[MidgarFanatic]

I received my university degree in History, and so have had the chance to study many religions and deities from many different cultures. While reading about Norse mythology, I was particularly interested in Odin. (And not just because he’s a FF dude XD)

There have been a lot of different interpretations of Odin’s platform, ranging from a belief that he symbolizes a figure heavily entwined in the fine arts… to beliefs orientated around a more scientific outlook in the greater universe. These two characteristics balance well with me personally, because I would consider myself an artist, and I believe in science instead of following any structured form of religion.

Odin is also usually thought of representing wisdom, for most versions of his legend describe him as giving up one of his eyes in exchange for greater insight into the world and it’s infinite meanings… hmm, well that’s one hell of a trade-off I must say, go figure. Odin also likes animals, and he is almost always depicted as riding a horse and being constantly followed by birds and beasts. I realize that a lot of these are just interesting descriptions and have very little to do with any theological beliefs, but it’s all I have to go on since I am very unaccustomed to any other spiritual and dogmatic principles. They are just things I relate to; it’s all I know.

So a lot of this is just personal interest, because I believe the idea of a person like this just sounds “cool”, so this is my choice. But I am also attracted to the idea that Odin, although immortal, was not perceived as being all-encompassing, and was restricted to most of the same rules and physical laws of our plane… and so I see him as a God much more reflective of man/woman. For example, there is one interesting story about Odin that I remember reading somewhere out there in cyberland…

In a small and ancient Norwegian villa in a very isolated part of the country, a blacksmith was paid a visit in the dead of a cold winter night by an old and decrepit one-eyed traveler riding atop a large stead. The man asked for his horse to be re-shoed and some scraps of food for his following animals (which I believe was two hounds/wolves and a raven perched upon his shoulder); and he offered to pay many times it’s worth to have it done immediately. The stranger was obviously not from anywhere around there. When the work was done and the blacksmith was paid he found he could not holdback his curiosity any longer. Being in such a rural area the blacksmith asked the man where he had come from and how he had survived the harsh elements traveling between the vast expanse from the next nearest village. The old man jumped up onto his horse with the enthusiasm and vitality of a teenager and bellowed out, “I am Odin!” and left into the winter night never to be seen in the region again, leaving behind the blacksmith completely awed by the experience.

And that’s the kind of mystery I like to see in a God that I would believe in. Nothing wrong with a little theatrics here and there, as long as they encompass a willingness to not only guide man, but humbly be willing to ask for it in return.