Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

ODIN (aka Odhin, Odhinn, Othin, Wotan, Woden)

In Norse and German mythology, the one-eyed patriarch of gods and the god of wisdom. He is usually portrayed as tall and thin with long, tangled hair, and wearing a long, dark cloak. In his thirst for forbidden wisdom, he hanged himself from Yggdrasil, the sacred ash tree of the universe, for nine days in a trance. He sacrificed one eye in the process but was able to create a magical Runic alphabet.

Odin had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He created the arts and was a powerful magician, Sorcerer and healer. When Mirnir, the ocean god who had the power to see into the past and future, was beheaded, Odin preserved his head with charms and herbs and used it as an oracle.

Odin could change his shape at will. He loved adventure and flew through the sky on an eight-legged horse. He frequently traveled among mortals disguised as The Wanderer, with a big slouch hat hiding his ruined eye. Odin was not viewed as a vengeful god, though Christians identified him with Satan. The day of the week Wednesday comes from his Germanic name, Woden - 'Woden's Day'.

Odin is revered by some Neo-Pagans.

see also: NORSE PAGANISM.

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc