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The Northern Mysticisms

Paetheon

The AEsir
- Aegir: The god of the sea, Aegir is married to Ran and their nine daughters are p the waves of the sea.
- Balder (Beldur): The best, wisest, and most beloved of all the gods, Balder was the son of Odin and Freya and the husband of Nanna. He was killed, at Loki's instigation, by a twig of mistletoe that was shot by the blind god Hoder.
- Frigg (Friga): The chief goddess, often identified with Freya and associated with Venus by the Romans, Frigga is important amongst the AEsir as she is the one who influenes the maintaining of social order within domestic existence. She is the wife of Odin and is said to have great prophetic powers. However, although believed to have prophetic knowledge, she rarely speaks it.
- Hoder (Hoeder, Hodur): The God of Blind Force, he is brute strength and the embodiment of conflict. The slayer of Balder.
- Hoenir: A creator god who, with Odin and Lodur, made the first humans, his gift being the gift of senses.
- Lodur: A creator god who, with Odin and Hoenir, made the first humans, his gift being the gift of life and energy.
- Loki: Not fully a god, being one of the etin-kin, he is, however, included in the paetheon for his place as the "blood brother" of Odin and the companion of the AEsir. He rules over beauty and deception, cunning and guile. He is the trickster and mischief maker, and as such is often placed as the god of mischief. Loki is powerful in laughter and humor, but is also the cause of great dissension amongst the gods and is known as the slayer of Baldur. It is likely that Loki is in actuality the "shadow side" of Odin.
- Odin (Odhinn): Odin is the chief god of the vitkar, also known as Woden or Wotan amongst the Germanic peoples. A sky god, he lives in Asgard (Walhallo, Valhalla) at the top of the world-tree, Yggdrasill, with his wife Freya. He created the first humans with Hoenir and Lodur, his gift being that of a soul. He is the god of the runemasters, who attempt to emulate the archetypal pattern of his myths in their lives. Odin is the god who sacrifices "himself to himself" in an act of magical initiation in order to gain the runes - the knowledge of self and cosmos and the power to act within them at will. Odin is the god of magic, poetry, ecstasy, and divine synthesis of consciousness. Through the pattern of this god, a runemaster can gain hidden knowledge of things past and future and can reweave the warp and woof of the world. Animals attributed to Odin are the eagle, ravens, wolves, the horse, and the serpent.
- Ran: A storm goddess, Ran is the wife of Aegir and the mother of the nine waves of the sea.
- Sol: The sun goddess who drives the her chariot across the sky, bringing the day.
- Thor (Thunar, Thorr): The god of thunder, Thor means the thunderer. He is the son of Odin and Frigga. He is also the god of steadfast loyalty and troth - staunch defender of gods and humanity. He is the warrior amongst the gods. His chief weapon is Mjoellnir the hammer. The animal attributed to Thor is the goat.
- Tyr (Tiw, Tiwax): Known as the god of battles, Tyr is also the god of law. He rules over justice and rational thought. He measures out all things in their right and proper order. Tyr is the god of true Troth and can always be trusted. His name is the same as Zeus and Jupiter. An alternate form of Tyr in certain Scandinavian regions is the god Ullr or Ullinn.
- Vali: The son of Odin who avenged Balder's death by slaying Hoder. A God of Vengeance.
- Vidar (Viedharr): A God of Vengeance. He is the avenger of his 'father' Odin, of whom he is a projection. Vidar is also the god of Silence and is good for overcoming crisis.
The Vanir
- Bragi: The God of Eloquence, wisdom and poery are also in his domain. He is the husband of Idhunn.
- Eostre (Ostara): An Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring who is identified with the rising sun.
- Eir: Goddess of Healing. She is the physician of the gods and goddesses.
- Forseti: A god of justice, he can reconcile opposing sides on any issue.
- Frey (Freyr, Frei): A fertility god and the brother of Freya, Frey is the lord of prosperity, material and physical well-being, peace (frith), and eroticism. He is said to be the veraldargodh - the God of the World. He controls the natural processes in the land and in the air over the land. Animals attributed to him are the horse, the boar, and the deer or stag.
- Freya (Freia, Freyja, Gefn): The goddess of married love and the hearth, she is the twin sister of Frey. She is also the goddess of magic, eroticism, and physical well-being. The names Frey and Freya literally mean the "Lord and the Lady". Her chief kind of magic is seith. This usually involves trance induction and may also involve travel between and amongst the various worlds of Yggdrasill. She also controls the powers of the natural cycles - for which her magical necklace, the Brisingamen, is a symbol. Animals attributed to her include the sow and cats.
- Fulla: She is a loyal attendant of Frigga. She is also a supporter of the Goddess - who makes it possible for the great one to do her work.
- Gefion (Gefjon): A goddess of virginity and fertility, she is also the Goddess of Virtue. She is the "gracious" or "giving one". From her you may obtain gifts of the body and spirit. Probably an aspect of Freya.
- Gnae: Goddess of Transformation, she raises awareness to towering heights. She is a follower of Frigga.
- Heimdall (Heimdallr): God of light who was present at the birth of the world and watches over the other gods, he is the God of Guardianship. Clairvoyance and vigilance are also qualities ruled over by him.
- Hel (Hela): Goddess of the underworld.
- Hlien: Goddess who protects people from physical danger. She is a follower of Frigga.
- Idun (Idhunn): Goddess of eternal renewal, she is the keeper of the golden apples of eternal youth. She also helps to sustain the vigor of divine forces in the universe as the guardian of those apples.
- Mimir: Guardian of the well of knowledge.
- Nanna: Wife of Balder who died of grief after his murder.
- Njord (Njorth, Njoerdhr): God of sailors and fisherman, he is the father of Freya and Frey. He is the lord of material well-being and abundance. He controls the natural processes of the sea and in the air over the sea.
- Lofn: Goddess of Indulgence, from her permission can be granted to indulge in sexual liaisons or acts otherwise forbidden by custom or law. She is attached both to Frigga and Odin.
- Saga: Her name means "seeress" or "speaker of prophecy". She is likely an active aspect of Frigga, and is powerful in prophetic knowledge.
- Sif: A corn goddess and the wife of Thor.
- Sigyn: Wife of Loki
- Sjoefn: Goddess of Love, she can be called upon to turn anyone's mind to thoughts of love.
- Skadi: A mountain goddess who is the wife of Njord and the mother of Frey and Freya.
- Snotra: Goddess of Intellegance.
- Syn: Goddess of Denial. She is a powerful defender in legal matters in which one is accused.
- Ullr: May be the same as Tyr, however, Ullr expresses the aspect of Tyr having more to do with precision and coordination of physical faculties and skills, such as those having to do with skiing, hunting, archery, and so forth. He is a powerful figure to invoke for battle because of the martial skill he gives.
- Var: Goddess of Honesty, she takes vengeance on those who break their promises made in formal vows and contracts.
- Voer: Goddess of Awareness, she is very wise and nothing can be hidden from her insight and intuition.
The Norns
- Urd: The First Goddess of Fate, ruling over the past.
- Verdandi: The Second Goddess of Fate, ruling over the present.
- Skuld: The Third Goddess of Fate, ruling over the future.

The Wheel of the Year

Winter Night - Occuring around October 15, Winter Night is the Norse New Year which comes at the end of the old harvesting time. Originally, this festival, like many of the others, was actually several nights in length, hence the Icelandic name for this time: Vetrnaetr or Winter Nights
Yule - Occurring from around December 20 to December 31, the entire period is commonly known as Yule-tide. In this time, it is said that the whole of the year is magically contained; out of it the year is regenerated from its own depths. Yule-tide begins on Mother Night and ends twelve nights later on Yule itself. It is also a time in which the barrier betwixt the Gods, Death's Halls, and the Mortal planes are at their thinnest, thus causing it to be an optimal time to make contact with dead ancestors or the Gods themselves. However, when such things occur, they tend to scare the hell out of anyone actually witnessing it, so it's not at all unusual for people to spend the entire twelve nights indoors.
Disting - Occurring around February 14, Disting heralds the beginning of the return of the vital forces that had turned inwards at the time of Winter Night. It is a time of preparation for things to come.
Easter - Occurring upon the Vernal Equinox, this is the full manifestation of the return of the vital powers of nature. The name of this celebration was always Teutonic, Eostre being the Goddess of the spring and of the dawn. Her name is recorded both amongst the Germans (Ostara) as well as the Anglo-Saxons, from whom we get our own English word of "Easter".
Walburga/May Day - Occuring on the nights of April 30 and May 1, this is a two fold affair. The night of April 30 is traditionally the night of the "witches" in central Europe, a time when the mysterious nightside of life is said to manifest strongly. The name "Walburga" probably goes back to the name of a Goddess or deified seeress - as the name literally means "Enclosure of the Fallen, or Dead". On the other hand, May Day is the opposite, being a bright and sunlit celebration of the dayside of life, of play and of work. Maypoles may be erected on this day, or on Midsummer Day, or both. It is for this reason that May Day is considered a workers' holiday in Europe.
Midsummer - Occurring upon the Summer Solstice is the celebration of the final victory of the sun in the cycle of the year and of the full manifestation of the vital fources of nature which were given birth during the Yule-tide. Midsummer is the longest day of the year, on which it is said that many wondrous things can appear. This is one of the times when the entire pantheon of Germanic Gods and Goddesses is to be given offerings in common.
Thing-tide - Occuring around August 23, this is the time of the great regional or national gatherings where the social aspects of the Troth are given expression. This is the time when legislative and business matters of all kinds are attended to and when there is a great celebration of the social and organizational aspects of the Troth.
Harvest/Winter Finding - Occuring upon the Autumnal Equinox is the beginning of the culmination of the natural cycle of things which come into being and pass away towards new beginnings. The end of this period is celebrated on the Winter Night bringing the cycle to a close. This is one of the major holidays along with Midsummer and Yule.

The Rituals

The basic equipment for carrying out Troth-blessings consists of an altar, which can be of stone or wood; a drinking vessel (preferably a drinking horn); a bowl; and a sprig (small branch) of evergreen. The rites are usually preformed outdoors, where the altar is usually made of stone and is called a harrow, and if they are held indoors, the altar is usually made of wood and is called a stall. The basic ritual formula of the blessing, which can be adapted to any sacred purpose and done to honor or worship any God or Goddess, is as follows:

Hallowing: This sets the ritual time/space apart from the ordinary. This is done most simply by tracing the sign of the hammer: in the four cardinal points. If you have a permanently hallowed stead, or ve, there is really no need for this to be hallowed every time you work there.
Reading: This places the rite in a mythic context; mythic poems or epics are read or recited.
Rede: This part links the mythic pattern to the purpose of the ritual at hand. This is a simple or elaborate statement of the main purposes of the rite.
Call: This invokes the deities or classes of beings to be honored in the rite. It is an invitation for these beings to join in the fellowship of humans loyal to them.
Loading: This "charges" the sacred drink with godly power. This is done by pouring the drink, sometimes mead (honey wine), ale, beer, or fruit juices, into the drinking vessel, and visualizing the collected powers entering the liquid.
Drinking: This is the consuming of the charged liquid and internal circulation of its power. This is done by drinking from the horn (vessel) by all present. The horn is never drained; something is always left which is poured into the blessing bowl on the alter.
Blessing: This is the sprinkling of the altar with the sacred liquid. This is done from the sacrificial bowl with a sprig of evergreen by dipping it in the liquid and sprinkling it around the altar.
Giving: This is the returning of the rightful part of the gathered power back to the divinity and/or to nature. This is done by pouring the contents of the blessing bowl onto the bare earth.
Leaving: This is the declaration of the end of the work and of the return to the everyday space/time.

This kind of rite can be preformed at all of the important times of the year, in honor of all of the Gods and Goddesses. It can also be used for magical purposes, since the line betwixt magic and religion is oftend blurry. To use the blessing forumla in a magical way, the vitki (priest/worshipper) makes a blessing to a specific God or Goddess whose aspect yields a return gift in harmony with the will or desire of the vitki. This will or desire is spelled out in some detail in the rede section of the blessing formula. This is not a prayer! Rather it is an entering into a mutual contract with the God or Goddess. The divinities want to help their fellow sentient beings, but we must know how to enter into contracts with them, how to interact with them.

The Runes

Lore of the Elder Futhark

Name	Sound	Shape	Meaning
fehu	f		Cattle - Wealth, dynamic power
uuruz	u		Aurochs - Vital formative force
thurisaz	th		Thurs - Giant, breaker of resistance
ansuz	a		God - Woden, sovereign ancestral God
raidho	r		Chariot - Vehicle on path of power
keenaz	k		Torch - Controlled energy
geboo	g		Gift - Exchanged powers
wunjoo	w		Joy - Harmony of like forces
hagalaz	h		Hail - Destruction, seed form
nauthiz	n		Need - Distress, self-created fire
iisa	i		Ice - Contraction
jeera	j(y)		Year - Good harvest, orbits, cycles
ihwaz	i		Yew - Axis of heaven-earth-hel
perthroo	p		Lotbox - Evolutionary force
elhaz	-z		Elk - Protective teaching force
sowiloo	s		Sun - Sun-wheel, crystalized light
tiwaz	t		Tyr - Sky-god, sovereign order
berkanoo	b		Birch - -Goddess, container/releaser
ehwaz	e		Horse - Trust, cooperation
mannaz	m		Human - Psychic order of the Gods
laguz	l		Water - Life energy, organic growth
ingwaz	ng		Ing - Earth-god, gestation process
dagaz	d		Day - Twilight/dawn paradox
oothala	o		Estate - Ancestral spiritual power

Lore of the Younger Futhark

Name	Sound	Shape	Meaning
fe	f		Livestock, gold, wealth
ur	u/o/v		Drizzle or slag or aurochs
thurs	th/dh		Thurs (Giant)
ass	a		God (Odin)
reidh	r		Riding or thunderclap
kaun	klg/ng		A sore
hagall	h		Hail
naudh	n		Need
iss	i/e/j		Ice
ar	a		Good year/harvest
sol	s		Sun
Tyr	t/d/nd		Tyr (sky-god)
bjarkan	b/p/mb		Birch(-goddess)
madhr	m		Man (human being)
loegr	l		Water or sea or waterfall
yr	-r		Yew or yew bow

Miscellanious

For further information, or more indepth information, try Northern Magic: Mysteries of the Norse, Germans & English by Edred Thorsson in the Llewellyn's World Magic Series in the New Age section of your local library or bookstore! It's a wonderful book with much more indepth information and far better graphics than I am capable of (or really intrested in) supplying here. I highly recommend it! Or, of course, you can always ask me by email at ami_anderson@hotmail.com!

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