Slow Havamal: 153

[kylec]

In verse 153, Odin says he knows an eighth spell, and that anyone can learn it and make use of it. When hatred or enmity arises between two people, he can calm their tempers.

While some of the abilities Odin claims seem inaccessible to mere mortals, the eighth spell recounted in Havamal is explicitly available to all people, and in fact Odin encourages us to learn it. We may not normally think of him as a god who placates rage or mends relations between people, but there it is in plain writing. Odin not only has that ability, he promotes it in others. Hatred is bound to stir at some point in our lives. It’s fashionable to deny the emotion and to vilify it. Usually the ones doing this have simply chosen to hate a different target and to deny or excuse it. Instead, we can acknowledge that it will happen to us, at least in passing, and work to quench that fire.

Odin’s name is often etymologically derives from words that mean “raging, mad, or inspired.” If he knows how to quell a fury, it’s probably because he had to deal with his own and learn to channel it in healthy ways. Odin gains wisdom and power by throwing himself into the arena and struggling. He hangs from the tree rather than reading about it in books.

While he doesn’t give up the spell in this verse, we can assume that the way to learn it is to confront our own hatreds. When we feel angry, he need to trace it back to the root and transform that feeling into something else. Easier said than done, but a worthy skill to have. Carrying hatred poisons the bearer and brings harmful action upon the object. From an evolutionary standpoint, it allows us to channel our powers to defeat some enemy that threatens our very survival. Rarely is that the case with our pet animosities these days. Hatred works best when it flares up with great passion to protect us then passes away. When we cling to it, no good can come and mutual hatred ensures mutual destruction.

Perhaps there are many ways to accomplish this spell. I imagine the only way to learn one of them, short of a direct line to Odin, is to give it your best every time you feel hateful until something, someday, works.