Hanging The Sorcerer - Hidden Knowledge in Old Norse Myths pt.12

I begin to talk about Odinn´s initiation as he hung on the World Tree. Focusing on the beginning, the actual hanging and how it was a ritual derived from the ritual of human sacrifice. Historically, such rituals may have actually taken place and have a similar tradition in shamanistic rituals from Siberia. The purpose of the initiation is only discussed in part here, as I will have to continue in the next video, but I begin by telling how Odinn descended to the Well of Origin (Urdarbrunnr) where he picked up the runes of fate that had been carved into the World Tree by the norns. He carves them loose, let them run through his soul in the form of precious mead, and scatters them across the world to be enjoyed by everyone who wants them.

The initiation happened after the war between the Aesir (Odinn´s people) and the Vanir (Freya´s people) had come to an end - a war won by the Vanir but benefited from by the Aesir, who managed a clever truce: Alongside her family, Freya came to dwell in Asgardr. Odinn and Freya had a strange relationship - she taught him the art of Seidr and they were married, but were then separated and both went out to travel the world as witches wearing countless names and shapes. What happened when the two were together in Asgardr was the initiation, which involved a sacred marriage.
Sources: Ynglingatal and Prose Edda by Snorri Sturlusson
Völuspá, Hávamal, Grimnismál (about the twelve worlds)Poetic Edda
Hávamál stanzas 138-141 quoted in the beginning.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• initiation
• human sacrifice
• goddess
• norse
• freya
• Odin
• mythology
• myths
• shamanism
• paganism
• pagan
• shaman
• ritual
• philosophy
• spirituality
• religion

[lITheEmissarylI]

I don't think that the person sacrificed was unwilling...these were self sacrifices... they went willingly. ...they sacrifice themselves to enter the afterlife where they could plead the case of the people to the gods that were present..that's why the sacrificial person was killed in certain manners, it was in order that the sacrificial person would be met or brought before the associated god (strangle-odin, stab-thor).. you want an advocate on the other side, not someone that's angry with you

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@lITheEmissarylI Yes, I think that was often the case, at least.

[centuryflower]

So I really feel that everything you have been saying just takes what I've read in text books and brings it to life for me in ritual. A real "Ah ha!" experience for me. This video has been very important to me to feel that I am on the inside of the circle of understanding my ancestors--- and before this I read and tried to imagine and felt bared. Thank you so very much!

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@centuryflower Well thank You too for these beautiful words. :)

[ufonordic1]

no one in modern asatru worldwide practices this or even desires to...so for public relations it is better not to dwell on the subject in front of lutheran or catholic relatives / @ milwaukee

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@ufonordic1 I am an historian. I do actual historical research. I would never, ever, try to hide historical facts for the sake of any religion. Enough scientists have been bought by powerful religious and political institutions, conveying only "correct" facts - if modern paganism employed the same cover-up strategies they would be no better than the Church. Pagans in ancient times practiced human sacrifice. The Church had its Inquisition. It is ok to know the past and not practice it.

[robertallenmills]

Bless You, Sister, for Illuminating this Difficult Subject.

Be, as Odin was, Pleasing and Cowing to No One but Himself,

for Certainly, this was the Origin of His Powers, Good, or Woe.

Call It as You See It, for This is a Difficult Subject Enough,

Without "Trying to Please the Audience".

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@BowToMySkill Well, Odin did, but not without a descent into the underworld...if it was practiced exactly like that it would be a very dangerous ritual. But I have heard that shamans in Greenland and Siberia, as well as some Indian ascets, really did endanger their bodies in similar ways in order to reach that particular state of mind, known to the Indians as Samadhi.

[xwaystranger]

They recently discovered a Germanic body with golden hair clasps near Stonehenge in England. It is believed that this Iron Age Aryan warrior designed Stonehenge. The Aryan lineages went on to design the pyramids in MesoAmerica. This is why the codexes of that time talk of Quetzalcoatl and Pakal as being white men with beards. Their method of Sacrifice were from these same Germanic techniques of Awareness, evolved into the heart extractions to the Sun to balance the world.