Slow Havamal: 120

In verse 120, Odin counsels Loddfafnir to find a good man to join him in joyful talk, and to learn a healing spell while he lives.

This is a timely verse for me. On the same day that I cracked the cover of Havamal to read it, I received my exam questions to complete the curriculum for Modern Order of Essenes, a program focused on healing. It may not seem to follow from “joyful talk” that one should learn a healing spell, but Crawford notes that the verb used for talk, gamanrunar, can also be translated as joyful runes. While he feels “talk” is more appropriate in this context, runes are often associated with magic, and so the mention alongside a healing spell might refer to a couple of guys sharing magical techniques. ( Read more... )