NorsePlay.

This may not be to everyone's style but there's something more modern & expressive in this Freya illustration by Stella Spente of Stockholm, Sweden. As a Goddess of Love, Freyja seems utterly joyful here on her skyward ride, holding aloft a völva's wand with radiant power, keys to Sessrúmnir's ownership all a-jangle at her hip, the glow of a thick torc-versioned Brísingamen adorning her neck, processional flowers vining the cart's posts.  There's a sense of purpose & fulfillment here in our Goddess, as though she rides out not only for herself, but to spread that love for those who've lucked into their own skyward ride of companionship. When not also being an amazing & formidable  War Goddess , it would be neat to think of Freyja riding forth much like this everyday to spread what is arguably the greatest of blessings.   And there's always the question of visually answering how a chariot gets drawn by her cats  Bygul & Trjegul, whic...

"Ódr went away on long journeys, and Freyja weeps for him,   and her tears are red gold ."   ~ Prose Edda , Gylfaginning. [image by Seattle fashion/portrait photographer Ruby James, model Kseniya.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

To compliment yesterday's post, here is the other mural piece depicting Freyja . While the pointing arm on Frigg strategically covers her nipples, here Freyja is open-armed to rein her cat-mount , probably an enlarged Bygul or Trjegul that in the Norse Lore pulls her chariot, and holds a horn to call battle as she is also a War Goddess. Like Frigg, we believe this version was intended to be witch-like and partly unflattering (though this could just be medieval artistic conventions), but it again attests to the endurance of the goddess. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e ...

Illustration of Freyja by Seb McKinnon. A particularly svelte & youthful depiction, she rides her battle swine Hildisvíni in her falcon feathered cloak, making her selections from the fallen dead for inclusion to her afterlife field Fólkvangr and seats in her hall Sessrúmnir. Note the understated detail of her necklace Brísingamen. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .