Slow Havamal: 131

[kylec]

In verse 131, Odin counsels Loddfafnir to be wary, though not fearful, of three things: drinking, other men’s women, and about men and their temptation to steal.

While danger can come from any quarter, there are a few everyday situations which are ripe for pain if we’re not careful. The first is probably the most obvious, yet the source of more error than the other two combined. I knew from an early age, when a sherriff’s deputy and a dog mascot showed up at our school to teach us about substance abuse in the D.A.R.E. program, that drinking can get you in trouble. Maybe I needed to hear it from Odin, because the warning went unheeded. I did in fact make it through my 20’s and 30’s relatively unscathed, but it was due to luck more than personal virtue. I’ve tempered greatly since then, and have come to understand the warning in a way that mere words won’t convey. Alcohol loosen inhibitions, and if what we were inhibiting was behavior that harms ourselves or others, well, you know how that goes. I doubt Odin is suggesting that we all quit drinking entirely, though for some, that’s the best and only option. For most, moderation and a heightened sense of awareness surrounding the activity will spare us a lot of suffering.

Perhaps in extension from the first caution, we’re also advised not to be too flattered by the attention of other men’s women. (Nor should women be eager to get acquainted with other women’s men.) It may feel good to be “chosen” by someone as a better alternative to what they have, but if that’s the case, better to wait until they break it off to consummate. A jilted lover can be hazardous to our health. Nor does it necessarily mean as much as we think. It may not be the adulterer’s first rodeo, and the decision to choose you might have been made out of convenience. Further, if someone is willing to step out on their partner once, there’s a decent chance the same will happen again down the road. Some men will say who cares? I’m not looking for a relationship. And that’s fair, but such distinctions don’t matter to the angry husband.

Finally, we’re warned to watch out for men’s tendency to steal. This is less of a regular issue for most of us in the affluent first world—the people I meet in my social circles, at the gym, etc. don’t take my things. But we know that certain neighborhoods carry a higher risk than others, and shouldn’t be hiked lightly. It’s also true that thieves are more than willing to drive to affluent areas to find victims. Leaving valuables in sight in the backseat, or stumbling home from the bar looking oblivious can mark us as targets. On a broader scale, many corporations seem to make a living by ripping people off, driving competitors out of business unscrupulously, etc. Theft is not just a man with a knife. It can happen through entirely legal channels with no recourse. We need to be wary of what seems too good to be true, and of not defending our assets aggressively from encroaching agencies.

Be wary of these things, but not fearful. Daily anxiety will devour us. There are always dangers out there, and if we let their specter destroy our health, they may as well have gotten to us. So have a drink, be friendly to your friend’s spouse, lock up your bike, and enjoy the benefits of a life lived with awareness.