Traditional Norse/Germanic Heathenry for Warriors and Events for Active and Veteran Military

NEXT EVENTS

BLACKSMITHING NEAR LEONARDTOWN MARYLAND ON 5 APRIL 2025 FOR ACTIVE AND VETERTAN MILITARY

This will be hands-on blacksmithing training on Saturday 5 April 2025 for a small group. The ancient skills workshop will be all day near Leonardtown, Maryland. Training starts at 0900 am and will end at dusk then followed by dinner and activities around the fire until 8 pm. We have room for seven participants who must be active or veteran military and will get to work in the forge of a Tribe friend who is a blacksmith, and with his assistant who will be on hand. Part of the training may be outdoors and with a more rustic Viking theme though not a Viking age forge. Come dressed as a Viking if you wish, some of us will, but please long pants, long sleeves, no loose clothing, and closed toe shoes. Coffee, water, snacks, and a hearty meal around the campfire will be provided free of charge. We will tell stories and sing Sea Shanties around the fire. Click to go to registration.

WOOD BOWL TURNING EVENT IN FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA ON 26 APRIL 2025 FOR ACTIVE AND VETERAN MILITARY

We will host a Bowl Turning Event on Saturday, 26 April 2025 starting at 8:00 a.m. (0800 hours) in Faribault, Minnesota – 50 minutes South of Minneapolis. There will be two lathes operating and possibly a third. We can initially host seven (7) attendees and if there is another lathe a few more. Materials and tools are all provided, and the bowls can be engraved afterwards or you may burn runes or other designs into them. The end products from last year were beautiful!

Odin’s Warrior Tribe will provide coffee, water, snacks, and at some point a luncheon that could be Viking themed – or a beef brisket, all free of charge for the guests. To register you must be active or veteran military. Those who have attended one of our events before are welcome to register. Spaces are initially limited to seven (7). At the location there will be an outdoor fire pit weather dependent. We also have a large game table when attendees are inside, and they can play or learn Hnefatafl. We also have some other games and Kubb for outside if the weather is good. There should also be a small Viking display. CLICK TO GO TO THE STORE REGISTRATION

Learn More About Our Viking Hall and Workshops at our Veterans Support Website Click Here

To RSVP for other events send an email to odinswarriortribe@protonmail.com

PAST EVENTS - SEE OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR MORE INFO

Viking Day for Veterans 2023

Midsummer 2021

NPR on our Viking Boat

Visit to Teutoburg Forest

89194763_584331982160267_478439947817189

120252060_704323316961943_18275089512645

Getting ready for Sigrblot at the next full moon. Thank you to all who came out for the work party. Lots of firewood and the start of a special new Ve - more info to come.

#óðinsvé #norseheathen #germanicpaganism #militaryheathen #norsepagan #heidentum #vikings #militaryheathens #vikingcamp

Urnes style pin for the Chieftain from the amazing silversmiths Alban Depper and Rachel Lee of Northan Viking Silver. If you know, you know.

#Jorvik

Go to https://www.owtvikingveteranssupport.com/
and learn more about our Viking Hall and the Veterans Timber Framing Workshops in Branford, CT starting on June 14, 2025

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

New Blog on our website in Heathen Life

NORSE LUCK AND HAMINGJA: AN EXPLORATION

https://www.odinswarriortribe.com/post/norse-luck-and-hamingja-an-exploration

Nothing like it anywhere else.

#odinswarriortribe #jorvikvikingfestival

Thousands of Vikings march on Coppergate at the Jorvik Viking Festival in Jorvik (York, England).
#odinswarriortribe #jorvikvikingfestival #vikings #militaryheathen #militaryheathens

Þorbjörg Lítilvölva (“Thorbjörg the Little Völva”), was a prominent and powerful Völva in Norse Greenland during the late Viking Age (c. 10th century CE), and she is renowned for her role in “The Saga of Eirik the Red.” Her depiction in the saga provides the most detailed account of a völva’s practices, rituals, and material culture, including her distinctive attire and staff, found in the sagas of Icelanders.

From the Saga:

“A high seat was set for her, complete with a cushion. This was to be stuffed with chicken feathers.
When she arrived one evening, along with the man who had been sent to fetch her, she was wearing a black mantle with a strap, which was adorned with precious stones right down to the hem. About her neck she wore a string of glass beads and on her head a hood of black lambskin lined with white catskin. She bore a staff with a knob at the top, adorned with brass set with stones on top. About her waist she had a linked charm belt with a large purse. In it she kept the charms which she needed for her predictions. She wore calfskin boots lined with fur, with long, sturdy laces and large pewter knobs on the ends. On her hands she wore gloves of catskin, white and lined with fur.”

#Volva #volur

SCENES FROM THE JORVIK VIKING FESTIVAL ENCAMPMENT

The festival is really just getting going and by the weekend there will be more merchants and the March to Coppergate, a tattoo event, and our pub moots on Friday and Saturday for British military heathens. The Viking Boat Co. has their Gislinge type boat at the Encampment and we have connected with this great group. Their beautiful boat was built by British veterans similar to ours being built by active and veteran military though there are differences in the boats.

https://jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk/

Tribe Visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre

Beneath the streets of York, England, lie the remains of Jorvik, a Viking city that thrived over 1,000 years ago. Under Norse rule, Jorvik was a vital Viking center, and thanks to the wet, boggy ground, many artifacts and structures have been remarkably well preserved.

In the 1970s, during the construction of the Coppergate Shopping Centre, a large archaeological excavation took place from 1976 to 1981. This dig unearthed an entire Viking neighborhood, revealing the foundations of buildings that have remained largely unchanged for over a millennium. Among the discoveries were workshops, yards, fences, and pathways, along with skeletons and an array of artifacts.

Rather than simply building over this extraordinary find, a decision was made to reconstruct this ancient part of the town, leading to the creation of the Jorvik Viking Centre. Today, the Centre features a portion of the original excavation site, a meticulously recreated Viking town, and an extensive display of artifacts that bring the Viking Age to life.

By the mid-9th century, it was known in Old English as Eoforwic and served as the capital of the Northumbrian Kingdom. In 866 CE, the city fell to the Great Viking Army, and under Norse rule, it was renamed Jorvik, remaining the capital of Northumbria during Viking control. The last Viking ruler of York was the infamous Eric Bloodaxe.

The Jorvik Viking Centre’s underground recreation is truly magnificent. Life-sized mannequins, some modeled after real skeletal remains, are dressed in historically accurate period clothing and placed in detailed settings that illustrate various aspects of Viking life. Adding to the authenticity, the mannequins “speak” Old Norse—much of which is still intelligible—alongside Old English, creating an immersive and well-executed historical experience. Oh, there are also authentic smells that linger from 1000 years ago.

There was also a storyteller giving a detailed an accurate rendering of The Mead of Poetry.

www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk

#jorvikheathens #jorvikvikingfestival #jorvikvikingcentre #jorvik

STAFF OF A VÖLVA AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM

At the British Museum in London, the Tribe Chieftain saw this iron rod/staff that came from a female grave in Norway. The same type of rod/staff has been found in other burials of females in heathen areas, and they are believed to be items used by völur the plural for völva. The evidence is pretty clear. A völva using a staff is mentioned and the saga of Erik the Red. This staff was deliberately bent before the burial to remove its power. Other words used to refer to a völva include spá-kona and seiðkona. The Tribe has our own völva and one in training as well.

From the Saga of Erik the Red:

“A high seat was prepared for her, and a cushion laid thereon in which were poultry-feathers. Now, when she came in the evening, accompanied by the man who had been sent to meet her, she was dressed in such wise that she had a blue mantle over her, with strings for the neck, and it was inlaid with gems quite down to the skirt. On her neck she had glass beads. On her head she had a black hood of lambskin, lined with ermine. A staff she had in her hand, with a knob thereon; it was ornamented with brass and inlaid with gems round about the knob. Around her she wore a girdle of soft hair, and therein was a large skin-bag, in which she kept the talismans needful to her in her wisdom. She wore hairy calf-skin shoes on her feet, with long and strong-looking thongs to them, and great knobs of latten at the ends. On her hands she had gloves of ermine-skin, and they were white and hairy within. Now, when she entered, all men thought it their bounden duty to offer her becoming greetings, and these she received according as the men were agreeable to her.

Besides this staff at the British Museum, Viking Age graves have yielded more enigmatic iron staffs, often found alongside the remains of affluent women. This suggests that völur—Norse seeresses—held positions of high status within their societies. One striking example is the burial at Fyrkat, which aligns with other lavishly furnished völva graves across Scandinavia.
Appropriately Heilung “Traust” if you know you know.

#volur #völva

ARE YOU IN JORVIK (YORK) FOR THE FESTIVAL WEEK? JOIN THE TRIBE AT VALHALLA YORK FOR A HEATHEN MILITARY VETERANS MEET UP

Odin’s Warrior Tribe members are already in York for the Jorvik Viking Festival and will be linking up with British members. We are looking forward to meeting friends, followers, and those interested in joining. We will share Viking camaraderie this Jorvik Viking Festival so join us for Havamal inspired hospitality at an unforgettable Pub Moot & Meet-Up at Valhalla York! This is for heathens who are active-duty military, a veteran, a first responder, or maybe who walks the warrior path of tradition and honor, this is your moment to connect with the tribe. Mark your calendar:

When: Friday, 21 February 2025, at 3:00 PM
When: Saturday, 22 February 2025, at 3:00 PM
Where: Valhalla York, 4 Patrick Pool, York YO1 8BB

What’s Included: Two rounds of drinks on us, camaraderie, and a symbolic toast to honor our fallen comrades.

To join, go to our website www.odinswarriortribe.com and find our email and then send us an email. In your email, include your full name and details of your military, law enforcement, or first responder background. After registering, you’ll receive a password, and the full details needed to spot your tribe. Without the password, no entry.

Meet Odin’s Warrior Tribe members from the US and UK.

#HeathenVeterans #ModernVikings #JorvikHeathens #militaryheathens #jorvikvikingfestival #jorvikvikingcentre⚔️ #valhallayork

Tribe Visit to The British Museum and the Lewis Chessmen.

12th Century Norway of walrus ivory and whale’s teeth, including a Berserkr biting his shield.

#lewischessmen #berserkr

VISIT TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM TODAY - SUTTON HOO ARTIFACTS

Sutton Hoo is the site of two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries dating from the 6th to 7th centuries, located near Woodbridge in Suffolk, England. Archaeological excavations of the area began in 1938 and led to one of the most significant discoveries in British history: an undisturbed 27-meter-long ship burial filled with an extraordinary collection of artifacts. There was a burial chamber on the ship. This discovery has provided crucial insights into the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia and the broader early medieval period, which lacks substantial historical documentation. Many of these artifacts are now displayed at the British Museum in London, offering a glimpse into the craftsmanship, wealth, and warrior culture of Anglo-Saxon England.

Among the most iconic finds from Sutton Hoo is the famous ceremonial helmet. This iron and tinned-bronze helmet, featuring intricate decorations and a distinctive faceplate with stylized eyebrows, a nose, and a mustache, is believed to have belonged to a high-status warrior or even a king, possibly King Rædwald of East Anglia. The helmet, now painstakingly reconstructed, is one of the most recognized symbols of Anglo-Saxon heritage and warfare.

Another remarkable artifact is the Sutton Hoo sword, a finely crafted weapon that underscores the martial culture of the Anglo-Saxons. The sword features a pattern-welded blade, a technique used to create strong and flexible steel, and a hilt adorned with gold and garnets. This weapon was likely a sign of status and power, possibly wielded by a great warrior or leader. Alongside the sword, a collection of exquisite gold and garnet fittings, including belt buckles and shoulder clasps, showcase the wealth and artistic sophistication of the era.

The burial site also contained an array of treasure, including a large, ornate belt buckle made of solid gold, inlaid with intricate animal interlace designs. This artifact is not only a testament to the high level of Anglo-Saxon metalwork but also indicates the wealth and status of the individual buried at Sutton Hoo.

We will see some of you at the Jorvik Viking Festival.
#Suttonhoo

BALDR WILL RETURN

In Völuspá, looking far into the future, the Völva says that Höðr and Baldr will come back after Ragnarök,

“Then fields unsowed bear ripened fruit,
All ills grow better, and Baldr comes back;
Baldr and Hoth dwell in Hropt’s (Odin’s) battle-hall,
And the mighty gods: would you know yet more?”

#baldr

HEL- RULER OF HELHEIM

Hel, deriving from Old Norse tradition, is a formidable female entity in Norse faith who presides over underworld realm of death that bears her name and where most will go. This domain, known simply as Hel, serves as the final destination for a significant portion of the dead, particularly those who pass away due to illness or old age. Hel is prominently mentioned in key Norse literary sources such as the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, both compiled in the 13th century, drawing from much older oral traditions. Additionally, references to Hel appear in historical texts like Heimskringla and Egils saga, dating from the 9th and 10th centuries, and even in the Latin chronicle Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus from the 12th century. Archaeological artifacts from the Migration Period, such as bracteates, may also depict her image.

Hel is the daughter of the trickster and deceiver Loki and the giantess Angrboða, making her sibling to the monstrous wolf Fenrir and the world-serpent Jörmungandr. According to Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda, Odin, chief of the Aesir gods, sent Hel into Niflheim, appointing her as the ruler of the underworld. In this realm, Gylfi is furthermore informed that when Loki had engendered Hel, she was cast into Niflheimr by Odin: “Hel he cast into Niflheim, and gave to her power over nine worlds, to apportion all abodes among those that were sent to her: that is, men dead of sickness or of old age. She has great possessions there; her walls are exceeding high and her gates great.”

Hel’s appearance is striking and symbolic of her dominion over life and death. She is described as having a dual-colored complexion—half of her body appears livid blue or black, representing decay, while the other half is flesh-colored, symbolizing life. This dichotomy not only highlights her role as the boundary between life and death but also instills an aura of gloom and stern authority. She is depicted as somber, fierce-looking, and downcast, reflecting the nature of her duties.

#Hel #Helheim #niflheim

Rán, is a compelling yet enigmatic figure in our Norse faith and she embodies the darker, more perilous aspects of the sea. In many cultures the sea has a feminine aspect. As the wife of Ægir, the sea giant often regarded as a god of the ocean, Rán’s domain lies within the treacherous depths, where she wields influence over the watery abyss that both gives and takes life. Unlike the gods associated with fertility and prosperity, Rán represents the ocean’s consuming and deadly power, a force that claims sailors and treasures alike.

The name Ran in Old Norse means robbery and the Goddess Ran can drown sailors and bring them down the depths to her realm at the bottom of the Sea where they spend their afterlife vice in Valhalla, Fólkvangr, or Hel, or perhaps another Godly Hall where the record is not clear. Ran catches and drags drowning sailors with her huge fishing net. Because of this she is seen as more sinister than her husband.

Though Rán’s appearances in the Poetic Edda are sparse, her presence resonates through the texts, hinting at her formidable role. In Grímnismál (The Lay of Grímnir), Odin, disguised as Grímnir, speaks of the various realms and deities, mentioning Rán in connection with her dominion over the sea. The verse states:
“Rán owns a net, and with it she seizes men who venture upon the treacherous waves.”

In Egil’s Saga she is in the poem Sonatorrek composed by Egill who had lost a son to the sea,

“Greatly has Rán afflicted me.
I have been despoiled of a great friend.
Empty and unoccupied I see the place
which the sea has torn my son.”

Their nine daughters, the personifications of waves, further illustrate this theme. Each daughter represents a different aspect of the sea’s temperament, from gentle ripples to violent tempests, all under the watchful gaze of their mother, Rán.

The Nine Daughters of Rán and Ægir:

The nine daughters of Rán and Ægir in Norse faith are personifications of the waves. Their names are recorded in Old Norse sources such as the Prose Edda, and each name reflects aspects of the sea’s ever-changing nature.
#norseheathen #norsepagan #heidentum #militaryheathens

ARE YOU READY TO RETAKE JORVIK FOR A WEEK? JOIN THE TRIBE AT VALHALLA YORK FOR A MEET-UP DURING THE JORVIK VIKING FESTIVAL TWO ROUNDS ON US AND A SOME STICKERS!

US based members are packing for the Jorvik Viking Festival and will link up with British members. We are looking forward to meeting friends, followers, and those interested in joining. We will share Viking camaraderie this Jorvik Viking Festival and join us for Havamal inspired hospitality at an unforgettable Pub Moot & Meet-Up at Valhalla York! Whether you are heathen who is active-duty military, a veteran, a first responder, or maybe who walks the warrior path of tradition and honor, this is your moment to connect with the tribe. Mark your calendar:
When: Friday, 21 February 2025, at 3:00 PM
When: Saturday, 22 February 2025, at 3:00 PM
Where: Valhalla York, 4 Patrick Pool, York YO1 8BB
What’s Included: Two rounds of drinks on us, camaraderie, and a symbolic toast to honor our fallen comrades.

To join, go to our website www.odinswarriortribe.com and find our email and then send us an email. In your email, include your full name and details of your military, law enforcement, or first responder background. After registering, you’ll receive a password, and the full details needed to spot your tribe. Without the password, no entry.

Meet Odin’s Warrior Tribe members from the US and UK.
Forge bonds with like-minded warriors who value honor, tradition, and the martial spirit.

Take home exclusive Tribe swag like the stickers shown.
Participate in a heartfelt toast to honor fallen comrades, a moment of remembrance you won’t forget.

On our website new book review:

https://www.odinswarriortribe.com/post/book-review-the-demise-of-norse-religion-dismantling-and-defending-the-old-order-in-viking-age-s

DEATH CHANTS/POEMS IN NORSE CULTURE AND BEYOND

In Viking culture, death chants—poetic compositions—were crafted to honor Odin and secure a deceased loved one’s place in Valhalla. These chants recounted the individual’s deeds and victories, demonstrating their worthiness for the hall of heroes. Daughters often played a pivotal role in these rituals, acting as intermediaries by recording these poems in runes or orally. By witnessing and documenting these verses, they lent significant weight to their fathers’ deaths. Such practices ensured that the fallen’s deeds remained influential, solidifying their place among Valhalla’s honored dead. This tradition also underscored the central role of women in Viking death rituals and the broader societal processes surrounding death.

The 12th century skaldic poem Krákumál exemplifies this tradition. Attributed to the legendary Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok, it is presented as his final words while dying in a snake pit. In this monologue, Ragnar reflects on his life filled with heroic deeds and expresses anticipation of his welcome into Valhalla. The poem captures the essence of Viking beliefs regarding honor, valor, and the afterlife. Here are some stanzas from Krakumál:

“We struck with our swords!
Hard was the fight round about Stamnness,
Fierce was the warrior clash, grim the encounter,
Before we won the victory.
We hewed with our blades!”

“Never have I known fear,
Even now as death nears.
Laughing shall I die,
As I enter the halls of the slain.
For the Valkyries wait to welcome me.”

#norseheathen #ragnar #ragnarlothbrok

JOIN THE BROTHERHOOD AT VALHALLA YORK FOR A MEET-UP DURING THE JORVIK VIKING FESTIVAL TWO ROUNDS ON US AND A SOME STICKERS!

Step into the heart of Viking camaraderie this Jorvik Viking Festival and join us for an unforgettable Pub Moot & Meet-Up at Valhalla York! Whether you are heathen who is active-duty military, a veteran, a first responder, or maybe who walks the warrior path of tradition and honor, this is your moment to connect with the tribe. Mark your calendar:

When: Friday, 21 February 2025, at 3:00 PM
When: Saturday, 22 February 2025, at 3:00 PM
Where: Valhalla York, 4 Patrick Pool, York YO1 8BB
What’s Included: Two rounds of drinks on us, camaraderie, and a symbolic toast to honor our fallen comrades.

To join, go to our website www.odinswarriortribe.com and find our email and then send us an email. In your email, include your full name and details of your military, law enforcement, or first responder background. After registering, you’ll receive a password, and the full details needed to spot your tribe. Without the password, no entry.

Meet Odin’s Warrior Tribe members from the US and UK.
Forge bonds with like-minded warriors who value honor, tradition, and the martial spirit.

Take home exclusive Tribe swag like the stickers shown.
Participate in a heartfelt toast to honor fallen comrades, a moment of remembrance you won’t forget.

THE OLD CUSTOMS

“Sigurðr Hlaðajarl, was most ardent heathen worshipper, as had been Hakon his father. Sigurðr jarl maintained all sacrificial feasts there in Trøndelag on the king’s behalf. It was an ancient custom, that when sacrifice was to be made, all farmers were to come to the Hof and bring along with them the food needed while the feast lasted. At this feast all were to take part in the drinking of ale. Also, all kinds of livestock were killed in connection with it, horses also; and all the blood from them was called hlaut, and hlautbolli, the vessel holding that blood; and hlautteinar, the sacrificial twigs. These were fashioned like sprinklers, and with them were to be smeared all over with blood the stallar and also the walls of the Hof, within and without, and likewise the men present were to be sprinkled with blood. But the meat of the animals was to be boiled and to serve as food at the banquet. Fires were to be lit in the middle of the Hof floor, and kettles hung over them. The sacrificial beaker was to be borne around the fire, and he who made the feast and was chieftain, was to bless the beaker as well as all the sacrificial meat. Óðinn’s toast was to be drunk first – that was for victory and power to the king – then Njǫrðr’s and Freyr’s, for good harvest and peace. Following that many used to drink a bragi-beaker. Men drank toasts also in memory of departed kinsfolk – that was called minni.”

Snorri “Heimskringla”

According to the Landnamabok: when the Goði performs the sacrifice at the stallr/stalli in a Hof he redden the oath ring in blood of an animal that had been sacrificed.

The candle holder shown is made from der Opferstein in den Borkenberge -the sacrificial stone (rock) in the Borkenberge.

#germanicpaganism #odinswarriortribe #norseheathen #militaryheathen #norsepagan

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow us on Instagram

@odinswarriortribe