A PRISONER`S VIEW

It is great to see the Odinic Rite taking an even more active role in prison outreach. It is also heartening to see the rising numbers of our incarcerated folk who have found the Odinic path and chosen to live it. I see this as one of the most important aspects of the New Awakening, for Odinism is a noble and true path, leading to the healing and restoration of our folk as individuals and our Folk Soul as a whole. In many ways it is our folk behind bars who are in the greatest need of this healing and restoration.

As many know, prison is full of many of the things an Odinist abhors; drug addiction, homosexuality, backstabbing, lying and stealing all run rampant inside these walls. Although these same things certainly exist in free society as well, they are far more concentrated and prevalent in prison. I'm sure this comes as no surprise to anyone. But just as it is the duty of an Odinist in the free world to live in an honorable and noble way, even with the pressures of mainstream society all around them, it is the same duty of us Odinists behind bars to live in a noble and upright manner. We must not use our environment as an excuse to live otherwise.

This applies even more to those of us who are a part of the Odinic Rite. Our every word and action reflects directly on the entire Odinic Rite Therefore, we must take special care not to say or do anything which could dishonor or disgrace the Odinic Rite. We must rise above and beyond our environment, and set an example for those of our folk who are behind bars with us, and show them by our deeds that it is possible to live in an honorable way as is befitting one of our folk, even in prison.

This positive influence will be far reaching as prison officials begin to see the positive impact our Holy Faith is having. The negative stereotypes that have been laid upon us will begin to crumble, and their notorious distrust and resistance to Odinism will lessen little by little as time goes on. With this will come more freedoms and less restrictions, thus allowing us to do even more to bring about the New Awakening among our incarcerated folk. I call upon all of our folk who are behind bars who are part of the Odinic Rite, to do their best to bring this about by living the Nine Noble Virtues and Nine Charges day by day and by bringing true and wholesome Odinist teachings and faith to all our folk who show a real interest in such.

Finally I would like to thank Heimgest and Laurel Owen, and all the other heroes and heroines of our folk who have done and sacrificed so much on behalf of incarcerated Odinists. Thank you for believing in us.

HAIL THE GODS AND GODDESSES!
HAIL THE ODINIC RITE!
HAIL THE NEW AWAKENING!
Reid Danell AOR.