Freyja and Thor, and more related questions

[inkywitch]

I'd like to get my hand on some good books, websites, articles, (information in general) etc on Freyja and Thor. And in extension, more information on Norse deities in general.

Ive used the stickies to get what information I can, and have been reading mythology all week. I'd like to know more about their personalities, and more about their 'correspondence' and favored offerings.

I had the most bizarre dream, where these two appeared to be the focus. Well, Thor in the flesh, I'm not sure I saw Freyja (but heard her). I awoke with really hazy details about the dream and hoping that perhaps if I learn about them, they might come to me again.

I'm also interested in reading information on Asatru and Non-Asatru who worship Norse Deity.

I'd aslo love to ask a really noobish question out of interest... how do you actually pronounced "Asatru". How it's spelt, or is it tricky? ;)

[GabrielWithoutWings]

I'd aslo love to ask a really noobish question out of interest... how do you actually pronounced "Asatru". How it's spelt, or is it tricky? ;)

It's properly pronounced AH-za-true, or AH-sah-true.

Try to refrain from ASS-uh-tru. You might get a mead horn thrown at you.

:hehehehe:

Edit: Oh, the technical spelling is Ásatrú, if I remember correctly.

[inkywitch]

It's properly pronounced AH-za-true, or AH-sah-true.

Try to refrain from ASS-uh-tru. You might get a mead horn thrown at you.

:hehehehe:

ROFL. I was pronouncing it "AH-sah-true" before I asked. Probably why my clothing is free of mead stains. I just like to clarify these things to avoid sounding like a dickhead when I verbally discuss it with people :)

[Agaliha]

Inky, have you already searched Yahoo or Google for any sites or your local library for any books? I can't offer any personal experience with this, but I can find some stuff. Though I don't want to spend time finding links and such for things you might have already come across on your own ;)

[inkywitch]

I've done some searching, used the stickies, found a few websites out there. I even found a copy of the Bellow's translation of The Poetic Edda on sacred-texts (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/index.htm)

I'd like to leave an offering for Freyja and Thor on my altar. I just haven't come across a website that gives correspondences that Freyja and Thor are connected with other than days of the week and things like "lightning", "lust", "war"... things that I can't really place on my altar in honor of them, lol.

[Fairy_Princess]

ROFL. I was pronouncing it "AH-sah-true" before I asked. Probably why my clothing is free of mead stains. I just like to clarify these things to avoid sounding like a dickhead when I verbally discuss it with people :)

I usually just pronounce it Heathen.

[Vigdisdotter]

I'd like to get my hand on some good books, websites, articles, (information in general) etc on Freyja and Thor. And in extension, more information on Norse deities in general.

Congrats or should I say my condolances? Depending on how you view getting thwapped ~_^

As for Sources.... Use eveything you can find sort out the nonsense from the real deal, just like any other subject. Also trust YOUR experiances.

Now, about those sources....
The Eddas (and other assorted myths)
Teutonic Religion by Gundarsson
Sorry, those are the only two I can think of off the top of my head. And Teutonic Religion is out of print.

You can try Edred Thorson's books, but take them with a grian of salt and don't even bother with Ed Finch unless you're a masocist :P

[inkywitch]

Thanks Vigdisdotter!

I'm currently reading the Bellow's translation over a cup of brew at the moment. I'll do some more webcrawling later today.

[Rick]

I'd like to get my hand on some good books, websites, articles, (information in general) etc on Freyja and Thor. And in extension, more information on Norse deities in general.

Ive used the stickies to get what information I can, and have been reading mythology all week. I'd like to know more about their personalities, and more about their 'correspondence' and favored offerings.

I had the most bizarre dream, where these two appeared to be the focus. Well, Thor in the flesh, I'm not sure I saw Freyja (but heard her). I awoke with really hazy details about the dream and hoping that perhaps if I learn about them, they might come to me again.

I'm also interested in reading information on Asatru and Non-Asatru who worship Norse Deity.

I'd aslo love to ask a really noobish question out of interest... how do you actually pronounced "Asatru". How it's spelt, or is it tricky? ;)
The hard-core Folkish Heathens that I know insist that it's OW-sa-tru, 'cuz that's how it's pronounced in Iceland or somethin'...

I usually just pronounce it Heathen.
GET OUTTA MY HEAD!!! There's barely enough room in there for Elise... :smile:

Um, I always pronounce it Heathen... the word asatru is a modern construct (late 1700s-early 1800s, I believe).

Here are some sites to check out:

http://www.ealdriht.org

http://irminsul.org

http://northvegr.org

http://thetroth.org

http://www.runestone.org


BTW: both Teutonic Magic & Teutonic Religion by Kveldulf Gundarsson (aka Steven Grundy) are due out again in print either later this year or early next year.

[Fairy_Princess]

GET OUTTA MY HEAD!!! There's barely enough room in there for Elise... :smile:

Um, I always pronounce it Heathen... the word asatru is a modern construct (late 1700s-early 1800s, I believe).

Here are some sites to check out:

http://www.ealdriht.org
.

I'm very much new to Germanic Paganism, but I determined really quickly that I hated the word Asatru. I'm still seeking a mentor/teacher mind you.

[inkywitch]

Thanks for the links Rick. Shall keep me busy for a while :D

I was read through the Prose Edda from this website () and notices a dead on similarity between Freyja and myself that I found curious.


She was married to someone called Od. Hnoss is the name of their daughter. She is so beautiful that from her name whatever is beautiful and precious is called hnossir [treasures]. Od went off on long travels, and Freyia stayed behind weeping, and her tears are red gold. My long term partner has just left for aprox 1 year for study and work. We're trying to work out a long-distance relationship while he is away, and I'm still getting over the physical separation. I'm not familiar with deity in general, but maybe that is partly why she is attracted to me now..

Edit: Lol, and I may have to find something other than cow's blood as an offering...

[Agaliha]

Okay. So here are some links.
My disclaimer: I didn't read them, not all of them. And as for the authenticity of the information, that's for you to decide. ;)

Freyja:
The Goddess Freyja - Norse Deity (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkwVppVdGgiwBMzVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2aDdldWRnBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDOARjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=11s20ki2e/EXP=1180235497/**http%3a//www.valkyrietower.com/freyja.html)
Freyja (http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/vanir.html#Freyja)
Freyja: Lady of Love and Life (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkiXIpVdGs8AA5ExXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3c2UyZGlsBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTgEY29sbwN3BHZ0aWQDRjY2NV83NgRsA 1dTMQ--/SIG=120tmcn60/EXP=1180235592/**http%3a//www.hrafnar.org/goddesses/freyja.html)
Freyja (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkkR0pldGnggBqypXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3aTk1ZnNsBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMzcEY29sbwN3BHZ0aWQDRjY2NV83NgRsA 1dTMQ--/SIG=12h0bd7oc/EXP=1180235764/**http%3a//altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/bldeffreyja.htm)
Freyja.com (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkyCNpldG0QYATmVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2N3NwYmxzBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNwRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=11q2mlaq5/EXP=1180235789/**http%3a//www.freyja.com/Information.aspx)

And for the hell of it, might give you an idea of worship (they're not Recon, though): Freya 1 (http://www.orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/Freya.html) , Freya 2 (http://www.orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/Freya2.html) , Freya 3 (http://www.orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/freyja3/freyja3.html)

Thor:
Thor's Home Page (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxNnp1dGXF8B_jBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2c2w3M2VvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=11ndusldq/EXP=1180236007/**http%3a//www.pitt.edu/~dash/thor.html)
Thor - Norse God (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxNnp1dGXF8BCjFXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2dDZpcmt2BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=1297fmdlv/EXP=1180236007/**http%3a//paganwiccan.about.com/od/norsepanth/p/thor.htm)
Thor, Then and Now (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjGWp1dGsDMB0YlXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3a3J1NTY3BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMjQEY29sbwN3BHZ0aWQDRjY2NV83NgRsA 1dTMQ--/SIG=11oct0s1l/EXP=1180236054/**http%3a//www.thorshof.org/thorthen.htm)

Asatru:
Asatru (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmj6pldGhYcArd5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2aWo5aGczBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=12b3474lj/EXP=1180235898/**http%3a//altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_asatru.htm)
Asatru (Norse/Germanic Paganism) - ReligionFacts (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmj6pldGhYcAtt5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2cmZiOTRpBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNQRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=12epsdebp/EXP=1180235898/**http%3a//www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/asatru.htm)
Raven Kindred of the Asatru Alliance (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmj6pldGhYcAqt5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2c2w3M2VvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=11ar7ge2f/EXP=1180235898/**http%3a//www.asatru.org/)
Irminsul Ættir - The Religion of Asatru (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmj6pldGhYcAud5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2OG5waDZqBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNgRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=11nmk42d7/EXP=1180235898/**http%3a//www.irminsul.org/as/asr.html)
Asatru (Norse Heathenism) - ReligiousTolerance.org (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmj6pldGhYcAvN5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2N3NwYmxzBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNwRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=120g9k9bh/EXP=1180235898/**http%3a//www.religioustolerance.org/asatru.htm)
Heathenry / Asatru - Expansion (http://www.stonedragonpress.com/wicca_201/asatru_00_a.html)

...that's all I got for now. I hope they help.

[inkywitch]

Thanks so much, Agaliha! I'm sure they will provide many hours of reading :D

[Agaliha]

Thanks so much, Agaliha! I'm sure they will provide many hours of reading :D

You're welcome. If I find anymore I'll post'em.

Sacred-Texts.com has a whole section you might be interested in:
Icelandic (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ice/index.htm) -- has the Eddas, Sagas and other stuff.

:)

[Fairy_Princess]

Thor:
Thor's Home Page (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxNnp1dGXF8B_jBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2c2w3M2VvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=11ndusldq/EXP=1180236007/**http%3a//www.pitt.edu/~dash/thor.html)



I wasn't aware the Odin's son could do HTML and Flash. Of all the Deities I would've expected Loki to have a Myspace profile....

[Agaliha]

I wasn't aware the Odin's son could do HTML and Flash. Of all the Deities I would've expected Loki to have a Myspace profile....
:2G:

[inkywitch]

I wasn't aware the Odin's son could do HTML and Flash. Of all the Deities I would've expected Loki to have a Myspace profile....


:hehehehe:

[Rick]

Thanks for the links Rick. Shall keep me busy for a while :D
Meh, I do what I can

I was read through the Prose Edda from this website () and notices a dead on similarity between Freyja and myself that I found curious.
If you start to cry tears of gold (or even amber) can I be your agent? :smile:

That might be a connection, I reckon...

Lol, and I may have to find something other than cow's blood as an offering...
Cow's blood? As an offering to Freya? Naw, that'd be sow's blood... or amber... or gold...

[Rick]

I'm very much new to Germanic Paganism, but I determined really quickly that I hated the word Asatru. I'm still seeking a mentor/teacher mind you.
There's a whole slug o' Heathen folks in your neck of the woods... here's a starting place: http://www.irminsul.org/aw/awwusa.html#USOR

[Fairy_Princess]

There's a whole slug o' Heathen folks in your neck of the woods... here's a starting place: http://www.irminsul.org/aw/awwusa.html#USOR

Thanks!

[Agaliha]

http://northvegr.org


Oh, their article about serpent worship is pretty interesting.
Northvegr - Ophiolatreia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxeBwldGQ5MAyi9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2aWo5aGczBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANGNjY1Xzc2BGwDV 1Mx/SIG=123n5123i/EXP=1180242945/**http%3a//www.northvegr.org/lore/serpent/00101.php)
Sacred-Text also has it (but they got it from there).

ETA: Inky, you might want to browse BeliefNet's Asatru (http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/discussion_list.asp?boardID=4681) section. Sometimes there are answers to questions you want to know already asked.

[inkywitch]

Cow's blood? As an offering to Freya? Naw, that'd be sow's blood... or amber... or gold...

I was going from the verse about Ottar winning her over with offerings..


"He a high altar made me of heaped stones--
All glassy have grown the gathered rocks,
And reddened anewwith blood of cows' fresh blood,
For always believed Ottar in the goddeses."

("Lay of Hyndla": 10)



:hahugh:

Sow's blood is equally as hard to obtain. Only, my family hates pork, so we're not likely to be able to get any pigs slaughtered anytime soon. Lamb is an option. Though, the farmer may get weird on me if I tell him to save the blood. Haha.

[GabrielWithoutWings]

Dunno if this has been posted or not, since I'm too lazy to look, but there's some nice folks there:

Asatru Lore (http://www.asatrulore.org).

[inkywitch]

Dunno if this has been posted or not, since I'm too lazy to look, but there's some nice folks there:

Asatru Lore (http://www.asatrulore.org).

Thanks! I dont believe it has. *adds to an every growing list*

:D

[~Elise~]

I'm going to chime in on this as a non-asatru... I don't 'worship' Norse deity, but I do honor them.
I started working with Freyja when she came knocking on my door a few years ago.
Long story short--I ended up with Rick in my life...
fast forward a couple of years - I make a committment to get back to the 'roots' of my practice... lo and behold Odin shows up...he gives the title of Odinsdottir in the dream as I'm waking. (serves me right for not being specific about 'roots')
Turns out I've got Heathen roots about a couple centuries deep, and then some, going back to the mid-300s when I work on ancestery this weekend.
As Rick says, They call their own... even if we don't know it.

Heathen still isn't my path-but it is my blood, (and it melds well with what I do practice). And I'll keep honoring Odin and Freyja and doing what is necessary.

Elise

And before anyone bashes about mixing pantheons--I don't mix. They are each worked with and honored separately.

[inkywitch]

(serves me right for not being specific about 'roots')


This made me giggle for less than mature reasons. *elbows Rick* Eh? Eh?

8O

Thank you very much for adding in from a non-Heathen POV. I find it helpful, as I doubt I would ever call myself Heathen or Asatru even if I turn out honoring the Norse Gods for the rest of my life.

I wish I could actually work out my ancestry! I've always had a deep interest in knowing my roots and how and where my family evolved. My aunt started trying to do a family tree and trace it all back, I might ask her how she is going with it... last I heard she got stuck after my great, great grandparents somewhere.. and thats only my mothers side of the tree. My father has no interest, cut off his side of the family and doesn't want to know anything about it at all, and doesn't like talking about it. When asked, he says "Your Nan was from Wales and your Grandfather from England" and get agitated. lol

[~Elise~]

Talk with Seapearls--she's got the genealogy hookup going.

Elise

[Nitefalle]

I am not a Heathen per se, but I have TONS of Germanic and Norwegian ancestry, and so I do honor that part of myself. I have a very strong connection with Frigga, who helped me through a very stressful time in my life. She doesn't demand much. I have worked with Freyja before - LOL She's funny. When I think of her, I think of a golden hawk, and the Brisingamen. I don't know where I was going with this rambling....so ya.

[Mjollnir]

I was going from the verse about Ottar winning her over with offerings..


"He a high altar made me of heaped stones--
All glassy have grown the gathered rocks,
And reddened anewwith blood of cows' fresh blood,
For always believed Ottar in the goddeses."

("Lay of Hyndla": 10)



:hahugh:

It's all in the translation:

Bellows:
10. "For me a shrine | of stones he made,--
And now to glass | the rock has grown;--
Oft with the blood | of beasts was it red;
In the goddesses ever | did Ottar trust.

W.H. Auden and P.B. taylor:
10. "For me a shrine | of stones he made,--
And now to glass | the rock has grown;--
Oft with the blood | of beasts was it red;
In the goddesses ever | did Ottar trust.

I cant get anything off of Northvegr 'cause my damm company has a filter and apparently "Non-traditional Religion and Occult and Folklore' is what they consider it. ::eye-roll::

[Rick]

I started working with Freyja when she came knocking on my door a few years ago.
Long story short--I ended up with Rick in my life...
Well, there are always some risks to anything... :lol:

[Fairy_Princess]

I dunno who should be more scared though....

Heathen women can be SCARY! (truly frightening not fake Morticia Addams goth funny scary....)

[Fiamma]

You can try Edred Thorson's books, but take them with a grian of salt



A grain? I was told to take them with an industrial-sized can of mortons... :-P

[inkywitch]

A grain? I was told to take them with an industrial-sized can of mortons... :-P

:hehehehe:

[Vigdisdotter]

A grain? I was told to take them with an industrial-sized can of mortons... :-P

I was trying to be....tactful :P

[~Elise~]

Well, there are always some risks to anything... :lol:

I always say Be careful What you ask for....

:hahugh:

Elise

[~Elise~]

I dunno who should be more scared though....

Heathen women can be SCARY! (truly frightening not fake Morticia Addams goth funny scary....)


He should--definitely... :boing:

Yes, I am scary when I want to be (and most times when I don't, as well)

I've been told I'm intimidating...they just don't know me. :lol:

I'm a pussycat--really....

hey QUIT LAUGHING

Elise

[David19]

A grain? I was told to take them with an industrial-sized can of mortons... :-P

Really? I've heard Edred Thorrson/Stephen Flowers does know his stuff, and seems to have some excellant stuff published (Witchdom of the True, Galdabok(sp?), etc).

[sybba_leigh]

peace offering?

you could join some yahoo groups, there's TONS dedicated to heathen gods/goddesses and general asatru-yness. Nine_Worlds@yahoogroups.com and NortheastAsatru@yahoogroups.com for example!

you should read the eddas (a collection of norse poems) if you can find them.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/tml/index.htm---- some more mythology for you.

if you're really that into asatru, you could take a trip to PA for the east coast thing this august. man, i went last year and everybody's willing to answer all your questions and you just learn so much. http://www.eastcoastthing.org/

okay, annnnnnnd have you heard of the havamal yet? odin's words of wisdom and how to live your life the norse way, put into modern new york terms---http://web.archive.org/web/20030705195653/nycpagan.com/havamal.html

[inkywitch]

Thanks for the links sybba. Yep, I have heard of the Havamal, I read upon it after I found Rick's Rune Magic Threads.

I'm up to my ears in the myths. The only problem with the PA thing is that I live in Australia, which will make that impossible right now :P

I'm trying to keep my ears and eyes open for any Heathen groups in my state.

[Rick]

Thanks for the links sybba. Yep, I have heard of the Havamal, I read upon it after I found Rick's Rune Magic Threads.

I'm up to my ears in the myths. The only problem with the PA thing is that I live in Australia, which will make that impossible right now :P

I'm trying to keep my ears and eyes open for any Heathen groups in my state.
I'm not sure where in Australia the main membership of Rune-Net is, but I do know it is based in Australia:
http://www.mackaos.com.au/Rune-Net
While I don't know Sweyn or Mel personally, they both seem like decent people. I'm sure that if you contact them, they'll help you to find fellow followers of the Folkway.

...and while Dr. Flowers/Edred seems to be of a rather... quirky... personality, his scholarship is good, and he usually defines the line between historicity and his own UPG.

[inkywitch]

Oh hey! Thanks Rick! I didn't even know that site existed! :P

[inkywitch]

okay, annnnnnnd have you heard of the havamal yet? odin's words of wisdom and how to live your life the norse way, put into modern new york terms---http://web.archive.org/web/20030705195653/nycpagan.com/havamal.html


Hahaha.. Great site. I took a quite quote from the second stanza..


If a guest of yours is freezing,
they need to sit by the space heater, and you should order a pizza.file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JESSIC%7E1.C28/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpgfile:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JESSIC%7E1.C28/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg

What made it even more funny is that i didn't read the "put into modern new york" part...

[Vigdisdotter]

Really? I've heard Edred Thorrson/Stephen Flowers does know his stuff, and seems to have some excellant stuff published (Witchdom of the True, Galdabok(sp?), etc).

He does, but he also mixes and matches according to his own background, trying to use to fill in some of the gaps of information. Which isn't a BAD thing.....just something to be aware of.

[sybba_leigh]

Hahaha.. Great site. I took a quite quote from the second stanza..



What made it even more funny is that i didn't read the "put into modern new york" part...

lol i love that. that version of the havamal is great!

[Mjollnir]

peace offering?


if you're really that into asatru, you could take a trip to PA for the east coast thing this august. man, i went last year and everybody's willing to answer all your questions and you just learn so much. http://www.eastcoastthing.org/




you said your going this year, right?