Frija By: Steve Anthonijsz ON: Frigg; JordR; Fjérgynn; Hlébyn AS: Frige; Hrebe; Erce OHG: — Frija; Fria, Frikkea; Frikkia; Erda; Frau Berchta (Perchta): Frau Holda; Frau Holle!!! Ang: Frigga GraLinda: Earth Cornelius Tacitus: Nerthus Saxo Grammaticus: Queen Frigga Adam of Bremen: Fréa “the usual pattern in early religions is n which the goddess Mother Farth appears as the wife of supreme sky god, since the earth is embraced and made fruitful by the god of the heavens. The image of the Earth Mot! om We spring, by whom we a nourished, whi! en we die remained 4 fundamental one. us tells ed in Denmaz! is day, was ough the conception of the Mother goddess remains a shadowy one... Ag Odin’s wite and queen of Asgard, she plays a consistent part in the poetry, and lack of detail about her in the myths and the failure to find places named after her may be due to the fact that she was remembered under other titles.” H.R, Ellis Davidson /2h Frija, the daughter of Fiorgynl3] and Nacht! 4], was born as one of the Wanen. Our surviving myths, though, tell us little about her - except for having borne Fra and Fra, by her brother, Nirdu - before her marriage to Wuotan!5], Thus, we see that the Earth and Sea are sister and brother who have had offspring!®]. We see much more of Frija after her marriage to Wuotan and her acceptance into the Ensi. ‘This ought not be a surprise, as all the mythic accounts that have been preserved are consistently written from the perspective of the Ensi. Her marriage to Wuotan, as Davidson points out, ought to be no surprise as the motif of the Earth Mother marrying the Sky God is universal among Aryan traditions. As the first wife of Wuotan!7], Frija is the mother of Donar, Paltar, Hadu, and Brego. It is possible that Wuotan and Frija may have also borne Ziul®], Although she is not the mother of ALL the gods, then, it should be clear why she has been given the title of “mother of the gods,” as the most notable deities in two of our three pantheons are her children. Like the other Wanen, Frija bears the gift of foresight!?]. Also, like the other Wanen, she rides a wain and is connected to acts of the Hagzusa (witchcraft). She has a close relationship with the Wurtd, as is obvious based on her association with spinning and with swans—especially as Frau Holda as she is known in Northern Germany. She is so widely recognized as a weaver that the distaff has come to symbolize herjust as the hammer has come to represent her son, Donar. Of course, other than Frija, only Wurt bears such a close association with spinning. We can see, then, why in Iminenschaft there would be such a prominent emphasis on Nature as well as the high status afforded to women in general. ‘The protectiveness and the nurturing characteristic of motherhood are both associated with Frija. We can see this side of her in the story of Paltat’s death, in which she tries to overcome the fate of death itself to save her son. It is also to her that mothers-to-be offer prayers in the hope of conception!!2] and healthy childbirth. Frija is unique among the gods and goddesses in that she is the only one who is more known for her (maternal) nurturing than for her vindictiveness. This is not to say that she lacks a violent or negative side—but that she has much more patience and deals with situations in a much more calm and deliberate It is not surprising that this goddess of motherhood should also be related with dominion of the hearth and home, and with the roles involved in family life and hospitality. As the matron of the home life, another of her symbols is a ring of keys. But we ought not be deceived into imagining her as a submissive ot meek domestic--far from it! Frija is known to advise Wuotan himself on significant matters, and sometimes to disagree with her husband to the point of resorting to trickery and cunningl"] in order to get her way. Because of this, Frija has been called upon in areas generally not considered womanly, such as in battle and in the casting of curses, Interestingly, Frija is known to visit Mittigart most frequently during the winter. Snowfall is the result of Frau Holle shaking her feather bed- or feather pillows in some regions. She is also acknowledged for bringing fog. She is said to lead a wild procession at Iulzit. Some sources equate this procession with the Furious Host, while others see it as a separate affair. Interestingly enough, certain Middle German accounts talk of the Furious Host being led by “Frau Wotan”—could this be Wuotan's wife? Frija’s role as Earth Goddess!#2] is just as important as her maternal and house-holding sides. It is from this ‘face’ that we see her interest in international affairs and in the dooms of entire nations. The most obvious example of her relevance in the fate of nations can be found in her notice of the Longobards, corship Nerthus (Frija), or Mother Earth. They believe that she takes ‘Tacitus('3] tells us that the Longobards, part in human affairs.” Similarly, Paulus Diaconust#4] describes Fréa (Frija) as the goddess who is the matron over the Longobards, and how she was instrumental in naming their nation. Perhaps the significance of Mother Earth is best described in a document by the Circle of Ostaral'5], 1 vaces have seen the & her, the bearer and nurishé ALL mankind when uncontaminated by Dark Age doctrines instinctively loves and respects the Earth and all the children of the Earth, animals as well as elves, and Farth spirits and Farth gods We see the = and aware. A being who embodies both spiri substance, our sust: F she and a. cue replaceable. AS Sua, our Solar system, our he centre of All-Seing.” The frightened child who is reassured by Mother’s embrace; the traveller who is relieved by the moment of returning home; the hiker who smells the air and feels the life of the forest during springtime—all are enjoying the gifts of Frikka,Return to the Theology folder Freysblot’s Irminenschaft home (4) white some ofthese names are well-attested, others arethe reconstrictons of Jakob Grimm. [2] Davidson, H.R. Elis Gods and Myths of Northern Europe 1964 13] Lokasenna 26; Fiogyn < ON Mase, Fidrayn is the father of fem. Fidrgynn (41 Gyltaginning 9 (3) Her divorce from Nirdu and subsequent marriage to Wuotan are described in Skaldskaparsmal 24 (51 Lokasenna 36 (21 wuotan aso has «numberof concubines with whom he has sired children (8) The idea that Zu may be the scion of Wuotan and Fria is presented in the lelandie Snotra Edéa but is unsupported in other (2) Vaspridnismél 1; Lokasenns 29 (10) Grimm, Jakob Deuiche Mythologie Vol I's, 8, Stallybrass 1882 LL orgigo gentis Langobsrdorum:; also Grimnismal [12] Many Irminen and other Heathens today doubt that Frija is the Earth Mother, preferring to sec her as only a goddess of Motherhood and House holding, To see evidence that Frija is, in fat, the Earth Mother see ige with Jord by W. Reaves; also Investigations in Teutonic Mythology §25 by V. Rydberg. (131 Tacitus Germania 114] piaconus, Paulus Historia Langobarderum (18 the Gods and Goddesses of Odinism compiled by the Citele of Ostara; publication date unknown Hosted by www.Geocities.ws