Odin, also called by many names like Wotan and the Alfather, is a god whose worship was once in the hearts of kings, and commoners alike. Find out who this Norse god Odin is and what his worship in the past and today is like.
Odin is a god who has existed in the hearts of many people for countless generations. Some say he was one of the gods who created human beings and others say he is an ancestor whose blood flows through the veins of his descendants. We may never know exactly where Odin came from, but we do know he was and still is a powerful god loved by many. Join Mysticesnse to learn about Odin, the father of the Norse gods, who is known by many names. Find out what the myths say about him and what worshippers of the past did . Then find out how some of today’s Odin worshippers celebrate him and surprising ways you can communicate with Odin and pay tribute to him.
Who is Odin?
Odin is a pre–Christian Norse god who was worshipped throughout Northern Europe from 2 BCE or earlier. His name occurs on ancient place names and regions that were inhabited by Germanic people and the day Wednesday bears his name. Some consider him to be an ancestral figure of royalty, but others say he is the father of the Norse gods known as the Aesir. He is the son of Bestla and Borr and he has two brothers named Vili and Ve. Attestations to the existence of Odin are found throughout the Germanic occupied regions, and much was recorded in Iceland in the 13th century. He is also written about by Jacob Grimm, Tacitus, and by Julius Caeser.
To date, the earliest known reference to the god Odin was found on a piece of gold jewelry in Denmark and is believed to have been buried at least 1500 years ago. Odin is a god of wisdom and knowledge, different aspects of war including the battlefield, victory, and the slain of the battlefield. He is a god of death and the ruler of one of the many afterlife places where people could go. He is the god of poetry, sorcery, and frenzy in battle. It is believed that the regions of what was known as Germania at one point which was a region in North Central Europe and that these people took their god with them during what is known as the barbarian invasions or the migration. From 300 to 600 AD. They took their god and to all of the areas where they raided and settled. And then during the Viking age, an age of seafaring and trade and exploration from the 8th to 11th centuries CE, they took their god with them. He is also worshipped by neo heathens who have revived his religion today. See photos of the earliest known reference to Odin here: Oldest reference to Norse god Odin found in Danish treasure | AP News
What Are His Names?
There are 170 different names known to us for Odin and perhaps more will be discovered. He is known as a God who travels throughout all of creation. Folklore says that there are Nine Worlds and he travels to all of them, sometimes in disguise. He is known as The Traveler and The Wanderer and one reason why he travels the Nine Worlds is to gain more wisdom. Some people believe that Odin can make an appearance as a mysterious stranger so kindness and hospitality is shown to all strangers. Another name for Odin is the Alfather or because not only is he seen as the father of gods and goddesses, he is seen as the father of humanity.
The name Oden means " frenzy, rage, inspiration.” There are names that sound similar to this name like the Lombard name for him, Godan, and the names Woden of Old English and Wuotan from Old High German. Geirtyr is a name for him that means “Spear god” because he has a mighty spear named Gungnir that never misses its mark. Hildolfr is a name that means “Battle Wolf” and Hangi or “Hanged One” is a name for him because he hanged himself from the World Tree to gain the knowledge of Runes. Another name is Gautr, which means “Gotlander” referring to the Island of Gotland in Sweden. Fjolsvidr is a name that means “the very wise one.” Odin shares some of his wisdom in the Havamal, which you can read here: Hávamál | Odin's Words of Wisdom from the Poetic Edda (Full Text)
Myths About Odin
Some people say the way to get to know Odin is through his myths. Stories of his deeds explain who he is and what he's done. Stories of his ravens and wolves say a lot about him as do why he battles Frost Giants. Learning how and why he lost an eye, helped create human beings, and how he got the Runes will help to get to know him.
Huginn and Munin
Odin can't be everywhere at once, so he sends out his Ravens Huginn whose name means “thought” and Muninn whose name means “will or intention”. They seek out information for Odin across the earth, also known as Midgard. They perch on his shoulders and tell him all the things that they have seen. Odin sends them out at dawn and they return by dinner time. With Odin being a god of the battlefield, it is probably not a coincidence that ravens are believed to be his animals. They feed upon the bodies of dead animals, including humans who have fallen on the battlefield. Odin is a God who gathers the souls of slain warriors from the battlefield and perhaps some people believe that his ravens help him with that. You can read the meaning of raven spirit animals here: My Animal Spirit Guides
Geri and Freki
Odin has two wolves named Geri which means “the ravenous one” and Freki, which means “greedy”. In Helgakvida Hundingsbana, it is said the wolves roam the battlefield hungry for the corpses of the dead. In various places in lore, it states that Odin gives all food that is on his table to his wolves and drinks only wine for himself and that he does not require food. Some warriors who venerated Odin in ancient times were known as the Berserkers. They dressed in the skins of wolves or bears and were said to be impossible to defeat in battle. Wolves don't feed upon the dead quite like Ravens do, but they will if they need to. Perhaps wolves were seen on battlefields and thought of as creatures of Odin in ancient times. A cousin of the wolf is the dog, and you can read about their special magic here: Dog Spiritual Meaning, Symbolism, and Dreams
Odin Battles the Frost Giants
The Frost Giants, also called the Jotunn are a race of beings at odds with the Aesir, or the gods Odin is the father of. Another name for them is thur, a name that means “ evil spirit.” They are beings who have similar power to the Aesir gods, but they have harmful nature and are especially considered to be harmful to women. The female giants are often described as beautiful and some of them are described as being dwarves. They are known for being especially aggressive to the Aesir. Thor, son of Odin, constantly protects Midgard, and Asgard the home of the Aesir gods, from the giants. It is believed by some that there will be a final battle led by Odin against the frost giants to protect the worlds from them.
Why Odin has One Eye
Odin was always seeking wisdom. So he sacrificed his eye in Mimir’s Well of knowledge. Mimir had a well of knowledge he drank from every day to become wiser. The well lay beneath the roots of the World Tree that supports all Nine Worlds and it is in the realm of the Jotunn. Odin went and gave one of his own eyes to Mimir for permission to drink from the well and gain wisdom. He also took possession of the head of Mimir and consults Mimir to gain knowledge. Perhaps he sees farther with half the vision he had before and Odin understands sacrifice to be a sacred way to gain strength.
Odin Helped Create Humanity
Ymir was a giant and the ancestor of all the Jotunn. Ymir was responsible for creating the world first and under his rule, it was a land of chaos. Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve decided to kill Ymir to create order. From his slain body, they formed much. His head became the sky and his flesh the earth. His hair became forests, and his blood the waters. When they looked across the world they created, they saw two logs and formed them into people named Ask and Embla. So according to lore, humans are formed from the body of the Jotunn who first created the world, but Odin is the father of mankind because he formed us.
The Runes
Runes are another source of wisdom Odin gained and has shared with human beings. Runes are letters of Germanic alphabets. The World Tree grows out of a deep Well of Urd, and there reside the Norns, the three beings who weave the fate of the world. They do this by carving fate into the roots of the Tree in Runes. Odin sacrificed himself by hanging and piercing himself with his spear and called to the Runes to reveal themselves to him. In his suspended state between life and death, after nine days like this, they did! This knowledge gave Odin more power and he shared the Runes with humanity. Find out how to use Runes here: What Are Rune Stones and How to Use Them
Historic Worship of Odin
In days past, Odin was not the only god among his people, but one of many. Specifically, he was asked for victory and protection by warriors in battle and animal sacrifices were given to him. Warriors would also offer the souls of all the lives they took in battle to Odin. Hymns, offerings of food and drink, and recitations of Runes and chants were done in his honor and to ask him to come close. Warriors asked to be taken with Odin to his home called Valhalla when they died, and they believed they had to die a valorous death to make it there. They wore symbols of Odin and some believe that his devotees would sometimes carve three interlaced triangles called a valknut into their skin as they died believing it would serve as a portal to reach Odin in the afterlife.
Today’s Odin Worshippers
Today’s worshippers don’t often do the animal sacrifices, but some still do. Many gather in groups called Kindreds and they study the lore about Odin like the Eddas and Sagas and pray together. Hospitality is a way Odin’s devotees respect him and one another, and a ritual called a Blot is held. In the Blot, any god can be honored, but when Odin is honored the first round of drinks toasts him. The people are blessed, and food and drink offerings are poured into the ground or fire for Odin. A small handful of Odin’s devotees say his worship is an ancestral tradition, but few demand proof of ancestry. After all, Odin travels all the Worlds, and he created all people, not just people of German descent. He is believed to be the father of all mankind, so many of his devotees welcome all who feel called to Odin.
How to Talk to Odin
Worship of Odin is a personal choice and cannot be preached. If you don’t want to join a group that follows Odin, you might wonder how you can talk to him, and get to know him. It starts with an open heart and the desire to communicate with him. Sometimes, this intention alone will reach Odin and he will respond. Other times, surrounding yourself with symbols of Odin helps. Some people will hang a picture of him over their home altar, or wear a symbol of him like the valknut. You can give gifts to Odin like pouring libations of wine into the ground for him, or donate books to help people become wise in his name. You can also do something surprisingly helpful in his honor.
Odin’s wolves and ravens might be considered mythic to some people, but real wolves and ravens suffer on earth sometimes. In North America, wolves have been hunted to near extinction. Besides this, some people think having a pet wolf sounds exciting, but then realize they underestimated how challenging it is to own a mighty wolf. Some people even breed thousands of these animals each year from profit, and over 90% of these animals are put to death by humans each year. One organization in the United States helps. They rescue captive born wolves and wolf dog hybrids who need new homes, and they care for up to 30 animals at one time. If you know of a situation a wolf or wolf dog needs help in, you can contact the organization. You can also make donations, or volunteer to help here: W.O.L.F Sanctuary | Wolves Offered Life and Friendship
Most modern people follow modern gods, but not everybody does. There was a time when the gods of today were followed by only small groups of people and back in those days Odin was one of the greater gods. Some of today's people still follow him. He is a god of the battlefield yes, but he is also a god tasked with defending the world from evil beings who would destroy it. He comforts the souls of dead warriors and guides humanity to inspiration and wisdom. Perhaps Odin will speak to you. All gods live forever in the hearts of their followers and in their lore. So Be It.
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