Wisdom:
good judgment,
the ability to perceive people and situations correctly, delib-erate
about and decide on the correct response.1
1. The ability to make good decisions based on knowledge and experience.
2. Knowledge that you have gained over a long period. 2
For me, the virtue of wisdom is the most important, and something that I strive for above all others. One of my main deities is a god of wisdom, and his example teaches us how we can become wise and exercise wisdom ourselves.
In Scandinavian and Germanic lore, Woden/Odin travels the worlds both in search of answers and experience. As verse 28 of the Havamal tells us, "wise he is deemed who can question well and answer back." and as the Allfather learns from a wide variety of sources, from the seeress of Voluspa, to the giant of Vafthruthnismal, it is best that we do so too. For it is only from casting our nets widely that we can gain the experience and Vision needed in order to be wise.
Wisdom also requires sacrifice, as Odin demonstrates on two occasions. In Gylfaginning XV, he sacrifices his eye to Mimir's well in exchange for a single drink of the wisdom-filled well waters, and in Havamal 137-138 he hangs upon the world tree in order to gain the runes.
That he hung on the tree for nine days and nights demonstrates that wisdom cannot be gained without self discipline. Nor, as Grimnismal teaches us, can it be excercised without self discipline either. In Grimnismal, king Geirröth shows poor judgement in torturing a disguised Odin between two fires without cause. On the ninth night when Odin reveals himself, not only has he gained more knowledge through his ordeal, but the king that tortured him for no other reason than than cruelty is punished, teaching us that it is impossible to make wise choices when so ruled by our passions.
Total word count inc. Quotes = 319
1. The ability to make good decisions based on knowledge and experience.
2. Knowledge that you have gained over a long period. 2
For me, the virtue of wisdom is the most important, and something that I strive for above all others. One of my main deities is a god of wisdom, and his example teaches us how we can become wise and exercise wisdom ourselves.
In Scandinavian and Germanic lore, Woden/Odin travels the worlds both in search of answers and experience. As verse 28 of the Havamal tells us, "wise he is deemed who can question well and answer back." and as the Allfather learns from a wide variety of sources, from the seeress of Voluspa, to the giant of Vafthruthnismal, it is best that we do so too. For it is only from casting our nets widely that we can gain the experience and Vision needed in order to be wise.
Wisdom also requires sacrifice, as Odin demonstrates on two occasions. In Gylfaginning XV, he sacrifices his eye to Mimir's well in exchange for a single drink of the wisdom-filled well waters, and in Havamal 137-138 he hangs upon the world tree in order to gain the runes.
That he hung on the tree for nine days and nights demonstrates that wisdom cannot be gained without self discipline. Nor, as Grimnismal teaches us, can it be excercised without self discipline either. In Grimnismal, king Geirröth shows poor judgement in torturing a disguised Odin between two fires without cause. On the ninth night when Odin reveals himself, not only has he gained more knowledge through his ordeal, but the king that tortured him for no other reason than than cruelty is punished, teaching us that it is impossible to make wise choices when so ruled by our passions.
Total word count inc. Quotes = 319
1
In Our Own Druidry: An Introduction to Ar nDraiocht Fein and the Druid Path (p. 62). Tucson, Arizona: ADF Publishing (2009).
In Our Own Druidry: An Introduction to Ar nDraiocht Fein and the Druid Path (p. 62). Tucson, Arizona: ADF Publishing (2009).
2 Wisdom American English definition and synonym | Macmillan Dictionary.
(n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/wisdom
Please excuse the formatting for the references, they didn't quite paste right from Word and I'm not sure how to fix them.
Please excuse the formatting for the references, they didn't quite paste right from Word and I'm not sure how to fix them.
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