Riding with Odin: A Yule Meditation

Hello my friends, and happy holiday season, if you celebrate!

Today’s meditation is going to be experiencing a tradition that has been translated into a modern popular cultural story. This is going to be a journey riding with Odin, who journey’s around the world this time of year, bringing joy and gifts to children. 

This is one of the stories that inspired the story of Santa Claus. The ancient Norse Gods would ride through the night on the Winter Solstice, in revelry and ruckus. They would play tricks and cause mischief as they rode through the night. All except Odin. He would ride to reward the children on this long, cold night to bring joy to their households. 

This meditation will take us to join Odin on his journey of gift-giving and merriment during this solstice season. 

Establishing the breath

Take a moment to settle yourself. Close your eyes and then feel your surroundings. Feel the air you’re breathing in. What is the temperature? Is it cool and crisp, or is it warm and damp? What does the air feel like entering your lungs as you breathe in? How does the air feel flowing out of your mouth as you breathe out?

Immerse yourself in the sensations of breathing in and then out. Notice your body’s response to the air flowing into your lungs. How does your body respond to the air coming in? Are you breathing all of the way down into your diaphragm or in your chest? Do you feel your spine sitting up a little straighter as you breathe in? 

Then feel your body’s response to the air leaving your lungs. How does your body react to the breath leaving? Does your chest contract? Do you feel your body slumping forward a bit? Do your muscles relax a little more? Concentrate on these sensations for a few moments as you establish a rhythm to your breathing. 

Connecting to the Earth

Now turn your attention inward and feel the beating of your heart. With every beat, you feel yourself connecting to the Earth. You feel the pulse of the Earth within your heart. The connection grows stronger and stronger with every beat. 

You feel yourself being pulled into the pulse of the Earth. You connect with her completely. Then you feel yourself moving through the Earth to come to a new place you have never been before. The landscape is stark and white with snow. There is a chill to the air, but it is bearable. 

Meeting Odin

You feel an excited anticipation rising up within you. You know in your heart that something magickal is about to happen. A fog has risen around you and it feels alive with magick. You hear the sound of a raven cawing. 

Then from the mist walks a tall figure. He emits an air of magick and wonder. His hair and beard are as white as the snow around you. There is a patch over his right eye, but his left eye gazes at you with eons of wisdom in it. There is a cloak draped around his shoulders. 

Then he introduces himself as Odin, the Allfather of the Norse Gods. You feel a sense of wonderment at this powerful god before you. He smiles at you and tells you that tonight is a night of great magick. 

Meeting Odin’s horse, Sleipnir

Odin then leads you over to the most incredible horse you have ever seen before. He is twice as tall as a regular horse, and you can sense the power behind his calm exterior. He is white and gray with a brilliantly snowy mane. 

You then notice that he has 8 legs. Though this is different from other horses, it feels right and appropriate for this magnificent creature. Odin introduces you to his beautiful steed and calls him Sleipnir. Sleipnir lets you pat him and then whinneys restlessly. 

Then Odin invites you to join him on his Winter Solstice ride. You eagerly accept and he lifts you up onto Sleipnir and then climbs up in front of you. You then take off into the night. 

Riding with Odin

As you lift up and start to ride through the night, you then notice that there is an exhilaration with flying through the air. The wind is in your face and the sky is lit up with stars above you. You hold on tight as you go higher and higher. 

In the distance, you then see a village come into view. It is quiet and dark, but for a few streetlights. You then see a faint glowing over some of the houses. In your curiosity, you ask Odin why the houses are glowing. He tells you that is how he knows where the good children are sleeping. 

You nod in wonderment at the magick that is taking place. Then, Sleipnir touches down on the rooftop of the nearest glowing house. Odin then slips down the chimney to bring a special gift for the children inside. 

Celebrating Yule

You continue to ride with Odin, going from house to house, and from village to village. Throughout the night, you speak with Odin about all of the magickal things he can teach you. You take this knowledge into your heart. 

While you ride with Odin through this Winter Solstice night, you find the joy of the holiday entering your soul. There is wonder and magick all around you on this Yule night. You embrace the beauty of winter and the season of rest that has begun. This is a time of celebration and reflection. 

Expressing gratitude

You now feel Sleipnir start to descend again as the light starts to appear on the horizon. This night and your ride with Odin is coming to an end. Once you touch ground, you dismount with Odin’s help. Then you look up at him to express your gratitude for his willingness to take you on this journey tonight. 

Then, from beneath his cloak, Odin pulls out one final gift and hands it to you. He smiles and bids you farewell as he gets back on Sleipnir and rides away, into the dawn’s light. You take a minute to unwrap your gift. What has Odin given you? Is it a physical gift or is it a piece of his wisdom? Take this gift and hold it close to your heart. 

As you feel this gift absorb into your heart, you become aware of your heartbeat. Then you close your eyes and feel yourself being transported back to your physical body. Your beating heart is guiding your way. 

Reestablish the breath

You are being pulled back down to the Earth by the beating of your heart, which grows stronger and stronger. You feel the pulse of the Earth within you and start to feel the breath within your body. Then you hear your breath coming in and then going out of your body. 

You focus on this sensation of the breath entering and then leaving your body. With every breath, you come back into yourself. The breath anchors you within your body. Finally, you feel resettled in your body, and when you feel ready, you open your eyes. 

Reflection

Take a moment to sit and reflect on your experience riding with Odin. What wisdom did he impart on you? Was this an experience that helped you tap into the spirit of the holiday? Did this ride with Odin help you to recapture some of your childhood joy? 

Try to record your experience riding with Odin so that you may come back to it when you are in need of some joy. Let this experience take root in your heart so that this joy will be with you always. 

Until next time, my magickal friend, be well and choose joy! Blessed be.