The energy of Odin could not differ more from the energy of his son Thor, who I discussed in my previous UPG post.
Unlike Thor, Odin does not always appear or answer my prayers; unlike Thor, Odin’s presence does not (usually) feel grounding or stable; unlike Thor, I feel certain I could unintentionally offend Odin under the wrong circumstances.
I experience Odin primarily as the Master of Ecstasy, the Truth Seeker (Sanngetall), & the God of Runes (Rúnatýr).
The first time I felt his presence in a ritual, I experienced such a surge of euphoria that I stopped what I was doing and began dancing; I lost myself in the primal pleasure of movement, & when I returned I felt confused & a bit afraid.
Yet while he is not as gentle or reassuring as certain other gods, I feel a deep desire to be seen by Odin, & an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the times when he does appear to me.
It is clear to me that Odin takes little interest in me outside of my workings in magic, trance journeying, & truth seeking. This serves as inspiration & motivation to stay on my path.
He has instructed quite directly that studying the runes is the best way to prove myself to him.
Odin’s presence feels more dynamic and tempestuous than the other gods. I feel his worry, his curiosity, his torment, his inspiration, the weight of his learned wisdom.
I relate more than I would like to admit to Odin’s desperation to learn the mysteries of the universe & to change the fated events of Ragnarok; I know what it is like to fight against fate, to believe that you can change it somehow.
Finally, I do experience a more peaceful side of Odin—that of The Wanderer, Gangleri, & of the Journey Empower, Farmagnuðr.
This aligns closely with the long-bearded, cloak-wearing, spear-wielding depiction of Odin we see often, & does not invoke the feelings of ecstasy and madness I otherwise experience in his presence; rather I feel deeply curious & inspired, yet still calm & clear.
Despite his many wise warnings against alcohol, my offerings of red wine & mead have been most well-received by Odin. I sense he generally prefers quality over quantity.
Artwork: “Odin the Wanderer” by Georg von Rosen
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