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The Gods and Goddesses of Autumn

The Gods and Goddesses of Autumn

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Now that the Equinox has passed, you can feel the changing of the guard, especially if you live in the northern states. This year, it’s almost as if the gods and goddesses have had enough of the fires out here.  It is as though we’ve gone from summer to winter in one day and then the actual fall settles in.

A Time of Change

Autumn is a time of change.  It heralds the coming of winter and the urgent need to prepare for it. For those of you who buy foods from the grocery stores, chances are the changes you’ll see is more pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween candy.  For me, it’s a time to search for upland birds, can my harvest, and run my dehydrator 24/7. I’m looking at my livestock and wondering who I’ll be slaughtering so I can have more meat in my freezer.  I’m considering how I’m going to keep the fresh stuff preserved so that I can enjoy it when it is cold and snowy.  And I’m waiting for general hunting season where I can hunt deer and elk.

I truly feel that our gods and goddesses are linked to the seasons. This makes a lot of sense because our planet is governed by the laws of physics — even at the tiniest level. This makes a lot of sense if you’ve ever contemplated the overall nature of the universe.

The Gods and Goddesses of Autumn

I did some basic research, and I’ve come to the conclusion that there isn’t a lot written about what Northern gods go with what season. We can make obvious guesses for winter and spring, but fall may be a little bit questionable simply because it is a time of transition. Even so, I’m going to share with you my insights, and hopefully you have some insights as well.

Skadi

Probably the biggest goddess of autumn (and also of winter) is Skadi, the Norse goddess of the hunt and of winter. She’s the one I pretty much go to when it comes to hunting, and I feel more in tuned with her every year. She is not an easy goddess to deal with, but she is honorable and very powerful. The story about Skadi seeking retribution for her father’s death is a story which shows how far she is willing to go if you fail to heed her.

Ullr

 

Ullr is the god of hunting, of snow and skiing, and of snowshoes. Ullr was considered an important god among the Scandinavians, no doubt since snow plays a major part in their weather. I’ve read various claims that Ullr is Skadi’s second husband after Njord. The story goes that Skadi could not abide Njord’s home near the sea, and he could not accept the high

mountain tops and snow, so they divorced and Skadi married Ullr.

Tyr

 

Tyr is the god of laws, justice, and the sky. While it seems odd to associate Tyr with a season, I believe he has power over the solstices and equinoxes, given his role as the sky god and lawmaker. It has been my experience (and you can take this as an unverified personal gnosis) that Tyr governs the laws of physics. When we deal with the movements of our planet in relation to the sun, it is really all physics.

I also ran across an interesting point that in some heathen segments Ullr may be an aspect of Tyr. It seems far-fetched, but apparently Ullr was invoked during duels, which was often used to determine who was right and who was wrong. Furthermore, there is an episode in the Atlakviða which has the swearing of an oath on Ullr’s ring. I can sort of see how this might fit together, but unless I have another UPG, it’s unlikely, at least in my own mind that Ullr is Tyr.

Freyr

 

Although it seems somewhat out of place, I’m putting Freyr as one of the autumn gods. The reason I am putting him in the autumn gods is quite obvious: he is the god of the harvest. The final harvest usually occurs sometime around the equinox, or maybe just a little later. Sometime in the fall farmers tended to slaughter livestock that they were not keeping over the winter, and preserving them. It makes sense that Freyr would preside over all of this.

 

Frigg

 

It may seem to be another stretch to put Frigg as a goddess of autumn, but I don’t think so. Frigg is a goddess of the hearth and home, of the distaff, and the wife of Odin. She has ties to Frau Holle and appears to be important in all manners of the home. To me, it makes sense that as the weather gets cooler, people are more inclined to stay indoors. So, I’m likely to think that preserving food and caring for the home falls right into Frigg’s domain.

I hope you enjoyed this piece. No doubt, you can think of some other gods and goddesses of autumn. I’d be interested to hear what you have to say and who you would recommend.

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Are You Genuine? Heathenry as an Adult Choice

Are You Genuine? Heathenry as an Adult Choice

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Saturday I went down to the food bank to drop off some eggs from my chickens. They had been
laying up a storm and there was no way for me to use them all up or sell them before they went bad.  So, I went to one of the many food banks we have in the town nearby and dropped them off.

Eggs and Christians

It happens that this is a food bank run by Christians.  You go in there and chances are you’ll hear some talk about Jesus.  I expect that.  But what I didn’t expect to hear was one of the folks saying that they were helping the poor “because they love Jesus.”

I almost asked, “Would you still do this if Jesus didn’t exist?”  But I didn’t feel like taunting the people who were helping me out.  After all, I was under their roof.  But it did get me thinking.  Would these people really operate a food bank and help the poor if their god didn’t promise some sort of reward, i.e. eternal salvation, for it?

This is the problem with being a follower of Tyr.  You get lots of uncomfortable and unpopular ideas.

Are They Giving Because it’s the Right Thing to do?

To me, the whole idea of helping the poor because they expect a reward in return seemed disingenuous.  I mean if you’re helping the poor because your god commands it and not because you genuinely care about other human beings, you’re basically a fraud. Granted, you’re a fraud doing good work, but you’re expecting something instead of being as altruistic as you claim to be.  Now, one can argue with me that the motivations really don’t matter; it’s the actual act of providing food to poor people that makes the difference.  And you’d be right to a certain extent, because people can’t eat intentions. People eat food. But by the same token, it helps to understand what the motives are because it may be the difference between feeding people and not.

My Intentions aren’t Pure, Either

I’m not saying my intentions are lofty. To be brutally honest, I had too many eggs and I hate to see them wasted.  I also will take a tax write off, if I can find the slip they filled out for me. I suppose I could have used the eggs to feed my dogs or even thrown them out, but as I said, I hate wasting things and if I can’t use the eggs, I’ll give them to people who will use them. But I don’t expect an eternal reward over just being nice to other people.   I suppose one could argue that I am helping those within my “tribe,” and I am just offering help to those in need. 

Ethics of Reciprocity (or the Golden Rule)

No doubt you’ve heard Jesus’s proclamation to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  That “Golden Rule” is actual a version of Ethics of Reciprocity and all religions generally have their own versions. Even ours.  We should treat people the way we want to be treated. (Or don’t be an asshole.) The reason is pretty clear–if everyone is nice to others, we all get along.  Look at the way we’re told to treat travelers: we are to open our homes and treat them well. We hope to have that same treatment should we travel.  In earlier times, those who traveled needed hospitality in a dangerous world. While our world isn’t quite as dangerous (at least in developed countries), hospitality in a strange place is welcome.  It is a form of Ethics of Reciprocity.

Which Came First: the Christian or the Eggs?

Getting back to the whole Christian thing, I really had to wonder what kind of people I was dealing with.  If these people did acts of kindness only because their god commanded it, what kind of people did that make them? Would they act another way if their god didn’t tell them to behave?  And what if they found out I was Heathen and not Christian?  Would they change their behavior after finding out?

There are other food banks around town, some run by Christians and some that are simply nonprofit without any religious affiliation. It happens that I was in town on a day when the Christian food bank was open and the unaffiliated food bank was closed.  To me, it didn’t really matter what the affiliation was as long as it went to someone who could use them, but you see, the unaffiliated food bank volunteers didn’t necessarily work in the food bank because a god dictated it.

Heathenry as an Adult Choice

One of the things I like about Heathenry is the lack of divine handouts of rewards and punishments. We really don’t have a code of conduct that commands us to behave, although the Havamal highly recommends certain behaviors. It makes sense that our gods want us to act like adults, rather than kids who need to be afraid of a punishment if we don’t behave.  Adults usually don’t expect gold stars when they do something nice, nor they expect external damnation for being shits. Now, if we break the law, there are certainly punishments, and there are certainly consequences to our actions, but that is usually handled within our interactions with other people. You act like a shit and people will behave negatively toward you. You behave and act nice, people are more likely to be positive.

I guess the upshot to this very long–and getting longer–post is that Saturday I got a really good look at the differences between Christianity and Heathenry– besides just the monotheistic versus polytheistic mindset. As a follower of Tyr, I’m pretty transparent in my motivations; Christians, however, do nice things because they’re earning brownie points with their god (assuming he exists). While heathens can be sneaky and crafty, one of our big no-nos is breaking oaths.  Christians, however, have a whole slew of commandments where many believe if they just believe in Jesus, they will be forgiven.  Their commandment to not “bear false witness against thy neighbor” generally means to not lie, but oaths seem to not exist, except perhaps in marriage.  And those can evaporate into thin air with divorces and annulments.

Perhaps it’s a matter of being genuine. I spend each day trying to live honestly, so when I see duplicity, it sort of gets on my nerves.  It’s that Tyr thing again. 

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Dealing with Adversity: One Heathen’s Perspective

Dealing with Adversity: One Heathen’s Perspective

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One thing that ties us all together, being gods, humans, wights, or other creatures, is adversity. With very few exceptions, most creatures deal with adversity in some manner. I would hazard to state that it’s conquering adversities in our lives that make our lives worth living.  But sometimes when we’re in the thick of it, it’s hard to think that it may be beneficial in some way or a cause for growth.

My Life is Shit, or Handling the Tough Times

Honestly, nobody except the true masochist asks for a shitty life. Sometimes that’s just what the Wyrd hands you.  It doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it (after all, how do you know that you’re not fated to rise above the crap?) Poverty, disease, war, and death can really fuck up a person (duh!), but if you get through it, you’ll be stronger.  I don’t care for the writings of Nietzsche, but the quote That which does not kill us makes us stronger, does ring true.  I’d rather paraphrase it by saying, That which doesn’t kill us, pisses me off.

I get that the Wyrd may be what it is.  I get that you may have a hamingja that is full of bad luck.  And yet, how do you really know?  Nobody can really say for certain that bad luck follows you around like a little black rain cloud. You may be able to dispel that spate of bad luck and turn it into good.

With few exceptions, nobody has it easy.  I’ve had friends who looked incredibly fortunate, only to have adversity come crashing down. What looks good on the outside may be a total mess when you get to the fine points.  And what appears to be on overnight success often was built on the unseen failures before it.

How the Gods Handled Adversity

Let’s look at how our gods handled adversity.  Tyr, despite knowing he would lose his hand, stuck it in the mouth of Fenrir to ensure the wolf would be chained until Ragnarok. Odin lost his son Baldr. Thor has dealt with the Jotun in their own world with apparent failures because they tricked him. Each god has had their share of adversity in some way, and in many cases dealt with it.

We’re not told specifically how Tyr had to deal with the loss of his right hand, but we can well imagine the pain that followed.  Then there was the emotional trauma and the need to relearn swordsmanship with his left hand.  Now, one could say he’s a god and he’d have an easier time of it, but the stories don’t suggest that he could snap his fingers (of his left hand) and have all the abilities transferred over. In fact, we know that the gods feel pain (thanks to Loki), so we know Tyr felt pain. But we know that Tyr stood up in the face of adversity and continued onward.

What to Do When Life Hands You Lemons

You’ve probably heard the saying “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”  I think that is a little too glib.  Shit happens.  I’ve written about when bad things happen, but I didn’t offer any good ideas for dealing with it.  Here, I’m actually going to offer some constructive advice.

First, bad things will happen in your life, just as good things happen in life. That is the nature of life. When it is death of a loved one, physical injury, or disease, you need to take time out to care for yourself. Get the help you need to center yourself and the strength to continue forward. You may find help where you least expect it and you might come out stronger.

If your adversity is something like unemployment, change in social status, a failed business venture, a divorce or break up, or simply a failure to perform, you’ll need to regroup for a time and consider your options. In the meantime, look for opportunities that may arise that you never considered. The times when I lost a job were simply times I needed to kick myself in the ass and find something else that worked better.  Often, we mourn the complacency we had when in fact, the gods are telling us there’s something better out there if we just look for it.

Your Wake Up Call

Use adversity as a wake up call. When my dad nearly died many years ago, I realized that I could either go the path I was on and be miserable, or take a new step in a different direction.  I chose the latter.  When I lost both my parents within a span of two years, I realized that I could continue the way I was going, or carve a new path. Although their deaths were traumatic to me, I ended up learning something. I realized that my parents had many regrets.  These regrets I didn’t want to have.

When a friend died of cancer, I saw the same issues.  There are too many regrets in this world, and in the end, when we leave it, we either leave with regrets or with the knowledge that we fought a good fight, and perhaps won.

I keep repeating the Doctor’s quote that “We are all stories in the end.  Just make it a good one.” The Havamal says it succinctly:

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well 
–Havamal77

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Some Things to Think About Before Dedicating Oneself to a God

Some Things to Think About Before Dedicating Oneself to a God

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I ran into this post on Happily Heathen about dedicating oneself to a god or goddess.  It left me

feeling a bit hinky, but I understand why someone would want to dedicate themselves to a god or goddess.  I won’t lie when I say that I’m dedicated to Tyr, but it’s not the same type of dedication I’ve seen with other people. Or maybe it is, I just don’t look at it the same way.

My Experience with the Gods or Your Mileage May Vary

I’m taking a big breath as I write this as I try to put into words what kind of relationship I have with the god.  There was no contract and no ceremony.  I guess seeing the Deity Dedication Contract on that page on Happily Heathen made me concerned.  You see, Tyr is all about oaths and contracts.  You fuck it up and you’re screwed in a big way. He gets that we as humans make mistakes, but formalizing an oath is even stricter than a marriage vow.  You can get a divorce from a marriage vow, and it may be messy or in some warped cases, even deadly.  You fuck up with a god, and you’re screwed.  Big time.

Oath Takers and Oath Breakers

It has to do with oaths. Oathbreakers are considered the lowest of the low in ancient Norse culture, which I imagine we got from our gods. Those who break oaths — even gods like Tyr — pay heavy prices. This is why I look on oaths very solemnly.

Whether you believe in Nastrond, where Nidhoggr chews on oathbreakers, adulterers, and murderers, is immaterial.  The Eddas have a type of morality play where oathbreakers are indeed punished through fate or karma. To make an oath to a god is a very serious obligation and any promises you make to them, you need to keep.  These aren’t the Christian god who probably would forgive you if you promised something under duress. No, these are our primal gods who will take your promise seriously.

This is why as a person who follows Tyr, I am cautious about any oaths, or even everyday agreeing to things. This shit takes control real fast and you’ll soon find yourself overextended and over-pledged.  And taking oaths you can’t keep. 

That being said, it’s good to understand the limits of what you’ll allow versus what you won’t if you dedicate yourself to a god.  Some gods are more respectful of limits than others. Others will ride roughshod over you, even if you say no.  Just because you say you don’t want X doesn’t mean they’ll respect it. I know there are other bloggers who will say so-and-so will respect any boundaries you set.  Some gods/goddesses will.  Others won’t. 

These are gods, and they are not your whiny-ass bitches. (Whoa!  Where did that come from?  Did I just hear someone say that to me?)  Harsh, but very, very true. You are dealing with something far more powerful, and more elemental in this Universe than you’ve ever imagined. Don’t pretend there’s a safe word that will make everything all right.

A Great Big Bull’s-Eye

Once you’re of interest to one god, it’s like grabbing the attention of the entire family, so to speak. When Tyr and Thor entered my life, I didn’t expect attention from Loki, Odin, Freyja, or Freyr, but I’ve got it.  It’s weird to have an occasional god pop in and see what I’m up to.  Why do they do that?  Who in the Hel knows?

It can be annoying at times, and even disconcerting because, let’s face it, I’m a skeptic, and in fact, I’m still trying to keep the agnostic part.  But it’s hard to remain agnostic when the gods decide you’re worth paying attention to, for whatever fucking reason.  It’s weird, really.  I understand why, but it still surprises me that I’d attract attention.

No Skinriding, Please

I’ve heard the term skinriding as a type of possession some folks go through. It’s a weird experience

where you lose control as the god or goddess takes over.  This can happen when bears and wolves take over warriors as well, called beserkers and ulfhednar. I’m not even sure I believe in it.  That being said, there was a time when someone asked me for advice, and I swear Tyr was talking through me. I don’t now remember what I said exactly, but I do remember the feeling.  It was exhilarating and at the same time, disconcerting.  What he said I basically agreed with, but seriously?

I think it really depends on you and your personality and how it meshes with the god/goddess. For all I know, we all might be suffering from multiple personality disorders, which makes us in serious need of therapy. If there’s one thing that will have me check myself into the loony bin, it’ll be not being in control of myself.  So, absolutely no skinriding.  I know Tyr knows my rules and is okay with it. 

If you go down the path of skinriding, be sure you can handle it.  And be sure it’s a god whom you trust.

So, Should You Dedicate Yourself to a God?

That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?  I don’t have an answer for you on that. Only you and your god(s) can tell you what is right for you.  All I can do is provide advice when it comes to what to think about.  You want to make oaths?  That’s your call.  You want to allow possession?  Again, that’s your call.  You want to formalize your oath with a contract?  Okey dokey.

Maybe I might be closer to Tyr if I did do those things, but that’s really not my nature, and he understands. I don’t think I’d be any closer to him.  The fact that I’m even writing about this is a stretch for me because I don’t like to really blab about these things in real life.  I’d keep it to myself in most cases, but I’ve heard from others who seem to confirm what I know from my interactions with the god. These folk have encouraged me to write about it. So, here it is.

If you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to draw a god’s attention, chances are you know what I’m talking about.  And maybe if you find yourself in this position, my words might actually make sense.  Do what you think is right, but also be cautious. Don’t agree to things you might regret later.  And once you do go down that rabbit hole, there’s no turning back.

“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.” — Morpheus, The Matrix

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Use Your Brain–and Listen to the Gods

Use Your Brain–and Listen to the Gods

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One thing early on in my switch to Heathenism was my discovery that the gods actually had a lot to say to me.  As a scientist, my first thought was: “Okay, I’m losing it.” After all, if you’re hearing voices, chances are you’re suffering from something like schizophrenia.  That’s probably why my patron god eschews just popping into my brain unannounced. I’d just check myself into the local psychiatric clinic and be done with it. Which is why when I do get responses from the gods, it’s usually in some form I can accept and one that won’t leave me wondering if I need to check myself in for a thorough psychiatric evaluation.

Dreamland

Dreams are big and the gods often tell me things through dreams. I almost never had dreams from the Christian god. The one dream I did have that was direct, I suspect was Odin who was chiding me for being one of Tyr’s followers. That was amusing, actually, because the dream took on Christian forms. Since deciding to become heathen, I’ve had several contacts through dreams.  More on this later.

Meditation

Occasionally I’ll get a strong response when I’m meditating or concentrating on speaking to a god. Yes, Unverified Personal Gnosis. I can’t tell you if what I learn from this would fit you and your life. All I know is that I learn things that affect me.

For example, I know that Tyr claimed me and Odin is somewhat annoyed by it.  Annoyed isn’t probably a good word, but it’s the best I can come up with at the moment. It’s more along the lines of slightly irritated. (Come on, now, you really don’t expect for any of the gods to really get worked up over one mortal?)  This little challenge between gods affects me and no one else in terms of UPG.

At the same time, Tyr knows he doesn’t own me and he’s okay with that. I suspect Odin would insist on more devotion, but that’s the nature of the All Father.  You really can’t expect with a title like that he’d want less.

In retrospect, I’ve been seeing this competition play out my entire life. You could, I suppose, simply call the gods metaphors for what has been going on in my life since I was born. I’ve always been attracted to two sides: the scientific and logical, and the creative.  Both sides of me are always trying to achieve the upper hand, and never do.  In this case, the agnostic side of me says that the gods are just constructs my brain has come up with to deal with the dichotomy.

Runes

I can hear the skeptics saying, “Seriously, Dude?  You cast RUNES?”

Guilty as charged.  My overly Catholic sister in a fit of immense inattentiveness gave me The Book of Runes as a present way back when I was a teenager.  Now, I can hear other heathens wailing about how worthless his books are when it comes to interpretation.  Get over it.  I don’t use Blum’s system, but I can see some worth in some of his interpretations.

Runecasting is something I do. Tyr and Thor interjected themselves in my life through the Runes. (Tyr more than Thor, but I suspect the Thunder god is patient with me.)  I had some pretty amazing revelations with the runes, including doing a reading in front of a full panel at a convention next to people who charged for divination.  Basically at one point, I got into an argument with several people over my interpretation, only to discover at the end that I had not only hit the ball, but made a home run when it came to doing a cold reading.  What had happened was I told the woman that her past rune suggested she had inherited some wealth or goods from someone close to her dying.  I got taken to task by the other panelists, but I looked at the runes and said, “sorry, that’s what I see.”  After we all did our runecasts and interpretations, the woman told everyone that her dad had died and she was wondering how to invest the money.

Luck, I suppose.  I could’ve probably made a fortune that night selling castings, but being the agnostic at the time, I didn’t really believe in them.  Pretty freaky.  If you ever had anything like that happen to you, you kind of wake up.  And yes, you tend to get more open with the gods.

Occasional Advice

Despite all my denial about gods and whatnot, I get pretty clear messages from Tyr.  It doesn’t matter whether I believe in the heathen gods or not, I’m tied to them.  I can either accept my Wyrd or not, but my belief doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything.  It might irk other gods, but belief isn’t really necessary.

I occasionally get some strong statements from Tyr.  I was visiting one so-called heathen site because I found some books by him that looked interesting. Tyr told me point blank that the guy was full of shit and not to pay attention to him.  Later, I did some searches and discovered some pretty unsavory stuff surrounding this person.

Now, I could point out that maybe that’s just my suspicious self. But oddly enough when I looked at this person’s book, I had no idea until Tyr spoke up.  My thoughts about this?  He was right.  And he hasn’t led me wrong.  So, maybe I need to listen to the gods a bit more.

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Pervasiveness of the Gods, or How Loki Tries to Take Me Off Point

Pervasiveness of the Gods, or How Loki Tries to Take Me Off Point

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My last blog was about trying to do too many things all the time. When I looked at it while it was still scheduled (I write these things ahead of time and set the date for publication), I realized that Loki led me off on a tangent again.  This becomes infuriating after a while, but understandable. The trickster god is constantly looking for ways to throw my life into chaos — some good, some bad. And sometimes he’ll do it in a heartbeat when I’m trying to write a blog post.

So, rather than tear out my assorted ramblings and get rid of them, I looked them over and found them worthy for another post. The god of mischief still gets his say, but like Tyr trying to hold back Fenrir, I’ve at least put some bindings on it.

Why Loki?

In my mind’s eye, I can see a grinning Loki.  For those who are Tom Hiddleston fans, forget it. He doesn’t look like the actor.  (At least not to me.)  But despite his mirth, Loki isn’t the troublemaker here — it’s me. I’ve been writing about more than I can possibly, sanely accomplish and the god of chaos is amused.  He still has a job to remind me about self care, but it’s far more fun to watch me crash and burn because I don’t listen to him.

But why in the names of the gods would Loki bother with someone who follows Tyr?

I suspect it’s because despite Tyr and Loki being opposites, they still rely strongly on each other.  If we take their existence as simply raw forces of the universe, nothing could have existed had it not been for either.  Tyr imposes laws on things; Loki is entropy. Without the order and the disorder, we would have a very stagnant universe indeed.

So, what does Loki have to do with me?  With self care?  Why would he give a shit, I mean, really?

Pervasiveness of the Gods

I’ve read others talk about whether the gods of one land are the gods of another land, or if there are other gods. Some people actually believe that the Asatru gods only exist in the Scandinavian countries. Wow, they’re saying Thor can only exist as thunder and lightning in Norse countries, and some other god is in charge of it in America. I look at it and say, “Hmm” because there is undoubtedly electric storms on other worlds outside of our own. And certainly Thor is there as well.

Here’s my take on whether the gods exist one place or another. They have to exist everywhere in this universe or things wouldn’t be how they are.  Think about if they were actually right about being local gods. That suggests that Tyr with his laws, (which incidentally include the laws of physics) takes a holiday outside of Scandinavian countries. That would suggest that there could be other laws of physics in England, China, or America.

But there isn’t.  Thankfully.  Otherwise we’d have one set of rules when it came to physics than another set of rules. I believe that the gods are pervasive in their element in this universe. When you see a lightning strike in Texas, it’s the realm of Thor, just as it is in Norway.  The Laws of Gravity don’t change themselves anywhere on this planet, or in this Universe, as far as we know, with the possible exception of black holes. (If they do, then I would agree that maybe there might be another god to deal with, but mathematical laws are Tyr’s domain.) So, that makes Tyr pervasive in our lives. It also makes Loki pervasive in our lives as well.  When Loki chatters in my brain, I know it’s because he’s always here with me, just as Tyr is.

Pervasive, But Not Omnipotent or Omnipresent

So, what had started as a rant about the holidays and me doing too much ended up as a deep discussion how the Aesir and Vanir are part of the Universe. Thanks, Loki.  Thanks.

The gods are pervasive through our lives. Whether we’re dealing with Universal Laws, or simple governing of  biological drives and behaviors, to growing the crops, to wild animals and the hunt. In many cases, the gods are here every moment of our lives, but they are bound by rules that they set in place. For example, Tyr is a very powerful god, but he is held in check by his own laws, by the Wyrd, and by chaos. I don’t know if he is in other universes within the Multiverse, but seeing as I probably won’t get there, it has little meaning to me. He might actually provide rules in other universes, but whether they are the same as our universe is inconsequential.

That is Tyr’s pervasiveness.  But it doesn’t mean Tyr hangs out with me all the time. Yes, a good portion of his power is with me, with you, with everything in this world and universe because otherwise the laws of physics wouldn’t work. Little wonder why he is considered a celestial god.  You got that much power to enforce physics, which see in stars and galaxies on a large scale.

But Tyr isn’t omnipresent in the sense of the Christian god. Tyr’s “consciousness,” if you want to call it that, isn’t always on me, you, or the guy down the street. His laws are with us, and the control he governs is immense.  But the constant watching you isn’t his thing.  It isn’t any of the gods’ things.  They leave that to Santa Claus. If the gods were always watching us, you’d have to admit, they’d be pretty bored.

What the Hel was THIS About?

Looking back at this post, I realize it’s a lost cause to wrangle this into some sort of order.  I should just dump this post and tell Loki to fuck off. But the post has some good points about the differences between the heathen gods and the Christian god. The heathen gods can be characterized as laws of nature and the universe. The Christian god, not so much — according to the Christian beliefs, he is the one and only. Laws are something the Christian god makes, but can break at any time. Can the heathen god break the laws?  Yes, but there is a price to pay.

Look at the price Tyr suffered for violating an oath. He lost his right hand; his sword hand.  But it was worth it to keep chaos (Fenrir) from running amok and bringing about the end of the universe. When you realize that the difference between our gods and the Jotun are simple intentions toward humans, it all makes infinite sense. (Don’t believe me, look at Skadi, Tyr, and Thor — all which either have Jotun blood or are pure Jotun.)

I honestly hope you could glean something out of this post that is worthwhile.  Otherwise, I’ll be back to less rambling things such as Yule in my next post.

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Do All The Things!

Do All The Things!

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One thing I don’t seem to have gotten over very well is my Catholic need to martyr myself.  (I can just see Tyr shake his head in exasperation when when I do this) — if the Lord of Swords thinks it’s folly to overextend myself, I suspect it is folly.

But the holidays are a great time to overdo everything, including overextend oneself.  But as Loki constantly reminds me (and yes, somehow Loki pops in to remind me to self-care– more on that some other day), there’s no way I can possibly care for anyone else if I don’t care for myself first.

(At least, if you’re going to have psychoses, have useful ones where the gods talk some sense into you to do things that are good for you and those around you.)

Anyway, Back to the Holidays…

My mom used to put on a big shindig every Thanksgiving and Christmas.  When my ancient Mother-In-Law moved to our town, I channeled my mom and tried to put together celebratory meals. The reality was far from wonderful. My husband and I hunt and hunting season chews up Thanksgiving handily. While I am grateful to Skadi and Ullr for our meals, hunting takes up a lot of energy. Having Thanksgiving later than the prescribed day helped, but by the end of it, I was channeling my inner bitch.  I was exhausted, overworked, and feeling overwhelmed.

Loki reminded me to self-care.
I threw something at him.

Sick Critters, and Life Intrudes

To make matters worse, the weather got evilly cold. The Jotun were here to plunge us into temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.  Skadi granted us more opportunities to hunt. A bunch of my livestock got sick and no matter what I did, they remained sick.  So, I finally got a veterinarian out. Blood draws and plenty of medicine.

Then, there was the little matter of butchering the deer we got the week before. Usually I would have it all cut up, but with the amazingly brutal weather, the quarters froze right up.  So, I could thaw them out and butcher them at a slightly more leisurely pace.

I still need to take care of the skins, even though they’re salted.
I have writing work and other work to do. My plants in the greenhouse are questionable now.  I finally get around to watering them anyway.

Got a bunch of food that needs to be preserved still.  Managed to get the dehydrator full with squash.

Loki reminds me to self-care.
I whimper.

I have this blog and three others to write. I have assignments to get done.  I have to make money somehow…

To Drag this Back on Point…

The problem that we as humans deal with is what society constrains us when it comes to things we must do. Sometimes, we take what we perceive as obligations when in fact, they’re simply man-made constructs. We do things because we were taught to do them, whether or not it makes sense for our lives.  As much as I love Tyr, he has enough control over my life with physics, the laws of nature, and the laws of men. Chasing after some perceived societal norm around holidays when it stresses me out isn’t healthy.  Hence, Loki steps in and whines about my lack of self care.

That’s why when my husband pointed out that doing a dinner thing wasn’t working for me, I needed to step back and rethink what I was doing.  I was trying to follow my mom’s style, which isn’t mine. Holidays, as wonderful as they are, need to be something that aren’t done “just because that’s how we do them.”

Whether celebrating Thanksgiving/Harvest or Yule/Christmas, we as humans must make them joyous occasions and not stressors in our lives. Loki reminds me that being human means being fallible.  That means that sometimes we can’t do “all the things, all the time.”  Tyr agrees.  Which suddenly has reduced the stress in my life.

I still have all the other things to get done, but somehow, the gods make them a little less frenetic. Probably because they don’t judge me on what I accomplish in the minutiae of my daily life. Not like the Christian god purportedly did.

Thanks, and hopefully this rambling post made sense to you.  And maybe, just maybe, you’ll listen to your inner Loki and remember self care as well.

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