Asatru is a form of Neo-Paganism following the traditions of the pre-Christian Norse religion. This term refers to the reconstructed version of these religious practices and was only invented in the early 19th century. It translates to faith in the Aesir, which is a specific group of Norse gods. Because of this, the term can be interpreted as only representing those whose main focus is the Aesir and there are some who practice Norse Paganism who do not use this terminology for themselves. For the purposes of this website, I am simply using the term as a way to indicate that these resources are modern interpretations that focus on the Norse pantheon.
Community, nature, and sacrifice are some core focuses of the Norse Pagan practices. While the term sacrifice may be concerning to those unfamiliar with the faith, it often refers only to an offering of food or drink. It follows the idea of “a gift for a gift” and can be a way for the individual to thank spirits or gods for gifts already given or a request for gifts in return. Often sacrifices are made to the spirits of the land or nature, as a way to acknowledge the gifts of sustenance and support. These sacrifices can be made as an individual or in groups, as many Norse Pagans form groups, called kindreds or halls, in order to practice their faith with others. Additionally, these kindreds usually have a strong focus on giving back to the greater community and will often organize and participate in group community service.
This video goes a little more in depth about what Asatru is and some of the history behind both the specific term and the general recreation of Norse Paganism. The original poster of this video (Arith Härger) has several other videos that explain other branches of Norse Paganism, as well as videos explaining concepts and historical information that have been used to recreate this religion. His channel is a great resource for anyone who is interested in learning the basics about Asatru.