Before studying consider the following; The word religion comes from the Latin ligare: to join, or link. It is that science, and way of living where the union, the linking between the divine and the mundane is realised. Its wisdom teaches that the whole process of existence is connected. Odinism is therefore a religion which is to be practiced, not just studied like some academic subject; in other
words it is to be lived.
Here's a list of books that might be thought of as Primary & some secondary sources for Norse / Germanic / anglo saxon paganism and culture.
Prose Edda. Poetic Edda. Heimskringla: saga volume 1 Tacitus The Germania........ The Old Saxon Heliand Einhards Vita Karolini Magni Books that discuss the Gotland picture stones (especially how they provide evidence to back up the Edda's. Beowulf Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness The Saga of 7 viking romances The Saga of the Volsungs (prob most important saga). The Saga of the warrior poets The Sagas of Icelanders (penguin collection) Ynglinga Saga or any of the icelandic sagas (there are many). Bede - the history of the English (Anglo saxon). Bede De temporum ratione Skaldic poetry.......... Deeds of Danes by saxo grammaticus.
Here are a few sources/works you can check out: Ancient Roman/Greek sources: - Tacitus' Germania which contains information on the geography of the Germanic tribes and their society, including the mention of a few Gods and rituals. - Tacitus' Annals which contains an account of a battle between the Chatti and Hermunduri and also describes how the Germanics viewed rivers as direct connections to the Gods. It also contains the story about the Cannanefate Gannascus, a true Proto-viking. - Tacitus' Histories describes the Batavi revolt in quite some detail - Julius Caesar's De Bello Gallico contains the very first Roman description of the Germanics. - Some of Julius Caesar's anecdotes contain information such as his remark on the ancient dangerous Germanic woods. - Roman poet Albinovanus Pedo who wrote on the exploits of Germanicus. - Greek historian, cartographer and philosopher Strabo's work Geographika. - Roman poet Marcus Annaeus Lucanus and his poem 'Bellum Civile'. - Roman historian Velleius described how Tiberius crossed the Rhine in 4BC and attacked the Chamavi, Chattuari and Bructeri. - Roman historian Florus wrote about Drusus' campaign against the Germanics. - Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus who wrote about the Alemanni. - Roman historian Jordanes who wrote about the Goths. - Roman senator and historian Lucius Cassius Dio who wrote about the Batavi. - Letters and inscriptions made by Germanic auxiliary troops stationed all throughout the Roman empire, but especially at Hadrian's wall. Some Medieval sources: - Lex Chamavorum Francorum, law of the Chamavi Franks. - Lex Salica, Laws of the Salian Franks written in the 5th century. - Lex Frisionum, the laws of the Frisians. - The codex Gothanus. - Vita Vulframni Episcopi Senonici. - The Indiculus Superstitionum. - Willibrord's work on Bonifatius. - Historian Sozomen - Capitulatio de partibus Saxonia. - An old baptism formula, written in the 9th century in Mainz, is one of the very few sources in which names of pagan Gods were used. - Historia Langobardorum. - Origo gentis Langobardorum. - Gesta Danorum - Merseburger Charms - Beowulf - Old English rune poem - Frankish scholar Einhard - The Collectarium Canonum
Besides written resources, archeological sources (actual objects and traces of settlements) are incredibly useful in reconstructing the lives of the ancient Germanics. Each object tells a story and many objects together form an interesting tale. Archeological sources are also much more trustworthy than written resources since an object can not lie. I will add a few examples on how an archeological source can help you but these sources vary of course in each region so it will be quite a quest to find archeological resources for a specific region, I didn't say it would be easy.
Some examples of archeological sources: - Altar stones found in minor Germania which contain the names of local native Deities. - Rune sticks and inscriptions such as the runestick of Westeremden or the early Frankish runic inscription of Bergakker. - Ancient settlements that provide us with clues on the daily lives of the Germanics. (such as the terps the Frisii, Frisians and Chauci used) - Ancient sacred sites such as the foundation of a sacred site that has been found next to a Cananefates settlement in modern day Den Haag, Netherlands. - Ancient burial fields such as the Solleveld burial field provide us with clues on how the Germanics treated the death. - Bog findings throughout Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. - Roman helmet found on Texel that provides evidence to the story about the destruction of Germanicus' fleet - Findings near Hadrian's wall that belonged to Germanic auxiliaries. - Trade items, often Roman in origin like the Roman Gods statues that ended up in Frisii territory. - Roman settlements and forts near the old Germanic limes. - Remains of conflicts such as near Kalkriese, Germany, Velsen, the Netherlands and the remains found near the river Maas that are most likely linked to the deeds of Julius Caesar. - Sutton Hoo burial mound. - Early medieval objects from Denmark that display mythological elements such as the various Odin/Wodan fibulae. (there are quite a few of these items so listing them all here is impractical.) - Old sacrificial stones and temple foundations which are often found in or underneath Christian churches.
Sometimes the language itself can provide clues to its original pagan roots. Examples of etymological sources: - Names of places/regions all over Germany, Denmark, England and the Netherlands. - The etymological origins of certain words such as the Dutch word for rage 'Woede' which has the same root as the Dutch word for Odin/Wodan and the Dutch word 'Geding' which is used in court which stems from the old Germanic justice system 'the thing'.
You might want to find modern books (secondary sources) that discuss these primary sources. They will explain some of the christian bias of some of the authors and explain why they were wrong about certain things as we now have DNA and modern archeology which they didn't have. Be careful to take note of their objective findings. When they voice opinion take it with a pinch of salt! Here's a few but there are hundreds:
The Book of Blotar by the Odinic Rite The Seed of Yggdrasil by Maria Kvilhaug Teutonic Mythology by Grimm, Monumenta Germania Historica by Oswald holder eggerand and Bernard J.Campbell,‘The Impact of the Sutton Hoo Discovery on the Study of Anglo-‐Saxon History’, Neiblungleid. Critical piece of continental Germanic literature. Carolingian Chronicles: Royal Frankish Annals and Nithard's Histories Saxon Heathenry by Robert Sass. Dictionary of Northern Mythology by Rudolf Simek The Norse myths by carolyn Larrington. The Tyr journals (there is 5 of them I think? available at arcana publishing) Heathen gods in Old English literature by Richard North Myths of the Pagan North by C Abram. Massive migration from the steppe was source for Indo-European languages in Europe - by Haak, Lazaridis et al 2015
Here are some books recommended by the odinic Rite. Some are in relation to life in general rather than specifically about Odinism;
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
1984 by George Orwell
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Way of Wyrd by Brian Bates
Hyperborea and The Swastika
An understanding of our most sacred symbol and the dawn of our race is vital for Odinists; these provide
a foundation for our faith.
The Swastika by Nigel Pennick
Swastika – The Earliest Known Symbol and its Migration by Thomas Wilson
Atlantis of the North by Jurgen Spanuth
The Arctic Home in the Vedas by Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Odinism, Our Gods and Faith – General
Some general reading regarding our Gods, our Faith and Mythology.
Odinism in the Modern World by Wulfstan, OR
Odinic Mythology Parts I & II by The Circle of Ostara
Gods of the North by Brian Branston
Masks of Odin by Elsa-Brita Titchenell
Myth and Religion of the North – The Ancient Religion of Scandinavia by E.O.G Turville-Petre
Teutonic Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie
Odinism and the Occult by William A. Favill
The Call of our Ancient Nordic Religion by A. Rudd Mills
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
Teachings Related to our Faith
It is widely understood that our written mythology was tainted by the hands of Christian scribes. No one can tell what was lost or destroyed or whether certain myths were tampered with. Yet traces of our myth do not only reside in Christianised Europe; other scriptures hold keys to our faith courtesy of our ancient folk-wanderings and have been translated from the original Sanskrit.
The Rig Veda - various translations
Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran (translation)
The Runes
Experience is essential to understanding and thus the simpler the book, the better able we are to develop
our own understanding of the runes with as little intellectual influence as possible. As with so many
things of a spiritual nature, much has been written and much can be discarded.
Rune Lore by Thorolf Wardle
Meta-Political
We do not put politics into Odinism, however a general understanding of how our corrupt modern world works is essential to the modern Odinist. As with all things from physics to politics, what appears one way on the surface operates very differently the deeper one looks.
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
Environmental
Of all the problems prevalent in our modern world, environmental concerns surely must come first. We can tackle corruption, choose how we live, engage with society or remove ourselves from it, but without a clean and balanced natural world, with air to breathe and water to drink, we will not have long to survive. Our spiritual practice creates waves of positive energy, yet we must also act on a physical plane.
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
The Secret Teachings of Plants by Stephen Harrod Buhner
Hidden Nature – The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger by Alick Bartholomew
Ritual and Personal Development
A quest to raising oneself can, in turn, aid others. As Odinists we seek to advance ourselves, and with the spiritual, physical and mental advances we make, we can lift our families, our children and our brothers and sisters of the Odinic Rite. We must all find a mentor and also mentor others.
Dark Nights of the Soul by Thomas Moore
Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore
Beginning Meditation by The Odinic Rite
The Book of Blotar by The Odinic Rite