Mythology around Runes: Inguz

Inguz

Mythology:


Frey, the Norse god of the earth's fertility, is the primary deity associated with the rune Inguz. He is also identified - although tenuously - as the god of horses, Ing or Ing-Frey. However, Frey did not actually ride a horse. His preferred steed was a wild boar named Gullinbursti, or "golden bristles". The bristles on the boar's back symbolised fields of repening wheat. Although most sources refer to Ing and Frey as being one and the same, there is an element of doubt regarding this identification. As the "ing" sound often denotes "son of " , Ing-Frey may not be Frey himself, but rather his unnamed son. He also appears to have been a semi-historical person who, in words of the rune poem "was amongst the East-Danes first seen by men".


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Inguz

"Ing was amongst the East-Danes first seen by men, till later he went over the wave; his wain followed after; the Headings named the hero so."
                                                          
                                                                  "The Anglo-Saxons Rune Poem"




This rune had not Scandinavian equivalent, although the Anglo-Saxons often contracted its name to Ing, which is also the name of the norse god of fertility.
This rune and its pronunciation in the common alphabet is the conjugation of two letters, "NG" as in "thing".
Although Ing-Frey was a horse god, the main symbolic association of this rune deal with another totem beast of his, the boar. The cuckoo is its bird symbol, while laurels and apple trees, and the herbs rosemary and self-heal, are its correspondents in the vegatable kingdom. The shape of the rne suggests a doorway, and many rune masters consider Inguz to be a portal to the astral plane. In Germanic languages, names ending with the "ing" sound denote "son of" / the Saxon heir to the throne being called the "atheling" or "son of a king").


Meaning:


Inguz is particularly concerned with the health, fertility and well-being of men. It often denotes fertility of mind, or the motivation and energy needed to start new projects. A new job is often indicated when this rune is drawn, but even if this does not occur, the potential remains for considerable change for the better.
Of course, for a new phase in life to begin, it is necessary to finish old business and turn away from situations that are leading nowhere. Don't worry that nothing will come to replace them: new and more productive opportunities will arrive. Inguz is also a rune of problem-solving, so if a complex matter has taken up your time and attention, its solution is not far away. Ignoring the problem for a while might help, because you may be so involved in its intricacies that you cannot see the bigger picture. When you return with fresh insight, the solution will be obvious. It may also be time that you took a holiday. Inguz often denotes that you should put your house in order, clear away any rubbish and focus your attention on the harmony of your surrondings. The implications of the rune go further: perhaps certain people are sapping your confidence and taking advantage of your good will. If so, these folk should no longer play a role in your life. You will need courage, foresight and wisdom to detect who, and what, you need around you and what is redundant.
Inguz may also have a bearing on inheritance, both the passing on of material goods though the generations and the continuance of the traditions and trails of forebears.



Body Part: Male genitals.
Associated Maladies: Male infertility. Erectile dysfunction. In a woman, lack of libido.
Action: Wearing itself out to compensate for the failures of other parts.
Solution: Sacrifice. The part must go.


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Imbolc - 2 of February

Imbolc

Imbolc is the traditional name of Gaelic origins of this pagan festival. This means "inside the womb". In this perspective, Imbolc reminds us of the ancient Roman festivities, The Lupercalia, was a pastoral festival, in which they honored the wolf, that fed Romulus and Remus, founders of ancient Rome. The milk was regarded as a nutrient, wisdom in the form of liquid light. It would not be surprising that, later, the festival was renamed by Christianity as "Candlemas" (The Mass of candles), because it is a festival honoring the birth of the divine mother. The moon appears as the goddess carrying the light into the darkness of our soul, as Brigid the triple goddess of inspiration. Brigid is the guardian goddess of fire. This is the fire that "triggers" poetic inspiration, healing the ills of the body and soul and  in the forge creates and shapes the plow, the hoe, the wheel, and many other farming tools.It is therefore not a fire from the sky as the sun, but a chthonic fire, internal, which acts inside the body and earth.

So Imbolc means "from the womb" and refers to the power of internal creation of matter, of the body, earthly germination.

Imbolc is a festival of purification. It is the feast of light as an expression of wisdom we find in the feminine archetype. And if it is a time of purifying, is also a moment of transgression and reversion, visible in the current carnival rites. The parties of masked people and musicians who hide behind those ritual masks, reveals the spirit of rebellion urging the spring time to arrive. The reversal of the normal pattern of conduct, helps the soul to free itself from the shackles and constraints. It's what reminds us of the feast of Imbolc, learning, and the child in all of us who learns and reverts to start growing alone.

Mythology around Runes: Laguz

Laguz

Mythology:

Although the seafaring races of the north worshipped some fearsome divinities who dwelt in the depths, they also looked to a more kindly god called Njord to lend them a helping hand. Njord was one of the elemental Vanir gods and the father of Frey and Freya/Freyja. Although he and his wife, Nerthus, are rather obscure figures that lack the wild glamour of such gods as Thor and Odin, they are credited with providing sustenance from the sea and also from the earth. Nerthus is more concerned with the abundance of crops, while Njord provided good fishing and fair weather for sailing. Because Njord was also married to Skadi, the goddess who lent her name to Scandinavia, this Gentle sea god can also be regarded as the deity of fjords, safe inlets and harbours.

Laguz

"Logr is the welling stream and broad geyser and the land of fish."
                                                              
                                                                  "The Icelandic Rune Poem"




The Anglo-Saxons knew this rune as Lagu, while the more northerly Germanic peoples called it Logr.
In the common alphabet, it's pronunciation is the letter "L".
As the words of the rune poem imply, Laguz, is a rune of water. It is closely connected with the tides, both those that occur in the sea and those that are found in the human heart. The shape of the upright rune is said to denote a swelling tide, while its inverted form represents the ebb. The symbols of Laguz are almost exclusively of the sea, or at least semi-aquatic in nature. In the animal kingdom, the otter and the seal are prominent. Its birds are the gull and the cormorant. Even its symbolic tree, the willow, is often found on the banks of lakes, pools and streams. Of course, the sleek ships of the vikings fell under its auspices as, indeed, do sea shells.


Upright Meaning:
Laguz is a rune that signifies deep spiritual love. It is a particulary good omen to receive as an answer to a relationship question. Even if your love life is going through some stormy times, this rune indicates that you will come through the upheavals of the waves of emotion and will find a safe haven once more. Laguz can also be regarded as a rune of travel, especially over the sea. Inner journeys are signified by Laguz, too, which symbolises the depths of the soul. It may furthermore have indications of fertility because it is one of the runes favourable to pregnancy. In more material concerns, too, Laguz promises material good fortune and success. It should be remembered that the ancient Norse peoples were traders, as well as pirates, and to them the sea was a trackless path to wealth. However, as in the sea, there is an ebb and flow in the tides of life, and you may have to wait a while before things move in your direction. Remember that anything worth having is worth waiting for, and that all you need to do is to have patience for good fortune to flow to you. You may be feeling somewhat powerless when the Laguz rune is drawn: other people may seem to be making all the moves and you can only wait for your turn. Remember that this is a rune of good fortune and that your turn will surely come. There is an old prayer that asks for the Gods to send a fair wind. Send it he will, but you will have to hoist your own sails to make the most of it.


Inverted Meaning:



When inverted, this rune is overly emotional and disturbing. If you draw Laguz in the inverted position, it could denote that you are being too assertive. Demanding immediate results in an aggressive manner is counter-productive. You may be cursing fate for some misfortune and drowning your sorrows with alcohol. Try to be more logical. Exercise patience a little more and, above all, be calm.





Body Part: Kidneys and bladder.
Associated Maladies: UTI. Kidney disease.
Action: Water retention, edema, fluid swelling.
Solution: Drying things out - diuretics. Lancing infections with fluid buildup.


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The Thirteen Full Moons of the Year

The Thirteen Full Moons of the Year

The pagan practices bases its festivities not only on the sabbatical wheel of the year, but also in the thirteen full moons that occur throughout the year.

January - Wolf's Moon

With the deep snow of winter, hungry packs howled near the villages, this is why the full moon this month was known by this name. It was also known by the moon after Yule. We can associate these wolves with the  furious horde of wolves that came with the god of the wild hunt.

February - Snow's Moon

Usually the heaviest snow fell in February and hence its name, but it was also referred to as "full moon of hunger." So at this time comes the first festival of light of the year in the  Pagan Calendar , Imbolc.

March - Raven's Moon

The Ravens announced the departure of winter, which was at the beginning of the thaw, this was the reason that it was also entitled as the full moon's crust, as the snow thawed during the day and returned to form a crystalline crust overnight. Celebrating the arrival of spring in its equinox, Ostara.

April - The Moon of the Rose

This full Moon  owes its name to the pink colored-moss, one of the first flowers to bloom in early spring, but the April moon was recognized as the frog's moon or planter's moon.

May - The Moon of Flowering

Because May is the month that begins with Bealtaine and because the flowers reach their maximum brightness, color and fragrance this time of the year, this full moon is well known by this, or as the full moon flowers.

June - Moon of strawberries

It has this name because it is the season where people wanted to reap the fruits, in Europe it is known as the moon rose, since the roses reach their maximum splendor in this month. Litha is celebrated, or summer solstice.

July - The Thunder Moon

July brings heat and thunderstorms, showers and heat, being one of the months that have more climatic variations. However, this full moon is also nicknamed the blood moon because of the sacrificial rites that took place at this stage of the year.

August - The Red Moon

At the peak of harvest, the full moon appears in the sky with red tones, reflecting the light of the indomitable August sun. Reminds us of the sacrificial rites of the oak god in  Lughnasadh.

September - The Harvest Moon

In the month of threshing corn and early harvest, this is the most appropriate name to the full moon of September. Mabon is celebrated and all the good things that the  land gave us.

October - The Moon of the hunt

Since the peak period of harvest, and since the light of the sun was maintained to a late time, people began hunting in the woods. On the last day of the month it is celebrated Samhain, the beginning of the pagan year, announcing the wild chase of  Winter.

November - The moon of the Pig

It was in this month of the year, when people killed the pigs and began to to replenish the flue as a way of ensuring subistencia in winter.

December - The Icy Moon

Also known as the long night moon, is closely linked to the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Yule is celebrated and the full moon was also known as the Oak Moon.


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Other Pagan Celebrations - New Label

Other Pagan Celebrations is a new label  i am adding, where i will talk about other European customs and traditions.
I have started talking about the Carnival, which has nothing to do with Nordic Pagan traditions, of course i will continue talking about that, about shamanism and runes etc. but also about Others beliefs and traditions, such as our celtic cousins. Enjoy and keep in touch!

best Regards

Arith Härger

Carnival - 21 February

Carnival is a  social phenomenon, that remote to an era, long before the christian time. To a time ere many civilizations practiced it, In ancient Egypt, Greece and Italy in the time of the Romans.
The people from different social classes, gathered in public squares, with masks and decorations, to drink wine, dance, sing and deliver the most diverse whoredoms.

Canival is probably the annual festival whose origins are revealed the most controversial of all. This is due undoubtedly to the fact that this celebration resented the deep conflict between Christianity and Paganism.

Carnival may have originated from the Latin expression "carrum navalis" referring to the naval cars that made the opening of the feasts in Greece, in the seventh (VII) and the sixth (VI) centuries BC or "carnem levare" which means, "farewell to the flesh/meat", expression that came to take place after the implementation of Christianity as a way of remembering the fasting of Lent.
According to some historians, the carnival starts at the beginning of our civilization and dates back to ancient Sumer and Egypt, the origin of the rituals are celebrations of fertility and harvest the first crops on the banks of the Nile, more than six thousand years ago.

In ancient Greece, celebrations were in honor of Dionysus, god of wine, culture and transformation. According to mythology, Dionysus was expelled from Mount Olympus, and whenever he returned to Greece in the early days of spring was greeted by his faithful worshipers, with exotic dances and many drinks.In ancient Rome, the feast was celebrated in the streets by the priestesses who worshiped Bacchus (the Latin name of Dionysus). The priestesses danced and chanted throughout the city, causing the disorder, which spread to the people passing in the streets.
t is clear that the valence of the meat is in the exaggeration of its consumption, since these classical festivities were guided by food, drink and sex, to give joy to the body in favor of fertility rites, this may have contributed for the prohibition of meat consumption and abstinence after the catharsis of the carnival, as well as any pleasure associated with food, drink or sex.The church seeing this and powerless to counter these pagan festivals, decided to accept this on their calendar, a period that precedes Lent.

Mythology around Runes: Mannaz

Mannaz

Mythology:


Although any myth that relates to the doings of humankind can be said to be relevant to this rune, the acts of Heimdall, the "god who stands between", are notable. During one of his periods of wandering on the earth, Heimdall, in the guise of Rigr, stayed overnight with three different married couples. In each case he slept with his host's wife before moving on. In the fullness of time, three sons were born to these women. The first was named Thrall, the second was called Karl, and the third Jarl or Earl. These tree men were regarded as being the ancestors of the three classes of Nordic society, Earl being the first of the nobles, Karl of the warriors and Thrall the progenitor of the peasants. Thus Heimdall, or Rigr, became the ancestor of humankind and was the first god to pass on the knowledge of the runes to his mortal offsping. Furthering this story slightly, Jarl was said to have been the father of Konur, the first king of Denmark.

Mannaz

"Madr is the joy of mankind and an augmentation of dust and adorner of ships."
                                                                  
                                                                  "The Icelandic Rune Poem"




This rune was also known as Mann or Madr and its pronunciation in the common alphabet is the letter "M".
Mannaz is the rune of humankind. Its variant name, Mann, should not be taken to mean that only those of the male gender are referred to, however. On the contrary, both men and women, all of the family of humankind, are in a sense governed by this rune. In runic tradition, one of the main traits of humanity is the faculty of foresight, thus the symbolism of Mannaz is enriched by its identification with the keen-eyed hawk. In terms of the vegetable kingdom, the rune is associated with the ash and the elm. This link is made because Norse mythology states that the very first humans were fashioned from the wood of the ash and elm trees.


Upright Meaning:
The appearence of Mannaz always relates directly to the person who has asked the question. It may signify your status and the way that others tend to perceive you. It also serves as a reminder that we are all products of our experiences and urges you to take a good look at your own conduct before criticising those around you. The rune may well have further implications: it can reveal that you have been deluding yourself and that you are not the person you thought yourself to be. So when this rune is prominent in your reading, it is time for a reassessment and an examination of your motives and aims. Equally, the motives pf others should come under scrutiny, and you should ask some searching questions before committing yourself to anything binding. Mannaz is not a rune of haste, so if important decisions are to be made and Mannaz appears in a reading, take your time, consult a trusted advisor who has no personal interest in the situation and wait to see what develops. Legal affairs and far-reaching decisions are likely when this rune is drawn, but this is no reason to panic. If you slow down and look within yourself, it is likely that you will find the right solution.


Inverted Meaning:

When this rune is inverted, you must be aware that someone close to you bears you ill will. In a negative position, Mannaz usually indicates an enemy, but this is not always so. For instance, some rune readers suggest that it can denote male homosexuality or the nervousness and lack of courage that is the result of a life blighted by  an overly strict figure. Look to the next rune in your reading for advice.





Body Part: Gonads. Hormone production. Puberty.
Associated Maladies: Hormone imbalances. Intersex conditions. Menopause.
Action: Affecting many other organs or body parts.
Solution: Hormone therapy of some sort.

Working with the Gods : Tyr

Tyr

Tyr wears dark red and dark grey and carries a sword slung on his right side, so that he can draw it with his left hand. He prefers a masculine-to-male spirit worker. If the person has long hair, it should be pulled back in a braid and not left to hang loose. Tyr is grim and stern, and tends to only show up for a short time, to speak to someone and then leave. He won't stay for merriment; he's not a party guy. He will want armed attendants, who should flank him but give him space. During the ride, the person will be unable to move or feel their right hand - it's a kindness to provide a cloak beforehand that is slung over the right arm, but leaves the left one free - and sometimes this numbness will last a few hours after Tyr has left, so the person will be aware that they may be missing an astral hand for a while.

Váli blót - 14 February - Valentine's Day

Váli Blót

First of all, i would like to tell you who is the god Váli.


Vali, as it is told in the Skaldskaparmal, is the "son of Odin and Rind, stepson of Frigg, brother of the Æsir, Baldr's avenging As, enemy of Hod and his slayer, father's homestead-inhabiter."
Váli is also among the twelve Æsir seated as judges at Ægir's banquet. He is not only seen as a God of vengeance, but truly one of the Æsir, seated with the others at table and drink. He is referenced for his courage and his accuracy with the bow, and is one of the inheritors of Asgard after Ragnarok.

The Birth of Váli

The prophecy made by Rossthiof was duly fulfilled, for Rinda bore a son named Vali (Ali, Bous, or Beav), a personification of the lengthening days, who grew with such marvelous rapidity, that in the course of a single day he attained his full stature. Without even taking time to wash his face or comb his hair, this young God hastened off to Asgard with bow and arrow to avenge the death of Balder, God of light, by slaying his murderer, Hodur, the blind God of darkness.
Of course, metaphorically speaking, he hasn't born just for a single purpose, to avenge the death of Baldr, and he did not took a single day to grow and run to Asgard to kill Hodr, this tale is told, for us to have that perception that Váli was quickly trained to become a great warrior, an archer, and he grew with such skills, that he became a great god, and too soon he proved his abilities, his skills.
Also, there is a tale which says that de God Hoder (the Danish version of the god Hod / Hodr) was the lover of Nanna the princess of the Danes. Balder also desired Nanna and tried to woo her without success. Undeterred Balder raised an army of gods and attacked Hod with a fleet of ships. Hoder successfully held them off and even managed to break Thor's weapon ( apparently in this time, Thor did not owned his magic hammer Mjölnir ) Hoder eventually killed Balder using a magical sword. Odin's son Bo ( Váli ) later avenged Balder.

Why is it Váli's day at the same day as Valentine's Day ?

Vali is the God of eternal light, just as a beam of light was often called with arrows, he is always represented and worshiped as an archer. For that reason his month in Scandinavian an now in Neopaganism of Northern Beliefs calendars is designated by the sign of the bow, and is called Lios-beri, the light-bringing. As it falls between the middle of January and of February, the early Christians dedicated this month to St. Valentine, who was also a skillful archer, and was said, like Vali, to be the harbinger of brighter days, the awakener of tender sentiments, and the patron of all lovers.

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Working with the Gods : Bragi

He is the Giver of Inspiration to poets,

To writers and all those who work with words.

He is the gift of the One Right Word,

The phrase sharp as a spearpoint that goes

To the heart of the matter, that makes the eyes

Light up in the listener's face. He is the story

Told and told well, dancing in pictures

Through the minds of the audience. He is the music

That wends its way from mind to pen to paper,

And then to the fingers flying on strings,

The breath that blows through flute and pipe.

He is the wordless skill of the tune, the rhythm

That sets the body moving, the head nodding.

He is the breath, too, that flies over the crowd,

Given shape with speech, forcing men to listen,

To hear, to think, to act on those words.

As his sire is the in-breath, so he is the out-breath,

The exhalation that brings change to the world.

Mythology around Runes: Ehwaz

Ehwaz

Mythology:

The most obvious mythological link with Ehwaz is Sleipnir, the steed of Odin, which was said to have eight legs reminiscent of the runic symbolism of eight hooves pounding the ground. However, there is a semi-legendary link to be found in early English History. The first Anglo-Saxons to come to England during the reign of King Vortigern were called Hengist and Horsa. These names mean "stallion" and "horse" respectively. To this day, the symbol of the English country of Kent, the Landing place of Hengist and Horsa, is still a white horse. Thissymbol is seen on a vast scale in southern England as well, where the equine form has been cut into chalk hillsides. It is also interesting to note that England itself may take its name from a horse god named Ing, who was considered to be an aspect of fertility god Frey. It is therefore likely that when Hengist and Horsa landed on the shore of England, a land that was unknown to them, they bore a banner that was emblazoned with the rune Ehwaz.

Ehwaz

"Eoh is joy to princes in the presence of warriors, a steed in the pride of its hooves, when rich men discuss it, it is ever a comfort to the restless."
                                                                   
                                                                  "The Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem"

  The Anglo-Saxons of England knew this rune as Eoh, and its pronunciation is the letter "E".
Ehwaz ( Not to be confused with Eihwaz ) is said to represent a pair of horses at full gallop, their eight hooves pounding the ground. In modern terms, this has an obvious association with vehicles and travel in general. The "vehicle of the soul ", or physical body, is also symbolised by this rune. Since Ehwaz represents a team of horses, relationships of all kinds fall under the auspices of this rune.
Status, too, forms part of its symbolism, because in ancient times to own a fine horse was a mark of exalted rank, while to own a team took one into the realms of the higher aristrocracy. It is also said that apart from horses, all other demesticated animals are symbolised by Ehwaz. In terms of plants, the rune relates to the apple tree and has associations with the oak and the ash. Its associated herb is the humble ragwort.



Upright Meaning:
When Ehwaz appears either singly or as the first rune of a reading, you can be sure that things are picking up in pace and changing for the better. This rune of large concepts, of major projects and new and exciting adventures. It is also said to emphasise the meanings of other runes of the reading and to speed up the events that they foretell.
The most usual interpretation of Ehwaz indicates travel, usualy to a new location that will provide the physical and mental stimulation that you crave. However, it might equally indicate a move of home or the establishment of a partnership with a person who is as strong-willed as you are. The importance of forming a team, of running in harness and not falling out of step, is suggested, too. It also denotes the need to treat your partners with the respect that they deserve, demonstrating your loyalty, consulting them on important issues and ensuring that the bonds between you remain strong, despite the challenges that are in store. The rune may have a connection with higher education, especially if you are involved in subjects that are investigative, such as the sciences. However the Ehwaz rune manifests itself in your life, an increase in your personal status and that of those around you is certain.

Inverted Meaning:

Problems with travelling and vehicles are suggested when this rune is inverted. Your friends and family may not be in tune with your ideas, and this frustrates your ambition with unnecessary delays. There may also be health worries in connection with pets and domestic animals.





Body Part: Arms and legs.
Associated Maladies: Overwork, overtired, working one's self too much like a tired draft horse.
Action: Moving sturdily
Solution: Keep it moving, but slowly and gently

Working with the Gods : Forseti

Forseti

God of Justice

If you are seeking justice, by all means call upon Forseti - but make sure that you are objectively being wronged, and that no part of the problem is yours to make amends for. As a god of fairness and equal exchange, Forseti requires that you be absolutely clean in any dealings you ask him to be a part of. He also requires that you give out equally what you have gotten back. If a decision goes your way and gives you something, you are to give to others the amount of goodness you have received from the decision.

Supported by RavenKaldera

Forseti - God of Justice

We all need justice, the world it self and nature, seeks justice.

Justice is often a feeling you are eager to "feed" because it asks for it, but you want it to calm down and be at peace, and in order to do that, you have the need to seek out that peace, you need to finish all the business, so you can go forth with your life. Nothing will please you more, then having justice done when some wrong was given to you, deep inside we all know what justice means and when to seek it, and why, but we have to think deep on it, without casting yourself in madness and anger.
So this night i will talk about Forseti, the Norse God of Justice!

Who is Forseti ?

Forseti is the Norse god of justice, public judgment, mediation, and reconciliation. He is the son of Baldur, the god of Light, and his wife Nanna. He bears the axe as his symbol. His hall is Glitnir, the Hall of Justice, which is said to have golden pillars and a ceiling of silver, and radiated light for some distance. Folk of all kinds would come to Glitnir for mediation of their problems, and it was said that no one came away dissatisfied by Forseti’s judgments.
There is some evidence that the worship of Forseti came from Fosite, a Frisian god. Forseti’s name is something of a mystery – it may come from the word for “presiding” or “president”; it may come from “whirling stream” or “cataract” due to his worship by seagoing peoples, or it may come from “forbidding” or “ban”. Modern Icelandic bears a form of this name as the word for “president” today, a legacy of this God. (Another similarly constructed name, Veseti, means “person who is in charge of or presides over the ve” – the hallowed space.)
Supposedly, there was once a shrine to Forseti at a spring on an island between Denmark and Frisia, identified in one old source as Heligoland. In one legend, the Frankish king Charles Martel told the twelve Frisian law-speakers that they must conform to his laws or face death, slavery, or being set adrift in a rudderless boat on the ocean. They chose the latter, and prayed for help as they drifted. According to the story, a thirteenth man suddenly appeared on their boat with a golden axe over his shoulder. He steered the boat using his axe as a rudder and brought them to land, then split the land with his axe and a spring came forth. He identified himself as Fosite, taught them all new laws, and then vanished. The shrine was later defiled by St. Willebrord.

Forseti is one of the “younger” Gods of the Nordic pantheon, and it is telling that he is the son of one of the most famous murder victims in its history. Unlike other sons of Odin, or the older Gods, who embraced vengeance, Forseti turned to fair mediation in spite of his history of early pain. As a lawmaker and a lawspeaker, he embodies approaching wrongdoing as a complex, multilayered problem that requires humane solutions based on established laws rather than lashing out emotionally. Today, we need him more than ever in the battle against injustice.


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The Handmaidens

The Handmaidens

As there are many handmaidens, and little is known about working with most of them, only time and trial will give us all the research. However, of the few that we know of who have graced gatherings or consultations with the presence, some preferences are known. In general, they all tend to like sweet wines and fussy German pastry, so make sure that there is plenty of strudel.

Fulla wears green and wants jewelry, and perhaps precious or semiprecious stones to play with, and bless. If you can crochet her a golden snood, so much the better. She requires a female spirit worker, preferably a young woman still able to access the Maiden archetype. Give her an unmarried female attendant with a playful sense of humor. Ideally she should come to a group made solely of women, as she is all about women's mysteries.

Eir is very centered, soft-spoken, and detached; she will generally ground and center the spirit-worker on the way out, and leave them feeling in better shape than a ride from most other Gods. She prefers utilitarian clothing, and no rings on her hands or arms, as she will likely be doing some sort of healing on people. Give her a selection of good-tasting medicinal herbal teas, which she will drink some of and pass on the rest to specific people, blessed. Give her healers of any gender as her attendants; the same goes for her spirit-worker / student. Ideally, anyone who works with Eir should be a vessel that is used to passing on psychic energy healing.

Var likes to wear dark colors and have a staff handy, and likes clear vodka. It is very important not to misspeak around her; watch your words carefully and weight everything you say. Hlin also likes a staff, and she may teach women to use it. Vor wants a dark veil over her head, and some sort of divinatory things about her, which she won't use because she doesn't need them, but she may bless them. Don't call Gna unless you are ready to work with her - of the biological sort, that is - and really the only reason to call her is to beg her to take a message to some Aesir deity.

Supported by RavenKaldera

Curiosity : The Toad ( bufo bufo )

There is this toad ( bufo bufo ) that is native in Europe, and it is most common to see it, from Siberia all the way to the shores of the Mediterranean beaches in Portugal, and he is known and associated to witch-craft in Medieval times, but also with Shamanism in the long history of Europe and in particular with the totem spirit. This toad has a very simbological meaning which i am about to talk about.


The totemic significance of this toad, it comes first with its connection with the underground swamps, caves and dark waters, and so the toad is the inhabitant of the marshes of the underworld. However this toad is also living well in the surface waters and in land, passing freely between these realms, just like the shaman does, passing the boundaries between this world and the other. The frog or toad is a shamanic creature, although symbolicaly, that represents this passage between dimensions. To the Celts the swamps and waterfalls where a passage to the underworld.

In Portugal and Spain, those in any pagan initiation to become something more then just a commun peasant, were marked, some say by the horned god, with a toad symbol or a toad's footprint.
In the medieval times, the mark of the Devil when the Christianity came into Europe, was a toad or a frog, and he had a coat of arms marked with 3 toads.
In the Pyrenees, people used to say that the witches could be identified by a mark of footprint of a toad in their left eye.

Any frog or toad that jumped over the foot of someone, that would be a sign of certain death, this may be one of the reasons why gypsys are afraid of frogs, because the gypsys were a tribe of people called Romani, that came from India into Europe, and they were not used to listen such tales and folklore so mysterious, magical and mystical.

In The Slavic countries, the mushrooms that can't be eaten, are called Zabaci Huby which means toad-mushroom, popular affinities between hallucinatory fungi and toads, point to an ancient awareness, of the presence of psychotropic toxins in the skin of a toad.


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Mythology around Runes: Berkana

Berkana

Mythology:

As might be imagined with such a feminine rune, its mythology derives from the stories of several Norse goddesses. Prominent amongst these is Frigga, the Goddess of the spinning wheel and the wife of Odin, who has been previously encountered with the Runes Wunjo and Pertho.
Frigga is the patroness of women, especially those in labour caring for infants, of marital fidelity and family harmony. Fiercely protective of hwe own children, she nevertheless found time to care for the offsrping of others, too. In one of her aspects, that of Brechta ( leterally meaning "birch" ), she guarded the souls of young children. It is interesting to note that in past times, if a marriage ceremony was thought to be too expensive, the union could still be recognised if the prospective bride and groom jumped over a birch-twig broom broom together. The symbolism of the birch-twig broom leads us to the medieval traditions of witchcraft, because in old stories a witch and her brrom were rarely parted. It may be that brooms did indeed play a role in a half-remembered matriarchal pagan cult that survived into recent history. This could be especially significant since women accused of being witches were often local healers and midwives.

Berkana

"Beorc bears no fruit, yet without seed it brings forth shoots, for it is generated from its leaves. Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned, its lofty crown reaching the sky."
                                                                     
                                                          "The Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem"

 
To the Anglo-Saxons, the rune was Beorc, while to the Norse of Scandinavia and Iceland it was known as Bjarkan.
In the commun alphabet, this is the letter "B".
This rune is feminine in nature and has connotations of motherhood, domesticity and protectiveness, seen in the shape of the rune, which suggests beasts. Its animal symbols include the she bear and the graceful swan. In human terms, wise women, herbalists and healers are also indicated by this rune. However, the name of the rune, Berkana, literally means "birch tree", or possibly "polar", although it also has symbolic links with fir trees of all types. The rune's association with growing things also connects it with agriculture.


Upright Meaning:

Berkana is a rune of new beginnings. It indicates good news, birth, fertility and times of family rejoicing, such as weddings. The rune's link with the birch tree in particular, and agriculture in general, shows that a time of personal growth is on the way. This may involve material, domestic or - by far the most likely possibility - spiritual affairs, because Berkana is also associated with intuition, the higher self and the soul's purpose on earth. As a more specific indicator, Berkana suggests that a new project is getting off the ground, but will need rigorous care and attention if it is to thrive, much as a human infant needs the loving care of its mother in ordor to thrive and develop.
Traditionally, Berkana relates to women's issues, particularly to feminine health and the care of infants. In its upright position, the rune can be regarded as a good omen that denotes proper growth and development. If your question is aouth a health problem, the appearance of Berkana symbolises natural regenerative powers and a raising of the spirits as a sense of well-being returns.


Inverted Meaning:

Worrying family news is often indicated when Berkana is inverted. The health of a relative is the most usual reason for this anxiety. There is a hint that a celebration will be cancelled or, at the very least, indefinitely postponed. If health is not the issue under examination, then the inverted Berkana indicates that you are on a course that will lead you nowhere. You will find that since all doors are closed to you at present, it will be necessary to cut your losses and return to square one.



Body Part: Breasts, uterus, vagina, female genitals.
Associated Maladies: Breast cysts or cancer, uterine problems, irregular bleeding, vaginitis, yeast infections, infertility. In men, problems due to failure to nurture one's self.
Action: Growth
Solution: Nurturing, nourishment, feeding. Eat as healthily as possible; do not restrict food intake. The problem needs to be babied along.