THE ASATRUAR DEITIES
The Aesir
There are twenty-four deities in Asatruar Mythology. The Aesir are the highest ranking gods, the ones dedicated to a specific purpose (ie. god of poetry, etc). They were the most commonly worshipped, and were very much a part of our ancestor's lives.
Tyr
- God of battle, justice and Kingship (secondary in ruling under Wodan)
- gave his hand to the wolf-monster Fenrisulfr that there was no trickery in the gods binding of him (lost his hand afterwards) - myth shows bravery and honour
- the original chieftain of the gods
Wodan (aka Odin)
- The All-Father, Keeper of Valhall (the hall of the slain), King of the Gods, the Creator, the One-Eyed God
- God of Poetry, Warriors, Literature, Bardism and Carving (the crafts)
- rides his eight-legged horse Sleipnir on the Hunter's Moon through the forest followed closely by his valkyries
- owns two ravens, Thought and Memory, who help him keep watch over Midgard
- favourite weapon is the spear
- very popular god with the warriors (when a warrior dies a death in battle, they are guided by the valkyries to Valhall in order to feast with Wodan until the dawn of Ragnarok {end of the world})
Thonar (aka Thor)
- God of Thunder and Human Protection
- NOT the God of Destructive Storms
- eldest son of Wodan and Frigg
- the sound of his chariot being drawn across the skies created thunder, and his hammer Mjollnir striking enemies created lightning
- fights the Etins (evil giants) and prevents them from venturing into Midgard
- very popular god with patriots and farmers
Baldur
- God of Light and Joy
- has an evil twin he was often mistaken for being
- rain serves as a sign of his presence (brings joy to the creatures of Midgard)
- happy god
Horder
- God of Darkness
- blind god
- Baldur's twin brother
Njord
- God of Fertility
Loki
- frost-giant of mischief and evil
- God of Fire
- trickster, represented the principal of evil
- friend of Wodan, sops the blame for the All-Father's mistakes
Frey
- God of Prosperity, Fruitfulness and Peace
- gives life to the corn fields and the stock
- very popular with farmers
Freyjadis (aka Freya or Freja)
- Goddess of Love, Fertility and Beauty, Maiden Goddess
- gives life to the wilderness
- twin sister to the god Frey
- invoked for partnerships and handfastings
- popular deity with the women
Jord
- Earth Goddess, Mother Goddess
Frigg (aka Frigga)
- Goddess of the Home
- Wodan's wife (didn't stop him from having relationships with mortals, though)
- popular personal deity for the local Spaewoman (Shaman, witch)
Hel (aka Hella)
- Goddess of the Dead, the Crone
- dwells beneath the ash tree Yggdrasil
- daughter of Loki and Angerbotha
- holds sovereign authority over the Realm of Cold and Darkness
Sunna
- Goddess of the Sun
- rides chariot across the sky to create the day
All the deities live in Asgard, which is divided into their own realms where they are housed in castles of gold or silver. The only way a human can reach Asgard is by crossing the rainbow Bifrost after their death.
