ODIN

Odin is the messenger of the gods. The Nordic people also called him Wodhanaz, Wotan or Woden. Cross-culturally, his personality is similar to that of Hermes (Egyptian), Ouranos (Greek), Mercury (Roman) and Varuna (Vedic).

Odin’s mastery of poetry, shape changing, incantatory magic, necromancy and spirit flight makes him the supreme role model of the northern shaman. He is the source of consciousness between humankind and the gods, and beyond all notions of good and evil.

Odin’s mystic auto-sacrifice upon the world tree hanging upside down by a noose, and pierced in the side by his own spear, enabled him to win the secret of the runes which were etched into his being after nine days and nights.

The final three runes of the Elder Futhark protocol are Inguz, Dagaz and Othala. Read in reverse, their sound signatures are O, D and IN(G). I believe that this is hidden recognition of Odin’s authority over the runes. He embodies the supra-consciousness of the expanded psyche and the frenzy of inspiration.