Happy Odin’s Day!
Why do I call everyday, a happy day? Well, tis’ but a choice!
So Happy Odin’s day! Or “Woden” day as they called it!
Celebrating the planet – Mercury!
Now why did I pick a picture of from, Odin the Wanderer (1886) by Georg von Rosen. And why is his eye missing? Or seen with a patch? And where are his 2 ravens: worry and thought? You didn’t hear? Oh well, let me tell you a wondrous story!
But first…Mercury! The planet! Notice the French word for Wednesday, Mercredi…And how it sounds like…Mercury? But I digress.
Mercury, well…there you are Gemini? How kind of you to stop by today and read this, as we celebrate your planet! 😉
Mercury, is known for enhancing learning, promotes higher communication, opens one to knowledge and clear thought and is usually associated with the throat chakra. Why, but of course…your VOICE BOX! what do you need to speak today? What are you longing to say, and to whom? Meditate on that, as you find your own, inner strength. It was there all along. You just have to tap into it!
Now Odin, oh Odin. The Norse god associated with Wednesday. Well, he was known as the Father of all gods. The ruler of the Aesir tribe of deities! More on that, in Freya’s post (Friday!)
Anyway, even though he rules over the Kingdom of Asgard, he often ventures off, leaving on solitary wanderings through out the cosmos as he is a relentless seeker of wisdom. How does a god travel, you say? Well he travels in disguise, as a tall man, wearing a cloak and hat. Hence the infamous picture of him, attached to this post! Why, that could possible mean, Odin could be either you or me? Or someone you know?
Sometimes when Odin sits on on his throne in Hlidskjalf. (Bless you! I know, another terrible joke! Okay, I laughed out loud there, did you?) I had too, PAM – be-have 😉
Alright, where was I…Oh yes, when he sits on this throne. He sends out his two ravens: Huginn and Muninn. Huginn is none other than, ‘thought.’ And, Muninn, is none other than, ‘memory.’ These birds fly all over worlds and cosmos and return to him with great news and knowledge. Hence why, (see below) he is depicted with two ravens.
Huginn and Muninn and wolves Geri and Freki (1882) by Carl Emil Doepler
Now what happened to his eye? Well it happened on one of his wonderings, you see. He was seeking the fountain Mimir’s well! Which was housed in the land of the Giants – Jotunheim! He risked his life, trekking through the land of giants, all but for a sip of the ineffable wisdom, found in the well.
But it wasn’t that easy to just take one sip. No, there was a guardian to this well. It was called, Mimir’s well because he was the guardian. Mimir, the guardian of memory.
When Odin finally reached Mimir and his well, he requested just one sip.
Mimir, of course, shook his head no. Only he, was the drinker of the well. Odin persisted once again, saying, “I am your nephew, my mother was your sister.”
But that still wasn’t enough for Mimir.
Then Odin, finally gave in as he didn’t risk his life through the land of giants to but turn around. He asked Mimir, name your price.
To which Mimir, replied, your eye in the pool.
Odin, reached for his knife, and did the deed. And from there, he took his eye and dipped it in the well of knowledge and wisdom. In that one act alone, Odin saw more to life and all the cosmos, in one eye, then he ever did with both eyes open.
And so goes the story of his one eye.
Happy Odin’s day. May you trek along your journey and be brave among your journey to never lose face, or an eye, to that which calls you.
For in the losing, there are great gains. Because you will realize, you never lost anything at all.
Every ‘wonderer’ has a story to tell, and every story teller, may just be, an Odin in disguise.
Reflection upon worlds, to see, through their point of view.
In fact, I woulds say, some are just beginning the greatest journeys of their lives!
Happy Odin’s Day Everyone!
With love and friendship,
PAM
References:
Quote – J R R Tolkien, The lord of the Rings
The Cosmic Octave: Origin of Harmony by Hans Cousto.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
