Post by Christoffer Eklundh

Huginn & Muninn (HugiN ⁊ MuniN)

Húginn ok Múninn
ᚼᚢᚴᛁᚾ ᛬ ᛅᚢᚴ ᛬ ᛘᚢᚾᛁᚾ (LB)
ᚽᚢᚴᛁᚿ ᛬ ᛆᚢᚴ ᛬ ᛙᚢᚿᛁᚿ (ST)

Huginn ("Thought") and Muninn ("Memory") are the two famous ravens associated with Odin.
Every morning, the Norse Allfather releases them into the world; by evening, they return to his shoulders and whisper everything they have seen and heard into his ears.

In Stanza 20 of the Norse poem Grímnismál ("The Lay of Grímnir"), found in the Poetic Edda, Odin disguises himself as a tortured wanderer to reveal cosmic secrets.
Speaking directly about his avian companions, he recites:

Huginn ok Muninn fljúga hverjan dag jörmungrund yfir; óumk ek of Hugin, at hann aftr né komi-t, þó sjámk meir of Munin.

As translated by Carolyne Larrington, Odin states: "I fear for Huginn that he will not come back, yet I tremble more for Muninn."

For a god who sacrificed his own eye just to gain wisdom, this is a heartbreaking metaphor for growing old.
Losing the ability to think clearly (Thought) is devastating—but losing your memories, your wisdom, and your very identity (Memory) is the ultimate tragedy.