Freyja
Legacy Name: Freydis

Name: Freyja
Goddess of: Love, Beauty, Lust, Fertility, War, Gold, Seiðr
Aliases: Gefn, Gullveig, Heiðr, Hörn, Mardöll, Sýr, Vanadís, Valfreyja
Race: Vanir and Aesir
Gender: Female
Alignment: True Good
Age: Ancient, but appears to be in her late twenties
Sexuality: Bi-Sexual
Halls: Sessrúmnir(in Folkvangr, Asgard)
Magical Items: Brísingamen(a golden necklace forged by the dwarves), a cloak of falcon feathers(said to help her shapeshift)

Freyja had always been headstrong and independent.

Freyja was born minutes after Freyr, to Njord and Nerthus who were the leaders of the deity tribe called the Vanir. She lived a privileged and charmed life in Vanaheim. Her parents doted on both she and Freyr, as did all of their friends. Freyja was taught the ways of magic, and could not seem to get enough of it. Quickly she became proficient with it. As she grew older she began hearing about a kind of magic she had not yet been taught: Seidr. There was only one woman in Vanaheim who knew this magic: Amma. Although Freyja begged her to teach it, Amma would not teach her, as she did not want to upset Freyja's parents.

One day, when she went to Amma’s house to once again beg her to teach her seidr, as she approached she heard noises coming from within. Sneaking around to peek into a window, Freyja saw Amma with a man. She could not tear her eyes away from it and found her interest piqued. Later she admitted to Amma what she had seen and asked if that was seidr. Amma told her that was only a part of seidr, but that it was also an act that could result in children if not careful, and that Freyja was too young for such things.

It wasn’t long after that, that Freyja happened upon Freyr in the hay bower, tangled in the act with a thrall. Again she watched, and wondered... if Freyr was old enough how could she not be? Several days later she took a thrall who was just a few years older than herself and named Eyfastr to the same bower. She kissed him, and he was a little taken back by it. But Freyja was beautiful… beyond beautiful, and so he kissed her back. Things started to get hot and heavy, but as she fumbled with his pants he completed his task before his pants were even undone.

The two tried again several days later, but once again he could not contain his excitement for long, leaving Freyja disappointed. Perhaps she needed to find a real man… a grown man... perhaps a freed-man, not a thrall?

Several more times she caught her brother in the act, and watched, brimming with interest lust, and jealousy. Then one festival day she hit it off with Gerhard. The two snuck away from the festivities into the forest and began to make out. Soon her skirts were hiked up around her waist and her legs were entwined around his waist. But just as she shoved his pants down, she heard in the near distance her brother call her name. Gerhard immediately disentangled and righted his clothing as Freyja huffed in disappointment and before Freyr approached.

Later that evening Freyr admitted Freyja he had seen what she was doing, and that she was too good for the likes of Gerhard. Freyja grumbled, muttering about how he laid with those who were beneath him. Freyr assured her the right man would come along one day.

But Freyja was impatient, and one night when the skies thundered loudly while her parents were away, she slipped into Freyr’s bed. He asked what she was doing, and she told him that she was scared of the storm, just as she had always done in the past. That night she finally found the right man.

Freyr and Freyja could not get enough of each other after that. Any chance they could steal away for a tryst they would do so. That was, until their parents caught them. But their parents were not upset, as they too were siblings and in Vanaheim it was not uncommon for siblings to marry one another. Njord and Nerthus, instead urged them to marry, so that should their proclivities result in a child it’s legitimacy would not be questioned. And so, Freyja and Freyr married. It wasn’t long after that that Freyja got with child and bore a daughter who they named Zisa.

After that Amma agreed to teach Freyja the art of seidr, as well as how to forage and craft medicine that would prevent pregnancy from happening. Seidr was a magic one obtained and practiced by reaching a state of euphotic ecstacy gained through reception in order to glimpse the future. There were a few ways to do that, all of which Freyja learned before she learned about the one of which involved sex. Amma's thrall, the one whom Freyja had watched Amma with years before, provided the instrumental for learning that form.

To practice the art seidr on her own, Freyja often traveled the realms under various guises. She found lovers in Jotunheim, land of the giants, and Alfheim, land of the elves. She found some in Nidavellir, land of the dwarves too, but her favorite realm was Midgard, land of the men. Freyja became well practice and proficient in the magic of seidr.

One day she overheard in the elder Vanir in council talking about the Aesir in a realm called Asgard. They spoke of how the Aesir were rich with offering and tributes given to them by the men of Midgard. Even though the council of Vanir decided to let the Aesir be, as the Aesir left them alone, Freyja’s curiosity was piqued. She traveled to Asgard.

There she traveled the lands for many days, under the guise of Heid, offering prophecies told through seidr for shelter and food or for gold. She usually did so by going into existential trances, however she did also find many lovers along the way as well. By one such lover, Tyr, she was told of a great city where the King of the Aesir resided. So, Freyja decided to venture there to see what she might gain.

Odin, of course, knew she was coming before she arrived, as there was talk among his people of a strange but beautiful woman was traveling their lands telling prophecies for shelter or gold. Odin he wanted to know his prophecy. Heid was eagerly invited in, and given a seat of honor at the table. Odin lay a night with Heid. She woefully told him there was much doom in his future, but there were good things as well. Odin then asked her to elaborate, but she would not. He then asked her to teach him seidr, but she refused this as well, telling him that he would never find what he sought through it.

Angered by this, Odin the next day at the feast, he called her gold-greedy, he called her Gullveig, and had her brought to the center of his great hall and tied to a post. He and the Aesir then lit a small pyre around her and burned her alive. The flames were hot, they burned away her clothing and licked at her bare flesh, but they did not harm Heid. When the flames extinguished and she remained there, fallen on the ground panting in exhaustion and covered in soot, the Aesir were confused… angered even. How could she have survived that?!

“Look into my future again, Gullveig, and tell me I do not learn the art of seidr,” Odin demanded, thrusting his spear into her.

Freyja saw into his future, she saw him laying beneath a man and performing seidr. But she ever the stubborn one(especially after being burnt alive), Heid refused to teach him the art. “You will learn seidr, but it will not be this day, and it will not be through me,” she told him. Once again Odin tied her to a pole and the Aesir built a larger pyre around her which they lit aflame. And once again, the wood burned down and her ropes burned off… but using her magic to protect herself, the Volva survived.

Once again Odin pierced her with his spear, and demanded she look into his future and tell him what she saw. Heid saw her by his side as queen. She saw twin girls. She saw that they would exchange magics, that he would teach her the runes and she would teach him Seidr. But she was stubborn. “I, Heid, will not teach you Seidr,” she said spitting in his face, and laughing.

“Then who will teach me?!” Odin demanded as the Aesir built a larger pyre around her.

“A Vanir woman named Freyja,” she replied as the Aesir lit the flames once more. She was exhausted… the fire singed her skin and burned her hair, but still she survived. This time, however, Odin let her go, after all she she seemed unkillable and she did tell him who would teach him the magic he sought.

Freyja returned home to Vanaheim and told them of what transpired. The Vanir were enraged at the Aesir's treatment of Freyja, their pride and joy. They geared up for war. The war lasted several centuries. The Aesir fought by the rules of plain combat, with weapons and brute force, but could not kill the Vanir. Meanwhile the Vanir used the subtle art of magic to tear down the defensive walls of Asgard.

Finally the leaders grew weary of the stalemate and agreed to meet to put an end to the war. Njord demanded no less than half the offerings and tributes that the Aesir got from Midgard. Odin thought long and hard, then said,”Freyja. I want Freyja as my wife and I will give her half of the slain I receive.”

Freyr and Njord immediately jumped up in her defense. But then Freyja stood and placed herself between them and Odin, saying,”I, Freyja Njordsdottir, will marry you, Odin, but only if you give me first pick of the dead.”

Odin’s jaw dropped in realizing that who he thought was Heid all along was actually Freyja. He took a moment to compose himself then agreed to the terms. But Freyr would not let Freyja go alone, not after the mistreatment she endured at the hands of the Aesir. And Nerthus would not let her only two children go alone, so Njord was to go with. In exchange, two of the Aesir's best and brightest were also to join the Vanir.

Freyja and Odin married, and just as she foresaw, he taught her the magic of runes, and she taught him the magic of Seidr. Just as she had seen, she also bore him twin daughters: Hnoss and Gersemi.

But their marriage would not last long. Odin went traveling frequently, leaving Freyja to an empty bed, which left Freyja deeply dissatisfied. And then one day, not long after Odin acquired the Mead of Poetry, a Jotunn came bearing a child that was said to be his, Bragi. From then on when Odin travelled, Freyja took lovers of her own.

One day while Odin was gone, Freyja was out and about on travels of her own and she happened upon a dwarven hovel, in which she saw the most exquisite necklace made of amber set in gold. She asked the four dwarves how much the necklace cost, and said she would give them much gold for it. They replied they had all the gold they could possibly desire, but they would give her the necklace if she spent one night with each of them. That was a fair trade, Freyja thought. And so she spent four nights in their hovel, and emerged with Brisengamen.

It wasn’t long after that, that Brisengamen was stolen from about her neck while she slept. Freyja immediately knew the sly Loki was behind it, and went storming in to Odin’s hall to demand he do something about it. But what she saw was Odin, red in the face, holding the necklace in his fist. The two fought and bickered about it for days. How was it right or fair that Odin could go traveling and laying with anyone he wanted, but Freyja could not?! Odin boomed that he needed a son who’s legitimacy could not be contended, and a wife who would stay home to guard the interests of Asgard while he was away.

And so, finally they came to the agreement that they were not right for each other, love each other as they may. Odin was far too independent for Freyja. And Freyja, though independent on her own, felt co-dependent on Odin while married to him. Odin and Freyja then divorced, and Odin granted her the great and roomy hall Sessinrumnir, which was located on a great field called Folkvangr. The two remained good friends after that, and occasionally would find themselves in bed together once again.

Freyja was happier on her own. She was far more autonomous without a partner, and she could do as she pleased when she pleased.

Still, Freyja knows Ragnarok approaches, and so with her half of the slain dead she trains them to fight and to protect. She will do anything to protect her daughters come the final day of doom.

Extravert or Introvert: Extravert
Optimist or Pessimist: Optimist
General Traits: Fiery, passionate, outgoing, bold, enthusiastic, spontaneous, talkative, playful, pragmatic, practical, friendly, warm, generous, empathetic, sincere, caring, supportive, sociable, adaptable, resourceful, good showmanship, self-sacrificing, sensitive, emotional, easily bored, poor long-term focus, headstrong, independent
Mannerisms: Has a big smile she uses a lot, expressive facial features, warm and engaging eye contact, energetic and confident body language, a relaxed and open posture, attention-grabbing dress style, and she gestures when storytelling
Habits: Horrible spending habit, always late, flirts with everyone, becomes co-dependent when in a relationship
Pet Peeves: small talk, gossip, being interrupted, persistent negativity, pretentious fakeness, stifling routines, judgemental or condescending attitudes, and controlling behavior
Ruled by Heart or Mind: Heart
Motivated by: Feeling loved and appreciated, social connections, immediate gratification, opportunities for enjoyment and excitement
Life Motto: "We were made to enjoy music, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, to enjoy looking at the billows of the sea and be thrilled with a rose that is bedecked with dew…Human beings are actually created for the transcendent, for the sublime, for the beautiful, for the truthful…and all of us are given the task of trying to make this world a little more hospitable to these beautiful things." -Desmond Tutu

Parents: Njord and Nerthus
Siblings: Freyr(twin brother)
Spouse: Freyr(ex-husband), Odin(estranged husband)
Other Lovers: MANY, but notably; Ve(while Odin was away), Dvalinn, Alfrik, Berlingr, and Grer(the dwarves who forged Brísingamen), Dagr, Tyr(before he got married), Heimdall, Thor(before he got married), Vidar(before he met Eir), Mani, Lofn, Sjöfn, Óttar(her human protégé)
Children: Zisa(by Freyr), Hnoss and Gersemi(by Odin)
Nephew: Fjölnir(by Freyr)
Pets: Bygul and Trjegul(cats that pull her chariot), Hildisvini(a boar with golden bristles)

Frigg - Queen of Asgard, Odin's second wife
Bragi - Skald of the Gods, Freyja loves his romantic poems most
Saga - Historian of the Gods
Idunn - Caretaker of the tree that gives the golden apples of immortality
Skadi - Was married her father for a short while.
Eir - Healer of the Aesir, and a good friend.
Hermodr - Lover of Odin who helped him learn seidr, good friend.
Fulla - Handmaiden and lover of Frigg
Sif - Wife of Thor
Sigyn - Wife of Loki, Freyja pities her.
Gerdr - Wife of Freyr, sister-in-law, and a good friend.
Ullr - Son of Sif, kind of a loner.
Baldr - The shining one, Odin and Frigg's son, heir of Odin.
Hodr - The blind son of Odin and Frigg.
Nanna - The wife of Baldr, sweet girl
Magni - Son of Thor
Modi - Son of Thor
Thrud - Daughter of Thor and Sif
Loki - Trickster, thief of Brísingamen, she cant stand him.
Hel - Loki's daughter by Angrboda, Queen of Helheim.
Jord - Jotunn of the earth former lover of Odin.
Ran - Jotunn of the sea and the drowned.
Nott - Jotunn of the Night, herald of Mani
Sol - Jotunn of the sun, sister of Mani.

Valkyrie, Heathen, Norse, Freydis, Dyrfinna, Fjormos, Vigdis, Ingrid

Note: This is my own UPG

Who Is Freyja To Me?

My own experience of Freyja is of a goddess with multiple aspects, who freely and unapologetically embraces them all. She fully exists in her shadow as much as she does in her own light. She is unafraid to embody her full power or claim her fullest voice and use it when necessary. She demands to be met with full presence, openness, and honesty, and will share her wisdom and gifts; never lightly though, and never without the respect for the power it demands.

As a Goddess of Beauty, Freyja is the exquisite glittering gold of beauty and inspiration. She is a deity who has the talent of being able to find the most valuable aspects of all things, and she shares this gift, opening my eyes to see and appreciate the beauty in the world around me, in other people, and in myself. She encourages me to spend the money and take the time to do things which make me feel like a million bucks, because when I feel beautiful that energy(her energy) shines forth to brighten the world. Freyja shows me how to be ‘golden’ in both my physical and spiritual life.

As a Goddess of Love, Freyja has a soft and open heart full of compassion and nourishment. She is the force that urges us to openly connect with others, whether that connection is physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. Freyja demonstrates how to create, open up to, and radiate healthy, unconditional love without compromising or sacrificing any aspect of myself. She reminds me that, while my relationships with others are important, the most important relationship I will ever have is my relationship with myself. Freyja reminds me not to live in my head, but in my heart.

As a Goddess of Passion, Freyja is a primal force of raw sensuality and vigorous passions. She encourages me to love my body, respect my desires, and follow my passions. Freyja shows how to be completely free and unashamed in the full expression of all aspects of love and sexuality. She encourages me to tear down any internalized and external boundaries to this inherent freedom, and to follow the ardent love in my heart and zealous passion in my body.

As a Goddess of Battle and War, Freyja is a fierce and intense deity who places a sword in my hand and demands that I fight for myself and for what I believe is right. With a no-bullshit attitude, she kicks my butt when I need it, but she also offers a hand up when I get knocked down, encouraging me to get back into the fray, face my struggles and never back down from fighting my own personal battles. Freyja emboldens me to do what I need to do to protect myself in battle, even if that means making sacrifices, so that I can survive to win the war. She teaches me it is better to fight and fall than to live without hope.

As a Goddess of Death, Freyja is a sympathetic and protective ancestral disir who understands the feeling of grief at the loss of loved ones. She reminds me that love is universal and transcendent; it knows no boundaries and reaches far beyond the physicality of Midgard, so it is important to let your ancestors know that you still think of them and love them. Life is full of your own psychological Ragnaroks, ‘small deaths’ and transformative periods, and Freyja reminds me that this is a chance to start again and grow stronger. She challenges me to question my view of life itself and what I do with mine before my own, inevitable death. She teaches me to understand and accept impermanence and to live life to the fullest.

As a Goddess of Magic, Freyja is a wise and powerful Völva who wields the most primal of magics. She teaches me to slow down and reconnect with the natural, magical world and its rhythms. She encourages me to learn and practice different kinds of magic(seiðr, spá, galdr, runic magic, herbology, and so on). She reminds me that out of all the forms of magic love is the most potent magic in the world. Following in Freyja’s example, I seek to find beauty in magic, and magic in beauty.

As a Goddess of Female Autonomy, Freyja is a strong-willed, and independent deity who teaches me how to set boundaries, stand up for myself, and honor myself. She sets me straight when I am at risk of suppressing my own needs or desires just to make another person happy at my own expense. Freyja encourages self-understanding, self-respect, and self-worth. She teaches me to take ownership of every aspect of myself - I alone own and am in control of my body, my life, my emotions, and my destiny. Freyja shows me how to stand in my truth, know my heart and mind clearly, and not flinch if the time comes to defend it. She places a crown upon my head and shows me how to wear it.

All in all, Freyja is who she is, not what we want her to be. Oddly (or appropriately) enough, that is exactly what we need from her.

Hail Freyja the Golden Beauty!

By: Asa

Story by Asa, heavily inspired by Norse Mythology
Pet Overlay by folklorist
Background by Asa
Picture is AI art by Pinterest

Outfit created by Asa

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