Slow Havamal: 152

In verse 152, Odin says he knows a seventh spell. If a huge fire consumes a hall full of people, no matter how bright it burns, he can still save those inside.

As with many of the spells so far, this one is effective at thwarting some harm that a man might reasonably expect to encounter. In this case, it’s a conflagration in a hall. I’m not sure if men can also use this spell, or if it’s something restricted to Odin, but we are beginning to see patterns in the kind of matters for which people might invoke Odin’s help. Jackson Crawford says to be careful about the Roman habit of assigning a “god of...” to Norse gods. There is no clear-cut ruler of thunder, fertility, war, and such. The Norse gods have rather complex personalities that defy easy categorization—you know, like the rest of us. ( Read more... )