The Weekly Hávamál

On this Wednesday (Woden's day (Odin)), I come to share with you the first stanza of the Hávamál. The Hávamál is said to be wisdom transmitted directly from Odin to his people. The composition of this work is thought to be a combination of 3-6 poems. Regardless of whether you believe this to be wisdom transmitted from the High One himself or wisdom from the wise men of the Norse and Germanic peoples, the poem within certainly has much valuable and timeless advice. Much can be learned from the wisdom of our ancestors.

Hávamál

The Words of Odin The High One

Wisdom for Wanderers and Counsel to Guests
1.
At every door-way,
ere one enters,
one should spy round,
one should pry round
for uncertain is the witting
that there be no foeman sitting,
within, before one on the floor

This stanza confers the importance of remaining wary when entering unfamiliar situations and to always be cognizant of the ever present danger of someone who seeks to ambush and harm you covertly. It is the start to a long poem, dense with wisdom, but also written in such a manner that it pulls the reader or listener in, making them eager to hear the rest.

I'll be doing one stanza a week with a short analysis on what is contained within. It's a good way to experience and learn an esoteric work that is relatively long and dense with wisdom.

Hail the old gods!

https://www.etymonline.com/word/Wednesday

https://www.thehavamalarchive.org/

Tagging interested persons:
@goliath
@Colonial
@artemis