Grand Odinist Party: New Normandy Reich of Theodish Belief

The Reik is, in essence, the Web of Oaths that binds the Folk together in vor tru (our faith); as much as it is a "church", it is also a systematic tether, which binds those of our Thiud together as a tribe of inter-dependant clans and rooftrees.  Normandy clings to the values and principles of retro-tribalism and takes the cultural context and tribal dynamics of our ancestors and works them into a modern expression. It is not for the timid, it is not an easy path, but it is Vor Normannitas, Our Own Normanness, and therefore worth our tireless efforts.

With an annual cycle of fainings (celebrations) held throughout the year in various places around the northeast United States, our Tribe gathers together as often as possible to honor our Gods, especially our Patron Tiw.

(via Village Voice)

The Queens Tribune reported that a conservative Republican was running a strong race in the 19th district and had a chance to win in the overwhelmingly Democratic city. But this was a conservative Republican with a difference: Dan Halloran is the spiritual leader of a local pagan group that worships Norse gods.

Although the Tribune's story had no hint of derision for Halloran's religious affiliation, the newspaper was immediately attacked for its perceived ties to Halloran's Democratic opponent. Other publications were quick to defend the Republican lawyer, some sounding offended that a candidate's religion, however unusual, should become a news story during an election.

But Halloran's beliefs are newsworthy. As far as we can tell, he has a chance to become the first pagan elected to political office in the country's history. (He is certainly the first major party candidate approaching an election with his pagan beliefs already made public.) And while pagans have been growing in numbers for decades, the word "pagan" usually conjures nature-worshippers with interests in faeries and magick. What is a conservative Republican doing with the goddess crowd?

In fact, Halloran and his fellow travelers are more properly thought of as "heathens," not pagans, and the tribal customs they ascribe to are heavy on hierarchy and tradition.

As the Tribune first pointed out, Halloran is "First Atheling," or prince, of a Germanic neo-heathenist "theod" or tribe. State records show that he incorporated the group in 2002 with the official name of "New Normannii Reik of Theodish Belief."

 

Colloquially, Halloran's followers refer to their tribe as "New Normandy," with a territory that incorporates New York City and parts of New Jersey (some of Halloran's Pennsylvania tribesmen recently broke away -- with his blessing -- to form their own group, which they call "Arfstoll Thjod").

After talking with several members of the local theods and looking at what Halloran and others have written, the Germanic neo-heathenism of New Normandy appears to be an inclusive, family-friendly pursuit. Local members enjoy researching history, dressing up, and trying as much as possible to live within the customs and beliefs that one might find in 12th century pagan Denmark while actually living and working in 21st century New York.

 
But there's also a darker side to the heathenism movement in America. Festering in the country's prisons, white supremacists who call themselves heathens and Odinists (after the chief Norse deity Odin), have for decades preached hate and carried out violence in the name of Norse and Germanic mythic figures -- who also inspired Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler. Hate watchdogs like the Southern Poverty Law Center have long warned about the rise of heathen prison gangs.

 

(read the rest here)

 

Darkthrone/Transilvanian Hunger

Burzum/Jesu Dod

Bathory/Sacrifice

Satyricon/Min Hyllest Til Vinterland

Emperor/Towards the Pantheon

 

New Normandy is dedicated to reviving the folkways of the northern European people. It is our hope to reconstruct those folkways in order to strengthen our bonds of community, friendship, and family. In that sense, we emulate the ancient Normans, descendents of the Scandinavians, whose bravery helped them change the course of history. We are doing nothing less than re-forging the ancient ties of belonging to a tribe, and there is no greater gratification than belonging to something meaningful, and larger than yourself.

We practice this folkway, known as Théodish Belief, which emphasizes the bonds of the community and the development of a worldview and cultural ethos that our ancient forebears would have honored, and uses these tools to to forge a connection between the individual and the divine. We believe in and honor the Gods and Goddesses of the North, spirits of the land, and the memories of our ancestors.

Ours is not an easy path to follow, but our halls are open to all who believe they have what it takes to face the fires of ordeal that the modern world throws at them.