Odin

[WinterTree]

Has anyone had any experience with him, know what he likes in terms of offerings, etc.?

[Witchy_Momma]

I don't follow Odin, but my husband is learning more about the Norse path. http://www.pagannews.com/cgi-bin/gods3.pl?Odin might help you.

Leslie

[Rick]

Go here: Northvegr.org (http://northvegr.org)

[WinterTree]

Thank you both, very much.

[Hangatyr 13]

What kind of offerings does Odin like? Hangings and blood. Since hanging humans and other animals is illegal in most countries, constituting murder and animal cruelty, I go with the later. I also offer beer to him, but that's just me, I think.

[WinterTree]

Thank you for the suggestions, but I don't think I'll be able to get my hands on beer any time soon. (I'm a little to young.) But I can subsitute it with something else.

[Hangatyr 13]

Thank you for the suggestions, but I don't think I'll be able to get my hands on beer any time soon. (I'm a little to young.) But I can subsitute it with something else.Some sources like "The Rites Of Odin" suggest substituting with apple juice. That's what I would do. You know, the whole "one for me, one for my homies" thing? It's like that. Just don't say that. People might bust out laughing. Apple juice seems most appropriate because it kind of looks like beer or meade, but it also sybolizes the apples of Idun. I'd also suggest using wine when you get old enough, red wine because it looks like blood. Odin doesn't eat the pork that's set before him in Valhalla. He feeds that to his wolves. He only drinks wine and listens to the knowledge that his ravens bring him. Knowledge is his meat.

[WinterTree]

Hmm apple juice. Well that's not hard to get a hold of at all. :) Thanks!

[mucgwyrt]

What kind of offerings does Odin like? Hangings and blood. Since hanging humans and other animals is illegal in most countries, constituting murder and animal cruelty, I go with the later. I also offer beer to him, but that's just me, I think.
Yeuh :sick:

Considering Woden (the british equivalent) is (apparently) primarily portrayed as a 'healer', I would say that neither the blood nor the hangings would fit. For one, the hangings were a -self- sacrifice in order to gain greater knowledge, not a sacrifice of another being's life - I dont think sacrificing something else's life would be the same at all - to me that is a twisting of his 'teachings'. Maybe sacrificing something of importance to you, like your favourite ring, but not your brother's pet bunny.

[Rick]

A healer? Hmm... maybe you should check out the 30-40 kennings in the Edda for Odin... they pretty much all have to do with death & war... NONE of 'em have to do with healing...

Here's the first site that popped up on a web search for "kennings for Odin"... http://www.angelfire.com/on/Wodensharrow/odennamn.html There are dozens, if not hundreds, of kennings here... didn't read each one, but scanned the list... no healers here...

[mucgwyrt]

A healer? Hmm... maybe you should check out the 30-40 kennings in the Edda for Odin... they pretty much all have to do with death & war... NONE of 'em have to do with healing...

Here's the first site that popped up on a web search for "kennings for Odin"... http://www.angelfire.com/on/Wodensharrow/odennamn.html There are dozens, if not hundreds, of kennings here... didn't read each one, but scanned the list... no healers here...
aye that as may be (I can't honestly say I've looked into the continetnal odinn), but the british Woden at least is known as a healer, and since they stem from the same god there must be a case for it. I'll try n find the reference for it tomorrow, and post it :)

[Rick]

The different names (Odin, Othin, Wotan, Woden) aren't different gods that stem from a single god, they are a single god, carried to the isles by the Saxons, Danes, & others... the only difference is dialects... there isn't a 'continental' Odin, a 'Brit' Odin, or an 'American' Odin, there's just Odin... Odin does have three distinctive aspects, but he is still only one god... just tryin' to be sure we're not discussing oranges & apples...

[mucgwyrt]

The different names (Odin, Othin, Wotan, Woden) aren't different gods that stem from a single god, they are a single god, carried to the isles by the Saxons, Danes, & others... the only difference is dialects... there isn't a 'continental' Odin, a 'Brit' Odin, or an 'American' Odin, there's just Odin... Odin does have three distinctive aspects, but he is still only one god... just tryin' to be sure we're not discussing oranges & apples...
I think this is something we'll have to agree to disagree on ;)

[KellyP]

aye that as may be (I can't honestly say I've looked into the continetnal odinn), but the british Woden at least is known as a healer, and since they stem from the same god there must be a case for it. I'll try n find the reference for it tomorrow, and post it :)
I am intrigued by this difference in insular-vs-continental beliefs. Any references you can provide would be appreciated. Most of what I have studied has come from the Sagas which are not from the Angles, Saxons or Jutes.

Kelly

[mucgwyrt]

I am intrigued by this difference in insular-vs-continental beliefs. Any references you can provide would be appreciated. Most of what I have studied has come from the Sagas which are not from the Angles, Saxons or Jutes.

Kelly
References are thin on the ground, as the majority of my knowledge on this stems from a few conversation with Mr. Pollington, but I can see if I can fish some out in the next few days, when I have time :)

[Paracelsus]

My experience of Odin, within a circle, is pretty limited, because he's the kind of God who tends to really take over! He's very powerful. Remember he is also the all-father, and thus in need of nothing, consequently offerings are of little use; unless you are offering yourself in dedication to him. Apples and beer are all very well, but try Mead (the gods drink Hydromel after all). The ideas expressed so far are both correct; Odin is both God of Battles, and a healer (the nine herbs charm- Wodne worthe weos), but far more. He is also a god of knowledge- both secular and spiritual, the giver of inspiration, and the bringer of justice. I would try asking for inspiration, and then writing your own poetry or rite.
Remember though that Odin, like many other gods is a god containing opposites - don't expect him to be the same all the time.
BB

[WinterTree]

Maybe sacrificing something of importance to you, like your favourite ring, but not your brother's pet bunny.

Don't worry, I would definitely not do something that drastic. :sick: Besides, poor bunny! :(

[WinterTree]

Thanks mucgwyrt and Paracelsus for your imput, it's very much appreciated. :)

[Fang of Loki]

What kind of offerings does Odin like? Hangings and blood. Since hanging humans and other animals is illegal in most countries, constituting murder and animal cruelty, I go with the later. I also offer beer to him, but that's just me, I think.

Hangings and Blood?

Those sound like sacrifices fit for Totatis, Esus, & Taranis.

[Hangatyr 13]

Hangings and Blood?

Those sound like sacrifices fit for Totatis, Esus, & Taranis.Celtic gods? I agree. The old Druids also hanged sacrificial victims and/or bled them dry. The Romans emphasized this and we know it's not BS because we're still finding mummfied bodies in peat bogs that had suffered the "three deaths" or had their throats slit. The ancient Celts and Germans had allot in common, but as much as I admire the Celtic gods, I don't worship them. I worship the old German gods, specifically Odin, "god of the hanged" and though I may not do as our ancient forefathers did and go around hanging people and slitting throats for the All-Father for reasons already stated, I do sacrifice my own blood.

Maybe something of importance to you, like your favorite ring, but not your brother's pet bunny.Material posessions? Why not your favorite teddy bear? I mean, it's important to you, right? How about your bank account? Why not burn a Silver Ravenwolf book for Odin? If I were to offer a ring in sacrifice, it would be to a fallen comrade on his journey to Valhalla, not a god.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Hangings and Blood?

Those sound like sacrifices fit for Totatis, Esus, & Taranis.

Just a slight correction, it is Teutates not Totatis.

And Hangatyr yes they are Celtic deities, specifically Gaulish.

[mucgwyrt]

Celtic gods? I agree. The old Druids also hanged sacrificial victims and/or bled them dry. The Romans emphasized this and we know it's not BS because we're still finding mummfied bodies in peat bogs that had suffered the "three deaths" or had their throats slit. The ancient Celts and Germans had allot in common, but as much as I admire the Celtic gods, I don't worship them. I worship the old German gods, specifically Odin, "god of the hanged" and though I may not do as our ancient forefathers did and go around hanging people and slitting throats for the All-Father for reasons already stated, I do sacrifice my own blood.

Material posessions? Why not your favorite teddy bear? I mean, it's important to you, right? How about your bank account? Why not burn a Silver Ravenwolf book for Odin? If I were to offer a ring in sacrifice, it would be to a fallen comrade on his journey to Valhalla, not a god.
:whatgives why not a ring to a god?
(I certainly wouldn't burn a book which would be so easily replaceable)

[Hangatyr 13]

:whatgives why not a ring to a god?
(I certainly wouldn't burn a book which would be so easily replaceable)Why not? Do you really think that a trinket which is important to you will be important to a god of war and death? The old pagans didn't. I'm pretty sure that the ancients didn't offer Budweiser to Odin either, but it's understood that it's offered in lieu of blood or blood-meade and is symbolic of kinship with him. Seriously, how often can you conduct a blot ("blood" comes from the word "blot" BTW) when every time, you're going to offer him something important to you? Do you have a whole jewlery box full of trinkets for Odin? What kind of master/slave relation would that be? Is Odin your master or is he your father?

Anyway, that's pretty much the reason why, but you can do what you like.

[Mjollnir]

When you blot to the gods, be it mead, beer, juice or whatever the point is you are doing something to show respect in honoring them. When you sacrifice something it is not something to be thought upon or taken lightly and it better have significant meaning to you for you to sacrifice it or else it is just window dressing.

[Fang of Loki]

Just a slight correction, it is Teutates not Totatis.

And Hangatyr yes they are Celtic deities, specifically Gaulish.

Actually, Totatis is one of the ways that the deity's name is spelled. I think it is in the book "Celtic Magic" by D.J. Conway.

[Nantonos]

Just a slight correction, it is Teutates not Totatis.

And Hangatyr yes they are Celtic deities, specifically Gaulish.

Mòrag is correct, 'Totatis' is just one more error in a poorly researched book. The same author made several near identical books, merely by a hasty 'search and replace' of deity names.

The correct spelling is Toutatis or Teutates, from Gaulish Teuta or Touta, the tribe, nation, or people. Similarly teutanos, member of said tribe, nation or people. The eu was also rendered as au when Gaulish was written in Greek letters; this seems to be a purely local Aquitaine regional variant. See pp.295-296 of

Delamarre, X. (2003). Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise. Paris, Editions Errance.

[Hangatyr 13]

When you blot to the gods, be it mead, beer, juice or whatever the point is you are doing something to show respect in honoring them. When you sacrifice something it is not something to be thought upon or taken lightly and it better have significant meaning to you for you to sacrifice it or else it is just window dressing.In ancient times, if food was plentiful and the folk prosperous, a godhi might offer the life of a horse or thrall, in times of famine or the like, he might sacrifice his own life to save his people, but ultimately, he was still sacrificing self to self because he was ensuring the prosperity of his people. It's like when modern-day runesters sacrifice their blood, they expect their sacrifice to pay off, "gift for gift".

[Malkior]

The First mentions of my Lord Odin were that of those describing him as a stormy giant of beserker fury who carries away the dead. This is one his aspects as Lord of the Hunt. Odin later ursurped tyr somehow to become to God of War. another of his aspects and when he sacrificed himself on the Yggadrill tree odin recieved knowledge and wisdom and became the shaman, and wanderer. in the eddas it speaks of odins three aspects, but kind of in a different way it says. Odin has two brothers, which are ville and ve. from my experiences thus far, though i was only recently called into the service of Odin, he prefers mead, and sacrifices of oneself and bending of ones own will to his as offerings.