I hate to say this, but since Samhain, I've been without the internet, and that likely isn't going to change until Imbolc.
Hope everybody is well and I can't wait to continue with this project.
Blessings,
Skye
Deity of the Week
Baldr
Names: Balder
Relationships: Baldr's wife is Nanna; his son is Forseti. He was the son of Odin and Frigg, and his brother was Hodr.
Basic Descriptions: Baldr is associated with light and beauty, and was said to be the most handsome God. Most of what can be found about Baldr revolves around his death.
Appearance: All that's said about Baldr's appearance is that he is light and beautiful.
Rules Over: Baldr was the God of light and beauty. He also was associated with purity and innocence.
Significant Possessions:
Baldr owned a boat, Hringhorni, which was said to be the largest ship.
He also owned a horse.
His hall was Breidablik.
Common Stories:
Baldr's death was foreseen by his mother, Frigg, in a dream. Trying to stall Baldr's death, She went around and took an oath from everything in existance: humans, Gods, Giants, plants and animals. Only one, mistletoe, refused to swear the oath. (Alternatively, Frigg thought it wasn't big enough to do any damage and looked it over.)
Frigg kept Baldr's one weakness a secret, until Loki disguised himself as an elderly woman and convinced Her to share it. Loki ran off at once to get some Mistletoe, and fashioned an arrow from a twig.
The Aesir liked partaking in a sport of throwing things at Baldr. They would throw rocks, shoot arrows among other things, enjoying that they would not hurt Him. Hodr would stay off to the side, as he was blind and couldn't join in. Loki went to Hodr and offered to help him shoot an arrow at Baldr. Hodr believed that it wouldn't hurt him, and wasn't aware of the deception, so he agreed. The arrow pierced through Baldr and he was mortally wounded.
Originally, the Gods were furious with Hodr, until Loki's plan was brought to light. Loki tried to escape as a salmon, but was caught and tortured.
After His death, Hermod agreed to ride to Hel to try to get Baldr released. Hel agrees, but only if every living being weeps for him. The sorrow throughout the land was great, and everybody cried over his death. All except for a giantess named Thokk, who refused. It was later found that this was Loki in disguise.
For Baldr's funeral, he was set upon a pyre on his ship. His wife, when she saw his body, died of a broken heart (alternatively, she threw herself onto the pyre with him.) The boat was set to sea and it burnt down. His horse was also burnt with him.
Deity of the Week
Sol
Names: Sunna, Sunne, Frau Sunne
Relationships: The daughter of Mundilfari. Sol is married to Glen.
Basic Descriptions: The Sun Goddess, she rides across the sky on a chariot and is chased by the wolf Skoll who wants to eat her.
Rules Over: The Sun, daytime
Colors: Gold
Stones/Metals: Gold
Day: Sunday
Runes or other Symbols: Elder Futhark, Sowilo. Anglo-Saxon Futhark - Sigel
Animals:
Significant Possessions:
Sol drove through the sky on a chariot. The chariot is pulled by two horses Alsvid, “all-swift” and Arvak, “early riser”.
Common Stories:
It is fated that Skoll eventually catches up and devours Sol at Ragnarok. Sol's daughter is destined to replace and outshine her mother.
Deity of the Week
Mani
Names: Lune
Relationships: The brother to Sol. Son of Mundilfari.
Basic Descriptions: Mani is the God who pulls the moon through the sky at night while being chased by the wolf Hati.
Rules Over: Nightime, the Moon
Cweordh – Fire, Light - Q
There is no passage for this rune in any of the rune poems. Its name might mean “Fire twirl,” but no one is certain. Therefore this rune cannot truly be used for anything except writing.
Calc – Cup – C, K
In casting, death of an individual. A natural ending or conclusion of a phase or process. Not a termination but the ending of an old era resulting in spiritual transformation.
Stán – Stone - __
Can be analogous stone walls. Again, having no rune poem verse to go by, it is difficult to say what its meaning is in divination or its use in magic.
Gár – Spear - __
Gár can be linked to the symbolism of the spear. It was seen as a weapon of sacrifice. Othin hung on the World Tree for 9 days and nights with a spear through him to obtain knowledge of the runes. Followers of Odin threw a spear over the opposing army to dedicate them as sacrifices to Him. Prisoners of war were criminals were stabbed by a spear prior to hanging. The shape of the rune Tir is also that of a spear, and therefore this rune can probably be safely identified with victory in battle and the act of sacrifice. Most of its mysteries probably lies between the runes Os, Giefu, and Tir.
Deity of the Week
Skaði
Names: Skadi, Skade, Skathi, Ondurgud (Ski God)
Relationships: Married to Njordr and later, possibly Odin or Ullr.
Basic Descriptions: A Goddess and Jotun associated with hunting (archery), winter, skiing and mountains. The Gods had supposedly killed Skadi's father, and to make up for it they married Her to Njordr. The waves of the ocean were too much for her, however, and she moved back to the mountains. Skadi is also a name of a type of Norse Shamanic magic, so she likely has an association with that as well.
Appearance: Skadi is usually pictured with long blonde curly hair. Since she's a Goddess of Winter, she's usually wearing heavy furs and is accompanied by a wolf.
Rules Over: Winter, archery, skiing.
Colors: White, light blues.
Animals: Wolves
Common Stories:
After the Gods had killed Skadi's father, she wanted veangence. She went to Asgard and to repay for what happened, they offered her a God's hand in marriage. The twist is, she had to choose them by the looks of their feet. Skadi had wanted to wed Baldr, and thought that he would have the best looking feet, but she instead picked Njordr. They both spent time in eachother's domain trying to work something out, but neither could feel at home and they decided to split up. There are differing accounts as to what happens next, Skadi remarries either to Odin or Ullr.
After Loki had killed Baldr, the Gods called upon Skadi to punish him. She places the snake over his head that slowly dripped venom on him. This burned and tormented Loki, and Skadi found it very enjoyable, because she had been in love with Baldr.
Ac – Oak – (long A-ish)
Oak was sacred to Thor, and was one of the holy trees of Northern European peoples, known for its strength and durability. The acorns of some varieties served as food for man and beast alike. The folklore surrounding the oak is great and most of this can be applied to the tune. The ASRP verse indicates that the rune itself may also be one of testing, that of ordeal to see if one has noble faith and strength.
In divination, it may mean a test of strength of character or indicate that a time for strength is needed. In spell work it can be used to promote strength and durability.
Æsc – Ash-tree – æ (short A-ish)
Æsc is the rune of steadfastness, of a standing strong, resolute in one's place. In Northern European folklore, the first male human was created from an ash and some accounts say the World Tree was an ash. Æsc is therefore a rune of the center of being, of the will, and the self. The wood of the tree itself was used in spells of warding and this is also indicated in the rune poem passage.
In divination, Æsc may indicate a need to be steadfast. In spell work, it may be used to booster one's own will or in spells of a protective nature.
Yr – Bow – y
The meaning of the word Yr is unknown, but most take it to mean “bow.” Yr's passage resembles that of Eh in that it is something that brings joy and worthiness to nobles. Therefore the rune can probably be linked to many of the qualities of honour.
In divination, it may indicate a time of joy and self worth. In spell work it could be used for spells of a defensive nature.
Ior – Eel – ia, io
Ior is another rune whose name is obscure as is its passage. The symbolism behind the passage seems to mean there is “no place like home.” In divination it could mean such, while for spell work its mysteries are too deep to make it safely utilized.
Ear – Earth, Grave – ea
This rune is probably linked to human mortality, the frailness of the earthly flesh. It is in a way very reminiscent of the rune Mann. However, instead of being about betrayal, Ear seems to be more about the fear of death. For Northern Europeans, the worst that could happen was what was known as a straw death. A straw death was one due to illness or old age. Without modern medical care such a way of dying must have often been slow and painful, death in battle or due to an accident or even a heart attack while working in the fields must have been a much preferred way to go. Too, the references to the grave and the black earth, may simply be a cynical jeer from a follower of Odin, whose cult utilized cremation instead of exhumation for the dead.
In divination it may indicate an illness, while any usage in spell work would most likely be unethical.
