Yuletide Customs
“They set the table for the Queen of Heaven,—whom the common people call Frau Holda” Like the White Lady, Frau Perchta and Berchta, Frau Holle was also connected with prophecy, although on a more domestic level. Near Hörselberg in Thuringia, maidens would place new fiber on their distaffs on Christmas Eve before Frau Holle began
The Vanir
As the Aesir are the defenders and protectors of the World Order, the Vanir are primarily concerned with its maintenance and function. Because of this, we often view them as nature divinities, and as such they can be closely correlated to the natural sciences. Frey owns the Grotti-Mill that regulates the ebb and flow of
Rider on the storm: Wodan, master of the Wild Hunt
WODAN, MASTER OF THE WILD HUNTWhat Jackson Crawford Left Out. Despite various historical figures being placed at the head of this host, the Wild Huntsman himself is most often identified as Wodan. According to tales collected by Ernst Meier, he is described as handsome, proud and extraordinarily large, far superior to human size. He possesses
Saehrimnir
He is the boar of plenty, the beast of sustenance that feeds the warriors in Vahall. This boar is a sacred animal representing two of the most revered aspects of any religious belief: the sacred feast and regeneration. Here is what is stated in The Odinist Edda about Saehrimnir (XXV.7, using Grímnismál 18, Gylfaginning 38,
Introduction to “ The ASATRU EDDA “( excerpts )
While we greatly value the contributions made by mainstream scholars over the past 120 years, the time has come for this movement to break away from our dependence upon these institutions. No longer should outsiders be allowed to dictate the shape of the lore or the beliefs we adhere to, when in many cases these
On the Second Merserburg Charm
Scholars have long debated the meaning of the name Phol and the word balderes in this verse. Phol is sometimes interpreted as the male half of an otherwise unattested couple : Phol and Volla. Likewise scholars have argued that the word balderes should be understood as a simple appellation meaning “ lord , ” also
Going to Hel: The Consequences of a Heathen Life
By placing inordinate weight on the words of Snorri’s Edda and paying insufficient attention to what the older heathen poems say regarding the fate of the dead, we have been mislead into believing that the gods did not judge their followers and that only warriors were rewarded for leading a virtuous life according to the precepts of heathen morality.
Heimdall, the guardian of the gods
by William P. Reaves The Eddas tell us relatively little of Heimdall, the guardian of the gods. As the offspring of the nine giantesses who turn the great world-mill, churning beneath the sea, Heimdall represents the holy fire, created by friction. As such, he acts as the spark of life, commonly generated by the rubbing
An Excerpt on Germanic Law
“The demand for personal restitution, indeed, is not a thing that life and society merely acknowledge, it is the very innermost secret, the sustaining power itself, in the legislation of the North.”
Sacred Kettles
One device that is often looked over, even though it is mentioned more in our sources than any other, is the kettle or cauldron. The word kettle comes from the Old Norse kettil, meaning “kettle, cauldron,” from the Proto-Germanic katilaz, “kettle, bucket, vessel.” The kettle would have been used for various purposes, from cooking the sacred feast to brewing mead, and possibly even divination. It is likely that our ancestors saw this as important for the same reason they revered the hearth, because it was central to the gathering of the folk. It was the vessel from which communal meals and drinking feasts would be prepared and procured. With this as the basis for our thesis, we shall examine the evidence and symbols surrounding this implement for our blots.
