This week, I write on Odin to fulfill my promise to write about each god (#8) placed in the atheists’ “god graveyard”.  I’ve only had one personal experience with Odin which I wrote previously about here.  So I’ve spent time this week researching him, trying to figure out what to write.  Nothing came to mind specifically just an overwhelming awe over the role he has chosen for himself.  

Several things stuck out for me in my reading.  First is Odin’s overwhelming love of mortals, a love that drives him to delay Ragnarok, in any way possible.  Second, Odin is the very essence of changeability.  He will do anything, say anything, be anything in order to give everyone more time before the end.  Everything he does is with this purpose mind.  Nothing is off limits. Third, to serve Odin, is to be a tool in his war chest.  A well honed, well loved tool used to hold off the end of times as long as possible.  What an utterly terrifying and glorious thought. I honor those brave enough to serve him.  Below I have assembled a list of the epithets or heiti as I understand them to be in English from my research.  Wide encompassing and…changeable Odin definitely is.

Chief of death
The Psychopomp, The Ferryman
Apportioner of victory
God of battle, Strategist
God of bererkersgang
God of poetry
Apportioner of inspiration
God of mind-altering substances
God of seidhcraft
God of sex, of transgendering,
Wooer of Women
God of the loss of self, Death of ego
Storm god
Leader of the Wild Hunt
Wanderer of the nine worlds
Father of runes, Father of magic
All-Father
God of wisdom, of eloquence
Lawgiver, King, Judge
God of crops, of land fertility
God of martial arts
God of individual development,
God of transcendence
Giver of inspiration
Overcomer of adversity
Crazed, Grim, Determined
Grim Reaper
Summoner of the dead
One-eyed
Harm worker
Greybeard
Changeable
Hidden Lord
Giver of dreams
Fulfiller of Wishes
Giver of Good Counsel
Finder of Truth
Hooded one
Lord of Valkyries
Far-seer
Sleeper, He who bends
Pathway of most resistance
Challenger, Giver of Hardship
Teacher and Student
Delayer of Ragnarok