Odinn or Allfather, is the ruler of the Aesir. Odinn, Vili and Ve killed Ymir – the first Giant, and used his corpse to create the Midgard (Middle Earth – Earth); Odinn gave the first pair of humans (Ask and Embla) the breath of life and thus began the unfolding of their wyrd (destiny). Along Freyja of the Vanir, he’s one of the two greatest practitioners of shamanism among the gods. He’s the One-eye Wanderer, the God of War, Poetry, noble men and outlaws. One of Odinn’s piercingly blue eyes lies in the Mimir’s well. He hung for the nine nights and nine days from the Yggdrasil, pierced by his own spear – sacrifice from himself to himself, until the Runes revealed themselves to him, and with a scream he fell down and grabbed the Runes. He’s the god of magic and knowledge. Odinn rides an eight-legged horse Sleipnir who accompanies him on his travels through the nine realms; Hugin and Munnin (Thought and Memory) are his two ravens that he sends out in the morning to wander across the world and bring him news in the evening; Geri and Freki (the ravenous and the greedy one) are his two wolves which accompany Odinn and he feeds them with his offerings, never eating himself, only drinking (mead or vine). Odin wears a gold ring Draupnir forged by the dwarven brothers Brokkr and Eitri, which multiplies itself every ninth night eight new rings drip from it, thus Odinn is also called the Lord of the Ring. Gungnir is his spear also fashioned by the Dwarves, and it never misses its target.

Odinn is the god of wisdom, all who seek it – go to him. He’s also the god of seidr – magic. Odinn doesn’t shy away from ill reputation if the prize is gratifying enough, for him the goal justifies the means. Odinn also speaks in poems, and the ability to compose poetry is a gift he grants at his pleasure; he stole the mead of poetry, the primeval source of the ability to speak and write beautifully and persuasively from the giants.

Odinn is also the god of the dead. He presides over Valhalla, the most prestigious of the dwelling-places of the dead. He is known for collecting the bravest and most renowned fallen warriors with Valkyries for his hall after the battles. He is a necromancer.

Odin is listed as the divine ancestor of countless families from all over northern Europe. He is the divine force whose presence the Vikings felt in óðr. Odinn is the vital force of all vital forces – he is the “breath of life”; his power grants vivifying ecstasy, enchantment, insight and clarity. Odinn is a companion for life, he grants wisdom, knowledge, verbal and tactical prowess and forges out of you an individual worthy of Valhalla. In modern age, his gifts are very recognizable through written words that exude eloquence, wisdom and finesse. I recommend his energy to all whom look for that something that keeps escaping their open eyes and yet they know something resides in the shadows. After all, he is our Father of All.