Lorelai is a German siren or water spirit who sits on The Lorelei rock and sings a song that leads sailors to their doom. Her father is the Rhine itself, a river deity. However, the legend of Lorelei while it takes inspiration from folklore largely comes out of a literary tradition though the Lorelei rock does make odd noises that have inspired numerous legends including the idea that dwarves were banging around inside the rock.-TLK

Had Bunyan on the Brain so here is a longer essay on Bunyan himself. Enjoy-TLK https://wylderhomesproject.life/2021/07/08/paul-bunyan-american-heracles/

The Aurora Borealis has numerous tales told of it throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In Finland it is the snow or fires being kicked up by the fox, while in Scandinavia some say it is the glittering of the Valkyries armor, while others say it is the ancient god Ullr putting on a display of his power for the other gods, or alternatively the snow from his skis, there is an obscure Celtic tradition that says it is the fires of giants readying themselves for war, while in America a tale of Paul Bunyan says it is him and Babe roughhousing up in Alaska/The North Pole where he retired.-TLK

Enjoy the first of many shorts from Hyperborean Radio, recorded in the wastelands of modernity.-TLK https://anchor.fm/hyperborean-radio/episodes/Everything-is-looking-up-radio-short-e1465ig

Ullr & Ullrfest

Ullr is a Scandinavian god with ancient origins. He was called upon to witness the swearing of oaths, and is also credited with being the origin of the Biathalon. Despite limited amount of stories he was likely one of the "Big 6" gods of Scandinavia as I will term them, and tied into what we would call Vanir cults. A popular winter sports festival in Colorado "Ullrfest" has the Norse god at the center due to his association with Skiing and Winter. It has created a boom in his popularity and a 25 foot tall sculpture of the god is now present in the hometown of Ullrfest, Breckenridge, Colorado. -TLK

Thor Slays the Serpent by Torgeir Fjereide 2016

From the “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit. Big city suppresses the spirit, Nature heals the soul.
Get to the wilderness, Hyperborean.
We belong there.

Update from South Africa

SAPS = South African Police Service & SANDF = is South African National Defence Force, in case you were wondering

Coming soon to a country near you.

Witches and Whales

While not one of the obvious animals associated with Scandinavian Pagan customs Whales are actually fairly relevant to the spiritual customs of Scandinavia. Whales are one of the most well known animal spirits that are often ridden by "witches" in their spiritual journeys. One notable example is that of the story of the four land spirit guardians of Iceland. Harald Bluetooth desiring to invade Iceland had a wizard send his spirit in the form of a whale to Iceland to scout it out, he discovered the four spirit guardians of Iceland a bull, an eagle, a giant, and a dragon. While another term for the Ocean is "The Whale Road".-TLK

Secret messages?

Despite what's been shown in pop culture HeimdallR is regarded as "The Whitest of the Aesir" which may be a reference to his complexion or merely a reference to beauty. HeimdallR is also credited with bringing gifts of agriculture as well as being said to teach the runes to man. He is the guardian of Asgard and is a very old deity, with unclear origins, he is considered highly connected to the world tree, with one passage being interpreted as he gave his ear (hearing) to Mimirs Brunnr similar to Odin and his eye, which may have caused his hearing to increase to its present state and spread it throughout the nine realms. Making him a more effective watchman.-TLK

Aurora and Cephalus – French Neoclassical School, c. 1810

Hey everyone,

Just let you know I am safe! As many of you are aware, South Africa is besieged by mass, uncontrolled looting, rioting and general lawlessness; it's no longer civil disobedience! Towns have been blockaded as we take to the streets to patrol and protect our businesses from the ruffians who think they have the right to "free shopping" at our expense. This is NOT about poverty & inequality! It's all about that disreputable (insert expletive) former president who has been charged and convicted of over 800 corruption charges, rape and a few other things.

His supporters are running amok; sabotaging the infrastructure and key economic sectors; burning and pilfering everything! The police are overwhelmed - many of whom are actually partaking in this mess - whilst our army does nothing. You cannot tell me you're hungry whilst stealing a plasma TV or Nike shoes. Nevertheless, I'll continue to do my work as an artist as I'll not allow this crap to disrupt me in any way, shape or form.

I'm busy with the front cover of the Halloween edition as well as my commissions. I want to thank those who have been really patient with me; I am working on your commissions as quickly as I can, but I also want to ensure it is done properly. I take quality seriously! Furthermore, I am still busy with immigration, but things will slow down in that regard. I'll neither give up nor give in. A wolf never quits! Fenrir will make sure of that. :)

May the gods and goddesses watch over you!

Hello to all those out there in the Wastelands of Modernity. Today we discussed something that is a bit of common sense "Not Everyone is a Viking, and that's ok" we discussed the variety of traditions. The remains of pagan folk customs in "Catholic" Folk Faith, how the stories do not directly correlate to importance, the steps towards monotheism, and the negative effects of both the viking fan club and the "My God can beat up your god" mentality. We discussed gods from Freyja to Santa Claus and the importance of tradition and ancestors in comparison to deities. This was an important one and a long time coming. Tune in here: https://anchor.fm/hyperborean-radio/episodes/Not-everyone-is-a-Viking--and-that-is-ok-e14dipu

On a Way to a Feast in the Trollcastle by Theodor Severin Kittelsen