#Éljúðnir

[notthesomefather]

Prayer to Baldr’s Companion original prayer

Queen of the setting sun and wilting rose, In your name, we praise the preciousness and passing of all things. Keeper of the unknowable secret, implacable yet serene, You inspire us not to flee from the sorrow that grief brings. Shadow-shrouded goddess, mistress of the barrows, By your grace, may our hearts stay warm despite mourning’s stings.

Lover of the Fallen Son, we praise you now. In your name, may we genuinely inhabit each day. Queen of the mists beneath Yggdrasil’s roots, You inspire us to make the most out of this brief stay. Guider of souls, when their times come, By your grace, we will not live tearfully, come what may.

Baldr’s companion, holiest of Helheim, In your name, may we accept mortality as life’s dear friend. Lady of the lasting slumber, Death half-cloaked, You inspire us not to fear what we cannot comprehend. Keeper of resting souls in Éljúðnir below, By your grace, we see that death is not the end.

#hel #baldr #prayers #norse #pagan #heathen #asatru #rokkatru

[thatsonehelofaname]

Event update

The atrium of Éljúðnir will be hosting the first session of family-finding next Frigg's Day from 5AM-9PM Helheim Standard Time.

If you have any proof of identification, please bring it. IDs are not required, but it will make the process easier. Accepted forms include:

family swords

birth certificate

small family heirlooms

federally issued personnel cards

notices of wergild payments

[helreginn]

Hey! I am running this blog basically on a queue for the time being.

I'm hella busy and also having surgery next week so I'm doing my replies but just adding them back into the queue and letting it run so my blog doesn't just sit idle until I am back.

Problem is, I do not have a queue tag. And I don't think it's obvious which posts are queued and which are not.

So... does anyone have any suggestions?

So far my ideas are:

Élqueueðnir, a play on Éljúðnir, the name of Hel's hall.

Or maybe LettersfromÉlqueueðnir

But I don't know about either of them..

Thoughts?

#OutofÉljúðnir

[blailver]

230217

“???”

Éljúðnir is a weapon of tear...and of Hel...!

#fire emblem heroes #fe heroes #feh #feh lif #Mr.Jello

[experimentjr]

Ok, for a long long time I've been wanting to draw the map of realms from my AU and this drawing took me so long to finish that I dropped it halfway through BUT I finally picked it up again and finished!!! I present to you: 

Yggdrasil and its realms

In my AU, there are 14 known realms and among them, we have:

Sólmani, the realm of Sun and Moon and the kingdom of Dellingr, deity of day/night;

Viðbláinn, the new place for the remaining humans and gods after Ragnarök;

Andlangr, the “bunker” for all humans when Ragnarök happens;

Asgard, realm of the Æsir gods. Here we have Valhalla, Valaskjálf and Hliðskjálf, Þrúðvangr and Bilskirnir, Fensalir AKA Sökkvabekkr, Breiðablik, Glitnir, Himinbjörg, Belivalr mountain and Ýdalir, Iðavöllr and Glaðsheimr and Vingólf, Hvergelmir river, Lanvidi, Nóatún, Hildarvangr.

Vanaheim of the Vanir gods. A place full of magic and where the first witches came. Here you can find Fólkvangr and Sessrúmnir just to name a few. It’s the place of rest of a giant who fell in the hands of Lilith, turning into Vanaheim upon his death. The Ylgr river flows through Vanaheim and bathes the giant skeleton of the realm.

Midgard is Earth, where most of “Hilda and The Allmother” characters came from. Among thousands upon thousands of known places, few stand out. They are: Trolberg, Toføten, Vanæsvalr AKA Hexental, Gnipahellir, Húnaland, Hreiðgotaland, Gästrikland, Bjarmaland, mountain Rerir, mountain Hár, mountain Halldór, Munnin’s peak, Járnviðr forest, Myrkviðr forest, Nótt forest, Huldraforest, Steinnharr and Jötunnstone, Björgfjord and Björd lake and Liten, the ruins of Whiteridge castle, Byrstrfossen, Towe's tower, the Highwood, Philosopher's Watch, The Signalhan's barrow, Possegrim, Fjörm, Fimbulþul and Sylgr triplet rivers just to name a few.

Jötunheim, the realm of giants of old. Hnitbjörg, Útgarðar, Fjällenótt, Þrymheimr, Vimur AKA Við and Hríð river are few of the most famous locations on the realm. When the giants left Midgard, they went to Jötunnheim.

Muspelheim, is the realm of fire and magma and where Surtr lives. Vígríðr and Eldrhellir are two of the most famous places of the realm. The river of molten metal, Leiptr, flows through Muspelheim and leads to Svartalfheim, where the dwarves can use the metal to forge.

Helheim is the realm of the dead and where the ship of the dead Naglfari sails. Niflheim is located here and the entrance to Niflheim. The Gjöll river cuts the land of the living from the land of the dead and where the Gjallarbrú bridge stands above, protected by Angrboða and Garmr. There’s another river, the Sliðr and lastly, the Svöl river from where the Náströnd is born. The Éljúðnir hall, home of Helgeisten and his daughters is the last known place.

Ránarheim is the realm of the drowned. This is where all drown people go to rest and the kingdom of Rán. Hríð rive from Jötunnheim leads to this realm. Gunnþrá is the second river from where the drown can use to go to Ránarheim.

Gefheim, the immense fields where Gef uses to plow the dirt with her oxen children. All of those who died virgin go to Gefheim to become he oxen. She’s the responsible for rowing giants portions of land for humans to settle. The river that flows through Gefheim and nourishes all plants and gardens is Vimur river, that flows through Jötunheim

Svartalfheim is the second darkest realm to live. There you will find the dwarves, where they can mine from the caves to forge all of their itens. It’s connects Niflheim to Muspelheim by a hidden entrance. Its most famous kingdom is Niðavellir and where the molten metal river Leiptr ends.

Niflheim, the realm of mist and darkness and the prison of Lilith and Níðhöggr, alongside other monstrous dragons who gnaws on the roots of Yggdrasil. There, móðguðr and the three nornir Valkyries Skuld, Svipul AKA Urðr and Verðandi fight with the dragons. There you will find the Náströnd river, the Mímisbrunnr, Urðarbrunnr and Hvergelmir wells protected by the nornir and Níðhöggr’s lair: Niðafjöll.

At last, Ginnungagap, where Yggdrasail and Svartrfligr, “the eternal black” live. A neverending space that leads to nowhere and from where the Éligávar river was born. Frozen by Niflheim’s coldness and evaporated by Muspelheim heat, all life began at this river and this river runs through all of Yggdrasil, flooding the realms with life. From Éligávar, tons of rives flow, among them we have: Hvergelmir, Sliðr, Vimur, Ylgr, Hríð, Gunnþrá, Fjörm, Fimbulþul, Sylgr, Leiptr, Svöl.

I really hope you people like it and I’m so sorry it took me this long to post. Hope the next doesn’t take as long.

#Hilda #hilda fanart #hilda netflix #hilda the show #hilda the series #hilda au #au #alternate universe #hilda and the all-mother #realms #yggdrasil #ginnungagap #sólmani #solmani #viðbláinn #vidblainn #andlangr #asgard #alfheim #vanaheim #midgard #jötunheim #jotunheim #helheim #muspelheim #svartalfheim #ránarheim #ranarheim #gefheim #niflheim

[tsukai22]

Arcane Heroes aren’t the Heroes PRF-less units deserved, but the one’s they needed. Actually, they deserved them as well.

I’ll go for Arcane Éljúðnir for Soleil - it only takes 135 Orbs to get to 40 summons for the guaranteed A!Lif, and I could get him earlier. It’ll free up Null Follow-Up in Soleil’s B slot for something else - such as Spd/Def Bulwark from Male Shez on this banner.

I did just get Flame Gunbai for her but I can’t pass up the chance to give her a modern PRF that fits my playstyle.

Some number crunching for my Soleil, don’t worry about this:

If I decide to put Arcane whatever and Spd/Def Bulwark on Soleil, her stats (effectively) end up as:

HP: 56 Atk: 68 + (Weapon +6, Ideal +9, Bulwark +4, Menace/Rally +6, BD +6, Form +0-7) = 99 to 106 Spd: 52 + (Ideal +9, Bulwark +4, Menace +6, BD +6, Form +0-7) = 77 to 84 Def: 39 + (Weapon +6, Rally +6, BD +6) = 57 Res: 35 + (Weapon +6) = 41

The effects she gains from this are: -1 Special cooldown, Guard effect for foe, super Obstruct, and 7 HP healing after combat. She effectively loses 1 or 2 Def/Res from the weapon switch. Null Follow-Up is replaced with guaranteed follow-up and follow-up denial - which will function almost the same as far as I can tell. The exceptions would be base Myrrh’s refine (possibly) and things like double Quick Riposte - the latter of which is rare.

[theowlandthekey]

Embracing Hel

Embracing Hel

Three roots standon three ways under Yggdrasil’s ash: Hel under one abides, under the second the Hrimthursar, under the third mankind. -Poetic Edda, Grímnismál, Stanza 31

Who is Hel? In the vastness of Norse mythology, she is rarely given much due. She does not go on adventures for glory and fame as many of the other gods do. She does not seem to bother overmuch about the future of the world like Odin, nor does she stir up trouble like her father, Loki. She’s content in her dominion of the death, Niflheim, and seems well placed out of the troubles of men and gods. So much so that it often feels she is neglected when compared to the rest of the pantheon.

Hel is featured as a character only once in the Prose Edda, when the god Hermoor rides to Hel on behalf of Frigg and offers her a ransom for the return of the god Baldr. Hel agrees, stating: “If all things in the world, alive or dead, weep for him, then he will be allowed to return to the Æsir. If anyone speaks against him or refuses to cry, then he will remain with Hel.” Baldr was well loved and so it was thought this would be easy to accomplish. But when the jotunn Þökk refuses to weep, Baldr is consigned to remain in Niflheim in service of Hel.

In nearly all other mythos, Hel is mentioned only in passing, referenced rather than focused on. Every other god gets a myth where they are the protagonist of their own story. So why is Hel overlooked? Because of the fear she inspires at the prospect of a life lived without note or valor? Because her appearance was considered so repulsive that, while acknowledged as a goddess, she was put as far away from Asgard as physically possible so as to avoid offending the others with the sight of her?

As much as I love Norse paganism and link myself to it, I find plenty of people who speak with Odin and Frigg, Loki and Thor. Never once have I met someone who says with a smile that they speak to Hel. That’s fair. How many people do you know talk to Hades or Osiris or Mictlantecuhtli on a regular basis, even among the gothiest of pagans? Why even bring this up at all? Last December (2019), I was doing a Krampus Walk with a bunch of women from the International Wenches Guild. (That’s a whole other story.) At the end of the walk we gathered up in a local alternative religion shop to warm up and grab a few things for the pre-Yule rush. Up on the shelf, something naughty my attention. It was something I'd never seen before in all my years of goblin-like hoarding of witchy stuff. A statue of Hel looked back at me, sitting on a throne with a knife in one hand and a bowl in the other. By her side was a wolf, and her skull seemed to be grinning at me with interest. I went back to that statue three times, telling myself I didn't have the money to be spending on things right now. But when I picked her up to examine her, I knew I wasn't walking out of the store without this statue. I brought her home, placed her on my altar, put a few coins in her bowl, and there she stayed.

And then Covid-19 hit.

I've never been one to rely on religion in times of trouble. It's never done much for me one way or the other. I've long held the belief that witchcraft involves handling your own shit before calling on anything else to help out. But this? This is one of those things that is well beyond the control of most humans to handle alone. It's emotionally exhausting, mentally taxing, and physically dangerous. We're all doing the best we can, wearing masks, sanitizing, washing, distancing, doing all we can to prevent things getting worse despite the best efforts of the world to remind us that we are inevitably only human and the risks are infinite. It's humbling to say the least. So, it's in this time of stress and disorientation that I find myself drawn to Hel.

Family Ties

“The following night the goddess of death appeared to him in a dream standing at his side, and declared that in three days’ time she would clasp him in her arms. It was no idle vision, for after three days the acute pain of his injury brought his end.”

-Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus (12th century)

Hel's name means 'to hide/to conceal', giving it a cruel humor. She was, after all, respectfully banished from Asgard due to her physical appearance, or perhaps because Odin foresaw her part in future events. She is described as being half blue and half flesh colored, though the depiction has altered over the years to mean half flesh and half corpse. Hel is said to be gloomy, dour, and even fierce looking, which suggests a woman with little time for nonsense within her realm. Despite all this, she is said to have a vast hall called Éljúðnir and many servants as befits her station. Everything that surrounds her seems to speak to the fears of the people who believed in her. She has a bowl called 'Hunger,' a knife called 'Famine,' curtains called 'Misfortune,' and a bed named 'Disease'.

On the plus side, she does have a dog named Garmr, said to be the 'goodest of boys'.

The best of trees | must Yggdrasil be, Skíðblaðnir best of boats; Of all the gods | is Óðinn the greatest, And Sleipnir the best of steeds; Bifröst of bridges, | Bragi of skalds, Hábrók of hawks, | and Garm of hounds.

-Poetic Edda, Grímnismál

Her father, Loki, is well known for his mischief and chaos. But her mother, Angrboda, remains largely overlooked beyond being acknowledged as the mother of Loki's three 'darling' offpsring. Angrboda, being a jotunn, is not well looked upon as the Aesir seemed to find themselves constantly at odds with the jötnar. The Aesir and the Vanir form the two principal tribes of gods within the Norse pantheon, the forces which held the world together and brought forth order in which life could thrive. While the Jotunn were more elemental, primordial beings who were born from chaos and presented challenges to the structured order of the world.

It's important to note that Hel is not the only goddess who fits within the overlap of Norse mythos complex Venn diagram between the Aesir, Vanir, and Jotunn. Loki himself is Jotunn as is Skaði, while Freyr and Frejya are Vanir. However, Hel's connection to Angrboda as her mother and Loki as her father seem to be enough to condemn her in the eyes of the ruling Aesir, as well as make her a subject of fearful respect.

Her brother, Jormungandr, is the infamous Midgard Serpent. The middle child of the brood, Jormungandr was tossed from Asgard by Odinn into the ocean where he was said to grow so large he encircled the earth and bit his own tail. If you're familiar with gnosticism (or Full Metal Alchemist) you would recognize the ouroboros symbolism inherent in the mythos as connecting Jormungandr to the cycle of life, death and rebirth, another primordial concept. At Ragnarok, the serpent will be said to release its own tail and fight Thor, both of them doomed from inception. Thus, the old world will end, and a new cycle will begin.

Fenrir, Hel's younger brother, is likewise doom driven, foretold to devour Odinn at the end of the world only to be killed in turn by Odinn's son Víðarr. The theme of the bound monster, I believe, is connected to the concept of man trying and failing to forestall his own fate. Another primordial concept of change as an inevitability.

And yet there is Hel. Out of all her family she seems to stand alone as the most consistent of her bloodline. The black sheep in a family of black sheep. No sagas recounting her heroic adventures, no epics building to the rise and fall of greatness. Only a goddess fulfilling her function to take in those who died of sickness or old age. It is not known for certain whether she survives or dies during the events of Ragnarok, only that Loki will have 'all Hel's people with him' during the final confrontation.

Symbolism

Throughout my research into Hel's mythos, it's clear she was viewed with begrudging respect by her own people. As a goddess, one couldn't afford to be less than deferential when dealing with her (assuming of course that they dealt with her at all). But how they felt about her can be discerned from the associations given to her through her items and surroundings. I began to collect a series of symbols associated with her. Each one tells us something about how she was perceived among the Norse people, and gives us some interesting modern-day interpretations when applied.

50/50 – In all the descriptions of Hel, she is said to be half flesh and half either discolored or corpse-like. Like most cthonic deities, she has a liminal quality to her, being representative of a transitional state of being. Balancing neatly between life and death, Hel is a crossroads deity, guarding over the boundary lines (though not traditionally associated as such). She has the ability to release those sheltered under her threshold, although she demands a price as is her right. This also puts her squarely in the category of a liminal being, one whose mere existence challenges the social classifications of the time. Liminal beings are often described as both immensely powerful and dangerous, depending upon the situation and perception of society. They are undeniably eerie, and yet inspire awe for the way in which they transcend limitations of the self.

Hel's Hall – Éljúðnir is the hall of Hel, located within Niflheim and aptly named as her realm is said to be barren and cold. It's said to be a mansion, and it would have to be considering that she is responsible for sheltering everyone who didn't die gloriously in battle. Her hall then becomes a symbol of her status, a recognition of her as a goddess with her own realm and duties. With hospitality being such an important social factor to the Norse people, I find myself hard pressed to believe Hel is needlessly cruel to her guests. Like any mead hall, it is a center for social activity as well as her residence, if a somewhat foreboding one.

Hunger, Famine, Misfortune, Disease – It seems Hel is often deemed responsible for all of the troubles that plague humanity. A rather dire proposition, but isn't it better for someone to oversee these things rather than letting them run amok? Given her connection to the primordial forces of chaos, it seems fitting that Hel, the stable one in her family, is relied upon to control the disorder that society faces from time to time. The objects deemed as a part of her entourage are significant to her personality. Even in the modern times, these troubles are never far from humanity’s mind, with much of the world facing them on a daily basis. *A bowl (Hunger) is often symbolic of receptiveness, or of fertility, neither of which seem to fit Hel herself. For many the bowl represents a scrying tool, portending to the future. It's not unusual for cthonic deities to be connected to omens and portends. So, it may well be that the 'Hunger' her bowl represents has less to do with wanting food and more to do with our hunger to know our own fates. An empty bowl representing the unknown fate of humanity as a whole may present as a bit nihilistic, but it does seem to fit. *The knife (Famine) as a tool which represents the ability to defend or attack. A knife can help fix a meal or it can protect a family. In this case, 'Famine' represents not only the absence of plenty, but the seeming inability to provide for one another, thus weakening everyone as a result. Famine is not just about food, it's about the failure to provide. For a society that was heavily reliant upon all of its people to survive day to day, this would have been a terrifying concept.

*The curtains (Misfortune) are used to draw over the windows and shut out the light. This is what 'Misfortune' does. It clouds reason and empathy and makes it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Curtains can also be symbolic of one’s desire to hide from the world, to shelter themselves or to keep others from finding out something they find shameful. It may feel safe, as if we are only protecting ourselves. But Hel's curtains are, I believe, named Misfortune for the sake of choosing whether or not we draw them closed or open them up.

*The bed (Disease) is often used as a symbol of intimacy or rest. A bed named Disease could also easily be a colorful metaphor for STIs, though in this case I believe it was meant to represent the fear of dying in ones bed of old age or disease, thus missing out on Valhalla. For Hel to have a bed named Disease suggests an unexpected nurturing aspect to the goddess, as the sickbed is often where we find ourselves the recipient of the most care from others.

In this way, I believe Hel's tools exist as a reminder to society that these things will always exist, and that in order to combat them, people must constantly struggle against them to better survive together.

Garmr – Another in the long list of ferocious subterranean hounds associated with cthonic deities, Garmr was said to be her guard dog, standing bloodstained by her side. He is her faithful protector, as well as the guardian to the underworld. The hound is often a symbol of loyalty and ferocity, but in this aspect I believe it relates more to the black dog associations with death and ill omens. Again, I've yet to see anything relating to Hel being a seeress or an oracle of any sort, but there always seems to be some connection between death gods and omens of the future.

Hel in Practice

Change is uncomfortable. Humans have always preferred stability, even if it's inequitable, because we'd rather function in practice than succeed in theory. Hel is a paragon of balance within chaos, affording the opportunity to change and progress through the inherent suffering of life as it is. And yes, I'm aware of how nihilistic that comes off. But here within the instability of our current world, I find a kind of comfort in that rational. Change is eternal. Tomorrow is an unknown. Control what you can and stay by the people you care about. Keep moving. You are not dead yet.

Rune: Hagalaz “Hail”

- The rune of Hagalaz is practically unanimous with misery. Which makes it's appearance less than desirable during a reading or when found in the day to day. That being said, some degree of unfortunate occurrence is unavoidable in life. It is unalterable. However I find it's distinction kind of like finding a crack in a dam. You now know there is a problem. Maybe you can't 'fix' the problem, but you can stem the damage and keep the outcome from being worse than it absolutely has to be. Hagalaz is about weathering the storm and coming out the other side of it knowing the work that must be done.

Realm: Niflheim

- Niflheim is one of the nine realms of Norse Mythology. A world of coldness, fog, and the primordial darkness. Ymir was born here. Hvergelmir, the source from which many rivers flow, begins here. Níðhöggr the dragon/serpent dwells here, gnawing at the roots of the World tree Yggdrasil. So it would seem Niflheim is a a place of beginnings, endings, and ultimately change. According to the mythology this is where those who died too old, too young, or on the sickbed end up. And yet for all it's forbidding geography and weather, Hel is said to be put in charge of caring for those who arrive. Hall: Éljúðnir

- If Hel is meant to care for those who did not die in the glory of battle. Many times we see this as crowds of dead souls wandering endlessly in the freezing mists. But when I think of Hel's hall of Éljúðnir, I think of a place which is a respite from the cold. It is said to be sprayed with snowstorms, meaning that it stands against the raging storms of the realm, providing shelter to those who dwell within. What if her hall stands alongside Valhalla and Fólkvangr? What if she is the world-weary and cunning inn-keeper who offers bread and mead to those brave enough to find their way to her doors?

Appearance: Dour and fierce looking in expression. Half flesh and half dead.

Tools:  knife (Famine) bowl (hunger) curtains (Misfortune) bed (Disease)

Color: black white grey/silver blue dark purple

Animals: wolves/hounds serpents ravens worms

Plants: yew/ash wormwood rosemary mistletoe mustard seed blackthorn

Offerings: tobacco garlic figs mushrooms rye bread black cherries dark chocolate mead coffee, black espresso

#hel #norse paganism #norse mythology #norse gods #worship #orrferings #plants #witchcraft #witch #Éljúðnir #runes #Hagalaz #niflheim #world tree #yggdrasil

[helshound]

Hel Rosary Prayers

I feel like the catholics are onto something with this so I wanted in on the action. all the prayers are under the cut.

These sets of epithets are intended to be used ín the same manner as mysteries in the catholic rosary. The prayers following them correspond to the rosary beads as labelled, except for the closing prayer which is not inherently tied to a specific bead.

Cultus Epithets

Cultus of Peace ● Hel Feasthall - she of food, connection, community, and storytelling ● Hel Honey-Laugh - she who seeks and values genuine happiness ● Hel Gift-Giver - the generous Queen who cares for her people ● Hel Justice - she who rules fairly and judges wisely ● Hel Amity - she of peace and cooperation

Cultus of Opposites ● Hel of Hard Roads - she of the difficult path we need to take. ● Hel of the Lights - the lantern held out, the hope in the dark. ● Hel of the Antler Crown - her fierce aspect. ● Hel of the Flower Crown - her gentler aspect. ● Hel Half-dead - her paradox aspect, the mingling of her opposites.

Cultus of Strength ● Hel of Cool Comfort - she who eases the pain ● Hel Restful - who grants us peace in sleep and death ● Hel Preservation - keeping us safe and well-protected ● Hel Perseverance - the strength you didn't know you had ● Hel Ironclad - your death is hers and no one else's. she will protect you.

Cultus of Transformation ● Hel of the Hospices - lives that will soon no longer be. ● Hel of the Veils - life, death, the boundary between them. ● Hel Conservation - scientific, environmental, spiritual. ● Hel Hailstorm - she in her cold Hagalaz aspect, apocalyptic change. ● Hel Lepidoptera - metamorphosis, transformation, growth. (pendant) Lady, I come before you, ashen and unsteady, not to find my rest but to mourn. I mourn who I once was. I mourn what could have been. I mourn those who have no mourners. I mourn lives lost to madness and violence. When I began, I knew just what I was mourning. Each year that passes I know less. And yet I come before you, year after year. I come with offerings and song, marked as one of your people. And I mourn.

(first bead) Hail to you, Hela, Grandmother Death. Silent your wisdom, yours my last breath. Reading our wyrd in cobwebs and lace, Ancestor´s hostess, grant us your grace.

(second bead) Hail to you, Hela, ender of strife. Half fair, half rotten, mirror of life. Cool is your comfort, equal for all. Highways and alleys end in your hall.

(third bead) Hail to you, Hela, Lady of Dust. All wyrd will ever go as it must. Carving our way on the edge of a knife, Éljúðnir´s Mistress, teach us of life.

(skull bead) You are half a life in darkness, half a death in day. But those who love you will have you whole – and in our night you will lead us home. (rose + roots) Hel, my fulltrua. Hel, my Queen. Hel, my Mistress. Hel, my everything. Keeper of memories, bestower of lifetimes. Eternal twilight and stars. Hear my call and grant me your blessing.

(decade beads) Hail Hel, the blessed keeper of our Honoured Dead. Exalted among the gods, you are with us from beginning to end. Our Lady of Solemn Remembrance, we ask you to lead us through another long night. Light our way in this night and all the nights ahead. 

(closing prayer) Night gathers, and you are by my side. I shall be with you till my death. I shall take no life, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die with your aid. I pledge my life and honor to Helheim, for this night and all the nights to come.

——— credit and information ———–

The hail mary-like prayer comes from alaskanlesbian, but I modified it to suit me better. Similarly, for the prayer to be said on the pendant I modified this prayer. The prayer for the first three beads can also be found here and is by someone I have actually met in person before ^^ The closing prayer is modified from the night’s watch vows from asoiaf.

Finally, I got the idea to imitate catholicism’s practice of meditating on those mysteries. For this, I used some of the cultus epithets from queenofswords (and added some of my own invention). There are many more than the ones I used here, so check them out!

If you decide to use this rosary format or if you modify it, feel free to let me know! I’m always interested in that kinda thing. 

Bonus: Hel modelling my rosary

#rosary #pagan prayer beads #hela #heldeity #prayers #beast barks #i hope version 2 of this post will look neater #can't promise i won't keep changing and adding things in the future tho

[mythologyfolklore]

Baldr in Hel - Ch. 02

(A/N: This contains Baldr having a mental breakdown and also a brief discussion about when an unborn baby gets a soul. There is also a cameo of foreign underworld gods.)

.

Baldr's POV

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It had been two days since he had arrived.

At least he thought so.

The underworld sun never set and the UV-A light¹ bathed the entirety of Niflheimr and Helheimr in permanent ghostly twilight. There was no day-night cycle. It seemed to Baldr, like time stood still in this murky, chilly world.

Fortunately the Bright One had quickly figured out, that Hel had a rigid schedule he could orientate himself on.

The meals played a big part: there was a warm and simple breakfast for the Queen of the Dead (and for him, since he had a seat of honour at her table), an opulent lunch and a warm, but light dinner (Hel had told him, that it was better not to eat too much in the evening).

Baldr didn't believe, that the ingredients for the food were home-grown; that was impossible around here. But he didn't dare ask, where they came from.

Hel also had the habit of getting up early, earlier than Baldr was used to. Perhaps it was because his habit was to rise with the sun, or maybe it was the black light of the underworld sun, which made him feel like he was woken up earlier than usual.

Hel's two personal servants, Ganglöt and Ganglati, worked rather slowly (no surprise with how elderly they were) and Hel had advised him to make requests at least an hour in advance, whenever he wanted something.

Baldr had also learned quickly, that Hel was rather morbid, when it came to naming things.

Apart from her gargantuan palace, Éljúðnir, her own bed was named Kór (sickbed), its curtains Blikjandabol (gleaming bale), her table was named Hungr (hunger), her knife Sultr (starvation).

(“Why do you give your possessions such dark names?”

“Why not?”

Later he had learned from her manservant Ganglati, that her gallows humour – which she clearly had got from her father – was her way of coping with her ruined youth.)

And last but not least …

“Uhm, Hel? May I ask you something?”

“Certainly.”

“Why is there a pitfall in front of your audience hall?”

“Oh, you mean Fallandaforað²? That's my threshold.”

Threshold???

“It sorts out anyone who has malicious intent and or is guilty of hubris.”

Now Baldr was even more confused. “Uhm … could you elaborate please?”

“Alright: every soul has an individual signature, made up of character, memories, thoughts and good or bad deeds they have done in life. Over the chasm of my threshold goes an invisible magical film. Most people are able to cross it, no problem. The really bad ones stumble over invisible obstacles, but they get across. But those guilty of hubris or ill intent fall into the chasm. Their punishment is to be lost forever in the deepest and darkest pits of Niflhel.”

Baldr felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

Hel's emotionless tone and face hadn't made her explanation any less scary. Neither did her sudden changed of disposition, when she suggested talking about something more pleasant.

When he asked her personal servants about it, Ganglati, her elderly butler, just laughed: “Well, that's how our queen is. She's very changeable, both in appearance and in demeanour. If she has a blank expression all the time, well, that's just Hel being Hel. But here's a tip; if you want to get a hint on how she's feeling, pay close attention to the state of her left half. The worse her mood is, the more decayed her face is. But if she's happy, it looks just as lively and beautiful as the right side of her body.”

The light god tilted his head in interest. “Is that so?”

“Mhm.”

“You two must have known her for a long time.”

Ganglati nodded affirmatively. “Oh yes. We were already long here, when she came here as a young thing. Such a frightened, poor little lass she was. Such a burden on the shoulder of a ten-year-old. It took her a while to grow into her new role, but we were there through all of it, Ganglöt and I.”

Compassion struck Baldr with an intensity he hadn't felt in quite a while (and he was quite a compassionate person, a “bleeding heart”, as Loki had called it scornfully).

The things this woman must have gone through!

.

Hel's POV

.

Hel allowed Baldr to roam through the castle, so that he could get used to it (among other reasons).

The Bright One was curious and once he got over his initial apprehension, he asked her a lot of questions, which made her really happy. He was genuinely interested in her place.

Maybe it was selfish, but she would have been a fool, if she hadn't been grateful for this indeed very special revenge kill/“birthday gift” from her father.

Her life wasn't boring per se, just … repetitive. Always the paper work and the soul judging.

Well, at least the upside of the latter was the soul reading. Whatever the soul had experienced, she knew it, their memories, their wishes and hopes, their deepest secrets – some of which even the persons themselves didn't know – and of course their silly little mishaps.

Sometimes being a death goddess could be really fun.

She always had a story to tell and a friend from Hellas had given her the idea to write those stories down. Now she had to employ thousands of librarians to administrate the nigh infinite amount of media in her Halls of Knowledge. But hey, the dead might as well make themselves useful.

Hel was quite sure, that Baldr would be dying to see them, once he found out about them. Maybe she would have to drag him out of there; reading his soul had revealed, that he loved stories and reading.

One thing was for sure: he was really curious about the little light that floated about the hallways of the entire castle. Once Hel was showing him the halls he was going to inhabit, once the problems were fixed, when Baldr caught one of the little lights in his hand. The next moment he yelped, let go and the light quickly escaped.

“It bit me!”, he exclaimed in shock. Hel took a look at his hand. There was no blood, but one of his fingers had a visible bite mark.

She smiled lopsidedly. “You have to excuse them. They panic easily and when they panic, they bite.”

“What are they anyway?”, Baldr asked. “I've been wondering for a while.”

“These, Baldr, are the souls of stillborn children”, Hel revealed. “Babies, who just transformed from a bunch of cells to living, sentient beings, who just gained a soul – only to lose this spark of light almost immediately, before they could even see the world and take their first breath. Some of them had already been born, when they died – usually of sickness, or because they were considered weak and were abandoned. So they're as confused and upset as babies can be.”

Baldr looked pained. “That's awful”, he whispered.

“It is”, Hel agreed. Then she hummed a little melody and the baby souls gathered around her head and hands, including the one that had bitten Baldr's finger.

“Hello, children”, she greeted them. “How are you today? Are you playing nicely?”

Their answer was a barely audible hum, a chorus of susurrated words only she could hear. The tiniest of them (the little finger biter) nuzzled her right cheek.

“Hey there, sweetie”, Hel smiled. “I see, you're growing teeth.”

She turned to Baldr. “Come here, Óðinnson. This little soul wants to tell you something. But pay very close attention and keep your voice down; the souls of the stillborn have the faintest voices and are most sensitive to noise.”

Baldr approached and hesitantly opened his hand. The tiny soul floated onto it, then up his arm and onto his shoulder, right next to his left ear. His eyes widened in evident surprise, as the soul whispered something into his ear. But then he smiled and whispered back, that it was okay.

The soul nuzzled his cheek too and made a humming sound, which prompted the other souls to float over and orbit around the glowing god.

.

Baldr's POV

.

Baldr wasn't quite sure, what to do, but at least the souls seemed comfortable around him, so that was a good thing. Hel seemed pleased at the sight.

“Are they attracted to my light?”, he asked softly.

“Oh yes. As I said before, most of these children have never seen the light of day, but some have. The big one on your hand, that's Ragnar. He died at the age of three and is the oldest of the group. He just told the little ones, that your face shines like the sun. So they're really excited. They had no idea the sun was so bright, warm and beautiful.”

“Oh”, he breathed and his cheeks reddened considerably (seriously, what was that with all the blushing lately?).

Some of the souls made a noise that sounded suspiciously like giggling.

Of course this wasn't the first time, that someone likened Baldr's brightness and fairness to the sun, but to him it meant so much more, when it came from a child.

“I agree”, Hel responded to his process of thought. “It does mean a lot more from a small child. They don't say these things to flatter or to be poetic or romantic, but because to them it's a simple truth.” She smiled. “Look at them, they really like you! They orbit around you like planets! Seems like you're called 'The Beloved' for a reason. Even the dead love you.”

These words made him glow a little brighter with joy. “I'm glad”, he said gently.

They stayed there for a while, before continuing their tour, leaving the souls to play.

After walking for a while, Hel asked her companion: “What's the matter? You're so silent.”

“Just wondering, that's all”, Baldr mumbled. “When does a being get a soul?”

“Hm, I think it's an ethical or philosophical question”, Hel mused. “Some say, it's at the moment of conception, some say it's at birth. But to me, it's the moment, when their tiny little organs start working; the moment they become viable.”

“Why can the souls talk?”

“Unlike their mortal shells, souls have a voice, mind and conscience from the moment they spring into existence. Even if the creatures themselves can't speak, their souls can. And if you can hear the soul inside a creature, you can understand them. You can read them like books.”

“Like you can?”, Baldr asked.

“Yes and no. I can only read the dead. The living are an enigma to me”, Hel admitted. “That's one of the reasons I prefer the company of ghosts. Another being the way the living look at me. The horror, fear and disgust in their eyes … I hated going outside in Jötunheimr.”

He gasped: “Your own kind was afraid of you?!”

“Yes. We led an isolated life deep in the Járnviðr. But sometimes mother would have to travel to the next settlement for groceries and then she would take us along, because she couldn't leave us alone at home. But it's not fun to go outside, only to be called a 'monster' a 'freak', or other charming things like that.”

Baldr felt his heart crack.

This wasn't right. She didn't deserve this.

Unable to stop himself, he took her hand.

“I don't think you're a monster or a freak”, he spoke softly.

.

Hel's POV

.

Hel felt a blush rise to both of her cheeks and for the first time in quite a while, her left side turned lively.

“You don't?”, she asked

The dead god shook his head vehemently: “Absolutely not! They were fools for not seeing your magnificence!”

Her blush intensified and she couldn't help but smile.

“Thank you, Baldr. That means a lot to me.”

Of course it didn't escape her, that her apparent joy made him happy in return.

Oh Baldr, you sweet and messed up summer child.

.

A few hours later, at the lunch table, he thought of another question.

“Hel, can I ask you something?”

“Of course you can.”

“Uhm … do you come after your mother? I mean, you definitely have Loki's wit and gallows humour, but except for that, I don't see much of a resemblance between you and him.”

Hel smirked.

Baldr giggled: “Okay, scratch that. That is definitely a Loki-smirk.

“Why, thank you!”, the Queen of the Dead snickered. “I'll take that as a compliment. But to answer your question: yes, I do come more after my mother – at least on the good side.”

By his curious eyes she could tell, that he wanted to know more, but was afraid to ask.

“Go on”, she encouraged him.

He fidgeted a little. “Your mother … what was she like?”

Hel tilted her head. “Why did you hesitate to ask me that?”

“W-well … I thought … I …”

“That it would hurt me to be reminded of her?”

“Y-yes.”

“It doesn't”, she assured him. “I like remembering my mother. She was the most unimpressed person you could ever meet. Very outspoken too, though she didn't talk much. She didn't smile much, but never got angry either. She would teach us her magic and all kinds of runes and spells. Mother didn't play with us, that was father's job. But sometimes she would do something sweet. Small gestures here and there. When I was a little girl, I asked my mother for bells to play with. She said no, but on Yule I found them in my Yule bag. It was father, who gave them to me, but he whispered into my ear, that it had been mother's doing. 'But that's a secret, sweetie', he said, 'Don't tell Mama I told you'. These …” She took the scythe, which was leaning against the table and shook it, making the bells ring, “… are the very same bells. They're my most priced possession.”

Baldr was smiling from ear to ear. “That's such a sweet story! You and your family must have been so close.”

“We still are”, Hel corrected. “We always were, always are and always will be. I'm sure that as an Ása you know that kind of love. During my brief stay in Asgard I could tell, that your family is a very tight-knit group.”

He clearly understood.

“I want you to understand, Baldr, that it doesn't upset me to talk about my family. I have nothing but fond memories of them. What upsets me is what your family did to us. My brothers and I, we were only children, when your father tore us apart. I do not truly hate Óðinn, because I know and understand, why does what he does. Still he hurt us and for that I resent him.”

Baldr nodded sadly. “I think I do understand. You're a strong person to not hate my father.”

Hel sighed: “I wouldn't call it strong. It's not so much strong as it is wise. It's the sensible thing to do. Hatred doesn't resolve anything. It just makes you more miserable, blackens your soul and clouds your judgement. My father is the hateful, vindictive one.”

“Can confirm”, Baldr said wryly and pointed to where he had been pierced by the mistletoe dart.

Right that moment, the waiters came in and brought lunch.

When Baldr saw the content of his bowl, his face brightened up.

“Ohhh, girolle stew with mussels!”, he squealed in delight.

Hel chortled, as the light god proceeded to practically inhale his food.

“You certainly have a healthy appetite!”, she snickered.

Baldr laughed sheepishly: “Yeah, Nanna would say that too. She used to joke, that, if we weren't so rich, I would eat us out of house and home.”

Hel snickered some more: “Don't you worry, Bright One. There is no danger of that happening. You can eat as much as you want.”

The blond beamed and refilled his bowl.

.

Later Hel was sitting in her office doing her paperwork and making zoom calls.

She was on the call with a few of her foreign colleagues, when a knock on her office door got her attention.

“Wait a second, guys, someone just knocked on my office – ENTER!”, she called out to whoever was waiting outside.

She was a little surprised, when the door opened to reveal …

“Baldr! What can I do for you?”, Hel inquired.

He was smiling sweetly – primordial cow, it looked so cute!

“Hi, I just wanted to- oh, wait, I see you're busy”, he noted sheepishly. “I'm sorry. I'll just come back later-”

“Don't be silly! Come here, Óðinnson!”, she ordered.

.

Baldr's POV

.

Baldr obeyed, albeit hesitantly.

“Come”, she repeated. “I want you to meet my colleagues from abroad.”

He joined her behind the magical screens and saw the faces inside them.

“Everyone”, Hel addressed her colleagues, “I want you to meet my new companion. This is-”

“Baldr!”, one of the other underworld rulers exclaimed and waved behind their screen. “What a surprise! Hi!”

Baldr recognised the other and beamed. “Oh, hey, Persephone!”

Hel blinked: “You two know each other?”

Baldr nodded. “Yes, I've met her a few times, when my family and I would visit the Olympians for business-”

“So this is the dead god you're hosting now?”, one of the other zoom call participants asked. “I've heard of some god dying and entering your realm.”

“Yes, this is him”, Hel confirmed. “Baldr, this is Osiris, son of Nut and Geb. He's the king of the Egyptian underworld and very much like you. Osiris, this is Baldr Óðinnson, formerly the god of light, peace, joy, justice, spring and all that stuff – which should be obvious by the way he glows.”

Some of the foreign chthonic deities laughed.

Curiously Baldr regarded the Egyptian god. Through the screen he could tell that the other had green skin, was clad in white linen and wearing a white crown.

“So you died too?”

“Yes, no thanks to my brother Seth”, Osiris sighed. “My wife and some helpers sewed me back together and resurrected me. But since I was already dead, I couldn't return to the land of the living, so here I am, ruling the afterlife. But it's a nice gig and I'm comfortable here. I'm sure, you will like living with Hel too. Once you get used to her aloof demeanour, you will find, that she's a very likeable person.”

“Oh, I do!”, Baldr agreed eagerly. “I really like it here!”

He couldn't help but laugh, when Hel gawked at him like he had just grown a second head.

“What's so funny?”, Hel complained, “This is the first time I hear that sentence!”

Baldr gasped: “What??? Well, then I will have to tell you more often, because it's true!”

He was very pleased with himself, when the left side of Hel's face turned significantly more lifelike (though she was still deathly pale) and a blush tainted her right cheek.

That means she's happy, right? According to Ganglati, that means she's happy.

“Awww!”, some of the foreign underworld rulers cooed.

“So cute!”, Persephone gushed.

“Does anyone have something of importance to say, before I end this conference?”, one of the participants – a skeletal god with a splendid, colourful feather crown – asked.

Everyone else said no.

“Good. The meeting is over.”

Hel lost no time in switching her screens off.

Baldr gave her a questioning look. “Not even so much as a goodbye?”

“Not among us underworld gods”, she muttered. “Besides, I don't need to hear their gossiping. In that regard many chthonic deities are just as bad as most upperworld deities.”

Ah. No wonder she wanted to get away as quickly as possible.

“They're going to ship us, aren't they?”, he sighed.

“Like GodEx”, she grumbled. “Especially the married ones. You have to excuse them. Every time they suspect that one of us singles has even so much as a crush, they get all … stupid.”

“Ah. Yes, I've been there.”

“I know you have. By the way, you can sit down.”

Baldr smiled gratefully and sat on the chair in front of Hel's desk.

She leaned back in her own chair and regarded him across the table.

“So! What brings you here?”, she wanted to know.

He shifted in his chair.

For a few minutes he had forgot about what he had come here for, but now he was reminded. He had just wanted to … wanted to – oh Allfather, what had he been thinking? She was the Queen of the Dead, she had so many better and more important things to do than listen to his stupid-

“Go on. Spit it out.”

“I … I just … I …”

He grew pale, when he saw how the left half of her face decayed again and she began to frown. He was displeasing her. She was getting agitated, just because he couldn't even … damn it!

And just like that he broke into tears.

“I'm sorry!”, he blubbered, “I'm sorry! I didn't mean to- I'm sorry! I'm sorry!”

Through the blur he could just about make out Hel leaping up and darting around the table, then her right hand cupping his face and the other dabbing at his eyes with a paper tissue.

“Hey now.” Her voice was so gentle. “There is nothing to say sorry for. You don't owe me an apology. You don't owe me anything.”

“But … but …”

“Listen to me, Baldr”, she spoke sternly. “You don't have to please me. You don't have to live up to my expectations. I expect nothing of you. You don't have to put on a false smile and pretend that everything is fine, when it's really not. I know everything, Baldr. I saw the hurt, anxiety and depression, that broke you to the point where you wanted to die. I saw the lone moments, when you sought comfort in your twin's arms, because the pressure was too much to bear. But you know what? It's gone now. You're dead. You're free. Just let go.”

Let go.

Only one person had ever told him that in his life: Höðr, his dear twin-brother. No one else had ever understood.

In his beauty, purity and wisdom, Baldr appeared to be perfect.

He was not.

Blinded by admiration or envy, the people, who flocked around him, forgot that he too had his shortcomings. Höðr had been the only one, who had never forgot, had never expected anything of him. And now there was another person, who asked nothing of him either, who understood his feelings?

Baldr cried harder. He couldn't help it.

For a second he was confused, when Hel moved to take him in her arms, only to stop short. But then she shifted and let him lean into her right shoulder, instead of the left. Honestly, Baldr wouldn't have given a damn, he just wanted to be held, to cry his heart out and be told that everything was alright now.

This was wrong, because he was just one of many dead people and she was his new queen and sovereign. It was undignified and improper, downright insulting and disrespectful even, to get emotional in front of a monarch.

But for some reason Baldr couldn't bring himself to care.

He just drank in the physical closeness and Hel's soothing and placid aura and listened to her murmured words of comfort.

.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”, Hel asked, when he had finally stopped crying.

He nodded, sniffling. “Yeah … I think so. Thank you so much. I really needed that, I suppose.”

“No need to thank me”, she replied and handed him a jug of water. “Just know that, whenever you need someone to talk to, I'm all ears- uhhh, Baldr, why are you pouting like that?”

“Why are you wearing your hair like that?”, he all but huffed. “You haven't done that since Nanna saw your face and couldn't stand looking at it.”

She had brushed her black hair forward to hide the decayed part of her face and for some reason that bothered him even more now than it had a few days ago.

Hel made her “owl face”, tilting her head and looking at him with that bottomless black eye.

But it soon gave way to her usual blank expression.

.

Hel's POV

.

“Can you stand looking at it?”, Hel questioned earnestly. “Your breakdown happened after you saw how my condition worsened. You saw my face decay and flipped out.”

Baldr blushed and mumbled: “Uhm … it wasn't because of that. You see, I noticed that your left side changes condition and your butler explained to me, that it's affected by your mood. So when that happened earlier and you started frowning, I … I thought …”

“That you had displeased or even angered me”, Hel realised. “I see. Looks like I owe you an apology. I didn't mean to frighten you. I was getting impatient, because of your stuttering, yes, but angry? No. How could I ever be angry at someone like you?”

She flashed him a half smile.

For the first time in his life, Baldr acted on impulse: he brushed her hair out of the left half of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

“That's better”, he smiled.

It took her a heroic amount of self-control not to blush again, like a flustered teenager (Niflheimr, she was thousands of years old and had never once gotten flustered before Baldr had showed up!).

But damn, he's so adorable!

She coughed awkwardly and returned to her chair behind her desk.

“Now, that you have calmed down, what did you want to talk about?”

Baldr blinked, as if he had forgot.

But then he laughed: “Oh, right! I just wanted to know, if we could talk more about our families, you and I. If you want to and have time, of course.”

She could feel her left side become more lifelike, enabling her to smile fully.

“I would very much like that, Óðinnson.”

.

---

.

1) Ultraviolet-A light. The proper term for black light. As a god of light, Baldr would know everything about light and the different spectra and would probably say UV-A light, rather than black light. 2) Fallandaforað: "Falling Bale/Falling Danger", Hel's threshold.

#norse mythology #hel #baldr #ganglati #Greek Mythology #Persephone #egyptian mythology #osiris

[morrak]

Éljúðnir (2019-08-19)

A question Gangleri did not ask: ‘That is all well and good. But what if a dead whale landed, meteoric, on the earth outside (for example) Fort Davis, Texas?’

The answer the throned figures did not then brandish: ‘First, the slow sharks — they reek of piss; you know the ones — and hagfish flotillas, following their whiskers. They twist off chunks of feathery grey meat for two years, then slide off under the low-pressure sodium streetlights. The yellow does not hurt their eyes.

‘Afterward come nightmare things with heavy armor and clever snouts. They spend two more years reaching into crevices for overlooked gristle, which they sieze with their surfeit of legs. Then they clamber into to the hills to hide from the nodding oil derricks and highway noise.

‘When all the flesh is taken away, the hungry things settle in. Certain bone-eating worms gum at the marrow; thick mats of rot drink the sulfur out of the ribs. The effect is one of a dense, pale meadow around a hollow white ruin — a little Nástrǫnd on the edge of town. This will persist for as long as the whale lived.’ ∎

#scrivenings

[nildespirandum]

The Tale of the Golden Horn - A PirateLoki AU, chapter 13 is up!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18123434/chapters/46840891

The infamous and ancient Grand Fortress of the Queens of Hel, Éljúðnir , was hewn from osmium and red iron, and only magick and great will kept it from sinking under its own weight into the depths of the Realm it rested heavily upon.

It loomed over the city like a crouching, lean-shouldered wolf waiting for a slow-witted feast to blunder into its path.  The causeway that led to it through the cold slough that surrounded it was empty of any traffic, even deliveries. Aenor had heard of it, of course, seen sketches of it in the daily broadsheets even, but to be walking towards its open double doors escorted by a troop of the undead made her feel rather like breakfast.

Being breakfast, not eating it.  Indeed, the idea of food made her rather want to cast up her accounts.  She had known that coming here was a bad idea.

Members of any navy were unwelcome in Hel’s famed pirate haven, especially those of the Midgardian Navy, and especially, she was certain, the Midgardian Navy’s premiere pirate hunter, be she forcibly retired or not.  It was no exaggeration to say that Aenor might well be the most wanted woman in a city made up of criminals.

She perhaps made a sound of apprehension, embarrassingly.  Loki had been talking for a rather a long time to no surprise, whilst not saying much to any point.  He was going on about a very gifted tailor he planned to visit when they were done with Queen Hela, stopped both speaking and walking and looked down at her.

“What can the matter be, Captain?” he asked with a raised brow.

@dangertoozmanykids101  @jilldsumner  @lynnesm

#PIRATE LOKI #loki AU #loki fanfic

[the-true-norseman]

Hel, the daughter of Loki and Angrboða. Half blue and half flesh colored, looking at her even disturbed the Mighty Thor. When her and her brothers were retrieved from Jötunheimr, Oðinn appointed Hel to rule over the realm of the dead by the same name, located in (or maybe under) Niflheimr. When she arrived, grateful to Oðinn, she named her hall: Éljúðnir, her dish: "Hunger," knife: "Famine," her servant and serving-maid Ganglati and Ganglöt: "lazy walker," her entrance threshold: "Stumbling-block," her bed: "Sick-bed," and her curtains: "Gleaming-bale." Those who die in unhonorable ways such as sickness, accidents, and old age go to be sheltered by Hel. Hel, herself, though has a massive hall just as the gods do. • • • #norse #norsemythology #mythology #myth #viking #heathen #nordic #æsir #vanir #odin #thor #tyr #freya #freyr #loki #fenrir #berserker #shaman #jotun #warrior #hel https://www.instagram.com/p/B1PzLpgnmg4/?igshid=8e0h7yexxe57

#norse #norsemythology #mythology #myth #viking #heathen #nordic #æsir #vanir #odin #thor #tyr #freya #freyr #loki #fenrir #berserker #shaman #jotun #warrior #hel

[wrathfulclam]

Deity Devotion - Day 1

A basic introduction of the deity

Child of the god Loki, She was born half-alive and half-dead. Her features are said to be split down the middle, one side gorgeous maiden, the other a skeleton or blackened flesh (dead flesh). Odin banished her to the realm of Helheim, where She is Queen. Those who do not die in battle go to Her realm. (So the deaths by illness, old age, or other mundane not really dramatic ends.) 

Her realm has come to be known by it’s defining feature, being a cold and barren wasteland of ice and snow or being damp and dreary with rain and sleet. But within this place resides her hall, Éljúðnir. In this hall the dead wait for the coming of the end and the fight they will endure.

Hel is a goddess that does not receive the benefit of extensive mentioning in mythology and the references we have to her tend to focus on negatives. It’s a history written by fear and by hatred. It’s history written by victors who threw a strange little girl into a frozen hell and expected her to die or worse, become a monster to justify their fear.

Hel is a monster. She is a monster for taking our dead and holding them close in the dark nights when all others left them alone and forgotten. She is the monster that allows us to keep on daydreaming of magical places and fierce battles, but knows that when we wake will will need her. Hel is knowledge made whole, the sorrow in a tear, the regret in a clenched jaw, and the ripple of fear in our faces.

Hel is majesty and she is cruel. She is lovely and she is bitter. Hel is a goddess tempered by cold winds and hearty stories of common folk. She is the pain of the long winter nights so lonely that a heart breaks and a mind wanders, but she is also the family around a fire telling tall tales. She is the family you chose instead of the family who birthed you. 

Hel is many faces and many places and I hope one day everyone calls her mother too.

#death and the queen #pagan #asatru #Norse polytheism #heldeity #hel*

[helreginn]

xcoatlicuex

Marigolds and roses? Coatli felt the air leave her lungs in surprise, heart speeding up at the knowledge that this person she was bonded to forever now, favored the same flowers that Coatli cultivated back home. Was it a concidence? She wondered before focusing back on Hel. Every answer that Hel gave her, eased the tension that Coatli did not even realize she was holding. They could share moments together. They could share stories, books, take time to look at the stars and map the constellations. Yes, those were things they could share. She was so lost in the possible future that the questions directed her seem to almost startle her, making her cheeks redden. “Dreams?” she thought back on her many conversations with her mother, the hidden dismissal that her mother could not quite mask. “I’d love to help people, cure their ailments, aid them when sick or injure. There are all kinds of plants and roots that can be used, and I want to share that knowledge,” she stated trying to be confident, but she was afraid what her wife would think of her dream now that Coatli had said it out loud. “I feel the most at ease surrounded by greenery, in a field of flowers,” that was an easy answer. Truly, Coatli loved tending to her garden, whether it was growing food or decorational flowers. The third question was a bit harder to answer. “Hmm…I ask that you talk to me, if I ever hurt you or cross a boundary. I do not want to let resentment grow between us,” she muttered, lowering her eyes down to her hands. She saw the way her parents were, their anger quiet, their hurts and mistakes buried and left to fester. @xcoatlicuex

Hel smiled happily as she listened to Coatli explain her desires. How is it that this union had been so dreaded and yet every new thing she learned only made her feel not quite content but definitely at ease.

"I will help where I can. You are welcome to join me in my travels. There is no shortage of sick or injured people where I walk. And!" She smiled, excited about the next part, "I will take you to where we farm medicinal plants. There's a whole village dedicated to just that over by Gjöll." Hel hoped Coatli would not think it weird. In the realm of dead, who had need of it? Nobody. But Hel did not foster the medicinal plants for the people in her realm.

"Then I will craft fields so vast and vibrant, only the dead could withstand it." she earmarked the thought in her mind, to show Coatli her garden. It was not the largest but it was within the walls of Éljúðnir. A sacred place Hel went to when she felt like a flower, wilting in the shade. She was nervous and excited to share it with her new wife.

"And later I will show you where the portals to the overworld are so you can visit your favourite ones when the weather is nice."

Hel was taken aback by Coatli's last statement. Communication had never been the red head's strong suit. She was a child when she was sent to Helheim. And the dead weren't always the most sociable so.. it took her a long time to learn. But for Coatli, Hel was willing to try. "That is fair. I will do my best to voice my concerns. I am not very good at knowing myself when something is wrong but I will try. Please be patient with me."

#xcoatlicuex #Now feels like a good time to switch this thread over to the non legacy editor so we can trim it without our replies duplicating.

[tipsycad147]

Samhain Gods and Goddesses

By Nixie Vale.

Contrary to what has become popular belief – from TV and the internet – Samhain is NOT a Celtic deity, and certainly is not a Celtic god of Death. That honor lies with The Morrigan. Here is a list of deities that are associated with Samhain and Death. Let’s see our list with Samhain Gods and Goddesses.

Samhain Gods and Goddesses

Anubis – Egyptian

This god has the head of a Jackal and is associated with death and mummification. It’s Anubis that decides whether of not the deceased is worthy of reaching the realm of the dead.

Osiris – Egyptian  

The story of Osiris’ death and his dismemberment by his brother Set, then his resurrection by his dearly beloved Queen and lover Isis has been associated with the last harvests.

The Morrigan – Celtic

A warrior goddess that is associated with death and is often represented by a trio of ravens. It is she who decides who shall leave the battlefield alive and who shall be carried away on their shields.

Yama – Hindu  

In Hindu tradition Yama was the very first mortal to die and go to the next world, here he is appointed as king of the dead.

Hel – Norse  

She is the ruler of the underworld in Norse mythology, that is also named Hel. Mortals that do not die in battle, normally from sickness or old age, join her in Éljúðnir

Freya – Norse

Normally freya is associated with fertility and abundance, but she is also known as a goddess of battle and war. Half of the man that died in battle would go to valhalla, but the rest would join freya in Folkvangr.

Demeter – Greek

Through the loss of her beloved daughter, Persephone, Demeter is linked to the changing of the seasons and is her imagery has been linked to the Dark Mother and the death of the fields, with Hades stealing Persephone, Demeter let the death die for half the year, until her daughter returns.

Hades – Greek

The Greek God of the Underworld, and keeper of the dead. The ancient greeks named the Underworld after this imposing God. He would ensure the souls of the dead remained in the Underworld where they belonged.

There are many other of course, from many other traditions, but these are the most “popular” deities in modern paganism.

https://www.magicalrecipesonline.com/2017/10/samhain-gods.html

[helreginn]

@nixalegos booped the doot for a stoot.

Hel stood in the middle or a bright and open garden. It was surrounded by an ornate dome made of carved stone and glass. The stone formed a circular perimiter all the way around and four meters up before it was just glass. And you would think, being at the heart of Éljúðnir, that looking up through it would only show you the interior of Hel's hall but that wasn't the view at all. Instead the "sky" above looked like the midnight sun of Miðgarðr.

The paths between apple trees and wildflower patches was neatly lined with round grey and white pebbles. Everything was colourful and green and so very alive. There were even birds and bees and one ridiculously colourful squirrel!

She did not look towards him when he entered. She was busy with the tattered and old book in her hand, sitting there on the grass, beneath a fake sun? A borrowed sun? A very convincing skylight? What ever it was, she was warm, she was happy and she was unwilling to let his constant barrage of cynicism and critiques dampen her mood.

"Before you say anything," Hel cautioned, turning the page of her book, "Know that when the roots of the grass and the trees speak to me, they are happy here. Keep your bad vibes out of my garden."

#nixalegos #starter