MARK MIRABELLO - Odin Brotherhood

46 Mark Mirabello
Then I fell to the ground.
AUTHOR: The words of power are as obscure as they are
suggestive. What do they mean?
THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: To seize the runes, Odin
mounted a gallows called “The-World-Tree-of-Knowledge.”
Purified by suffering, the god sacrificed himself to himself.
AUTHOR: In a fashion, the sufferings of Odin evoke the
passion of Christ.
THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Not surprisingly. Gods—like
the prophets and the shamans who live in the world of men—
understand that pain can be a source of illumination.
AUTHOR: Can knowledge be found without pain?
THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Of course. In fact, Odin also
seeks wisdom through simple travel. He often visits the world
of men, and that is the reason he is called the god of countless
names.
AUTHOR: Are you suggesting that every time Odin visited a
different nation he was given a different appellation?
THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Yes. Called Rudra, Hermes,
and Wotan, Odin bears many names. He is also called
“Hooded-One,” “Much-Loved,” “Third-One,” “Thin-One,”
“One-Who-Blinds-With-Death,” “High-One,” “Changeable-
One,” “One-Who-Guesses-Right,” “Glad-of-War,” “God-ofthe-Spear,”
“One-Whose-Eye-Deceives-Him,” “Flame-Eyed-
One,” “Worker-of-Destruction,” “Bringer-of-Ecstasy,” “Very-
Wise-One,” “Long-Bearded-One,” “Father-of-Victory,”