30 Days of Devotion: 19& 20

What quality or qualities of this god do you most admire? What quality or qualities of them do you find the most troubling?

The qualities that I admire would be the ones in the vein of writing (I.E. Poetry, songs, novels) and wisdom. I'm always writing or thinking up stories, and knowledge and wisdom is something I strive for constantly. Just ways of bettering myself I suppose.

What I find troubling would be Odin's war aspect. Conflict is not my thing.  I understand that it is a large part of Him but I try to bring the peace as much as possible. I mean, if there is conflict that I cannot avoid then I'll wade through it and weather any blows that come my way, but I don't search them out.


Art that reminds you of this deity.

There has been a bunch of pieces that remind me of Odin, ones that purposely do so and others that aren't supposed to. I mean, I look at Ian McKellen as Gandalf and see Odin more than anything else.  Looking around the collected pieces over the years I suppose this one sticks out:

It is from an artist on Deviantart (LINK) and it's a wonderful piece. Love this to no end.

30 Days of Devotion: 17 & 18

How does this deity relate to other gods and other pantheons?

I believe Odin would mesh rather well. We have the Romans comparing him to Mercury, so those two could possibly do well together.  Then there is the similarities between Odin and Lugus as well.  I think any deity dealing with wisdom and magic could be on decent terms with the Allfather and vice versa. He could also work alongside the deities of war without an issue.  Other than that I believe he could move amongst them with little problem, being a voice of wisdom in needed times.  He seems more like the type just to wander and pop in when he decides to.




How does this deity stand in terms of gender and sexuality? (historical and/or UPG)

I mentioned this in a previous post, but the majority of people seem to pin Odin as being very misogynistic and he-manish. Very much a man's man. Me? When it comes to gender and sexuality I think Odin is very much relaxed with it. While I haven't seen any note of him laying with another man, he seems to have little if no reaction to Loki saying he is less then a man because he was taught 'woman's magic'(by Frigg). Odin has probably reached a point that both subjects mean little to him until, perhaps, he feels the urge to lay with someone.  Gender wise, who know who that could be with.

30 Days of Devotion: 15 & 16

Any mundane practices that are associated with this deity?


None that I know. I think one could argue that composing some form of written work or performing in a play could be a mundane practice for Odin.  Honestly I don't know much about this.  Not many people really set out how the worship a deity point by point, and it always seems like the one you want to know about isn't present.

So personally, it is the composing of written work.  I write stories and if/when they are published, I will dedicate it to Odin in thanks.




How do you think this deity represents the values of their pantheon and cultural origins?


There are nine virtues which I think you could say are the values of the pantheon.  Here is what I've been told:

1. Courage
2. Truth
3. Honour
4. Fidelity
5. Discipline
6. Hospitality
7. Self Reliance
8. Industriousness
9. Perseverance

I do think Odin represents these virtues, though some may argue. I suppose the only argument would be against Fidelity. There are stories of Odin laying with other people, his wife doing much of the same, but the two always come back to each other. Odin loves Frigg and vice versa. For me, I don't think I need to explain each point and how Odin represents them. I will if someone speaks up, but He speaks for himself.

30 Days of Devotion: Day 13 & 14

Hey now, don't judge me. I told you this week was going to be hectic. :P

What modern cultural issues are closest to this deity?

This is all my own personal feelings so this may different from what is out there.  I think things like education is a big deal for Odin.  He is a deity of wisdom and brought the runes, so knowledge is something near and dear to to him.  The lack of good schools or omitting knowledge or even perpetuating misinformation about something would bother him.

War would be another major thing for Odin.  While being a deity of battle, I do think that even he would tire of it and fighting over such menial things would be against what he strives for.  He would know that war is an evil necessity( in some cases).

I'm trying to think of other issues that could be in Odin's sphere of effect.  Perhaps the future of wolves, due to two companions. Maybe even keeping the wild horses roaming free and healthy due to his connection to Sleipnir.  The state of schools in the world.  Mead making, because, well, he brought us mead!

There are so many aspects to Odin that picking a few is seeming to be a little difficult.


Has worship of this deity changed in modern times?

I would have to say yes.  The sacrificing of humans has stopped, as far as I know, and animal sacrifices have probably come to crawl but I do believe there are some that do so.  Since I haven't found any notes of other ways of worship to Odin, I can only speculate after the sacrifices.  We still sacrifice but not in the same way.  We offer items to Odin and pledge to him, but probably in a different manner.  Who truly knows?

Did it again....30 Days of Devotion: 11& 12

I hope this isn't a habit but I do know my work schedule next week is a little hectic. :I  On with the show, yes?


Day 11-  Festivals, days, and times sacred to this deity.

Well, I do know that Wednesday was Wodansday, which made said day Odin's. He's not the only one with a specific day of the week but since I'm discussing him, I'll just stick with that. I'm not sure if anything special was done on this day in honor of Odin but I suppose in this day and age one could present offerings to him.

The only other thing I can think of in terms of days, festivals and what not is the Wild Hunt during Yule. Kids would leave their boots by the hearth filled with hay and sugar for Sleipnir and, in return, Odin would leave little gifts. Over time and with the changing of influencing religion, Odin morphed into our modern day Santa Clause and Sleipnir become a multitude of reindeer.


Day 12- Places associated with the deity and their worship

This one......this one seems hard to answer. All my searches uncover nothing on the idea of specific places for Odin.  There are places with his name in the name but other than that there is no 'holy site' that I can dig up.  I suppose one could argue that Odin's place is the battlefield, and I could argue that it could be in places of learning as well.  In my opinion Odin's places are where ever you feel him most.  He seems more like a wanderer these days and with many of the old Norse settlements gone and being discovered he needs a new place.  Until something is brought to my attention to better answer this question, this is it.

Oops....30 Days of Devotion: 9 & 10

Well, that sucked. I was doing so well about posting every day. Anywho, time to continue!!

Day 9- Common Mistakes about this Deity.

This may just be my personal view/UPG but I think the big mistake or misconception about Odin is that he is misogynistic.  I had never gotten that vibe from him at all.  While he led a people that seemed very pro man, but had some very great views on women before converting, that doesn't appear to be the case. He expects the same from a man and woman, and won't baby one or the other.  The Eddas and the other old stories have the same problem that the Bible does: it was written by human hands.  The author(s) could put in what ever they wanted and we, many years later, don't have a clue.


Day 10- Offerings: Historical and UPG

The only historical offerings that I have noticed for Odin were that of sacrifice or killings in war.  Sacrifices were usually either male slaves or male animals, which were hung from the branches of trees after said sacrifice.  There are accounts of kings being sacrificed to Odin as well, but other than sacrificing I have yet to hear much.

Since I don't personally want to sacrifice men or animals of any gender, I have a tendency to put mead or other alcoholic drinks on the altar to him.  I also light candles and incense.  Some people put food out for Odin but I am iffy on doing that myself, mainly because in the Eddas he only consumes mead.  All others are given to his wolves.

I will say I have thought about putting jewelry or personally made items out for him, but have yet to do so.  I have also been thinking of something that I love dearly to 'sacrifice' in his name.  What that would be, I don't know.

30 Days of Devotion: Day 8

Variations of this deity.


Ah, variations on Odin.

I know of Wodan, in old High Germanic, but I believe there is a similarity between the figures(if ANYONE reading this knows any different, please let me know. Knowledge is power!).

There is an odd coincidence between Odin and the Celtic god Lugus.  They are both gods of intellect, wield spears, are accompanied by ravens, have control over poetry and magic.  I remember seeing a picture of Lugus in a book that Grendal's mother owns and pointing out to Grendal how similar they looked.  He noticed it right away as well.  While they may not be the same deity, Lugus and Odin have strong parallels and is worth peeking at.

The Romans referred to Odin as Mercury in many of their texts, so you could say they are a variation of each other.  Personally, though, I don't see it as such.

Other than those few, though, I am not sure on variations of Odin.  Not much turns up for me.  Hmmmm. If anyone can point me in the right direction for this information, please do!