Freyja's Hiding Place

NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHERE THE GIANT PRIMORDIAL NORSE COW WENT

STILL

there is a giant cow out there

licking shit, possibly bringing other giant beings into creation

and like no one ever thought to mention it?

And in the gap

My busy tung

Dus lick and lap

My huf is strong

My horn is curld

I wandr round

ek sleiki ís.

_______

Rough translation:

My name is cow from me ther flow all the rivers down belo. and tho my tung  do pay the price, now i stand here.

Hamr is your shape or your skin, and played a huge role with shape-shifting (the process called skipta hömum or “changing hamr”) and the feat of being able to do so was called hamramr , “of strong hamr”.

Hugr is your thoughts or mind, corresponding to your personality or conscious cognitive processes and so overlaps very much with the modern day concept of “inner self”. The hugr generally stays within its “owner” but could at times cause effects in people far away by thinking of them in a certain way.

This next one is most relevant to the topic and is the Fylgjur (plural) or Fylgja , the “follower”. Flygjur are spirit companions and protectors that are generally perceived as spirit animals, but are not limited to them. They are attendants who’s well-being is intimatly connected with their owners, thus is they die their owners die and vice versa. Their character and form are closely tied to their owner’s character, so like a person of noble birth might have a bear shaped Fylgja or a gluttonous person might have a pig shaped one. Fylgja literally translates as “Follower” but they often actually go ahead of their owner, arriving in places before they do or appearing in the dreams of someone who will be meeting their owner the following day.

And the last part is the Hamingja, used abstractly to signify luck. Though to the norse luck was perceived differently from modern day, it was seen as a quality inherent in the man and his lineage, a part of his personality similar to strength, intelligence, or skill with weapons, at once both the cause and expression of the success, wealth, and power of a family. Hamingja is ila personal entity in its own right, ot is part of the self and can split off from the other components under certain circumstances. When someone dies their hamingja often is reincarnated in their descendants, particularly if the descendant is named after the original owner of the hamingja. Though sometimes the hamingja bequeath itself to a relative of its own accord without the need for any special naming. Hamingja can also be shared with others during life to assist them in particularly perilous missions where luck is especially needed.

Having seen various incorrect, incomplete and inaccurate lists of Norse gods circulating Tumblr, I have decided to write my own and also include common terminology alongside. I will also include other beings who exist within the old lore and modern traditions.

I have opted to include the names in Norwegian, with translations in parenthesise after, along with a brief summary of some of the associations given to some of those gods. Be aware that, as an overview, brevity is necessary here and the individuals should not be oversimplified to basic aspects in your practice!

Æser (Æsir, Male Gods)

Balder (Baldr, Baldur) - Light, purity, rebirth

Brage (Bragi) - Poetry, eloquence, wisdom and music

Delling (Dellingr) - The new day, dawn

Forsete (Forseti) - Justice and reconciliation

Frøy (Freyr) - Vaner, virility, fertility, the sacred religious position of royalty, prosperity, good weather and sunshine

Heimdall (Heimdallr) - The senses, premonition or foreknowledge

Hermod (Hermóðr) - Bravery, spirit, possibly a former mortal hero/king elevated to the Æsir

Hjuke (Hjúki) - Man, lunar activity, lunar phases, moon craters, brother of Bil (the Scandinavian children in the moon)

Hod (Höðr, Hodr) - The blind god, darkness, rebirth, second chances

Høne (Hænir, Hœnir) - Survival, sense/spirit, beauty,

Lodur (Lóðurr) - Blood, warmth, life, 

Loke (Loki) - Change, creativity, ambiguity, impulsiveness

Lyter (Lýtir) - Premonition, foresight, prediction, prophecy

Magne (Magni) - Strength, development, son of Tor

Meile - Son of Odin, brother of Tor

Mime (Mímir) - Wisdom, knowledge, memory, advice

Måne (Máni) - The moon, the night sky

Njord (Njörðr) - Vaner, the sea, harbours, ports, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth/prosperity, and crop fertility

Od (Óðr) - Madness, fury, eagerness, excitement

Odin (Óðinn) - Father, war, battle, victory, death, wisdom, runes, magic, poetry, charms

Tor (Þórr, Thor) - Thunder, lightning, storms, rain, strength, protection, hallowing, healing, fertility

Ty (Týr, Tyr) - Law, sacrifice, heroism, glory, war

Ull (Ullr) - Skiing, archery, hunting, weapons, shields, personal combat, oaths

Vidar (Víðarr) - Vengeance, atonement, preparation, survival, silence

Vilje (Vili) - Will, willpower, moderation, the middle, wit, intelligence, touch, sense, motion

Ve (Vé) - Countenance, appearance, facial expression, speech, hearing, sight

Våle (Váli) - Revenge, bravery, daring, marksmanship, survival, rebirth

Åsynjer (Ásynjur, Female Gods)

Bil - Woman, lunar activity, phases of the moon, sister of Hjuke (the Scandinavian children in the moon)

Eir - Help, healing, protection, mercy, grace, calm

Fjorgyn/Jord (Fjörgyn/Jörð) - Earth, the world, nature, greenery

Frigg - Mother, love, fate, prophecy, marriage, birth, midwifery

Frøya (Freyja) - Vaner, fertility, love, passion, sex, sexuality, beauty, fertility, gold, magic, war, death

Fulla - domesticity, cleaning, housekeeping, listening, confidant, secrecy

Gersemi - Precious, beauty, blonde hair

Gjevjon (Gefjun) - Virginity, plowing, female independence 

Gnå (Gná) - Messenger, errands, crossing planes of existence, travel through land, air and water

Hnoss - Treasure, beauty, brunette hair

Idunn (Iðunn) - Youth, vigour, apples, love

Ilm - Fragrance, aroma, smells

Irpa - Guardian goddess, Hålogaland

Lin (Hlín) - Weddings, domestic sphere, flax, onion, fabrics

Lovn (Lofn) - Benevolence, kindness, gentleness, consolation

Nanna - Loyalty, empathy

Njorun - Soil, the land

Rind (Rindr) - Princess/goddess/giantess, mother of Våle from the East

Rån (Rán) - Sea, protection from drowning, fishing

Sigyn - Loyalty, burden, sadness

Siv (Sif) - Fields, wheat, fertility, family, wedlock

Sjavn (Sjöfn) - Love, sex, desire

Snotra - Wisdom, intelligence, cleverness, appropriate conduct

Sol (Sól) - The sun, warmth, daylight

Syn - Refusal, denial, speaking out, legal defence

Såga (Sága) - Seeress, all-seeing, companionship, drinking partner

Torgerd Hølgebrud (Þorgerðr Holgabrúðr) - Guardian goddess, Hålogaland, heathen shrines

Var (Vör) - Honesty, awareness, caution, carefulness

Vår (Vár) - Oaths (and punishing oath breakers), pledges, agreements, betrothal

Jotner (Jötnar, Elemental Giants)

Aurvandil - Star, planet, Orion & Big Dipper constellations

Bauge (Baugi) - Farmer, money, wages

Dag (Dagr) - Day, light, rides Skinfakse

Fornjot (Fornjótr) - Ancient giant, ancestor, original, owner

Frosti (Jökull) - Cold, winter, frost, ice, icicles, glaciers

Fårbaute (Fárbauti) - Hitting, striking, cruelty, danger, violence

Geirrød (Geirröd) - Entrapment, cruelty, aggression, violence

Gyme - Hills, Mounds

Helblinde (Helblindi) - “Hel Blinder”, “All Blind”

Hyme (Hymir) - Brewing, cauldron, thick skull

Kåre (Kári) - Wind, scathe, howl, sails

Loke (Loki) - Change, creativity, ambiguity, impulsiveness

Loge (Logi) - Fire, wildfire, 

Mime (Mímir) - Knowledge, wisdom, memory, counsel, Mimes Brønn (Mímisbrunnr)

Mokkurkalve - Clay, life, innocence, childishness

Norve (Narfi) - Narrow, oppressive, closed in, difficult birth

Rungne (Hrungnir) - Strength, brawling, fighting, whetstone

Snø (Snær) - Snow

Surt (Surtr) - Fire, heat, burning, blackness

Suttung (Suttungr) - Mead of poetry, orphaned, eagle

Tjaste (Þjazi, Thiazi) - Abduction of Idunn

Torre (Þorri, Thorri) - Black ice, frost, cold, winter

Trym (Þrymr, Thrymr) - Uproar, King of Jotner, 

Vale (Vali) - Unlucky, wolf, murdered his brother Norve

Vavtrudne (Vafþrúðnir) - Riddles, weaver of tales

Utgards-Loke (Útgarða-Loki) - The outer places, magic, illusion, beyond society, an alternate plane

Yme (Ymir) - The big bang, primordial, birth, the ancestor of all, elemental

Æge (Ægir) - Sea, ocean, sea creatures, protector of sailors

Gygrer (Gýgr, Elemental Giantess)

Angerboda (Angrboða) - Grief bringer, sorrow, Iron Wood

Aurboda ( Aurboða) - Gravel, mountains

Bestla - Mother to Odin, Vilje and Ve.

Driva (Drífa) - Snowfall

Fonn - Snowdrift

Gerd (Gerðr) - Beauty, light, fertility, earth

Grid (Gríðr) - Greed, vehemence, violence, impetuosity

Hel - Death, Helheim (the underworld), Náströnd (“Corpse Shore”)

Hyrrokkin - Fire smoked, smoke, strength, wolves, serpents

Jernsaksa (Járnsaxa) - Iron knife, mother to Magne

Lauvøy (Laufey) - Needle, slender, weak

Menglød (Menglöð) - Lives in a castle guarded by Fjölsviðr

Mjoll (Mjöll) - Powdered snow

Natt (Nótt) - Night, darkness, nightfall, counting time, rides Rimfakse

Skade (Skaði) - Damage, archery, hunting, skiing, winter, mountains

Vetter (Vættir, Beings) & Other

Alver (Elves) - Light/Dark/Black, personification of nature

Andvare (Andvari) - Dwarf, “careful one”, waterfall, fish, wealth, magic ring called Andvaranaut

Ask og Embla - The first humans, ancestors of humanity

Diser (Dísir) - Female protective deities/spirits, fate

Dverger (Dvergar) - Dwarfs, metallurgy, wisdom, smithing, mining, crafting

Einherjer (Einherjar) - Honoured dead, fallen in battle, sent to Folkvang or Valhalla

Fenrisulven (Fenrisúlfr) - Death, destruction, rage, the end of times, fen-dweller

Fjolne (Fjölnir) - Swedish king, Vaner, son of Frøy and Gerd

Gullveig/Heid (Heiðr) - Volva, seid, enigmatic, “Lust For Gold” or “Golden Drink”

Kvase (Kvasir) - Wisdom, knowledge, skaldship, poetry, mead, blood, juice

Midgardsormen (Jörmungandr, Midgard Serpent) - Sea serpent, poison, self-reflexivity, cyclicality

Norner (Norns) - Weavers of fate, Wyrd, destiny, birth, death

Sigurd Fåvnesbane - Stag, hero, wisdom, prophecy, speak to birds

Starkad (Starkaðr) - Jotun, hero, great warrior, many arms cut off by Tor

Troll - Isolated natural landmarks, strength, slow, dim witted, 

Valkyrjer (Valkyries) - Choosers of the slain, Odin’s maids, spirits, ferocity, death, ravens, wolves

Vanlande (Vanlandi) - Hero, Swedish king, Vaner, “Man from the land of the Vaner”, 

Vedfinn (Viðfinnr) - Father of Hjuke and Bil

Vetter (Vættir) - landvette, skogsvette, husvette, vannvette, sjøvette, havvette, hulder, nøkken, draugen, nisse, troll, huldrefolk, deildegasten, dradokke, trollkatt, basilisk, krake, utburd, lyktemenn, varulv, marmæl, lindorm

Tusen takk! Many thanks!

I appreciate all of the kind comments and notes.

Just as in any religion or belief, numbers play a significant role in the Norse mythology. People are superstitious when it comes to numbers – everyone knows such things as lucky numbers or numbers that bring bad luck. Why it is for example the number 13 that is supposed to bring bad luck, is a question that just very few people would be able to answer. I too, wonder, why it is especially the number nine in the Norse mythology, that plays such a significant part in sagas and rituals. It reappears throughout the whole creation, existence and destruction of the NINE worlds and has been important in pre-Christian practices and rituals in certain parts of Scandinavia. If anyone knows the origin of the significance of this number, please let me know; I am very curious about this! Anyhow, here is an overview over certain numbers that play a role in the Norse mythology and what they mean or where they appear plus the spelling of each number in old Norse.

1:  (ein)

cosmos, earth

2:  (tveir)

the two biological genders, 

heaven and earth, 

day and night,

 sun and moon

3:  (þrír)

the three layers of the cosmos: Asgard, Midgard, Helheim; 

“Thridi” – the third, a name of Odin; 

the three states of time: past, present, future; 

the three norns; predicting future;

 the three treasures made by the dwarves: Mjölnir, Draupnir, Gullinbursti (the golden boar that belongs to Freyja)

4: (fjórir)

the four directions, four winds, four dwarves at the corners of the world;

 the home and the acre

7: (sjau)

The seven days of the week

9: (níu)

The nine worlds,

 the ritual time span (nine days and nine nights in which Odin hung from the tree); 

the path from Asgard to Hel takes nine days to travel; 

every ninth night, a new ring drops out of Draupnir;

 Njørd is living in the mountains for nine days and at the sea for nine days in turns when he was husband to Skadi; 

a special offering every nine years (one offering per day for nine days), for example in Uppsala;

 Freyr has to wait nine days for the wedding with Gerdur; 

nine mothers give birth to Heimdall;

 Ægir has nine daughters; 

Thor can walk nine steps after his fight with the Midgard snake

12: (tólf)

twelve moons;

 twelve Æsir under the allfather Odin;

 twelve crafty dwarves

13: (þrettán)

Odin and the twelve Æsir

27:  (tuttugu ok sjau)

the number of nights of a month in the moon calendar