#hlin

HLIN (FRENCH VERSION)

Hlin est l'une des servantes de Frigg, dont le nom est souvent associé à la protection et à la consolation. On dit qu'elle abrite ceux qui sont dans le besoin. Certains érudits pensent qu’Hlin n'était pas une divinité distincte, mais plutôt un autre nom de Frigg elle-même, soulignant son rôle de gardienne. D'autres avancent qu'elle pourrait avoir été une déesse protectrice, indépendamment de la Reine des Ases, veillant sur ceux qui cherchent refuge. Dans le paganisme moderne, certains associent Hlin à Ran, la Géante de la mer, bien qu'il n'existe aucune preuve historique de ce lien. Quelles que soient ses origines, Hlin reste un symbole de protection dans la tradition nordique.

(Text and Translation 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 made it into a Norse Goddess Coloring Book!

(Print Copy)

There are also PDF copies available!

HLíN

Hlín is one of Frigg’s handmaidens, whose name is often associated with protection and consolation, as she is said to shelter those in need. Some scholars believe that Hlin was not a separate deity but rather another name for Frigg herself, highlighting her role as a guardian. Others argue that she may have been a goddess of protection, watching over those who seek refuge. In modern paganism, some associate Hlin with Ran, the sea giantess, though there is no historical evidence for this connection. Regardless of her origins, Hlin remains a symbol of care and safeguarding in Norse tradition.

(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!

Hail, Hlín, goddess charged with safe-keeping. We invite you, guardian of Frigga’s beloved.

Hail Hlín, she who mourns painful passing. We call to you, soother of sorrows.

Hail Hlín, lady of unbroken shields. We welcome you, herald of divine protection.

Hail Hlín!

Pt 1

Pt 2

Pt 4

Second to last part wahoo! Anyways instead of the usually three, this part contains four of the handmaidens, specifically my interpretations of Gna, Hlin , Vor, and Var. These four were a little bit more harder to research so the general info that I have based on the myths may be a little inaccurate which is why some the info I found is in the headcanon section because I’m unsure if it’s 100% true. That disclaimer out of the way, there will be a third design in the last part, which will be my interpretation of Frigg,the queen herself.

Gna (Goddess of Fullness)

General info: Gna is Frigg’s errand girl and travels to the other worlds to fulfills task for Frigg. In the Prose Edda, she is said to rid on a flying sea treading horse called Hofvarpnir. Gna was the trusted messenger of Frigg who carried out her authority across the nine realms. Like some of the other handmaidens, there only a little info about her.

Headcanons:

-Gna is the youngest of the handmaidens and was born around the same time Hermod was

-Gna in my interpretation is the daughter of Eir the goddess of healing and medicine

-Gna was gifted Hofavarpnir by her mother and Frigg to help her get around the nine realms in order to do her errands

-Both Gna and Hermod went down to Helheim together to ask for Baldr and Nanna back

-I headcanon Gna as Polymerous since some say she had a lover in each realm(though I don’t know how much evidence there is backing this claim up or if it holds any truth in the actual myths) she also mainly attracted to men

-Gna also had a childhood crush on Hermod. However, they have stayed just friends

-Besides her horse, Gna has little wings on her boots to help her get around (inspired by Hermes shoes in Greek mythology)

Hlin(Goddess of Protection)

General info: Hlin’s name means protector. She serves as more of a guard to Frigg, similar to Syn. She isn’t mentioned much except in the Prose Edda as being a part of a prophecy in Voluspa in regards to Odin’s death, and she is listed among the Aesir goddesses in Gylfaginning She also protects and provides refuge for those Frigg wants out of danger.

Headcanons :

-Hlin was trained by Syn since she was a teenager

-She’s a little older then Gna and sometimes travels with her to protect others in different realms

-I gave her a spear in my interpretation since some art I’ve seen of her she often pictured with one

-Hlin admires Syn a lot and sees her as a mother figure along with some of the other Valkyries

-Hlin is the daughter of Ran and an Aesir man (This is somewhat in truth since Ive seen multiple claims that she might be Ran’s daughter)

-Hlin was abandoned by her mother for not looking like “scary enough” (as you can tell sea goddesses abandoning their children is a running theme in my retelling 🥲).

-Hlin was adopted and raised by the Valkyries mainly Syn before becoming a handmaiden of Frigg

-Despite never being a valkyrie herself, she was gifted with a valkyrie feather on the day she became a guard/handmaiden for Frigg

-My interpretation of Hlin is kind of based on a flying fish, meaning she has somewhat smaller wings

-I headcanon Hlin as lesbian and having a slight crush on Var

Var (Goddess of Oaths) and Vor(Goddess of Wisdom and Oaths )

General info : Var and Vor’s info varies either they are separate or the same goddess just with different names. Var is often regarded as being the goddess who upheld oaths and punish those who break them. She’s reference in Snorri as her name meaning pledge or beloved. She’s also referenced in Trymskvida regarding wedding ceremonies. Vor, on the other hand, is often referred to as the same goddess as Var but is also associated with wisdom.

Headcanons

-In my interpretation Vor and Var are twins instead of being the same goddess

-Var and Vor are the daughters of Loki and the unknown farmer in my retelling. They were born during the time Loki disguised herself as a milkmaid on Midgard

-However, their father died in a mysterious accident (*cough* *cough* Odin), and Loki was forced to take them back to Asgard to raise them. Keeping them hidden most of their childhood out of fear of having them taken by Odin like her last three children (Sleipnir had yet to be born)

-Var was born with Albinism and inherited Loki's antlers

-While Vor looked a lot like Loki till she dyed her hair and changed her eye color and sometimes covered up her markings to hide her parentage

-Vor and Var joined Frigg's court in hopes of finding safety so they wouldn't end up punished like the rest of their siblings just because of who their mother was

-I headcanon Vor as bi but single

"Her name is

She, queen of the kings, runnin' so fast, beatin' the wind.

Nothin' in this world can stop the spread of her wings.

She, queen of the kings, broken her cage, threw out the keys

She will be the warrior of the North and Southern Seas." - Alessandra Mele

My faith group and I have been researching the handmaidens. We’re doing a ritual in Hlin’s honor soon, but since we know so little about her from the lore I compiled everything I could find to help give me context.

Everyman Edda Snorri Sturluson, translated by Anthony Faulkes pages 30, 55, 157

Hlin: she is given the function of protecting people whom Frigg wishes to save from danger.

Hlin’s second sorrow comes to pass as Odin goes to fight the wolf…there shall fall Frigg’s delight.

Myths of the Norsemen Helene A. Guerber page 52

Hlin, Frigga’s attendant, was the goddess of consolation, sent out to kiss away the tears of mourners and pour balm into hearts wrung by grief.

She also listened with ever-open ears to the prayers of mortals, carrying them to her mistress, and advising her at times how best to answer them and give the desired relief.

Essential Asatru Diana L. Paxson page 84

Hlin defends us. She is the one who protects those Frigg wants to save and the refuge of those who are in danger.

Where Syn’s protection is defensive, that of Hlin is more active. She fights for her favorites and spirits them out of danger.

She protects against those who would take advantage of vulnerability.

Her token is the blade or shield.

Our Troth, Volume 2: Heathen Gods Ben Waggoner pages 218-219

Hlin is set to protect those humans whom Frigg will save from certain dangers; for that reason there is a saying that whoever saves himself finds a refuge “hleinir.”

Many scholars have assumed that Hlin is another name for Frigg, and some translations of Voluspa have simply replaced Hlin’s name with Frigg’s name in this verse. This doesn’t seem necessary: the verse makes perfect sense if Hlin is a goddess whom Frigg charges with protecting her loved ones. Hlin and Frigg would both grieve: both were unable to protect Frigg’s beloved son Balder, and both will be unable to help Odin when Ragnarok comes.

Hlin is the defender who provides personal protection and saves the hunted from danger; she is the refuge of the fugitive.