Customer Reviews

Our Troth: Living the Troth (Volume 2)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was wondering how the excellent First Volume would be followed up. Rarely are sequels as good as the original. However, this volume really continues the scholarly yet accessible style of the first. While the first covered the history and lore, this covers the practicalities of following an active Heathen life.

Unlike many earlier popular manuals, it does not seek to invent Heathen doctrine or ritual. It instead discusses very comprehensively every issue likely to arise in life, ritual, and community, with a focus on both common sense in the modern world, and the historical usages in the literature.

From weapons and alcohol at gatherings, to same sex partnerships, each facet of Heathen life is viewed both from the old sources, and the modern realities, creating a sensible and workable approach to being a Heathen without making oneself irrelevent or hostile to the modern world.

The two volumes together are the most useful and complete source of Northern Heathenism I have seen. I suspect they will become the foundation course for the majority of new Heathens in the future.

Sweyn
The Rune Primer
True Helm

It seems like ages I've been waiting for the much-anticipated 2nd edition of Our Troth. Volumes one and two are formidable tomes, each approaching 600 pages. It took me a while to digest the first, spending much time cross referencing with other works in my library.

Imagine my surprise when turning the pages in the second volume's chapter one, I thought I had accidentally picked up an environmentalist's manual. While I fully grasp the holiness of our earth and our connection with nature, wonderfully articulated in the first few pages, I can't quite seem to align myself with the contention we MUST seek out the wild, and not merely perceive it, in order to truly understand the troth (page 6). And not just any wild - the wild of our ancestors: wood and lake and sea (pages 7 & 9).

Continuing further into chapter one, I was greeted by an essay needing to be accompanied by Der Fröhliche Wanderer playing in the back ground. It's an Asatru elder's account of his trek in a rugged mountainous region near Phoenix, AZ, the city where I happen to live. On page ten he points out the "noxious" and "foul" attributes of the "mechanical conditions" of the city's "existence." The elder needs to be reminded that our ancestors also existed amongst mechanical conditions of their own making and the detrimental consequences of fires used for heating, lighting, cooking and industry even in small villages are a matter of historical record.

Once you get past chapter one and presume modern city dwelling industrialists aren't excluded, the remaining 563 pages of wisdom and advice are indeed for all kin of the Northern pantheon. These two volumes were a long time in the making, a long time waited for, and now they're here; both are a rewarding treasure for the Tru folk.

If you want to understand the practice of Asatru this book as well as the first volume are where you want to begin. I read a bunch of other books on Asatru before reading Our Troth. I would recommend skipping to Out Troth.

I just want to make a comment on that Pedophile review. The guys off his rocker. But don't just take my word for it, buy the book and decide for yourself. I could see pedophiles being attracted to Christianity because the religion is full of patriarchal authorities that can easily abuse the trust placed in them to commit crimes. Asatru is not setup in this manner and so they would not benefit from coming to Asatru. There is no acceptance of pedophilia in Asatru. Members of this faith also have a more severe outlook on betrayal than Christianity.

I waited for a long time for this book to come out in print again and the wait was definitely worth it. There's so much information in this book about Heathenism and it's very readable. For those on the Heathen Path or just very interested, this is a must have book.

The long awaited Volume 2 has arrived, and it has been worth the wait! Packed full of useful information from living Tru to leading Blot. This book has it all and is written in a way to make both scholars and layman happy.

In Frith,
Gunnar

For anyone interested in the religion of pre-christian northern Europe, this book along with volume one is a must have. I would recomend both volumes and the Poetic and Prose Eddas as a starting point to further learning. These four books have become, for me, the cornerstones of a very interesting journey.

The final word on Asatru. With both volumes, Gundarsson and others give a great account of heathenry. A great resource book!

A very thorough book. I feel that this book is a good starting point into learning about Asatru. The numerous citations and lists of other books provide an easily followed course of study. Highly recommended!

A re release of the basic beliefs of Asatru as practiced by the Troth. A great book for those wishing to know the basics of Asatru belief as well as practical practices for those following this path. I give it a big thumbs up!!!

This is an extremely well written and useful book for those who are just starting on the path of Asatru. I highly recommend this book. It has good information on the faith and an excellent lingustic guide and a top flight bibliography.