Happy Sol’s Day!
Announcements:
We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods, goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not given to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never sees a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Theme Song: Eivør Pálsdóttir: ‘Tròdlabùndin’
This live performance of this song is done in a fjord which is fitting given the god of the sea who was married to the goddess of the mountains – Skadi. Although they never really consummated their marriage.
Mediation:
This is still one of my favorite poems
Text:
If you want more details about Asatru, I can’t recommend this book enough.
Sermon:
As one would expect, the naval culture of the Vikings would have a god of the sea. Njord – god of wind, fire and the sea seems to be laking is stories but I imagine not in veneration in the old days of the Vikings. He is also one of Vanir hostages like Freya and Freyr who are his children. He was invoked probably regularly for fair weather and a fair journey and success every time the Vikings took to the sea for any reason.
The Geneology of the gods gets confusing sometimes but Njord’s first wife is either unnamed or Nerthus but she is only named in passing by a roman writer in the first century and doesn’t have any other source. We do know he did marry later Skadi from her choosing him by looking at his feet. The marriage was never happy or consummated however as the two are very different.
There really is a lack of worship in modern times of Njord. Probably due to ot the fact that far fewer people are people of the sea. Asatru gives him veneration but it seems almost casual even with our source Paxton. He is one of the gods, but his story is limited.
Of course, from a religious point of view, gods and goddesses tend to be popular when people live in their sphere of influence. Perhaps today you might see a pilot of a plane invoke Njord being the god of wind as well, but the sea-going sailors and raiders of old are long gone. There is really less reason to invoke him now. Unless you view him as a god of traveling in any other medium but land. Not a bad god, just not invoked as much because of the change in the world.
For me, Njord’s story is also light. The fact he was the guy with the most beautiful feet in Asgard says something and is reflected in his children as they are both considered young and beautiful. The marital problems are not anger based but the product of being two different people which I find interesting. Neither one could really get along in each other’s home so they part purely on practical grounds and remain good friends. A lesson that does spin around in my brain. Sometimes a match isn’t a good one and just needs to be recognized as such. Being a wayfarer myself, I would have little need myself to invoke him as I prefer my feet on solid ground.
At this point, I am leaving my consideration of the gods and goddesses in my continued learning about Asatru. There are many more I could do, but they are minor. I am now going to shift this series to Asatru practice and spiritual understanding.
Parting Thought:
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
The Grey Wayfarer 