Conversations with the Norse god Odin on a snowy road in Pennsylvania Part 1 “The Accident”

Conversations with the Norse God Odin PART 1: The Accident

The snow started out as a light flurry, barely reaching the ground or sticking to the windshield. It was midnight and I was still 5 miles from the 6 freeway that would take me home.

I didn’t like the small, narrow roads that criss-crossed the Pocono Mountains. They were always darker than the main roads because the tree lines on both sides of the road came out to meet you. And this road twisted and turned and went down and up like some kind of wriggling snake.

Suddenly the snow got heavier and my windshield wipers were having a hard time keeping the window clear.

I could feel the tension starting in my shoulders and then going down to my stomach as I twisted and turned down that narrow path in the snow. I often wondered why driving in the snow was so stressful for me. When I meditated on this thought, I discovered that it was not the fear of getting off the road, or of being hurt or even killed. It was above all inconvenient, economic and political. Inexpensive because if I broke my 86 Blazer, I didn’t have enough money to repair or replace it. And the politics of dealing with the police and insurance companies. bahh!

Suddenly, a doe jumped in front of me and crossed the path. I instinctively slammed on the brakes and even though I was only going 20 mph, I skidded off the road and into the drainage ditch. Fortunately I didn’t hit a tree, nor did I get hurt. I quickly got out of the car to examine my situation. The rear wheels were well into the ditch, which was now filling with snow.

I got back in the car and tried to get out of the ditch and back onto the road. But it was too steep and I couldn’t get any traction. There was no room to maneuver ahead, behind, or to the sides. There is no way out without help. So I was stuck for a while.

After a few minutes, I opened the door and walked out. It was snowing furiously, but it was not cold. I was bundled up, so I leaned against the car and waited.

At first I didn’t believe what my eyes were telling me. About 20 yards away, walking towards me down the middle of a narrow, dark path was… someone.

I closed my eyes, shook my head, and looked again. Yes, he was a man. He was dressed in a long dark blue cloak with a large hood that covered his entire face. In his right hand he carried a large, thick cane.

It can’t be, I thought to myself. “I must be dreaming. Am I imagining…”

“Hailsa,” his voice rumbled and echoed up and down the path from tree line to tree line. She walked up to me and I could see inside her hood. She had a full beard and long strands of silver hair cascading down to her shoulders.

And… yes… He had a black patch over one eye.

“Hailsa Kinsman,” he repeated, and his single ice blue eye gleamed.

“Hailsa All-Father,” I snapped.

“Oh, you do know who I am,” he smiled. “And well you should. You’ve been working with the runes…for how long?” she asked.

“Twenty years, father of all,” I replied.

“Yes,” he smiled. “And you have been busy restoring the books of your ancestors.”

I nodded.

“Hugin and Munin have told me many favorable stories about you,” he said.

I was speechless.

“So,” he continued, “I felt that as long as I was in this part of Midgard… what is it called?”

“Pennsylvania.”

“Oh yes, Pennsylvania,” he smiled. “Beautiful weather we are having.” She raised her arms in the air. Then he turned serious and said, “Now, my son, I am in a hurry. There is a lot to do these days. But I will stay and talk with you for a while. You have studied hard and earned it. What is it? Can I tell you what?” help you with your quest and your life’s destiny?”

“Than?” I stuttered. “I don’t understand.”

“What are you looking for in all those books you read?”

I thought for a moment before answering. “I want to know the truth about things…”

“Oh, the truth,” he said. “What truth? There are not many.”

“The truth about what is happening to my world. Where did I come from? Where am I going? What is good? What is bad?” I hesitated a moment and continued, “And who are you? Where do you come from?”

“Ha ha ha ha,” he bellowed. “You ask a lot. Remember, I don’t have much time. Heimdal and Loki are waiting for me on the road, so I can’t waste my time.”

“Goal…”

“Patience,” he said. “I can’t tell you everything I know. Knowing as much as God knows would destroy your mind. Your heart would burst with the pain of the truth and your breath would leave your body.”

He paused and began again, “I’ll tell you what you need to know. And I’ll know what you need to know by the quality and depth of your questions. Think carefully before you ask. And remember this… you can only know so much truth.” how are you able to know

“Yaggsdrasil Tree and Mimer’s Well?” I asked referring to how Odin, the All-Father, had been hanging on the tree of life, suffering for nine days in order to learn the truth about the runes. And how he sacrificed one of his eyes in the Well of Mimir to gain more wisdom.

I shook my head in confusion. What had I done to earn the truth? What great sacrifice had he made?

“Oh, you have,” Odin interrupted as he read my thoughts. “You may not have made a big sacrifice as a warrior dying in battle for something you believe in. But look at the many small battles you have won on a daily basis. The battle of keeping your own individual faith and belief system alive .in the midst of the chaos of multiplicity and duplicity around you.

Do not forget the many battles you have won for the relatives locked in the many prisons? Many of them are there because they did not want to bow their knees before the God who seeks to make them slaves. So now they are imprisoned so that they can become lazy for their sins against this God.

He paused, “Do you forget the time, money, and effort you put into finding, copying, and selling books that spoke of your ancestors? Do you forget the many verbal battles you engaged in in defense of your own beliefs? this time feel osternized by a society that is hostile, even deadly to anyone who dares to think differently from them?

“No, Ragnar Storyteller,” Odin rumbled, “the number and quality of your small individual actions have become a great sacrifice. A great victory. Your persistence, dedication, and lonely pursuit have earned you a reward. Hugin and Munin brought your struggles to my attention and I’ve been watching you.”

He stopped, leaned in closer, and the piercing power of his single ice blue eye reached into my soul. “Choose your questions!”

Just then, the blinding headlights of a car appeared around the bend. But instead of stopping, it continued to roar.

“Expect…!” I yelled in disappointment. They didn’t see my headlights or that I was in a ditch. Somehow it had hidden us from view and the oncoming car never saw us.

Odin smiled. “What is your wish?” he said. “To be rescued and brought home where there is light and warmth? Or do you prefer to stay here with me, in the snow and wind and cold and seek your destiny?”

“Rescue, comfort and tranquility or mystery, cold and danger? Choose to have another car pull up and I can go and let them find you.”

PART 2: The Questions