Odinism

From TinWiki.org

Odinism refers to pagans who are dedicated to the Norse or Germanic gods. Odinists also refer to themselves as followers of Asatru, Heathenism, the Elder Troth, the Old Way, or Asetro.

Throughout Scandinavia the religion is called Forn Siðr (which means the "Ancient Way" or tradition), Forn sed (the Old custom), Nordisk sed (Nordic custom), or Hedensk sed (Pagan custom).

The term Odinism was used as early as 1824 by Conrad Malte-Brun. Later, Orestes Brownson employed the term in his 1848 book A revival of Odinism, or the old Scandinavian Heathenism. The term was re-introduced in the late 1930s by Alexander Rud Mills in Australia with his First Anglecyn Church of Odin and his book The Call of Our Ancient Nordic Religion.

1 History
2 Beliefs
3 Ethics
4 Some rites
5 List of some organizations
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit]

History

The religion now called Odinism is the indigenous tradition of the Indo-European peoples. Pre-Christian in origin, it shows Paleolithic characteristics (the Shamanistic tendencies of Odin and the “trickster” aspects of Loki) as well as Neolithic traits (the ‘honor and shame” nature of its warlike ethical system, which is common among pastoral nomads).

The successful spread of Christianity largely displaced Odinism in Europe in the medieval period. Lithuania, officially converted in 1386, was the last pagan stronghold in Europe, and pagan elements only lingered in underground movements, such as the Odin Brotherhood, and in peripheral areas such as the Anglo-Scottish borders. Elsewhere, the Indo-European gods continued to be honored, but many in their Vedic form, within Hinduism. (Odin, as Priscilla Kershaw pointed out in The One-Eyed God, was honored as Rudra/Shiva , for example, and Thor was honored as Indra.)

Odinism experienced a revival in nineteenth-century Europe, through the work of individuals such as Guido von List. Von List visited the crypt of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in 1862 (the site was a former pagan shrine), and swore an oath to build a temple to Wotan (the Germanic Odin).

Organized Germanic pagan or occult groups such as the Germanische Glaubens-Gemeinschaft emerged in Germany in the early 20th century. Although several early members of the Nazi Party were part of the Thule Society, a study group for German antiquity, after his rise to power, Adolf Hitler discouraged such pursuits, and Neopagan societies were even exposed to some amount of persecution, with at least one member of List's Armanenschaft killed in a concentration camp.

In the 1930s, Alexander Rud Mills and Evelyn Price formed an Odinist church in Melbourne, Australia.

A second revival began in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ásatrú was recognized as an official religion by the Icelandic government in 1973, largely due to the efforts of Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson.

At about the same time, Else Christensen began publishing "The Odinist" newsletter in Canada. In the United States, Steve McNallen, a former U.S. Army officer, began publishing a newsletter titled "The Runestone". He also formed an organization called the Asatru Free Assembly, later renamed the Asatru Folk Assembly, which holds annual "Althing" meetings. These early societies went through a series of reformations and splits in 1987/88, resulting in the Asatru Alliance, an offshoot of the AFA headed by Valgard Murray, publisher of the "Vor Tru" newsletter and the Ring of Troth. In the United States, the most prevalent form of Heathen organization is in small groups called Kindreds, sometimes also known as a Hearths, Garths or Steads.

The Odinic Rite, organized by John Yeowell, was established in England in 1972, and in the 1990s expanded to include chapters in Germany (1995) [1], Australia (1995) [2] and North America (1997) [3]. In the 1990's the Odinist Fellowship emerged as a separate group in the United Kingdom, led by Ralph Harrison.

In Canada, the work of E. Max Hyatt, the force behind Wodanesdag, has been significant.

In Italy, the Odinist Community (Comunità Odinista) was established in 1994.

In the 1990s and 2000s, a variety of Scandinavian associations and networks have formed. Swedish Asatrosamfund (since 1994), Norwegian Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost in Norway (1996) and Foreningen Forn Sed (1999), recognized by the Norwegian government as a religious society, allowing them to perform "legally binding civil ceremonies" (i. e. marriages), Danish Forn Siðr (1999) and Swedish Nätverket Gimle (2001), an informal community for individual heathens, primarily living in Sweden with no connection to any formal organisation, and Nätverket Forn Sed (2004), a network consisting of local groups (blotlag) from all over the country. It was recently founded by members from other Forn Sed societies.

Since 1973 the governments of Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Australia have officially recognized Odinism/Asatru.

[edit]

Beliefs

The Eddic poem Völuspá (Prophecy of the Seeress) reveals the mysteries of Odinist cosmology. The poem portrays a period of primeval chaos, followed by the creation of giants and gods and, finally, of humankind.

Odinism is polytheistic in theology. The pantheon is divided into two groups, the Aesir and the Vanir. (Odin and Thor are Aesir; Frey and Freyja are Vanir.)

Popular gods include Balder, the Bright One, honored by all; Bragi, the god of eloquence; Freya, the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war,and magic; Freyr, a god of fertility and prosperity; Frigga, the honored wife of Odin; Idun, keeper of the "apples" of youth; Loki, the "blood-brother" of Odin, known for his cunning and mischief, Odin, the mysterious one, the war god who speaks in poetry; Thor, the god of thunder; and Tyr, the god of war and courage.

The Odinist afterlife has several destination, depending on how one has lived (and died). The most esteemed go to Valhalla, brought there by warrior maidens called Valkyries.

Osred, an Australian Odinist, has written an article on Odinist beliefs about Life After Death.

[edit]

Ethics

In terms of ethics, members are taught to be "brave and generous." Modern believers in Odinism model their life according to the Nine Charges."

Odinic Rite

Courage
Truth
Honour
Fidelity
Discipline
Hospitality
Self Reliance
Industriousness
Perseverance

Ásatrú Folk Assembly

Strength is better than weakness
Courage is better than cowardice
Joy is better than guilt
Honor is better than dishonor
Freedom is better than slavery
Kinship is better than alienation
Realism is better than dogmatism
Vigor is better than lifelessness
Ancestry is better than universalism

[edit]

Some rites

Blót is the term for the historical Norse sacrifice in honour of the gods. Odinist blóts are often celebrated outdoors. Food and drink may be offered, and most of this will be consumed by the participants.
Sumbel (also spelled symbel) is a Norse drinking rite in which an intoxicating drink (usually mead or ale) is passed around an assembled table. At each passing of the drink, participants make a short speech, a toast, and an oath. Oaths made during this rite are considered binding upon the individuals making them.
Berserkergangr is a form of religious ecstasy, associated with Odin, a god of war, magic, and poetry.
Reading the Runes. Tacitus, in Germania, describes how the ancient Germans cut branches from a fruit-bearing tree, and marked the branches with symbols, called runes. Calling upon the gods, the practitioner casts the branches randomly on a white cloth. New-Age Asatru use the runes as a method of divination. More traditional practitioners, such as the members of the Odin Brotherhood, claim the runes are connected with magic, but only indirectly with prophecy. Members of the Odin Brotherhood use the runes not to tell the future, but to summon a dead person so that he will reveal the future. That is how Odin himself uses the runes in as in Havamal, verse 156.