Wodinic Wednesday Q&A

Happy Wednesday, folks. Once again it’s Woden’s Day and so, I’ll be doing my Wodinic Wednesday Q&A for my readers. Until 10pm EST tonight, I’ll keep this blog open to reader questions. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions on whatever topic you think I might be able to tender an answer (for example: Odin, Heathenry, Norse Gods, devotion, spiritwork, mysticism, occult practices, my academic field –early Christianity, specifically pain and the body, eunuchs, asceticism, etc. ballet, and anything else you might be interested in). I’ll do my best to answer or direct you to where you can find an answer.

Now for a few other interesting things.

Firstly, I went to see the movie Cabrini this past week. It was absolutely fantastic and I highly recommend it. It really gives both a glimpse into a powerhouse of a woman who became the first American saint, but also a heart-wrenching glimpse into what life was like for Italian immigrants and the poor in the late 19^th/early 20^th century in New York City. The acting was Oscar worthy in my opinion. My only complaint: this woman who emphasized prayer in everything she did was never shown praying (save perhaps once and then it’s really ambiguous). There were moments where prayer and her connection to her God should have been emphasized and weren’t— ostensibly to make the film more accessible to non-Catholics. It was a lost opportunity to highlight the piety that drove her and this omission got rather annoying by the last third of the movie. Even with that, I highly recommend the film. This saint has a shrine, and it’s one of the few in the US that has first class relics (her body – minus her heart which was sent to Italy). I have a fascinating with bone chapels which this is not, and by extension bodily relics, which this has. When I went to see the movie, my husband and I had the theatre to ourselves, and this was good, because watching the dramatization of what this woman had to go through in order to found what became Cabrini hospital had me cussing a blue streak! I keep an eye out for movies that present religions and devotion positively and while this is not a Heathen movie, it did that and it’s such a rarity in today’s media I wanted to recommend it.

Secondly, here is a short Instagram video about mindfulness. I’m not at this point by any measure, but I like the anecdote the woman tells. It makes me realize how far I have to go in moving mindfully in the world. Thank you to my friend, Mary Ann for this one.

Finally, I’ve been thinking about one of our healing Goddesses, Aurboda. She is the mother of Gerda and in my particular tradition considered particularly skilled in pharmacology. I think because I’ve been making salves lately, I’ve been praying to Her more than usual, so, here is one of my prayers. It’s written in a style that I first discovered in Mechthild of Magdeburg’s “Flowing Light of the Godhead” and it really works for me:

Prayer to Aurboda

We praise You, Aurboða, companion of Eir, companion of Mengloth, great in the ways of healing.

We praise You, Aurboða, wise and pious in making offerings to the land and the spirits therein. They are Your allies and a source of Your power. Yours is a bond of mutual respect.

We praise You, skilled in herbs and medicines, great apothecary of Lyfjaberg, Whom even other healing Powers consult.

We praise You, Canny Seeress, Who knows the ways of reverence, Who easily untangles the snarled skeins of wyrd and reads them rightly.

We Praise You, Mother of Gerda, Who raised Your daughter in the ways of Power, a jewel in the hall of the Mountain tribes, Carrier of Your peoples’ sovereignty.

Oh Wisdom beyond Measure!

Oh Mighty Healing Power!

Oh Tree of richness and plenty!

Oh Caretaker of the land!

Oh Protector of all the spirits of the earth!

Oh Jewel of Prophetic Wonder!

Mighty Apothecary of the Gods, ever and always do we praise You! Hail to You, Aurboða! Teach us ever and always we pray, to make good offerings, to walk in the ways of respect and reverence, and to honor the land that has shaped us, every day of our lives.

**********

That is all for now. I might not get to your questions until late tonight, but I promise to answer them before the day is done.

Wodinic Wednesday Q&A plus a few extra things

Today is Wodinic Wednesday and in honor of Odin as seeker of knowledge, I will take questions on my blog until 10pm EST tonight. So, if you have a question on any topic that you think might be in my wheelhouse, feel free to ask and I”ll do my best to answer before the day is out. 

 

A few extra things I want to add/share. 

 

Firstly, Stephen Pollington’s new book on Woden is out and it’s pretty good (and includes quite a bit of Proto-Germanic etymology not only on Odin’s name Wodenaz, but also the names of Vili and Ve). I’ve only read through the first couple of chapters but so far, I’m quite enjoying it. Note: this book does NOT include (at least as far as I’ve read)  anything experiential or by modern practitioners (though Paxson is listed in the biblio). This is an academic text bringing together a number of cross cultural writings dealing with some aspect of Odin and His bynames. 

 

 

Secondly, while sitting through this experience, I had an insight into how evil eye charms, Nazar charms, can be used for Odin. I also have a prayer that I say when I put on a hand charm, that was made for me in Loki’s name. Before I put on this necklace (I usually wear it under my shirt on the same chain as the eye charm I wear for Odin.), I say the following: 

 

“Hail to You, Loður and Hoenir. Hail to Your hands and Your will, which in tandem with Odin’s crafted us to be beautiful, clever, pious, and wise. May I be worthy of Your protection today and may Your mighty hands preserve and protect me from evil. ALU.”

 

As a complete aside, I was watching a YouTube video on affirmative care and magical thinking and I really want to clarify, if only for myself, that: I do not believe in magical thinking. I’m a magician. I perform magic and I believe in reality. I simply shape it according to my will.

 

Finally,  here is a cool Latin word of the day: tintinnabula– wind chimes. I love the onomatopoeia of it. 

 

Finally, finally, I am still offering candle lighting services along with prayer, on which you, you may read more here. 

 

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Wodinic Wednesday Q&A

Y’all know the drill, folks. Ask your questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. I have an early meeting so it might not be till later tonight that I get to answer, but I will do so before the day is done. I”ll keep this forum open until 10pm est for questions.

I do this to honor Odin as knowledge seeker. Perhaps pour out an offering to Him today if you are so minded. Happy Woden’s DaY.

Wodinic Wednesday Q&A

Hi folks, it’s your resident night-owl. 🙂 I’m writing this just after midnight so it’s technically Wednesday, Woden’s Day again. As I’ve been doing for the past year, I am opening up my blog to reader questions today. I’ll answer anything you throw at me (and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction). Feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments. I’ll keep this open until 10pm EST.

Hail to Woden, frenzied God ever hungry for knowledge.

Hail to Woden, Who sacrificed again and again for wisdom and power.

Hail to Woden, scarified, roaring, ravenous God

Who grants His people a desire to know, to learn, to grow, to share His mysteries.

For all that You are, oh my God, I am grateful.

For all You have given me, I am also grateful.

Hail Woden, Hail Gangleri, Hail the Seeker of knowledge.

Statue from my shrine made by S. Ravenswing.

First Wodinic Wednesday of 2024

Hail to the Seeker of knowledge, Sanngetall, the God Who hung, Who sacrificed Himself for wisdom. Hail to Odin, Who ever inspires us.

In honor of Him, I am opening up my blog this year on Wednesdays as well for any questions y’all may have. (I have one really meaty question about theology that was emailed to me, and I’m slowly working on that one. I may not have it till the weekend — my apologies, but it is requiring more time and thought than today provides—I am not ignoring it though!). Post them in the comments and I”ll do my best, folks. What I can answer, I’ll answer.

Also, this weekend, I will be doing my first one and done divination. Here’s how it works: No questions, I will do a general reading where I pull from a combination of systems (this weekend, I think I’ll probably stick with runes) and give you whatever I see. I charge $25 for this. If you’re interested, please email me at krasskova at gmail.com and I will invoice you. I do these readings Sunday or Monday nights and then email folks the next day.

That is all. I”ll keep an eye out today here for any of your questions. Happy New Year, folks. May it be a positive one for us all.

Wodinic Wednesday Q&A

Hey folks, welcome again to Wodinic Wednesday — it’s so frenetic at end of term that I nearly forgot it was Wednesday today! As always, I am opening up my blog to reader questions. Feel free to offer your questions in the comments section on anything that is somehow in my rather eclectic wheelhouse: Odin, Heathenry, Northern Tradition, occultism, devotion, prayer, medieval history, theology, late antiquity, conjure, art, etc. etc. go for it. I’ll do my best to answer (though today is a busy day and of necessity, my answers may come late).

Any questions received after 9pm Est will be ignored, but you can repost next week. May Odin, Seeker of knowledge, Who gave Himself to Himself in sacrifice, Who seeks wisdom like a hungry wolf, ever preparing for Ragnarok be hailed.

Prayer to Odin

This prayer is based on a prayer to Dionyos found in the Anthologia Graeca 9.524. My husband did a masterful translation of that on (it had several hapax legomena in it!) and I decided I wanted to compile something similar for Odin.

Prayer to Odin

Let us chant to the High One, the Shaman-King Who won the runes, Weight of Yggdrasil, Draugadróttinn!

1. Aldafaðr, Angan Friggjar, Arnhǫfði, Auðun, Asagrimm,
2. Baldrs faðir, Báleygr, Bǫlverkr, Brúnn, Bǫðgæðir,
3. Dróttinn, Dresvarpr, Darraðr, Draugadróttinn, Bardagadróttinn,
4. Eylúðr, Ein skǫpuðr galdra, Ennibrattr, Eini meistari Yggdrasils,
5. Farmagnuðr, Farmr Galga, Fengr, Forni, Fimbultýr, Foldardróttinn,
6. Galdrafǫðr, Gagnráðr, Gangleri, Gapþrosnir, Geirǫlnir, Geirvaldr, Geldnir, Ginnar, Glapsviðr, Goði hrafnblóts, Goðjaðarr, Gǫndlir, Grimnir, Gunnblindi,
7. Hagvirkr, Hangadróttinn, Hárr, Herjan, Herteitr, Hrafnaguð, Hann af harðri miskunn,
8. Ítrekr, Jólnir, Jolfr, Jǫlfuðr, Jǫrmunr,
9. Kjalarr, Njótr, Niðr Bors,
10. Odin, Ófnir, Olgr, Ómi, Óski,
11. Reiðartýr, Rǫgnir, Rúnatýr, Runni Vagna,
12. Sangetall, Síðgrani, Síðhǫttr, Síðskeggr, Sigðir, Sigrhofundr, Sigmundr, Sigrúnnr, Sigtryggr, Skilfingr, Skollvaldr, Sonr Bestlu, Svipall, Svolnir,
13. Þekkr, Þrór, Þróttr, Þuðr,
14. Uðr, Váfuðr, Váfuðr Gungnis, Vakr, Valdr Galga, Valfǫðr, Valkjosandi, Valtýr, Vegtam, Valþognir, Veratýr,
15. Viðfräger, Viðrir, Viðrímnir, Viðurr,
16. Vinr Lopts, Vinr Míms, Vinr Lóðurs, Vinr Hǿnis, Vinr stalla,
17. Vodin, Vófuðr, Vǫlundr rómu, Votan, Valdr Vagnbrautar,
18. Yggr, Ýjungr, Wuotan, Woden.

Let us chant to the King Who loves the cry of battle. Let us chant to the King Whose battle cry holds the worlds together. Hrafnfreistuðr, Odin, Woden. Alu.

 

Translations:

Opening invocation: Lord of the undead (I interpret this to mean other rune workers, shamans, etc. who have undergone initiation and the Tree).

1. Allfather, Delight of Frigga, Eagle Headed, Friend of Wealth, Lord of the Aesir
2. Baldr’s Father, Bale-eyed, Bale-worker, Bear, Battle Promoter
3. Lord, Slander Thrower, Spearman, Lord of the Dead, Lord of Battle
4. Ever-Booming One, Sole Creator of Magical Songs, High Browed One, Sole Master of Yggdrasil
5. One Who makes the journey fruitful, Gallows’ Burden, Catcher, Ancient One, Mighty God, Lord of the Earth,
6. Galdr-Father, Gainful Counsel, Wanderer, The One in Gaping Frenzy, One Whose Spear never misses, Spear Master, Eunuch, Deceiver, Swift in Deceit/Maddener/Swift in magical charms, God of the Raven Sacrifice, God Protector, Wand-Bearer, Masked/hooded One, Battle Blinder,
7. Skillful Worker, Lord of the Hanged, High One, Warrior/Leader of Hosts, Glad of War, Raven God, He of harsh mercy,
8. Glorious Ruler, Jul God, Horse-Wolf-Bear, Jul Father, Cosmic One,
9. Nourisher, User/Needed One/Enjoyer, Kin of Borr,
10. Frenzy, Inciter, Protector/Hawk, Resounding One, Wish-God,
11. God of Riders, He that Reigns, Rune God, Mover of Costellations,
12. Finder of Truth, Long Beard, Broad Hat, Long Beard, Victory Father, Author of Victory, Victory Protection, Victory Tree, Victory True/Sure of Victory, Trembler (as in the sense of Seething), Ruler of Treachery, Son of Bestla, Shapeshifter, Cooler,
13. Welcome One, Burgeoning or Thriving One, Strength, Lean/Pale,
14. Beloved, Wanderer, Swinger of Gungnir, Wakeful One, Ruler of the Gallows, Victory Father, Chooser of the Slain, Slain God, Way Tamer (Psychopomp?), Slain Receiver, God of Being,
15. Wide famed, Stormer, Contrary Screamer, Killer,
16. Friend of Lopt, Friend of Mimir, Friend of Lodhur, Friend of Hoenir, Friend of Altars,
17. War Leader, Dangler, Smith of Battles, War Leader, Ruler of Heaven,
18. Terrible One, He of the Primal Rivers, War-Leader, War-Leader

Closing heiti: Hrafnfreistuðr – raven tester (of mind, of his peope?)

( compiled and in some places translated by G. Krasskova)

Here’s a good video to go with it!

Image by Sam Flegel

Poetry for Woden on His Day

Drottin of the dead, Lord of the Noose
By G. Krasskova 10/11/23

I gave myself to You long ago, 
I have lived more than the three lifetimes. 
given to Starkad. I live yet and serve
trailing wod behind me like a twisted, ravenous shadow.
So many stories, so many words that punched through my teeth, 
and scored sigils on my tongue, lay littered between us, 
a good place for the runes to dance;
a good place to build anew and plant the seeds of my charms—
a vitki’s charms, mind you, as You taught me, and only half human at that. 
I crawled up on hooks to praise You
and smelled the rough tang of the Tree’s blood-stained bark. 
My own blood-stained mask glittered. I don’t remember screaming.
I crawled up on hooks to praise You,
and when I did so, the runes crawled into me too.
I marked them on my skin to remember. 
though they forget nothing at all. 

I felt my soul breathe them out and in again.
(They have never left me).
They fly as on razor tipped wings.
They laugh and their focus is Yours. 
I crawled up to the Tree and took my place:
I sacrificed and gave myself to You.
There were consequences. 
Ravens flew overhead as I was brought back to life
by Your roughhewn song. 
A Loki’s woman saw it so, 
and Hela watched impassible from Her hall 
through the eyes of Her living victim. 
Those otherwise present became hungry paper ghosts. 
They do not matter. 
They ate of the wrong fruit. 

Vikar could have had honor had he gone willingly to noose and spear, 
but by trickery was he won and thus his honor lost. 
Unfortunate, but it was foretold. 
Hail to the grateful Starkad and Odin in His ruthless cunning. 
Hail to Thor Who made him chafe as well. Thus, are heroes made. 
Hail to the Gods unbending in Their giving. 
I could savor Your ruthlessness, Geirtýr, for another half aett of lifetimes. 
It is delicious and my soul and senses feast ever well. 

Shaker of Gungnir, Lord of the Noose, 
I hang suspended within the span of Your breath. 
Harvester of the dead, Frenzied and Mad, pissed off with fury--
Ravings that bring the void to heel, make this magus true. 
Let me burn furiously with wealth and wod, 
that everywhere I touch will burn with You.
Let me breathe YOU out, wherever I walk,
as the runes sing their own spells to the rhythm of my blood.

As for me, I have made so many offering to You, 
my baleful and beautiful God, 
that my heart is an altar turned to glass.
It is good and may it ever be so. 

Bookversary: He is Frenzy

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Today is the anniversary of the publication of my devotional book to Odin, He is Frenzy.

“He is Frenzy collects all of the essays and poetry that Northern Tradition author Galina Krasskova has written to honor the God Odin since 1995. Providing a survey of His ancient and modern cultus, it is also a deeply personal exploration of devotion, ordeal work and what it takes to walk the Odinic path.” This includes my work also previously published in Whisperings of Woden, and Walking Toward Yggdrasil.

You can grab your copy at amazon, or support independent booksellers through bookshop.

Bookversary: The Whisperings of Woden

Affiliate Advertising Disclosure

This book, first published in 2004 and the first devotional written in modern Heathenry, is a collection of devotional meditations designed to help one draw closer to Woden.

“The Norse God Odin, also known as Woden, is both honored and feared within modern Heathenry and Norse Paganism. He has many names, many faces and stands as a formidable figure in the annals of Heathen lore. Yet, by some, He is also loved.”

“This is a book of interior prayer, designed to provide the first steps in creating a mindful, passionate, contemplative practice. Be it as All-Father, Wish-Father, Master of the Runes, Wandering God or God of Warriors, the reader will find numerous ways to honor the complex and powerful Lord of Asgard and hopefully, to deepen their own spiritual practices at the same time.”

While the book is now out of print, you can find the content along with additional material in my book, He is Frenzy. available on amazon or through bookshop in support of independent booksellers.