The Ash tree is often seen as the Yggdrasil and is the tree from which spears were once made. Ash comes from the PIE root *as- 'to burn, glow' hence the ashes of a fire. Though a spirit called the Askafroa (Ash-wife or Ash-lady) lives in the tree, the Ash is foremost associated with Woden.
The Oak is the national tree of both England and Germany and is most commonly seen as Thunor’s tree. The root word *perkʷ gives us oak and also the name Perkūnas the Baltic thunder god, but we also get the word fir (furhō) from this, but this just shows us Thunor’s parentage as Firgen / Fyrgen (from the same root and an aspect of the Earth goddess) is Thunor’s mother.
The Linden tree, also called Lime in England is often called the Lover's Tree in German folklore due to the fact its leaves are heart shaped and is most often associated with the goddess Freya (OE Frōwe). The name comes from the root *lindō, itself from *linþaz ‘mild or soft’. Linden trees are known to ‘buzz’ and if you are under a Linden and you hear this noise, Frōwe isn’t far away. Shields were once made with the wood of the Linden (Frōwe is a shieldmaiden of course) and a form of chocolate can also be produced from from its seeds!
The Oak is the national tree of both England and Germany and is most commonly seen as Thunor’s tree. The root word *perkʷ gives us oak and also the name Perkūnas the Baltic thunder god, but we also get the word fir (furhō) from this, but this just shows us Thunor’s parentage as Firgen / Fyrgen (from the same root and an aspect of the Earth goddess) is Thunor’s mother.
The Linden tree, also called Lime in England is often called the Lover's Tree in German folklore due to the fact its leaves are heart shaped and is most often associated with the goddess Freya (OE Frōwe). The name comes from the root *lindō, itself from *linþaz ‘mild or soft’. Linden trees are known to ‘buzz’ and if you are under a Linden and you hear this noise, Frōwe isn’t far away. Shields were once made with the wood of the Linden (Frōwe is a shieldmaiden of course) and a form of chocolate can also be produced from from its seeds!
A Witch-Wife riding a Wolf was seen in a dream by a man named Throd, one of Harald Hardrada’s men, prior to Harald’s army setting sail for England early September, 1066. It was a bad omen for Harald. This Witch-Wife was the Eoten (giantess) Skade, whom the Norse called Skaði.
The word Skade, meaning to injure or harm has an English cognate in the word scathe – the OE sċeaþa or sċeaþu. Her name is also connected to the English word shadow (OE sceadu) and the Irish Scáthach or Shadowy-one.
Her name isn’t attested in OE – at least as a given name for Eoten or goddess but she stood on the land Throd ‘knew to be England’, her giant wolf devouring men from the invading army. She is then a guardian of our land or an ill fate (shadow-fate) Harald bought with him.
The word Skade, meaning to injure or harm has an English cognate in the word scathe – the OE sċeaþa or sċeaþu. Her name is also connected to the English word shadow (OE sceadu) and the Irish Scáthach or Shadowy-one.
Her name isn’t attested in OE – at least as a given name for Eoten or goddess but she stood on the land Throd ‘knew to be England’, her giant wolf devouring men from the invading army. She is then a guardian of our land or an ill fate (shadow-fate) Harald bought with him.
Forwarded from ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ
A bronze horned headdress from Hagendrup, Denmark, early Bronze Age. Note how the gold foil on the forehead has a running fylfot design; the horned figure on the Sutton Hoo helmet also has a stylized fylfot on his headdress.
If the English had a separate name for Earth Mother in her harvest aspect, this might have been a name formed from the verbs gifan, to give, or gifian, to bestow gifts, such as Giefu, grace, favour; Gifole, generous, bountiful; Gifiende, bestowing gifts. Such a name would be related to the Norse Gefn, giver, a by-name of Freya and to Gefjon, the giving one.
- Kathleen Herbert 'Looking for the Lost gods of England'
- Artwork 'gyfu rune' by Brian Partridge
- Kathleen Herbert 'Looking for the Lost gods of England'
- Artwork 'gyfu rune' by Brian Partridge
Just some thoughts to add to the post above – firstly I’ve often wondered if the cross on the tops of bread and buns originally represented the gyfu rune. It certainly can’t be a christian cross because many bread-giving traditions predate christianity in England. Gyfu is the rune of giving and generosity. The rune is also connected to the bride and marriage as we can see in these OE words -Giefan - bestowed. Giefend - giver. Gift - a marriage gift. Ģiftbûr - bride-chamber. Giftian - give in marriage.
It could also be that the ‘X’ symbol used as a kiss at the end of a message may also be very old (again originating with the gyfu rune perhaps?) Some historians believe that peasants in the middle ages who could not read or write left an X as their mark on records, but would also kiss the document, later this associated the X with a sign for a kiss.
It could also be that the ‘X’ symbol used as a kiss at the end of a message may also be very old (again originating with the gyfu rune perhaps?) Some historians believe that peasants in the middle ages who could not read or write left an X as their mark on records, but would also kiss the document, later this associated the X with a sign for a kiss.
Kathleen Herbert mentions a few names connected with the verbs gifan (gift) and gifian (to bestow gifts). All these names seem connected to the ocean/sea as a provider of provisions or as a goddess who provides for her folk – and also to the bride or soon-to-be bride. No doubt as she would soon be providing the family with an heir. This connection is furthered by the OE word ‘gift’ meaning wedding and that it is always the bride who is ‘given away’.
The Norse goddess Gefjon ploughed the island of Zealand into being but her name is also found in Beowulf as Gefion who is described as a sea-goddess.
Gefn is a byname of Frōwe (Freya) whose role overlaps with Frig in English lore. Frig presided over weddings (though she is not alone in this role as marriages were also blessed by Thunor) which is why weddings held on a Friday were said to be blessed.
The Norse goddess Gefjon ploughed the island of Zealand into being but her name is also found in Beowulf as Gefion who is described as a sea-goddess.
Gefn is a byname of Frōwe (Freya) whose role overlaps with Frig in English lore. Frig presided over weddings (though she is not alone in this role as marriages were also blessed by Thunor) which is why weddings held on a Friday were said to be blessed.
The name Wergulu appears in the Nine Herbs Charm as the name for nettle. The word comes from the root ‘werg’ – from the Old German ‘werc’ the term for processing nettles (turning nettle into rope). We get the modern day ‘work’ from the same root. Nettle makes a surprisingly strong and durable material which is why German military uniforms use to be made from nettle.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that a battle was fought in 592 AD between Ceawlin and the Britons at a place called Woddesbeorge or Wodnesbeorge. This could well be Wanborough in Wiltshire. Whilst there are other places in England that derive their name from Woden's Borough, there once stood a 130ft tall chalk hill figure at Foxhill (near Wanborough), possibly representing Woden. The figure was lost (or destroyed) some 1000 years ago, however in 1966 aerial photos were taken of the site and the faint outline of the figure could just be seen in the landscape. Pictured above is the Wanborough Spearman as he may have appeared based on these aerial shots.
Forwarded from Sigmund's Metaphysical Männerbund 🜨
Hellrūna
Tell me, Hellrūna, whence do we come?
How did our World come to be?
Tell me, Corpse-counselled, secrets you know,
Of the nine realms and the tree.
Tell me, Witch, tales of long ago,
Ettins and fire and ice.
Come now, Dead-listener, wisdom you know,
I've come to seek your advice.
Tell me, Hellrūna, what of my wyrd?
Ways that are laid before me,
Tell me, Corpse-counselled, roots that you know,
What are the names of the Three?
Tell me, witch, of the moon and the stars,
Why does the day turn to night?
Come now, Dead-listener, runes that you know,
When will the sun lose her light?
Tell me, Hellrūna, what of the mead?
How does one drink from the well?
Tell me, Corpse-counselled, future you know,
Of Hermod's ride down to Hell.
Tell me, Witch, of the end of the worlds,
When will the great winter come?
Come now, Dead-listener, fate that you know,
When will our doom-thread come undone?
🜨
Tell me, Hellrūna, whence do we come?
How did our World come to be?
Tell me, Corpse-counselled, secrets you know,
Of the nine realms and the tree.
Tell me, Witch, tales of long ago,
Ettins and fire and ice.
Come now, Dead-listener, wisdom you know,
I've come to seek your advice.
Tell me, Hellrūna, what of my wyrd?
Ways that are laid before me,
Tell me, Corpse-counselled, roots that you know,
What are the names of the Three?
Tell me, witch, of the moon and the stars,
Why does the day turn to night?
Come now, Dead-listener, runes that you know,
When will the sun lose her light?
Tell me, Hellrūna, what of the mead?
How does one drink from the well?
Tell me, Corpse-counselled, future you know,
Of Hermod's ride down to Hell.
Tell me, Witch, of the end of the worlds,
When will the great winter come?
Come now, Dead-listener, fate that you know,
When will our doom-thread come undone?
🜨
Saturday sees in the efen−niht (even-night or equinox) when the light finally gives way to the growing darkness. The following Friday (29th Sept) brings us the first full moon after the equinox thus the start of Winterfylleth or the month we equate with October.
Though we try to follow this solar-lunar calendar it isn’t always easy. The solar cycle, the thirteen lunar month and twelve calendar month cycles all fall out of sync at some point in the year. But to be honest the common folk probably didn’t follow a set calendar anyway, instead marked the passing of time by the change in the seasons, the migration of birds, the fall of the leaves and observing the behaviours of the animals around them.
Thunor’s grumbling thunder overhead and the noticeable change in the weather suggests that the English summer is now finally over and winter will soon be here, whether we knew the equinox was coming this Saturday or not!
Though we try to follow this solar-lunar calendar it isn’t always easy. The solar cycle, the thirteen lunar month and twelve calendar month cycles all fall out of sync at some point in the year. But to be honest the common folk probably didn’t follow a set calendar anyway, instead marked the passing of time by the change in the seasons, the migration of birds, the fall of the leaves and observing the behaviours of the animals around them.
Thunor’s grumbling thunder overhead and the noticeable change in the weather suggests that the English summer is now finally over and winter will soon be here, whether we knew the equinox was coming this Saturday or not!
Forwarded from Survive the Jive: All-feed
Viking grave marker from Yorkshire, England depicting a dragon slayer, possibly the hero Sigurd
We all know our modern word month comes from the same root as moon, but what’s not so well known is that the word ‘week’ is also moon related. There are roughly four weeks in a lunar month and each week sees a change in the phase of the moon. This gives us the word ‘week’ from the proto-Germanic *wikǭ meaning ‘to change, turn, succession’.
I have an idea for some artwork I’d like to start on, themed around the Nine Herbs Charm. But one thing for certain regarding the charm is that we can’t all agree what the herbs are!
The herbs usually named are -
Una / mucgwyrt - Mugwort
Waybread / wegbrade - Plantain
Stune, suggestions vary between lamb’s cress (hairy bittercress) / shepherds purse / water cress
Atterlothe / attorlaðe - Betony (some say Nightshade)
Maythe / mægðe – Mayweed (also called German Chamomile)
Wergulu – is German for Nettle but sometimes translated as Crab Apple
Stiðe – Nettle
Fille - Chervil (some say Wild thyme)
Finule - Fennel
The herbs usually named are -
Una / mucgwyrt - Mugwort
Waybread / wegbrade - Plantain
Stune, suggestions vary between lamb’s cress (hairy bittercress) / shepherds purse / water cress
Atterlothe / attorlaðe - Betony (some say Nightshade)
Maythe / mægðe – Mayweed (also called German Chamomile)
Wergulu – is German for Nettle but sometimes translated as Crab Apple
Stiðe – Nettle
Fille - Chervil (some say Wild thyme)
Finule - Fennel