Goðar Beyond Death
Recent events have given me much to think on and some very important ideas have crystalized. We know that our dead loved ones live on after death. A fundamental element of Ásatrú is engaging our ancestors in the gift cycle. Our ancestors know us and love us. We interact with our ancestors, and we know our ancestors interact with us. As we continue to think of our ancestors, to celebrate them, and to care for their interests after they die, certainly they love, care for, and celebrate us beyond the veil. This is at the heart of our understanding of Álfar and Dísir.
So to with our departed Goðar!
We now have two of our Goðar on the other side of the veil. Goði David James and Goði Thorgrun Odden were devout Ásatrú Goðar in life and enthusiastic leaders of our Asatru Folk Assembly. Why would their death change this? It would not. It did not.
The meaning of sacrifice is to "make sacred," to transfer something across the veil. We place thought and intention into the offering, and we send that message to spiritual forces beyond. Sometimes this is sent to dead heroes or ancestors, more often this is sent to the Æsir. We now have two of our Goðar looking out for us in the world beyond, two of our Goðar to represent us and our AFA to the Æsir, to the ancestors, and to all forces beyond our sight and experience. This is profound to first consider, but should have seemed such natural common sense in retrospect. What an amazing service these men provide for our AFA Family!
We have two of our Goðar serving beyond the veil, able to take care for us, able to take care of our members who have passed, able to interact with the ancestors and spirits, even the Gods, on our behalf and in such a very special, very different way than we can on this side of the veil!
As always, you are encouraged to reach out to our Goðar, they are there to serve our Gods, our Folk, and our Church...in life and in death.
Loyalty is eternal!
Matthew D. Flavel
Alsherjargothi, Asatru Folk Assembly
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