The Gods are eternal and deathless beings just as we are.

Photo: Baldr and Hel
by Felora

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Uðr, Mjötuðr, Wóden:
The Dispenser of Life, Death and Fate

Uðr is a name I think about time and again because the deepness of it is especially interesting and I always seem to find a new piece of information which sheds further light on it.

One idea is it stems from an old spelling of unnr meaning "waves, the sea." This idea is plausible considering his other sea based names ("Water Nick, Nick of the Waves/Old Man of the Sea, and Island Bearer") however, I believe that there is much more to it than simply "waves." Our Forebears loved to use sea based metaphors to more deeply describe or simply poetically refer to something. With that, it is worth diving into other possibilities.

When we look at other uses of uðr, the most interesting use is to mean "fate, bane" as in the word mjötuðr which is always associated with fate meaning "the dispenser of fate, the maker/destroyer," and in more recognizable terms could be translated as "our Maker" which is used to denote a giver and taker of life.

Going back to the idea of uðr being used figuratively (with seafaring imagery), it would make sense if rather than simply meaning "waves," it referred to fate and its trials as "the waves we ride through life."

Now, we see obviously enough how Wóden is involved in fate, determining who is the victor in war and who will gain riches on earth and who will enter the Golden Halls and so much more. He is also seen to choose the time of death for Kings and others outside of war and is the bane of every warrior in the end sealing their fate.

According to Snorri he not only gives us our souls in the beginning (as Völuspá corroborates), but at the end he takes us back with him to Gimlé or Vingólf which does bear a resemblance to the lines concerning Wóden from Maxims 1 of the Exeter book, "the souls' preserver...and again at the end he will possess (wield) all of mankind. That is the dispenser of Fate himself (meotud)." In this last mentioned poem, the "Dispenser of fate" is indeed the Old English cognate (Meotud) to the Old Norse (mjötuðr). It is a name used to denote the christian god in the English context generally. This practice of taking older folkish names and rehashing them for god or christ is a regular practice of theirs to try to shift the folk mind towards christianity. Even in the Norse folkish context, the term shows the same general meaning as the christian use ("the maker/destroyer" as previously mentioned).

Thus, I believe the name calls Wóden "Fate itself" and/or "Master of Fate."

* Maxims 1 is generally taken to refer to the christian god and I would agree, BUT there is a caveat. In reviewing it more closely you find that every element associated with the christian god can rightfully be associated with Wóden previously. Thus, it is most likely that the poem seeks to take away Wóden's place and give it to the christian god saying "Oh, Wóden isn't actually all of that, my god is."

Þórr has many reflexes of this ancient cult structure, which reveals how old his cult is:

He is called Þórr smiðbelga stórra (Þórr of the huge forge-bellows) in a lausavísur by Þjóðólfr Arnórsson. Elements of smithing are in the language of Þórsdrápa, with Þórr killing Geirröðr with molten iron.

He is uniquely associated with the öndvegissúlur more than any other god. These pillars are topped with nails called reginnaglar; which are also called regingaddi. The world-nail is attested in AM 748 I 4to, being called veraldarnagli.

The pillar idols of Þórr as made by the Sámi were topped with nails, with flint hung from them so that ignem Thor executiat (Þórr can make a fire); the fire being associated with the sun and lightning. Þórr is linked to the holy fire and other fire rituals such as landtaking and funeral fires, with fire strikers being paired often with hammer amulets (see Hesselbjerg amulet).

His association with heavenly iconography: himinsjóli in Þórsdrápa denotes kingship over heaven, with sjóli being an uncommon term for a king, but has been also translated as heaven-pillar.

The himinn-hamarr shared linguistic root, denoting the worldview of a vault made of stone, and later being forged of iron indicating such technological advancement came alongside the cult.

His dualistic cult structure being present at an early stage (Frog, 2022), with his primary antithesis Þurisaz being later transferred to Jörmungandr, and the Jötnar as a whole anti-god faction.

Read this paper here.

For your reality to exist you must be conscious of it or observant of it, but reality exists outside of our perception or the perception of other beings. Therefore there is an observer who is higher than all things in the cosmos. One who is conscious of all things that were, are, and will be. All space whether occupied or not is manifested consciousness from God.

It is always refreshing to see that we as Germanic Pagans have such bright-minded folks working on the future of our traditions.

I can only hope to contribute to this with my book of prayers that I have been working on. I think it is important to not only include things for beginners, but also include things for those who are more seasoned. It is essential to maintain foundational knowledge in any field even when one is experienced.

It is impossible for the Gods to misunderstand you or your intentions.

I submit myself to the Bestower of Boons,
whose form represents the state of the highest realm of Heaven.
Who manifests in a singular form, though in essence He is pervading everywhere;
And He whose Third form embodies the highest knowledge of the One.
Who remains absorbed in His Own Self.
He who sits upon the high throne of Heaven;
I hail to that Holy Host.

I submit myself to Eormen,
Who is formless and the very root from where the sacred runes arise;
Who Abides in the state of Oneness.
He is the Lord who is beyond the knowledge which speech can express and beyond the perception which sense-organs can perceive;
He is the rider of the great ash.
He terrifying and fierce. He destroys all for its benefit; at the same time He is an embodiment of compassion to his devotees,
I bow down to he whose maidens carry souls to his hall to leave this dream-plain.
Which is a dwelling place for all that is order.

I submit myself to whose voice is thunder,
Who is shining gold resembling the sun.
In the depth of whose mind is bottomless like the sea,
Whose pledge shows itself with his waning eye.
From whose wings the mead of poetry drops, From Him all inspiration and enthusiasm intoxicate.
High upon the Ash did he hang to become one with his higher form, and around whose neck adorns the ropes of Hel.

I submit myself to the Soother of Woes,
Whose red mustache sways from His beautiful face, which is adorned with a golden helm and a solar gaze,
Whose mien is beaming with beauty,
Whose throne is adorned with silver and gold,
And who rules the cosmos with a just hand.
Whose Clothes are the blue like the eternal sky and whose breast is adorned with the greatest of chainmail.
I worship Him who is widely known and is beloved by His devotees,
Who is the great bestower of Truth and Wisdom.
Who is the Lord of Earth and of all.

I submit myself to the Terrible One
Who is of terrifying appearance,
Eminent and extremely Strong; Who is the Highest Lord,
Who is ever Unborn and Whole; and with the Effulgence of Million Suns,
Who has spear in hand, the flash of which restores all order and makes evil tremble in fear.

I submit myself to He whose auspicious nature is beyond the elements of the material world and who brings an end to an age
Who always give great joy to the wise men and who is the enemy of disorder,
By taking Away the great delusion, He plunges the prepared soul into eternal bliss.
O Destroyer of Fetters; please be gracious to me; please be gracious to me, O Lord.

I submit myself to the King of Creation.
So long as divine law is not honored in this world or later by mankind,
Joy, peace and the end of sorrows will not be experienced in life.
Therefore O Lord, please be gracious, You who reside within all beings.
Please be gracious, You whose breath breathes life into the cosmos.

Salutations to the Master Sage.
Even in the darkest of times, O Lord,
I always at all times only bow down to You, O Great Calmer,
Please protect me from the sorrows of birth and old age, as well as from the sins which lead to suffering,
Please protect me O Lord from afflictions;
Protect me You who blesses me with bliss.

O Source of Speech and Life-Breath,
May this Galder please You.
And may You look upon me favorably.

Hello everyone, I hope you all are enjoying your spring. I just wanted to say that I apologize for the lack of activity. The reason that started this big period of silence is that I have been writing a book of prayers for the Norse and Anglo-Saxon tradition compounded with this there have been a lot of other things that have happened in my life and it is very difficult to commit extra time mentally and physically to developing more post for this channel. It has been very rewarding seeing this channel grow, and it has been very funny to see the enemies I’ve made along the way. Which is a good thing, because to have enemies means that you stand for something. After I conquer this period in my life, I will be going back to posting on here but right now, I have priorities that are taking up the majority of my time. I will post on here when the book of prayers that I am writing is finished and finally published. I am passionate about this project because I want it to be a book that every Germanic pagan can have on their altar, and there can be formulated prayers on demand. Because I know how time-consuming and daunting it can be to write a full prayer to a God especially for a beginner I thank you all sincerely for understanding, and I will leave you with one last devotional prayer that I made based on a mantra to Shiva.

Never, from dawn forward, pour a shining libation of wine to Zeus or the other immortals, without washing your hands first.

Hesiod, Works and Days 724