F is for Freyja

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

If you’d rather check out my book review for today, go here.

A goddess of love, beauty, cats — and war. There’s so much to know about this Norse goddess.

Folklore

The Prose Edda [Ancient Text]

Njord, in Noatun, afterward begat two children: a son, by name Frey, and a daughter, by name Freyja. They were fair of face, and 86mighty. Frey is the most famous of the asas. He rules over rain and sunshine, and over the fruits of the earth. It is good to call on him for harvests and peace. He also sways the wealth of men. Freyja is the most famous of the goddesses. She has in heaven a dwelling which is called Folkvang, and when she rides to the battle, one half of the slain belong to her, and the other half to Odin. As is here said:

Folkvang it is called,
And there rules Freyja.
For the seats in the hall
Half of the slain
She chooses each day;
The other half is Odin’s.39

Her hall is Sesrynmer, and it is large and beautiful. When she goes abroad, she drives in a car drawn by two cats. She lends a favorable ear to men who call upon her, and it is from her name the title has come that women of birth and wealth are called frur.40 She is fond of love ditties, and it is good to call on her in love affairs.

he sixth is Freyja, who is ranked with Frigg. She is wedded to the man whose name is Oder; their daughter’s name is Hnos, and she is so fair that all things fair and precious are called, from her name, Hnos. Oder went far away. Freyja weeps for him, but her tears are red gold. Freyja has many names, and the reason therefor is that she changed her name among the various nations to which she came in search of Oder. She is called Mardol, Horn, Gefn, and Syr. She has the necklace Brising, and she is called Vanadis.

Norse Mythology: Captivating Stories of the Gods, Sagas and Heroes by Matt Clayton

Freya (also Freyja)—Like her brother, Freyr, she was an honorary member of the Aesir. Her husband’s name was Odr. Because of the similarity in husband and wife names, a strong case has been made that Odr is none other than Odin, and that Freya is merely another name of Frigg, Odin’s wife. Loki had accused her of having slept with all the gods, including her brother, and even some of the elves. She is a goddess of fertility, love, beauty and elegant property. If she had lived today, she might even be called the “party girl” of the gods. She wielded great power—the seidr—manipulating the prosperity, health and desires of others. Amongst her many powers is the ability to shape shift into the form of a falcon.

*More can be read in the book.

The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

In Norse mythology, the hare is the companion of Freya, goddess of fecundity.

*More can be read in the book.

A Wizard’s Bestiary by Oberon Zell Ravenheart and Ash “LeopardDancer” DeKirk

Another famous Norse horse was Svadilfari (“he who makes an unfortunate journey”). He was a huge magickal horse belonging to the giant Hrimthurse, who agreed to erect a defensive wall around Asgard, home of the Aesir gods, in return for the sun and the moon— and also the goddess Freya. Persuaded by Loki, the gods accepted and set a deadline of one winter, which they were certain Hrimthurse would be unable to meet. But the gigantic stallion Svadilfari had the strength of 100 mortal horses, and with his help the wall was nearly completed by the eve of the last day. The desperate gods demanded that Loki do something to stop the giant from winning, whereupon Loki transformed himself into a beautiful white mare in heat, seducing Svadilfari away and compelling Hrimthurse to abandon the wall in order to chase his horse. Of this union was born the eight-legged steed Sleipnir, after which Loki returned to his own form.

*More can be read in the book.

Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi

Among the Teutonic people the boar was sacred to Frey, Freya, and Woden/Odin. Boar masks and shields decorated with boar symbols were carried into battle to protect warriors. The boar was sacrificed to Frey at the Yule rite (Cooper, p. 22). The Norse goddess Freya is often depicted with a sow. In occult imagery the boar is the pig symbolized as untamed and free.

FREYA is the goddess of fertility in Nordic-Germanic mythology. The ancient Romans equated her with Venus as a goddess of love. In iconography Freya’s chariot was drawn by two magickal cats.

*More can be read in the book.

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes

Freya is the most beautiful of the Norse spirits with dominion over love, sex, fertility, magic, witchcraft, death, pleasure, and glory. “Freya” literally means “Lady” and may be a title, not a name. (Her twin brother is Freyr or “Lord.”) She is simultaneously a spirit of fertility and death, beauty and war.

Freya is clearly identified as a witch. When she first arrives in Asgard (the Aesir’s realm), she teaches the Aesir how to craft charms and potions. It is Freya who introduced Odin to runes and shamanism. Völvas and Valkyries serve as her priestesses.

Golden Freya most often manifests as a woman, although she owns a falcon feather cloak that enables her to fly like a falcon and shape-shift as she pleases.

Freya is an independent single woman who answers to no one.

Two large gray cats, possibly lynxes, named Bee-gold (Honey) and Tree-gold (Amber) pull her chariot. They embody Freya’s twin qualities of ferocity and fecundity. She rides a boar into battle (as does her brother Freyr). Her sacred day was Friday; her sacred number 13, the number of months in the lunar calendar.

*More can be read in the book.

Further Reading:

• Freya – Goddess of Magic, Beauty, and Fertility in Norse Mythology
• Freyja
• Freyja
• Freyja predicted the future
• Freya
• Freya
• The Story, Symbols and Powers of Freya, the Norse Goddess of Love
• Freyja: Norse Goddess of Witchcraft, Love, and War
• Freyja
• 8 Facts About the Goddess Freyja (Norse Mythology)
• Bygul and Trjegul
• The Cats that Pull Freyja’s Chariot: Bygul and Trjegul

Folklore in a Nutshell by Ronel

Unlike how many folklorists portray her, Freyja isn’t a “party girl” or whore – she’s an emancipated woman who doesn’t need a man, society or anyone else telling her who she is or how she should act. Her name means “the Lady”. She was widely worshipped during the Viking Age. It’s only during the Middle Ages under Christian scribes that her stories became that of a seductress that needs to be shamed.

She is a powerful goddess of magic, cats, warfare, love, beauty, and fertility. She’s the one who taught Odin how to use divination magic called “seidr”. In some cases, it seems that she is more powerful than he is as he needed to make many sacrifices to use this magic and hers comes effortlessly. It’s probably because she isn’t Aesir, but from another race called the Vanir. The Aesir were built around rigid structures while the Vanir were closer to nature and freer in their associations.

After the Aesir-Vanir war, she went to live in Asgard as part of the treaty. This didn’t last, of course, and she returned to Folkvangr (“field of the people”) to rule over half of the fallen warriors. In some tales, she’s seen as one of the Valkyries who choose who is worthy of going to Valhalla.

Freyja was considered the most beautiful goddess in existence. This caused a lot of trouble for the gods as she was always sought out by giants, dwarves and others to be their bride. Many tales revolve around the other gods losing or needing something and the price is Freyja’s hand.

She was married to an Aesir named Odr. They had two daughters together who resembled their mother. Odr is known as the wandering god as he disappeared early in their marriage. Freyja had been looking for him all over the worlds. There is a theory that Odr is actually Odin as he, too, wandered the world in search of more knowledge.

Freyja has several important symbols. A gold necklace forged by dwarves called Brísingamen which she is known for – Thor even needed to borrow it when he impersonated her to get his hammer back. She weeps tears of red gold. Many have sought her tears for their own gain. Her chariot is pulled by two blue-grey cats who were a gift from Thor. Their names weren’t bestowed on them by the ancient Norse, but apparently by a modern author, so we’ll skip that. All tales show, though, that these two cats were brave and loyal.

Being a goddess of love, beauty, cats, war and more makes Freyja the most interesting of all the Norse goddesses.

Freyja in Modern Culture

“Freya” is a popular girl’s name. Many authors are also named “Freya”, according to a Goodreads search.

SMITE video game.

Valkyries, the elite and angelic warriors of the Nordic Pantheon, are as beautiful and dangerous as a midnight winter storm. Yet their queen, Freya, so irresistibly desirable, so uncompromising in warfare, make the Valkyries seem nothing more than plain paper dolls. She’s the object of desire for every God, every man, and the envy of every woman. Even the Frost Giants crave her for their own, often devising devious plans to trick or force her into marriage. But Freya is proud and strong, with the cunning to escape her enemies and ruthlessly retaliate. Every rose bears thorns, but this one wields swords.

Were it up to her, Freya would have little to do with blood and blades. Her name literally means “the lady,” and none of more worthy of the title. She adores bright flowers, pleasant company, and the sweet lilt of a sad love song. She’s sensual and amorous, invoked by worshipers seeking to bear a child or find a lover. Ruler of the realm of Sessrumnir, a place much like Valhalla, where the souls of dead warriors spend eternity, Freya provides comfort and bliss to the fallen.

Once, Freya was married to the mysterious and elusive God, Od. Immediately following their wedding, Od went on a journey to distant and inhospitable lands. So long was he gone the Gods presumed him dead. Distraught and heartbroken, Freya spilled tears of gold and searched the globe for him. Finally, she discovered him ship-wrecked and twisted into a hideous sea monster. Melancholy but loyal, she stayed and comforted him. Though one night, while she slept, a daring hunter slew the beast Od had become. Moved by Freya’s utter despair, the Gods agreed to allow Od into Sussrumnir, despite the fact he had not died in battle, so he and Freya could remain together forever.

Read more here.

Marvel comics.

Freya was the Goddess of Love, War, Death, Fertility, and Beauty, and a former Valkyrie.

Asgardians built up a cult in her name on the Isle of Love.

She was once lured into crying by Rimthursar, who had lied to her telling her that Óður had died, for him to collect her gold tears.

Freya presumably possesses all of the various superhuman attributes common among the Asgardians.

Allspeak: Thanks to the Allspeak she can communicate in all of the languages of the Nine Realms, Earth’s dialects, and various alien languages.

Freya is something of a forgotten Goddess in Marvel Comics. Real world debates exist over the connection between Germanic Goddesses Freyja and Frigg. Marvel Comics merged many elements of these Goddesses into: Thor‘s adoptive mother Frigga, a member of the Vanir called occasionally “Fricka” and often “Freyja”.

Read more here.

Magnus Chase books by Rick Riordan.

Freya (also spelt Freyja) is the Norse goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, death and sorcery. She is a member of the Vanir tribe of deities, daughter of Njord, god of the sea, and twin sister of Frey.

Freya is, alongside Odin, one of the most powerful users of magic among the Norse gods and presides over the realm of Folkvanger, one of two places Norse warriors go to after death (the other being Valhalla). As the goddess of war, she rides into battle on a chariot pulled by cats.

Magnus and Blitz first meet Freya, when they accidentally travel to her realm, Folkvanger. There, in the hall of Sessrumnir, they meet the goddess who is revealed to be Blitz’s mother.

Freya later produces tears of red gold and puts them in a leather pouch, which she then gives to Blitz so he can use the tears as payment for Junior to make her earrings.

Read more here.

Freyja in My Writing

Origin of the Fae: Freyja

Freyja has become a very serious woman as time has gone by and her husband, Odr, has remained missing. Her daughters are grown and live their own lives. She has a duty to the fallen warriors who live in her realm, but she’s not a very hands-on war goddess – she leaves them to train as they want. She is a goddess of fertility and abundance, so there’s always enough to eat. She loves flowers. She has cats everywhere. Whenever a cat needs rescuing from the mortal realm, she scoops them up and takes them home with her. She can see the future, but doesn’t share what she knows as it can only lead to trouble. As a love goddess, she tries hard to make sure humans are happy. She prefers to use her magic to bring beauty to the worlds.

Though an independent woman, she still has a wandering husband she misses…

See this immortal in action in my writing:

Smoke on the Water (Irascible Immortals Complete Collection with Extra Short Stories)

Ra stepped into the light just before the last door opened and found himself inside Freyja’s chambers in Vanaheimr. Scratching poles and other cat-things were everywhere. He was surprised it didn’t reek of ammonia.

‘Are you ready?’ she asked, appearing from behind a screen.

‘Are you?’ He looked at all the cats.

‘They’ll be fine. We should go before they decide to join us.’

Ra didn’t want to take any chances, so he quickly followed her from the room, through the mist.

It Ends Tonight, Smoke on the Water, Irascible Immortals by Ronel Janse van Vuuren

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