Begin by setting up a small altar for Woden. Anything that reminds you of Woden, or calls His canon of sacred stories to mind is appropriate. You should also have a candle, some incense, and either aquavit or whiskey to use as an offering and, if possible, a bit of tobacco.  Have a glass for the alcohol and a small bowl for the tobacco (or ash tray if you’re using a cigarette, tobacco, or pipe).

Evening Rite for Woden 

Sit in front of the altar and spend a few moments centering yourself. Then, turning your attention to Woden, light the candle and a bit of incense and offer the following prayer.

Invocation to Woden  

Hail to Woden,

World-shaper, wisdom seeker,

Wyrd walker, wandering God.

Hail to He Who brings

both weal and woe

Who hung on the Tree,

Who gnawed upon His own spear,

to tear a hole between the worlds.

Hail to He, who won the runes,

Who, burned by their fire,

Shrieked His spells,

and burned them all right back.

 

Hail to the All-Father,

Ruthless, fearless, mighty God,

Weapons wise and wondrous Lord.

Bestow Your blessings upon me here tonight,

and may my prayer be pleasing to You.

Hail, Woden.

 

Meditation:

In our cosmology, Woden (or Odin) is the God who breathed His breath into the first human beings, imbuing them with life. He’s the breath-giver, and our continued breath is His gift. The first breath we take is drawn from Him and the last breath we exhale will be given back to Him. That is the focus of this meditation, that primal connection, that spiritual umbilicus.

Sitting comfortably, begin to focus on your breath. Feel the coolness of the breath as you inhale. Allow yourself to feel the intercostals (the muscles between your ribs) expand and release. Spend a few moments focusing on the inhalation, the feel of the breath flowing into your lungs, the expansion of your diaphragm followed by the exhalation, the rush of breath leaving your lungs, the contraction. Become aware of the circular rhythm and once you have spent a few moments focusing on your breath, turn your attention to Woden.

As you breathe, think about the creation story. Think about that first kiss of breath, the moment that Odin breathed life into Ask and Embla, waking them to their own humanity. Think about what that set in motion, and the long progression of humanity that flowed from the moment of that kiss.

Visualize, feel, or imagine (whatever works for you—people work and process these things differently and not everyone is visual) that you are connected to Woden by the cord of your breath, by that very rhythm of the inhalation and exhalation of your breathing. Imagine that as you inhale, you are consciously drinking in His breath, that He is breathing into you, and as you exhale, you are breathing into Him and He is drinking in your breath. Continue this for at least five minutes, longer if you can. Focus on the give and take, on drinking in His breath, and the connection further strengthened when you exhale into Him. When you are ready to stop, exhale for a final time and then take a few moments to re-orient yourself to your space, making sure that you are properly grounded.

Offering 

Pour out some of the whiskey or aquavit into a glass and put it on the altar, offering it to Woden with the words, “Divine Breath-giver, I give this liquor to You in offering.” Light the tobacco if it is a cigarette or cigar or pipe otherwise just sprinkle it into a small offering bowl. “I also give You this tobacco, for Your pleasure. May these small gifts be pleasing to You. Hail, Woden.”

Spend  however long  you like in further contemplation. If this is being done as a group ritual, a horn should be passed at this point so that everyone may hail and honor Woden.

 

Closing Prayer

Thank You, Woden,

for Your wisdom.

I hail You now, All-Father,

and always.

Hail, Woden.

 

The ritual is now ended. You may allow the candle to burn down or, if you wish, snuff it out and save it for the next Wednesday night’s rite.

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