The Odinic Rite is an organization whose aims are to promote all aspects of Odinism, a modern name for the spiritual beliefs and way of life of the Germanic peoples of pre-Christian Northern Europe.
It is the world's longest running international Odinist organisation and has legal status in the United Kingdom, Australia and various states in the United States. It has chapters in France, Germany, the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales and Italy and members in many other countries.
The Odinic Rite was founded in 1973 under the name "Committee for the Restoration of the Odinic Rite / Odinist Committee". In 1980 the organisation changed its name to "The Odinic Rite" after it was believed that it had gained enough significant interest in the restoration of the Odinic faith.
The basic unit of the Odinic Rite is the Hearth, a group of adherents who gather to perform ceremonies known as Blóts or Blotar, at which they honor their deities and their ancestors. However, a large proportion of the members are lone practitioners.
Members of the Odinic Rite are encouraged to live their lives according to the "Nine Noble Virtues" which are: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance.
The motto or watch-words of the Odinic Rite are "Faith, Folk & Family".
The Odinic Rite has also codified the "Nine Charges" which, again, are not universal but are accepted by a large proportion of adherents worldwide.
See also: Odin, Neo-paganism, Ásatrú, Nine Noble Virtues, Nine Charges, Trollkyrka.
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