Vanir 101: Basic Symbols of Freyja

Hi everyone! This weeks post will be a continuation of the Vanir 101 series I started with the Basic Symbols of Freyr post. I will eventually try and post one of these for all the Vanir deities on a monthly basis, perhaps more often. In this post I will look at some of the basic symbols of the Vanir Goddess Freyja. In entirely unrelated news, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be on vacation for the next three weeks beginning Weds, so it will be a about that long before another post is up. Hope you enjoy the post!

Symbols of Freyja




The Brisings Necklace (Brisingamen)


Brisingamen is the quintessential symbol of the goddess Freyja. The necklace was created by four dwarven brothers, and believed to contain magical powers of regeneration and fertility. These four dwarves may have been connected to the four directions, and the necklace itself symbolic of earth and its creative power. Freyja paid for this necklace by agreeing to sleep with each brother for a single night. Some amulets have been found in archaeological digs (see picture) that are believed to depict Freyja wearing her magical necklace or in some cases surrounded by it. Freyja is often recognized in Viking and Norse art by the appearance of her necklace as can be seen in the examples above. It was also deeply connected with her in the lore, so much so that Thor once borrowed it to disguise himself as Freyja in order to kill the giant Thrymr, who had stolen his mighty hammer. In the same myth Freyja also becomes enraged at the idea of wedding a giant, so much so that Brisingamen burst and Asgard itself was shaken, perhaps indicating the gravity of her necklace's great power. 

The Cat

Cats are often symbolic Freyja as she has two animal companions, male cats, who are said to pull her chariot. This comes from the story of Baldur's death, in which she comes to his funeral in her chariot pulled by them. As a goddess of sex and fertility, the connection with cats is obviously a reflection of the independent and highly procreative reputation of the animal. They are a good fit with the equally creative goddess of sex and sensuality. It is also worth noting that cats have a longstanding association with witchcraft and sorcery in Europe, and Freyja herself is the mistress of Seidhr, a great magical tradition. Her power was so great that Odin himself was taught the art by her. Some even believe that the great medieval fear of cats and witches familiars may be linked with the lore of this powerful goddess of magic, sex, and sorcery and her own animal companions. 

The Falcon

Freyja is also associated with falcons, due to her possession of a falcon cloak which enabled her to travel freely between the realms. This may or may not be connected with the ability to shapeshift herself and others that is evident in some of her lore, such as the Lay of Hyndla. In many cultures throughout history, the falcon has been a symbol of great vision, transformation, and the transmission of information between higher and lower levels of reality, or people in general on a more mundane level. In European cultures, falconry was also an art most associated with the noble classes, in fact at one time the possession of a falcon and its quality were seen as a symbol of a person's wealth and power. This connection may mark Freyja as a noble woman, a theory supported by her name (meaning Lady) and used to denote the female head of household, as well as her title of Vanadis (Dis of the Vanir). 

Amber and Gold

Freyja is connected to both amber and gold by the story of her marriage to the figure called Odr (fury, ecstasy, muse). It is told within the lore that her husband travels frequently and is often absent. Because of this Freyja is filled with sorrow for him and decided to set out to find him. She is said to have traveled among many different people, and gone by a variety of names, which is why she is often called the many-named goddess. As she traveled, she shed tears of red gold that fell upon the land and sea, transforming into gold and amber. This is used to explain the existence of both materials in the natural world. It is important to not that "red-gold" is a common substance seen throughout Norse myth, often connected with foresight and divine knowledge. Many modern day followers of Freyja choose to wear bits of amber in honor of the goddess. 


Hope you enjoyed this post, and enjoy the next few weeks as well. 

In Frith
Cena



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