Bifrost - The Rainbow Bridge

The path from the earth to the sky, the realm of Asgard. The bridge is Bifrost.

 

The gods (Aesir) built a bridge made up of the spectrum of colours. We call this a 'rainbow'. They say it has three colours (though the shades are many) and is made with more skill and knowledge than any other construction. As great as it is, it will be broken when the sons of Muspell (Chaos and ruled by Surt) ride over it in the end at Ragnarok. At this time the sons of Muspell's horses will will swim across great rivers and advance.

 

The gods deserve no blame for the fate of this construction. Bifrost is a sturdy and sound bridge, but nothing in this world will be trusted when the sons of Muspell attack led by Loki at Ragnarok.

Yggdrasil

The Ash Yggdrasil

 

Yggdrasil is the World Tree. This is a concept repeated in most religions, past and current. The Tree of Life.

 

In Norse mythology Yggdrasil is the central or holy place of the gods, the place where they hold their courts each day.

 

Its branches spread across the world and it stands over the sky. Three roots support the tree and are spread far apart: one is among the Aesir, the second among the frost giants where Ginnungagap was once (the void before creation). The third reaches down to the netherworld of Niflheim where the well of Hvergelmir springs but the serpent, Nidhogg (Hateful Striker) gnaws its roots.

 

Under the root of the Frost Giants is the Well of Mimir the wise. He is the owner and drinks of the waters of Gjallarhorn. Odin went there to ask for one drink from this well and as a pledge he gave one of his eyes.

 

The third root of Yggdrasil is in heaven and under this is the holy well of Urd. Here the gods have their place of judgement.

 

Within the branches of Yg an eagle sits who has knowledge of many things. Between his eyes is the Hawk called Vedrfolnir (Wind Bleached). The squirrel Ratatosk (Drill Tooth) runs up and down Yg and tells slanderous gossip provoking both the eagle and Nidhogg. The four staggs move about in the branches of Yg devouring the leaves. From above the stag eats and from below the serpents gnaw.

 

Norns (the Fates) live beside Urd's Well and every day they draw water and splash this with mud over the ash so it will not whither and decay.

 

I know an ash,

it is called Yggdrasil,

a high, holy tree,

splashed and coated with white clay.

From it come the dews

that fall in the valleys.

It will always stand green over Urd's Well

The Sibyl's Prophecy

 

The dew is called honeydew and bees feed on it. Two birds nourish themselves in Urd, these are the swans we know now.

 

The existence of the World Ash supports all nine worlds. It is the pillar of existence. Each tree that stands is a tribute to Yggdrasil...to life...to the cycles of seasons.

 

It is symbolically the pillar of our existence and life as a whole.

Snorri and the Prose Edda

It should be noted that Snorri Sturluson was a product of the early medieval scholarly system. His writing and translations were influenced by not only early Christianity (thus Adam and Eve and references to the misunderstandings of the pre Christian people) but also by the trend of referencing classical history in their writings (thus the references to Troy). He sanitises much of his writing and though still 'bawdy' in places does not usually contain the blatant sexual or lude referrals found in the Poetic Edda 'written' by an earlier unknown source. In the Prose Edda we see a much more direct representation of certain events...and a less rowdy and lude translation of the 'poems'. (See the Lokasenna and the story of Thor meeting with Odin in disguise on the ferry crossing).

 

Thor was often considered during Snorri's time as the Primary God as opposed to Odin (and the various 'tribes' or cultures had various intrepretations of their beliefs with many considering Thor as the Chief God). However though the initial comments can be confusing, Odin is still seen as All Father and the primary godhead. It should be understood that names are repeated and Odin, though the brother of Bor initially in the Prose Edda is also considered the son of Bor and one of his names.

 

The giants are not conceived necessarily like the modern conception of giants being beings of great stature. Yes, some were, such as Ymir, but others were of normal stature and many of them wise and moreso the women were desireable and of great beauty.

 

An open mind and a tongue in cheek reading of the Prose Edda can see through the veneer of early Christianisation and into the true heart of the myths and 'pagan' beliefs of the early Norse. Remembering that Iceland was settled in around 800 AD, one gets an idea of the late Christianisation of the Norse cultures and a better understanding of the invaders of various earlier Christianised lands.

The Eddas - Creation

The world as we know it was created from the death and dismemberment of Ymir...considered the first and greatest giant. Discrepancies occur as it is indicated that before Ymir there were other giants and the Aesir from a world not born and yet in the making.

 

However, here we establish the creation of the world. Evolution Norse style.

 

The rivers flowed and they in turn were so far from their sources they caused the poisonous flow of the fires of Muspell (Chaos?). These fires were turned to a slag of cinders and the ice solidified and no longer ran. They turned into poisonous drops and froze into an icy rime (hoarfrost).

 

Layer by layer an ice grew on Ginnungagap (the ether regions, the void). The southern regions turned light from the sparks and embers flowing from Gunningagap. Still there was coldness and things grim from Niflheim.

 

From this sprang a man called Ymir, a frost giant. From him he established the clan. He bore his children. From his left arm grew a male and female, from his legs, he begot a son by their union. From this came the Frost giants.

 

*****

 

Ymir lived on the milk of the cow Audhumla. Four rivers came from her udders.

 

She licked the salt from the ices and thus the hair of a man appeared. He was Buri. Soon after he took a wife called Bestla the daughter of Bolthron (giant). They had three sons: Bor, Odin, Ve and Vili.

 

Bor killed Ymir and from his blood the race was drowned. Except one who escaped with his household, Bergelmir.

 

From Ymir's body, after taking it to Ginnungagap they took his blood, thus the sea and lakes were formed. From his flesh the earth; from his bones, mountain cliffs. The stones were from his teeth and broken bones. With the blood they made the sea and contained the earth. From his skull, the sky. Under each point they placed a dwarf. The embers and sparks that were made they placed in the sky to light Heaven and Earth. This was before earth was created.

 

From Ymir's flesh

was the earth created,

from the bloody sweat, the sea,

cliffs from bones,

trees from hair,

and from the head, the heavens.

 

And from his eyelashes

the gentle gods made

Midgard for the sons of men;

and from his brains

all the oppressive

clouds were formed.

(The lay of Grimnir)

Saturday night's alright for flyting...

Flyting and Loki

The Lokasenna

Another foray from our own developments into the land of the Gods and their ways. An amusing distraction.

Flyting was a sport of the gods, also a means of non physically violent combat. A battle of wits and insults. Odin has his moment with Thor (one must wonder what kind of a father he was!) at the ferry crossing but the Flyting champion must be Loki.

Now half of our team finds Loki the far superior and most interesting and misunderstood of the gods. Although he is a trickster and wildfire and chaos by nature of birth, he is used and abused by the other gods, blamed for their own indiscretions and mistakes. They turned to him in times when their lesser wits left them trapped and only Loki's cunning and guile could remove their obstacles and foes. When it went wrong, guess who got the blame? Ask for advice and take it, then blame yourself not your advisor.

Here we enter the delightful and often rude, Lokasenna. Whereby having been rebuked and denied access to a feast, he appears, after killing one of the serving men for having received praise. He meets up with the other serving man and demands access. Upon entering he is finally allowed to sit due to his 'blood brothership' with Odin. From then on...

Flyting.

Loki:

'Do you remember, Odin, when in bygone days

we mixed our blood gether?

You said you would never drink ale

unless it were brought to both of us.'

Odin:

'Get up then, Vidar, and let the wolf's father

sit at the feast

lest Loki speak words of blame to us

in Aegir's hall.'

This gains Loki acceptance to the table.

Loki's insults run from calling Braggi (the god of poetry) a bench ornament and a coward, to accusing Braggi's innocent and kind wife of 'being man crazy', to accusing Freya of sleeping with her brother, being caught by the gods and farting in bed.

These insults are amusing and wicked. The retorts often awkward and embarrassed, covering Loki's insults with excuses and aiming vitriol at Loki's own past 'evil' deeds. Does Loki back down? No, he embraces their comebacks with elegance and wit, denying nothing.

The end result: Thor, who does not seem to acknowledge the sacred tradition of not shedding blood or of physical violence in a place where food and drink are taken, threatens Loki with Mjolnir, his hammer, and thus Loki, being no fool, quits the hall. Unfortunately with soon to be dire consequences for himself.

Excellent reading and puts the gods in the light of fallibility and shows them as the wayward beings that they were... Almost human, we'd say.

(Source - The Poetic Edda).

Rune of the day

Wunjo

Modern letter - W

Wunjo signifies Joy, A rune associated with Freyja, the goddess of love. It can mean positive change.

Sayings of Odin

In the absence of any interesting activity to do with the business, we thought we'd share some of Odin's sayings from the Poetic Edda. For an old Norse dude, he made some pretty relevant observations on human behaviour.

The foolish man thinks he will live for ever,
if he keeps away from fighting;
but old age won't grant him a truce
even if the spears do.

A man shouldn't hold onto the cup but drink mead in moderation,
it's necessary to speak or be silent;
no man will blame you for impoliteness
if you go early to bed.

He's a wretched man, of an evil disposition,
the one who makes fun of everything;
he doesn't know the one thing he ought to know:
that he himself is not devoid of faults.

It's a great detour to a bad friend's house,
even though he lives on the route;
but to a good friend's the ways lie straight,
even though he lives far off.

To his friend a man should be a friend
and repay gifts with gifts;
laughter a man should give for laughter
and repay treachery with lies.

Not very much need a man give,
often you get praise for a little;
with half a loaf and a tilted cup
I've got myself a companion.
-Sayings of The High One (Poetic Edda)

Runemarks

Joanne Harris’ Runemarks is a marvel. Melding her amazing imagination with references to The Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, she has captured the personification of the Norse ‘Gods’ along with the importance of Rune Lore. Her depiction of the Aesir and Vanir as fallible with virtues and faults, with humour and remarkable style has adhered to the original prose while adding her own take on their futures after Ragnarok.

The influence of Runes in Runemarks brings an individuality and true authenticity to the use of Runes as more than an alphabet but as an ancient mystic tool. Dismiss most previous stereotypes of the ‘Gods’ through modern culture and modern ‘belief systems’ and meet them as they were: flawed, true and a strange and very special ‘dysfunctional’ family who will take you in.

Rune of the day

Kenaz

Modern letter = C/K

Kenaz signifies a torch, light after a period of darkness. Order from chaos, creative fire.

The Icelandic Rune Poem

The Icelandic Runic Poem, which is supposed to date from the fifteenth century, consists of sixteen short stanzas dealing in succession with the letter names of the Scandinavian Runic alphabet.

Each of these stanzas contain three Kennings (The descriptive phrases used instead of nouns in old Scandinavian poetry, e.g. "Sea-Steed" to mean "ship").

Here are the first three stanzas as a "taster"...

Fé er frænda róg.........Wealth

ok flæðar viti................source of discord among kinsmen

ok grafseiðs gata.........and fire of the sea

aurum fylkir................and path of the serpent.

Úr er skýja grátr........Shower

ok skára þverrir..........lamentation of the clouds

ok hirðis hatr...............and ruin of the hay-harvest

umbre vísi....................and abomination of the shepherd.

Þurs er kvenna kvöl......Giant

ok kletta búi....................torture of women

ok varðrúnar verr..........and cliff-dweller

Saturnus þengill..............and husband of a giantess.

Rune of the day

Raidho

Modern letter - R

Raidho signifies a Journey, implying not just physical travel, but a quest for spiritual enlightenment.