Slow Havamal: 141

[kylec]

In verse 141, Odin says he began to be fruitful and wise; that word followed word, and deed followed deed in a continuous flow..

I encourage readers to look this verse up in the book, or in their favorite translation. If you had to choose a single verse in all of Havamal as a goal, you could do much worse than verse 141. In the aftermath of his great personal sacrifice and his study of magic and tasting of the mead of inspiration, things start to come together for Odin. He begins to connect what he’s learned. Once isolated lessons join to others and something like an understanding emerges. He speaks not in spurts of brilliance, but growing chains. He acts not occasionally with skill, but time and again without interruption. Faltering efforts gain momentum. He begins to live a life created from the mouth and hands of a wise man.

The first thing to note is that his turnaround, and therefore what was holding him up before, seems to emanate from himself. We all have good moments, but then we undercut ourselves with mean moments, lazy moments, selfish moments, confused moments. Our lives reflect the whole of all our thoughts, words, and deeds together. That means much can be improved if we just stop getting in our own way. Imagine if you could speak at all times as you did at your most eloquent, and act in all ways as you did when you had the greatest success.

Life wouldn’t change in a flash, granted like a wish. What Odin describes is a slow but steady process gathering steam until it becomes unstoppable. Through sacrifice and practice, we shed those parts of ourselves that hinder our potential. A traveler marching downhill, we come step by step to a new land. We grow, we thrive. Disparate aspects of our character reconcile into harmony. It isn’t guaranteed, and it isn’t a “gimme.” But with consistent work, we eventually reach a place where what we strive to be issues naturally, no longer located somewhere in the nebulous future.

Crawford uses the word “flowing” to describe the sequence of words and actions. Rather than taking conscious effort, we have tapped into a flow state. The will is unified, and everything we do leads in that fruitful direction. The thing to remember is that Odin had to pay for this in advance with his sacrifice on the tree, and his seizing of the opportunities that opened for him. He gave up some part of himself, then partook in things greater than himself. A fine example for those who wander.