Product Description

An Insightful Look at a Complex Deity

Freyja, Lady, Vanadis: An Introduction to the Goddess examines Freyja, perhaps the best-known goddess of Norse mythology. Using original source material, extant writings, and scholarship the author builds an image of the goddess as she may have appeared to her followers in pre-Christian Northern Europe. Patricia Lafayllve then uses the knowledge she has compiled to speculate on aspects of modern worship of this complex deity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #316234 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 124 pages

About the Author
Patricia Lafayllve is a long-time student of Viking Age literature, history and mythology. She is currently seeking her Master’s Degree in English. She is a proud member of Two Ravens Kindred, Bjornsal, and The Troth. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and dog. This is her first book.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Excerpt From Chapter One...

This work will use the various types of material to discuss what is known about Freyja and her worship. Some conjecture will appear based on the works of various scholars and the author's own interpretation of events. However, the author will attempt to delineate divergences between speculation and clear sources whenever possible. Additionally, a few common misconceptions about Freyja will be noted in an attempt to clarify the issue, again based primarily upon the remaining source material.
So what do we know about Freyja? Clearly, she is a member of a tribe of deities known as the Vanir. Snorri Sturluson tells us that "Njord of Noatun had afterwards two children. The son was called Freyr and the daughter Freyja. They were beautiful in appearance and mightyàand Freyja is the most glorious of the Asyniur.3" The word 'Asyniur' is used to collectively identify the Norse goddesses. While the mother of Frey and Freyja is not known, Ynglingasaga tells us Njord's wife is his sister4. Some speculate that this is the shadowy goddess Nerthus, and she therefore is Freyja's mother. This concept will become important later, when we discuss Freyja's connection with the earth, however it must be stated that the only reference we have to the existence of Nerthus comes from Tacitus, a Roman writing 1000 years prior to the Viking Age5. In any event, we now have a picture of Freyja's family ancestry. Ancestry was considered very important among Viking Age Scandinavians, and so it is no surprise that this information survives in the record.
Freyja leaves her home, Vanaheim, at the time of the hostage settlement which closes the war between the Aesir and the Vanir. Njord and Frey are sent to Asgard as hostages, and Freyja comes with them. We do not know why she does this û it is never explained. In Asgard, Freyja is given "a place called Folkvang, and there Freyja is in charge of allotting seats in the hall.6" Snorri later tells us the name of her hall, Sessrumnir, which translates roughly to "many-seated7." From Grimnismal we learn that "half the slain she chooses every day, and half Odin owns.8" Thus we learn that Freyja has charge over the dead, and not just the every day dead but specifically those who are slain, e.g., warriors who fall in battle. This is a key point that will be discussed in more detail in Chapter Three.

Customer Reviews

Hail Freyja
The subtitle of this book is "An Introduction to the Goddess" and that's what this book truly is, an introduction to a very dynamic and complex goddess. The author points out that Freyja would be comfortable "playing poker with the boys," and a moment later could be in a soft, almost shy mood (ha!) when pursuing a lover, and the next moment, be a "warrior woman," ready to go into battle.

Freyja is known as the Norse goddess of love, magic, battle and death. And yet, the mythology surrounding her leaves some questions that scholars still argue about. This book discusses a few of these "contradictions" and invites the reader to do further research on their own, listing a bibliography at the book's end. One example is Freyja's chariot drawn by cats. Most assume the "cats" mentioned are the domestic kind, and yet some scholars claim the "cats" could be any small furry animal or even a larger cat, like a tiger.

The book not only talks about the topics Freyja is well known for, but also her association with gold, the sea and other deities and heroes. There's also a section near the book's end citing lore involving Freyja and modern worship of her.

It takes about an hour or so to read this book and anyone doing so will be intrigued by Freyja's many aspects.

Excellent Book!
This is a great book written solely on the goddess Freyja for an affordable price.

The book is divied into 8 chapters...
1: Freyja, Lady, Vanadis
2: Love & Sex
3: Battle & Death
4: Magic & Seidr
5: Gold, Fertility & the Sea
6: Freyja and Other Deities/Heroes
7: Freyja and the Lay of Hyndla
8: UPG & Speculation

The book also includes Appendix sections on...
A: Sources in the Lore
B: Modern Worship
C: Sample Blot to Freyja
D: Selected Modern Poetry

Lastly she included a Notes section for her Sources in each chapter & a very useful Bibliography of easily attainable books.

You will do well to read this book. I hope she will be inspired to to do a similar book on the goddess Frigg in the future.

Fresh look at Freya
Wonderful, in-depth look at this goddess of the north. A must-have for anyone interested in the norse gods, and especially those who are of the Asatru faith.
Very exciting to find the chapter on "UPG" - you rarely see an author spend that much time sharing their own (and other's) personal gnosis of a deity.