Ecstasy: Ways of the Vanir

Lust: Thoth Tarot  (reminds me of Gullveig)

This is not a subject I often discuss when speaking about Heathenry and Vanatru, yet it is in my eyes one of the foundations of working with the Vanic divine. That is, the idea of ecstasy. Usually when one speaks of ecstasy, one of two thoughts come to mind, either religion or sex. The term ecstasy itself simply refers to the experience of a trance like state which ascends the normal level of our consciousness.

As a Vanatru, through working with the Gods and learning of them, I have developed the belief that ecstasy is an important component in understanding the Vanir and their ways. Though I appall the labeling of the Vanir as earth gods, and the Aesir as sky gods, I do see that the Vanir are much more connected to the earth, grounded in it, and of a more sensual, physically motivated nature. It is this sensuality that I think shaped the belief that the Vanir are connected inexorably with sex, be it Freyja and her many lusty conquests, or Frey worshipped with his giant priapus.

The art of seidhr, from both lore and historical evidence, points to the traveling of worlds, trance, induced states of higher consciousness, and communication with beings beyond the bounds of Midgard. The modern revival of the saga based practice of oracular seidhr, prophecy from the High Seat, illustrates this link between seidhr and altered consciousness.

Couple the trance like states of seidhr with the blatant sensuality of the Vanir Gods and what is missing? ECSTASY. I see the Vanic bent toward sex and fertility as a reflection of their inherent power as Gods. I believe the Vanir present themselves on a more sexual level because sexuality is the simplest path to ecstasy. And ecstasy is the fuel of transcendance beyond a single level of consciousness.

Let's look at the Lay of Hyndla as an example. In this poem, Freyja travels from the world of the Gods into what is commonly understood as Hel, to seek answers to a question of lineage. She travels there to visit Hyndla, a giantess and volva (seeress) in order to obtain this information. Freyja is seeking the lineage of her mortal lover Ottar, who has made a bet with the Gods that his bloodline is noble.

The relevant part of this story is how she gets there, how she is able to traverse to another realm. As most know, Freyja is in possession of a falcon cloak which enables her to traverse the worlds freely. Yet strangely she does not utilize this item. For this journey, she instead rides upon a great boar, who just happens to be her mortal lover Ottar himself, whom Freyja has "ridden" to arrive there.

Hyndla spake:
6. "Falsely thou askest me, | Freyja, to go,
For so in the glance | of thine eyes I see;
On the way of the slain | thy lover goes with thee.
Ottar the young, | the son of Instein."


Freyja spake:
7. "Wild dreams, methinks, | are thine when thou sayest
My lover is with me | on the way of the slain;
There shines the boar | with bristles of gold,
Hildisvini, | he who was made
By Dain and Nabbi, | the cunning dwarfs.

from Hyndlujoth: Bellows Translation

Freyja may claim here that the boar is not Ottar, but by the end of the lay it is well apparent that the boar is Ottar transformed, as Hyndla curses him to forget all that she has said of his lineage. Freyja however negates this curse by surrounding Hyndla with a ring of fire and ensuring by her own power that Ottar will not forget what Hyndla has spoken of his bloodline. 

Freyja gestures to Hyndla: Lorenz Frolich  circa 1895

In my mind, the Lay of Hyndla illustrates the inexorable connection between sexuality and the ability to reach a trance state. As earthly divinities, the Vanir are naturally engaged in the physical, sensual experience. They use what is natural to them to generate power, namely the natural ability that physical beings have to achieve expanded levels of consciousness. 

Of course, there are many ways to realize a state of ecstasy without sex, such as drumming, chants, dance, drug induced, etc. but sexuality remains the easiest and fastest method we humans have of achieving altered states of consciousness and trance. 

Sexuality as a spiritual act, be it alone or with others, is something that is not much discussed by Vanatru in the public sphere, yet is very common among Vanatru in my experience. Many of us are reluctant to speak of these things outside of close personal relationships, both for the sensitive nature of the subject and also for fear of backlash from the larger heathen community due to it's UPG basis. But make no mistake, behind closed doors, your average Vanatru may just be a sexual magician.

As a follower of the Vanir, ecstasy is an important component of the faith. Not because we are perverts, or because we like it. Sexuality and sensuality to a Vanatru are processes of power and reverence. They are something to be respected, and a place where all involved must be respected. It is also a place that can be dangerous, and precautions, both physical, mental, and spiritual should always be utilized. For respect to ourselves, our kin, and the Gods. 

In Frith,

Cena