Feb 7
"Óminnis Hegri."
The metaphor of the "Heron of Oblivion" in Hávamál 13 is one of the most striking images in Norse poetry.
Why a Heron?
Herons are still, patient hunters. They stand motionless in the water, waiting for the fish to forget they are there. Then, they strike with lightning speed.
Odin uses this to describe the effects of alcohol. The "Oblivion" (Óminni) isn't a slow fade; it is a sudden theft. You think you are fine, you think you are in control, and then—snap—the Heron strikes. You wake up the next morning with your memory (Minni) gone.
