomination of Heathenry, if you will -- that literally translates as "troth (alliance) to the Vanir" or "true to the Vanir".  For some, it may just be Asatru with a Vanic gloss, that is, the Nine Noble Virtues and standard ritual format with perhaps an emphasis on Freyja and Frey rather than Odin and Thor.  For others, it may be an entirely different tradition with its own values, mysteries, and ways of relating to the Gods and wights.  For others yet, including this author, it may be a combination of the two, a happy medium.  None of these forms are "doing it wrong" and would all be properly termed Vanatru.

The Vanir are the Gods of Earth and sea, and specifically of cultivating the Earth and sea -- agriculture, fishing.  They are fertility Gods, which can equate to creativity of mind and fruits of the spirit besides fertility of body.  They seem to be more noticeably sexual Beings, and are all about prosperity and *enjoying* that prosperity in the good life.  They can be seen as a middle way between the Jotnar of untamed elements and wilderness, and Aesir of society and civilization.  A Vanatruar is just as likely to be one firmly grounded in mundane life as one who is mystical, but more often than not a combination of mysticism and mundane pragmatism, seeing all aspects of life as being sacred.


Q: What Deities do you consider Vanic?

A: It is the consensus of myself and several Vanir-friends I know that we consider Nerthus, Njord, Frey, and Freyja to be Vanic, and through a combination of research and UPG we also extend the designation of Vanir to Deities such as Eir, Freyja's daughters Gersemi and Hnossa, Gullveig-Heid, Holda, Ullr, Idunna, and Sif.  Most of us will also consider Gerda, Skadhi, Skirnir, Byggvir, and Beyla to be Vanir-by-marriage and thus "family" if not with the same amount of Vanir mysteries/abilities/domains.

There are some who include regional Deities such as Nehellennia among the Vanir due to domain; there is also an opinion shared by some (though not this author) that Heimdall is Vanir.  This author feels Heimdall is not Vanir as it is explicitly mentioned in the Eddas that Heimdall is born of Odin and the Nine Daughters of Ran and Aegir, and His function as Warder of Bifrost serves in a policeman-like capacity that would be much more heavily Aesic-function.


Q: Isn't Vanatru just a form of Norse Wicca, or "Wiccatru"?

A: While there are likely some folks who sneer at this religion for not being "manly" or "warriorlike" enough (which is its own issue, explained below), the fact remains that Wicca is a very specific religious practice and it should not be used as an epithet for "any Pagan religion I don't like", full-stop.

That being said, there may be Vanatruar who are associated with Wiccan groups and may also self-identify as Wiccan.  There is certainly a friendliness per se to folk magic, e.g. Witchcraft, being a Vanic thing (whereas ceremonial magic, esp. using runes, is more Aesic).  But all Witchcraft is not Wicca, while all Wiccans may identify as Witches.  And not all Vanatruar are Witches or magic practitioners.  In sum, Vanatru is more appropriately termed one of the branches of Heathenry, or Greater Nordic Paganism, rather than one of the various sects or subsects of Wicca.


Q: Weren't the Vanir adopted into the Aesir?  Why do you think Vanatru should be a separate religion?

A: Let me answer with a question.  Do you believe the Vanir are different from the Aesir?

If your answer is "no", then you are lying.  If your answer is "yes" then you should be able to see the logic behind a Vanic-focused practice.

Anyone who has ever been married, had a relationship, or had a friendship knows that being accepted into the family does not mean you stop being who you are -- which is the sum product of nature and nurture, that is, your own family.  Legally, it may well mean that you will be brought under the fold of their provision and protection, that you will look out for each other more than casual acquaintances or total strangers.  But you will still be who and what you are, no matter how much you "blend in" or influence the others.

Frey, Freyja, and Njord were given to the Aesir as part of a hostage exchange to end the war between Aesir and Vanir, and that does not mean They lost all of Their Vanic nature -- if anything, They shared that with the Aesir and learned some Aesic ways, but it's still not the same as "being considered one".

 For starters, of the three Vanir who are explicitly named in the Eddas as being Vanir, and hostaged to the Aesir, it is telling that none seem to have ever married any of the Aesir. In Ynglinga Saga it says that Njord is wed to His sister (who is most likely Nerthus), and was married to Skadhi the Jotuness for a time. Frey also married a Jotuness, Gerda. Freyja may probably have been intimate with Odin (She is said to be His concubine, or at least His teacher of seidhr), however marriage is not required for such. Njord's sister-wife is not named in any of the Eddas and Sagas, and this in and of itself is proof that there are more Vanir than named by the Eddas and Sagas. We have the name of Nerthus from Germania and as it is cognate with Njord, we can assume this is His sister-wife.

The idea of Vanatru presupposes that the story of the war between the Aesir and Vanir as mentioned in Voluspa as well as Gylfaginning and Ynglinga Saga is evidence that an earlier Vanir cultus was supplanted by the Aesir, who came from elsewhere, with some elements of the Vanir cultus remaining. Furthermore, for an entire war to happen between the Aesir and Vanir, and the Vanir to be mentioned as winning, we would have to assume there were more or less equal numbers, and those who have done Otherworld journeying to Asgard and Vanaheim have reported demi-Gods and different Beings inhabiting those areas as permanent residents. Names being lost to time does not mean the Beings do not exist, but it is a mystery now and one that will not be explored in this text.

For that matter, it explicitly states in Alvissmal (Poetic Edda) that each of the different races of Beings have different words for things in nature and the cosmos, the Vanir included. Here the Vanir are definitely noted as being a separate tribe, which would mean They were never fully absorbed into the Aesir. And if They had been fully absorbed, there would be no more Vanaheim.

 Finally, it comes down to the notion of safe space. Many Nordic mystical groups and individuals are very Odin-dominant or Loki/Jotun-dominant, and there needs to be space for people who work primarily with the Vanir, who all feel to an extent that the Vanir perceive things differently than the Aesir, hold different emphasis on different ethics and values, and are trying to be respectful of that.


Q: So, what about those Aesir?  Don't you just hate Them?

A: Vanatru is NOT a separate religion for people who hate Odin.  While Odin may make many people uncomfortable, and there may indeed be a higher proportion of people "wired" to "the Vanic frequency" who prefer keeping Odin at an arm's length, Vanatru *is* about frith, that is to say, actively working on a safe space where conflict is nil or as close to it as possible.  There are Vanatruar who are on friendly terms with the Aesir, some on friendly terms with the Jotnar, and some who have alliances with both while still remaining Vanic-focused. 

In fact, it should also be said now that being Vanic-focused does not mean ignoring the Aesir or the Jotnar.  It is very Vanic to weave bonds of frith with honoring and appreciating both tribes, while still giving a goodly amount of time, attention, and offerings to the Vanir.  It is, to a standpoint of frith, unacceptable to bash Odin, considering the Vanes made a truce with Him.  These are Gods we are dealing with and while you don't have to like Them or be buddies with Them, or even have a working relationship with Them, you do need to respect that They are Gods.


Q: When do you have the sex orgies?

A: Vanatru is NOT about having sex orgies all the time, or ever.  While there may be some Vanatruar who enjoy that... and more power to them, it is not a required part of Vanic practice.  You will find that there is much more openness about sexuality and *sensuality* among many Vanatruar, as there are Vanir who are noticeably sexual Beings (Frey, usually depicted with an erect phallus; Freyja... enough said), and sex is a part of "the good life" for most humans and animals.  But it's not a requirement and anyone who coerces you into sexual behavior you're not comfortable with is *not* living by Vanic values.


Q: I want to worship the Fertility Gods because it's our responsibility to Breed for the Folk!

A: Having children is not a prerequisite to be Vanatru.  You will find just as many childfree Vanatruar as you will Vanatruar with children.  There is no "official policy statement" on breeding or not-breeding, especially as you find Freyja has two daughters, and Frey does not have children.  Many Vanatruar (but not necessarily all) will agree that people need to decide for themselves whether having children or not having children is right for them.  Some of us do not feel we are equipped to be proper parents, maybe do not even like children (it happens), and/or think there is enough overpopulation; others of us want the emotional benefits of children and carrying on the family line (and possibly the faith).

Moreover, as far as "Breeding for the Folk", an overwhelming majority of people known to this author who identify as Vanir-focused or Vanatru condemn racial agendas (as well as homophobia) disguised as Heathenry.  Racism has no place among the frithful Vanir, who have ties to both the Jotnar and the Aesir as well as the Duergar and Alfar, and are heavily invested in Midgard (as the Gods of the World).  To promote racist agendas under the guise of "honoring the Fertility Gods by Breeding for the Folk", is insulting to the Vanir and to those who follow Them and are childfree and/or not bigots.


Q: I don't think Vanatru is manly or warrior-like enough for me.

A: It does seem that a disproportionately high number of people who fulltrui to a Deity will wind up with either Odin or Thor, and since Heathenry-in-general attracts more "macho" men (as opposed to Wicca and other forms of Paganism), we can assume that Odin and Thor will get most of the "macho" types being more overtly aggressive Gods.

However, the Vanir were winning in the war between the Aesir and the Vanir, including knocking down the wall of Asgard.  Njord cut off Mimir's head with a battleaxe for violating Vanic thew.  Frey was entrusted with the best sword in the Nine Worlds, which would mean His fighting abilities are nothing to sneeze at, especially as He gave up His sword but uses an antler as His weapon (that's hardcore).

If your idea of manliness is crushing beer cans on your head and putting away a lot of alcohol at Heathen events, you will not find the Vanir to be very manly at all.  This author feels Frey is an example of a God who combines gentleness with strength: has no need to either be intimidating nor weak and submissive.  That is a real man.  That's not to say that Odin and Thor are actually like some of Their more... obnoxious... followers (and indeed, deserve better PR than many of them), but Vanatru is not a place for boorish behavior.  That is emphatically not the same as showing "weakness".  It takes strength to exhibit self-discipline and restraint, and to try to be kind and frithful to others as well as responsible in one's deeds.  This is a religion for "peaceful warriors".


Q: Frey is a warrior?  But I thought the Vanir were a pacifist, vegan, bisexual matriarchy!

A: There are indeed a number of Vanatruar who may be pacifist, may be vegan, may be bisexual, and may be female.  However:

-The Vanir Themselves are emphatically not pacifist -- besides the mention above of Frey and Njord, there is also the fact of Freyja being... well... Freyja; and Nerthus had a habit of drowning Her slaves.  Perhaps a better word for the Vanir would be "non-aggressors" or "defenders": no, They are usually not the ones to strike first, but will defend what They hold tooth-and-nail if forced.  They would, of course, rather negotiate and try to bring compromise and peace.

-They may indeed inspire people to eat healthier, which would include veganism (especially as They have spheres of influence in agriculture which would include produce), but Frey and Freyja have boars, and Njord is a sea God and a patron of fishermen.  So, there may indeed be vegans who are Vanatru, but it is not a requirement.

-As far as bisexuality, there is a large spectrum of sexuality and Gods cannot be neatly classified into boxes like orientation: it does seem that Frey may be pansexual (and has many gay followers), but Sif seems very heteronormative.  Vanatru is neither a "queer religion" nor a "religion for straights", but is accepting of all who love and revere the Vanir and view all paths of consensual sexuality between adults as being sacred in its own right, with its own set of mysteries.

-And for the matriarchy, Frey and Njord are just as powerful and renowned among the Vanir as Freyja and Nerthus.  They are more about equality rather than one gender being considered superior above the other/s, as nature is reliant on male and female members of the species.

There does indeed seem to be a precedence on tolerance and peace-weaving transmitted from the Vanir to Their followers.  That being said, not being as aggressive or "war-like" as some followers of Odin and Thor does not equate to the Vanir as "pacifist vegan bisexual matriarchy".  There are risible pieces of crap on the market such as the books of DJ Conway that have fostered this view, and the time has come to say "no, that's actually not the case".


Q: How can I be Vanatru?  I live in a city, not a farm -- I don't even garden.

A: Most people in the Western world do not live on farms.  So, the short answer is "the Vanir have called city-dwellers, will continue to do so, and where you live does not matter as much as what you Do".

We cannot completely "modernize" the Gods and take away Frey's agricultural aspects (that He brings the sun and gentle rains, and good seasons), or Njord's domain of the ocean, as that is insulting to the Gods in question.  The fact remains that even if you are a city dweller and in the trashiest, nastiest part of that city, you are still living on land, breathing air, drinking water, affected by the sunshine and rain, and you probably eat food now and again.  No matter how urban and modern your life, you are still a part of the Earth and connected to the environment. 

It is more than possible to be Vanic and not live in the countryside, but any Vanir Deity will eventually "rub off on you" and make you realize the impact of your actions and lifestyle choices on the world, and help you to get involved and try to make some kind of a difference, somewhere.  Many of us find that after working with the Vanir for awhile, that you can garden in a one-room apartment just as easily as you can garden in a backyard in suburbia, or at the very least go to the farmer's market and get local/organic produce and other goodies.  Many of us become concerned with the pollution we see in our cities, including litter, and oftentimes crime (which disturbs the land-wights as well as hurting the community).

In sum, the Gods may not force you to make major lifestyle changes, e.g. your living situation, but it is virtually impossible to work with the Gods of the World and not see the interdependence and interconnectedness of life on Earth.


Q: This all sounds cool.  Where do I sign up?

A: Right now, there is no official umbrella organization for Vanatruar.  There are currently some Vanatruar who are part of other organizations for Heathens, but these organizations do not identify as being exclusively for Vanatruar.  There are some individuals and groups who may be working on this and establishing a formal organization in the future, but there are no organizations, just some individuals and a handful of small groups and forums. 

To identify as Vanatru, you do not need membership in a Vanic group or "an official certificate" as you would; what you need is to have a Vane as patron and/or honor the Vanir primarily (not necessarily exclusively), both in ritual and in a life that holds Vanic values dear -- connection to the Earth, finding life to be sacred and not "suffering"; finding the world to be good and not something to be separate from.  That is all.  It is the Vanir Themselves who determine whether or not you are Vanatru.  You do not need the permission of some pseudoauthority to determine some test of Vaniritude (look, a word!).


(C) 2008 Sigrun Freyskona.