Observations placeholder
Poetic Edda - Sayings of the High One [Odin's sacrifice]
Identifier
002818
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
In this extract from the Poetic Edda, Odin is sacrificed – in fact he sacrifices himself – on the tree Yggdrasil, the tree of life, in order to gain knowledge of the runes [functions/spells].
A description of the experience
The Poetic Edda
from Sayings of the High One
I know that I hung on a windy tree
nine long nights
wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin
myself to myself
on that tree of which no man knows
from where its roots run
No bread did they give me nor a drink from a horn
downwards I peered;
I took up the runes, screaming I took them
then I fell back from there