Beneath the Surface

UllR of the northern lands, UllR of the cold
and the stinging wind, bow-god, hunting-god,
deer-stalker, sharp-eyed tracker of bird and beast.
We welcome you, we welcome your strength, we welcome
your season. UllR, glory of the gods, bearer
of the oathring, master of bright-halled Ydalir
that stands among the green-boughed yew, rune-master,
son of Sif, elf-friend, wise and prudent chief. Grant us skill
and silence as we step on crusted snow, grant to us
a season safe from harm. Hail to lordly UllR!

Mighty Frigga, home of the heart, heart of the home,
lady of shining Fensalir, holder of hard truths,
you know the world and how it works, you know its folk,
you call us to do what we can, to do what we should.
Like a wise gardener, you know best the way to tend
each single seed. Like a good mother, you know best
the way to nurse each child, to kindle in their hearts
the fire of ambition, to teach them to dream
and to strive, to hold their hand, to nourish their soul.
Frigga, goddess of community, you grant to us
purpose, you grant to us hope, you guide us as we
find our way in the cold world. Goddess of common sense,
in reason and in judgment we see your hand; in wit
and in insight we know your wisdom; in foresight
and in feeling we hear your voice. Hail to Frigga!

Hail to Frigga, careful one, sharp-eyed one,
friend of mothers, protector of children,
all-knowing goddess, all-watchful goddess.
You know the love of parent for child,
you know it is unshakeable, goddess,
you know it is everlasting. Frigga,
you know the joy of watching a child grow
into a fine man or woman, you know
the bittersweet pain of parting, you know
what is in a mother's soul. Frigga,
grant me a firm hand and a soft heart,
grant me understanding, grant me clarity,
grant me peace of mind in troubled times,
grant me the strength to bend with the storm
and emerge unbroken. Frigga, goddess,
grant my children the wisdom to choose wisely,
grant them the strength to stand firm against folly,
grant them the will to face any challenge,
grant them the wit to find their way in life.
Beloved Frigga, defender of families,
keep my children safe from harm, goddess,
ward them as they travel through the world.

These are the prayers I prepared for Midsummer (early for once!). There are quite a few, so ( Cut for length )

So I sat down this afternoon to write something to Freyja for Mayday. Instead, this came out:

Hail to Freyja, glorious goddess, fair one, wise one,
courageous and clever, mighty bearer
of incomparable Brisingamen.
From the lands of the Vanir you came, Freyja,
with knowledge dear and beauty unforeseen.
To the Aesir you brought these precious gifts,
Freyja, but all things of worth have their price,
and all things in the worlds have their time
and their end. Freyja, whose tears of red gold
flow freely, you measure loss by gain
and gain by loss, each taken in turn,
a sorrow but not a regret. Freyja,
who bears the weight of sacrifice; Freyja,
who knows the strength of desire; Freyja,
mistress of might both devious and direct,
I praise you for all you are, I thank you
for gifts granted unasked, for fires that rage
within us, for thirsts unquenched. Hail Freyja

(Hopefully I'll be able to write the one I need later this week. You never know what's going t happen, you know?)

(Most of this is old, but the last bit is new; I'm posting it all so I don't only have it on the computer here.)

Hail to Odin, ruthless seeker of wisdom,
far-seeing persuader, bender of what will be.

Hail to Frigga, exacting mistress of the home,
seeress and spinner whose gifts weave through our lives.

Hail to Thor, strong-armed defender of Midgard,
red-bearded rain-bringer, faithful friend of mankind.

Hail to Sif, golden-haired goddess, dear wife of Thor,
treasure of the gods, bringer of life to the cold earth.

Hail to Frey, giver of wealth of gold and grain alike,
of peace and protection, of joy and of pleasure.

Hail to Freya, who stirs sweet desire and keen-edged strife,
seeress, sorceress, strong-willed holder of war-dead.

Hail to Tyr, one-armed granter of justice deserved,
Thing-warder, wolf-binder, strong-minded foe of chaos.

Hail to Skadhi, sharp-minded huntress, winter's maid,
bow-woman, vengeance-seeker, shining bride of Njord.

Hail to Ullr, snowshoe god, friend of hunters,
unsurpassed, glory of the gods.

Hail to Eir, soft-handed healer, gentle goddess
whose touch brings relief from ills of all kinds.

Hail to Heimdall, constant guardian of bright Bifrost,
keen-eyed giver of clear thought, father of men.

Hail to Nerthus, ancient and unfathomable,
holder of the black earth and of the seeds within.

Hail to Njord, fair-footed husband of fierce Skadhi,
friend of sailors, seacoast-dweller, giver of wealth.

Hail to Bragi, foremost of skalds, rune-tongued master
of inspiration's fire, of wordcraft's labor.

Hail to Idunna, keeper of the treasured fruit
of youth and vigor, radiant renewer of life.

Hail to Forseti, law-giver and law-keeper,
arbiter, peacemaker, mender of fences.

Hail to Hella, host of our beloved dead,
inevitable one to whom we all will go

Hail to Aegir, best of brewers, best of hosts,
master of the dark sea depths and all they hold.

Hail to Ran, ocean-queen, keeper of Aegir's hall,
stirrer of storms, both bane and reprieve of ships at sea.

Hail to Balder, brightest son of farseeing Odin,
final hope of the gods, final hope of all the worlds.

Hail to Nanna, bold-hearted bride of Balder,
strong one, true one, holding fast to hearth and heart.

Hail to Jord, deep-souled mother of red-bearded Thor,
enduring holder of breath and blood, sea and stone.

New prayers for Freyja and Frigga for Ostara--actually, it turns out I don't need the Frigga prayer today but that's all right, liturgy never goes to waste.


Hail to Freyja, glory of fair Asgard!
We welcome you, we ask your blessing.
Bearer of peerless Brisingamen,
embodiment of unknowable might;
you know of those things that drive us most,
the desires that compel our survival.
Wise and willful Freyja, driver of cats,
mistress of far-famed Folkvang, granter of
our most heartfelt wishes. Hail to Freyja!


Hail to fair Frigga, heart of every home!
We welcome you, we ask your blessing.
Keeper of the home, of the larder
that feeds us throughout the long, bare winter,
sharp-minded one, planner and provider,
through your gift of wit we outlast the cold.
Frigga, shrewd one who sees and knows all things,
who keeps her own counsel above all else,
who holds knowledge dear as gold. Hail to Frigga!

Hail to Freyja, warm breath of life,
child of earth and sea, amber-teared
goddess, strong-willed driver of cats,
watchful wife of wandering Od,
holder of Brisingamen's might,
chooser of the best of warriors.
With eyes soft or steely, your gaze
melts the strongest of us, bends us
to your will, persuasive Freyja.
With touch firm or gentle, your hand
guides those you favor to victory.
A tongue sharp yet sweet, a keen wit
ready for any challenge,
a depth of soul unmatched by any--
all these we know in you, fair one.
Bright-haired Freyja, we honor you.

Hail to Skadhi, fair daughter of Thiazi,
strong-willed battle-maiden, bright bride of Njord,
mistress of Thrudheim, mountain-dwelling goddess,
warrior, huntress, unrivaled bow-woman.
Skadhi, in the northern lands we see you
always--even in the heat of summer
you never leave us, remaining always
in shadowy forests, in cold mountain streams,
in clear, cold nights, stars shining bright as jewels.
When the days grow bitter cold as well;
when the trees become brilliant with color,
their hues deceptively warm; when thoughts turn
to storing food, to gathering fuel,
to the fevered hunt to come--then, Skadhi,
do we know your strength in true, do we feel
your full force, do we enter your realm
of ashen frosts and shrill winds, of slick-iced paths
and waist-deep banks of snow, of long dark nights
by the fire, brutal storms raging and moaning
against the door. Skadhi, blood of giants,
child of discord, the choice to go within
the gates, to seize the world of order,
was given you. Wergild you took,
as fitting, as right; a husband you took,
joining with the clan of gods, with Asgard.
Goddess of our lands, goddess of our hearts,
we call to you! Hail to skillful Skadhi!

Hail to Frigga, hail the queen of Asgard!
Noble lady of bright Valhalla,
trusted companion of crafty Odin,
mistress of watery Fensalir,
guide of trusty, clever maidens--
Fulla and Gefjon, Saga and Eir,
Sjofn, Lofn, Vor and Var, Syn and Hlin,
Snotra and Gna, all brave and skillful maids.
Frigga, shrewd one who sees much, who knows much,
ever thinking, ever careful, acting
cautiously but swiftly, planning, dealing,
persuading, designing, doing all
possible to achieve your end. Frigga,
unsurpassed in wisdom, in insight,
in perception, in cunning and in judgment,
practical goddess who sees all options,
all opportunities, all divergent paths,
all fibers of Wyrd's sturdy fabric,
we call on you, goddess, for constancy,
for stability and certainty,
for order created and maintained,
as much as we may know in this world.
Hail Frigga! Hail the holder of harmony!