#volur

there could be a lot of reasons. the color might’ve had outside associations to divinity or magic, like how mother mary is depicted in blue to represent purity/holiness. odin is also alternately described as hooded and as wearing a broad hat, so the versions of him with a blue hood might be retroactive to reflect seidr workers. the two descriptions could have come from the same source, as a retroactive claim to support arbitrary aesthetics.

Found this print while at the Viking ship museum in Oslo; this is the postcard version. I was delighted because I have always had a small obsession with female-led magic/religion/shamanism.

As per Wikipedia:

A vǫlva or völva (Old Norse and Icelandic, respectively; plural forms vǫlur and völvur, sometimes anglicized vala; also spákona or spækona) is a female shaman and seer in Norse religion and a recurring motif in Norse mythology.

The vǫlur were referred to by many names. Old Norse vǫlva means "wand carrier" or "carrier of a magic staff", and it continues Proto-Germanic *walwōn, which is derived from a word for "wand" (Old Norse vǫlr). Vala, on the other hand, is a literary form based on vǫlva.

Another name for the vǫlva is fjǫlkunnig (plenty of knowing) indicating she knew seiðr, spá and galdr. A practitioner of seiðr is known as a seiðkona "seiðr-woman" or a seiðmaðr "seiðr-man".

Heathen women, reclaim your rightful place of power as witches, please. It's not a Wiccan thing. It's our heritage.

Magical practice-- witchcraft-- is the great heritage of central and northern European women, as vital as the male warrior traditions to our ancestors’ communities. From noblewomen to the humblest farm wife, women were expected to work magic on behalf of their family, the sick and the wounded– and to uphold their kingdoms! Bands of professional priestesses, the volur were esteemed and traveled safety over both land and rivers, surviving into the time of the Greenland colony.

So a few days ago I decided to follow a guide on finding spirit guides. I visualized a door to the world tree. I was greeted in this area by a tall, beautiful blonde figure i immediately referred to as all mother. She did nothing other than smile, take my hand and lead me to another smaller door. I thanked her and went through to meet my guide. When i left that room she was there again to lead me out. I wasn’t 100% sure at the time who it was, but after some research I am certain it was Frigg.