Germanic Heathenry: A Practical Guide

Rating:
Summary: A book worth waiting for.
Review: I have been involved in germanic heathenry for many years. Most of the good books on the subject are now out of print. Only a few basic books are left. Mr. Coulter has given us a worthy read here. Beyond the basic intro. or asatru 101. It is good for the person who is looking deeper into germanic heathen religion. Worth having on your bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: Highly Reccommended!
Review: So many books that claim to be about Germanic Heathenry barely touch the wellspring that is the German contribution to the Heathen world. This book more than addresses this issue!
Coulter manages to capture a perfect blend of language, ritual, and rationale in his paperback, rolling a HUGE body of lore into a rather simple book that captures the essence of what all these disparate elements over the centuries have been reaching toward without losing the simplicity that is the basic nature of our faith. Without bothering to even attempt to describe the complex history that is Germanic Heathenry, the writer goes straight for the proverbial 'meat,' dealing with the spiritual concerns of modern practitioners.

Rating:
Summary: A Defining Work!
Review: This book is very well done. However, it is not a book for the beginner, or even one for Germanic Heathenry in general. The writer instead of using the common terminology based on Old Norse and Old English over the last 30 years, opts instead for Old Saxon and Old High German. And he does this without giving the corrensponding terms that most of Germanic Heathenry uses. This can be confusing to the newbie that has read countless webpages all using a common set of terms and giving correnspondences. This is nearly the book's only flaw however, and once one can get passed the difference in terminology it is a fantastic read.

Particularly strong are his chapters on thau (thew) and the gods. The rites section is not bad, however, being one to prefer general outlines to one for each season, I was not overly impressed. Still a very outstanding effort in putting the rites together. The chapter on family is particularly impressive, although these ideas have been expressed by others in years passed equally as well.

My recommendation would be definitely buy this book. However, if you are new to Germanic Heathenry buy another work to aid in your understanding of the terminology.

Rating:
Summary: A Defining Work!
Review: This is a wonderfully detailed study of Germanic Heathenry, presented from a Germano-centric perspective, but quite relevant to more 'general' Germanic/Northern European practices overall. The author presents the information in an easy-to-follow and descriptive layout, while employing a real balance of necessary terminologies, using the good old familiar forms, as well as introducing more German-specific terms and names- (as it states on the back cover) 'from common renderings to Modern High German to Old High German, allowing for the greatest freedom in practice and form'.. and, it might be added, a clear understanding from any perspective- be it that of the novice or those well-versed in Heathenry!
A great book for anyone seeking to learn the root and practices of authentic Germanic Heathenry!