General Hades Info

I get why people are nervous about Hades, he keeps order in the Greek underworld that’s named after him and controls death. The Ancient Greeks had no feast for him and preferred not to sacrifice to him as to not draw his attention. Unless they needed a curse done or to talk to the dead.

IN modern times he’s almost always the bad guy. His abduction and tricking of Persephone, with permission of Zeus, doesn’t help.

It’s easy to forget that that he’s also the giver of wealth. One of his other responsibilities is over valuable minerals. He also enforces is proper burial.
http://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf?1
Hades by cheery-macaroon on DeviantArt

Contrary to popular opinion Hades’ realm isn’t just dark and gloomy. His palace, chariot, and throne are gold. Aside from Cerberus he has a herd of black cattle and a stable of black horses. He also has a grove of pomegranate trees.

Hades retinue consists of Persephone(in the winter)his wife.

Hades(or Zues’) daughter Melinoe, who travels the earth with ghosts and distributes the offerings to the dead.

His daughter Macaria, goddes of merciful death.

Daimon/Skreechowl/gardener Askalaphos

Erinyes, three sisters who dish out punishment, and not in the fun way.  They are Hades daughters.

The Keres who attended the throne of Hades and preside over violent death.

Kharon/Charon, Hades first line of defense, takes the dead across the Styx.

Menoites are Hades cowboys who guard his herd.

Oneiroi give us our dreams and aid Hypnos, god of sleep.

The gods Styx,  Cocytus and Phelgethon, of the underworld rivers.

Thanatos is the daimon of death.

Hades judges and counselors are Minos,  Aiakos and Rhadamanthys. Aiakos is also the doorman of Hades.

Hades is the son of Rhea and Cronos.

Sacred to Hades is mint, asphodel, white poplar, screech owl, cypress,

12th day of Yule

Holy crap! I only messed up once!

Today I honor all those who influence my life, divine or otherwise.

I Thank them for making me stronger, wiser, more independent, and closer to those around me.

Image By ?

Even if that was not their intention .

Even the traumatizing crap.

I hope this coming year I am able to use what I’ve learned to help myself and others.

May we all be blesses and willing to do the work to get that way.

10TH and 11th day of Yule

These two days I honor The steadfast and Loyal Sigyn, wife of Loki.

I honor her for her undying loyalty as she tried to ease her husband’s pain during his torture.  I hope I can persevere as she has in my life’s efforts.

I Honor Heimdallr who guards and protects the world of the gods.

Silent Vidar, who will avenge Odin.  Due to his loyalty an steadfastness the god’s call on him in times of difficulty.

9th day of yule

To day I honor Tyr and Vor.

Vor is the Norse goddess of truth.

I thank her for Her lesson.

This year I will be more honest with myself so I may change for the better.

I honor Tyr, god of law to whom oaths are sworn.  I thank you for your courage and sacrifices you made

I hope to have the courage to make changes for the better.

 

7th day of yule

I honor my Fylgia, an entity that attaches itself to a person from birth. A spirit guide, they are usually inherited..Fylgia often take the form of the animal that matches the person’s personality,, or women who were also the Dis(guardian of the clan).  It is their characteristics Beserkrs and the like take in combat  Fylgia are most often seen during dreams or when their person is near death.

This year I will learn to listen to it better, I will allow it to guide my and teach me the knowledge of my ancestors. I will do what I can to take the opportunities it presents to me, I have spent to long ignoring those opportunities

I thank the Fylgia for accompanying me

I’m sorry for neglecting you.

sixth night of Yule

To many the sixth day of Yule represents moderation

Today I honor  Frigga.

I Thank Frigga for her stabilizing influence.

I honor Frigga as Frou Holle and Perchta, the bright one who teaches that hard work is rewarded and greed, punished(eventually)

I pray that this year I will be well enough to work hard. I will learn moderation and resist being ton greedy.

I pray that I learn how to properly reward others and continue to give back to my community.

 

Fifth night of Yule

image by rockwell kent

On fifth night of yule I remember hospitality.

I thank the spirits of the land for allowing me to live here. This year I hope to build a better bond with them. I pay my respects to passing spirits and welcome them to my table/couch.

Good Yule

 

Forth night of Yule

Modern Heathens celebrate generosity tonight.

Tonight I honor the Vanir.

Njord who represents the generosity of the ocean, calm seas, and plenty of fish. Freyr, who represents the generosity of the land, battle, death, kingship, sex, and peace.  Freyja, who represents fertility of the animals, magic, and sex.

Through the generosity of this family we thrive.  With out farms their would be no food and my area would have even less jobs.

 

Winter Solstice

Tonight Odin rides.

He leads his huntsmen as they pursue lost souls. Our dead visit from Helheim, and other entities roam. I honor them all.  The deeds of or ancestors are toasted and strangers are welcomed. Gifts are given, poetry recited, plays enacted, fires burn, dreams tell of the future and carols are sung(Wassailing).

wild hunt

Freyr and Gerd(or Freyja) join in union on this shortest day. Their union bringing fertility to the land. Freyr is a god of the Vanir tribe, god of fertility, peace, and self defense. Gerdr is a Jotun, a tribe of primal forces. A boar, sacred to Freyr was sacrificed in his honor. Over this boar oaths were sworn.  It’s blood was sprinkled on participants in blessing.  Now we may eat a Yule ham.

The Yule log is lit with a piece belonging to last years log.  The piece left at the ent of this year will protect the home. The log is often replaced with a log-shaped cake or a log with candles burning on it.

Homes are decorated with lights and yule trees are erected.

Mistletoe is hung to symbolize peace, holly brings protection,  Pine, Fir, ceder, and juniper also protects the home, brings prosperity, and renewal.  Holly is another protector and bringer of luck. Ivy is loyalty and a reminder to persevere. Birch represents renewal, oak reminds of victory over the cold, yew brings longevity,

Good Yule!

Sources

.sacred plants of the winter solstice

Yule

 

 

Mother’s Night

December 20th is the First day of the Germanic Yule, the first day of Christmas, If you will. Called mother’s Night or Módraniht, female spirits are honored for their services and their blessings asked.  These spirits include Goddesses, the Disir also known as Matres or Matrones.

It is also the the time Sunna regains power.  Sunna or Sol is a Jotun, a spirit of the potentially destructive forces of nature. She is specifically the personification of the powers of the sun. Over the year she is pursued by Hati, a wolf shaped Jotun of eclipses(?). His intention is to eat her.  Before Yule Sunna is eaten by Hati or she’s just at her weakest. Today Sunna’s daughter takes her place as Sunna reborn.

I welcome her and thank her.

Eina dottvr ————–A daughter
berr Alfra/ðvll———–is birthed by Elf-Splendor (the Sun goddess)
aþr hana Fenrir fari; —after she is swallowed by the wolf
sv scal riða, ————–She (the New Sun) shall ride
þa er regin deyia, ——as the gods are dying
modvr bra/tir mer.—–the old paths of her mother.

 

–       Vafthrudnismál st.47, Poetic Edda

 

Another goddess who is honored is Frigga. Wife of Odin, she who weaves balance or frith. It is she that blesses relationships and cottage industry. During the winter the women would make things to sell in the spring and summer thus helping to support the family.

I thank Frigga for our healthy relationships and the what we’ve earned

Freyja is also honored.  Freyja is of the Vanir tribe, entities who represent the fertility of the land and those on it. She is the leader of  the Disir.Female spirits that protect those in their family line. They can be relatives or entities who have made the promise to protect the family.

Thank you Freyja, for the bounty I have, it may not be material but it is still wealth.

Thank you Disir, those I’ve met, like Grandma Austin, and those I have never met. Thank you for nourishing my soul.

Jord is awakening, the Jotun personification of earth. Mother of Thor, a lover of Odin.  She is the fertile soil we depend on and I thank her and welcome her.

I thank you all and one day I will be able to properly honor you all.

May you all have a blessed Mothers night.

Sources

yuletide

A song for mother’s night

Old Norse Yule Celebration