Odin in his essence represents the image of the primordial initiate, trying to master and flow with the currents of space and time in order to ultimately transcend them. More than just the Germanic god of war, patron of aristocratic circles, Odin is the archetype of the seeker and the shaman, and gives access to a world long suppressed in the Germanic soul. He does not shy away from pain and suffering in order to gain knowledge and is a master at magic, the ability to effect change through ones will.

The most famous ordeal in this quest is masterfully depicted in the Havamal poem of the Poetic Edda, in which he hangs suspended for nine nights only to gather up the runes screaming. He gives one of his eyes to gain the runes, the sacred Germanic "alphabet," in a sense giving up some of his mundane sight in order to open his spiritual vision (his 'third eye,' if you will). In another episode, he steals three jugs of mead, Bodn, Odrorir and Son and carries them back to Asgard in the form of an eagle, spitting out the mead into containers at his arrival (this is perhaps an allusion to the ancient method of spitting into the brew to start the fermentation process). This poetic mead is still shared by all who take part in the rite of Minnetrinken, the Sumbel, inspiring the participants to recite word and song.

Historically, Odin superceded both Ullr and Tyr, who both seemed to have been main deities before, as chief god of the Aesir. He holds court in Walhalla, the hall of the slain, where he entertains the Einherier, the army of warriors killed in battle. Sometimes, enemies were consecrated to Odin by throwing a spear over them. Indeed, the spear, Gungnir, is Odin's weapon of choice; not surprisingly, since the spear is an age-old symbol of manliness and power. Odin, with his cunning and resourcefulness, is a model for the Germanic warrior.

Odin is accompanied by several animals, who can be seen as Fylgias, animal familiars, or extensions of his shamanic abilities. Two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, thought and memory, roam about the worlds and report back to him; two wolves, Geri and Freki, lie at his feet.

Numerous folk tales survive which tell of nocturnal visitations by an 'Army of the Dead' around the stormy twelve nights following the Winter Solstice and other auspicious dates. As leader of this Wild Hunt, Odin leads his hordes of dead souls on the search for lost souls, gathering the weak and dying and making way for the growth of new life in the coming Spring, making this myth a part of the eternal recurrence that is central to the Indo-European worldview. These stories, far from being mere superstition, are remnants of pre-christian lore, which equates the soul with the wind and Odin as the god of the storm as well as death. Indeed, the old Indian 'asu' is the same as the Latin 'anima' and means 'spirit breath' or 'spirit breeze', which is called Ond (divine breath) in Norse, a perfect visualization of the essence of Odin.

Thor is the son of Odin and the earth, Joerd. He was one of the best-loved gods in the northlands and particularly popular among the peasants. To them he was a God of fertility, whose hammer Mjolnir (the crusher) was placed in the seat of the bride at marriage ceremonies. This same terrifying weapon he uses to defend the Aesir against the giants, aided by his belt which doubles his powers. He drives a chariot drawn by two he-goats whose rumbling causes thunder, and eats and drinks in massive quantities. Thor was also one of the most widely worshipped gods of the late heathen period, and many statues were erected in his honor (of course, none of these have survived Christianization) . Numerous finds of Mjölnir amulets attest to this popularity; indeed, the Thorshammer is still the most likely pendant of choice for todays Asatruar.