Harrowman Ealdham

Now are sung the High-one’s songs, in the High-one’s hall, to the sons of men all-useful, but useless to the Jötun’s sons. Hail to him who has sung them! Hail to him who knows them! May he profit who has learnt them! Hail to those who have heeded them!

The Saga of Hadding in the Gesta Danorum contains a lesser-known attestation of Hel. Hadding encounters an old woman (Hel) carrying herbs, and asks where she got them in winter. She takes him with her underground, through a dark path to a sunny region where the herbs grew. They encounter noblemen, and warriors in battle, and cross a bridge over a river filled with weapons (Gjöll), until they come to a wall. She rips the head off a rooster and throws it over the wall, and it comes back to life, and they hear it crow over the wall. While the Völuspa and Gylfaginning describe the horrors of Náströnd in greater detail, the Saga of Hadding paints a far more benevolent picture of Hel; a home of the ancestors, with an opportunity for reincarnation.

May Heaven’s shining prince bless you with much bliss and happiness. Hāl wes þu Bealdor. ☀️🙏

Here’s a quick correction in regards to this picture from a good friend of mine. https://t.me/Urglaawe here’s his Telegram channel. Go check it out!

It always throws off many modern Pagans when I use terms like “God” or “Heaven”. In our modern era the average person associated these terms with Abrahamic concepts. In reality these words predate the Christianization of the Germanic peoples. This may come as a surprise, but “God” itself is a name for the Allfather. In English, and other Germanic languages, we retained many words from our Pagan past to refer to abrahamic concepts. “Hell” would be the most obvious of these examples. A common title given to the abrahamic god in Old English was “Dryhten”. This title survived in the now obsolete modern word “drighten”. The word is usually translated as “lord” but a more accurate translation would be, “warlord” or “chieftain”. We can see in the Norse sources that Óðinn also bears the title “Dróttin”. This image that I’ve posted with this text is nearly what comes to mind when I say “God”. Hail Goden!

Inside the hearts of all beings you will find God.

Photo: Franz Stassen “Baldr” (1910-1915)

I was reading a prayer to Apollo and took inspiration from it to make this prayer to Baldr. I felt it was worth sharing considering it is appropriate for the season. Feel free to use it. :) I hark and bring to mind he who reigns from his holy hall in heaven. Come O' Blessed Lord of the Bright Sun, Boundlessly beloved Baldr, Bliss-Bringing Bestower of Blessings, Bleeding Lord, Layer of Limitless Love, Gleaming God. You who’s brow shines as bright as the sun and brings us boons aplenty; Your solar eyes dispel the darkness. With your return, you radiate rapture from Heaven above. You, O Baldr, who restores hope and happiness to all beings on Midgard. Great is he who honors you, wicked is he who do not. We wish to be in Your presence, O Far Wanderer, so that we may be in your wonderful light once more. Bless us this day precious Baldr.

Some years ago @wolcensmen held a competition in which one would have to find a creative way to depict their iconic bindrune. This rune-pillar was my submission.