Historical/Primary (Many are also public domain and can be found for free online)
The Poetic Edda, or Elder Edda (B) (I) (I have the Hollander translation, but the Larrington and Bellows translations have been well reviewed also)
The Prose Edda, or Younger Edda by Snorri Sturluson (B) (I) (A bit more of the blatant Christian influence, but a good read when you weed that out and understand Snorri’s reasoning behind it)
Scandinavian folk/fairytales (B) (I) (Though many were composed post-conversion, they will sometimes carry elements of pre-Christian beliefs and mythology within them. Many compilations exist, sometimes by specific country.)
Our Troth vol. I: History and Lore by Kveldulf Gundarsson (I) (Both this one and volume II have problems in that there is some misinformation and Pan-Germanic ideas in the writing, so I recommend it for intermediate learners in the hopes that people are more well rounded and able to pick things out if they decide to pick these up)
Arild-Hauges Runer (B) (I) (The site is in Norwegian, but can be translated to English via the button at the top of the page. It’s more limited in English, but still very good)
Don’t Bother:
Norse Magic by D.J Conway (It’s basically a rehash of her Celtic Magic Book with a Norse veneer. Celtic Magic in turn was basically Wicca with a Celtic veneer.)
Anything by $ilver Ravenwolf (One could expand that to include topics beyond these)
The Rites of Odin by Ed Fitch (Similar to Norse Magic, this is basically taking Wiccan practices and applying a Norse veneer. It contains mead and drinking horn making instructions which may be of interest, but the rest is worth passing on.)
Pretty much anything else published by Llewellyn
The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum (I cannot say this enough)
Books by Stephen Flowers (aka Edred Thorsson) (His writing is full of influences from ceremonial magic traditions and other inauthentic inventions, and he fails to warn the reader when these are present. His books have some good information in them, but for the amount of misinformation there are much better books to read.)
Hey everyone! I get SO many questions on how to begin deity-work that I went out of my way to create a comprehensive guide on how to get started with it!
This is a guide documenting literally everything I know about spirit and deity work to date. Topics includes definitions, developing discernment skills, magic basics, identifying impostors, oathing, patrons, and basically anything else I could think of.
You can find the guide linked in the pinned post on my tumblr. Look for “Deity and Spirit Work 101.”
The war I remember, the first in the world, When the gods with spears had smitten Gollveig, And in the hall of Hor had burned her, Three times burned, and three times born, Oft and again, yet ever she lives. Heith they named her who sought their home The wide-seeing witch, in magic wise; Minds she bewitched that were moved by her magic, To evil women a joy she was.
to celebrate the summer solstice, i will be offering free tarot card readings until sunday 24th june (i will extend it longer if i can manage!)
these will be 1-3 card spreads using the rider waite or the prisma visions deck - feel free to specify.
i accept anons and IM’s, but you must be following this blog!
depending on the volume of respondents i get to this, it may take a few days to get back to you with your reading. i promise i’ll be as fast as possible.
if you have any other q’s, lmk. and if not, lets get divining! x
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i’ve also just made an instagram dedicated to hellenic polytheism/tarot reading/general witchy things, so please give it a follow if u can <3
i’ve been absent for some time from this blog. after a long-needed hiatus, i would love to get back into the swing of things by offering some free readings!
right now it’ll be only 1 card pulls until i start getting used to things again. if this sounds up ur alley, shoot me a message!
soooo looking forward to being back and spamming u all with new posts !
- must be following this account for tarot reading -
April 1: Loki Day. Loki’s Day is celebrated on April 1st by American Asatru groups and individuals influenced by the old Ostara festival held by the old Ring of Troth, which was a multi day campout that included April 1st when that date fell on a weekend. Loki Day was a day for pranks and jokes in honor of Loki, and toward the end of the RoT women who were awake in the early morning threw their hair-combings into the fire for Loki. When the Ring of Troth broke into two groups, the American Vinland Association kept the Loki celebrations intact, while over the years the Ring of Troth abandoned them due to the influence of new members who were Nokeans (see my post on Nokeans for a definition and discussion.) The Troth recently re-embraced Loki, so the old custom may or may not come back. Also on April 1st: Narrentag (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and the season of the possible date of Alp Aufzug begins (Switzerland.)
Two questions: 1- what does one do with offerings to Odin and Loki after they’re done? 2- I have heard (and believe) that Isis and Aset are different, but how would one tell one statue or representation from the other?
–Anonymous
I can only address question 2- and the answer is kind of a case of “you don’t”. There are certain headdresses that Aset wore (most notably the throne symbol, which looks kinda like stairs), but by the time that Isis comes on the scene, it’s kind of a hot mess and Aset has taken on nearly every headdress known to man. Modern representations of the deity are not overly accurate, either. So I wouldn’t rely on resin statues for accuracy.
If any readers have any other suggestions on how to tell Aset from Isis, please feel free to chime in :)
So, I’ve been drawn to honoring Thor lately, but I’m (mainly) a pacifist; I try to look to violence only as an absolute last resort and only in retaliation for previous violence. Would my non-violence offend him? I know the Norse gods seem to be pretty into fighting…
–Anonymous
I wouldn’t say that the Norse Deities are into Fighting (I am not a follower of this pantheon, just going by what I have seen from that community) I would say that the Norse are into Self Preservation and Honor and sticking up for yourself. I don’t think the Norse Gods (well, not all of them anyway, there very well may be a couple who do) enjoy just walking about and fighting with everyone they see randomly on the street. I think they try to find justified means for their acts of Violence or fighting or what have you.
Ok, so, I don’t have my own tarot deck because I’m broke (I’m gonna get one soon, I actually have enough money atm) BUT I have a tarot app called Golden Thread Tarot that does tarot readings, so I’m going to screenshot my daily readings and post them here! I hope y'all… appreciate it? I don’t know. Also, the app is rly good and I would deffinatly recommend it. (There’s also an actual deck of the deck in the app that you can buy, I want it. It’s beautiful.)
Today’s chard is the IV of Wands!
Considering that it’s the card of the home, it’s very fitting as I’ve really enjoyed being at home lately. Feeling very homely. And wholesome. All that.
So, turns out this blog has gotten popular out of blue and has gotten nearly 600 followers in about 2 moths, so I just wanted to say thanks! And hello to all new followers! I have some other blogs if you want to check them out:
I don’t have a lot of time at the moment so I won’t be posting a lot, but will occasionally post things like spells, hacks, ideas, experiencing, and that kind of thing. I’m about get my new book of shadows properly started, and I’ll post things about my progress with it once I get started (I probably won’t post photos of pages because a witch’s book of shadows is a very personal thing, but I’ll post about it. You can expect post within the next week. Thanks guys!
I did a stick and poke of Thurisaz (Thor’s rune) and it turned out ok. It’s a bit squint on one end but that’s ok. (The photo is from when it was fresh, it’s healed now)
(The photo is from when it was fresh, it’s healed now)
Sometimes I like to sit and experience the wild as it is. It is there where I am close to the gods. The gods are in the things which surround us and part of the process of the environment we live. It doesn’t matter how urban or rural it is. It is there in which we can experience them and their presence. As the wind blows, the birds fly, the waters ripple, the earth smells. Just take it in.
My beliefs help me move through life. I honor the gods in recognition for their acts in life, as well as their presence in mine, and the lessons they teach me in lore. It isn’t a big ritual, or something I get naked for, or wear fancy clothes. I do it because it helps me, and I sing and praise the gods everyday because I feel it’s needed. For me, it’s the same thing as making breakfast. Not because if I don’t the gods will be angry or destructive. Rather because I wish their presence in my life through welcoming them in. It’s not about having faith, or believing anything will come from it. It’s about mindfulness, realizing my own environment, and just trying to live with what I have. Instead of trying to take more and more without considering where it comes from. It’s about realizing what’s in me, around me. Knowing more. Being thankful, as well as realizing who I want to be.
In my opinion, spells are to be sung. That’s why they are spells. Words carry meaning, and meaning combined with rhythm and passion can create powerful things. Spells are songs sung by those passionate enough to seek what they desire to see happen in the world.
You know, singing to the gods is basically praise. I do it all the time. That’s the point of hymns, to be sung, at least for me. Singing helps me connect with them in ways that rituals and the like could never do. It sends me to a different place mentally and I think about all that they bring not just me, but the world at large.
I think it’s good and healthy if your concepts of deities evolve. Like, even though I still see Loki as a shit starter sometimes, I more call on him to help me with what to say to people. Which wasn’t like before. I did it..but it wasn’t as often. Now it’s more Odin who is the shit starter. Idk sometimes it just be like that. Gods play different roles in our lives and sometimes those things they do fluctuate over time or go in cycles/phases.
(For the Love of Loki, yes I love him. Yes I consider him a shit starter sometimes. Don’t assume he doesn’t mean something big for me just because of this. My practice and views don’t dimish yours. This post doesn’t express all the passion and respect I have for him!)
I know it’s silly, but when I was a teen I thought magic and stuff was all about reading old books. I got older and was disappointed there were no spell books. But guess what, still studying from books because history and studying ancient religions. Idk I think that’s better than studying spells.
