Finding My Gods

Greetings, my fellow beings. I am here on a journey to finally get into touch with not only my ancestors roots, but also to find my true following of Norse Paganism. NOTE: THIS BLOG IS NEW AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

[astral-obscura]

Planet Profiles

THE SUN

General meaning: The Sun composes the basics of one’s identity; it is the foundation of one’s personality, the ego, the sense of self, the backdrop to the rest of one’s natal chart. Its positions describe the base assets of a person.

Domicile: Leo Detriment: Aquarius Exaltation: Aries Fall: Libra House: Fifth Glyph: ☉ Energy: Masculine Type: Luminary

THE MOON

General meaning: The Moon embodies one’s emotional realm. It constitutes one’s instincts, habits and behaviors formed from childhood, immediate reactions – its positions illustrate our needs and core tendencies.

Domicile: Cancer Detriment: Capricorn Exaltation: Taurus Fall: Scorpio House: Fourth Glyph: ☽ Energy: Feminine Type: Luminary

MERCURY

General meaning: Mercury is all about thought and communication. One will find that they operate much like their Mercury sign – mental processes and lingual expression have everything to do with this planet.

Domicile: Gemini & Virgo Detriment: Sagittarius & Pisces Exaltation: Scorpio Fall: Taurus House: Third & Sixth Glyph: ☿ Energy: Masculine Type: Personal Planet

VENUS

General meaning: Venus is the planet of love & beauty. One’s view of art and romance may be attributed to this planet, as can their needs and desires in a relationship. The love language of a person has to do with their Venus positions.

Domicile: Libra & Taurus Detriment: Aries & Scorpio Exaltation: Pisces Fall: Virgo House: Second & Seventh Glyph: ♀ Energy: Feminine Type: Personal Planet

MARS

General meaning: Mars constitutes the drive of a person, be it sexual or ambitious. It has to do with strong emotions, passion, aspiration, intention, determination, sex, primal urges, and self-control.

Domicile: Aries Detriment: Libra Exaltation: Capricorn Fall: Cancer House: First Glyph: ♂ Energy: Masculine Type: Personal Planet

JUPITER

General meaning: Jupiter’s positions in a chart indicate the way one treats other people and one’s attitude toward knowledge. Generosity, education, journeys, mentors, and travel are all associated with this planet.

Domicile: Sagittarius Detriment: Gemini Exaltation: Cancer Fall: Capricorn House: Ninth Glyph: ♃ Energy: Masculine Type: Social Planet

SATURN

General meaning: Saturn influences the roles one feels obligated to adhere to. It causes trouble and strife, but spurs on growth and the learning of lessons. Inhibitions, fears, self-control, work ethic, maturity, and responsibility are associated with Saturn.

Domicile: Capricorn Detriment: Cancer Exaltation: Libra Fall: Aries House: Tenth Glyph: ♄ Energy: Masculine Type: Social Planet

URANUS

General meaning: Uranus has everything to do with the way a generation views progression, technology, and revolution. It influences the trends, developments, and changes a particular era makes (or fails to make).

Domicile: Aquarius Detriment: Leo Exaltation: Scorpio Fall: Taurus House: Eleventh Glyph: ♅ Energy: Masculine Type: Generational Planet

NEPTUNE

General meaning: Neptune is about fantasy and reality, truth and deception, confusion and clarity. It influences a generation’s worldview and sense of actuality. Dreams, uncertainty, ignorance, mysteries, and perplexity are associated with Neptune.

Domicile: Pisces Detriment: Virgo Exaltation: Cancer Fall: Capricorn House: Twelfth Glyph: ♆ Energy: Feminine Type: Generational Planet

PLUTO

General meaning: Pluto is about power, transformation, and discovery. It influences the destruction an era will face and the rebirth that will come from it. The way a generation uses or reacts to dominion is heavily colored by Pluto.

Domicile: Scorpio Detriment: Taurus Exaltation: Pisces Fall: Virgo House: Eighth Glyph: ♇ Energy: Masculine Type: Generational Planet

[heartrills]

“what do you mean you’re a witch?” well, today i stuck a bundle of sage under my shirt and got a cosmic message from the universe to get off my ass and stop being so lazy. pretty mystical huh

[legalizememes]

holy shit

[odinnsdottir]

Mesmerizing…

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

What is she singing about?

[kawatooru]

where do lesbian viking warriors go when they die in a mighty battle?

[kawatooru]

galpalla

[rosewednesday-blog]

I tried to scroll away. I really did.

[mxmarkargent]

what’s better than this, valkyries being palkyries

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

Just as a warning, I’m going to be on a semi-hiatus (and have been) for a while due to mental health issues. 

I’ve made some posts on another blog, here, which I plan to update more regularly. Updating there once a week is easier and less mentally and emotionally taxing than upkeep here. 

I’ll be making posts once in a while and will be trying to look at messages, though. So nothing will go unseen! 

[paramud]

Your post about "Norse heathens" absolutely disgusts me. I can't believe you would say things like that. Those "points" you made were completely unfounded lies and bullshit.

Allow me to help your easily disgusted spirit then, my weak-willed anon.

Thor was born Odin and Jord, the personification of the Earth.

Magni was born of Thor and Jarnsaxa, a Jotunn.

Vali was born of Odin and Rindr, a Jotunn.

Vidarr was born of Odin and Gridr, a Jotunn.

The Nine Daughters of Aegir were born of Ran (Vanr) and Aegir (Jotunn)

Heimdallr, an Aesir, was born of Nine Mothers, all Jotunn.

Kvasir was born of a mixture of Aesir and Vanir saliva.

Hnoss and Gersemi were born of Freyja, a Vanr, and Odr, who is possibly Odin.

While not certain, Freyr is possibly born of Njordr, a Vanr, and Skadi, a Jotunn. It is also possible that he was born along with his twin sister from Njordr’s unnamed sister. Pick your poison.

As well, outside of children, there are two notable cases I could (easily) find of interracial marriage from the gods.

Freyr, an Asynjur, married Gerdr, a Jotunn. And this wasn’t a marriage made through a deal, it’s actually attested that Freyr fell lovesick the moment he saw Gerdr’s “shimmering beauty.”

Sigyn, also an Asynjur, married Loki, a Jotunn. Sigyn is the one who holds a basin over Loki.

As for trans/homophobia, you don’t need to look far to see Odin learning magic typically reserved for women or Thor crossdressing, or the before-mentioned incident of Loki giving birth to Sleipnir.

All of the above can be confirmed by simply reading the sagas and eddas. Onto democracy in pre-Christian Viking society.

It’s well-known that Vikings held regular assemblies, called Things. Things were held to decide political matters, elect chieftans or kings, and, mainly, to stop feuds and social disorder from growing too large. While Things were largely influenced by the more powerful members of the community, one-man one-vote was the rule. Even when Scandinavia was eventually united under a king, Things were still held and the people were the power. The best example of this was a speech given by the famous Lawspeaker Torgny. I could cut out the important parts, but the speech is so good that it’d be a disgrace to not quote the whole thing.

Then Thorgny stood up; and when he arose all the bondes stood up who had before been sitting, and rushed together from all parts to listen to what Lagman Thorgny would say. At first there was a great din of people and weapons; but when the noise was settled into silent listening, Thorgny made his speech.

The disposition of Swedish kings is different now from what it has been formerly. My grandfather Thorgny could well remember the Upsala king Eirik Eymundson, and used to say of him that when he was in his best years he went out every summer on expeditions to different countries, and conquered for himself Finland, Kirjalaland, Courland, Esthonia, and the eastern countries all around; and at the present day the earth-bulwarks, ramparts, and other great works which he made are to be seen. And, more over, he was not so proud that he would not listen to people who had anything to say to him. My father, again, was a long time with King Bjorn, and was well acquainted with his ways and manners. In Bjorn’s lifetime his kingdom stood in great power, and no kind of want was felt, and he was gay and sociable with his friends. I also remember King Eirik the Victorious, and was with him on many a war-expedition. He enlarged the Swedish dominion, and defended it manfully; and it was also easy and agreeable to communicate our opinions to him. But the king we have now got allows no man to presume to talk with him, unless it be what he desires to hear. On this alone he applies all his power, while he allows his scat-lands in other countries to go from him through laziness and weakness. He wants to have the Norway kingdom laid under him, which no Swedish king before him ever desired, and therewith brings war and distress on many a man. Now it is our will, we bondes, that thou King Olaf make peace with the Norway king, Olaf the Thick, and marry thy daughter Ingegerd to him. Wilt thou, however, reconquer the kingdoms in the east countries which thy relations and forefathers had there, we will all for that purpose follow thee to the war. But if thou wilt not do as we desire, we will now attack thee, and put thee to death; for we will no longer suffer law and peace to be disturbed. So our forefathers went to work when they drowned five kings in a morass at the Mula-thing, and they were filled with the same insupportable pride thou hast shown towards us. Now tell us, in all haste, what resolution thou wilt take.

Then the whole public approved, with clash of arms and shouts, the lagman’s speech.

And there is some foundation to my claims. I hope you’re now a little less queasy and little more educated.

[rudolf-rokkr]

Heyo. I've been trying to get into more heathenry/norse paganism kinda stuff (what can I say, I love folk metal), but the one thing that's kind of been a damper on the concept for me is the concept of Hel - specifically, how (as I understand it) dying of sickness or old age is a form of cowardice and punishable by eternal torment. Being chronically ill myself, that doesn't really sit right with me. Do you have any thoughts/corrections/resources on this topic in particular?

Thanks for the question. Basically the image of Viking afterlife concepts that has entered popular culture is extremely shallow and not a good representation of what we know believe actually existed. This is a big topic so it’s easy to get lost but I’m gonna try to keep it simple without leaving too much out but feel free to follow up if it seems like I’ve missed something. It’s long so the rest is behind the break.

Keep reading

[gefdreamsofthesea]

Wow I can’t believe Freyr loves men and Freyja loves women.

They are queer like me and that is wonderful.

(This includes trans men and trans women.)

[seth-sieben]

PLEASE I know Freyr is really gay and I cannot see him otherwise myself but can someone explain me where does this come from ? (I mean which text, story, etc)

[gefdreamsofthesea]

Freyr’s association with gayness and transness comes from a passage in the Gesta Danorum where Saxo talks about Freyr’s priests making effeminate gestures and the unmanly tinkling of bells, here’s one translation:

“After Bemoni’s death Starkather, because of his valour, was summoned by the Biarmian champions and there performed many feats worthy of the tellings. Then he entered Swedish territory where he spent seven years in a leisurely stay with the sons of Frø, after which he departed to join Haki, the lord of Denmark, for, living at Uppsala in the period of sacrifices, he had become disgusted with the womanish body movements, the clatter of actors on the stage and the soft tinkling of bells. It is obvious how far his heart was removed from frivolity if he could not even bear to watch these occasions. A manly individual is resistant to wantonness.”

There was also this idea that since Freyr’s interests were less about being a warrior and more about peace, plenty, and prosperity that he was a good fit for men who didn’t fit the hypermasculine heterowarrior mold unlike, say, Odin and Tyr. It’s completely false (Odin is pretty queer and Thor is also associated with agriculture, and Freyr is a great warrior) and has more to do with stereotypical views of gay men but it was prevalent in some Heathen circles (and not just the gross dudebrotruar ones).

Personally I see all my deities as pan but “Frey the Gay” has a nice ring to it.

Here’s some more info on homosexuality in the lore in general.

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

Little update: 

I got a job and was able to get some burbon. I had an altar session with Odin last night, and a heart to heart (so to say). I also gave a type of quartz crystal wand as a gift, too, for forgiveness from the other night. 

I wasn’t sure if he had forgiven me, so I ended the session and went to watch TV. After a few hours I went to bed. Somehow, although my laptop was closed, it had connected to the internet (I use a jetpack thing, it’s cheaper on family plan) and started to play an old window that was open to youtube video of Odin by Faun. It scared the hell out of me at first, but when I realized what had happened, I couldn’t help but laugh. 

I’m taking that as a sign of forgiveness :D 

[lokeanwelcomingcommittee]

Does calling upon two deities for help better your chances of you receiving the help than just calling on one or does it not make a difference at all?

Well, the logic of this is obviously going to vary a lot based on how you view deity. If you view deities as facets of your own consciousness, then you’re going to need a very different approach to this question than someone who views them as separate individuals.

But regardless of what model of divinity you use, pretty much everyone can agree that gods are not magical vending machines that automatically dispense blessings in exchange for prayers. It’s pretty clear that the universe doesn’t function that way. And therefore, asking more deities isn’t always going to be more effective in attaining your goal.

From a hard polytheist point of view, I can think of a number of reasons why calling on more than one god could potentially do more harm than good:

Not all deities work well together. Maybe they don’t like each other, or use conflicting methods.

Calling on more than one deity may seem like you’re questioning their competence. How would you feel if your boss told your coworker to help you with a really simple task?

If you get help from two or more deities, you need to pay two or more deities back for their help. For a really big task, this may be a ton of additional work.

Personally, when I do call on more than one deity for a thing, it’s usually to handle different aspects of a problem. For example, I might call on Hel to care for someone who died, and Sigyn to comfort the grieving family members. That’s asking both deities to do something they do well in a way that doesn’t really necessitate them interacting if they don’t care to do so. Though as with all things spiritual, YMMV.

- Mod E

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

I’m not the original anon, but this caught my eye. I have altars for Odin and Loki, and sometimes I light their candles and sit down and talk to the both of them. I don’t ask for help, I just like to sit down, give some offerings, and talk their ears off. This probably isn’t even a “traditional” thing to do while doing “altar work”, but do you think it’s a bad idea to do what I am doing (with both at the same time just for talking)? 

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

Odin and Vodka?

Anyone have any bad experiences with Odin and vodka? Tonight, since it's full moon, I decided to light my altar candles on Odins altar and I lit the mint incense for Loki. I did this recently while I cleaned my room and nothing bad happened. But tonight as I was sitting, trying to relax and feel them with me, I got the sudden urge to hurt myself. To take the lighter and burn my left hand at the base of my palm where my thumb is and all the way up. Without thinking I did, and then I came to and tried to set the lighter down and got burned from it on my right hand and my leg as it fell to the ground. I asked Odin to help me understand, and that if the candle flames flared it was "yes" and "no" for calm. I asked if he was angry and they flared brightly and waved. Pause, calm. I asked if it was because the offering. Flare. Pause, calm. I asked him if he wanted me to end the session and it blazed brighter than before and for longer before calming slightly. So I blew the candles out and went and read to Loki for a bit. I feel dizzy and almost not myself so I came to bed. Anyone have thoughts on this? I told Odin I wasn't sure what to do and that I would research and talk to people about how to make this better.

[amorphoussystem-deactivated2024]

Summoning the Gods in a messy room

Heathen: Hey, pal! How’s it going? :D

Kemetic: What Is This Nest Of Chaos To Which You Have Brought Me?

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

SERIOUSLY

I did casual altar session yesterday and got the energy to clean my room throughout it and was constantly like “SORRY, THIS IS EMBARASSING //trips SHIT” 

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

I did an altar session with Loki and I was casually talking and cleaning. I leaned on the wall to rant a bit and looked up and saw not only my reflection in the window, but a reflection of a man. He was tall and pale with a thin, bony face. I got so freaked out I looked down and walked away and had to sit down. 

I’m going to guess it was Loki, but I don’t do the absolute best with seeing “spooky” things while totally conscious. I’ll talk to him before bed and tell him I got spooked. 

But! I gave him some blueberry poptarts and burned some mint incense. It was good. 

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

I’m curious if Loki likes poptarts so I am gunna give him some.

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

I have a question for those who practice the old Greek and Roman religions! [Greek/Roman.. paganism? I’m not sure what to call it.. anyways,] 

I don’t have any experience or much knowledge of the gods, beyond a few basics, and I heard that Roman and Greek gods “are the same”? Is this true? If so, who do you address? (Like.. Zeus and Jupiter..) 

I think that they all have their differences, but I used to read that they’re the same. Can someone educate me, please? Thank you!

I’m really sorry if I offend, but I don’t know and would like to know. 

[curiouspaganpaths-blog]

I had this terrible dream that some... happening.. was plaguing the Earth. There was this black wolf, one eye socket (his left) was empty, and his right eye was swollen and blind, with that haziness in it. It was said that if he touched your dogs, they would die. Around me people were going missing, likely as sacrifice to the wolf or maybe the wolf himself were eating them.

You had to have a special sword that would immobilize the wolf, but he could never die because he was immortal.. or maybe a god. Son of a god? And then it brought me to think of Fenrir. This wolf was being judged by his appearance, but nothing was for sure if he was harmful. 

I didn’t have any talks with anyone the past two days, so the dream felt a bit unwarranted. I want to say that it is unrelated to any of the gods, but I felt someone’s presence. I don’t know whose. I have some things I need to do to figure who/what this was and why. It left me pretty shaken.

[gefdreamsofthesea]

Here’s a nice thing I wish more Pagans, polytheists, Heathens, witches, and the like would try but never will because people are shitty:

Don’t say that you’re for diversity if you aren’t actually prepared to accept diverse viewpoints.

I know this sounds like an easy thing to do, but it’s not because it involves things like:

certain polytheists accepting that ancestor worship is not as important to some polytheistic traditions as you think it is

witches accepting witches who curse

hardcore reconstructionist Heathens accepting that not everyone wants to be as hardcore as they are (I know this is especially hard) or even just accepting that not everyone wants to be a reconstructionist

people not believing your deities exist, or seeing the deities differently than you do

people not having the resources to do a spell or ritual exactly the way you were taught, disabled people needing accommodations or just straight up not being able to do “traditional” religious things

Does this mean you need to accept racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, classist, and other bigoted rhetoric? Of course not, but it would really help if some of you moved past giving this idea of diversity lip service,]

Honestly I could go on but I think you get it.

[tencrowns]

Def. not a reconstructionist. Old gods, new ways. I would think that collectively, we’d be pretty adjusted to the idea of people not believing in our gods, though? I mean, I get that all the time from Christians and the particularly virulent strain of anti-theist atheist/agnostics.

[gefdreamsofthesea]

Mostly it pops up when non-Pagans depict Pagan deities in media. It doesn’t matter how accurate their portrayal is or if they’ve tried to involve the community in some way, someone will be offended, but it also pops up when folks declare that “atheists can’t be Pagan it offends the deities”. Sometimes there’s also a distinction between UPG and lore. For instance, many people accept that Loki has three daughters with Glut, when I pointed out that this is due to confusing Loki with a different entity (Logi) people would (understandably) get defensive. They’re certainly entitled to their UPG but they shouldn’t go around claiming that it’s in the lore. I’ve also gotten crap for not buying into the whole Sigyn/Angrboda catfight. To be clear, I’m not interested in policing anyone but I’m really tired of sexist UPG being treated like it’s canon.