Introduction 

Odin was one of the central gods in Norse mythology, and also one of the most complex. According to the World History Encyclopedia, he was not only a warrior god, but a god of poetry, magic, and the dead. Odin appears in traditional Germanic mythology under the name of Wuotan. These Germanic spellings give us the day of the week named after him: Wednesday.

To understand Odin, you need to understand the Norse conception of the universe. To the Norse people, the universe was made up of three strata of nine worlds, centered around and on an elemental ash tree known as Yggdrasil.

These nine divine worlds are not to be conceived as a spatially defined extraterrestrial localities above or below the earth, although esoterically in terms of Armanism such images are used in symbolic language. What is actually being conveyed by this imagery are spiritual-fluidic circles, whose guides are the very spiritual entities we call gods, angels, saints, etc.; being Odin, the All-Father.

Each of these circles is in once more a multi-une / multi-fidic poli-unity [viel-eining-vielspältige Viel-Einheit] appearing integrated with subordinate circles, while at the same time they are connected to greater spheres of power and higher rings of spirituality. All the human plane itself, just as this plane exists and functions in the midst of the animal, vegetable and mineral realms, and just as humans influence things, humanity is influenced by these spiritual circles—perhaps even guided by them.

Odin, the ancient God

It is said that it was Odin who obtained through a sacrifice, for nine days and nine nights, knowledge and wisdom from the Runes. Although these symbols are related to occult methods, they have a close relationship with the symbolic, anthropological and psychological sphere.

The D-Rune, Dagaz, symbolizes the divine twins (dawn and dusk) represented by the visible stars and contains the paradox of polarity, on which the cult of Odin is centered and characterized. This vortex of polarized concepts is synthesized through a secret “alchemy” where the two extremes become one. This Rune represents the time/place in which darkness and light, pleasure and pain, life and death, body and soul, matter and energy; are synthesized into a common concept that goes beyond perceived opposition.

The Rune-A, Ansuz, is instrumental in the creation of the human being and defines two of the several spiritual gifts bestowed: (1) önd or anda, breath, spirit or the principle that animates life; (2) òdhr, mental activity or inspiration. This force is received from Æsir and transformed into humanity so that it is returned to the multiverse through magical and religious acts. Ansuz is the container-receiver-transformer of the expression of spiritual power and numinous wisdom (metaphysical) that goes hand in hand with the knowledge obtained by Odin from the Runes.

Odin's palace in Asgard was Valhalla

In correspondence with the ideas outlined by the Armanism, Wuotanism (Odinism) has other homes of spirits and of the dead. Thus, the Wall (i.e. the harvest of the dead) is divided between Wuotan and Freya, each receives one half. That is, Woutan receives the dis-embodied soul and Freya the dis-ensouled body.

Valhalla had special significance to the Norse since it was populated with warriors who were slain in battle, who were chosen by the Valkyries. These warriors were selected to be a part of Odin's army which "Odin, Warrior God" explains was called the “Einherjar”. Others who may have died in battle but were not chosen by the Valkyries went to the goddess Freya's “Folkvang”, also in Asgard. According to the beliefs, going to Valhalla was the ultimate goal of any Norse warrior.

In Norse mythology, warriors in Valhalla do not "rebirth" to return to the human world to continue fighting. Instead, they are chosen by Odin and the Valkyries to dwell in Valhalla, where they are resurrected daily to fight and train among themselves in preparation for the final cosmic battle of Ragnarök. This endless cycle of fighting, dying, and being reborn within Valhalla is a specific training regimen designed to ensure they are at the peak of their strength and skill when the final battle at Ragnarök begins.

So, it is important to gain wisdom and maintain sense of continuity and coherence of self experience attained during the lifetime. Wisdom (To Think – To Remember – To Be Fully Conscious) is concerned specifically with Mystery and the knowledge of what lies behind appearances, accepted categorizations and analytical dissections of the world. It consists of ‘Huga’ (to think), ‘Muna’ (to remember) and ‘Vita’ (to be fully conscious) in Icelandic. In fact, as the myths tells us Odin had two special ravens, Hugin and Munin, whose names mean thought and memory respectively, two distinct non-material psychological components that human beings possesses.

Hugin and Munin, Odin’s special ravens

Birds are widely recognized as symbols of the soul, often representing freedom, transcendence, and spiritual journey. Their ability to fly and soar between the earth and sky evokes a sense of liberation and the soul's potential to transcend earthly limitations. In many cultures, birds are believed to carry souls to the afterlife or represent the soul's journey through different planes of existence.

Odin had two special ravens, Hugin and Munin, whose names mean thought and memory respectively, two distinct non-material psychological components that human beings possesses and Egyptians believed that both could survive to death. According to the beliefs, both birds flew throughout the world gathering knowledge and information to return to the All-Father.

It is written in the "Elder Edda" that Odin said:

Hugin and Munin

Each dawn take their flight

Earth's fields over.

I fear me for Hugin,

Lest he come not back,

But much more for Munin.

As we can see, similar allegories of soul division are found in creation myths around the globe, additionally, in the book The Nine Worlds of Mary E. Litchfield we can find this note: “Odin’s ravens were, Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory); each day they flew over the nine worlds, bringing back tidings to Odin”.

Greece called these two souls the psyche and the thymos, Egypt called them the ba and ka, Israel called them the ruah and nefesh, Persia called them the urvan and daena, Islam called them the ruh and nafs, India called them the atman and jiva, China called them the hun and po, Haiti called them the gros bon ange and ti bon ange, Hawaii called them the uhane and unihipili, and the Dakota Indians called them the nagi and niya. The list goes on and on. In each case, these native cultures described their two souls the same way modern science now describes the conscious and unconscious halves of the human psyche. We can see, that since ancient times exists the idea that humankind comprises not one but two divine elements, which are at odds with one another.

Analysis of ancient Egyptian art suggest identifying the “ka” as the equal but opposite dark interior to the lightened exterior of the conscious mind “ba”. So the “ka” was often depicted in art as a blackened reverse image of a person representing the person's "double"; and it embodied the pattern of one's person by moulding itself into a perfect image or likeness of the individual and his character.

The Ancient Doctrine: The “Door” Religion

Long ago there was a unique religion that considered the death as a “door” and the possibility of survival to death. This ancestral religion was based on the belief that the two souls after physical death tend to separate from each other and thus going to different afterlife experiences if not reunited before, as a wholeness, and becoming an angel. This is, living an eternal divine existence.

It was thought that this achievement, often referred to as “perfection,” “wholeness,” “singleness,” or “non duality,” would allow an individual to safely depart this world with personal identity and being completely intact; from that moment on, that person would know true immortality, and nothing could ever threaten him or her again. In essence, it is about the faculty of mastering one's soul unlocking all the inner potential we have to become upper beings, and thus, coming to be closer with God, thus, overcoming the second death and transcending to an angelical being.

This identification of the soul and spirit as familiar (if not fully understood) psychological components shows the salvation taught by the ancients to be a psychological achievement, just as the ancient Gnostic described it.

This “salvation via wholeness and perfection” seems to stand in stark contrast to the “salvation by faith” taught by the official church. It’s origins are prehistoric, yet it uses the same model described by modern psychologists and neurologist:

• One soul (masculine) is objective, rational, intelligent, active and possessing independent free will — Hugin (the thought).

• The other soul (feminine) is subjective, emotional, responsive and in possession of the memory — Munin. (the memory).

There are some traditions in which it is found the idea that the union of the different aspects of both souls provides “the wholeness”. This can be found reflected in tales and films where the knight tries to conquer the princess to become a king, or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when she kisses the prince.