But wait, don't you include the Greek and Egyptian gods in your pantheon? Their mythologies are exceptionally bloody too.
Anecdote: I was talking to my Mom the other day and I mentioned that I was looking forward to the Solstice and to the days getting longer. She said, "Well, you don't actually expect them to get longer do you?". I clarified that I meant daylight length rather than 24 hour period but she was still confused until I figured out that she honestly didn't know the winter solstice was the shortest day of the year and instead simply thought of it as the "beginning of winter". Oy!
Very true! But the Norse gods are bloodier. At least to me. Okay, to be honest, Odin scares me a lot more than Zeus and Ra. At least Zeus and Ra have soft sides. I haven't seen Odin's soft side.
Speaking as someone who claims Odin as one of her patrons (though maybe the fact that He & Morrighan get along very well isn't the most cuddly endorsement), I can say that the more you research & honor him, the - not so much softer, but - more pleasant he becomes. I wouldn't say he's got a a "soft" side, but can be very fatherly, though it's in a stern way. He's surprisingly guiding and advisory. Did you know he actually advises against over-indulging in drink?
"Better gear than good sense A traveler cannot carry; A more tedious burden than too much drink A traveler cannot carry.
Less good than belief would have it Is mead for the sons of men: A man knows less the more he drinks, Becomes a befuddled fool."
Believe it or not, his guidance has helped alot in me getting & staying sober :-)
I've seen Odin and the Morrighan together and it does make me shiver sometimes... I think I see what you mean about the stern fatherly figure, the guide and protector. He's just not someone I'd want to misstep with. I think Neil Gaiman got him pretty well in American Gods. Him and Loki. Pleasant, but watch your back.
That doesn't surprise me that he warns against overindulging, actually.
You're right. Perhaps "bloody" wasn't the right word. They make me nervous, I think, because of how ancient and intense they are. But even that doesn't seem right. When I was in college, one of my friends and teachers, Bill, was a Godhi who taught me how to exert influence over the elements. We spoke to Odin and Loki once, and all I could feel was trepidation, until Bill told me to stand as strong as tall as possible. They were very powerful, very old, very bloody.
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But wait, don't you include the Greek and Egyptian gods in your pantheon? Their mythologies are exceptionally bloody too.
Anecdote: I was talking to my Mom the other day and I mentioned that I was looking forward to the Solstice and to the days getting longer. She said, "Well, you don't actually expect them to get longer do you?". I clarified that I meant daylight length rather than 24 hour period but she was still confused until I figured out that she honestly didn't know the winter solstice was the shortest day of the year and instead simply thought of it as the "beginning of winter". Oy!
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Yes, I'll celebrate a bit in my own way.
I like that anecdote. :)
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*shudder*
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Did you know he actually advises against over-indulging in drink?
"Better gear than good sense
A traveler cannot carry;
A more tedious burden than too much drink
A traveler cannot carry.
Less good than belief would have it
Is mead for the sons of men:
A man knows less the more he drinks,
Becomes a befuddled fool."
Believe it or not, his guidance has helped alot in me getting & staying sober :-)
And a Blessed Yule to you *hugz*.
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I think I see what you mean about the stern fatherly figure, the guide and protector. He's just not someone I'd want to misstep with. I think Neil Gaiman got him pretty well in American Gods. Him and Loki. Pleasant, but watch your back.
That doesn't surprise me that he warns against overindulging, actually.
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When I was in college, one of my friends and teachers, Bill, was a Godhi who taught me how to exert influence over the elements. We spoke to Odin and Loki once, and all I could feel was trepidation, until Bill told me to stand as strong as tall as possible. They were very powerful, very old, very bloody.
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At least Norse gods bring some cool runes.
Hugin and Munin made an appearance in my latest story. Lots of Norse critters shall show up, actually.
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