Odin and his brothers Gifts to Mankind
Odin (Breath/Spirit/Ond)
Creation of Ask and Embla
In the Eddas you can read the story of how the first man and woman were created by Odin and his two brothers. They come upon Ask (Ash) and Embla (Elm) on a beach as they were out for a walk. Each one of the gods gave a gift to Ask and Embla that animates them and makes them living human beings. In this post I will discuss Odin’s gift. In the Eddas, Odin’s gift is ond, literally “breath.” Now in this story breathe means, “spirit”, “soul”, or “animating force”. The concept expressed by ond seems to be the equivalent of Qi in Chinese, Pneuma in Greek, and Ruach in Hebrew. Breathing marks, the start of life and when we stop breathing it is the universal sign that life has left the body.
In Taoism they believe that the closer you get to death the higher the breath moves up the chest. Meaning that your breaths become shallower, and you start using the muscles in your chest to breathe (ideally, it is the abdominal muscles that are used in a healthy adult). In Taoism this symbolizes the soul working its way up and out of the body from the lower abdomen. As the body takes its last breath the soul leaves the body though the mouth. So, at this point it does not matter if you believe that ond means breath or soul. Why? Because the simple act of breathing animates the body.
Breathing moves oxygen into the body which every cell needs to survive. Breathing massages your heart and every organ in the abdomen keeping them healthy and strong. (If you breathe correctly that is.) Oxygen allows the brain to function. In only a few minutes without air the human body dies, the loss of ond signals the end of physical existence. A solid argument can be made for breathing being that which animates the body.
Why is it important to know or even understand this? When we maximize ond, our gift from Odin, we can improve our body and mind. Shamanic Breathing helps heal or prevent a host of physical problems that most people find crippling. The simple act of breathing correctly is the least expensive tool you have to improve your overall health. You can take it anywhere and it does not need any pocket or bag. It is lightweight and easy to use.
It doesn’t matter if you call it Shamanic Breathing, healthy breathing, or even yogic breathing as long as you breathe correctly! You have been given a powerful gift from Odin, don’t waste it.
The Gifts of Vili (Movement, Mind, Intelligence)
Odin’s brother Vili gave Askr and Embla the gifts of movement, mind, and intelligence. Other sources just use the word óðr, pronounced oh-thur. This word has many meanings; but Óðr has no direct translation into English. So I will translate it here as, divine inspiration, inspired mental activity, or more simply ecstasy or even inspiration, the force that causes people to create or perform any of the arts; the root of a prophecy; to enter an ecstatic trance, to produce scholarly works; to enter into a mental state known as the battlefield frenzy that was the hallmark of Odin’s elite warriors, the berserkers (bear clan) and Úlfhéðnar (wolf clan). In his book, Norse Mythology for Smart People, Daniel McCoy translate Óðr as “a power that overwhelms and infuses one’s being to its core, which ousts one’s mundane consciousness and turns one into a frenzied, ecstatic vessel for some mysterious, divine agency that is palpably present in the act.”
We have to be careful here not to confuse Óðr (pronounced Oh-Thur) with Odr (pronounced OH-der). FYI, Odr is an obscure, seldom mentioned god. According to the medieval Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson, Odr is the husband of Freya, who is the mother of his daughter Hnoss. In Snorri’s story Odr leaves and goes far away from the other deities. His destination and the reasons for his departure are never stated. We do know that Freya searched in vain for him, and wept tears of gold in his absence.
Movement, mind, and intelligence, how do we honor these gifts? Movement is important to a healthy life but is also one of the most fragile. The lymphatic system is a major player in our immune system. It functions solely on movement/muscle contraction. Without healthy movement our muscles lose mass and flexibility. Our joints become stiff, and we lose range of motion in them. This lack of motion prevents our lymphatic system from functioning correctly. Pilates, which is German, Yoga from India or even Dao Yin and Taiji Quan from China are all forms of exercise that increase range of motion and muscle strength. We should all spend time each week to ensure we have a healthy and strong body.
Let’s start by examining the mind and intelligence. Our Northern European ancestors valued intelligence and a nimble mind above all else. A number of things they did were centered on expanding their brains, for example, learning the runes and stories of the gods/goddesses. Historians even believe that a fair number of Northern Europeans may have been able to read. This says a lot for pre-Dark Age and Dark Age Europe. Even the tales of the gods reinforced the fact that intelligence and critical thinking were virtues to be honored. The gods are always re-enforcing the fact that anyone can ask a question but knowing how to ask the right question is what is important. Odin is the shining example of someone who is always on the move looking to increase his personal knowledge. Closer to home, Skald Poems were not just words written in rhyme. On many levels they were puzzles to be deciphered. It was assumed that you already had knowledge of mythology, current affairs, and history.
The Gifts of Ve (Speech, Hearing, Sight)
Odin’s brother Ve gave Askr and Embla the gifts of speech, hearing, and sight. These gifts may seem simple at first glance compared to the other gifts. When you stop and think about it though, the ability to communicate, share ideas, and to literally see the big picture is what made us different from the other animals in Midgard.
Communicating allows for plans, plans are how 190lbs of human bring down creatures that weigh over 800lbs with nothing more than sharp sticks. The sharing of ideas through listening to each other allowed our ancestors to improve on those plans to make hunting safer and more profitable. The ability to see other predators is always big on people lists when I have this conversation with others. Question, what would art be like if you could not see it? What would your definition of beautiful be without sight?
I used to work with a lot of blind people, and I learned that they have a very different view of the world. If you know someone who cannot see and you know them well, ask them the questions above. My favorite one is, how would you hunt a creature that weighs over 600lbs more than you if you could not see? Makes you pause for a minute doesn’t it.
All the gifts from Odin, Vili, and Ve provide us with a wide range of benefits. All of them have great value. It is up to us all to find ways to maximize their potential so we can improve ourselves and be of use to our communities.
How do you work to improve yourself?
