* Presenting the Northern Tradition to the general public, including those familiar with paganism;

* Working with the Olgar Trust to purchase woodland for conservation and ritual use;

* Training Heathen priests and priestesses.

THE FIRST DECADE

The Odinshof is a religious and educational charity, (Reg.No.801629,) established on 7th October, 1987CE to promote the ancient teachings and philosophy of Odin. As a Heathen organisation the Odinshof acknowledges all other Germano-Celtic deities of old Europe.

To those who regard Odin, (Old English ‘Woden,’) as a historical character, he probably lived around 250BCE as the head of a Transylvanian Celtic tribe in an area that was called Tylis. Some of Odin’s teachings can be found as part of an ancient poem called the Havamal, meaning the ‘sayings of the High One’ (Odin.) It was written down about 700 years ago by an Icelandic scribe and a copy was preserved in Denmark. (It was later returned to Iceland.) It records a much earlier oral tradition. Odin is credited with finding the magical Futhark runic ‘alphabet.’ Runes are far older than the period when he lived on earth, but 250BCE seems to be the approximate date when they passed to Germanic speaking tribes. Wednesday and the place ‘Wednesbury’ are named after Woden.

Nine days after the Constitution of the Odinshof was signed by co-founders Martyn Taylor and John Broughton in Grimston, Norfolk, the great hurricane swept across Britain on its way to the North Pole. Nine is a particularly magical number for followers of Odin ('Odinists,') as it is recorded in part of the Havamal that he hung on the world tree for nine long nights to discover the secrets of the runes. Since the founding days the Odinshof has evolved considerably from a group of friends to become a registered charity.

The Odinshof has a small but gradually growing membership comprised of Heathens who want to promote the cult of Odin (Odintru) and learn spiritual truths (Sanskrit 'dharma'.) Odinshof members do not reject anything from the past but believe strongly in the 'now.' The Vikings, for example, were a modern European people who looked to the future more than the past.

Most members celebrate the full moons or the solstices, and equinoxes. As far as possible this is done out of doors in quiet places. A few fortunate folk have banded together to run local groups called 'hearths.' These meet on a regular basis to celebrate the moons and the solar year, and to hold other Odinic rituals. Often women run hearths, although the religion is totally balanced between male and female. Sexual identity is not a problem for the Odinshof as most people recognise the soul is neuter.

The backbone of the Odinshof is its membership, whether they be working alone or attached to an official hearth or loose group, (sometimes called a kindred.) Some members feel the need to progress to the level of being at one with Odin - to be 'an Odin.' These are potential Erulians, or shaman-priests. After sometimes many years of study, sacrifice and meditation a trainee Erulian is formally initiated by an existing Erulian and given his Odinic working name. This is normally performed in a sacred grove on a new moon.

An Erulian is seen by the Odinshof as a healer, pathfinder, runemaster and teacher, all rolled into one. He is also someone who takes his lead from the natural world. Erulians sometimes run hearths, particularly teaching hearths, but more often work alone outside the format of group ritual. Group workings usually do not appeal to their shamanic ways! A few Erulians have progressed on to following a dharmist philosophy after taking a ritual called a 'witablot.' The first witablots were carried out by Martyn Taylor and Gregory Nicoll in Ruislip woods, Middlesex in on the actual day of Lughnassadh, 1994CE. These were followed a few weeks later by a similar ritual in Grimston, Norfolk.

The Odinshof is helping to keep the woods alive. In February, 1992CE the Trustees of the Odinshof decided to act against the gradual loss, to the developers, of wildwood sites and open spaces. This was seen as an important project as Odinshof members and supports regularly celebrate rituals out of doors. At the time, the Government proposed building a motorway through Oxleas Wood in south London. In addition, the M3 Winchester by-pass at Twyford Down actually destroyed an area of outstanding natural beauty despite the intervention of protest groups. An ancient burial mound was also sadly lost as the construction went ahead.

On 24th March 1999, the Charity Commission gave The Olgar Trust  official status as Registered Charity No. 1074815, with Martyn H. Taylor & Gregory Nicoll as trustees. This was nine months to the day since it was set up. The Odinshof Land Guardian Fund will now be transferred to The Olgar Trust, and Odinshof deregistered as a charity.

'Odalstone' is the occasional newsheet of the Odinshof. 18 issues have so far been produced in A4 format. Some supporters have expressed an interest in seeing a regular monthly newsletter or magazine. However, resources both in time and money, do not allow for this if the land fund is to remain intact and woods purchased. According to the Roman historian Tacitus, writing in 98CE, 'The grove is the centre of their whole religion.' He was reporting on the Germanic speaking tribes almost 2,000 years ago, but the same must hold true today.

The Trustees of the Odinshof believe that there is a danger of members becoming too reliant on written texts and not spending time being involved with hearth activities or out of door rituals. 'Armchair Heathens' do not change society for the better. Again, Tacitus said, 'The Germanic speaking tribes do not think it is in keeping with the divine majesty to confine gods within walls or to portray them in the likeness of any human countenance. Their holy places are woods and groves, and they apply the names of deities to that hidden presence which is seen only by the eye of reverence.'

The governing body that regulates the Odinshof is called the Witan Assembly and meets from time to time to review finances, the membership and formulate new policies. It is the 'committee' that runs the Odinshof with the Witan Elder at its head during a twelve year term of office. The Odinshof has two grades of membership, namely Odal (basic) and Oak (higher.) Only Oak graded members may serve on the Witan Assembly. Yearly accounts and financial statements are published for the Charity Commission and for members who want to see where monies have come from and where funds have been spent.

Female magicians within the Odinshof are called 'volvas' and are well respected, as is the way of Heathenism. Some people would call the volvas 'witches' for they are well versed in all aspects of ritual, including sex magic. Volvas dedicate themselves to communicating with the spirit world. Although volvas perfect their arts over the many years of their lives, it is more a case of 'once a volva, always a volva.' There is a belief within the Heathen community that volvas re-incarnate again and again in the same guise, sometimes being born into the same family clans. They also have a reputation for giving advice. According to Tacitus our religious kinsfolk believed that 'there resides in women an element of holiness and a gift of prophecy; and so they do not scorn to ask their advice, or lightly disregard their replies.'

The Trustees of the Odinshof believe in building bridges towards other complementary organisations. Many members have joint membership with the Pagan Federation and participate in their events, moots and rituals up and down the country. Pete Jennings, the Suffolk folklorist, broadcaster and author, for example, runs Odinshof Halstead Hearth but has also been elected President of the Pagan Federation. He is also running a nine part gothi correspondance course ending in a diploma for all those attaining a certain standard.

The gothi/gytha path is that of the community priest/priestess. Such people perform a service for folk by teaching, leading group rituals and hearth groups, counselling, healing and working magic. There are two distinct types of magic in the Northern Tradition: Galdr, a ceremonial type of action, and Seidr, a more intuitive form. However, historically gothar, volvas and shamen have used all three, albeit concentrating on whatever is most appropriate to their individual path.

The Odinshof has also formed links with gay and lesbian groups and the Buddhist community through the Dharmahof - Northern Buddhist Kindred, a Middlesex based organisation. The Dharmahof produces its own newsletter called ‘Eight’ and acts as an inter-faith group for Buddhists and Northern Tradition Heathens. Finally, the Odinshof is not a part, and never has been part of the Ring of Troth, or the Odinic Rite both of which are separate organisations in their own right.

CURRENT WITAN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS:

Jeremy D.Allis; Maureen Godfrey; David Hodges; Gregory P.Nicoll; Martyn H.Taylor (Witan Elder.)

This page last amended 29/6/05