Our view on the Afterlife.
The afterlife in Asatru is complex, in addition to the fact that there are several places, there are different parts of our bodies, senses etc. (e.g. ónd, hugr, hamingja etc.) that are distributed in different ways at death. Describing where you end up in the afterlife in a succinct way is extremely difficult. Moreover, we do not know everything that awaits us, much of this information is lost to us forever.
But there is some information left about different realms of death, yes, we have several realms of death to get to depending on the summary of your choice/profession/role in life etc.
Here is a simplified list of the most well-known death realms that is partly more adapted to our time today but rests on a foundation based on sources, archaeology and research.
Where do followers of nordic heathenry end up after death today?
Odin and Valhalla
Most people recognise Valhalla as the main place to go in the afterlife. There, Odin waits for fallen warriors. As life today is vastly different from the time when Ásatrú was the commonly held belief, it is no longer as common to die in armed conflict to get to Valhalla.
People who make selfless sacrifices for their community and/or family. For example, a heroic endeavour that requires a lot of courage. This is a conscious choice. Odin wants the bravest fighters at his table.
Freja and Folkvangr
Only half of the brave come to Odin’s Valhalla. Since Freyja is the leader of the Valkyries who collect the fallen, she has priority in choosing who gets to the hall Sessrumner in her home Folkvangr. Freyja also receives people with seidr skills in Folkvangr, as seidr is one of her fields of activity.
Hel and Nifelhel/Nifelheim
We believe that the majority of people end up with the goddess of death Hel in her domain called Nifelheim. The realm of the dead where ordinary people go is usually called Helheim rather than just Hel. Even gods and goddesses go to Hel when they die, as the tale of Balder’s death tells us: when Balder dies, he is welcomed to Hel with drink, food and a feast. It is common for people today to mistake Helheim as the Christian hell (where people go to live eternally in torment).
However, oathbreakers, outlaws, murderers etc. come to the beach of Narstrand in Nifelheim, where they wade in the corrosive ooze of snakes and suffer for their actions. Helsvíti is the term used when Hel punishes a person to suffer in the afterlife.
Forsete and Glitner
Forsete, son of Balder and Nanna, is the god of justice, so it is to his dwelling Glitner that people who have worked in the field of law come. In addition to having worked in the field of law, they should have been skilled in their professions and judged impartially and fairly.
Ran, Ägir and the bottom of the sea
Fishermen, sailors, and those who lose their lives at sea end up with Ran and her husband Ægir at the bottom of the sea.
Gejfon
Those who are unmarried, servants, daughters or virgins come to Gejfon.
Thor and Bilskirne
Thor is the god of the common people, farmers, trall´s and the unfree, and it is to Thor’s dwelling place Bilskirne that farmers, trall´s and other unfree people come.
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