Family
Parents: Odin and Frigg
Wife: Nanna
Kid: Forseti
Baldr has numerous half siblings, but full brother to Hodr, the blind god
He is one of the Aesir
Names and epithets
Ways to spell his name: Baldr, Balder, Baldur
Epithets: The white, the good, the bright, father of justice
Treasures
Home: Breidablik
Ship: Hringhorni
Horse: Gulltopp (translates to Goldtop)
Baldr is the god of beauty, light, innocence and forgiveness. He is also seen as a god of purity, joy and peace. Some also call him a god of naivity because he always see the good in everyone, even people no one else is able to see good things.
We have little knowledge about Baldr in general. The most known story about him is his death. Some who is devoted to, worship or work with Baldr might not want to work with Loki at all due to this story. Baldr had dreams about his death which gave him long awake nights. His mother, Frigg, tried to help him by making everyone and everything promise not to hurt Baldr, all materials, weapons, sickness etc. All except for the misteltoe, which she thought was too small, young and harmless to make a promise. Now that Baldr seemed absolutely immortal the other gods tried their weapons on him, as nothing would hurt him. His blind brother Hodr wanted to join in, but couldn't because he did not want to hurt anyone. Loki had found a way to know the misteltoe didn't promise to not hurt him, and made an arrow from it which he guided Hodr to shoot at his brother. Baldr died from the arrow and Loki ran away.
Later in the story we get to know Baldr would be allowed to leave Helheim and go back to Asgard if the whole world would show their grief after his death, and everyone did except an old lady. It is believed this old lady is Loki to make sure Baldr couldn't return to his family.
Controversy
There is controversy whether or not you can work with Baldr due to him being in Helheim. Their argument is true, those who goes to Helheim can't leave it before all gates open and chains break under Ragnarok. But again, Loki is chained and can't leave his place before Ragnarok when all chains breaks and gates open under Ragnarok. If working with Loki is valid, then working with Baldr is as well! And please do not fear having your own beliefs on this. You are free to reach out to him whatever your reason would be.
Lessons
What I have gotten from working with Baldr is to forgive. Forgive but not forget, and forgiving doesn't mean to let others walk all over you, and it's also important that you learn to forgive yourself. You also learn to appreciate and find joy in the smallest things, which I personally think has bettered my life quality so much. He wants you to know your worth but still show kindness to the world, and to help others who need.
Offerings and acts of devotion
Meditation around a source of light (in the sunlight, by a candle, LED candles, fireplace etc)
Help others who need (he used to guide and help his blind brother)
Heal and care for your inner child
Create something for him
Pray to him
Appreciate others
Enjoy calm music
Enjoy your fav herbal tea, raise a glass to him
Keep candles that reminds you of him (I personally love the scented ones)
Practice forgiveness and compassion, especially towards yourself
Devote a plushie that reminds u of him or summer
Symbols of light, sunrise, summer, and things you find beautiful, keep around, decorate or keep on jewelry
Decorate with fairy lights and lanterns
Take notice in your progress and look at how far you got
Sketch, draw, write and other creative expressions
Sunbathe (Remember sunscreen)
Express or decompress
Take a walk on a sunny day
Practice regulating emotions, and feel your emotions
Find healthy emotional outlets
Spend time with the ones you love
Do something that makes you happy
Play with your pets
Donate to organizations that helps homeless, sick, disabled etc
Take care of yourself
Make a comfortable and safe space for yourself
Celebrate achievements, even small ones
Clean trash around your neighborhood or in nature (also great offering to Jord, Gaia, or other personification of Earth)
Practice open-mindedness, agree to disagree
Honor your ancestors, learn about your family history (family were huge in the norse society, and Balder loves his family)
Flowers, especially those strongly connected to the sun(Mayweed and Sea Mayweed is both known under the name Balder's brow in Sweden and Norway, they would make a great offering as well)
He is associated to the colors gold, white, yellow and sky-blue
carnelian, red jasper, citrine, goldstone, sunstone
-Some say misteltoe would be a nice offering, but some believes you shouldn't, would recommend asking him before you offer it
Signs
-I haven't found much of set signs that Baldr is reaching out to you, which might be because of the lack of information. However I have seen these;
You randomly think about him over an extented period of time
The rune Dagaz/Dagr
Dreams become very symbolic
Dreaming about him
You can always reach out to him if that feels right for you! I personally see him in the sun and 7 of swords. He could also be big in meditation and dream interpretations because of his dremas before the story of his death.
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