How we see the divine...

Humanity's creativity is truly a thing of beauty. It is this creativity more than anything else that reflects the spirit of Odhinn within us. My belief is that the Gods helped bring us into being as partners, as co-creators, of the world we live in. Physically, morally, psychically, intellectually, etc., we are here to create. Odhinn, Vili, and Ve shaped us and gave us purpose, meaning, will, and likewise we do the same within our own lives and on our world. Not only that though, but we also do this to the Gods and I think that might be a part of the whole point.

In my opinion, Gods are quite frankly beyond our wild imaginings. Trying to pin down a God is like pinning down love, or honour, or nailing jello to a tree. What we discover about Them when we try this though illumines not only our own understanding of them, but also Their understanding of us and how best to be what we think They are. In my tradition dreams and visions play a big part in man to God relations. This makes perfect sense since my traditions highest ideals laregly revolve around creativity, poetry, the mind, memory, intellect, etc. All of which play large parts in dreams and the dreaming process.

Odhinn, the giver of our soul, or Ond, is a cerebral, strategic, wisdom seeking wizard God(amongst a million other things). The God from whom our souls draw life and essence from is essentially a pure strain of divine creativity and wisdom. Think about that and what that says about how we view ourselves for a moment. We are flawed certainly, we have limits, moods, make bad decisions, etc. None of that though compares to the deep capability we have of imagination, creation, a thirst for knowledge, etc. In this, I see Odhinn, I see the All-Father.

How do you see the divine? In what ways does the divine speak to you? When I see a Yule-Father doll around the holidays I can't help but think about Odhinn under his by-name of Oski(wish-giver). When I see a Green Man I automatically see Freyr and feel his lusty vitality surge in my veins. When I look at a picture of Frigga and contemplate her as being the Earth's spirit, and the All-Mother, Queen of this world, protectoress of children and many other roles I often wonder if a Hindu looks at Durga the same way and what may or may not be different. What cultural cues are they tapping into that I don't and vice versa? When they see Vishnu, do they feel the same awe and spark of creation as I do when I see Odhinn?

Such beautiful plurality, and in this I see a complex web of spiritual fabric that makes up the whole of this world. In this, I think I see the whole point...order from chaos...the attempt to understand that which we really cannot. Some would say it is a cruel joke, and I can't really disagree. However, it isn't that the punchline is bad, it's just that we aren't telling it right. The whole point is to reflect the divine onto the world. This is the mystery of Odhinn being part and parcel of us...we were created within a creation to become creators. We reflect His purpose and share in that vision to make, to create, to imagine.

So, I shall ask again...how do you see the divine? Does your vision uplift you or give you purpose? Do you feel a connection to the divine when you see that vision? What does it say about you and about that part of the divine you worship? How will you reflect?