In our first episode, we are starting our exploration of the Poetic Edda beginning with the first poem, the Voluspa. In this episode we will cover the creation of the world, the advent of culture, the descent into history, the creation of humans, and the first battle in the world.
This is the Northern Myths Podcast, an archetypal exploration of the myths and legends of Northern Europe, including Norse mythology, the Finnish Kalevala, and more. If you'd like to support the show you can support us on Patreon here: Northern Myths Podcast Patreon
The Poetic Edda is the primary original source for the myths and legends of Norse Mythology. The Poetic Edda includes everything from the creation of the world to its destruction in Ragnarok, from the adventures of Thor to the wisdom of Odin. We are exploring these timeless stories to learn how the Norse people understood the world, and how we can apply their worldview to life today.
Check out our YouTube channel for videos of all episodes and interesting clips of the show:
Northern Myths Podcast YouTube Channel
If you'd like to follow along with our reading of the Poetic Edda you can pick up the great translation of the Poetic Edda we're reading by Jackson Crawford, you can purchase it here: The Poetic Edda by Jackson Crawford
It is also available as an audiobook which we highly recommend. Dr. Crawford has a great voice for it, and actually pronounces everything properly. It's a must have if you like our show! Available here: The Poetic Edda Audiobook
Show Outline:
0:00:00 - Introduction to the Northern Myths Podcast, the Poetic Edda, and the Voluspa
0:05:05 - Stanza 1: Start of the Voluspa, intro to the seeress and Odin
0:07:50 - Stanza 2: The oldest information in the world. Giants as a symbol of the unknown and chaos
0:11:25 - Stanza 3: Ymir the first being and Ginnungagap the yawning void, the precosmogonic chaos
0:17:41 - Stanza 4: Creation of the world by Odin and his brothers
0:20:53 - Stanza 5-6: The sun and the moon, the discovery of time, and cyclical time and its importance
0:28:33 - Stanza 7: Building of temples and shrines, workshops and tools
0:31:47 - Stanza 8: The mythical golden age and descent into history
0:36:29 - Stanza 9: The creation of the lord of the dwarves
0:38:06 - Stanza 10-16: The genealogy of dwarves
0:45:45 - Stanza 17-18: Ask and Embla, the first humans. The origin of consciousness
0:54:51 - Stanza 19: Yggdrasil, the world tree. The water cycle as an analogy for fate
1:07:32 - Stanza 20: The norns, Urth, Verdandi, Skuld, personifications of fate
1:19:50 - Stanza 21-22: Gullveig, the first murder, rites of shamanic initiation
1:37:41 - Stanza 23: More about Gullveig, sacrifice to the Aesir and the Vanir
1:43:51 - Stanza 24-26: The first war in the world between the Aesir and Vanir
2:01:27 - Conclusion, acknowledgements
If you'd like to follow along with us or learn more about the ideas we talk about on the show, we have a list of recommended books on our website. Included are our recommended copies of the Poetic Edda and the Kalevala, as well as books about archetypal narrative, comparative religion, and more: Recommended Books
We also have Northern Myths Podcast merchandise available at our official shop.
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