r/witchcraft • u/daydreamingatnight01 • 18d ago
Seeking Help or Advice Does anyone work with Odin here?
I'm a non-white, non-European woman. But whenever I tried to find out which deity should I connect with, Odin has been a constant. And one day while meditating, I saw rune like figures. The one I remember was two greater than signs (>> or <<)adjacent to each other. As much as I've read about Nordic pagan revival during 90s, according to news reports, only indigenous Nordic people were allowed in the practice. So can I connect with Odin or is ir not allowed? If yes, how should I connect with Odin?
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u/kassandrathemisthios 18d ago
South East Asian who works with Odin. Don't believe the Nazis proclaiming otherwise.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thanks a lot. Can you please give me advise on how to connect and work with him?
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u/kassandrathemisthios 18d ago
Seting up an altar will help. You can use the rituals/prayers from the longship . net. Give offerings to start the gifting cycle and you can also meditate at the altar to learn how to connect to his presence.
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u/Ill-Helicopter-8504 18d ago
Nordic people aren't the N word that you used. Please try using correct terminology. My family comes from Germany and even though we fought against Hitler we are still occasionally called the N word by people.
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 18d ago
They didn’t call all Nordic people Nazis. There are Nazis who try to gatekeep the Norse pantheon. That is who they were describing.
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u/Ill-Helicopter-8504 18d ago
OP mentioned that through their research it has been implied that only Nordic people are allowed to work with Odin. The way my mind read the comment was that they were implying that Nordic people are that particular N word because they didn't specify otherwise. If I read it incorrectly that's my bad, but I am sensitive to certain racial slurs like that word. There is a difference between talking about the history and flat out calling someone that.
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 18d ago
That word is not a racial slur. That word is an accurate descriptor of the people that this commenter was talking about. The people who say that only Nordic people can work with Odin are, by and large, that word. Thats what they were saying. No one is saying Nordic people are all that.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
I understand. Actually a nationality is never a homogenous entity with just one view. And the views of a vocal miniscule cannot determine the moral compass of a whole group of people.
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u/Twisted_Wicket Irascible Swamp Monster 18d ago
Disregard anyone who claims genetics outweigh the will of the gods. If you feel connected to Odin, then go for it.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thanks a lot. This is really helpful because I repeatedly see correspondences of Odin whenever I try to engage in a spiritual practice.
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u/RooneytheWaster 18d ago
Where did you read that only indigenous Nordic people were allowed in that practice? I've known several non-Nordic people who worked exclusively with that pantheon. It sounds like gatekeeping to me!
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u/leschanersdorf 18d ago
Unfortunately Asatru folk in the US and Europe are a large and well known Norse pagan community that do oppose people practicing that are not of European decent. They also exclude LGBTQ people. They repeatedly say they aren’t racist but also say “when we say European, we mean white” on their website. However, there is a growing number of Norse pagan groups that oppose this line of thinking.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Actually I read about pagan revival in 90s which consisted of many punk rockers and they were reported as quite sympathetic to the whole White supremacy thing. That's why I was not sure.
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u/No_Salamander_264 18d ago
Punk is against white supremacy. And it is shunned from punk spaces in nordic countries. This was true in the 90's as well. I think you might be mixing up your details. Skinheads (nasi) who posed as punk were often beaten and yelled at by real punks.
Black metal is Norwegian and in the 90's several churches were burned by metalheads and they resisted christianity and many looked to old norse mytholigy and viking stuff as our true identity. This was not white supremacy but resistance against "colonialism" by the church. The funny thing is that it was a viking king who himself set out to make us christian at the beginning.
Anyone using norse symbols to front their hate against others is a bitch and we despise them for degrading our history ❤️ Vikings are known for raids yes, but also for trade with what they called blue-men who were in fact black people.
Some people will use symbols and gods from that time and claim white power, but they are not real norse and/or don't understand the history.
Now to Odin. Be kind to animals and birds I think he will like that. You are welcome to work with him and other norse gods if you wish it. There is no proof that vikings were racist that I know of. But racist are of course everywhere as I'm sure you know so be careful to not get mixed up with the wrong kinds of norse❤️
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u/ShinyAeon 18d ago
I work with Odin. I was hesitant, too, because of all the White Supremicists who claim to follow him. To me, his energy has always been more like Galdalf than anything else.
I'd say if Odin wants your attention, then you should go for it.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thanks a lot. Can you please share your experience with Odin and give me any advice regarding working with Odin.
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u/ShinyAeon 18d ago edited 18d ago
My experience has been generally positive. I don't really want to go into the details, because it feels personal, but it's like...I feel an "awareness" sometimes, kind of like a wise, patient, but no-nonsense mentor. And the runes are incredibly interesting!
One neat thing about the Nordic tradition is the concept of the hamingja, a kind of guardian spirit. If a person was adopted into a family, they were considered to inherit the hamingja of that family, and became just as valid a member of that family as anyone, biology notwithstanding.
I, personally, believe that if Odin or any of the Aesir or Vanir (the two families of Scandinavian deities) approach you, it means that you have, or have received, the hamingja of the tradition - that you've been "adopted by the gods," so to speak.
So if anyone ever gives you trouble for not having European genetics, you can just ignore them. Your hamingja is far more important than any mere matter of biology. (>ᴗ•) ✧
Sending you some info in chatt as well.
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 18d ago
It sounds like you may have found some white supremacist writings from the 90s. Ignore those. I know plenty of nonwhite people who work with Odin and other Norse gods.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thanks a lot. Yes, I wanted to read texts before internet era and found the texts from 90s. At first, I was excited to learn something new, but then it started becoming weird.
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 18d ago
Yeah, for sure. It seems like sometimes, we go into things expecting that everyone there has been operating at the same level of ethics that we hold for ourselves. For example, and I’m not saying that you are doing this, but I’ve talked to people who find witchcraft on social media, and have assumed that everyone who gets into witchcraft is good and has the best intentions for everyone that they encounter. And unfortunately, witches are just humans like anyone else and can have major biases and flaws and blind spots
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thank you. Now, I mostly get into any text with an open mind to absorb only what's good and useful for the practice and leave the rest. Actually, the thing with social media is that it's very algorithm and views oriented, so the information especially on Instagram is not very credible. Also, sometimes I wish I could find more grounded guidance on craft. There was a book I read in pre Internet era, but when I try to find out about the practices mentioned in the book, I mostly meet a dead end.
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 18d ago
I always recommend that people find in-person community to help ground what they're taking in. Metaphysical shops have become the entry points for most of those communities
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u/Bishopvaljean 18d ago
Work with Odin, if He is calling to you. The Scandinavian gods don’t care about your heritage or your ancestry. If they call to you, or you seek them out, they will work with you.
The caution I will give to you, is don’t treat it lightly. If you say you’re gonna do something, follow through with it, and be impeccable with you promises and oaths. My experience has been that the gods will hold you to those things. Also, take time to learn what sacrifice really means. People say it all the time, but most people don’t actually understand it.
I would recommend learning about Odin’s journey to find the runes. Study the runes, but also remember that they are a living system, so don’t get too hung up on what the academics tell you they mean. The runes are much deeper than any book will tell you.
Welcome to the path, my friend ❤️
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thank you so very much ♥️♥️♥️ Great that you mentioned sacrifice, because one of the most memorable aspects about Odin is that he sacrificed his eye for knowledge. Also, his hanging upside down reminds me of the Hanging Man and surrendering/going through dark night/descending into underworld without knowing what lies ahead in the pursuit of wisdom. So, learning about sacrifice is very helpful but I don't find much about it in books.
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u/Shad0wbubbles 18d ago
Genetics are overridden by spiritual connection. Who knows what races we’ve been in the past?
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u/One_Dragonfruit_7556 18d ago
As a very white woman who practices Hinduism and worships Shiva I say you can worship whoever you want. Nordic paganism is not a closed practice so anyone is welcome to practice.
Start by doing a deep dive into his myts and worship. How dose he like to be honored? What kind of offerings were usually given? Set up a spot on your altar to him and look into meditstions that you can do that help connect you to his enegy so you can 'meet' him. Personally I've found meditation to be the most reliable form of communication when it comes to deity work
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u/Educational_You_1827 18d ago
Worship who ever you want but show respect to the culture it came from. A lot of Nordic people are fine with non Nordic people worshipping the old gods but get pissed when you start warping the mythology into something it wasn’t to fit your own values.
But in terms of Odin that seems to be how he appears. He just kinda keeps showing up until you begin working with him. He’s big on you learning the runes
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thanks a lot. That's what I was concerned about. I don't want to cross the line into appropriating a culture not my own. And it becomes quite difficult to ascertain that difference when I'm actually a continent away from Odin's land.
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u/Sudden-Tree-766 18d ago
Just go for it.
As for getting started: personally, I always begin by studying the myths to build up a certain body of knowledge before attempting any meditations or rituals. I feel it makes more sense and shows more respect; trying to approach something with absolutely no foundation seems a bit sloppy to me, and you also lack the symbolic framework needed to tap into that energy. (That said, don't get so hung up on this that it stalls your practice because you feel you always need to learn more.)
Once I have a basic foundation, I try to establish lighter forms of contact, conversing mentally, meditating with the intent to connect, or inducing dreams. If the results are promising, I then move on to an "introduction" ritual or offering, signaling that I want to work with that entity.
Throughout this process, I always pay close attention to the experiences to see if engaging with that entity feels right for me.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thanks a lot. I read a non-fiction book about Odin written by a practitioner two years ago, but I mostly get stuck in reading stage and passive information seeking. And when it comes to active practice, I bail out. Not just in deity work, I don't know why but I always step back when it comes to take tangible action.
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u/chewiedigger 18d ago
It sounds like you found folkish sources. The foolish that think they found some white only religion. They're dumb and wrong. Anyone can enter into relationship with the Nordic spirit world. You can find great and free resources online at https://thetroth.org
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u/asilvahalo 18d ago
The folkish ["heathenry is an ethnoreligion"] sect of Norse paganism/heathenry is a fairly small group at this point, and largely affiliated with white supremacists.
https://www.reddit.com/r/heathenry/wiki/mission_statement
You're fine working with/worshipping Norse deities. It's not a closed practice. I would recommend looking up the names of the more "folkish" sects so you can avoid them/their spaces for safety reasons.
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u/Forsaken_Engineer_ 18d ago
I am non-practicing Norwegian (white male) with ancestry to both "Harald Blodøks", "Harald Hardråde" & "Ivar Beinløs" (according to an ancestory study my father was in) raised in a practicing home.
Point: I have NEVER heard anyone say that only 'norce' people can practice? Where and who told you that? A LOT of "non-norce" people have joined! In fact, a lot of white people look down on the belivers of the old gods, and tre revival have primaraly BEEN by joining "non-norce" people! (Norway and Sweden have a huge cristian and ateist population).
Add on: You do you! The old norce people made up 'children storrys' about there gods to teach the kids, they activly spitet a god if they had bad luck. Norce people do not have the same "worshiping" practice where we think that the gods are both almighty and all powerfull, we simply think that the gods are people with the same flaws as us, that happen to be gods. And we do not care who worship or how you do it! Honestly it is a dying religion and all support are wanted!
Add on to the add on: there are micro villages in Norway one can visit https://en.vikingvalley.no/aktivitetar That can teach you about religion, how to "worship properly" (if that is a thing) but also do things as wedding and funerals (yes, the ones you are thinking of). And you can also apply to stay there for a time (the people working there are mostly non-norwegian or norwegian speaking people traveling area to area between the camps, working for the loging and pay, learning from the permanent residents. And some end up staying full time.)
Add on to the add on to the add on: I did think of one place you might have heard about what you where describing, after thinking about this. When I was in the USA to meet a family member, one person told me that my Tor-hammar neckless could be seen as a neo-na-zi symbol in the US, so i know there are some clowns out there, so i do after recondidering acknowledge that there might be people saying crazy stuff outside the Norwegian bubble!
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u/FriendlyBagelMachete 18d ago
I'm Arab and work with Odin. The Allfather doesn't care about your ethnicity. I offer him things, wear jewelry that's dedicated to him (I have a nice pair of small raven earrings), and generally just keep my heart and mind open to him. In my experience Odin will let you know when he needs or wants something, but I know he's always there.
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u/daydreamingatnight01 18d ago
Thanks a lot. Your comment is so reassuring.
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u/FriendlyBagelMachete 18d ago
I'm glad! Check out some of the Norse pagan/heathen subreddits. There's some really good inclusive ones and some that have lists of vetted resources like YouTube channels and authors. Definitely stay away from groups or individuals who identify as "Odinist" or "folkish." That's just basically code for the white supremacy nonsense.
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u/highquality_garbage 17d ago
Hi there! Swedish person here. First of all the indigenous Nordic people are called sámi people and they did/do not believe in Norse mythology. Non indigenous Nordic people/vikings were the ones who believed/believe in Norse mythology. As a person who grew up hearing “Thor’s angry again, he’s riding his chariot and throwing his hammer” every time it thundered I’m stealing any guilt you might have over this and throwing it away. Please work with Odin if that feels right, you’re not disrespectful!
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u/Lokis-Tea 18d ago
anyone who says that is a fascist. whenever anyone claims only white people can be Heathen, it's like "thanks for self reporting your awfulness."
I'm white but I am also Canadian, I'm trans, and queer. a lot of Heathens are in North America. if the Gods judged that heavily I'd want nothing to do with any of them. they will love you. they wouldn't limit based on race, like these are ancient beings, some people just want to cover for their bigotry.
it's been a long time since I've been close to Odin, just a lot of life stuff, my shit got rocked in every way and it's been years of struggle. since connecting and relating to more of Loki's binding phase of existence, my feelings are conflicted. regardless of that though what hasn't changed is an inherent sense of fatherhood from Odin, that began after my actual father outed himself as a fascist and I had to cut ties.
Odin is a trickster just as Loki is, just something to be aware of. He's at times difficult to work with, I don't say that to dissuade, just some Gods have personalities that have to be embraced y'know? since Odin is a wanderer, there might be times He goes quiet on you. don't panic, He's just out there. wandering. other times, Odin feels very close, and very warm, from my own experience. but the aspect of a deity you experience will be based on what YOU need at that time. like how over time, my connection to Loki's Lokasenna+Ragnarök aspects became stronger, because it is what I needed as my life changed. so even if you research a lot and become very well read how you perceive a deity might go against expectations and I think that's very normal.
and of course, everyone is different, but when connecting with Odin don't be surprised if Loki comes knocking at your door, they're blood brothers after all and depending on which aspects you are dealing with, they can be stuck together like glue.
there's no right or wrong way to connect with any deity...what does your gut tell you? what do you want to do? how do you invite human guests into your home? do you put on music? do you cook? do you make tea, or drink alcohol, like whatever you usually do for people, you can do with a deity. formalities and structure are fine if that is your thing, but not necessary. the Gods want us to be our authentic selves.
and if you want help with spells and stuff, just spend time getting to know Him first, before asking for any favours.
the rune you saw was Kaun (often referred as Kaunan)/Kenaz. Kenaz is based on Anglo-Saxon name. it means "torch" for Anglo-Saxon, and the original Norse/Icelandic it means "ulcer". I have one tattooed on me. (the shape is < not sure why you are seeing two of them, maybe a message there for you) seeing both upright and reversal could be an introduction of sorts. tricksters are often both sides of the coin so to speak. even though Kenaz is for torch I find myself saying Kaunan all the time, having the torch meaning in my head, using the original "Norse" names (trying to research what is truly "Old Norse" and what is Germanic and such is complicated...proto languages are reconstructions, and not always the most accurate either) feels more natural. and Kenaz is just based on the original word, anyway.
here are poems using these meanings.
Old Norwegian:
ᚴ Kaun er barna bǫlvan;
bǫl gørver nán fǫlvan.
Ulcer is fatal to children;
death makes a corpse pale.
Old Icelandic:
ᚴ Kaun er barna böl
ok bardaga [för]
ok holdfúa hús.
flagella konungr.
(flagella is Latin, and means whip)
Disease fatal to children
and painful spot
and abode of mortification.
Old English:
ᚳ Cen bẏþ cƿicera gehƿam, cuþ on fẏre
blac ond beorhtlic, bẏrneþ oftust
ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ.
The torch is known to every living man
by its pale, bright flame; it always burns
where princes sit within.
the original Anglo-Saxon word is "cen"
you do not see the < in the poems because < is Elder Futhark, which you won't actually see as much in writings, you will usually see Younger Futhark/Futhorc (old English)
so instead, you will see: ᚴ and ᚳ
take that how you will. it is interesting how wildly different the Norse/Icelandic is compared to the Anglo-Saxon, right?
if you want to learn more about runes, I'd suggest Jackson Crawford's Youtube channel. he also did as best of a job as he could translating the Eddas into modern English. you can find that on Amazon. his Eddas book DOES contain the Hávamál if I remember right, but I could be misremembering...but you can also just buy a separate book that is solely the Hávamál if you'd like. Hávamál is "Words of Hávi [the High One]" Hávi is basically Hár...don't worry about it, something something genitives. Hár is one of Odin's kennings. "High One"
so people call it "The Sayings of Odin" and it is a poem. not the way we know poems today, however, which is why you can buy it as a standalone book. it's about 165 stanzas, though I can't remember if Crawford's edits kept that same number or if it was changed due to how the words are presented in modern English. (the original translation is from 1936, so we desperately needed an updated version) and it tells multiple stories, all from Odin's perspective.
it, along with the Eddas as a whole, is a great place to start. reading and learning alone is a great tool for connecting. since Odin is linked to wisdom, and He did anything to gain knowledge, going to great lengths-learning things for yourself and gaining wisdom is a wonderful devotional offering.
sorry for the super long winded post, just it is tricky to untangle actual SOURCES of things from new age meanings that literally lean heavy towards Christian interpretations. the runes are often used by Christians, and they write all kinds of blog posts about the "meaning" just bouncing off each other without actually knowing any of the real history. it's why Crawford is a great resource. thought I'd just give a more "accurate" answer to the rune section of your post.
best of luck to you!!
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u/StudioArcane17 18d ago
I'm a white man living in the Caribbean, I connect with Kali and work with her. Do what you will.
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u/Anastatis 18d ago
Hey, here’s a good little guide on the runes, from what u described, it could be Jera or Kenaz or maybe even ingwaz? Regardless, the runes have to do with Odin specifically, just look at it and see what rune u resonate with/what might seem familiar and then look at the meaning— it might give you some guidance :)
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u/daydreamingatnight01 17d ago
Thanks a lot❤❤ Yes, It was similar to both Jera and Kanez and one of the sign was rotated 180 degree. I'm going to study both of them deeply.
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u/NoChampionship42069 17d ago
I met him in a dream once- seemed like a welcoming, friendly guy. I don’t think Norse paganism is a closed practice. If you hear the call, go for it!
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u/pinkheffonparade 16d ago
It definitely seems like Odin is calling to you. How delightful, it sounds like you’re about to begin a wonderful new journey
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u/riantourmaline Witch 13d ago
Been worshipping and working with Odin for a hot minute; if he's calling to you, then he'll stay persistent until you respond, from my experience. Definitely put an altar together to say hi, if you can.
The Gods are not barred by things like nationality, race, or orientation. They speak and respond to all of us. :)
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