Freyja
Freyja is one of the most important goddesses of the Norse pantheon: goddess of love, beauty, fertility, gold, sacred war, magic and death. Sister of Freyr, leader of the Vanir gods. Owner of the famous magical necklace Brísingamen, travels in chariot pulled by two cats. Patron of the magical art of seiðr (Norse divinatory-shamanic magic).
Mythology
In Norse cosmology, there are two divine families: Aesir (Odin, Thor, etc., warrior-cosmic gods) and Vanir (Freyja, Freyr, Njord, fertility-vegetal gods). After the war between Aesir and Vanir, three Vanir gods (Freyja, Freyr and their father Njord) joined the Aesir as hostages of peace. Freyja became one of the most powerful and beloved goddesses of the entire pantheon.
Her famous attributes: 1) Necklace Brísingamen, magical jewel of unparalleled beauty made by the dwarves. 2) Chariot pulled by two cats (her sacred animals — that is why cats are loved in Norse tradition). 3) Magical falcon feather cloak that allows transforming into bird and flying anywhere. 4) Sacred boar Hildisvíni. 5) Master of seiðr — Norse magical art that combines divination, healing, manipulation of fate; she taught it to Odin himself. 6) Half of fallen warriors in battle go to her hall Folkvangr (the other half to Odin's Valhalla) — Freyja is also goddess of sacred war and warrior death.
Symbolism
Freyja represents the complete feminine in its multiple integrated aspects: sensual love, fertility, magical wisdom, warrior, mistress of death. She is not "innocent goddess" or "sweet mother" — she is the powerful mature woman who fully owns her sexuality (myths of her loving relations with Odin, Loki, the dwarves to obtain Brísingamen — without shame), her magical power, and her shadowy aspect (death of warriors). Her name Freyja means simply "Lady" — was so absolutely the supreme Lady that it did not need other name.
In modern Wicca and Asatru (Norse reconstructive paganism), Freyja is one of the most invoked goddesses for: 1) Conscious sensual love. 2) Magical work (seiðr — divinatory magical practice still practised today). 3) Empowerment of integrated mature feminine (woman who owns her sexuality, power, and magic without renouncing femininity). 4) Pet cat protection. 5) Personal fertility (literal and creative). 6) Warrior strength for difficult times. Her sacred day in Germanic tradition: Friday (Friday in English, Freitag in German — both derive from Frige/Freyja). Greek-Roman parallel: Aphrodite/Venus.
Also known as
- Freya
- The Lady (Norse)
- Vanadís