Offerings to Eir

The Lady Eir (pronounced Air or AYR), from Norse Mythology.

Sometimes referred to as a goddess and Æsir, sometimes referred to as a valkyrie, Eir is known for her medical prowess. She was first mentioned in the 13th century Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, sung about in skaldic (bardic) poetry, and described in a runic inscription.

Names: Eir, Iaer, Aer, Eira, Eyra, and Eil.

Meaning: "Protection, help, mercy, clemency, peace".

Elder Futhark: ᛖᛁᚱ

Younger Futhark: ᛅᛁᚱ

Facets: Goddess, Valkyrie, Handmaiden

Eir: The Goddess

As an Æsir Eir is associated with health (especially that of women and children), childbirth, divine healing, protection against illness, and medical skills.

Eir: The Valkyrie

As a valkyrie Eir is tasked with enacting what could be viewed as divine intervention. Unlike the other valkyries who would pick through the slain, Eir would choose who would live and heal.

Essentially as a chooser of life and death, she is sometimes associated with the Norns, the fate weavers, and potentially in charge of shaping the lives of children.

Eir: The Handmaiden

As a handmaiden Eir may have tended to a handful of goddesses/gods, such as the jötunn (giant) Menglöd*, Freyja, Frigg and by proxy possibly Odin.

*Menglöd may have also been an epithet of Freyja, Frigg, or Eir herself).

Ancestry: Æsir, Valkyrie, Jötunn, or Human?

Like much of who Eir was to the Norse, her ancestry is also lost to time. However there are a handful of speculations on her lineage.

As an Æsir her heritage is completely unknown.

However as a valkyrie she may have at one time been human.

As a handmaiden to a giantess, she may have even been Jötunn.

Overall Eir's true purpose as well as her ancestry are unknown due to the loss of information overtime.

Domain: Lyfjaberg

Known as the healing hill or healing mountain, Lyfjaberg is speculated to be Eir's home, possibly within Ásgard. Here it is said that she gathers with many other maidens* for healing ceremonies.

Even though there is no known hill of Lyfjaberg in our physical realm, blóts (ceremonies) were held upon hilltops or mountain sides to ward off pestilence and sickness.

*The names of these maidens are Hlif, Hlifthursa, Thiodvarta, Biort, Blid, Blidr, Frid, and Orboda (Fjölsvinnsmál | Poetic Edda).

Associations

The following are by no means an exhaustive list of correspondences for Eir. They are just the ones I found that were most clearly defined. And like most correspondence lists, these are modern speculations with little to no historical backing.

The Eirflower

It is said that during healing rituals that Eir was invoked with the use of a white flower.

Though it is not known exactly what specific plant the Eirflower was, some have come to theorize that it could be any number of white flowering medicinal plants native (or not) to the Norse peoples. On the other hand however, the Eirflower may have merely been a representation of the concept of healing, and not a tangible plant at all.

Herbs, Plants & Trees

Blood-stanching herbs such as yarrow and bistort, as well as wound healers like comfrey* and chamomile are all examples of medicinal plants one might associate with Eir.

Additionally trees such as birch: a symbol of regeneration and a medicinal pain reliever, pine: associated with protection and cleansing, and juniper: a menstruation stimulant and abortifacient may also be associated with Eir.

*Comfrey can be toxic and like any other herbs or plants you plan to consume or apply topically for their medicinal properties, extensive research should be done first.

Colours

Due to the colour red being strongly tied to the blood shed from wounds, menstruation, childbirth and miscarriage, it is often associated with Eir.

Green may also be associated with her due to both their connections with the natural world, life, growth and renewal.

White not only represents the colour of the fabled Eirflower but is often associated with life, purification, and cleansing.

Metals & Stones

Minerals such as copper: antimicrobial and grounding, garnet: emotional healing and vitality, and quartz: healing and clarity, are also associated with Eir.

Objects

While any medical implements or tools could easily be associated with the goddess of healing, a few more common place items are bandages, mortar and pestles, medications*, vitamins and supplements, pill organizers, medical symbols such as a red cross, and saunas (most popular for their healing benefits in Nordic countries, but not exactly a foreign concept worldwide).

*Though not every pharmaceutical drug has organic components or origins, even the most synthetic medications can thank natural medicines and folk remedies for paving the way to what is now modern medicine.

Runes

(ᛉ) Algiz - "elk": protection, connection to the divine, defense.

(ᚨ) Ansuz - "god": divine communication, knowledge, wisdom.

(ᛒ) Berkano - "birch": growth, fertility, rebirth.

(ᚢ) Dagaz - "day": light, clarity, end/awakening.

(ᚷ) Gebo - "gift": balance, the gift of life, reciprocal exchange.

(ᛊ) Sowilo - "sun": light, energy, clarity.

(ᛞ) Uruz - "aurochs/ox": health, strength, challenges.

Personal Epithets

Healer of the Gods

Healer of Wounds

Giver of Life

Wound Healer

Woman of Wounds

Winged Healer

Divine Healer

Guardian/Protector of Children

Guardian/Protector of Women

Battlefield Healer

Lady of Recovery

Goddess of Health

Updated: October 2025

{list of sources & some additional reading below}

Blessings of the season, dear friends! Today I continue with my sixth post in a series on how I plan to observe all twelve days of the pagan Yule festival for the first time. Before this year, I only observed Mother Night and the High Feast of Yule.  There isn’t too much information available on the Internet on exactly how to celebrate all twelve days, so my hope is that the knowledge I’ve gathered will be of help to those of us who also wish to observe the entire festival.  Remember: many of us can’t observe the twelve days for a variety of reasons: and that’s totally okay! For me, trying to observe each day is spiritual labor that I’ve committed myself to.

Almost all of our modern winter holiday customs originate in ancient Northern Europe, during the Viking Age. So far I’ve covered the first five days of the festival of Yule: Mother Night, The Wild Hunt, Moon Night, Blót Night, and the High Feast. I’ve learned that each night of Yuletide was sacred to a different Norse deity or deities: Mother Night being sacred to the Disir, The Wild Hunt to Odin, Moon Night to Mani, Blót Night to deities of wealth and prosperity, and the High Feast a general celebration to all of the old Norse deities.

The sixth night of Yule was sacred to the goddess Eir, who we know from the Christian poet and historian Snorri Sturluson as the physician of the Norse pantheon.  It’s supposed that the providers of health care in Old Norse society were primarily women. The Viking Age people of Northern Europe lived a hard life: if one’s health began to fail even a little, it could easily be a matter of life and death. Therefore Eir was also regarded as a goddess with powers over life and death and was the one consulted when any of the gods were sick or injured.  Eir was also known as one of the handmaidens of the earth-mother goddess, Frigg, the wife of Odin. Eir was the goddess of health and healing, as well as grace and mercy; and it was customary to light a red or green candle for her when praying for health.  There isn’t too much evidence left to truly support this assertion, but there is some evidence that Eir was also associated with metal-craft and forge work; her name can evidently be translated as “copper” or “brass”, and it may be the origin of our modern English word, “ore”.

This day of Yule was set aside to pray for one’s health and the continued good health of one’s friends and family.  Take time to express your gratitude for your health, strength, and constitution; take the time to make offerings to Eir or whatever health-related deity you have the closest relationship with.  If you don’t make veneration of deity a part of your spiritual practice, that’s perfectly alright.  If you or your loved one(s) are currently suffering from an illness, ailment, or addiction then this night is a great one to pray for a speedy recovery and for assistance in overcoming your illness.  If you or your loved one(s) live with a disability, now is an excellent time to meditate on how your disability has given you a unique perspective on life and how you’ve overcome many challenges throughout the year.

Now is the time to keep in mind the ideas of eating well, self-discipline, and moderation. It’s easy to forget these very important facets of a good life during the holidays when rich food, libations, and other comforts are strongly emphasized.

What sorts of things can you and your family do today to improve your health? Today is a great day for you and/or your family to get some physical activity! How about a gorgeous winter hike, a long bike ride, or some other kind of activity like a trip to the gym, a yoga class, bowling, or even mini-golf?  Get out and use your body if you can.  Maybe for you, this day is instead one of relaxation and recovery. Have you partied too hard over the last couple of days? Perhaps instead of physical activity today is a good time to get some restful sleep, eat healthy nutritious foods, and drink plenty of water.

I’ve decided that the most meaningful thing I could do is take a spiritual fast on this day: I figure after I’ve enjoyed all the rich food and celebrations of the High Feast that I can afford to, and I believe it’ll inspire in me some feelings of gratitude that I have regular access to the nutritious food from which I gain my health and strength. However, it may not be safe for you, the reader, to take a fast for whatever reason and I encourage you to do your research or consult your primary care physician before you do. Remember, this night is supposed to be about your health! Don’t do anything to put your health at risk.

Eir is a goddess of help and mercy, so what sorts of things can we do today to emulate her? Do you have someone in your life who is in poorer health that would enjoy your company or assistance on this day?  How about volunteering at a local convalescent home, or spending time with kids who have to spend their winter holidays in the hospital?  One’s mental health and positive outlook have a lot to do with their physical recovery from illness, and having a friend around can really help!

Another idea I’ve come up with is pretty obvious: prepare an altar in Eir’s honor (or to the glory of whichever deity or deities you choose): light red and green candles and make offerings of healing herbs and nutritious foods.  Leave photographs of loved ones who may be in ill health on the altar, so your deity can recognize them and bestow gifts of health and healing upon them.

As always, please leave me an Ask (or just a comment on this post, if you wish) if you want to share any ideas that you have for observing this night of the Yule festival or traditions that you already practice!

Who are the Handmaidens?

In the Prose Edda, twelve Goddesses are listed after Frigga as Ásynjur: Fulla, Gefjon, Hlín, Syn, Eir, Sága, Gná, Vár or Vór, Snotra, Vör, Lofn and Sjöfn. Modern Heathens sometimes refer to Them as Frigga's Handmaidens. (This is a piece of shared gnosis, not an historically attested term.) For many of the Twelve, this is all that survives in the way of attestations.

What is the Project?

Gradually over several years, and more intentionally recently, I have been building a devotional cultus around these Goddesses. As part of that, I've been putting together primers on each of the Twelve on my longform blog -- detailing Their surviving attestations, Old English God-names and epithets for Them, my own personal experiences and upg, a prayer, and devotional icon art -- as well as essays and modern myths exploring other aspects of Them and my cultus to Them.

Although I use Old English names for Them and honour Them in a syncretic heathen practice drawing on influences from across the British and Irish Isles, I hope these may be useful and/or interesting for practitioners working in a Norse, Continental, or other context. Or for anyone worshipping and building cultus to lesser-known and lesser-attested Gods!

I will update this post periodically, but if you like you can subscribe to my longform Wordpress blog for updates when I post.

Primers

Fulla

Geofen (Gefjon)

Hlēowen (Hlin)

Ār (Eir)

Saga

Lofen & Siofen (Lofn & Sjöfn)

Snotor (Snotra)

Wearn, or Syn (Syn)

Wær (Vör)

Gnæ (Gnā)

Āþ (Vár)

Essays and other posts

Introduction to the Project

Essay on abundance, ānanda, and Fulla

Essay on Frīg and Her importance to my cosmology

The Wren and her sister: a myth of Frīg feat. Ār and Gnæ

Eir

Eir, the Norse goddess of healing, is a mysterious and powerful figure in mythology. Known for her compassion and wisdom, she is often listed among the handmaidens of Frigg, Odin’s wife, and Menglod, a benevolent giantess from Jotunheim. Some traditions also name her as a Valkyrie, suggesting that she not only chose who lived and died in battle but also provided invaluable healing to wounded warriors.

Eir was revered as a protector of those in need, particularly in childbirth, where her divine intervention was sought for safe deliveries. Some scholars believe she was also one of the spirits of the home, watching over those who prayed to her. She is associated with Lyfjaberg, the “hill of healing,” where seekers would go in search of her aid. Many compare her to Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health, as both symbolize divine care and the preservation of life.

(Text by Delia Gosforth, Illustration by Ellen Artistic)

I am the artist! Do not post without permission & credit! Thank you! Come visit me over on: instagram.com/ellenartistic or tiktok.

These illustrations all made it into a Norse Goddess Coloring Book!

(Print Copy)

There are also PDF copies available!

Keeping that in mind, here are some things I associate with Eir:

white and gold, occasionally light and gentle yellows/blues/greens

acts of self-care for physical and mental health (ex: taking your meds)

symbols to do with my region's medical field

acts of charity to healers and those in need of healing

herb-bundles containing lavender, jasmine, and St Johns Wort (not to be consumed/burned)

the runes Gebo, Laguz, Uruz, and Dagaz

herbal teas (some of my go-tos are Chamomile, Jasmine, and Peppermint)

[prayer written by a member of the Godsring]

Oh Great Healing Goddess,

Honored by so many as caretaker of the ill and suffering,

She who Fjölsvið says shall free the sons of men from peril and pestilence,

We would ask you to free us from the same,

And join us in our place of worship.

Oh Maid who sits on Lyfjaberg,

Whose name comes down to us from ancient poems,

Whose nature is yet but vaguely known,

We pray to you to see us here,

And bless us with your presence.

Oh She with whom the ill and frail seek refuge,

We ask you humbly, with love in our hearts,

To help us know you, 

And to honor you,

As fully as you deserve.