To Share: I'm trying to work out a seeming parallel between the tales of Woden giving his eye for a drink of the Well of Memory, sacrificing himself to himself to gain the Runes, and getting the Mead of Poetry, and I wrote this post to see if I could get anywhere with it: https://jpowellrussell.com/#woden_s_three_deals
To Ask: I asked last week, but it was rather late in the day, so I'll try again here with a bit more time to breath, for JMG and/or any of the commentariat. On his way to win the Mead of Poetry, Odin runs into nine thralls (slaves) mowing grass for hay with scythes. He takes out a whetstone and sharpens the scythes. All of the thralls want the whetstone and offer to buy it, but instead he throws it in the air, they all clamor after it, and in the ruckus, slit each other's throats. Having created a job opening, Odin goes on to do the work of nine men all summer long for the ettin Baugi, in exchange for his help trying to get a drink of the Mead of Poetry, which is held by Baugi's brother, Suttung. I've meditated on this part of the tale before, but it seems like there might be some allusion (astronomical?) or symbolic implication I'm not getting, so if anyone has any thoughts on where I might look for insight, or ways of thinking about the story, I'd very much appreciate it.
As always, thanks very much to JMG and everyone else here for all that you do.
To any who will have them, I put forth my blessings and best wishes, Jeff
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branchandroot
Woden's Three Deals and Question on Nine Thrall Mowers
Date: 2023-04-24 03:46 am (UTC)A happy belated Earth Day to everyone!
To Share: I'm trying to work out a seeming parallel between the tales of Woden giving his eye for a drink of the Well of Memory, sacrificing himself to himself to gain the Runes, and getting the Mead of Poetry, and I wrote this post to see if I could get anywhere with it: https://jpowellrussell.com/#woden_s_three_deals
To Ask: I asked last week, but it was rather late in the day, so I'll try again here with a bit more time to breath, for JMG and/or any of the commentariat. On his way to win the Mead of Poetry, Odin runs into nine thralls (slaves) mowing grass for hay with scythes. He takes out a whetstone and sharpens the scythes. All of the thralls want the whetstone and offer to buy it, but instead he throws it in the air, they all clamor after it, and in the ruckus, slit each other's throats. Having created a job opening, Odin goes on to do the work of nine men all summer long for the ettin Baugi, in exchange for his help trying to get a drink of the Mead of Poetry, which is held by Baugi's brother, Suttung. I've meditated on this part of the tale before, but it seems like there might be some allusion (astronomical?) or symbolic implication I'm not getting, so if anyone has any thoughts on where I might look for insight, or ways of thinking about the story, I'd very much appreciate it.
As always, thanks very much to JMG and everyone else here for all that you do.
To any who will have them, I put forth my blessings and best wishes,
Jeff