PART ONE

1.1 Origins : The Creation & The Gods

The Creation

Allfather is very strong and full of might. He lives through all time
and governs all things. He is the father of the heavens and the
earth and all that is in them. When he made man he gave him a
soul that can live on and need never die though the body will
drop to dust or burn to ashes.

Night is the greatest of mysteries; she is the past and the future. All of creation came from her womb and to her embrace it will return. Allfather took on the form of Twilight and had a child by Night; it was a son named Space. Allfather had a second child by Night; it was a daughter named Earth. Allfather took on the form of Dawn and had a third child by Night; it was a son named Day.

The first world was one of great heat and great cold. The north
was full of ice and frost and gusts of wind. The south was full of
fire and sparks and glowing embers. Where the soft air of the
heat met the harsh frost of the cold the air was mild and
windless. The ice began to sweat, and life appeared in the
running drops. From out of the ice and mud there came a giant
called Clay and while he slept there grew under his left arm a
man and a woman, and from them came the first race of men
that was given the Earth to live in. Then one of the giant's legs
had a son with the other and that is where the family of frost
giants came from.

Next to appear from the ice was a cow called Nourisher. Four
rivers of milk sprang from her teats and from these the giant fed.
Nourisher licked the salty ice and by the evening she had
uncovered some hair. On the second day she uncovered a head
and on the third day the whole being in the form of a man was
revealed. His name was Tuist and he was handsome, tall and
strong. He had a son named Mann, who had three sons by the
daughter of a frost giant. The first son was Wisdom; the second
Will; the third Holiness.

The three sons fell out with Clay and killed him. So vast was his
size, and so great were the torrents of blood that poured from his
wounds, that all the Frost giants were drowned; all except one
who escaped with his wife in a boat.

The three sons of Mann made the world from the corpse of the
giant. From his blood came the sea and the lakes; from his
flesh, the earth; from his bones, the mountains; from his jaws,
teeth and broken bones came rocks and pebbles; from his hair,
the trees. Maggots came to life in his flesh and the gods gave
them the appearance of men and human understanding. This
was the origin of the dwarfs who live in the earth and rocks. They
are the wisest and most skilful of craftsmen.


From the giant's skull the sky was formed. It was placed over the
earth and under each corner the three sons placed a dwarf.
These are known as North, East, South and West. The brains of
the giant were flung into the sky and formed clouds. Higher than
the clouds were flung sparks and embers and these became
the heavenly lights. The position of the stars was fixed and the
lights that wandered at will were given paths on which to travel.

Night, and her son Day, ride around the earth on two horses.
Night rides first on a horse called Frosty-mane and every
morning the foam from his bit covers the earth as dew. Day rides
on a horse called Shining-mane and the sunlight glistens on his
golden hair.

When Wisdom, Will and Holiness had finished making the world
they travelled about it to inspect their work. While they were
walking together by the sea they found two trees that had been
washed ashore. The brothers made a man from one tree, and a
woman from the other. Wisdom gave them each a soul and life.
Will gave them understanding and movement. Holiness gave
them the power of speech and the senses of sight, touch, smell,
taste and hearing. From that man and woman came the people
of Allfather and the Gods looked on them with favour.

The Gods

Sunnandoeg. The first day is for Sun the fiery light that is drawn
through the heavens by a team of horses. Sun rises in the East,
turning frost giants into stone, then hurries across the sky
chased by a snarling wolf that catches her at the edge of the
western sky and swallows her whole. Then Night rides out and
covers the Earth until Sun, the companion of Day, escapes and
once again casts her bright light over the earth. By Sun we
measure a year.

Monandoeg. The second day is for Moon the silver sphere that
lights the night sky with its ghostly gleam. Moon, the companion
of Night, waxes and wanes, and we call this time a month.

Tiwesdaoeg. The third day is for Tiw.

Allfather created the gods of the shining stronghold that is
Heaven, and bestowed on each of them great powers. Tiw was
the first of the gods of Heaven; the Sky Father, the God of
Brightness. It is from Tiw the great warrior and God of Battle, that
warriors seek courage and strength. He is protector and
provider; the God of Order, Law and Justice. Tiw watches over
the assembly of the people that is called the Moot or Thing.

Wodnesdoeg. The fourth day is for Woden.

Woden is the God of Wisdom, the God of Magic, and God of the
Dead. He is a healer and has the power of prophecy. In his
quest for knowledge and understanding he gave an eye and
hung from Irminsul the Pillar of the Universe, for nine days and
nights, wounded by a spear. His powers are beyond the
understanding of men and from Woden, the one-eyed god, came
the runes. It is to Woden that the wise look for truth and
knowledge. It is to Woden, God of the Slain, that the dying look
for comfort. In his search for lost souls he comes to the Middle
Enclosure, the world of men, and moves stealthily across the
earth in cloak and hood. On dark and stormy nights he rides
across the sky with the Valkyries, the Daughters of Night.

Punresdoeg. The fifth day is for Thunor.

Thunor is very strong and full of vigour. The dwarfs made him a
mighty hammer li called Crusher, and a pair of iron gloves with
which to hold it. They also made him a belt of power with which
he can double his strength. Thunor uses these gifts to help him
protect Heaven and the world of men. He is God of the Weather
and the Seasons. He drives his chariot over the storm clouds
and throws thunderbolts from the mountaintops. From his
chariot he can hurl Crusher to earth, fell an oak, and have the
hammer return to his hand.

Thunor cares for the wellbeing of men and helps them build and
cultivate. He is at the rite for the naming of children, and at
weddings, cremations and burials. His emblem is the hammer
and he is with those who wear it.

Frigedoeg. The sixth day is for Freo, known to many as Frig.

Earth is the daughter of Night. She cares for us and provides us
with all that we need for a full and happy life, just as she provided
for those who went before. It is for us to use her ample harvest
wisely. We are wardens of Earth and we must care for her so
that she can care for us and those who come after us.

Freo is Earth and of Earth. She is her own daughter and is
known by many names. Freo is Mother Earth, the Goddess of
Fertility and Love. She brings us the fruits of the earth and of our
loins. She is Goddess of the Harvest and the Mother of Men. The
Wise seek her help in many things. Freo, like her companion
Woden, has the power of prophecy.

Sceternesdoeg. The seventh day is for our ancestors.

Many have gone before and many will follow. Those who went
before live on in our bodies and our memories. Those who will
follow live in our bodies and our hopes. We are the meeting
place for past and future. We must keep alive the memory of the
dead, so that the unborn can know and remember them.
Remember their names and their deeds and yours in turn will be
remembered.
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3 Irminsul, was associated with Tiw, the sky god, and was
represented by massive wooden pillars that were erected in the
woods that served as places of worship.

4 The letter p (lower case thorn) and P (upper case thorn)
represent the sound th as in thin.
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Allfather has no form but that of the universe, the emblem of his
existence. The emblem of the universe is Irminsul the great Yew,
the pillar of the universe; its roots and branches reach into all the
worlds of creation.

The emblem of Tiw is the sword.

The emblems of Woden are the ring and the spear.

The emblem of Thunor is the hammer.

The emblems of Freo are the sheaf of corn and the amber
necklace.

The emblems of our forebears are our bodies.

Iriminsul and the Seven Worlds

Around the earth in a ring are four seas, two fresh and two salt.
Along the outer shores of the seas the gods gave the giants a
land to live in but not all the giants are to be found there; some
live in the depths of the earth, while others can be found in caves
high in the mountains, or beneath the waves in the deep sea.

Away from the ring of sea the gods built a stronghold from the
eyebrows of the dead giant, and they called it Middangeard, (the
Middle Enclosure). This is Earth the land of men. It is midway
between the world of the gods and Hel, the realm of death and
darkness. Then the gods created Heaven and built many fine
halls there for themselves and their kindred. The route from
earth to Heaven is over a very strong bridge made with great skill
and cunning. It is called Shimmering Rainbow and it is guarded
by Hama, the White God, who never sleeps. He sits at the edge
of Heaven watching like a hawk, both night and day, and listens
for the smallest sound. If Hama detects the faintest threat to
Heaven he will blow Echoing Horn, which will be heard in every
part of every one of the seven worlds.

Each day those gods who are not travelling in other worlds ride
over Shimmering Rainbow and meet by Irminsul, the great yew,
that is the pillar of the universe. It has very strong roots and its
branches tower into the sky. Irminsul stretches into every part of
the universe and connects the worlds of the Gods, Light Elves,
Dark Elves, Men, Dwarfs, Giants, and the Dead. Beyond the
Realm of the Dead there is fire and heat. Beyond Heaven there
is ice and cold.

Irminsul has three long roots. One passes into the World of the
Dead, another into the World of Frost Giants and the third into the
World of the Gods. Under the root that goes down to the World of
the Dead is the spring called Roaring Cauldron and nearby lives
a dragon called Devourer of Corpses. Under the root that turns
towards the World of Frost Giants is the spring that is guarded by
the god Mimir. Those who drink its waters are given great
wisdom and understanding. Such was Woden's thirst for
knowledge that he gave an eye for a drink from that spring.

Under the root that rises into Heaven is the spring of Destiny. It is
by this water that the gods meet each day. Near by live the three
Daughters of Night called Wyrd, Metod and Sculd. They are the
Spinner, Measurer and Cutter of the threads of life that are woven
into the Web of Wyrd. The first sister, Wyrd, spins the thread and
it is she who determines its quality. Metod measures the thread
and determines its length. Sculd cuts the thread and by the
nature of the cut, be it clean or ragged, she determines the
manner of each death. We know these midnight women, the
Wyrd Sisters, as Past, Present and Future. Each day they draw
water from the Spring of Destiny and return to their dark cave
where they spin and weave the destinies of men. On the night of
a full moon they gather round the pool and call down the
shimmering light into the sparkling water. Wyrd is everywhere
and all the inhabitants of all the worlds are within her power.

The Valkyries, the fierce Daughters of Night, ride across the dark
and stormy skies on their black steeds, and present a dreadful
sight to those who see their staring, hideous eyes, and hear the
din of their hunt. They are able to bring defeat or victory in battle
and they weave the Web of Victory from the guts of men on a
bloodstained frame of spears. An arrow is the shuttle and the
warp is weighted with human skulls. These mighty women ride
to the field of battle and select those who are to die. When the
fury of battle is spent, they appear on the crimson field among
the dead as wolves and ravens. Then, blotched with blood, and
with sparks flashing from their spear points, they ride away with
the souls of the dead.

Fiercewolf, the World Serpent, and Hel

Deep in the great forest, to the east of the land of men, lived giant
women with magical powers. One of those women, who was
very old, gave birth to the two wolves who chase Sun and Moon
across the sky. Many years later the woman had three more
children by a giant. The first was called Fiercewolf; he grew
larger and more ferocious with each day that passed. The
second was a monstrous serpent which grew more ugly and
venomous. The third was a daughter, named Hel, and she was
black in parts and looked grim and shadowy.

The gods knew of these children and the threat they posed to
Heaven and Earth so they went to the forest in search of them.
When they found the serpent they threw it into the deep sea
where it grew so large it circled the earth, and its head touched
its tail. Hel was sent to the seventh world, the realm of the dead,
and there she rules a world surrounded by high walls and
secured by heavy gates, so that those who enter never return.
She lives in a damp hall called Chill Wind, where Glimmering
Misfortune hangs from the walls. Her plate is called Starvation;
her knife Famine; her door Ruin; her bed Pestilence.

The gods attempted to capture Fiercewolf, but he was very large
and strong, and all the fetters they put on him were easily
broken. They went away and made a very strong chain, and
when they returned they asked the wolf to test his strength
against it. Fiercewolf looked at the chain carefully and accepted
the challenge. At his very first attempt he easily broke free. The
gods went away and made a chain twice as strong as the one
before, and asked the wolf to test his strength again. They told
him he would gain great fame if he could break free from such a
strong fetter. The wolf thought about it carefully and decided that,
if he were to achieve fame, he would have to face danger. The
chain looked very strong, but he had grown in size and strength
since the last challenge, so he agreed to have the chain put on
him. The wolf struggled and strained so hard that the chain
shattered and flew off. The gods were worried that they might
never be able to restrain the wolf, so they sent a messenger to
the Dwarfs who live deep underground. Those most excellent
craftsmen made a fetter from six things: the roots of a mountain;
the breath of a fish; the noise of a cat's footstep; the beard of a
woman; the sinews of a bear; the spittle of a bird.

The messenger returned with a fetter that looked like the web of
a spider. The gods challenged the wolf to be bound once more,
but Fiercewolf thought it must be a trick and snarled at them, and
said there was no fame to be gained from breaking such a
flimsy fetter. The gods said that if he were afraid they would
promise to free him if he could not do so himself. Fiercewolf did
not believe them, but he did not want to be thought a coward, so
he agreed to the challenge provided one of them, as a token of
good faith, placed a hand in his (the wolf's) mouth. The gods
looked at each other wondering what to do. Tiw stepped forward
and placed his hand between the wolf's powerful jaws. The other
gods bound the wolf, who then began to struggle, but the more
he struggled the tighter the fetter became. All the gods laughed;
all except Tiw who lost his hand. The gods pulled the fetter tight
and fastened its end to a large rock. Fiercewolf snarled and
frothed at the mouth but the gods forced a large sword upright
between his jaws and left him howling as a warning to others
who might threaten them.

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