The term "shamanism" is notoriously challenging to define, much like "love." However, meaningful discussions about an idea rely on clear definitions so that everyone can understand what is being discussed. For our purposes here, shamanism can be considered as the practice of entering an ecstatic trance state to contact spirits and/or journey through spiritual realms with the intent of achieving specific goals. Shamanism is a common element in numerous magical and religious traditions worldwide, particularly those associated with specific cultures or regions.
The pre-Christian religion of the Germanic peoples exhibits numerous shamanic elements, so many that discussing them all would be impractical here. Instead, we'll focus on the most significant aspects. Our exploration begins with Odin, the chief of the gods, who embodies various shamanic traits. We will then delve into shamanism within Norse magical traditions linked to the female sphere of traditional northern European social life, followed by a discussion of the male sphere inhabited by the berserkers and other "warrior-shamans."
Odin and Shamanism
Odin, the leader of the gods, is often depicted as an archetypal shamanic figure in the oldest primary sources containing information about the pre-Christian practices of the Germanic peoples. His name alone hints at this connection: "Odin" (Old Norse Óðinn) is a compound word comprising óðr, meaning "ecstasy, fury, inspiration," and the suffix -inn, the masculine definite article. When added to another word like this, it signifies "the master of" or "a perfect example of." Thus, "Odin" is most aptly translated as "The Master of Ecstasy." This is further supported by the eleventh-century historian Adam of Bremen, who translated "Odin" as "The Furious," establishing a link between Odin and the ecstatic trance states integral to shamanism.
Odin's shamanic spirit journeys are well-documented. The Ynglinga Saga describes how he would "travel to distant lands on his own errands or those of others" while appearing to others as if asleep or dead. Another account is found in the Eddic poem "Baldur's Dreams," where Odin rides Sleipnir, an eight-legged horse reminiscent of northern Eurasian shamanism, to the underworld to consult a deceased seeress on behalf of his son.
Odin, like shamans all over the world, is accompanied by many familiar spirits, most notably the two ravens Hugin and Munin.
The shaman must typically undergo a ritual death and rebirth in order to acquire his or her powers, and Odin underwent exactly such an ordeal when he discovered the runes. Having done so, he became one of the cosmos’s wisest, most knowledgeable, and most magically powerful beings.
He is a renowned practitioner of seidr, which he seems to have learned from the goddess Freya.