Working with the gods: Sunna

The Norse Goddess of the sun is called Sunna or Sol, she rides across the skies in her chariot pulled by two golden horses, Allsvinn and Arvaker.

Sunna is the very symbol of the sun and its power, so as you might guess, her gifts to us is exactly the same emotions and feelings the sun gives, energy, enthusiasm, motivation, happiness, warmth, joy etc. of course there are people who don't like the sun or its light, but i'm referring to those emotions and feelings the sun brings to the land it self, so as you might also guess, disrespecting the land, the air, the natural environments and the world itself, is something this goddess will disapprove. For her power is also linked to the power of growth of all natural things expecially plants. She belongs to the group of Northern gods of the Sky, and nowadays our daily actions that might bring harm to the Ozone layer ( which unfortunately is a problem very present ) is a great disrespect towards Sunna and the other sky gods.

Sunna is the very light that warms the hearts of those in need, the hearts of those that lie in the shadows and in the cold emotional depression, so she can be called by those who are in these melancholic conditions and in sadness. Imagine her importance to our ancestors, to those who worked in the fields, harvesting their crops, the sunny days bringing life to animals and plants which gave mankind sustenance. I know that some people don't like the heat of the sun, or its light, but imagine the people in the Northern countries, where winter is too long and too hard, so when the sun came, it brought vitality to the people and thus, it would empower the people, making them a better and healthier community.

An interesting curiosity is that Sunna is also called Sol, and in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Sol means Sun, also in the English language which is based in Germanic languages, the very word Sun, comes from the same group of languages as the Northern countries, also in Iceland, the word for the Sun is also written as it is in English. But more interesting than this, is the fact that in the Iberian Peninsula in the counties of Portugal and Spain, there are thousands of vestiges of the Germanic culture, such as Pottery with runes carved ( the first symbols of the runes before the Elder Futhark, symbols used in times before the vikings ), or burial grounds, buildings, weapons, bones and also in the Language, because in Portugal and also in Spain the word for the Sun is also "Sol" and in Portugal the pronunciation of this word is too similar to the Swedish one. Like this you can see the importance that the Sun had all over Europe, for Europe is a cold mother and the weather is harsh, so people longed for the warmth of the Sun, and the fact that the name of such a goddess remained till today a word for the Sun especially in the coastal countries of Europe, it isn't something to be astonished about, for the Northern peoples traveled by sea and established their settlements in those countries, and it isn't something new to know that they were in Portugal, because all European cultures came to Portugal looking for a warmer weather for agriculture, hunting, fishing, living. Portugal is the last country of Europe by the Atlantic sea, or the first country for the sailors, it can either be where Europe begins or where Europe ends, that depends on your point of view. In fact more than half of Portugal was a Germanic country much influenced by the Germanic cultures for more than 2000 years, since somewhere between 2000 and 1500 Before the common Era, to the 6th century, but that is a subject for an other post because right now i'm entering in History and turning my back to the main subject of this post.

Note: The artwork to illustrate this post is a drawing of Sunna and Mani made by me. If you have any questions for me or if you want to see my artistic works, check out my Facebook page and make a Like if you can by following this link --> http://www.facebook.com/ArithHarger

Midsummerblót - 21st to 26th of June

The Midsummerblót is a Northen European Pagan Tradition, that was held at the same time of the pagan festival of Litha. This festivity was not just to celebrate the coming of the sun and brighter days, it was not just the time to start reaping the crops, it was the time to honor the fire and the nordic sun goddess called Sunna or Sól, although some say that Sól is the mother of Sunna.

For the Northen people, the coming of the sun and warmer days was also the coming of happiness and hope, for in Northen Europe, the winter is longer and colder, and surviving it was a trial of courage and strength, was the prove of hard work through the year, storing food for this great winter battle of Men vs Nature, under the snow, traped at home, with fire the only ally to keep them warm and alive.

At the Midsummerblót, is also important to honour the landvaettir, the spirits of the land, they could be spirits that take care of the crops, take care of the soil, and help mortals in the crop fields, helping establish order and harmony in the land, making the fruits grow, or they could be the ancestors of someone whose land belonged to, and was still there to ensure the survival of the family and their descendants, giving them the opportunity to have a rich and fertile soil.

The fire has always fascinated men, and this element has always been in the celebrations through the year, whether a fire, a candle or just symbolically.

A curious thing is, that the Northern Goddess of the sun was called Sunna or Sól. and the English name for the sun comes from Sunna, and the Nordic names for the Sun, such in Norway and Sweden, are Sol, even in Portugal and Spain, the name for the Astro King is also Sol.. and then again it may not be so curious at all, for the Sun and the fire has always been the most worshiped element in the world, so it is obvious, that the same names were much known for the Europeans.

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Mythology around Runes: Sowelo

Note: The Photo was taken by Missloony

Mythology of Runes

Sowelo


In northern mythology, the sun is considered to be female, personified as a giantess named either Sol or Sunna. Two of the Asgardian deities are also associated with this rune.
The first is Baldur, "The Beautiful", the beloved, yet tragic, god, who was slain by a mistletoe dart thrown by his blind brother, Hodur. This myth expresses the cycle of the year and the duality of light and darkness.

The thunder god Thor, must have a place in the symbolism of the rune, because it looks so much like a lightning flash. Thor, the guardian of justice and order, was known for the swift retribution that he dealt out to wrongdoers. So the meaning of this rune can be applied to the workings of the law and also to taking justified revenge.