God Odin Was Exiled From Asgard – The Kingdom Of The Gods – But He Had No Regrets For Breaking Norse Society’s Norms

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - In Norse society, rules and laws were expected to be followed. Breaking norms led to an individual being shunned and suffering some consequence. Everyone could be punished for not following the rules. No one stood above the law, and gods were also expected to behave according to Norse standards.

The greatest of all Norse gods, Odin engaged in practices completely unacceptable in Norse society. As a result, God Odin was exiled from Asgard, the Kingdom of Norse gods. He was scorned and labeled unfit to be called a god.

However, this didn't bother Odin at all. He knew exactly what he had done and didn't regret it. Nothing stood between him and his ambitions.

As previously discussed on Ancient Pages, God Odin was probably the most complex figure of all the Norse Gods.

In the Norse pantheon, Odin is considered an ‘Allfather’ and ruler of Asgard, but he was never entirely to be trusted.
Odin was a god of magic, wisdom, and war, but his desire to gain knowledge was almost like an obsession.
It is said that the great Odin sacrificed an eye to Mimir, the Norse god of wisdom, in exchange for a drink from Mimir’s well located in Jötumheimr, one of the mysterious nine world of Yggdrasil.

God Odin And Norse Shamanism

In Norse mythology, Seidr is the practice of magic and shamanism.  Shamans played a very important role in Norse society. These enigmatic beings were known for their unusual powers, and they were credited with the ability to alter destiny. Beings who mastered Seidr were, therefore, as much feared and respected by people and even the Norse gods.

God Odin and Goddess Freya practiced shamanism. To become a shaman, one had to go through a ritual that involved dying resurrection. This was the only way to gain divine powers. Odin underwent the ritual in the venture for the runes. The word “rune” comes from Old Norse and means “Secret knowledge and wisdom.” God Odin himself was regarded as the “Father of the Runes.” The Vikings believed runes were created when their chief god Odin speared himself to the cosmic world tree, Yggdrasil, hoping to receive secret knowledge.

The most powerful of the shamans was a völva, and her prophecies were feared among Vikings and Norse gods.  Norns, known as ‘Shapers of Destiny’ in Norse mythology, were masters of Seidr.
God Odin's quest for knowledge led him to practice shamanism. He did gain supernatural powers and the knowledge he so deeply desired. Still, Odin was punished for his shamanistic practices and exiled from Asgard, the kingdom of the gods, for 9 years!

That a male should practice Seidr was unacceptable and loathsome because it required him to assume a woman's role, both sexually and socially. Men who practiced Seidr were called ergi (Old Norse for “unmanly”). In those days, it was the most horrible thing a man could be called. Men who pursued the practice of Seidr were banished from society, scorned, and laughed at. Practicing Seidr involved divination, clairvoyance, healing, bringing curses on individuals, and controlling the weather. It was something females were supposed to do.

So, naturally, God Odin had to suffer the consequences of becoming involved in the practice of Seidr. Not only was he exiled from Asgard, but he was also scorned for the feminine traits he adapted during the practice of Seiðr. To the pre-Christian Norsemen, his practice made him a transgender unfit to be a God.

God Odin was never embarrassed by this because his greatest ambition was to gain knowledge, and the practice of Seidr made him achieve his goal. God Odin’s shamanic spirit journeys were documented in the Ynglinga Saga and the Eddic poem - Baldur’s Dreams. Odin’s journey to the underworld with his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, is also chronicled.

Updated on February 20, 2023

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

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