Odin Brotherhood
Encyclopedia : O : OD : ODI : Odin Brotherhood
The Odin Brotherhood is a secret society that practices the ancient warrior religion now called Odinism or Asatru. Members use the Eddaic Verses–also called the Poetic Edda–as a kind of scripture.
Members claim their pagan order was established in 1421 to protect the ancient religion during the persecution of the Burning Times, and they insist it has existed in unbroken lineage to the present. If the claim is accurate, the Odin Brotherhood resembles the Tariquat, the secret brotherhoods in Islam that sustain the traditions underground in times of intense persecution.
Although it is obvious that Odinism never became extinct—hundreds of millions of people have honored the Eddaic pantheon (in its Vedic form) in the Indian subcontinent since Neolithic times--some scholars classify the movement as a neopagan revival.
Initiation into the Odin Brotherhood–which only occurs at the solstices–involves a diet of bread and ice, a dagger, a sacred fire, and small incisions on the body. From the beginning, the movement–in spite of its name–has included women.
Theology, devotion, and ethics
The Odin Brotherhood embraces polytheism. The gods, which include Odin, Thor, Frigga, Heimdallr, Baldur, Bragi, Vidar, Tyr, Freya, and the other beings in the Norse pantheon, are viewed as powerful entities that are finite in nature. Humanoid in shape--neither omnipotent nor omniscient--the gods are physical beings that inhabit hidden corridors in the universe. Often appearing on earth in disguise, they are known by many names in many languages. Odin, for example, appears also as Hermes and Rudra.
Believing in direct contact with the gods, the Odin Brotherhood teaches that the deities typically communicate with humanity through a system of "messengers and spies."
Devotionally, members of the Odin Brotherhood do not worship the gods on their knees. The Odin Brotherhood is the enemy of all forms of abjection and slavery, and members admire the gods but do not grovel before them.
Ethically, the Odin Brotherhood creates no laws, only virtues. It glorifies “thought, courage, honor, light, and beauty.” The Odin Brotherhood represents strength over weakness, pride over humility, and knowledge over faith.
Death and afterlife
The Odin Brotherhood teaches that all beings ultimately experience death. In poetic terms, death is personified as beautiful females--called the valkyries--who exist "in an endless variety of exquisite forms."
Since death is not annihilation, the "transfigured life form" will go to one of thee Other-Worlds. The most famous of these "Other-Worlds" is Valhalla.
In cosmic terms, death is described as Ragnarök, the final battle which destroys every universe. According to the Odin Brotherhood, Ragnarök is an "orgy of purification" from which a new cosmos is born. The cycle of destruction and rebirth--which will go on forever--is called the "Law-of-the-Endless-Circle."
Also called the eternal return, the "Law-of-the-Endless-Circle" teaches that existence never ends with destruction. “Nothing dies forever,” and all beings—and all things—will return.
Bibliography
Bellows, Henry Adams. The Poetic Edda. New York, 1923. [link]
Mirabello, Mark. The Odin Brotherhood. 5th edition. Oxford, England, 2003. [link]
Storyteller, Ragnar. Odin's Return. Payson,Arizona, 1995.
Sturluson, Snorri. Prose Edda. London, 2006. [link]
Teachings of the Odin Brotherhood. Portland, no date.
Wodanson, Edred. Asatru-The Hidden Fortress. Parksville, BC, Canada, 2005. [link]
External links
- Odin Brotherhood (North America and Europe) [link]
- Odin Brotherhood (South America) [link]
- Radio Interview on the Odin Brotherhood [link]
See also
Asatru Alliance [link]
Ásatrúarfélagið [link]
Communita' Odinista [link]
The Odinist Fellowship [link]
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