A question for modern-day Odin worshipers...?

Question

I'm interested in finding out more about the modern-day worship of Odin as compared to the ancient worship. Can anyone out there give me a bit of info?

Links, details, personal experience, and even a good conversation would help!

Thank you in advance for your help!

Answer 1

I happen to be Asatru, Odin is one of the Gods I worship.

“Odinphobia” is not uncommon even today, and for good reason. Many call on him in one thing or another, and hail him as a kindly teacher, which he is in some of his aspects, but those who do this without being wholly given to him should be very careful. Of all the Gods, Odin seems to be the swiftest to claim the geld for his gifts, and he often takes what one would rather not give. Odin can be tricky to those who deal with him. He is a grim God, a stirrer of strife: and as many of our Sagas show, he is well know for testing his chosen ones to destruction. In Icelandic literature, his heroes are usually outlaws.

Contemporary experience indicates that of all the Gods of Asgard, Odin is the one most likely to actively recruit worshipers, whether or not they are already following a Heathen path. When the other Gods receded from human awareness, Odin continued to wander, at least he is the Norse deity we find most often appearing in modern literature. His struggles to reconcile the claims of love, freedom, and power are at the center of Richard Wagner's "Ring" operas. More recently, he has appeared as "The Raven" in Micheal Scott Rohan's "Winter of the World" trilogy, and as "Mr. Wednesday" in Neil Gaiman's "American Gods".

Unlike the other Norse Gods, Odin was often seen after the conversion, and was often taken as an ill-omen by the Christians. Odin seems to be the one who is seen most in Midgard and who has the most to do with the affairs of human, especially on the large scale. He forges his chosen ones harshly not because he loves their suffering, but because he is always gathering his might against the Last Battle, Ragnarök, so that a new world may be born after the death of the old one. He himself has undergone many great trials to gain the wisdom which makes this possible: the nine nights’ hanging through which he found the runes, the casting of his own eye into Mimir’s Well as payment for a draught of its waters. As the God who sacrificed Self to self, he spares his children nothing—but he is there to share the suffering with them, as he shares his ecstatic joy.

To be truly Odin’s is not easy. It means facing and accepting death in its every terror—not once, but constantly, bearing the knowledge that your life journey will end with the cold touch of a narrow spear-blade in your heart and the painful choking for breath as your sight blackens, that the ferryman is already waiting for you by the dark shore—that you are, in truth, a dead man or woman on furlough. Those who are given to Odin may sometimes find that they themselves must ferry others to the far side, and deal with the grief of those who are left behind: this is no light burden to bear. At other times, Odin’s path may lead you out into the cold night, shivering and alone, while others laugh by the fireplace. Some of his heroes spend their time as outlaws, and none of them are unburdened by sorrow. Still, there have always been and will always be those who give themselves to him in love and kinship. For the greatest risk and danger brings the greatest rewards. They accept pain and death as the path way to wisdom, as the God himself always has, for he asks nothing of his followers that he has not himself given. Although he may seem grim it is never without good cause: the God of Death readies all for the death of the worlds—and for their birth again after the flames of the Muspilli have died.

One of Odin’s symbol is that of the Raven. Odin has two raven’s Hugin and Munnin, Thought and Memory who fly through all the Worlds and bring back news to All-Father. He also has two wolves, Geri and Freki, both names meaning “the greedy one”. As well known as ravens and wolves, Odin also has a grey eight legged horse named Sleipnir, on whom he rides through the Nine Worlds. Odin’s primary symbol is called the valknut, the knot of death. It should only be worn by those who are given to Odin and are willing to fall by his choice.

In the Elder days, the sacrifice of choice to Odin was human sacrifice. And by that I mean; the in battle warriors would dedicate their kills to Odin. Another type of “human sacrifice” was dedicating one’s self to Odin (not to be done lightly!). Other offerings to Odin, such as a feast prepared in his honor, might include rare beef and smoked salmon and mead or aquavit. Altars to Odin often feature blue clothes and vessels of sliver or cobalt glass. Stones which have been associated with him in modern day are spectrolite, meteorites, and lapis lazuli. His sacred number is nine, because nine days did he hang on Yggdrasil. The Rune most often associated with him is Ansuz, which bares the same root word as his name. Because the ash tree was used for spear-shafts, it is thought to be a tree of Odin; the yew is also seen as his tree because of its close ties to both magic (especially runic magic) and death. Blots to Odin may be preformed to ask for inspiration or wisdom, help with studies or writing in general. Poetry is also an excellent offering. If you want to show him special honor, the ideal time to do so is on Wednesday—Wodan’s day.

Answer 2

A good search term is Asatru. Look it up on Wiki.
Good luck.