Will of Gaut

The multifaceted nature of Wōden/Óðinn: In Víkars þáttr in Gautreks Saga, Starkaðr, the warrior blessed by Óðinn, consults his foster-father Hrosshárs-Grani on the best course of action to take when King Víkars ship is unable sail due to a lack of wind. Hrosshárs-Grani suggested that a sacrifice to Óðinn would ensure fair sailing weather. Hrosshárs-Grani was none other than Óðinn in disguise, which is interesting because, in this instance, we are shown the multifaceted nature of Óðinn as a divine being. In this case, Óðinn seeks King Víkar's death to take him to Valhǫll, but the note on Hrosshárs-Grani suggesting a sacrifice to Óðinn for fair sailing wind shows us that Óðinn, by nature, is not limited and encompasses a variety of factors relating to the divine and human life. This is further exemplified in the Loka Táttur where Óðinn helps a farmer protect his son by creating rapid crop growth overnight. Moreover, in the Vǫlsunga Saga, King Rerir prayed to Óðinn for a child atop a burial mound. The prayer was accepted, and the legendary hero Vǫlsungr was born. These examples ultimately provide us with an insight into the divine nature of Óðinn as a god and the various ways He is able to oversee different aspects of human life.

Seasons they change while cold blood is raining I have been waiting beyond the years Now over the skyline I see you're travelling Brothers from all time gathering here Come let us build the ship of the future In an ancient pattern that journeys far Come let us set sail for the always island Through seas of leaving to the summer stars Seasons they change but with gaze unchanging O deep eyed sisters is it you I see? Seeds of beauty ye bear within you Of unborn children glad and free Within your fingers the fates are spinning The sacred binding of the yellow grain Scattered we were when the long night was breaking But in the bright morning converse again

ALVÍSSMÁL Regarding Heaven Vingthor: 12. Tell me Alvis! etc. how the heaven is called, which is perceptible, in every world. Alvis: 13. Himinn tis called by men; but hlýrnir with the gods; vindofni the Vanir call it, uppheimr the Jötuns, the Alfar fagraræfr, the dwarfs driupansal. Translation by Benjamin Thorpe Thor spake: 11. "Answer me, Alvis! | thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the heaven, | beheld of the high one, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 12. " 'Heaven' men call it, | 'The Height' the gods, The Wanes 'The Weaver of Winds'; Giants 'The Up-World,' | elves 'The Fair-Roof,' The dwarfs 'The Dripping Hall.'" Translation by Henry Adams Bellows Image: Valhalla (1896) by Max Brückner in a scenic backdrop for Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen

Wotan from Die Nibelungen directed by Fritz Lang (1924). Die Nibelungen is a two-part series consisting of Die Nibelungen: Siegfried, and Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge. The series is based on the Nibelungenlied, the Saga of the Vǫlsungs, and the stories of Sigurd from the Poetic Edda.

“Little a sand-grain, little a dew drop,  Little the minds of men: All men are not equal in wisdom,  The half-wise are everywhere.” ~Hávamál 53, Auden and Taylor. …how little some things change. Art by Carl Emil Doepler, 1887. “Lítilla sanda lítilla sæva lítil eru geð guma því at allir menn urðut jafnspakir hálf er öld hvar.”

The hamarsmark of Þórr as mentioned in Hákonar saga Góða has been a point of debate when it comes to authentic heathen customs, but it is attested among the Lapps as Johan Randulf (1723) records in the Nærøy manuscript:

(…) og alle saa vel giffte som ugiffte Finner der gaae til nadvere et glas øll, men besybderlig et glas brendeviin, om hand det haver og dypper de 3 fingre der udj, hvor med hand i siin pande teigner et kaars, som skal betyde Thors Kryds-hammer, dette giør hand til at forsikke Thor om sin stedsvarende troe tienste (…) (...) and all Finns, both married and unmarried, who go to communion have a glass of beer, but particularly in a glass of Brennivin if they have it, and dip three fingers in the glass, where with their hand on their forehead they draw a cross, which must mean Thor's Cross-hammer, this serves to assure Thor that they are his faithful servants (...)

It is further stated that on Christmas eve, the Lapps make the cross on their doors, or make said sign with a knife in beer or liquor when they drink, or in a pot of butter. Schefferus in Lapponia also states that the idols of Horagalles were marked with crosses on the chest of the idol with the blood of the sacrifices they gave to the god.

An incredible blót to Thunor last night. My customer kindly let us use his weoh before I ship it out