
THE EDDAS AS A SOURCE OF GERMANIC RELIGION
What the academic scholars really have to say about the difference in authenticity between the Prose Edda, written by Snorri Sturluson in the 1200s, and the Poetic Edda, a collection of old heathen poems Snorri used as a source, surviving in manuscripts from Snorri’s time.. SNORRI’s EDDA (The PROSE EDDA). John McKinnell, Both One and

AN OVERVIEW of the GERMANIC MYTHOLOGY’S EPIC ORDER – Part 3
Investigations into Germanic Mythology Volume II Translated and Annotated by William P. Reaves © 2010 All Rights Reserved THE FIMBUL-WINTER 63.Ivaldi’s Sons in the Wolfdales. In one of the dark stretches of valley at the northernmost edge of the world, where one of the tunnels to Niflhel is found, Ivaldi’s sons built a home and

Freya confronts her husband’s slayer
According to Danish Historian, Saxo Grammaticus, Book 1): Conquered, Hadding fled to Helsingland, where, while washing in the cold sea-water, he was attacked and cut down a beast of unknown kind with many blows, and having killed it, had it carried into camp. As he was exulting in this deed, a woman met him and

Fimbulwinter
In the creation that took place in Ginnungagap we were introduced to the primal ice first, and so it is when the worlds are to be destroyed, at least in a sense. This is the second Fimbulwinter, where the elements themselves begin to turn against the divine order and rip apart the landscapes of our

Winged Fate: Norns and Swanmaidens
Foremost among the Norns is Urd accompanied by her two sisters, Verdandi and Skuld. They are said to “choose life” (líf kuru) for men at birth. All this from Völuspá 20: 20. Then came women, much-knowingThree out of the sea (or hall) that stands under the tree;Urd, one is named, another Verdandi, —scoring on boards—Skuld

Hoenir and Lodur
Hoenir: Son of Burr and Bestla, father of Frigga with Natt. He was chieftain of the Vanir until he was deposed during the As-Van war (the Folkwar) and replaced by Lodur. This is a symbol of the corruption of the worlds, where Hoenir represents the peaceful, tranquil waters of creation and Lodur the enflamed passions

Odin-Wotan-Godan-Woden
Odin: Son of Burr and Bestla, grandson of Buri, nephew of Mimir, husband of Frigga, father of Thor, Hodur, and Baldur with her, and of Bragi with Gunnlod; of Vidar with Grid, and Vali with Rind. As he is our highest God, so too does Odin serve as the highest spiritual example within our panthen.

Symbols of Afterlife – part 4 Niflheim
Niflhel The Place: (Moral) Religions throughout the world have some notion of a realm of the damned, including the Hebrew Gehenna or Sheol, the Islamic Jahannam, the Naraka of Hinduism, and the Bhumis of Jainism. In every inception the idea is the same—to punish those who had violated the tenets of the faith. In the

Symbols of Alterlife – part 3 Walhalla
Valhall The Hall: (Tributary) “The honorable warrior, after receiving the drink [Dyrar Veigar], sets out from the Thing to visit kinsmen on the fields of bliss and to look at the wonders there, until the time comes for him to journey to Asgard. They travel west over Vindhelm’s Bridge, Bifrost. Then the Aesir are there

Symbols of Alfterlife – part 2
The Bridge: (Transformative) “On the other side [of the river] the dawn begins and the green regions lie in the break of day with the Gjöll river flowing through them. Having advanced further, they again stumble on the river of blue-black water, swirling in headlong descent and weapons of various kinds are spinning in its
