The Echo of Odin

Norse Mythology and Human Consciousness

Edward W.L. Smith (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

158 Seiten

2018
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-1-4766-7509-1 (ISBN)

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The pagan mythology of the Vikings offers a rich metaphor of consciousness. For the first time, the cosmography contained in Norse mythology is presented as a map of human consciousness, a landscape of the soul. Each of the nine worlds of this cosmography is explored as a symbol of a particular type of consciousness, each world emblematic of a particular perspective and way of relating to others. In addition, the individual gods and goddesses of the warrior and the fertility races are considered as nuanced personifications of their worlds. The parameters of Norse mythology, space, time, and awareness, are revealed through Yggdrasil (the World Tree connecting the nine worlds), the Norns (maidens representing past, present, and future), and the runes (""magical"" symbols communicating the mysteries), respectively. The centrality of the struggle between the giants, as agents of chaos, and the warrior gods is explored within this matrix of extension, duration, and mindfulness. The philosophical core of this pagan mythology is furthered clarified by comparing and contrasting the Sayings of Odin from the Norse Edda with the Christian Ten Commandments that confronted the Vikings. Anyone interested in the psychology of consciousness or Norse mythology will find a wealth of material herein.

Edward W.L. Smith has previously published nine non-fiction books, more than fifty essays, memoir, magazine articles, short stories, and a good bit of poetry. He is an emeritus professor of psychology, Georgia Southern University, and lives part-time on a small barrier island off the coast of Georgia.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. The Nature of Myth

2. Norse Mythology as Cynosure

3. The Lower World: Niflheim, Muspell and Hel

4. The Middle World: Midgaard, Svartalfheim and Jötunheim

5. The Upper World: Asgaard, Vanaheim and Alfheim

6. The Emerging Gestalt: Yggdrasil, Norns and Runes

7. The Wisdom of Odin

Conclusion

References

Index

Erscheinungsdatum	05.11.2018
Zusatzinfo	Photographs
Verlagsort	Jefferson, NC
Sprache	englisch
Maße	152 x 229 mm
Gewicht	288 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeine Psychologie
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie
ISBN-10	1-4766-7509-0 / 1476675090
ISBN-13	978-1-4766-7509-1 / 9781476675091
Zustand	Neuware