Wednesday is named after the Anglo Saxon god Woden, otherwise known as Odin (the Scandinavian form of his name). In Roman times, Wednesday was known as dies Mercurii, “day of Mercury”, and classical theorists equated Mercury with Odin because they both led the Dead to their final homes. Of course, this is only one of Odin’s many roles — he is also the king of the gods, the god of battle and hosts, wisdom, magic, poetry, prophecy, and the hunt. He thus combines characteristics of Mercury, Jupiter, Apollo, Pluto, and Mars. Evidently those classical theorists needed to get out more.

Odin (or Woden)’s name comes from Proto Indo European wet, meaning “carried away” — either with anger, insanity, or inspiration. Wet also referred to “breath”, reflecting the ancient Indo European belief in the breath as a source of inspiration and spiritual connection (still reflected in Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, etc.). His name was Wodenaz in Proto Germanic, “he who brings wod; the Inspirer”.

The energy of Wednesday is one similar to that of the word win: a willful strength that initiates a rising, tight power, narrowed and targeted. In Wednesday, the result of that targeting is a flourish of directed power.