Carly Griffith January, 2012

FREYA’S BROTHER

Freyr is known as the God of peace, warriors, abundance and most of all Freya’s twin brother.  Except his chariot is pulled by the golden boar Gullinbursti, instead of two blue cats like his sister.  Freyrs chariot was made for him by dwarfs for the mischievous God Loki to give to him.  The brother and sister duo do have much in common, like the fact that they are both Gods of prosperity, fertility, and fun.  Both are well liked by the opposite sex and show no shame in it.  Freyr is married to the ginatess Gerd, and Freya to Odin, God of war and wisdom.  Freyr fell in love with Gerd after he released her from Odins throne…funny how Freya then came to marry Odin.  Freyr’s father was the sea god Njord, making Freyr very connected to water as well as the sun.  He is also the God of elves.

With his name meaning “Lord”, Freyr owns a ship called Skidbladnir, that was meant to hold all Gods ever created.  The ship had to be big enough for this task, yet small enough to fit in ones pocket.

CONNECTING WITH FREYR

Get comfortable and sit or lay any way you like.

Ship Meditation:

Imagine a big ocean sprawled out in front of you

Off in the distance you see a big ship and it get closer and closer with each blink

Soon it’s right in front of you and is taller than any tree you’ve ever seen

As you look around the body of the ship a man appears at the very top

He looks down with smiling eyes and asks for all of your troubles to be thrown onto the ship.  Every stress, worry, or angry feeling is to be placed on this ship to be taken away.

Take as much time and thought as you need to do this

Once you are finished, the ship slowly turns around and disappears into the ocean leaving you rejuvenated.

SYMBOLS AND THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR ALTER

Gold, water, swords, boars, ships, sails, holly, St. Johns Wart, green, rose oil, nuts, mint

Tags: Freyr, god, mythology, norse

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Mary DAlba April, 2010

Hel – Norse Goddess of the Underworld

As we transition to Spring, let us look at one of the biggest transformational Goddesses in Norse Mythology – Hel.  Hel is the Norse ruler and Goddess of the Underworld. The top half of her body is a woman, the bottom half of her body is only skeleton.  She is the daughter of trickster Loki and the frost giantess Angrboda.  Odin found her to be hideous and because of her appearance and the fact she was daughter of Loki, he banished her to the underworld of Hel (same as her name), also known as Helheim.  (This should not be confused with the Christian interpretation of the punishment of Hell.)  However, it seems that Hel was okay with being Queen of the Underworld and gave Odin a gift of two ravens named “Huginn” and “Muninn” (translated to “Thought” and “Memory”).  These ravens opened the passageway between both realms.

Hel ruled so powerfully that when Odin’s son Balder died at the hands of his brother Hod after being tricked by Loki, she would not return him unless everyone and everything in the world cry over him.   Only one giantess, Thokk, would not cry and so Balder was not returned.  It turned out that Thokk was actually Loki in disguise. Hel did this to prove the point that Gods are powerless over death.

When people died from illness, old age or from criminal behavior, they were brought to Hel instead of Valhalla, where people went if they died in battle.  Hel would then judge these souls to their fate.  If people died as cowards, Hel would judge them to a life in the underworld that was cold, dark, dismal and full of torture.  Life would be miserable and full of pain if you were to go to Hel based on bad behavior.  (Hel’s realm was twisted by those religions that wanted people to be afraid of going to “Hell” if they didn’t live a righteous life.)

Hel also would watch over children and mothers who died in childbirth and was also known to be a protector of children because of her caring for children of all ages.  Hel would also watch over the souls getting ready for reincarnation.  So, as much as Hel was seen as only a cold and dark place, it actually did have places that were peaceful.   She also is associated with mothering (Isis) and transition between the worlds (Hecate).

Hel would be the deity to ask for help in contacting your ancestors.  If you have a loved one who has died or who is dying, you can work with her in mediumship work, ask her to help those transitioning to the other side or do Shamanic work, since this connects ordinary and non-ordinary reality (for example, Soul Retrieval).  Stones that would be good when working with Hel are jet, obsidian and onyx.

Tags: goddess, hel, norse

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Boudicca Andarta March, 2009

Idhunna’s Day: March 20

March 20th in the Norse Tradition is the day of the goddess Idhunna who is the personification of the light half of the year.  Also known as Idhunn, Iduna or Idun (Germanic), She is a Nordic-Icelandic goddess.  The consort of Bragi (the Poet God), she was widely worshiped during the Viking period (700 AD) and earlier until the Christianization around 1100 AD.  Some historians say that She is strongly connected to the Norse Tree of Life, the Axis Mundi, Yggdrasil.  On this day, She brings joy to humankind by appearing in the form of a sparrow.  Her name means “the Renewer” because she is a goddess of healing.    Associated with the Viking Runes Eihwaz and Gyfu (the gift), She bestows the gift of rejuvenation and holistic balance.

As the Keeper of the Golden Apples of Immortality, Idhunna is the bearer and guardian of the magickal fruit of Aesir (the principle group of gods of the Norse pantheon).  This is the fruit of life and eternal youth for the gods of Asgard, supplying them with immortality.  Because of this role, she is known as the “Goddess of Eternal Renewal” and the “Goddess of Youth”.  As you can imagine, Idhunna and her apples were in high demand.

Because these powers were coveted by the giants, Loki was blackmailed into abducting Idhunna, giving Her to the giant Thiassi (father of the goddess Skadi) as a form of payment for the construction of Odhinn’s Valhalla (the Hall of the Slain).  It tuned out that the Golden Apples were useless to the Giants because the power did not lie in the apples themselves, but in Idhunna; unless they were given directly from Her healing hands, they had no regenerating power.   Because it was Idhunna who helped sustain the life-force of divinity, after some time without the Golden Apples, the gods began to age.  Ironically, Loki was the one who rescued her and her apples and they were returned to the Aesir.

A sweet fruit of the soil, the apple is a long-time symbol of the wisdom of the Universe.  Representing our Earth, when cut sideways, the apple reveals the five-pointed star, symbolizing humankind and it’s ages, vitality, health, wisdom and more.  This life-sustaining fruit of heaven is guarded by Idhunna who maintains the vitality and health all of the Norse gods.  This is Her gift to them, and if you ask, this can be Her gift to you as well.

Ideally, perform this mini-ritual on March 20th, but you an always perform this on a Monday, which is Her day, if your schedule doesn’t work out.  This is designed to leave your old life behind, to renew with the Spring, and bring healing to your life.

Decorate your altar with the colors of silver and green (Her colors) and if you are in an area where there are apple blossoms on the trees, sprinkle a few of those on your altar as well.  In lieu of apples made form gold, purchase some Golden Delicious Apples from the grocery store.  You will also want to give her an offering of seeds; any will do, as these are a symbol of initiation as seeds contain the concentrated power of potential that is ready to burst into form.  Other supplies you will need will be a knife to cut the apple, a candle (silver or green would be perfect), a plate to cut the apple on and a bowl for the seeds.
To call to Idhunna, light the candle and say:

“Goddess Idhunna, Lady of Light,

May I start a new life on the morrow.”

With the knife, cut in the side of the apple the rune Gyfu, which you can easily make with an “X”.  Meditate upon what gifts you wish to receive form Idhunna, be they health, vitality, renewal, regeneration, or anything else that you desire.  Literally see these gifts coming to you and hold these thoughts firmly in your mind.

Cut the apple cross-ways exposing the Star of Wisdom inside and say:

“Ancient fruit of Universal wisdom,

Renew me now and free me from strife.”

Take a bite or two of the apple and as you state the sweetness, take in the sweetness of your new life.  Literally “taste” the success and happiness that is coming your way.

Finally, place the seeds in the bowl and say:

“Idhunna, I Thank You for Your gift,

My thanks to You and Blessed Be.”

These are you offerings to Idhunna, and do take the time to care for them on a regular basis.  If you can, plant the seeds outdoors and care for them daily.  If your region has not yet thawed, then plant the seeds in a pot of earth and when able to, transplant the sprouts outside.

Make sure to place some of the apples outside for the animals and the nature spirits!

Sources:

Rune Mysteries by Silver Ravenwolf and Nigel Jackson

Tags: goddess, idhunna, norse, rite, ritual, Spell

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