The Rites of Odin

I purchased this for my brother & specifically selected this one because it was supposed to be in "Very Good" quality. However, this book is seriously damaged. Corners are severely bent, water damage & stains on pages, hard creases on covers, highlighter markings on several pages, and finally it doesn't match the picture that was shown.

I found the book to be very interesting even though I'm not a beginner ... there is something for everyone at every level in this book!

I love it. Don't understand all the negativity. Maybe because it's not all hung up on hippie p.c guilt trippin'. I don't know. No apologies here for the authors' interest in the Norse beliefs, just one mans' personal relationship with this spiritual path, to be taken for inspiration if desired. Just an overview of the gods and runes, this is more about rites, an individuals creation of psychodrama for ritual fulfillment. He should be respected in that aspect at least, instead of being insulted by know-it-ALLS.

This book is not meant to be used as a scholarly research text.Yet,it's one man's intransigent quest to describe his creative interpretation of modern Nordic shamanistic paganism.It's a thought-provokingly fun and creative book.There are many negative reviews posted about this book because they are petty sophists among who can't validate their claims to supress this book.If one does not want an amazingly bold expressive look at modern Nordic shamanistic heathenism,then just stick to the dry academic readings of the mid-twentith century,like by Snorri Strulsson.Ed Fitch is a former military man who always enjoyed the classic stories of Asatru.He then published this unique vision of the Rites of Odin. To each their own.

A lot of people don't like this book, however, I am not one of them. This is why: because I am not a Nordic path traditionalist (i.e. Asatru, etc.). I do consider myself an Odinist, though. You see, I am best described as an eclectic, wiccan/shaman whose beliefs/rituals are of the Norse way. What this means is that I don't want to follow any one path to the fullest extent...I want to be able to create my own path and be able to remain flexible as to how I work my magic and express my Pagan religion. But that doesn't mean that I don't want my path to have a certain flare and/or style, which is Norse. The reason I consider myself an Odinist is because Odinism is more belief than method. It really doesn't matter how you believe as much as what you believe. Again, for the "hardcore Northern/Teutonic traditionalist," this book may lack a little (and I do mean just a little), in definite, historical, authenticity, but so does many of the so-called "traditional" books if you look at history and research the bibliographies...even those written by Thorsson and the Asatrus. Case in point, don't condemn Mr. Fitch for putting his own personal touch to a tradition that has been changed and embellished on for centuries. Actually, some of the most hardcore Norse pagans I've met are the ones that have changed it the most to fit their own certain styles and agendas. Fitch also says in his disclaimer and intro that this is not a book about rock-solid, "the one and only way," Odinism, just his own personal slant on the belief system that fits most neo-pagan's paths, such as my own, a bit easier. It doesn't mean we're weaker or non-conformists, it simply means we're doing it a little different from others. Odinism isn't about how you get it done, it's about getting it done in the spirit of the Norse tradition, which we definitely have. I'm thankful that Ed Fitch wrote this book to uncover and create a new, yet still in a lot of ways traditional, form of Odinism...one that I like to call Norse Wicca. It's a way for people like myself who follow no certain pagan path in particular to have a little direction in our workings...at least those of us who follow the Norse traditions and beliefs. I hope this review sheds a little light on this touchy subject and maybe even breaks down a few of the walls that seperate us. Northern kinsmanship was, and still is, about working together and staying by the sides of our fellow kinsman. As Odinists, we may not all agree on what is correct and accurate, but at least we can be bound together by the creeds and beliefs of the religion of the great Norse gods and goddesses.

The work contained in ths tome is wonderful. Through devotion to deity can one come face to face with the Gods and fully know the truth.