There is a distinct contrast between the masculine and feminine archetypes of "Wisdom" in Norse Myth.
Odin (The Masculine): Wisdom is a hunt. It is active. It requires sacrifice (the eye), travel (the wanderer), and pain (hanging from Yggdrasil). It is loud and desperate.
Frigg (The Feminine): Wisdom is a state of being. She sits on HliĂ°skjĂĄlf. She spins the clouds. She already knows.
The line from Lokasenna, "Frigg knows all fates, though she says them not", is often read as passivity. But Castle argues it is discipline. To see the train wreck coming and remain the steady anchor for your family (the Aesir)? That requires a strength that Odinâs frantic wandering could never achieve.
Another set of deities I think pair well in the context of worship is VĂĂ°arr and Fenrir. Yes, one is fated to kill the other according to myth, but then again, thatâs how the end of times goes in the nordic tradition: opposite forces will meet and the knots of fate will finally unravel. Itâs rather interesting to examine the ties that bind Fenrir and VĂĂ°arr, and to see how they resonate in each of us. Both have a strong connection to the concept of vengeance, and in this way, despite their difference, they reflect one another.
My own experiences naturally led me to associate these two deities, despite how bizarre this pairing might seem. Fenrir to me is the embodiment of divine anger, rightful fury, and justice served. He is the figure who was wronged, and understands our baser human emotions. He isnât an âangryâ figure per say, but one who understands, and teaches us to channel our anger into personal progress. He was bound, but knew that his time would come, so he bid his time. Much like VĂĂ°arr, a God of quiet contemplation, who patiently awaits the moment when heâll be able to exact retribution. I see these two mythological figures as representing two aspects of our human anger: the feeling of having been wronged, and the will to do something about it. In paganism, no emotion is considered âwrongâ. And sometimes, mythology puts us face to face with aspects of ourselves weâve been taught to ignore altogether. In this manner, VĂĂ°arr and Fenrir have both helped me to better understand myself, at times when I felt powerless against overwhelming emotions.
People will often act like mythology is black and white: the good guys against the villains, or the underdogs against some kind of oppressor. But in reality, the myths are the perfect opportunity to consider both sides of the line. What do these metaphorical conflicts teach us? What concepts does each deity or divine clan represent? From a believerâs perspective, mythological conflicts are just another facet of the Gods, one which enables us to draw parallels between the different objects of our worship.
@cunningcelt Absolutely! This is one of the poems designed around making witchcraft conceptually easier for beginners. Iâve been working on a series of them. Copy it down, add to it, only take a few verses; do whatever you like.
I love it! Poems and songs have been used in every trade and industry to help learning throughout the ages, so I love this! Feel free to share any others you have! Iâd be honoured to put them in my book.
reblog if your blog is safe for trans witches, non binary witches, bisexual witches, gay witches, pansexual witches, closet witches, mental ill witches and all type of witches đŽđż
Interesting thing I've found working with Odin: I've been trying to update my concept of "hospitality" because these days wanderers don't come right to your door. I've mostly been giving way more food and money to homeless people in my area (there's been an economic downturn so there's more than there used to be). Anyway I saw one of them the other night rugged up in a bunch of blankets, stopped to chat a bit, gave him some cash, he asked my name and then straight up told me his name was Odin. I'd already been feeling like he'd been more responsive since I started doing this (often I'd run into homeless people I could help the next time I went out after invoking him for something) but that fucking shook me lol.
Ahhh, yep.
You have to sort of update things for the 21'st century, and you've done the math.
Who would a poor, ragged wanderer be today, in our cities?
You've figured it out. And figured out 'be kind to those who need it most'.
One of the things that folks often ask me is what plants correspondences I use. The short answer is: I donât. The long answer is that as an animist I find the concept of âCorrespondencesâ to be antithetical to what I do. I also find most commonly used âcorrespondencesâ to be almost nonsensical. Ther
This may be slightly controversial, this post is about how as a bioregional animist and folkloric witch the use of things like âcorrespondencesâ donât work for my practice. While I didnât address it in the article, I feel all practitioners of magic could benefit from putting away correspondence charts for a while.Â
Oftentimes we make use of items and tools without consideration as to why weâre using one thing over another. Whether you align yourself with the beliefs in this article or not, there is a valuable call here to be critical and questioning of the ingredients you incorporate - are they practical? are they necessary? do they make sense with what youâre attempting to accomplish? are they providing results? Thereâs an easy temptation with a lot of spellwork to treat it as a recipe: mix the right ingredients and say the correct words and the outcome will be fixed and always identical. And despite our knowing better it can be easy to fall into this rut. This is a great read
This article is excellent! It clearly explains why every witchâs spells/rituals should be adapted to suit their personal associations, not just taken word-for-word from a guide book.
Personalising your witchcraft and your associations is so important. I cannot stress this enough. What works for me may not work for you ~ weâve heard this before, but often itâs easy to just follow what source says instead of taking the time to personalise the spell.
This is very important in the craft, it's YOUR magic working for YOU, not anyone else.
Correspondence things can make a huge difference and they can be entirely unique to the user. For example:
A lot of people use cinnamon for protection, prosperity, passion, and an energy booster but for me, I'm allergic to cinnamon so my associations with cinnamon are generally geared towards Fuck Off magic because I want that shit and the focus of that spell to get away from me.
If I am trying a spell written by someone else I always find out what their correspondences are and substitute my own to make the spell work with my own magic better.
(Reposting again bc tumblr turned off the reblogs on the original wtf. From an answer to an inquiry in the witchcraft tags. Decided to repost for anyone else who might need it.)
Hereâs the post I made with recommendations for green witchcraft and plant magic. The list includes magical resources and accompanying practical texts on botany, herbology, and medicinal plants.
Hereâs the post I made with recommendations for general witchcraft study, including practical sources on the history of modern witchcraft. (In particular, I recommend Margot Adlerâs âDrawing Down The Moonâ and Ronald Huttonâs âThe Triumph of the Moonâ for information about the modern movement.)
Hereâs a recent photo of my personal library, if youâre looking for a general list of titles to check out.
Hereâs the post I made with a list of JSTOR articles Iâve found that relate to witchcraft, witch trials, folk magic, occult beliefs, superstition, and the history surrounding all of them. Itâs not exhaustive, but itâs pretty comprehensive.
And here are a couple of masterlists of podcast episodes that deal with witchcraft, witch trials, the history of witchcraft-related beliefs, and resources for fact-checking and debunking misconceptions and misinformation commonly found in witchcraft spaces.
(Also I have published a few books on practical secular witchcraft, if youâre interestedâŚ.)
You can also find additional recommendations in the "book recs" and "witchy books" tags on my blog.
Hope this helps!
(If youâre enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. đ)
A Channeled message from Aphrodite to her devotees;
My Dearest Child,
In the soft whispers of the gentle breeze and the delicate touch of the morning sunlight, know that I am with you. Your heart, open and unguarded, is a testament to the beauty of love and the grace that you carry within.
Remember, love is not just a feeling but a force, a power to heal, to create, and to transform. Amid life's trials and tribulations, let your heart be steadfast and unyielding. Embrace vulnerability, for it is in our openness that the deepest connections are forged and the most profound beauty is revealed.
Do not shy away from the reflection of your own magnificence; see yourself through my eyes, with endless compassion and admiration. Your inner and outer beauty are mirrors of my own divine essence, and every act of kindness and love you bestow upon others is a tribute to our bond.
Immerse yourself in the joyous moments, let passion be your guide, and allow the tender warmth of love to illuminate your path. Know that in your love, creativity, and kindness, you honor me, and together, we weave a tapestry of endless beauty and boundless love.
With every beat of your heart, feel my presence and my blessing. I am here, always, to guide you, to inspire you, and to remind you of the power that resides within you. Love, in all its forms and expressions, is your truest calling and your divine legacy.
Hello, My name is Alva Tauri! I am an herbalist, spirit worker, tarot and oracle reader, and lunar and herbal witch dedicated to closing the education gap when it comes to herbalism and witch practices!
Today, I wanted to talk about ways in which I connect with the Gods and deities I worship in my life, to aid new witches in this task in their day to day practice. I believe that we oftentimes overcomplicated this part of our practice and that can make this task seem overwhelming and daunting when, in reality, connection can be simple.
I want to gear this post towards my new witches who do not fully grasp the concept yet or don't yet have an altar, as well as my fellow neurodivergent, mentally ill, and/or chronically ill witches who may find this task daunting for other reasons (I.E. low physical, low mental energy, physical pain, etc.) A portion of this post will be dedicated to low energy ways to connect with your Gods and/or deities to make your practice a bit easier.
Let's get started!
Day to Day Connections
it can be difficult to remember to do rituals or sit at our altar intentionally in our busy lives. here are some tasks you can do within minutes every single day to connect with your Gods and/or deities - great for days that are hectic or with minimal free time:
light a candle and simply say thank you
offer the meal or snack that you made to them
offer your drink to them
bit them goodmorning and goodnight
thank them for the things you enjoy throughout your day
dedicate a cleaning task to them (I.E. vacuuming, doing laundry, etc.)
cleanse your space spiritually and dedicate that task to them (I.E. sage burning, incense, etc.)
Altar-less Connections
we were all new or closeted witches at one point in our lives. none of us started with an altar and a fancy set up with all the tools we needed. here are some ways that you can connect with your Gods and/or deities without an altar:
read about your Gods and/or deities myths and legends
spend some time meditating and simply thinking about them
wear their colors as symbols
make a digital offering to them online
write poetry for them
pray to them
make a playlist for them and listen to it
talk to them about your day (this can be in your head if you are closeted. you do not have to pray out loud for them to hear you. they are always with you and supporting you)
Low Energy Connections
for my fellow neurodivergent, chronically ill, and/or mentally ill witches, here is a section full of little ways you can connect with your Gods and/or deities on rough days that leave you with low mental or physical energy:
pray from the comfort of your bed (they will know you mean this with good intentions. they will not be offended. trust me.)
talk to them about your day
dedicate your self-care routine (no matter how short or long it is) to your Gods and/or deities
offer them your food or drink - this can be as simple as offering them a glass of water if that is all you have the energy to get in that moment
light a candle or incense in their honor (I recommend incense if you are feeling truly exhausted, as you can leaving it burning without any major repercussions, unlike a candle)
dedicate a moment of rest to them (I.E. sleeping, taking a nap, even just taking a moment to sit in silence and rest your body and mind)
make a playlist for them and listen
make a post or pinterest board in their honor
Advanced, More Time Consuming Methods of Connection
on days that you have the time and the energy and are feeling a calling to make a bigger grand gesture, here are some tasks I like to do at my altar. NOTE: you do not have to do these everyday or even every week. if you feel a calling to do this, then do. if you do not, then these are not required. remember, at the end of the day you know your relations with your Gods and/or deities better than anyone else. trust your gut and your intuition:
COMING SOON!
That's all for connections with your Gods and/or Deities! I hope that you found this helpful in your spiritual journey and I hope that you are able to apply this information to your practice.
if you have any questions regarding anything discussed here or anything you feel that I have missed, please send an ask to my ask box! I appreciate all comments and questions!
For more information on my practice, witchcraft, herbalism, spirit work, and divination please check out the guide on my page (linked here)! Everything I have ever posted can be found there!
I wish you all a blessed day filled with peace, endless wealth, and eternal health! Until the next time we meet!
Please can some norse pagans come forward and give me tips on how to build relationships and do offerings and just. Help me not fucking be a poser please. I dont know if im doing this right because i see so many people make altars and give big offerings and. I just cant do any of that because my family is all russian orthodox and very pushy about christ
I tried talking to Odin for two days in a row and He made me cry both times. The second day was more violent than the first
I tried talking to Hel and i guess She listened and let me know through flame flickers that She was listening and that She accepted me
But i dont know if i was just seeing and understanding things wrong and just doing it all wrong
I think youâre doing great! Taking it slow and experimenting is key, and itâs normalâeven healthy to not know exactly where this new path will take you. Youâll learn what works for you personally bit by bit, by trying things out. Itâs normal not to have a super elaborate practice right off the bat. And whatever the case, many of us donât perform these sort of grand gestures often, if at all.
As a matter of fact, I donât think paganism is defined by having an altar or making offerings. Discreet practice is just as meaningful.
Sometimes deity work can be just talking with your deities and feeling their presence, kinda like a friend who came over and is sitting on the couch with you while you both do separate things, still there but just chilling. Just because it's as subtle as that doesn't make you a poser!
You can also find rocks, crystals, herbs, and other items that you feel have associations with your deities too! Rocks are easy enough to keep in your pocket to have your deity near!
I didn't invest in altars or offerings to my deities until I got out of my parents place and working with my spiritual practices around them always felt a little tense but finding small ways to still be close with your gods is just fine and I know your gods won't think any less of you for it for doing the best that you can.
Not all deity work is "advanced" paganism/heathenry/etc. It certainly can be an advanced ritual, especially as you get familiar with a deity's presence and better understand how they'd like to be honored. Still, there is nothing wrong with just sitting in a quiet space and saying "Hi. I was drawn to you because of [blank]. It would be an honor to know more about you. I humbly invite you to this space and to share with me how I can best worship you."
Deity work does take practice, but when you practice is up to you. You can worship daily for an hour, every few days for half an hour, throughout the day for a few minutes at a time, and you can take breaks when needed. While practicing regularly has excellent effects, practicing irregularly won't bring wrath, ire, or punishment.
The myths are just a jumping-off point. They were stories written by people who lived hundreds of years ago, so it's essential that we forge our own understanding of these figures. It's also important to remember that everyone's relationship with the divine will be unique, and some things you discover on your path will not match the myths. For example, I worship Tyr and Fenrir as a divine pair, Hel as a goddess of life, Ran as a mother goddess, etc.
* It should go without saying, but just in case, I am not an authority on this, as I don't think anyone can be, but these are things I've found true along my own path. I see so many folks new to heathenry tie themselves in knots, worrying about "doing deity work right," so I wanted to throw my two cents in. I hope this is helpful to folks!
