Printed with permission by Asrad of the Odinic Rite. This is a new leaflet by the Odinic Rite to be taken in conjunction with an older leaflet called
"Odinism: Our Natural Way - Odinists Say "Yes!" To Life"
ODINISM - A EUROPEAN FOLK RELIGION
by Odinic Rite
There is nothing that more clearly defines a Folk's Identity, than its natural Religion. The organic religion of any folk will define their Identity and encapsulate the potential of that Folk group more than anything else. This is because it is the sum of that folk, the shared experience and the wisdom of that folk. The folk unit is a manifestation in the world of the God Forces of their religion and thus the religion, continues the link, both biological and spiritual with their ancestors, their Gods and the Earth. It binds Past, Present and Future. It defines what a Folk was, what it is and what it can be.
The Natural Religion of Northern Europeans is Odinism: it is our Heritage, our Identity and our Destiny.
Odinism is a holistic system� it is complete. It has its mythology, its esoteric and exoteric aspects� the mystical and mundane �all!
WHY USE ODINISM AND NOT SOMETHING ELSE.
It has been said that our early ancestors had no name for their religion. This is probably true, but in those times all the community lived by the religion, there was no need for a �name'- there was no other religions known to them.
Things obviously changed when stranger folks were encountered and of course stranger religions. Obviously in this day and age in order to identify which religion is ours, we must name it.
Odinism was used by some of the first pioneers during this revival of our faith in the Modern era to describe this ancient religion. Others use similar terms such as Asatru, Nordism, Irminism, Armanism, Troth, Vanatru etc. These are all synonymous terms used to define the same religion. However, in order to limit confusion, only Odinism will be used here.
The �Faith', the religion of a �Folk' is an expression of their link with Gods of that Folk Entity. The �Family' is the basic structure for that Folk Organism. It balances the masculine and feminine principles of existence, the dynamic outgoing and the receptive. The need to nurture and guard. These three things are totally inter-woven,
DEFENCE OF ONE IS DEFENCE OF ALL. Striving for one is striving for all. In this balance is wholeness and growth. The motto of the Odinic Rite encapsulates all.
THE CELEBRATIONS OF ODINISM
The celebrations and their practices are by no means the �whole' of Odinism. Though, in a very real way, each day of our lives is a celebration. However, it is widely recognised that the most effective way of impressing on individual the wisdom and ethics of a religion is though ritual.
One of the most important celebrations in Odinism is called Blot (pl Blotar). Blot is a time to celebrate very consciously and deliberately our link with the God Forces, the Ancestors and our Soul: our link with all existence.
The Odinic Rite Celebrates Blotar monthly as follows:
Charming of the Plough (January / Snowmoon)
Vali (February / Horning)
Summer Finding (March / Lenting)
Sigurd (April / Ostara)
Ragnar Lodbrok (May / Merrymoon)
Midsummer (June / Fallow)
Sleipnir (July /Haymoon)
Discovery of the Runes (August / Harvest)
Winter Finding ( September / Shedding)
Hengest (October / Hunting)
Einheriar (November / Fogmoon)
Mother Night (December / Wolfmoon)
A full explanation of each Blot is detailed in The Book of Blotar of the Odinic Rite: The Authentic Rituals of the Odinic Rite. This and other publications can be purchased through the Odinic Rite.
Outside of Blot Odinists also celebrate the cycles of life such as birth, marriage and death*.
* The cycle of life, Birth, Death and Re-birth.
THE BASIC ETHICS OF ODINISM
These are encapsulated in the Nine Noble Virtues and Charges of the Odinic Rite.
The Noble Virtues are:
Courage�Truth�Honour�Fidelity �
Discipline�Hospitality�Industriousness
- Self� Reliance � Perseverance.
And the Nine Charges are:
1. To maintain candour and fidelity in Love and devotions to the tried friend: though he strikes me I will do him no scathe.
2. Never to make a wrong some oath: for great and grim is the reward for the breaking of plighted troth.
3. To deal not hardly with humble and lowly.
4. To remember the respect that is due to Great Age.
5. To Suffer no evil to go un-remedied and to fight against the enemies of Faith, Folk and Family: My foes I will fight in the field nor be burnt in my house.
6. To succour the friendless but to put no faith in the pledged word of a stranger people.
7. If I hear the fool's word of a drunken man, I will strive not: for many a grief and very death grows from such things.
8. To give kind heed to dead men: straw dead, sea dead or sword dead.
9. To abide by the enactment's of just authority and to bear with courage the decrees of the Norns.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ODINIC RITE
The Odinic Rite provides a �home' for those seeking restoration to Odin's Holy Nation. In times of confusion and perversity, the Rite stands like a rock in dark turbulent waters. Those with strength of heart and will can hold this rock and pull clear of the polluted torrent.
