A Complete Guide to Mímir, God of Wisdom and Knowledge

Like many religions, Norse deities were a reflection of the culture in which they were born and were viewed as vital forces that held together and sustained order in the cosmos. While their power was immense it was by no means total with each god and goddess having a distinct personality and role. Each god had strengths and weaknesses, so no one god was superior to others. This had a direct impact on how humans historically interacted with them both as metaphorical and literal beings. The Norse viewed their gods as anthropomorphic, meaning they viewed them as human-like but with more "power," who were as much a part of our physical world as you and me. The gods routinely interacted with humankind, from reproducing with humans thus producing royal families to the exchanging goods and services through ritual sacrifice. Furthermore, the gods were viewed as divinity in nature. It's not just that Thor is the god of thunder, but he is also the divine nature of thunder. This does not apply to all of nature, however, with many aspects not having a divine counterpart. Needless to say, the gods were an integral part of society and influenced the day-to-day lives of the Nordic people.

I recently posted an A to Z List of Norse Gods and Goddesses in which I very briefly introduced major Norse deities. Like all lists, it is a snapshot of each god and goddess with no context. While such lists are great in a pinch, they tell you nothing of substance about the gods, how to work with them effectively, or their importance in the cosmos. In this series, I will be exploring these deities in much more detail by examining and analyzing their portrayal in the Eddas. Each "profile" will include my analysis of the Eddas and Sagas, their cultural significance, correspondences, how to work with them, offerings, invocations, and prayer suggestions. I have also included printable "cheat sheets" on each deity which summarize all the important details for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire, starting with Mímir (pronounced Mee-mir).

It may seem odd starting this series with Mímir and not a more famous god, but I can assure you it is with purpose. With students returning to the classroom over the next several weeks, I felt it very fitting to discuss the god of knowledge and wisdom.

Mímir's Portrayal in the Eddas & Sagas

Mímir, while not as prominent as other gods like Odin, is mentioned multiple times in the Skaldic verses, eddic poems, and sagas.

Starting with Nafnaþulur, which is part of the Prose Edda (believed to have been written before the Poetic Edda), Snorri lists the jötnar or giants, with Mímir appearing third.

"Giants I
I will make a listing of the giants; Ymir, Gangr and Mímir, Iði and Þjazi, Hrungnir, Hrímnir, Hrauðnir, Grímnir, Hveðrungr, Hafli, Hripstoðr, Gymir."

This mention solidifies Mímir as a jötun, even though he later becomes part of the Æsir. In general, the jötnar were larger than humans and the Æsir, having a voracious appetite, whether it be for food, bloodshed, or knowledge. Like the Æsir, the jötnar also had magical powers, of which Mímir's is near-omniscient knowledge, an idea reinforced by multiple passages throughout the Eddas and sagas.

In Gylfaginning or The Doom of the Gods, Snorri makes a reference to Völuspá 28 in his commentary in which he states:

"But under the root that runs towards the frost-giants is Mímir's Well, in which wisdom and understanding are hidden, and he whose well it is is called Mímir. He is full of knowledge, because he drinks from the well out of the horn Gjallarhorn. All-Father came there and asked to have a drink from the well, but he did not get it until he had given his eye as a pledge. So it says in the Völuspá:

I know where Othin's | eye is hidden,

Deep in the wide-famed | well of Mimir;

Mead from the pledge | of Othin each morn

Does Mimir drink: | would you know yet more?"

From these two passages, we see that 1) Mímir is referred to as a "frost-giant," and 2) Mímir has a Well of Knowledge (Mímisbrunnr) beneath Yggdrasil's three roots, specifically the one reaching into Jotunheim. This again suggests that Mímir is a jötun, specifically from Jotunheim. These passages also suggest that Mímir himself is the keeper of knowledge and wisdom and that he drinks from the Mímisbrunnr every morning. It is implied that by drinking from the well daily, Mímir is able to maintain his vast knowledge, thus reinforcing his role as a source of wisdom. Furthermore, Mímir's knowledge is not given freely. In order to obtain the knowledge of his impending doom, Odin has to sacrifice his eye, suggesting that all knowledge comes at a price.

Despite the evidence that Mímir is jötun by birth, he is also believed to be Æsir by affiliation, like several other Æsir gods. This is supported in the Ynglinga saga which describes the Æsir-Vanir war. In chapter 4, we find a description of the exchange of hostages that concludes the first war. The Æsir agree to send two of their own, Hœnir and Mímir, in exchange for Njord and his children. Hœnir, who is the quintessential warrior but not very bright, quickly becomes the leader of the Vanir. When the Vanir realize Hœnir is unable to make decisions without Mímir, they behead Mímir and send his severed head back to Odin.

"Then they took Mímir and beheaded him and sent the head to the Æsir. Odin took the head and smeared it with herbs so that it should not rot, and chanted spells over it and put such power into it that it spoke with him and told him many hidden matters... Odin had Mímir's head with him, and it told him many tidings from the Otherworld."

Here we see Mímir is considered one of the Æsir, even though he is jötun by birth. It would have been odd and uncouth to send someone that was not considered Æsir. As for the beheading of Mímir, some have interpreted it as the Vanir's inability to make use of Mímir's knowledge. Only after his head is severed and enchanted by Odin is the knowledge now "free" to be made use of. 

Odin consistently consults with Mímir over important matters including his attempt to forestall Ragnarok as seen in Völuspá 46 and Sigrdrífumál 14:

"Loud blows Heimdallr,

his horn is aloft;

Odin speaks

with Mímr's head"

 (Völuspá 46)

"He stood on the cliff

with Brimir's blade,

he had a helm on his head;

then Mímr's head

spoke a first wise word

and talked of true lore." 

(Sigrdrífumál 14) 

These passages further reinforce Mímir's ties to knowledge and wisdom and his importance to Odin as an adviser. Etomoglically speaking, Mímir comes from the Proto-Indo-European verb (s)mer meaning "to think, recall, reflect, and worry over" as well as the Latin memor meaning "memory or mindful." However, in some versions, these passages refer to Mímir as Mímr or even Mim, which has caused some confusion. How can Mímir be both the guardian of Mímisbrunnr and beheaded counselor to Odin? Are they two separate beings? 

I am inclined to believe they are one and the same. How exactly Mímir came to live among the Æsir is not mentioned in any text, but it cannot be ruled out considering Odin's unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Furthermore, severed heads being connected with wells of knowledge is prominent across many European cultures, most notably Bran in the Mabinongion. Snorri makes a note in Gylfaginning saying, "Odin rides to Mímir's Well and takes counsel from Mímir." suggesting that Mímir might not actually be carried around as a head by Odin, but instead kept in the well where Odin consults with him. Either way, none of this changes Mímir's function: source and guardian of wisdom.

Apart from the aforementioned references to Mímir, there are a number of poetic metaphors known as kennings referencing him. In Skáldskaparmál, Odin is described as a "Friend of Mímir," emphasizing Odin's reliance on Mímir's counsel. Also in Skáldskaparmál we find "mischief-Mímir" at least 3 times, which is a well-known kenning for jötun, further suggesting Mímir is jötnar. 

In Vafþrúðnismál 45 Yggdrasil is called "Hoddmimir's wood" meaning Mímir's Tree, a reference to Mímir using his well to water Yggdrasil. Sigrdrífumál 13 may also reference Mímir.

"from the liquid

which oozed out of Heithdraupnir's skull

and out of Hoddrofnir horn."

Hoddrofnir, meaning "Treasure-Opener" resembles Hoddmimir from Vafþrúðnismál 45, suggesting the "treasure" is hidden knowledge that Mímir can bestow on those worthy. "Heithdraupnir's skull" is often interpreted as Mímir's skull bobbing in the well of knowledge, the liquid oozing from the skull being the mead referenced in Völuspá 28. It oozing from the skull further implies that the liquid is knowledge.

Needless to say, these references all suggest that Mímir is

1. jötun by birth, but Æsir by association
2. friend and respected counselor of Odin
3. keeper and source of knowledge and wisdom
4. the divine representation of wisdom

Mímir's Cultural Significance

Mímir's representation in the Eddas and sagas is a direct reflection of Norse culture. From the passages that mention Mímir, we can garner two things: 1) the pursuit of knowledge was extremely important and 2) seeking knowledge often requires great sacrifice. The latter statement is supported by Odin giving up an eye as well as the lengths Odin went to restore life to Mímir's head. Odin's continued interactions with Mímir demonstrate the Norse's belief that knowledge requires dedication and humility. Odin is often viewed as a god of wisdom as well, so the fact that he is seeking counsel from another shows he was willing to admit he did not know everything. The importance of knowledge in Norse society is further supported in the Hávamál, where wealth is described as "brief...as the winking of an eye, most faithless ever of friends" (Hávamál 77) while wisdom "never waxes" (Hávamál 78).

Furthermore, Mímir's Well is often viewed as a metaphor for inaccessible or secret knowledge. If the references in Sigrdrífumál 13 do in fact refer to Mímir, then we can assume that the Norse viewed knowledge as treasure, something of great value and worth. While there is no archaeological evidence to support that Mímir's Well existed in the real world, there is evidence that wells and springs held significant value to the Norse as both a source of life and wisdom. Hot spring baths constructed by the Norse still exist today and a number of sacred and sacrificial wells and springs are well noted across Scandinavia, such as Odin's Well in Old Uppsala and Lake Tissø (Tyr's Lake) in Zealand, which are accompanied by ritual and celebration halls.

Mímir's Correspondences

It should be noted that general correspondences are not mentioned in any Nordic text. Instead, these are a best guess based on experiences from both myself and others. In fact, most of these are of modern invention, pulling inspiration from Wicca. As with all correspondence lists, you can add and subtract based on your experiences.

Mímir is known as the Æsir god of wisdom, friendship, and good counsel. As such, anything related to wisdom, knowledge, etc can correspond with him.

• Element: Air
• Cardinal Direction: West or East (depending on where you place Air)
• Planet: Jupiter
• Colors: yellow, blue, white
• Animals: mockingbird
• Plants: ash, sage, rosemary
• Crystals: peridot, topaz, citrine, howlite
• Symbols: well, fountains, pool of water
  
  

How to Work with & Honor Mímir

As with any deity, how you work with and honor Mímir is entirely up to you. However, Mímir, unlike others, is particularly demanding. He does not give up wisdom and knowledge easily, and you will have to work to gain insight from him, sometimes through great sacrifice. You can read more about this in "Suggested Offerings for Mímir." Below is a list of ways you can potentially work with and honor Mímir.

1. Invoke Mímir when studying or learning something new.
2. Engage in shadow work, asking Mímir to shed light on hidden aspects.
3. Create a small offering bowl with water. Meditate on your desire for wisdom and knowledge, asking Mimir to guide you to new insights and understanding.
4. Create an altar dedicated to Mímir.
5. Donate books to your local library.
6. Continue learning new things.
7. Write prayers, poems, and stories dedicated to Mímir.
8. Help clean up local rivers and streams.

Suggested Offerings for Mímir

Unlike correspondences, there is one mention of an offering made to Mímir, Odin's eye. While I am certainly not suggesting you gouge out your own eye in the pursuit of knowledge, Odin's sacrifice does suggest that Mímir wants something of value from us before he is willing to help. What that something is will be between you and Mímir, but there are some general offerings he seems to like. These offerings include secrets and stories, mead or dark beer, and blood.  He may also ask you to perform a task that may seem easy at first but will demand your time and effort. Other offerings include honey, water, and bread. Whatever it is you give up, it needs to be something of value to you, otherwise it is not a true sacrifice.

Invoking Mímir

One of the best ways to begin writing an invocation or prayer to any deity is to find their epithets, the names and words used to describe a deity. In the Eddas and Sagas, you will find multiple nicknames and adjectives to describe major figures. Mímir is referred to as Mím, Míme, Mímr, Hoddmímir (referring to Mímir Wood aka Yggdrasil), Móðsognir (mead-drinker), Hoddrofnir (treasure), Gauta spjalli (counselor of Odin), and Fimbulþulr (the great teacher). Other descriptors not directly stated in the Eddas but are still useful include the rememberer, keeper of wisdom, well guardian, Odin's friend, wise one, and thinker.

When writing your own invocations and prayers, it's always best to speak from the heart. If you are not sure where to start, I have included my own invocation below.

Mímir, keeper of the well of knowledge,

Friend and counselor to Odin, 

Móðsognir and rememberer,

Thinker and Hoddrofnir,

The great teacher of our ancestors.

I call upon thee for assistance.

Bless me with your wisdom,

For I am not afraid to pay the price.

Prayers to Mímir

Much like writing an invocation, prayers to Mímir should include his epithets and come from the heart. While I have included an example of a prayer below, it's always best to write your own. 

Hail Mímir

Guardian of the well of knowledge

Friend and counselor to Odin

You who reside in Jotunheim

Thinker, knowledge keeper, and teacher

You who drinks from Mímisbrunnr

Who was resurrected by Odin

Wise beyond measure

I honor you and bless you

Hail Mímir

***

Whew! That was a lot to get through, but hopefully, you stuck with me! To truly understand any divine being, you have to understand the culture from which they arose. By looking at the Eddas and Sagas, we see that Mímir is not just the god of wisdom, but also a counselor, friend, and guardian of knowledge. He is a thinker and rememberer, a teacher and mead-drinker. He also demands sacrifice, telling us that knowledge requires hard work and humility. Below you will find a printable, cheat-sheet that includes a summary of all important information that you can incorporate into your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.

Click the image below to download your free cheat sheet for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.

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