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The Odinist Tradition
By Evan McCallum
When people recreate (or create) Pagan traditions, they usually draw upon aspects of their favorite cultures for a framework. One popular culture is the Norse (judging by the recent explosion of "rune lore"). Norse and Germanic myth share much with other European cultures, but there is also the dark, melancholy side that awaits Ragnarok. Its heroic and masculine orientation attracts many. Evan McCallum publishes a set of Odinist rituals from a tradition created by himself and others (including Ed Fitch, author of Magical Rites from the Crystal Well and other books). He has generously offered to share some rituals with our readers.
I have heard of some prejudice against Odinist groups (though I have not observed any myself) because some of the ancient symbols were corrupted by the Nazis. This is the same problem that Christians and Satanists cause for Witches when they corrupt the pentagram by associating it with the devil. We must look beyond other people's meanings to what is in the hearts of the practitioners. Similarly, there are frequent references to "the folk," implying an ethnocentrism. There was a time when that was universal. But at this dawning of the New Age, "folk," "culture," "peoples," etc. are what we make them. Many of us find our "family by choice" to be closer than our family by birth. In the New Age, a "folk" is a group with a homogeneity of spirit, rather than of DNA. The "One Planet, One People" bumper stickers do not call for genocide. They ask us to recognize our unity as a species and a planet and manifest it as a unity of will to create the best world we can.
—S.R.
Include wheel of the year
Hammer of Thor & runes galore!
The Odinist Festivals
Evan McCallum and his group assembled this calendar to Turn the Wheel in their Odinist tradition.
DATE FESTIVAL DEITY Left/Right ALTAR CANDLE
Dec. 21/22 WINTER SUNSTEAD Heimdall white/white
Dec. 24th The Light Festival Allfather white/dark blue
Dec. 25th Tribal Yule Feast Frey/Thor white/red
Jan. 10th Fimbulwinter Ull/Skadi/Gerd white/brown
Feb. 2nd The Vala's Vision (Maiden's Day) Volva/Odin white/dark blue
Feb. 14th Festival of Love Freya white/dark red
Feast of Vali Vali
Mar. 20/21 EASTRA (SPRING EVENNIGHT) Ostara (Eastra) green/green
Apr. 10th Tree Planting Gaia (Erda)/Odin green/brown
Apr. 15th The Charming of the Plow Erda light green/light green
Apr. 30th Walpurgia (May Eve) Nanna green/pink
May 1st May Day Frey/Freya green/gold
June 20th Midsummer Night's Eve Freya green/dark red
June 21st MIDSUMMER (SUMMER SUNSTEAD) Balder yellow/yellow
July 10th Gimli Magni/Modi/Lif/Lifthrasir yellow/orange
July 31st Lammas Eve Erda/Idun/Sif yellow/gold
Aug. 1st Lammas Frey/Gerd yellow/brown
Sep. 22/23 HARVEST EQUINOX SUNSTEAD Thor red/red
(FALL EVENNIGHT)
Oct. 10th Harvest Festival Frey red/brown
Oct. 31st Hallowe'en Loki/Hodur red/black
Nov. 1st The Time of the Spirits (Samhain) Odin red/dark blue
Nov. 11th Hero's Day Hermod/Tyr red/light blue
Dec. 20/21 Family Day Thor/Sif
Mothernight Frigga red/dark green
The Sign of the Hammer
This sign often serves in rites as a self-blessing, for protection, or as a salute to the gods. Speak the god names aloud when making the hammer or say them in your head. Use your right fist.
1) Touch forehead, saying:
ODIN
(Intellect, wisdom, creativity,
victory, the Father)
2) Touch breastbone or heart, saying:
BALDER
(Kindness, mercy, forgiveness, love (agape),
redemption, the Son)
3) Touch left breast, saying:
FREYA
(Beauty, sensuality, love (Eros), nurturing, magick and good fortune, the Mother)
4) Touch right breast, saying:
THOR
(Strength, adventure,
challenge, work, hearty joy, the Protector) | 
