Goðvegrtrú Alliance

07/25/2024

Þórsdagr

The Nordic equivalence to Thursday. Many say this day is shared with the Mighty Thorr.

Thorr is seen as many things strong, aggressive, and hot tempered. Many myths describe his quests in to Utgard to battle the ice giants. Giving him the attribute of Miðgarðr defender.

Only he was so much more he is the embodiment of dependability, family and provider. He is the god of the common man. It is said due to this he was the most widely worshiped in the Viking Age.

How can we embody thorr today? Will be be dependable and avaliable to those we love and call kin?

07/22/2024

The hard hollow of lack, it is the cold earth, the dark days, the emptiness of loss, of starvation, the dark night of the soul.

I read this today, and it made me think of the Nyd Rune (Nauthiz) in a different light. It was the memory of my past, one of struggles, self-doubt, and loneliness. It was this past that created the spark, yearning to find something different. It was these feelings that became my motivator and guided me on the journey that I am now on.

I just feel like Nyd has a dark light cast upon it—one of failure and loss. One tends to look at it out of a desperate nature instead of the skill that it is. The idea and knowledge that one has the will and ability to make a Nyd Fire is amazing and a source of confidence that one can serve in any given situation. It is a reminder that though our past was not always great, we didn't fall, as we are still moving forward.

Nyd celebrates our past and gives us the confidence to confront our future. It is a stave of growth, acceptance, and persistence. One I am excited to pull. We are quick to forget moments of weekness and vulnerability, while it is in these that our confidence and sagas are created.

Today, how will you confront your hardships, frustrations, and weakness'?

07/22/2024

Wisdom is seldom gained within our own walls; the mind gains light faster from camaraderie with another.

The feeling I feel after writing a simple post or reading runes is one of ease and fulfillment. I think I have grasped the meaning of them and relayed it properly. The truth is, I relayed the meaning in that moment in the ideal way it formed in my mind. Then I sit back and think. I pounder on the comments and thoughts that I'm gifted to receive from others, causing less faith in the fact that I have done the subject justice. I question myself and return to my books and goði. Only this is the gift.

Os is the rune of communication; the Anglo-Saxon rune poem describes it as “wisdom’s foundation and wise men’s comfort.” A fellow goði always says,"I can't wait to brew mead again.” I read this and am reminded just how important individual minds really are. I grow less defensive and more appreciative of the feedback. While accepting that with each discussion I grow, my mind changes and questions form. This is what I believe the rune poem is trying to teach us.

Thanks to the feedback from everyone in our alliance and fellow Norse Pagans, I have grown into who I am today. I am challenged to read and study, to look deeper into my own faith and my understanding of it, while building a stronger foundation. Please trust in your voice, share your mead and leave us your comments, no matter if you agree or not. Only through our collective minds will we ever reach our full potential.

Will you sit and brew mead with us?

07/22/2024

Bradlēah Dæl Selby, shared this amazing post

The Jötunn, also known as Jotnar or giants, are fundamental yet complex figures in Norse mythology. Far from being mere antagonists, the Jötunn embody a broad spectrum of roles ranging from enemies to lovers, kin, and even benefactors of the gods. Their interactions with the Æsir and Vanir gods are pivotal to the myths, revealing the intricate and often ambivalent relationship between order and chaos, civilization and wild nature in Norse cosmology.

The term "Jötunn" is derived from Old Norse and is generally translated to mean "giant." However, this translation can be misleading, as the Jötunn are not always depicted as giants in the literal sense. They are diverse in appearance and abilities, ranging from monstrous beings to figures indistinguishable from the gods in their form and beauty.

The Jötunn originate from Jötunheimr, one of the nine worlds in Norse cosmology. This realm is a place of primordial chaos and untamed wilderness, in stark contrast to the ordered worlds of the gods and men. Jötunheimr is situated beyond the boundaries of Midgard (the human world) and Asgard (the realm of the gods), symbolizing its role as the domain of the other, the wild, and the unpredictable.

The Jötunn play several critical roles in Norse mythology, reflecting the multifaceted nature of these beings:

1. Primordial Beings-
The Jötunn are among the oldest beings in Norse mythology. Ymir, the first Jötunn, is the progenitor of the race. From Ymir's body the gods Odin, Vili, and Vé created the world, using his flesh for the earth, his blood for the seas, his bones for the mountains, and his skull for the sky. This creation myth underscores the fundamental role of the Jötunn in the very fabric of existence.

2. Forces of Chaos and Destruction-
The Jötunn frequently oppose the gods, embodying the forces of chaos, destruction, and entropy. This opposition is most evident in the recurring theme of Ragnarök, the prophesied end of the world, where the Jötunn clash with the gods in a final, cataclysmic battle. Giants such as Surtr, who wields a flaming sword, play pivotal roles in this apocalyptic event.

3. Keepers of Knowledge-
Despite their often antagonistic nature, the Jötunn are also depicted as possessors of great wisdom and knowledge. Mímir, a wise Jötunn, guards the well of wisdom, Mímisbrunnr, and Odin sacrifices an eye to drink from it. Similarly, the Jötunn Vafþrúðnir engages Odin in a contest of wits, showcasing the deep knowledge held by these beings.

4. Intermediaries of Natural Forces-
The Jötunn are closely associated with natural forces and phenomena. Þrymr, a Jötunn, steals Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, affecting the natural order. Skadi, a Jötunn goddess, marries the god Njord and embodies winter and hunting, bridging the worlds of gods and giants and highlighting their interconnection with nature.

The interactions between the Jötunn and the gods are complex and multifaceted, encompassing conflict, alliance, and kinship:

1. Conflict and War-
The most common depiction of Jötunn in Norse myths involves their battles with the gods. These conflicts often symbolize the struggle between order and chaos. Thor, the thunder god, is particularly noted for his numerous battles against the Jötunn, wielding his hammer Mjölnir to protect Asgard and Midgard from their threats.

2. Marriage and Alliance-
Despite frequent conflicts, there are numerous instances of marriage and alliances between gods and Jötunn. For example, the god Njord marries the Jötunn Skadi, bringing together the realms of sea and mountains. Similarly, Odin fathers several children with Jötunn women, including the powerful god Thor, whose mother is the Jötunn Jörð (Earth).

3. Wisdom and Knowledge Exchange-
The exchange of wisdom and knowledge is another significant aspect of their relationship. Odin's interactions with Mímir and Vafþrúðnir underscore the gods' reliance on the wisdom of the Jötunn, even when they are adversaries. These interactions highlight the complexity and depth of the mythological narrative, where foes can also be sources of essential knowledge.

The Jötunn embody a dual nature in Norse mythology, acting as both threats and benefactors:

1. Threats to Order-
As agents of chaos, the Jötunn frequently pose existential threats to the cosmos's order. Their actions often disrupt the balance and challenge the gods' authority, requiring constant vigilance and intervention by deities like Thor. Their eventual role in Ragnarök encapsulates this threat, where they bring about the end of the current world order.

2. Benefactors and Creators-
Conversely, the Jötunn are also creators and benefactors. Ymir's body forms the world's substance, and Jötunn like Mímir provide wisdom crucial to the gods' survival and success. Skadi's marriage to Njord brings prosperity and fertility, illustrating how their influence can also be beneficial and life-sustaining.

In contemporary Heathenry, the Jötunn are viewed through a multifaceted lens. Some practitioners see them as primal beings intrinsically tied to the natural world, embodying the chaotic and untamed aspects of existence. Others interpret them as archetypal figures, representing the challenges and obstacles one encounters on the path of personal growth and spiritual development. Still, others perceive them as a bridge between the human and divine realms, their often adversarial interactions with the gods serving as a metaphor for the constant struggle between order and chaos.

Info from

Heathen Tradition is dedicated to the revival and practice of pre-Christian Germanic paganism, commonly referred to as Heathenry. Our goal is to provide comprehensive information, resources, and practices to support individuals and communities in reconnecting with the spiritual and cultural heritage...

07/22/2024

Ice is the bark of rivers, and roof of the wave, and destruction of the doomed”

Be patience, think, move, and navigate. Isa reminds me of a glacier, ever moving and powerful. It is the stave of the self and/or ones' ego. It is okay to stand firm, yet if we stand too firm one becomes stagnant and complacent. We must be willing to move (even if at a glacial pace) in order to grow.

Today I think of Isa and take the time to assess and reflect upon the mysteries within myself. How am I progressing? How can I better myself? What shall I celebrate about myself in this moment?

07/20/2024

Truths about Norse Paganism, Fact Vs. Fiction



I was reading an article this morning, with in it I found some very notable ideas and beliefs. Starting with what women's roles were within the Nordic communities. “Women presided over the farm work, house work, weaving and childcare.” I can't disagree that many women did choose to partake in these tasks, only not all. It is honorable and a necessity to have families as to share in the rearing of that unit. Only just as fatherhood does not define a man why are so many bound to do so for our sisters and mothers.



One such historical evidence of this is the Birka grave in Sweden. In 2016 another study of her bones agreed that she was genetically female. The important in this discovery is what she was found with. Not house hold items but weapons and her trusted steed.

In the 1878 archaeologist Hjalmar Stolpe describes his find, two chambers one holding a body fashionably dressed body, sharp weapons surrounding. Including an ax, fighting knifes, spears a shield and a quiver of arrows. In the other chamber was a mare and stallion with their lags tucked beneath them.

More notable was that it was noted as the westernmost grave on the site, with the largest stone. This making it the most visible to the town.



The problem is this site is not alone multiple have been found, yet this question still remains. Unlike so many other I will admit I can only speculate what this means or what life she truly lived. I do believe that just as today women in the Viking Age and before lived diverse and complex. They choose their roles and adventure in which they would live them. For me it is not just Myths that show how powerful and important women impute in our daily lives. The myth are the key to the mindset of those how wrote them.

07/11/2024

What is magic, where do symbols fall into it, and did Norsman believe in its power?

Every time I see a post with a rune or a question on what a bindrune means, I see a consistent comment.

"What the world does not need is a new/old brand of fake witchcraft cloaked in the ruins and runes of Norse mythology.
Stop this stupid nonsense. There is no magic here."

So all just start off by saying sad, forget Völvas, Freyja, or that old Norse had 40 words to describe magic. Let alone that Oðinn ceremonly sacrificed himself to get the runes. But I will not mention any of these sources because they wouldn't care anyway.

Symbols, symbolism, and its influence on our everyday lives. I do believe runes are powrful, that used right they inspire the one risting them. I draw them daily and heed their warnings. I listen to the lessons and think of how I used them every night. Only I know i give these pieces of wood that power.

Now, let's look at something modern day like the Coca-Cola symbol or the slogan, to your favorite fast food restaurant. these symbols are proven to make you thirsty and hungry, hence why marketing companies spend so much money putting them on ads and around us. It's not Magic it's simply relating a symbol to a pleasure in our brain. This coralation is what is important. It creates a response, which in do time will create an action. Welcome to power and magic of runes.

Now, you don't need to hold, believe, or use the power so many of us have given them. You don't need to buy or learn to pull them. Only to deny their place in our culture and traditions would be to deny our myths and text all together.

May we remember that myths are the beginning and our practice is the true revivel.

07/10/2024

I am as sharp as ice, thrown from the sky I can cause havoc and bring life.

Hagalaz, this stave is the one most of us try to avoid. We fear the unknown find comfort in routine. Yet growth only happens in the uncomfortably of Hagalaz.

Hal, it falls from the sky, ruins crops and dent our cars. It's annoying and some times costly. Yet with each crystal that falls nourishing water and salt are give back to the earth's soil. Old stocks are trashed and seeds fall. It that little catalyst that is needed.

In life we need these uncomfortable situations, as motivations or deterrence to activate change. To give us the little nudge to find that solution that we have been looking for and is right out of our reach.

Today I will focus on the positive lessions in the situations I am gifted to have.

07/08/2024

Frith unyielding, complete loyalty and devotion.

Many Norse Pagans believe that frith and loyalty are something freely given. If we meet another heathen we are required to drop what we're doing to take care of them. This couldn't be further from the truth.

Kinship is an act and reaction to gipt or gift for a gift. In the time of our ancestors kinship was earned. Every person played a role, if it were tending fields or fighting for their survival thay earned their own keep.

Today is no diffrent, we must be willing to help our kinsman, to put in a little extra effort to navigates lifes obstacles when needed. While keeping our whits that we can not survive ourselves if we give all the food from our tables.

A greedy man, if he be not mindful,
eats to his own life's hurt:
oft the belly of the fool will bring him to scorn
when he seeks the circle of the wise.

07/07/2024

I love this insight it was shared by a fellow Norse practitioner.

As grown up close to elders, I do agree with your statement.
The gods were described in the past as stupid, hardheaded, passionate, irrational, heroic and sometimes loveable. Just as the humans were. Not even Oden him self had all the answers which bothered him a lot. An eye shorter he also saw the future. I don’t think the knowledge solved his problems as he saw so many new in the future.
Oden is walking a very old path, a quest for knowledge, endurance, spirit hardening inherited from his kindren in far east. The last fight was never fought before everyone turn to Christianity. The gods went silent, no more stories were added but a few still here whispering echoing from the past.
That was what they told me.
Daniel Wagenius

07/07/2024

What are the virtues that we all must follow? Where do we find them? Who made them?

These are questions I get asked often. I read the comments, thinking about all the misinformation and confusion they must lead to. So many answers, negativity, and condemnation, but very little education and compassion for the people trying to learn. Before I go any further, I would like to say there is no one set of written values or morals that dictate the Nordic path. Nor are any organizations' written values inherently negative or bad.

The Nine Noble Virtues will be seen a lot, just as they will have a negative response by many online. To make an important note, Edred Thorsson didn't make or help make these. It is believed that John Yeowell and John Gibbs-Bailey are the main authors of this set of values. They are relatively new, being published in 1974. They note that the NNV is derived from a long study of the Havamal and the Eddas. For myself, I look at the words courage, truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, self-reliance, industriousness, and perseverance. None of which are inherently negative; these words don't get definition by the organization that published them.

I agree that the Odinic Rite does not share mine or the majority of pagan beliefs on most matters. The idea that any modern-day organization would state that our path is for whites only is ridiculous and ignorant. If we are to hold the real beliefs of our ancestors, it is through hospitality, courtesy, and open-mindedness. The desire to learn and the inner quest to grow.

Six-Fold Goal would also be a popular choice. These were created by Edred Thorsson (Stephen A Flowers) in 1989. They consist of “Right, Wisdom, Might, Harvest, Frith, and Love.” Just as with the NNV, the Six-Fold Goals are now shrouded in controversy due to his role in the AFA in the 80s.

I will now try to answer the question that was written above. What virtues must every Norse practitioner follow? None!! We should study and define the meaning of our lore and sagas, we should seek to become the best version of ourselves. How do I want to be seen and remembered? That is my virtue. I accept that I am growing, that I am building upon what I want to become, just as every day will require me to be a little different. So will my response to different situations.

In many moments, I wish and strive to be courageous; I will always show Frith with friends and family. Through my industriousness, I will provide by building a career and community. I will seek wisdom daily by studying, engaging with fellow kinsmen, and asking my ancestors for inner wisdom. More than anything, I will show hospitality to the traveler, keeping my door open to those seeking wisdom and camaraderie, while feasting with those of my faith or not.

What I believe is most important is that I strive daily to live not by a set of written virtues, morals, or rules, but by the examples given in our myths and sagas. May all the inhabitants of Midgard follow the wisdom of the high and seek their inner truth.

07/05/2024

I question my path and seek awareness. Pondering the completion.

Today I get irritated, annoyed and angry. I question why things happen and what I could have done.

In these moment I trace a Reid rune, I think about my ancesters, grandparents and father. I remember how I used to feel, how I treated others and were I have been. I think of the lession and my position in life doesn't seem so bleak.

Reid is a stave of movement, right action and inner discipline. Many people say it's a stave of righteousness and Nobility. I focus on the journey and how I'm not ganna get there.