While Odin may be the principle deity in Norse mythology, it is Thors hammer that was worn in the viking age and is worn today. Why is Odins spear not worn widely but Thors hammer is?
While Odin may be the principle deity in Norse mythology, it is Thors hammer that was worn in the viking age and is worn today. Why is Odins spear not worn widely but Thors hammer is?
If you invoke odin's weapons, I'm pretty sure it's implied you want him to show up and watch you die violently. He basically harvested souls wherever he went.
What if he sends you a black spear ?
Sounds metal af.. But that would be a reason enough for some people to wear it.
Nope Odin is just Jesus with an Eye Patch He doesn't Just harvest souls...
I am Norwegian. Tor's hammer is pretty common here. I wish people wore it for real reasons and especially fertility, as our birth rates have collapsed after covid
Odin is seeker of knowledge. His name means breath. He is known for poetry (thought) and ferocity (passion). His spear strikes true and used when he made a sacrifice for greater understanding. He is thoughtful and kind, he observes and listens. If I am to represent him by wearing his spear, I would remember his sacrifice, I would contemplate greater understanding.
Next you talk about Odin preface it with "I'm a Wiccan and I make shit up"
I personally do not agree with the points he makes about Odins Spear. He needs to Read or Re Read the Havamal..
@@user-rx1ij8pi4jas this guy in the video is saying probably And bros not wrong btw lol
A great comment and thanks. I'd rather wear Odin's spear as a sign of his one eyed wisdom as I am distantly relatedly to Nordics but essentially I'm half Indian and half Irish. PS Celebrating Nordic and Pagan culture is not racist or hateful. :)
I wear the spear only on Wednesday. With Odin, i try to focus more on seeking knowledge and wisdom and refining skills. I certainly don't want him to see me as a mighty warrior 😂
After you asked yourself the question in long form, three times, in the first 1 minute and 20 seconds, I feel sure got the gist of the impending topic. Thanks for clarity!
That’s why we wear the raven instead, to invoke Odins wisdom and gifts of speech
Maybe we shouldn’t think of a spear as weapon but a flow of a direction from one world to the next. This is the vision that came to me just now
Just figured this channel out randomly. Thankful to found it. I will watch me through this channel's history now
Well I do wear a Huginn/Muninn pendant with a nice glowing red stone in the middle. I'm more on the side of thought and wisdom. Ravens are probably the most intelligent and beautiful birds in the world.
Another possibility why Mjolnir was the main symbol of the Norse Faith, was because in the old days it was Thor who was really the Chief God. I think in Snorri's Edda, there were records of Thor being originally the greater God. Certainly the chief God in many pantheons was the Storm God, or God of Thunder. Indra, Zeus, Jupiter, Perun, and so on. In ancient days, Odin might have had a far lesser position. He would seem to be the equivalent of Hermes and Mercury. But somewhere along the line he became the Chief God. This is, of course,, pure speculation on my part. One thing I'll add, as a possibility, is this change might have come about, due, in part to a change in the calendar. The Norsemen used a five day week they called a Fimt. Tiw's was the first day, then Woden, then Thor, then Frigg; we are uncertain who occupied the fifth slot. What this meant, however, was that Thor was right in the central position, kind of like the keystone of an arch. But when the Judeo-Christian culture came in they brought their seven day week. With the days of the Sun and the Moon added, Woden's Day was now the Keystone of the Arch, and Thor was relegated to a secondary position. More speculation on my part but perhaps you might find it of use.
A fair point you make, the wide spread findings of Thor's hammers shows how significant of a deity Thor was, how central he was to the common people. Odin may have been more of a god of the warriors and Jarls. Is there any historical sources for the Norse five day week? I have content on the old Norse calendar and I have not heard of a five day week.
@@therideinmidgard Not sure where I first came across the idea of the Fimt (might have been in one of Edred Thorsson's, or Freya Aswynn's books). But I quoted from, and posted a few links. Hope you find them useful. "According to Prof. Munch, the Northmen originally divided the week into five days, the so-called Fimt (Fimth), the later hebdominal week having been borrowed, like the names of the days, from the south. The latter, in spite of their apparent northern character, are in point of fact mere adaptations of the names of the Roman deities Mars, Mercury, Jove and Venus, which reappeared in the old northern calendar as Ty, Odin, Thor, and Freja. Saturn alone failed to find a representative in this system of nomenclature, for to the genuine Northman it would seem that the lst day of the week could have no other designation than that of “Laugar-dag,” or “Thvott-dag,” washing or bathing day, and this name has been retained through the intervening ages, being the only one that escaped the ban of the Church, when a century after the establishment of Christianity an episcopal ordinance interdicted the application of the names of heathen Gods to the several days of the week, which were thenceforth known in accordance with their order of sequence, although Sunnudag and Manadag in course of time replaced the older designations of “First Day” and “Second Day.” [This from www.nature.com/articles/028304a0.pdf fæmt (OSw) fimt (ODan) fimmt (ON) fimt (ON) noun This word - derived from the numeral fæm/fimm - was the usual term for a summons to appear in a certain place after five days, and for the meeting or gathering held at the expiration of five days. The fæmt was the usual notice, summons, or time limit in relation to judicial matters. It is known from several Nordic provincial laws and even elsewhere (e.g. the Faroes). OSw fæmt was held five days after an assembly and fulfilled a function similar to a home summons (heimstefna, see hemstæmpnung) in Norway, where debts could be settled. In Iceland, this concept appears in Js and Jó. There are reasons to believe that the fæmt was the length of a week in early Medieval Norway, and probably in all mainland Scandinavia. This rests, inter alia, on the length of the month, which was six weeks in the GuL (see Sunde 2011b, 224−25). It is not clear when the seven-day week was introduced in Scandinavia, but this probably took place before the introduction of Christianity. Nevertheless, the five-day week continued in use, esp. in matters of law and public business. [This from www.dhi.ac.uk/lmnl/nordicheadword/displayPage/1608 Also some good information here shadowraven.net/calendar/norse.html
@@VOLKHVORONOVICH hmm interesting. So six weeks of five days gives a thirty day month, which is about one lunar cycle, so maybe. Twelve cycles of thirty days gives a 360 day year, so I can see this working. A leap year could add in the missing days. Thanks for that.
I have and still will wear a spear for the Allfather, albeit not as regularly as I wear Mjolnir. One of my main inspirations for wearing the spear is its connection to Odin’s self sacrifice on Yggdrasil to obtain the knowledge of the runes. In this context I view it as a symbol of hard, painfully earned wisdom just as much as a weapon of war. That’s just my personal interpretation though, and I completely understand why many prefer the more protective symbology of Mjolnir.
I think it's the same reason why we don't wear Sif's hair, a folding boat, Ullrs skis, or the arrow that kills Baldur. I believe the ancient people understand that the value of Mjolnir was much more warranted to wear than the other Magic objects and weapons the other God's had. Thor is the protector of Midgard, so it's more common sense (havamal) that we use that sense to wear the tool Thor wields
Man, this gave me shivers. I've dreamt about spears lately. I have to start practicing my Ancestors spiritual ways more regularly again. Hail Odin 🙏🏻👑🇸🇪
Excellent points.
Agreed but I wear my spear in time of conflict court is one place I’ve worn it under my suit and I’ve went home every time
Interesting video. What about Valknut pendants? Why do you think that these also aren't worn as often as Thor's Hammers?
That's a good question, I'll contemplate this and maybe make another vid. Thanks
Well thought out, but one must never look past the sacrifices that the Allfather made in his pursuit of Knowledge, nor can one look past that Odin was generally regarded as a villain in a lot of the stories. Not to mention the fact that any oath made upon the Spear could not be broken, that evokes some very powerful meaning to me, as a man is only as good as his word.
Amazing video brother, almost makes me want to wear my sword pendant more often that i crafted in dedication to Týr. 😊❤ hail!
Thanks brother. Out of curiosity, what does the sword pendant mean to you?
@@therideinmidgard from my own personal gnosis? Well of course undoubtedly courage,determination,to make sacrifices or hard choices and the will to carry on no matter the circumstances or obstacles I would face in life, but most importantly the sword unlike a spear or hammer can can have two sides sharp or blunt depending on the wielder, it reminds me/us to keep both sides sharpened and ready for any challenges the mundane world throws at me/us.
@@Bjorn_Algizi dig it!
@@Bjorn_Algiz that's beautiful
@@therideinmidgard thank you brother! 🙂
The Gods are real, my friends.
Thor is the God of the common man. You wear his hammer out of respect and for protection. Odin's spear is a powerful symbol and like many Norse symbols it should be held in reverence.
I work with Thunor (the anglo saxon version of thor) and i never questioned it because thunor is seen as a protector deity that drives away elfe
I wear Irminsul and Mjolnir together … one being representative of Wotan&others Thor… why not wear a Slepnir, or other symbol indicative of Odin … that being said , wear the appropriate talisman in accordance to what you’re trying to invoke … Huggin & Munin for wisdom, Gungnir for battle , etc.? Each talisman 🧿 has its place and purpose I think 🤔, just as the Volva and Vitki used magical implements and charms when practicing Siedr.
For me, going the way of the Norse Gods was never about joining any kind of collective (I'm a Norse Pagan now so I'm going to do what all the other Norse Pagans do.") No, it was always an individual path.What was important about it was what it meant to me. It was Odin whom I was drawn to; Thor, not so much. It was Odin's mysteries I found myself plumbing. I haven't worn an Odin's Spear, but I think I may start doing just that. This is my choice, and I hold nothing against those who wear the Hammer. I won't do it because I'm trying to invoke death, or anything similar. If that's what the Spear suggests to others, let them stay sway from it. In any case, i enjoyed this video very much. I certainly never knew that was the meaning of Gungnir's name!
Thor is the defender of humanity. Thats why I think its the more popular one. But there is finds of amuletts whit bout Thors hammer, Frey's sickle and Odens spear
I've never likened Old Norse symbology with anything definitive. The concept of sympathetic magic and the intention behind it defines the meaning. I wear Mjǫllnir as a reminder of the weight of the decisions I make and their consequences, my form of sympathetic magic in regards to the strength required to lift and wield Mjǫllnir. Others may use it for fertility or marriage purposes, or, like your interpretation, for its representation of protection. I like your interpretation of Gungnir as a symbol invoking Oðinn through death and war, seen in acts of sympathetic magic in Old Norse warfare by (emulating Oðinn hurling his spear over the the Vanir) yelling "Oðinn à yðr alla" (Oðinn owns you all). Gungnir could be used in other forms of sympathetic magic through personal sacrifice, reflecting Oðinn's sacrifice to himself (sjálfur sjálfum mér) to learn the magic of the runes. However, I do **not** recommend reconstructing Oðinn's ritual.
Imagine electro magnetic field. Two circles one gone clockwise the other one counterclockwise. in the center of this is the motion or a spear. It does make it sound actually when the energy flows through there. When I was younger, I imagined a pyramid with four round spheres turning from inside out and water shooting up from the top. It’s the flow of the universe.
One observation i'd dare to make is also that Wotan, in his priestly form, as the Spear Dancer or Shaman, the leader of ritual, would have presumably used his spear for sacrifices. Therefore one could assume being marked with his spear is being marked for sacrifice.
If you recall the verses of the havamal Odin did sacrifice himself with his spear in ritual sacrifice in which he discovered the secrets of the runes. So yes I would agree with you.
Huh i did not know this
Gungnir was said to always make anyone who touched it tell the truth- you know *sway* them into telling the truth.
Odin is the Creator. Thor is the Sustainer. If you want to create or begin something ... Odin. If you want protection and Sustainment ... Thor. Thor is the Hero. Odin is the frenzied energy of Creation. Thor is the one who protects, and the Hammer, which is a shamanic drum hammer, represents Him. So we wear His hammer. We want to emulate Thor, to invoke His assistance.
🤔I typically resonate w/ spears… It is also very Native American… However I associate them w/ protection & how they’ve been used for feeding your family. Question… What if we honor the spear as Fighting The Battle Within & The Death of Our Old Selves & Resurrecting Our Higher Vibrational Selves❓ There must be death for rebirth right? I’m curious to hear your thoughts🤗. Thank you for sharing this❣️
Some fair points you make. I might make some follow up content to address these questions. Odin speared himself in an act of death to discover the knowledge of the runes, so yes death and rebirth seems a valid meaning of the spear.
I think the reason we wear mjolnir is similar to the reasons the christians wear a cross. Sure the cross symbolises their patrons sacrifice, but the cross most of all shows that the bearer is a christian. Meanwhile the mjolnir symbolises strenght, peace etc. it also clearly indicates that the bearer is a norse pagan. Wearing a symbol of a tree or a raven doesnt really indicate any spritual belief the bearer has, but everyone knows exactly what belief the mjolnir symbolises same as the cross.
an oath sworn on Odin's spear is inviolable and cannot be broken.. if you break your oath it will have dire consequences.
Do you know what the spear really is? Do you think it could be something else? Thors hammer is mankind’s heartbeat and the forge masters tool but what really is the spear? I have the answer.
Let us know, that's the point of the content to explore the meanings.
Let us know then
The spear is used in many cultures, lmk if you want another hint.
Is it a penis?
'Those who know, do not speak. Those who speak do not know.'
@@bobSeigar why do you speak then ?
@@Hadrada. Those were not my words, your attempt at humiliation has backfired.
@@bobSeigar it’s not a competition what’s your point?
You’re implying wars were never fought for good reasons
I believe what he was trying to say is that war, no matter for what it is fought is not a pleasant act and so that is why he avoids as many other people to wear Gungnir around his neck 👍🏻
@@balefire3874 pleasant and necessary are not the same.
Interesting
Blunt Hammer pendant v. Pointy Spear pendant. Plus, Thor loves Midgard... Odin loves all Nine Realms. Odin is more likely to "take" a worthy man in battle... perhaps by misfortune.
In Völuspá Odin throws A spear to start the Aesir Vanir war. But it was never stated it was Gungnir. In Skáldskaparmál the Sons of Ivaldi forge Gungnir for Odin and Skíðblaðnir for Freyr, who is Vanir. This means those events must have taken place well after the war. At the time of the war Odin could not have been in the possession of an item that did not exist yet. It couldn't have been Gungnir!
Odin throwing the spear to initiate the Aesir Vanir war illustrates the symbolism of the spear and also of Odin's nature. Odin threw a spear, whether it was gungnir or another spear it's still Odins spear! I'm not sure how you have arrived at the conclusion that gungnir must have been forged after the Aesir Vanir war, I don't see the logical conclusion. Mythology in my opinion is symbolic not linear, and so your point about the chronology of time in the myths seems to me mistaken. With that said, this is just my opinion and I appreciate your contribution to the content.
@@therideinmidgard You are right about Morse mythology failing on chronology. Ragnarok is a good example. Everything about it is told in past tense, as if it has already happened. But all other saga's are told as if they are present day. And the Norse were all still preparing to ascent to Valhal and join the Einherjar.
I wear both the spear and the hammer.
haha are you using a sock as a pop filter? Like a sock you wear on your feet?
lol yep you caught me, works a charm.
I use a nylon stocking. It works. I tossed the Blue wind screen.
Thor's hammer is in all cases a weapon. So if that's your argument against Odin's spear, then you shouldn't wear it either. Also Thor is essentially a warrior, whereas Odin is a bunch of things. Maybe you should wear Odin's travelling hat.
They may be both weapons but Mjolnir is not really a weapon of warfare in the same way gungnir appears. Hammers were not even really used in battle. Different symbols and meanings so...
Another reason the Gungnir Spear would fit me better than the Hammer, is that finding my own particular path has always seemed to be a struggle. It's like I had to fight to stake out my place in any alternate Faith. It is not that I sought war, but I, more than a few times had people telling me that I, say, couldn't mix traditions. I tried telling this one woman that Heimdall, with his gold teeth, sacred animal the ram, god of beneficial fire, and offspring of multiple mothers, was pretty darn the same thing as the Hindu god, Agni, of whom those four things were also true. She staunchly held to the tradition, that Asatru sprung out of a vacuum and had no connection to any other religion, or mythology. But she was ex-Mormon, so I guess that makes sense. Ironically, it was a fellow from Iceland, whose family had worshiped the gods for centuries, that sided with me, rather than her.
I think the hammer has killed more than the spear.. 😅
I think it is more because Thor was the God that was most worshiped by the common people. Odin was more of a feared symbol, and venerated moreso by the ruling class. It was mostly Thor, but also Freyr and Tyr to some degree, depending on the region, that had more worshipers than Odin. So when Christianity encroached upon the North, as a reaction the the symbolism of Christian Cross, it is logical that Thor's Hammer was the symbol used by those who chose to remain following the Old Ways. Regarding today, I think most people just want historical authenticity as a method of validation in face of our overwhelmingly Abrahamic society...and thus choose Mjolni rather than Gungnir or another "Heathen" symbol.
I agree with your comment but with respect it seems to me that you are begging the question. Why was Thor the most worshipped in the Viking age by the common people? Why was Odin worshipped by elites? I have answered these questions in the video.
Well yeah, in terms of the symbolism of Mjolnir and Gungnir, but you didn't quite address or at minimum emphasize the disparity between the number of followers of Thor vs Odin. Therein lies the most obvious answer to the original question you proposed, and least historically, as to why people wore Mjolnir rather than Gungnir. I agree with just about everything in your video, especially the implied symbology of these objects as you describe it - but you invited participation and commentation, and I'm just adding the element that the majority of the population worshiped Thor (for the reasons you mentioned), not Odin, and thus the selection of Mjolnir as a symbol seems obvious and likely. Thanks.@@therideinmidgard
Because it looks like a shark tooth
Someone gave me a thumbs up so that’s tells me your curious. Here is another hint, it does exist but it is invisible.
Is it our perception?
Purpose or intent.
@@Hadrada. Orion holds the spear... Other cultures change the spear into a bow and club and ect ect. If you research the wild hunt in other cultures, you will be amazed at the similarities.♣♣♣♣♣
Maybe its not as commonly made?
Why is it not as commonly made?
@@therideinmidgard I said Maybe its not. I was just hazarding a guess. Maybe it's commonly made?
I became stronger on my own. Tor not needed. I gained knowledge on my own. Odin not needed. Love is what I have no control over so Freya I speak to you.
Hva faen
He is a god of the thief, the liar, the hanged man, the desperate, the mad. Those with nothing, or everything to lose. He was not a god of the everyman by any means, he was not a kind god or loving god. He may have tested you just to see what your made of and how you'd react. Thor on the other hand is guardian and protector of our realm. He is the loyal father, brother, and son. A good husband, a person good to embrace and seek help from. There is a misunderstanding that just because in the literary tradition that has been preserved, Odin is the chief god, does not actually mean that we was the primary object of worship and veneration. Thor would have been much more so, and Freyr for fertile harvests and good kings/cheifs, Tyr for justice and protection in war. Odin is a god most people wouldn't want the attention of.
Absolutely… the morons in Hollyweird have turned Wotan into a lovely fat Jovial god like Dyonisis who’s sits around drinking and merrymaking, when in reality that isn’t the case at all ! Spot on ! I think they need to read the texts and the words of the High one himself! Cheers 🧙♂️🇨🇦🔱🐲🐉❄️
The spear was not thrown in battle. Arrows would be the first weapons launched. Spears were used in hand to hand combat mostly. At least the type of spear we associate Odin's Gungnir with. Not to say Odin didn't throw his spear, but your symbolism of battle I question. I think your explanation of Thor's Hammer symbolizing Defending our people is more accurate.
Spears were thrown in battle, Julius Caesar and Tacitus wrote of the ancient Germanic tribes throwing their spears to begin battle. The Romans called their throwing spears Javlins. If the spear does not symbolise battle then what?
Why Thor’s hammer and rather a than Odin’s spear….. Marvel? Thor has been popular since the 60s. His comics as well as the TV animated show. We are products of popular culture wither we wish we o admit it or not.
Yea but there has been many hammer found not Odin spears from the past I think he was referring to not perhaps now as much as to entire history?
Not true, many examples of ancient necklaces depicting the a hammer or even older axes have been found where germanic peoples are
🥱 lol yall need JESUS. Get together, you're being played for a fool.
Hey if you love Jesus that's cool too! I'm happy that you came on here to share these words. I talk with alot of Abrahamic followers of the 3 major religious practices, and I could say that some I have befriended and made good Allies with as friends and even family 🙂 but always remember to respect all peoples and their practices or views on life, just as The lord father GOD would want for you to inact his love and support for all mankind.
kzhead.info/sun/ZtKLiK-AjKKdpa8/bejne.htmlsi=BJmt5M2QVkoUhgqK
Maybe this will help 🙂❤
I find your comment rude, disrespectful and intolerant.
@@therideinmidgardyea and me clear off and watch something else If this don’t resonate with you then why you here