Customer Reviews

The Odin Brotherhood

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Odin Brotherhood is written in the form of an interview (questions and answers) between the author and the Odin Brotherhood. The discussion covers a number of areas of particular value to anyone with an interest in Odinism in general. Some of these areas include:

Why Venerate the Odinist Gods?

The God Odin and His Mysteries.

The God Heimdall and "The-Sojourn-of-the-Brave" (a description of the initiation rite)

Brave Tyr, the Warrior God

The Legend of "The-Mountain-of-Promise"

... and many other areas of interest.

This book offers a unique view of Odinism that is well-worth reading. As for the Odin Brotherhood itself, does such a group really exist? Well, perhaps!

Called an "occult religion" for adepts, a "creed of iron" for warriors, and a "secret society" for higher men and women who value "knowledge, freedom and power," the Odin Brotherhood honors the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon.

This non-fiction book details the legends, the rituals, and the mysteries of an ancient and enigmatic movement.

· Contents

· Introduction

· Introduction to the Mandrake Edition

· The Dialogue

· Odinism and the Mysteries of the Past

· The Odin Brotherhood Today and the Heroic Ideal

· On Polytheism and the Nature of the Gods

· The Eddaic Verses and the Three Ages of Man

· Why Venerate the Odinist Gods?

· The Contacts between Men and Gods

· The God Odin and His Mysteries

· The Goddess Frigg and the Rite of Marriage

· The God Thor, the Nemesis of Titans

· The Goddess Sif, the Mischief of Loki, and the Skill of the Rock Dwarfs

· The God Heimdall and "The-Sojourn-of-the-Brave"

· The God Bragi, the Holy Words, and the Seasonal Rites

· The Fair Goddess Idun and Her Enchanted Fruit

· Brave Tyr, the Warrior God

· The God Njord, Magic, and the Vanir Gods

· The God Frey and the Elves

· The Goddess Freyja, the Lovely Patroness of Birth

· The God Balder and the Adventure of Death

· The Goddess Nanna and the Odinist Death Rite

· The Legend of "The-Mountain-of-Promise"

· Destiny, Ragnarok, and the Mysteries of the Future

· Epilogue -

· Eddaic Sources

· Works on Modern Odinism

· Reviews of Earlier Editions of

· The Odin Brotherhood

Mirabello allows his reader to eavesdrop on an interview between himself and a member of the "Odin Brotherhood", a religious "cult" that claims to have been "underground" for centuries - since the introduction of Christianity to the Nordic area of the globe. (I have corrected the author's name in my review). This book provides an interesting insight into Odinism for those that are interested in it or comparative religion and into folklore for those that are interested in ancient customs and religious practices. (I have corrected the spelling of the author's name that is listed correctly for the hardcover edition).

This is by far one of the most controversial and interesting books to come out of the pagan community. If you are looking for New Age rhetoric, look elsewhere. If you are looking for inspiring prose proclaiming "strength over weakness, pride over humility, and knowledge over faith," this book is for you.

Everything about the text is controversial. First, it claims that a secret society, dating back to 1421, has perpetuated the lore of the old gods all these centuries. This claim sends ordinary people--people who think that the history in the standard books is true--into convulsions.

I think the claim is intriguing.

Second, the writing style is powerful. Like the informational myths in the Poetic Edda, which use dialogue to convey "truths," Mirabello has constructed a dialogue to convey his facts. He is a craftsman with words, and the result is moving. He has, in effect created a Bhagavad Gita , or a Tao Te Ching, or a Gospel of Luke, for Odinists. One hundred years from now, when no one will be reading Llewellyn paperback books, I suspect this one will survive.

Third, there is really none of the standard reconstructionism that one finds in most modern Odinist books. You will not find Old Norse jargon and mead-brewing instructions here. (In reality, any Viking worth his salt would prefer wine over mead, and stole wine whenever he raided south.) Too many modern people think that Odinism is about playing Viking. Instead, Mirabello captures the warrior spirit that made the ancestors great. They were brave and generous, and they groveled before no one, men or gods.

Fourth, he presents an interesting rationale for polytheism

"Observe the universe around you. A universe governed by one supreme deity would possess the maddening simplicity that characterizes any dictatorship, but our cosmos clearly shows no evidence of one will at work. Our universe is characterized by diversity and disorder, and that indicates the universe is molded by many wills and innumerable forces."

Fifth, he details the terse and moving rituals of the Odin Brotherhood, from their three annual festivals, to their mysterious initiation rite, to the child naming ceremony, to marriages, and funerals.

`Behold the warrior is dead! As the flowers return in the spring, so shall he return!"

Sixth, his descriptions of the Odinist death and afterlife concepts are moving.

"In poetic terms, death itself is personified as beautiful females who exist in an endless variety of exquisite forms. These females are called the Valkyries."

Finally, in crystal-clear prose, Mirabello presents the philosophy of Odinism. Not in dry terms as a Spinoza would, but he writes in lightning, as Nietzsche did. It all culminate sin his powerful description of Ragnarok and universe that will follow the great purification.

Hail to the Gods that are dead! They are the future race of lords!

I cannot speak highly enough of this book. I have read it many times, I try to read it at least once every two or three months because I am astonished at the new information I extract from the text each time. Because the manner in which it is written- a "question and answer" form-- the reader feels as though he is eavesdropping on a secret conversation, which makes it all the more interesting. The language used to tell the tales of the Odin Brotherhood spurs imagination and curiosity, inspiring readers to seek out more knowledge. This is really one of my favorite books because it has really, for me at least, been a springboard into seeking information on many other topics. After reading this, I sought out Mark Mirabello's other works, including The Handbook for Rebels and Outlaws, which I also recommend!

If you enjoy having your thoughts provoked and your mind opened, pick up this book.

Being not only a reader of the book, but a student of Professor Mirabello at the local University, I can honestly recommend this book to anyone intersted in Alternate Religions. The only drawback is that it is written in interview format. Not like a regular book, or novel which I feel would have added more character to the book, instead of just blank notes. It gets five stars in my book, but loses one based on the format.

DR. Mirabello knows his stuff. I know this for a fact because, interestingly enough, Dr. Mirabello has met and conversed with one of the top notches in the poll of the Odin Brotherhood. If you have ever had a class under this professor of History, you will come to find out that he never pulls your leg when it comes to his favorite subject. This book covers anything that you would remotely want to know about this diverse belief.

Very interesting read; not enough pages to the book! I wanted to continue reading!! Being drawn into the "unusual" by being a student of Dr. Mirabello... I was not disappointed in the least.

This a wonderfully insightful book. A must read for the beginning student of Odinism. This book allows the reader to gain an understanding of the brotherhood that is not possible without joining or paying a costly price.

This work is conveyed in an interview format and presents us with a first-hand account of The Odin Brotherhood, a polytheistic cult, primarily of Europe, whose visions bring to mind Norse and Teutonic values and rites.

The author himself is a highly-respected historian, a PhD and college professor, and a man clearly enthusiastic about his study of Odinism.

Buy this one for a refreshing look into an ancient cult. See my non-fiction and fiction listmania lists for additional recommendations.