NorsePlay.

In a moment of curiosity, Freyr sits on Odin's high seat from which all the worlds can be seen. [ Freyr on Hlidskjalf   (1930) by Kather ine Pyle.] Because who wouldn't want a chance to see everything? But as Odin sits there to seek wisdom, Freyr instead beholds all through eyes of desire , and in looking, he sees the most beautiful thing he's ever seen, Gerðr of the Shimmering Arms, a jotuness so pallid in form, and comely in beauty that Freyr's stricken with a lovesickness he's never known before. [ Skirnir's Message to Gerd (1908) by W. G. Collingwood.] In that moment Freyr sees all the worlds, and beholds the one he wants most of all. The climb into that forbidden seat allows him the advantage of seeing the best possibility of out of all the women in existence, and in that very same instant he knows his Wyrd is hard forged. The action of sitting somewhere high for insight could be referencing the Nordic magic ritual of útiset...

While viewing the perfect film Moonrise Kingdom for probably the 30th or so time, we just noticed a few more things that relate to the Lore, and while we don't think director Wes Anderson consciously included Norse elements from his Norwegian-Swedish paternal background, we're taking a moment to point our own Heathen Worldview observations out. Suzy Bishop & Sam Shakusky finally meet in a picturesque field after much postal correspondence, emotional negotiation, and extra-personal angst from their separate situations ... much the same after Freyr & Gerðr finally meet in "The Grove of Tranquil Paths", or the field of Barri in the Poetic Edda's Skírnismál , where they get married. At the performance of Noye's Fludde (possibly a less sanguine diluvial reworking of the killing of Ymir whose flood of blood starts a new chapter of cosmic existence), Sam is not content to stay in his seat with the rest of the scouts, but transgressively gets up and strike...

" Frey had no weapon when he fought with Beli but killed him with a hart's horn. " ~  Skírnismál in   The Prose Edda Not that Freyr couldn't take a giant with a regular antler, nor as a Vanic God maybe prefer a thing in its clublike natural state . Yet perhaps Freyr crafted something more like this antler weapon? #    #    # 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 .

NorsePlay has long admired Sam Flegal's work so much we've featured it as our collection's banner from the beginning until now. The work is Freyr's Last Stand (2014). We love his take on the dwarven wrought golden boar Gullinbursti as a mechanical war steed . [Check out Flegal's other work & gets awesome prints at www.fatefulsigns.com .] #    #    # 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 .

Last of this series of five, this Swedish postage stamp features Freyr . Riding the dwarven-crafted golden boar Gullinbursti, and bearing the wheat and fruit of the harvest, you'd think that horn-bearing lady at left would be a bit more pleased. [1981 issue.] #    #    # 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 .

Eastern-European woodcarving style meets Lewis Chessmen-esque in this set of Norse Gods made by Triumpho . At 13 cm each, one could imagine that these are the golden gamepieces found in the grass after Ragnarök. [Found on Etsy.] #    #    # 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 .

Emil Doepler's rendition of Odin and Fenrir, Freyr and Surt (1905) . Definitely a product of Germanic romanticism, the tableau has a doom-shadowed tone, with predominant reds & oranges appropriate of a fiery Ragnarök. Surt appears diminutive, as if Frey could've just ridden him down, and Fenrir appears to be able to shoot flames from his mouth, his baleful eye fixed on Odin. Note Sleipnir's curious absence. #    #    # 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 offe...