Freyja, daughter of Njord and Nerthus (rumored/unconfirmed)

Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess Gallery Presents...

Freyja, Daughter of Njord and Nerthus

Freyja, Daughter of Njord and Nerthus (rumored/unconfirmed), Sister of Freyr, Wife of Od, Mother of Hnoss (treasure), a daughter

by Melissa

Freyja of the Vanir (a clan of deities) came with her father and brother to the Aesir (the Norse gods), where Frey and Njord were hostages. Freyja was one of the last Norse gods to retain followers during the Viking Age (8th-11th centuries), and one of the first to gain followers as Norse heathen traditions revived. Unsurprisingly, Freyja is, among other things, a goddess of witchcraft.

Freya drives a chariot pulled by two cats, leads the Valkyries post-battle to gather the dead and wears a cloak made of falcon feathers, which she uses to shape-shift. She is famous for the gold-amber necklace she wears, Brisingamen, for which she paid for by spending one night with each of the four dwarves who made it. May 21 is the day that is most special to her. It is said that she was often weeping tears of gold after her husband left and she traveled the world in search of him, gold became known as "Freyja's tears."

She is also strongly associated with amber, it is assumed that Brisingamen was composed of amber and gold. Brisingamen was referred to as a symbol of her power. When Loki stole her necklace, at the behest of Odin, Freyja started a war to get it back.

She is a very independent, sexual being, she is fiercely protective (it is only when she interrupts Loki to defend Frigga that he attacks her character by degrading her promiscuity), and will always help those she loves (she transforms a lover into a boar and then rides him to a giantess to get him the answers he needs to win a bet).

Overtime, in addition to witchcraft, she is a goddess of cats, sexuality/romance/love/fertility, war/battle, falcons, shape-shifting/magic(k), treasure. Through her work with the Valkyries, she becomes a goddess of death akin to Odin and Hel as she takes in those who have passed on. Her role though is to repopulate the world after the Ragnorok (final destiny of the gods); Odin gathered fighters for that war, Hel was, you know, Hell.

Freyja has many names, notably Mardoll (sea-bright), Menglad (necklace-glad), Valfreya (lady of the slain), Vanadis (woman of the Vanir, or lady of the disir (female ancestoral spirits) (Lafayllve 31-2)).

It is interesting to note that the Valfreya chooses half of those killed in battle to Folkvang, her piece of the afterlife where they take their place in her hall, Sessrumnir (many-seated). The other half are taken by Valkyries to Odin's Valhalla.

Freyja is a goddess of witchcraft. As part of the Norse pantheon, rituals to her are known as blots and deviate a bit from the standard pagan ritual. The witchcraft that she mastered and taught to Odin was seidr (also seid, seidh). There were two main types of witchcraft, the men's craft was ergi and the women's was the seidr. It makes Odin unique that he was able to use both.

Seidr was a shamanistic practice of prophesy. A practitioner was called seidhkona, or spakona, and the rare male practitioner would be a seidhmadhr. In addition to prophesy, a seidhkona could raise storms, journey or battle in animal-form, sending nightmares, perform love spells. Freyja would transform into a falcon and fly into other worlds to find the answers she was seeking, as part of her seidr practice.

In human practice, a seidhkona will sit on a raised platform among the group of participants, there is singing to raise energy and smudging to clear and create sacred space. The leader will set the purpose and orient the space by calling quarters and deities in. There is another energy-raising and then an overall meditation/guided journey for the group that lands them outside the Underworld, the seidhkona continues on through the Gates and wanders until she is summoned back by the leader. The seidhkona answers questions though she stops to ask, "I tell thee much, yet more lore have I; thou needs must know this -- wilt know still more?"

When one questioner is done, another takes his place. When the seidhkona tires, the ritual ends in the reverse of how it began.

With rituals to Freyja, the blot is more about direct communication to and honor to the Aesir and Vanir gods. A horn is passed around to share mead within the group and to pour out to the gods. Instead turning in a deosil circle, to call of quarters, elements or watchtowers, a Rite of Hammer is used to call in the wights, spirits, ancestors and gods/goddesses all while standing in the same place. The Rite of Hammer uses either a real hammer or a hand to make the symbol of a hammer after speaking the words for each caste, it is also used to bless the mead.

When breaking the circle, no one is dismissed, only thanked for their presence and again hailed.

A sample blot from Two Ravens Kindred is below:

"Necessary Tools:
Drinking horn/Drinking vessel
Mead (or other sweet alcohol, try Raspberry Lambic)
Offering bowl (if indoors)
Hammer (optional)

Altar (optional):
Statue or other representation of Freyja (an amber necklace works well)
Candle (the author uses two, flanking the statue)
Item being offered (if using something other than the libation)
Other assorted items as needed/desired - oath ring, offering bowl, hammer, sacred items, amber, et al.

Hallowing of the area:
Author's Note: a Hammer Rite can be used at this time if the reader chooses. The author's own preference is to use the hails below to hallow the space instead.
Light candle(s). Stand in silence for the space of a few deep breaths. Focus on the blot, and its intent - to honor Freyja. If desired, speak as the candle(s) are being lit about the fire as a representation of the sacred fires, warming and hallowing the space.

Hail the Landvaettir:
I call to you, the wights of this place. Spirits of the earth, or the sky, land and husvaettir, I welcome you. Those who are seen, and those who are unseen; all those who live upon this land/in this house, I ask you to join me. Please be with me now, protect me and stand with me as I perform this ritual. Hail the Landvaettir!

Hail the Ancestors:
Honored ones, ancient ones, those who came before me, I greet you and bid you welcome. Ancestors, share your love with me, stand with me now as I perform this ritual. Be with me, held close to my heart, and grant me your wisdom. Hail the ancestors!

Hail the Gods:
High ones, my elder kin, I call to you. Aesir and Vanir, I bid you welcome to this place. I invite you to be with me now as I perform this ritual. Please stand fast with me, be with me as in the old days. Hail the Aesir! Hail the Vanir! Hail the gods!

Invocation of Freyja:
(Speaker should turn and face the altar/image of Freyja at this time, if not already doing so. Spend a deep breath or two of time remembering why you are here, the purpose of the blot.)
Lady. Vanadis. Sister to Freyr and daughter of Njord. Friend to cats, and lover to us all, I ask you to come to this place. Bearer of Brisingamen, you are welcome here. Freyja, I ask you to please attend, and share your love with me. Hail Freyja!

Bless the Mead:
Pour mead/alcohol being used (for those who do not drink alcohol, apple cider or juice is a good substitute) into the drinking horn/vessel. Trace the hammer sign over the liquid using one's hand or a hammer.
(One does not have to speak here. The writer typically doesn't. However, some words can be used regarding the sanctifying of the mead, such as: Blood of Kvasir, mead of inspiration, blessed by the gods, be made holy by this sign.)

Share drink with the Lady:
This can be done as the speaker sees fit. The author tends to drink three times, pouring out into the offering bowl/directly onto the ground after each drink. Words to the following effect can be used:
Freyja, goddess of love, Lady of the Vanir, I share this drink with you in memory of the many gifts you have given me. Hail Freyja!
(Drink deeply, pour out some of the liquid)

Freyja, I am honored to have you in my life. I thank you for the warmth of your love, and I deeply appreciate all that you have done for me. Hail Freyja!
(Drink deeply, pour out some of the liquid)

Freyja, I am here tonight/today to offer you a gift as a token of our relationship to one another. I ask that you receive it warmly, and continue to smile on me. Hail Freyja!
(Drink deeply, pour out some of the liquid)

Offering:
If using the remaining liquid as the offering itself:
This mead/alcohol is a symbol of my gratitude to you, Freyja. Please accept this offering as a gift to you. I ask that you continue to share your gifts with me. I am mindful of all that you have done, and am grateful that you will continue to smile on me. Hail Freyja!
(Pour out remaining liquid into offering bowl).

If using an actual item as an offering:
(First, pour out all of the liquid into the offering bowl after sharing drink with the Lady. Then pick up the item to be offered. The writer here uses amber as an example, but the speaker should feel free to use an offering appropriate to him/her and the relationship with Freyja. Obviously, the wording should change to describe the offering and its significance.)

Freyja, I offer to you this gift of amber. This is often, like gold, referred to as your tears. I offer amber to you because it is, in my heart, a symbol of your powerful necklace, Brisingamen. It is a sign of wealth, and to me it is also a reminder of your presence in my life. Freyja, I thank you for all that you have done for me, for the gift of your love, and for the many ways you have helped me. This gift to you I offer in thanks, with the wish that our relationship will continue to grow. Hail Freyja!
(Offer the gift by adding it to the liquid in the offering bowl, or if outdoors place it where it will be left for Freyja. If you are capable of doing so, offer it by throwing it directly into a fire and letting it burn.)

Farewell:
Freyja:
Freyja, Vanadis, I thank you for your presence here tonight/today. I thank you for taking the time to accept my offering. I thank you once more for the gifts you bring to me. Hail Freyja!

Gods:
Aesir, Vanir, gods of my heart, I thank you. Thank you for being here with me, and for standing witness to my offering. You are always with me, and I honor you. Hail the Aesir! Hail the Vanir! Hail the gods!

Ancestors:
Honored ones, those who have come before, all those who are remembered, I thank you. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me, and thank you for attending this place. Hail the ancestors!

Landwights:
Landvaettir, husvaettir, wights of this place, I thank you. I thank you for sharing this land/house with me, and I thank you for extending your protection to all that I hold dear. Thank you for being here to witness this ritual. Hail the landvaettir!

Libation:
(Pour out the remaining liquid in the offering bowl, either directly onto the ground or at the base of a tree.)

From the gods to the earth to us,
From us to the earth to the gods.
A gift for a gift.
Hail!'

While there is honor in respecting and repeating the old ways, trodding forward into the modern world with these ancient traditions may not be for the best. Freyja is known for her strength, independence and sexual free-spirit. I can't imagine that she is happy to be left in the Viking Age. So for my art, I am creating a collage based on the ideas I have of what Freyja looks like in 2010.

In words, here is the collage:

From the top down, left to right, we have a woman standing in a canoe, dressed in a long skirt and Fair Isle sweater. The words "Shape-changing," "lush," "bold & beautiful," "Ground Breaking," "Body of work." A woman sitting on a horse with words on one end saying "finessed and furious." and "favorite secret" on the other.

A woman wearing a feathered cape, the word "feathers" on her; a woman laying on the beach wearing gold jewelry with the sea in the background, the words "Beyond the pale" below her; a woman in jewels holding a purse with two lion cubs; a woman wearing a gold dress walking out of a gold sea; a woman holding a leopard skin silk pillow laying on a leopard skin silk sheet, the word "magic" below her.

A couple walking, the man slightly blurred, the word "lovers" on him; a fiercely dressed woman all in black, the word "attitude" at the bottom; Hillary Swank posing with her quote, "You can change your fate. You can sit back or you can go after your life and all that you want it to be." with the words "Ways to Transform" leading off the top right corner; a woman in a feathered headpiece and dress; a woman wearing a bold and incredible diamond necklace.

A woman wearing jewels, a large purse and two lion cubs, the word "Strong" over her; a goth-esque woman with "faith" in an old font beneath her; a trio of rings among fingerprints of white, rose and yellow gold with the words "find your magic" near the top; a wineglass tipped to the left, dripping an array of jewels with the words "taking flight" and "Dreams" near the top.

The word "romance"; a a wineglass tipped to the right, dripping an array of jewels with the words "rare bird" and "magic" near the top; a woman in golden pearls with a leopard skin collared jacket; a woman in black with a brush fire in the background the word "spiritual" near the bottom; a woman with a freckled face in a fur hat and blue sweater with the word "just" near the bottom.

A woman dressed like a man in a suit and hat, a horse in the background, the words "Tame the beast" and "more than one way to ride" beneath the horse; a room made of gold with 18 karat tiles, gold chains as curtains, gold colored furniture, the words "feel beautiful" at the bottom; a woman in jewels cradling a lion cub as if it was her baby.

Sources:
Lafayllve, Patricia M. Freyja, Lady, Vanadis. Denver: Outskirts Press, Inc. 2006.
Paxton, Diana. "Freya: Lady of Love and Life." Sagewoman, Summer 2002. 16 November 2003 http://www.hrafnar.org/goddesses/freyja.html.
---. "Seidh." 25 November 2010 http://www.seidh.org/articles/seidh.html
Skye, Michelle. Goddess Alive. Minnesota: Llwellyn Publishing. 2007.
---. Goddess Aloud. Minnesota: Llwellyn Publishing. 2010.
Two Raven Kindred. "Freyja Blot." 25 November 2010 http://www.tworavenskindred.org/freyjablot.html.

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