I authored this article when still a member of the Wolfbund, and it was published within official Wolfbund publications. While they may in fact continue to utilize this article as a tool of instruction, I retain sole authorship and ownership of said article, and it may not be reproduced without my consent or without crediting me as the rightful author. -Hildolf Von Eisenwald
What is an Odian? The answer to this question is usually summed up in the following statement: “An Odian doesn’t worship Odhinn, rather emulates his path of Self-Transformation”. As with many summaries, while an idea may be communicated, the true essence of it is still hidden in the details. In order to understand this essence, we must turn to the tales surrounding the god that the Odian emulates. Once this is done, the relevant patterns concerning Odhinn can be recognized as:
- Transformation
- Self-centric Development
- Synthesis of Opposites (Bipolarity)
- Service to Community/Folk
Transformation
Among the myths surrounding the most mysterious of all the gods, we find a consistent pattern of transformation of one type or another.
The first instance of transformation where Odhinn has direct involvement is also the most relevant to one standing at the beginning of the Odian path: The Slaying of Ymir. In this tale, Odhinn and his brothers set upon the proto-giant Ymir and slay him, finally shaping the multiversal World-Tree from the components of his body (His skull formed the heavens, his blood the seas, etc.) On the Odian path, one emulates this pattern by shaping the undifferentiated material of the Self into a framework in which further transformations (within the framework), development and refinement may take place.
Self-centric Development
A word must be said here on what is meant by Self-centric development, so that there are no misunderstandings. This is not “selfishness” in the usual sense, but rather a concentrated focus on strengthening, developing and refining oneself according to Odhinn’s example. The “first” example of the assertion & development of Self in the Odhinnic mythos (if the myths are viewed in a linear fashion) is found within the names of the divine triad that slew Ymir: Odhinn (Master of Inspiration), Vili (Will) and Ve. The term Ve requires a bit more explanation to be understood in its context here as a personal name. The word “Ve” itself is a word that carries both connotations of holy separateness (consecration) as well as being a term for a space set aside for magical or religious practices. As part of his or her development, the Odian must recognize their separateness from the Objective Universe; in simple terms, this is recognizing where the rest of the world ends and you begin..although recognizing this isn’t as simple as some might imagine at times. This is personified in Ve. The Odian must develop his/her Will so that effective Self-determined actions such as magic & further Self development may take place. This is qualified in Vili. The aspiring Odian must gain proficiency operating within inspired mental states, and tapping the soul-faculty of these states, the Odhr. This is exemplified in Odhinn.
In the Yggdrasill Ordeal, Odhinn takes up the Runes, the eternal Mysteries of the Multiverse and of the Self; it’s relevant to point out that during this ordeal, Odhinn offers self to Self, rather than seeking some form of union (resulting in personal annihilation) with the Objective. The Runes are potent catalysts for the development, transformation and evolution of the Self in addition to their more well known uses in divination and operant magic. Each Odian must also emulate Odhinn in taking up the Runes in their quest for Self development
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In the Winning of the Poetic Mead, Odhinn journeys into Jotunheim to “acquire” (read: steal) the mead from the etinic forces of entropy; in the process, Odhinn performs several deeds that would be deemed less than acceptable in polite society in order to accomplish his aim.
The Odian too must at times step outside the boundaries of what is seen as “proper” according to popular custom and journey into foreign “territories” in order to win sources of wisdom and power.
Odhinn travels through the worlds, testing himself against etinic opponents. The Odian too must set tests before him/herself so that refinement of skills, knowledge, and ultimately Self can take place.
Synthesis of Opposites
Throughout the Eddic myths focused on Odhinn, a clear pattern of the interplay of polar opposites emerges: the “primary” source tales that demonstrate this pattern are the Yggdrasill Ordeal, the winning of the Poetic Mead, and Odhinn’s pledge of an eye for a drink from Mimir’s Well. A “secondary” tale demonstrating Odhinn’s bipolar tendencies is the poem Baldrs Draumar. For the sake of space, I will only only examine the particulars of the Yggdrasill Ordeal & the winning of the Poetic Mead.
During the Yggdrasill Ordeal, Odhinn hangs on the tree , wounded by his own weapon (a spear, symbolic of his own Will) offered up to himself ( a paradoxical action itself), and is deprived of any form of sustenance. At that “moment” of paradox where Odhinn is on that threshold between the extremes of life and death, confronted by all polarities, he “seizes” the Runes and “falls back screaming”
In the tale of his winning of the Poetic Mead, Odhinn takes the name Bolverkr (Worker of Evil), performs several malign acts (murder & deceit), finally descending into Suttung’s mountain in the form of a snake (following pressing his interests in a shady business deal) and seducing Suttung’s daughter Gunnlodh in exchange for three quaffs of the Mead she guards. Following fulfilling his side of the deal, Odhinn consumes every drop of the Mead, changes into the shape of an eagle, and returns to Asgard. It should be noted that the animals that Odhinn takes the shape of are found at the polar extremes of the World-Tree: serpent at the nadir of the tree, eagle at its zenith In this tale, we see Odhinn “polarizing” himself in name & deeds in his guise as Bolverkr, including coupling (Gebo) with an opposite in the form of Gunnlodh in his quest for inspiration, embodied in this particular tale as the Poetic Mead ( collectively known as Odhrœrir .) The Odian too seeks out and experiences all polar extremes be they light & darkness, love & hate or any other polarized opposites that may present themselves. No root or branch of the World-Tree is forbidden to the Odian, for it is in fact the framework of Yggdrasill itself that facilitates our evolution and transformations.
Service to Community/Folk
Odhinn is not selfish where the fruits of his quest for personal development & transformation are concerned: he shares the Runes and Poetic Mead with both gods and men, and shares his insights both mundane and esoteric in the Hávamál. His wisdom serves as a (ultimately) beneficial catalyst within the societies (those of gods and men) that he interacts in. The Odian clearly recognizes that he or she does not live in a vacuum: over time, each Odian will (in their own particular fashion) effect beneficial change within the environments in which they operate as a direct result of their own development. The foundations for these changes can be found in the Nine Noble Virtues and the Sixfold Goal. We as Odians have the insight to see the personal interest in the “common good”, and work towards it accordingly. This facet of the Odian way is one of the characteristics that set it apart from what is known as the “Left Hand Path”, with which the Odian way shares certain common traits as well.
These common patterns form the foundation upon which each Odian builds his or her “house” and by which he or she is prosperous upon the “estate”; while each “house” will ultimately be different as expressive of any given Odian, the essence of these patterns (in a traditional context) form a solid, steadfast & dependable base upon which to build. These ideas are hinted at in the following:
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“[Joy] is had
by the one who knows few troubles
pain and sorrows, and to him who himself has
power and blessedness,
and a good enough house.”
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“[Estate] is very dear
to every man,
if he can enjoy what is right
and according to custom
in his dwelling,
most often in prosperity.”
-From the Old English Rune Poem
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Some have said and will likely continue to say that the Odian path has no basis in Germanic heathenism, that it has been subject to undue influence from influences existing outside the Germanic cultural matrix. Others have said that Odianism has been concocted to serve the vanity of a handful of inflated egos. Ultimately, the validity of this path at a level of “tradition” lies in the fact that the patterns, the foundation of the Odian way itself is inherent in the lore, the “final” test of “tradition.”
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