Other related deities and entities related with this deity.
The biggest relation to another deity that Odin has would be to Loki. While only mentioned in two stanzas, it is said that Odin and Loki are blood-brothers and that Odin would not accept drink unless it was offered to Loki as well. This always stuck out to me, even before I fully dove into Asatru and Heathenism. Now as I wander through posts about the deities and see huge arguments over the exclusion or inclusion of Loki I wonder what others think of the relationship. Do these people disregard the bond the two have? Do people only see the bad Loki will do/has done? I will not deny that there is some negative things in the tales of Loki but he did much good. I think the reason why everyone is so upset with Loki is Baldr's death and the coming of Ragnarok. If it wasn't for Loki, none of it would have happened. In my mind, though, there is no positive without negative and vice-versa.
Then there is Mimir. He is the wisest of the Aesir and was given to the Vanir as a hostage during their war. Unfortunately he was beheaded and his head was returned to the Aesir. It was Odin who preserved Mimir's head and conversed with him. Mimir gave Odin his wisdom after the Allfather sacrificed his eye.
As for other entities, one could point to the Ravens of Odin, his wolves, Sleipnir, and even Fenrir, who will kill Odin during Ragnarok. While each of them play specific parts, for some reason I am not urged to describe them. Mimir and Loki are more prevalent on my mind. Perhaps I'll go into further details on these creatures at a later date.
Showing posts with label Loki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loki. Show all posts
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
30 Days of Devotion- Day 2
How did you become first aware of this deity?
I'm not sure if this question is referring to how I became aware of Odin in general or as a deity that I was going to follow. I suppose I could cover both.
Growing up I was always interested in mythology. It was mainly the Greek/Roman stories and some Hawai'ian tales but I had a healthy appetite for it. At some point I did come across Norse myths but I can't remember exactly when. Thinking back on it, it seems like the Norse deities have always been in my mind but I know that isn't necessarily true. I guess I just can't think of a time when they weren't there. Even through college the Norse myths weren't much of a big thing to anyone. I took a religions of the world course and they were just barely mentioned. Though I do take pride in being the only one to pick up on the instructor's vague description of Loki. He was rather shocked as well.
Odin did approach me early in high school but I don't think I was ready for it. I believe I mentioned this in a previous post but I'll give a quick summary here. While sitting on the back porch chatting on the phone, two LARGE black birds settled into the yard. They were two big to crows and I knew just enough about hawks and the like to know that these two weren't that. They walked together, not bothering to peck at the ground, and came towards me. Halfway through the yard I freaked out and went back inside. At that point in my life I hadn't thought about deities choosing a person or anything other than the basic Triple Goddess and Hunter God in Wicca.
It's been within in the last two years that I've embraced the Norse deities. I had, I believe, confused Thor with another deity that dealt with lightning and thunder but things were soon set straight. When searching for a deity to connect with I honestly didn't bother with Odin. I wanted someone else. Maybe Thor, Heimdalr, or Sif. I even wore Mjolnir for some time, but Thor wasn't the fit for me it seemed. Odin, though, began to send more and more signs my way. Crows constantly being seen and heard on my walks to work was the biggest thing.
I suppose what really solidified EVERYTHING was finding two crow feathers. Not at the same time but in the same spot days apart. Out of the many weeks of walking the same path over the course of a year I had never seen any bird feathers laying across the sidewalk. On these occasions I found a single black feather. It was just sitting there. Honestly I continued to walk past it, both times, but something made me stop and retrieve it. They were placed on my altar and I think that was the beginning of my wandering with Odin.
The altar is for all but he has images of himself and Huginn and Muninn. He is the one that brought me home.
I'm not sure if this question is referring to how I became aware of Odin in general or as a deity that I was going to follow. I suppose I could cover both.
Growing up I was always interested in mythology. It was mainly the Greek/Roman stories and some Hawai'ian tales but I had a healthy appetite for it. At some point I did come across Norse myths but I can't remember exactly when. Thinking back on it, it seems like the Norse deities have always been in my mind but I know that isn't necessarily true. I guess I just can't think of a time when they weren't there. Even through college the Norse myths weren't much of a big thing to anyone. I took a religions of the world course and they were just barely mentioned. Though I do take pride in being the only one to pick up on the instructor's vague description of Loki. He was rather shocked as well.
Odin did approach me early in high school but I don't think I was ready for it. I believe I mentioned this in a previous post but I'll give a quick summary here. While sitting on the back porch chatting on the phone, two LARGE black birds settled into the yard. They were two big to crows and I knew just enough about hawks and the like to know that these two weren't that. They walked together, not bothering to peck at the ground, and came towards me. Halfway through the yard I freaked out and went back inside. At that point in my life I hadn't thought about deities choosing a person or anything other than the basic Triple Goddess and Hunter God in Wicca.
It's been within in the last two years that I've embraced the Norse deities. I had, I believe, confused Thor with another deity that dealt with lightning and thunder but things were soon set straight. When searching for a deity to connect with I honestly didn't bother with Odin. I wanted someone else. Maybe Thor, Heimdalr, or Sif. I even wore Mjolnir for some time, but Thor wasn't the fit for me it seemed. Odin, though, began to send more and more signs my way. Crows constantly being seen and heard on my walks to work was the biggest thing.
I suppose what really solidified EVERYTHING was finding two crow feathers. Not at the same time but in the same spot days apart. Out of the many weeks of walking the same path over the course of a year I had never seen any bird feathers laying across the sidewalk. On these occasions I found a single black feather. It was just sitting there. Honestly I continued to walk past it, both times, but something made me stop and retrieve it. They were placed on my altar and I think that was the beginning of my wandering with Odin.
The altar is for all but he has images of himself and Huginn and Muninn. He is the one that brought me home.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
30 Days of Deity Devotion
I've always kinda eyeballed these '30 Days of -' ideas and posts, wondering if there was something out there that would pop up for me. Wandering through tumblr I found one such thing: 30 Days of Deity Devotion. I liked the idea and it will do two things: help my focus on the Deity and have me post here more often. It'll start some good habits! :D So, here goes nothing!
Day 1: A brief introduction of the deity
Well, Odin is one of the major deities in Norse mythology, some going as far to say he is the chief deity. He is the ruler of the Aesir. Odin is a god of war, knowledge, death, poetry, divination, magic, and wisdom. He brought us the runes, after he hung himself as sacrifice for this knowledge. Odin also sacrificed an eye to Mimir so he may drink from Mimir's well, the water bestowing upon him much of his wisdom.
He is known by many names, many common and others listed in Grimnismol, Skaldskaparmal, and the Gylfiginning, among others. The following are but a few of what He has been called:
All-father
Val-father- Father of the Slain
Omi- The Shouter
Oski- God of Wishes
Fjolnir/Fiolni- The Many-Shaped
Gangleri/Ganglari- The Traveler or Wanderer
Harbarth/Harbard- Greybeard
Vofuth/Vafud- The Wanderer
Odin has two ravens, Huginn(thought) and Muninn(memory) which sit on his shoulder. These two are set out each day and after going over the world they return and relay to him their findings. He rides the eight legged horse Sleipnir, one of the children of Loki. Two wolves, Geri and Freki, sit beside Odin, taking food that is offered to the god because Mead is both food and drink to him.
He weilds the spear Gungnir.
He is a traveler and he wanders the worlds, usually dressed in a wide brimmed hat, a grey cloak, and a walking staff.
Day 1: A brief introduction of the deity
Well, Odin is one of the major deities in Norse mythology, some going as far to say he is the chief deity. He is the ruler of the Aesir. Odin is a god of war, knowledge, death, poetry, divination, magic, and wisdom. He brought us the runes, after he hung himself as sacrifice for this knowledge. Odin also sacrificed an eye to Mimir so he may drink from Mimir's well, the water bestowing upon him much of his wisdom.
He is known by many names, many common and others listed in Grimnismol, Skaldskaparmal, and the Gylfiginning, among others. The following are but a few of what He has been called:
All-father
Val-father- Father of the Slain
Omi- The Shouter
Oski- God of Wishes
Fjolnir/Fiolni- The Many-Shaped
Gangleri/Ganglari- The Traveler or Wanderer
Harbarth/Harbard- Greybeard
Vofuth/Vafud- The Wanderer
Odin has two ravens, Huginn(thought) and Muninn(memory) which sit on his shoulder. These two are set out each day and after going over the world they return and relay to him their findings. He rides the eight legged horse Sleipnir, one of the children of Loki. Two wolves, Geri and Freki, sit beside Odin, taking food that is offered to the god because Mead is both food and drink to him.
He weilds the spear Gungnir.
He is a traveler and he wanders the worlds, usually dressed in a wide brimmed hat, a grey cloak, and a walking staff.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)