Dísablót

You may have noticed that quite a few modern holidays take inspiration from pagan ones. This is no different for Valentine's Day! While nowadays it is used as a marketing ploy to get people to spend more money in the midst of winter, there is an authentic core. We celebrate the Germanic holiday that inspired it, which goes by a few different names: Dísablót, Disting, and Charming of the Plow.

Much like how Imbolc is the Celtic holiday for the transition from winter to spring, Dísablót is the Germanic holiday for the transition to the agricultural season, hence Charming of the Plow. It can take place anytime from February 14th to 25th, and it is a time to honor the dísir (Old Norse: "goddesses, female spirits").

Before I focus on a few dísir, I want to provide a list of all the dísir I know by name to help bring female figures in Norse mythology to light: Frigg, Freya, Gefjon, Idun, Sif, Sigyn, Eir, Fulla, Gna, Hlin, Ilmir, Hel, Snotra, Gerdr, Lofn, Skadi, Jord, Bil, Njorun, Nanna, Hnoss, Rindr, Sjofn, Sol, Saga, Vor, Var, Syn, Thrud, and Ran. That is thirty dísir to choose from, along with any female ancestors you know by name. In my practice, the gods and goddesses are not real figures sitting in the sky, by rather the distant memories of my ancestors personified. By honoring them, I honor the characteristics that led to my ancestors survival, and my existence.

Since we are celebrating agriculture and growth, I will honor the dísir Gefjon, Freya, and Frigg. To start, Gefjon was a goddess of fertility, abundance, prosperity, and agriculture associated with the plow. Her name is derived from the Old Norse verb gefa (to give) and her name can be translated as “Giver” or “Generous One.” One of the lesser know dísir, she has many similarities to the more popular Freya ("Lady"). Freya was the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, sorcery, gold, war and death. She used her beauty to get her desires and got first choice of fallen warriors from the battlefield. By using a form of magic called seiðr, she discerned and influenced fate. Her image has remained the most clear to this day as she is the most represented dísir in recorded Norse mythology.

Exploring ancient Germanic religion reveals the fluidity that existed between various divine figures, which leads to complex deities that do not represent just one or two characteristics. Especially when it comes to the dísir, it makes it hard to distinguish between them in the mythology. Frigg ("Beloved"), the All-Mother to Odin the All-Father, was Odin's wife and the goddess of love, marriage, prophecy, clairvoyance, and motherhood. She had three dísir as handmaidens, Fulla, Gna, and Hlin, who acted as her confidant, messenger, and protector. Much like Freya, as a völva (seeress), she used seiðr to tell and shape the future, while protecting its secrets. Odin would often come to her to seek advice since she was clever and wise. As the highest of goddesses, Frigg is not seen in the mythology as much as you would expect. It is possible that Frigg and Freya were once one goddess that over time got split into two, perhaps as views of women started to shift.

I look to Frigg for guidance and protection for my family, to Freya for blessings on love and passion, and to Gefjon for prosperity and happiness. I am blessed that my husband honors me each February 14th as it marks the start of our relationship, and today we are celebrating four years since we chose each other for the first time. Even if you are not a fan of Valentine's Day, take this time to honor the women in your life and those who came before you. As female energies are intrinsically tied to creating life, the shift to spring is the perfect time to appreciate what women bring to the world.

Emotional Support

In this information era, our empathetic souls are inundated with the suffering of other people all around the world. Rather than losing ourselves in the hopelessness of the media circus, we need to connect with the people in our circles who we can make a difference for. My husband calls me his emotional support human, and while this is a joke between us, we all need emotional support in order to thrive. Something that can feel like the end of the world for one person can be made so much lighter by having someone you can talk to, whether that's a friend, family member, or spouse.

Sometimes someone might not even know that their suffering is escapable because it is the only way they have ever known. With so much cruelty and injustice in the world, we have to choose kindness and tenderness. In the past few years, I've gone through some hard times but have also seen those close to me through difficulties. It is remarkable how much hurt people will bury for years and push through because they feel like they don't have a choice. There is always a choice, but it is hard to see through the fog if you don't have any light. Be that light for the ones you love, and help them see that there is hope.

Sowilo ᛋ

The next rune to guide my path is ᛋ (Sowilo). A simple set of lines resembling lightning, it has had various forms. It once was made up of up to eight strokes, until it was simplified into ᛊ or what we know it as now, just the three strokes of ᛋ. It corresponds to the sound "s" in modern Germanic languages, but its original meaning was "Sun". It is a symbol of light, energy, and success. Much like with the celebration of Imbolc, ᛋ is a beacon of hope, but also the cycle of life and death. The simplified ᛋ can be thought of as two spokes of a wheel, constantly turning.

Both ᛋ and my previous rune ᛉ are part of the Second Aett. Aett is the Old Norse spelling of the modern English "eight." It is used to refer to three different sets of Norse runes, each made up of eight. Also referred to as Heimdall's Aett, the Second Aett contains runes that represent external forces. Since Heimdall is the protector of the Norse gods, his Aett often involve protection, enlightenment, and foresight. Each Aett has its own light rune, and as the light rune of the Second Aett, ᛋ illuminates our path.

As my practice with ᛋ happens to coincide with the hopeful preparations of Imbolc, I am using this time to set goals and intentions for once spring arrives. While I align with the Moon more than the Sun, it is a powerful force. It is what allows growth in nature, and as we are not above nature, it promotes growth in us as well. Find ways to appreciate ᛋ. I have been noticing it more hiding but still shining brightly behind the clouds. Last night I even dreamed of a solar eclipse, which I was able to see not long ago where I live. The details of life can be overwhelming, so it can help to look to cycles bigger than ourselves for comfort. No matter how dark things may seem, the light will return as it always does. Let hope be our guide.