My piece for Odin's day.

Wotan's Shadow in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"

High above the cliffs, Zarathustra stands in judgment, embodying the very spirit of Wotan, the god of wisdom, poetry, and the winds. Below him, the "rabble" churn in their petty squabbles, swept by the fates much like the leaves in the storms commanded by the Herr des Sturmes. This scene from Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," specifically in the chapter "Das Gesindel" ("Of the Rabble"), captures a profoundly Wotanic essence: the solitary figure atop the world, burdened with wisdom, disdainful of mediocrity, and bound to a destiny larger than himself.
*Life is a fountain of joy, but where the masses partake, all wells turn foul. I am drawn to purity, yet loathe the sight of sneering lips and the thirst of the impure. They gaze into the depths of the well, and now their loathsome smirk shines back at me from the water. With their lust, they've defiled the sacred spring; by naming their base desires 'pleasure,' they've also sullied the words.*
For those who honour Wotan/Odin as the wanderer and storm-lord, this chapter resonates deeply. The winds that howl through Zarathustra's narrative are not just weather—they are the same winds that tear through Wotan's mythology. Wotan, after all, is known for his quest for knowledge, even sacrificing an eye at Mimir's well for wisdom, a parallel to Zarathustra's own quest through philosophy. Just as Odin rides across the Nine Worlds on Sleipnir, Zarathustra wanders through the realms of human consciousness, seeking to enlighten or escape from the masses.
In this scene, Nietzsche channels Wotan through Zarathustra, much like a tragic hero might channel Dionysus—embracing life's chaos, transformation through suffering, and the affirmation of existence in all its forms. Zarathustra's disdain for the "rabble" mirrors Odin's own experiences with those who do not understand the depth of his wisdom. Like Odin, Zarathustra is no longer a king but a wanderer, roaming the world in search of meaning, carrying the burden of his own choices and insights.
Nietzsche's childhood vision, as recounted by his sister Elisabeth, of a shadowy figure—the "Huntsman"—striding through the fields, feels unmistakably like Wotan. This tall man with a wide-brimmed hat and staff, haunting young Friedrich's imagination, is a clear echo of the Allfather, the god who seeks wisdom at great personal cost. In "Das Gesindel," Nietzsche gives us Wotan's shadow—a paragon for those who walk the lonely path of wisdom, facing the winds and storms with resolute defiance.
For those who honour Wotan/Odin, this interpretation of Zarathustra offers a bridge between ancient myth and modern philosophy. It suggests that Wotan's essence isn't confined to the sagas or the skaldic chants but echoes through Nietzsche's work, challenging us to see the divine in the human struggle for meaning.
Zarathustra, with his prophetic voice and deep disdain for the corruption of true values, becomes a modern mythic hero, embodying the spirit of Wotan in a world that has seemingly forgotten the sacred.
Do we not also seek wisdom in the face of adversity, strive to maintain purity amidst the profane, and embrace the cyclical nature of life as Odin does? Nietzsche's channeling of Wotan through Zarathustra invites us to reflect on our own paths, the storms we face, and the wisdom we seek, reminding us that the legacy of Wotan lives not just in myth but in the very act of living philosophically, with courage and insight.
*Truly, we hold no homes here for the unclean! Our joy would be a cave of ice to their bodies and their spirits. And like strong winds, we shall live above them, neighbors to the eagles, neighbors to the snow, neighbors to the sun: thus live strong winds. And like a wind, I will one day blow among them, taking the breath from their spirits with my own: such is my destiny. Truly, Zarathustra is a strong wind to all that is low; And this advice he gives to his enemies and all that spit and sputter: "Beware, do not spit into the wind!”*