Slow Havamal: 47

In the 47th verse, Odin tells us how he walked alone when he was young, and became lost along the way. But he felt rich when he crossed paths with a fellow traveler, because “people’s joy is in other people.”

I like to be alone. That may come as a surprise—usually people who engage in protracted exegeses of Old Norse texts on dark corners of the internet have a reputation as incorrigible extroverts—but it’s true. Odin suggests that this is common in youth. While youth isn’t something I’m guilty of, it seems like he means “inexperience.” A young traveler thinks he knows the way. He’s too eager and confident to imagine any other outcome than arriving at his wildest dreams. When we go alone, we don’t have to share the glory. More importantly, we don’t have to take flack from anyone, because a young wanderer is bound to earn it. ( Read more... )