Prayer to Odin (inspired by the Orphic Hymns)
While reading through some of the Hellenic Orphic Hymns lately, I got really curious about what it would be like to try and emulate their style while writing prayers for other deities, so this is the result of that experiment! The wording is a bit complex, but I really like how this turned out and Odin definitely seemed to enjoy it, so I figured that I'd share it here just in case anyone else would like to use it! Feel free, but if you're sharing it elsewhere I'd appreciate it if you credited me properly, please!
Please note that his prayer is also very long, even by my standards, because I honestly got a little too into it and got carried away. Also, bigots fuck right off, Odin is called the All-Father for a reason, and your cowardly prejudice is an affront to his good name! Nazis, TERFs and other bigots have no place on this blog or in the pagan community as a whole!
It is to Odin, Wotan, the Father of Men and Lord of the Aesir, to which I dedicate this hymn.
One-eyed Wotan, seated upon the high throne of Asgard,
Surveying the realms through the eyes of your faithful ravens, Huginn and Muninn,
It is you, O wily god with the vast mind, your wisdom spanning ages both forwards in time and back, to whom I offer up my praise.
You, Odin, know the true meaning of sacrifice,
That gifts must be given to receive blessings in return,
Having hung yourself by the throat from the world tree Yggdrasil,
Swaying in its branches for nine days and nights,
Your side pierced by a sharpened spear, anguish in all your limbs,
All so that you may learn the secrets of the runes.
Through this sacrifice you have become their god,
The keeper of runic knowledge,
And it is you who travels the land in search of new learnings,
Who takes up disciples who embody your lust for enlightenment,
Who uses what you have learned to govern your people, both mortal and divine,
And for this the supplicants cry out to you,
Kings and shamans and warriors alike exalt you, O Odin the way-tamer.
You go to great lengths for greater comprehension,
Hanging yourself upon the sacred ash tree for your skill with runes,
Dropping your right eye into the waters of Mimir for a single sip of wisdom,
Stealing the mead of poetry to learn its arcane sciences,
Even braving the perils of heaven and earth, snow and wind,
Traveling across vast landscapes with your mighty spear gungnir in search
Of the almighty knowing that may help you guide your kingdom well.
For these feats, O Odin, for your great skill and immeasurable insight,
Your followers, those who have been called to your name,
To sit by your side and drink in your stories, taking your many lessons to heart,
We cry out to you in frenzied mania, overcome by esoteric truths,
And we patiently await the day when we may join you in your great hall Valhalla,
Where we may drink and feast and fight anew,
Until the time comes for us to join you in the end,
In the great and terrible war that shall spark the rebirth of the world itself.
