Guiding Ideas, Part II: In Allegory

Guiding Ideas, Part II: In Allegory

One may question the true direction of the dedication of the author, whether it be to the Norse Gods or to The Numinous. The answer is in both because, as Otto explains, they are but one and the same. The Norse gods are an allegory, a cultural interpretation, of their experience with The Numinous. In a matter that relates to my own experiences and my own understanding, the Norse belief system is the version of our shared story, our shared experience, that works best for me. I still consider myself a polytheist, as Norse Paganism divides The Numinous into different articles of power, naming them Odin, Freyja, Þor, Loki, and so on. I practice and worship in the ways the Norse do, to separate deities, so as to understand each aspect of The Numinous, much in the way we subdivide a book into chapters.

As one reads the literature of Norse mythology (a term I dislike, as the practice represents great importance to those who participate in it, and so the terms myth and mythology devalue what some practice in a form of religion and consider to be very real), the literary device called a kenning appears more with each passage one reads. The word, kenning, is derived from the Old Norse verb kenna which translates to “to know”, “to perceive”, or “to name”. Britannica defines a kenning as a “concise compound or figurative phrase replacing a common noun, specific to Old German, Old Norse, and Old English poetry”.

These kennings weren’t literary devices as we think of them, as intentional craftsmanship within language meant to enhance one’s work, rather they were a regular part of the language itself, in both skaldic poetry and in spoken word. They were prevalent in use but, like a professional athlete in modern times, the excellent ones made their surrounding work achieve greater notoriety and prestige. These are important to understand, and one simply must read the works they originate from to understand their complexity and importance. Simply put, riddling in the cleverest of ways demonstrated to others the degree of wit and intellect one held.

With the retelling of the Norse Creation story and their accompanying tales of the gods, it is important to offer a glimpse into the difficulty of finding a cohesive narrative from the Norse cosmos. A metaphor to consider when comparing the Norse to Greek or Roman mythologies depicts all as tapestries. The Greek/Roman tapestries, while tattered in places, are a single, large work that is more or less intact with few breaks in narrative and even fewer questions remaining about the origins of any given character or chronology of any event. This is sharply contrasted with the Norse tapestry. Also tattered and weathered, the Norse story is a compilation of multiple tapestries. Each tapestry has varying degrees of cohesive narrative, Christian influence, and corroboration with the tapestries around them. While a whole book could be dedicated to the reasons for this (and there are), the outcome is the same: anybody seeking to learn the old ways is forced to play a scholarly goose chase with a mandated level of skepticism when the air of Christian ways are about.

So, I have set forth two goals in mind. First, attempt to create a singular narrative of the Norse Pagan religion, otherwise known as Asatru, while being as accurate and inclusive as possible while still dodging Christian influences from original sources. The second goal is to take the old kennings and offer modern examples, suggesting the Norse had a greater understanding of our universe without the words to say so. These two goals will be worked towards under the idea that this is a cultural version of the universal story referred to as The Numinous.

In keeping with this idea that “holy” or “divinity” may conjure the sense of purity in a Christian context but not the Norse Pagan, there are aspects of the following works that may be distasteful in our modern times. Sexism, racism, and homophobia are all flaws of humanity so they are reflected in the Norse pantheon and lore. Unlike the Abrahamic religions which seek to aspire to their divine’s level of purity and perfection, the lore of Norse Paganism tasks its audience with learning from the examples set in honor and in disgrace.

Lesser flaws are also present with the persona's of the gods as well. Selfishness, cruelty, and deceitfulness are common motifs in northern stories. While sagas are more triumphant tales of family accomplishments, works regarding the gods generally shape themselves as lessons in humanity to pass on to further generations.

These are important ideologies to consider when reading so as not to make assumptions as to the author’s stance or the stance of those who follow Norse Paganism with regards to such delicate matters in important social subjects. As we must learn of the atrocities that humanity has inflicted upon itself, the Norse Pagans learn from the faults of the gods so as not to repeat their mistakes. Imperfection and the making of mistakes are the breeding ground for learning and education, making them a necessary component in any pursuit.