The Return of Odin, Richard Rudgley
The Return of Odin, Richard Rudgley
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The Return of Odin
The Modern Renaissance of Pagan Imagination

Author: Richard Rudgley

Narrator: Micah Hanks

Unabridged: 8 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/09/2019


Synopsis

A controversial examination of the influence and presence of the Norse god Odin in contemporary history and culture

• Documents Odin’s role in the rise of Nazi Germany, the 1960s counterculture revolution, nationalist and ecological political movements, and the occult revival

• Examines the spiritual influence of Odin in relation to Jesus Christ

• Profiles key individuals instrumental in the rise of the modern pagan renaissance

Exploring the influence of the Norse god Odin in the modern world, Richard Rudgley reveals Odin’s central role in the pagan revival and how this has fueled a wide range of cultural movements and phenomena, including Nazi Germany, the 1960s counterculture revolution, the Lord of the Rings, the ecology movement, and the occult underground.

Rudgley argues that it is Odin and not Jesus Christ who is the single most important spiritual influence in modern Western civilization. He analyzes the Odin archetype--first revealed by Carl Jung’s famous essay on Wotan--in the context of pagan religious history and explains the ancient idea of the Web--a cosmic field of energies that encompasses time, space, and the hidden potentials of humanity—the pagan equivalent to the Tao of Eastern tradition. The author examines the importance of the concept of wyrd, which corresponds to “fate” or “destiny,” exploring techniques to read destiny such as the Runes as well as the existence of yoga in prehistoric and pagan Europe, which later produced the Norse Utiseta, an ancient system of meditation.

Rudgley documents how the Odin archetype came into play in Nazi Germany with the rise of Hitler and the pagan counterculture of the 1960s. He examines how the concept of subterranean and mythic realms, such as the Hollow Earth, Thule, and Agartha, and mysterious energies like Vril were manifested in both occult and profane ways and investigates key occult figures like Madame Blavatsky, Guido von List, and Karl Wiligut. He provides pagan analyses of Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings and documents the impact the Odin archetype has had on nationalist and fascist groups in America and Europe.

Examining pagan groups in Europe and America that use the Norse template, Rudgley reveals true paganism as holistic and intimately connected with the forces at work in the life of the planet. Showing how this “green” paganism can be beneficial for dealing with the adverse consequences of globalization and the ongoing ecological crisis, he explains how, when repressed, the Odin archetype is responsible for regressive tendencies and even mass-psychosis--a reflection of the unprecedented chaos of Ragnarok--but if embraced, the Odin archetype makes it possible for like-minded traditions to work together in the service of life.

About Richard Rudgley

Richard Rudgley is a critically acclaimed author, documentary filmmaker, and TV personality whose books have been translated into 13 languages. In 1991 he became the first winner of the British Museum Prometheus Award for his book, The Alchemy of Culture. His other books include The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances, Lost Civilizations of the Stone Age, Barbarians, and Wildest Dreams. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Dan

Mainly a summary of how lost Nordic traditions have seen resurgences throughout history guided by various wannabe cult leaders and narcissistic, self-aggrandizing blowhards. Not the least of which were the few occultists play-acting as magicians for each other in pre-Nazi Germany. And this book talk......more

This is one of the most unique books I've read. it's a compilation of scientific research pertaining the philosophical and psychological findings that vaguely relate to one another under the banner of Odin. Like one big conspiracy theory that someone made over the course their life. It's interesting......more

Goodreads review by Lance

A strange and interesting read, collecting sometimes related and sometimes disparate chunks of myth, history, culture, and philosophy. Jungian theory plays a huge part in connecting the dots, but isn't needed by the reader to find this engaging.......more

Goodreads review by Peter

Interesting hypothesis. Not knowledgeable enough on topic of worldwide mythology and creation stories to determine validity of conclusions. Explores “foreign” topics of interest. Whether they are all tied together or not hard to determine.......more

Ambitious in scope, but compromised preemptively by kowtowing to the spectre of political correctness.......more


Quotes

“In this fascinating work, Richard Rudgley provides a gripping and enlightening guidebook to the ‘lost continent of the European imagination’ as well as a necessary warning about the dangers of letting the ‘Odinic experiment’ get out of hand.”

“Richard Rudgley understands the god Odin, who goes wherever knowledge is to be found no matter the danger involved. Thus, we find Rudgley delving into many areas of infamy in The Return of Odin because that is where the search leads. To do this is brave, and I salute any author who dares it.”

The Return of Odin takes off from Carl Jung’s prophecy of the reemergence of Odin and his repossessing the spirits and souls of the Germanic people. Well-written and broad in its overview, I am sure some parts will cause controversy with those following the resurrected Germanic spiritual path. It makes for thought-provoking and stimulating thinking.”