As we celebrate the life and work of Alexander Rud Mills this month, I took some time to re-read “The Call of Our Ancient Nordic Religion”. I would encourage all of you to give this book a read. It is very important that we look at our history, celebrate the roots of modern Asatru. One can tell that Mills was an incredibly intelligent man and an accomplished writer. it is easy to recognize the ways his ideas differ from our own and the ways he was not able to entirely shake off the deeply ingrained Christianity that had conditioned our folk for a millennium. What I think is much more important is to take note of the courage it took to start out on this journey back home to our Gods. What I think is especially important is to see the ideas that he did take up that laid the foundations for what we have today. Reading this book again a few things really stood out to me. One thing is that he understood clearly that life is good, that mankind is not inherently dirty and sinful. More than this, he recognized that our Folk and our Gods are not separate from one another, God being holy and good and man being dirty and disgusting. He knew that we ought to take pride and dignity in who we are and strive to be noble and stand nobly before Gods that are connected to us and who want to see us succeed and be winners. Mills saw a return to dignity before the divine and he had the courage to set out on a new road and begin reforging our bridge to our Gods and our destiny. Our faith and our folk grow and evolve, hopefully we are all closer to perfection with every year that passes. We learn more, we mature, we dream. Hail and thank you to those that had that spark of inspiration, those who laid the foundations that we are blessed to be able to build upon.

Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi,
Asatru Folk Assembly

Today I am especially honored to welcome home The Cascadia Althing Kindred of Idaho as an official Kindred of The Asatru Folk Assembly. Gaining Kindred affiliation is not an easy thing to do. Our Kindreds must show loyalty and have integrity and be that shining, noble representative for our church and local communities. Idaho used to be a area that didn’t have much membership or activity, until now. Get ready Cascadia Althing because you are about to become popular. Thank you for stepping up and being there for our folk!

Hail those who Do!
Hail the Kindreds of the AFA!
Hail the Asatru Folk Assembly!!!

Jason Gallagher
Kindred Coordinator
Asatru Folk Assembly 
[email protected]

July 9th marks our remembrance day for Alexander Rud Mills. 

Born in July of 1885, Mills trained as a lawyer in Australia.  In the 1920s, he travelled the continent of Europe, exploring the lands of our ancestors.  He began writing about the ancient folkways and began to publish his work.  When he returned to Australia in 1934, Mills founded the Anglecyn Church of Odin.  This organization encouraged those of European descent to explore their pre-Christian faith, and remain loyal to their own interests as a people.  During World War Two, the Australian government imprisoned Mills for 9 months, and attempted to quiet those who agreed with his ideas.  He was later cleared by a judicial panel of any wrongdoing.  Mills died in 1964.

Despite the attempted suppression of his works, the ideas present by Mills sowed the seeds in the minds of many, including Else Christensen.  As these ideas were built upon, Asatru as we know it was shaped, laying the groundwork for so many Europeans to return to their spiritual home.

Hail Alexander Rud Mills!

Submitted by Gythia Student Anna Funk

This year the AFA will continue our focus on Immortality, the symbol that will guide us for this year is Othala.  The Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem tells us of Othala:

“An estate is very dear to every man, if he can enjoy there in his house whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.”

As we focus on Immortality this year, we will pay special attention to our Hof effort, establishing physical houses of worship, sacred spaces of our own here in Midgard.  Also, we will focus on building up a solid faith community as a refuge from the Wolf Age.  We will focus on making the AFA, our church, an outpost of the Golden Age here in Midgard, where our folk can call home and feel comfort doing “whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity”.  By Midsummer 2020, we WILL have our second hof. By Midsummer 2020, we WILL have a place to inter the ashes of our dead. This will require help from all of you and I know that help will be there. Great things are in store, we will build a ladder to Immortality by stacking success upon success.

Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi,
Asatru Folk Assembly

During Midsummer at Óðinshof, Joe Rozanek took his oath and was made a full Folkbuilder. Joe lives in the Portland area and has spent the last year building up our Pacific Northwest region. During this last year Joe has build up his region, steadily and solidly. Joe is a man who carries himself with dignity and represents the AFA superbly. Please Join us in congratulating our newest Oathed Folkbuilder, Joe Rozanek.

This past weekend during Midsummer at Óðinshof, Kevin Long of San Diego, California was ordained as the AFA’s newest Gothi. This is the culmination of years of study and determination. The Asatru Folk Assembly is proud Kevin and we are excited for the Folk to have a new spiritual leader. Hail Gothi Kevin Long!

The Asatru Folk Assembly is proud and overjoyed to introduce to you Mr and Mrs Clifford Erickson! On Midsummer’s Day, Witan Clifford Erickson married Gythia Student Catie Reid. These are, truly, two of the finest people one could hope to know. We wish this family all the blessings our Gods can grant, all that and more. Midgard is a made better by these two existing, it is made much more so by their being united as Husband and Wife. Your AFA family love you. Hail the Ericksons!

What an amazing Midsummer gathering! This AFA Midsummer was one of the best ever. Thank you to all the volunteers that made this possible. Thank you to all our AFA family that came out to celebrate with us. It seems like no matter how large we make our Vé, there is never enough room for all the folk who attend nor enough room to contain the love and devotion poured out to our Gods and FOlk. Óðinshof was truly overflowing with blessings and brotherhood this year. We hope, wherever you were, that you had an amazing Midsummer and we invite all of our AFA family to join us next year at Óðinshof for Midsummer 2020!

Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi,
Asatru Folk Assembly

The Asatru Folk Assembly would like to wish our AFA family a powerful and motivating Midsummer! Feel the Sun upon your face and the warmth of our Gods in your heart. May Baldr inspire you to shine with nobility and radiate with glory!

Today it is my honor to welcome home The Rocky Mountain Folk Kindred of Utah as a Official Kindred of the Asatru Folk Assembly. Everywhere you look there are Folk stepping up and coming together and forming Kindreds and hosting events in their regions. There is activity now in places all over the world and our folk are coming home. Hail The Rocky Mountain Folk Kindred and thank you for stepping up and being a doer!

Hail the Kindreds of the AFA!
Hail the Asatru Folk Assembly!!!

Jason Gallagher
Kindred Coordinator
Asatru Folk Assembly
[email protected]