Odin

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Wolf*
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Odin

Postby Wolf* » Sun Feb 26, 2006 3:41 pm

I was reading some threads on another board about this god of norse mythology and he really sparked my interest, well, I looked him up and I found a strong connection, like I can almost see him as myself and vice-versa. But the only information I can find is the same every time.

This is what I always get:
Leader of the Aesir. Odin had a myriad of names including Allfather, Ygg, Bolverk [evil doer], and Grimnir. He also had many functions including being a god of war, poetry, wisdom, and death. His halls were called Gladsheim Valaskjalf and Valhalla. Odin's high seat, Hlidskialf, was in Valaskjalf. It was from this throne that he could see over all the world. Valhalla is where he gathered his portion of the slain warriors, Einheriar (Einherjar), whom the valkyries had chosen.

The valkyries would serve mead which forever flowed from the udder of Odin's goat, Heidrun. They also served the warriors meat that came from the boar Saehrimnir, which the cook Andhrimnir would prepare for eating by boiling it in the cauldron Eldhrimnir. The boar magically came back to life before the next meal. After eating, the warriors would go outside the hall and fight each other to the death. They were, of course, brought back to life before the next feast. All of this fighting was practice for when Odin would lead the Einheriar in the final battle, Ragnarok.

Odin had a spear named Grungir which never missed its mark and a bow which unleashed ten arrows with every pull. He also owned a magic ring called Draupnir which created nine of itself every night. It was this ring that Odin laid on his son Balder's funeral pyre and which Balder returned to Odin from the underworld. Another one of Odin's prized possesions was his wonderful steed named Sleipnir which had eight legs.

The horse was the offspring of Loki, who in mare form seduced a giant's horse named Svadilfari. Sleipnir could travel to the underworld and through the air. Odin also had two wolves, Geri and Freki, and two ravens, Hugin [thought] and Munin [memory]. He sent his ravens out every day to gather knowledge for him.

Odin sacrificed himself for knowledge by hanging on the world tree, Yggdrasil, which means Ygg's horse. Ygg is a name for Odin and horse is a metaphor for the gallows. He thereby learns the runes. Another sacrifice he made for wisdom was his eye. He gave it up in order to drink from the Well of Mimir which bestowed great knowledge. Because of this, he is typically depicted as having one eye. He is also depicted as wearing a cloak, being old, having a long grey beard, and wearing a wide brimmed hat down low over his face to conceal his one-eyed visage.

Odin was destined to die at Ragnarok; Fenris-Wolf swallowed him. Knowing his fate, he still chose to embrace it and do battle. Showing the true warrior ethic. He was the god of warriors and kings, not the common man. Many heroes genealogies start with Odin, including Sigurd. His name is not found in many place names and therefore it is believed that not many people worshipped him. He was thought to be a traitorous god, as shown in the sagas, who would strike down a warrior at his whim
I'd like to find more detailed information than this. I really want to learn more about this fascinating diety. So please, if anyone has any additional information or links to stories, I would be grateful if you shared them please :)
---Wolf---

"And a godlike man--a man who is pure force--inaccessible to any compromise--is called a hero."

Elem
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Postby Elem » Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:19 pm

More information about Odin? Gladly :):

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/o/odin.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin

Try those two for starters.

Hope they're helpful!

Elem

Wolf*
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Postby Wolf* » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:46 pm

*slaps forehead* doh! How could I forget wikipedia! >.<


Many thanks though! :D
---Wolf---

"And a godlike man--a man who is pure force--inaccessible to any compromise--is called a hero."

Elem
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Postby Elem » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:52 pm

Ahh, Wikipedia..

Ultimate fountain of dubious knowledge ;).

Elem

AnuChild
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Postby AnuChild » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:32 pm

Um, have you looked into the rites of Odin? They are grisly to say the least.

I'm not saying don't worship Odin, but there was a very real reason that most Norsemen chose Tyr or Thor over Odin for invocation and worship.
Come, heart, where hill is heaped upon hill:
For there the mystical brotherhood
Of sun and moon and hollow and wood
And river and stream work out their will.

W. B. Yeats, Into the Twilight

Wolf*
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Postby Wolf* » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:53 pm

Um, have you looked into the rites of Odin? They are grisly to say the least.

I'm not saying don't worship Odin, but there was a very real reason that most Norsemen chose Tyr or Thor over Odin for invocation and worship.
I'm only familiar with the stories. Perhaps you could enlighten me?
---Wolf---

"And a godlike man--a man who is pure force--inaccessible to any compromise--is called a hero."

[Kristin]
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Re: Odin

Postby [Kristin] » Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:03 am

Your post struck a strong interest in me. I am of Norwegian ancestry and I posted awhile back on a strong interest in Runes.
While you read more about Odin, you may want to listen to music...Grieg.
I listen to it alot. If you like classical music, that is---up to you.
Had I been born male, instead of female my name would have been Thor. I couldn't imagine having that name. But...I turned out to be a Kristin instead.
Anyway, good luck with your reading. The Vikings were a rather "rioty" bunch to say the least. :wink:

AnuChild
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Postby AnuChild » Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:23 pm

*pulls out book on the gods of the northmen*

Woden literally means "one who makes mad."

Human sacrifice in the most grisly forms: hanging, burning, and being filled with spears. Also, the sacrifice of the enemy in such forms after winning a battle. Being burned to death was considered an honour that wold gain you entrance to Odin's home in Asgard.

Beyond human sacrifice, self-mutilation and suicide were commonly practiced, as well as torture (in the same forms as the human sacrifice, just on a smaller scale). Pain was considered an offering to Odin, as was battle madness.

He was also known as a fickle, changeable god - unlike Thor or Tiwez (Tyr) who were also battle gods, but were loyal to their worshippers and did not demand pain and blood in worship.

Some quotes on him:

"The rites said to belong to Odin are dedication by spear, hanging, and burning.... We have independent evidence for the sacrifice of men and beasts by hanging as late as the eleventh century in Sweden."

"The sacrifice most valued... is that of the first man which they capture in war... They sacrifice the prisoner not by merely slaughtering him, but by hanging him from a beam, or casting him among thorns, or putting him to death in other horrible methods."

Lokasenna (about Odin): "You have never been able to order the course of war; often have you given victory to cowards who did not deserve it."

"They (women) too could be strangled and stabbed and burned after death in the name of the god [in order to enter Valhalla]."
Come, heart, where hill is heaped upon hill:
For there the mystical brotherhood
Of sun and moon and hollow and wood
And river and stream work out their will.

W. B. Yeats, Into the Twilight

Wolf*
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Postby Wolf* » Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:31 pm

eep...I have no problem with offering blood from my self every now and then but..eesh...me thinks I'm going to try and find out how the modern Astaru people do it......or just find another patron.

See, up untill this point, I don't really have patron deities, just ones I like to workwith. I'm kind of searching for one that I really can connect to, and odin was it...but this seems a bit extreme...I dunno....
---Wolf---

"And a godlike man--a man who is pure force--inaccessible to any compromise--is called a hero."

AnuChild
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Postby AnuChild » Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:40 pm

I edited my post... there's more info now.
Come, heart, where hill is heaped upon hill:
For there the mystical brotherhood
Of sun and moon and hollow and wood
And river and stream work out their will.

W. B. Yeats, Into the Twilight

Wolf*
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Postby Wolf* » Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:06 pm

Well, what better way to look up modern worship of a deity than to look up the ones who follow only a certain pathenon. I googled Astaru and found this: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=119295


I'm liking this....
Worshipping the Gods in modern day society is very different to how the Vikings did it. Where the Vikings would slaughter an enemy army and make sacrificial offerings to the Gods as their form of worship, today we must do so in a much more peaceful manner. The best form of worship is to simply learn the Gods' personalities that you wish to worship, and to model your life in that way. Adhering to the nine virtues is another way of showing your devotion, as is making shrines and wearing symbols of your Gods.



This is very interesting as well...and (not to sound arrogant) I seem to be all three...
Odinism

This is the closest to the original religion. Odinists focus on the worship of Odin (obviously), and are usually intellectuals, warriors or practictioners of magic. While the worship of other Gods is common for an Odinist, they are all secondary.


I really like what I've found. What is your take on it?
---Wolf---

"And a godlike man--a man who is pure force--inaccessible to any compromise--is called a hero."

AnuChild
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Postby AnuChild » Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:23 pm

As I said before, I'm not saying "don't worship Odin."

The gods and goddesses a person connects with are a personal thing. (For example, I have Brigid and Lugh, Athena and Apollo) It doesn't need to be explained, but I strongly believe that one should know as much as possible about the deity. Even things (human sacrifice) that don't apply today still have an echo effect.

As long as you're cool with Odin's bloody past - go for it.

Also, just because they used to do it, doesn't mean *we* do it. (ie, I don't keep a fire going 24/7/365 even though that was a tradition among worshippers of Brigid and Apollo)

Does that make sense?
Come, heart, where hill is heaped upon hill:
For there the mystical brotherhood
Of sun and moon and hollow and wood
And river and stream work out their will.

W. B. Yeats, Into the Twilight

Wolf*
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Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 3:31 pm
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Location: North Carolina
Contact:

Postby Wolf* » Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:31 pm

Yes, I get what you are saying. And I would like to thank you for your input and information :)
---Wolf---

"And a godlike man--a man who is pure force--inaccessible to any compromise--is called a hero."


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