The following books will not tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Norse Paganism or monasticism. Nor do they represent the only books I’ve ever read about history, Pagan belief or magic. Also, some of these are works to which I have contributed heavily and/or which were written by close friends of mine, so there is some bias there. Your mileage may vary.
Primary Sources and Academic Literature:
These are original sources and discussions of same with which you can familiarize yourself with the gods and wights as they were (probably) known to the pagan Scandinavians. It should be remembered that Old Norse society was preliterate and that their myths were later recorded by non-believers who sometimes changed elements of the tales for political reasons.
The Poetic Edda: The Mythological Poems, translated by Henry Bellows (Dover Publications, 2004). Originally published in 1925. The Edda is a collection of ancient poetry upon which much of what we know about Norse cosmology and mythology is based. (The Dover edition does not contain the heroic lays.)
The Norse Myths, Kevin Crossley-Holland (Pantheon Books, 1981). This is actually a narrative retelling of material taken from the Eddas with some poetic license thrown in. However, the book is a good way to familiarize children or those having only a casual interest with the ancient tales of the Holy Ones.
Anything by the late Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson, who was a (non-pagan) Norse scholar with an obvious love of the material she studied. I have found The Road to Hel and Gods and Myths of the Viking Age particularly useful although granted, I haven’t read all of her work.
The Poetic Edda, translated by Lee M. Hollander (University of Texas, 1987, second edition, revised), and…
The Poetic Edda, translated by Carolyn Larrington (Oxford World’s Classics, 1996). I don’t read Old Norse myself, but I have heard that while Hollander’s version has greater poetic integrity, Larrington’s is more accurately translated, and reading both of them gives one a good feel for both the style and the substance of the Poetic Edda.
Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs, John Lindow (Oxford University Press, 2001). This has a dictionary-style format with references from the primary sources and cross-references to other pertinent entries.
Loki in Scandinavian Mythology, Anna Birgitta Rooth (Lund, 1961). I disagree with Rooth’s main premise that Loki was originally believed to be an anthropomorphized spider, but find her examination of the myths and folklore surrounding Him to be interesting. (This is not really a beginner’s book, however, and it is recommended that you read the others in this section first. Also, it’s rather hard to find.)
Edda, Snorri Sturlusson, translated and edited by Anthony Faulkes (Everyman Library, republished in 2002). This is the so-called “Prose Edda” which was written around 1220 as a guide for young Icelandic poets-in-training but which, fortunately, has preserved a lot of mythological information as well.
I’m not a reconstructionist and therefore have less personal interest in the various Norse sagas, but they are recommended for those who want to know more about Scandinavian pagan and early Christian customs, ethics and history. Some of them read like modern soap operas, except with a lot more blood and killing. Jane Smiley’s collection The Sagas of Icelanders (Penguin Classics, 2001) is a good place to begin.
Other Northern Tradition Books:
Many of the books listed below are heavily based on UPG (unverifiable personal gnosis, which is a fancy term for “opinion”) and are not recommended for those who are new to Northern religion. Having a working knowledge of ancient Northern mythology will help you decide if you like the additional ideas presented.
Shadow Gods and Black Fire, Andrew Gyll (Asphodel Press, 2008). Poetry written for some of the Northern deities (mostly Rokkr) and for Gyll’s own spirit ancestors. Hauntingly beautiful and highly recommended.
Jotunbok: Working with the Giants of the Northern Tradition and The Pathwalker’s Guide to the Nine Worlds, Raven Kaldera (Asphodel Press, 2006). The first discusses the Jotnar, the giant-folk of the Nine Worlds, while the second is a sort of “travel guide” to the beings, geography and cultures of the various worlds around Yggdrasil, the great World Tree.
Day Star and Whirling Wheel: A Devotional to Sunna, Goddess of the Sun and Mani, God of the Moon, Galina Krasskova (Asphodel Press, 2009). This compilation of poems, prayers, essays and rituals honors the sky gods of the Northern Tradition who are always with us, visible whenever we look out of our windows or up into the heavens.
Feeding the Flame: A Devotional for Loki and His Family, Galina Krasskova (Asphodel Press, 2008). Devotional poems, essays and stories about Himself, Angrboda, Sigyn and Their various children from a number of perspectives.
Full Fathom Five: Honoring the Norse Gods and Goddesses of the Sea, Galina Krasskova (Asphodel Press, 2007). A devotional for Ran and Aegir, the Nine Mermaids who are said to be Their daughters, and Njord, the Vanic god of ships and sailing. Since moving to New England from a landlocked state, I’ve found that wow, now I have the chance to get to know the various sea gods! Yay!
Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner, Galina Krasskova and Raven Kaldera (New Page, 2009). Basically, this is a book about devotional practice for people in Norse Paganism and/or Heathenry, aimed at those who are without a kindred or group, or who simply wish to deepen their personal religious practice.
Sigyn: Our Lady of the Staying Power, Galina Krasskova (Asphodel Press, 2009). This is an awe-inspiring collection of devotional poetry and writings concerning Loki’s second wife Sigyn, whose lessons are eminently relevant to those who lead a life of mindful service.
From the Heart, For the Heart: Devotionals for the Trickster, Tracy Nichols (Asphodel Press, 2007). This collection of poems and essays to and about Loki gives a different view of Laufey’s Son than is commonly held among Northern religionists — that of a friend, lover and teacher whose presence is irresistable.
Trickster, My Beloved: Poems for Laufey’s Son, Elizabeth Vongvisith (Asphodel Press, 2006). I wrote this as a gift and offering for Himself and re-reading it when I get depressed is strangely healing, although I have to laugh at how little I knew back then.
For a general overview of modern Heathenry, I recommend Galina’s Exploring the Northern Tradition (New Page, 2005). Those who are interested in a more conventional approach should read Diana Paxson’s Essential Asatru: Walking the Path of Norse Paganism (Citadel, 2006). I advise those seeking information about Vanatru to head over to Nicanthiel’s fabulous website — in particular, check out his library.
Books About the Spiritual Life:
Not all of these are necessarily about Paganism or monastic life per se, but they are books which I’ve found thought-provoking for one reason or another.
Pagan Prayer Beads: Magic and Meditation with Pagan Rosaries, John Michael Greer and Clare Vaughn (Red Wheel/Weiser Inc., 1997). This book largely deals with the making of prayer beads rather than their actual use, but for those interested in creating their own set, it is a useful and informative resource.
The Sibyl, Pär Lagerkvist (Vintage, 1963). This parable about a former Delphic priestess and oracle of Apollo is similar to Till We Have Faces in that it explores the nature of divine love, the price one might pay for betraying that love, and the possibility of reconciliation.
Till We Have Faces, C.S. Lewis (Harcourt, Inc, 1984). An allegorical tale based on the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros, this multilayered book goes to the heart of the seeker’s relationship with the gods and the often difficult paths one must take to understand the depths of that relationship. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Walking the Heartroad: The Devotional Path for Spirit-Workers, Silence Maestas (Asphodel Press, 2008). While aimed at a specific audience, this short but illuminating book has many thoughtful things to say about the nature of personal religious devotion.
The Cloister Walk, Kathleen Norris (Riverhead Books, 1996). This is, on its surface, a book about a woman who becomes an oblate (lay member) of the Benedictine Order, but it’s much more than that — it discusses poetry, depression, self-understanding and some of the potential foibles of monastic life which remind us that we are human.
Fiction:
While these are works of fiction, I enjoy them because they have some relevance to my spiritual experience as well as being good stories told by excellent writers.
The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco (Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1981). This is an engrossing, literate murder mystery set in medieval Italy, and provides a detailed portrait of what a working monastery was like during that time, albeit under some strange and frightening circumstances. There are more than a few Latin passages in this book, but you don’t need to be able to understand them to follow the story.
The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls and The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold (HarperTorch, beginning in 2000). Set in a vividly imagined fantasy world, these novels follow various people as they deal with political intrigue, family secrets, war, adventure, romance and their often enigmatic gods. Those who do somafera work will particularly enjoy The Hallowed Hunt, and many parts of all three novels will ring true for those who are god-touched.
I’ll update this page on a semi-regular basis, so check back!
