The Son of Earth (pt.2) Hidden Knowledge in Old Norse Myths pt.20

[aBenDragon]

I forget who said this, "In order to be the best person in the room you must humble.".

[teufelstaub]

The way Norse society handled cross-gendered roles reminds me of the Native American "berdache" status in certain tribes.Many other sophisticated societies have dealt with this issue in a similar fashion.Terrific lessons,once again!Mange Takk!

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@teufelstaub Yes, I also thought about the berdache or the two-spirited ones of Native american societies in connection with this. It seems to have been common in other circumpolar cultures, especially in connection with shamanism, and may have a very ancient origin. The oldest transgender burial known is from Dolni Vestonice, 25000 years ago, as far as I know, where an apparent male to fem. transgender person was buried with two men in a position suggesting that they were married or similar..

[Jtrip2133]

I have a message for you, too bad I am unsure how to send a friend request =S

[lITheEmissarylI]

You inadvertently said something that caught my interest..... it was the quote from the poem you talk about....'when winged Thor awoke'.... The imagery associated with thor has traditionally been wearing a winged helmet... but, your quote brings to mind a winged person... ie an angel. This would be a powerful cross religious image... the guardian or protector angel... given thors role as protector, it fits.... are there any other writings in the poems that would advocate this view of Thor?

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@lITheEmissarylI I know, it is very interesting, but I do not think there is any description further except the common nickname "Vingthórr" (Winged Thor). The nickname was certainly based on perceptions about Thor during the pagan era. He is also called "Vingnir" (The Winged One), a heiti that is also applied to Odin, and also said to be the name of Thor`s foster-father (Snorri S, from his Thulur). Thor has many nicknames or "heiti", such as Ökuthórr (Sliding Thor).

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@5nereus Well, I do not know how that translation is explained. Could be the sadly too usual paraphrasing. According to my dictionaries, "öku-" is derived from the verb "aka"(ek-ök-ökum-ekinn) and means: "To slide", "to move", "to pull", "to drive a sledge" (which slides), and may also mean "to be needed" if one uses the word in that context. There are many words for battle but none that has the sounds aka-öku in it...In Norwegian it is always translated to "Ake-Tor" which means Sliding Thor.

[Alairic]

@LadyoftheLabyrinth. Thank you so much for your reply. And as far as Face book goes do you go by the same name on there as well?

[Alairic]

@LadyoftheLabyrinth. I love your videos and I would like to ask if you happen to have a face book account? If not that is fine, I do however have a question regarding relative Mythology between The Greek Pantheon and The Norse. What is the connection between Thor, Zeus and Hercules? I mean can they be identified as the same being? I have often heard comparisons, but Zeus and Hercules cannot be the same because they are Father and son, but Thor has been equated to both, what do you make of this?

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@Alairic Hi! Yes,I use it sporadically too. When it comes to your question it is difficult to say, really. As you yourself have said, there seems to be some connection between Thor and both Zeus the god and Hercules the half-god-hero. Zeus as the thundering-bolt-wielding sky-god is possibly the most ancient connection, but the Norse god Thor shares even more with the hero-type. My guess is that there has been many variations and developments over the five thousand years of thundergod-worship...

[ottfamilie]

This must be one of your most spectacular lectures so far.

Please be encouraged to go on!

[usern88717]

Nice video. Again I see similarities with other mystery religions such as the ritual of the Bridal Chamber of the Christian Gnostics, the purpose of which I'm thinking was to unite the Holy Spirit (the feminine principle) with the Logos, or the Word, (the masculine principle). So how do I get a copy of your book?

[MrVicaxe]

just started reading your book very good . in old english thor is called thunor. one must lose ego, easy for me as iam a ginger i grow up with broken bones and bruises no ego bewell

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@MrVicaxe Thank you! Yes, Thunor and Donar were older names in similar languages...they all mean Thunder. There are still aspects of the Thor lore that I have not finished. The dear one shall get what is his in the end! ;)

[werwulf222]

Hei hei HEI haggy!

Whatever you say, but I prefer women, as a male. I happen to be one of the most beautiful beings in creation. (you) (me?) yes. (both of us) (all of us)

However, for the sake of arguement, I will consider you a hag, if you will do the same for me. You have my eternal thanks.

Wassail.

werwulf.

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@werwulf222 hahaha, yes, thank you my friend. I am sure you do. I am definitely a hag! A shipwrecking she-wolf! Hehe. And you pass all trials.

(Some people get all worked up about the idea that pagan societies were not homophobic, as if that meant they were all gay. One could just as well imagine that the average straight viking warrior was so secure in his own masculinity that he felt no threat when faced with people who were different from him, hence the relative absense of homophobia. :))

[CelticValdyr]

I see that! You are a prolific "wideo" producer, heheh. Another thought occurred to me, a tangent it is, when you mentioned Iðunn the Ever Young. Some say she was of the Dísir, others she was of Liosalfar, youngest daughter of Ivaldi. She carries the apples of eternity in an ash box, so is connected to the World(s) Tree and was said to dwell in the Dales (the forest being our earliest homes). Later she weds Bragi (poetry). Do you believe she is an early version of Freyja?

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@CelticValdyr Iðunn `s basket of apples is preceded in the older Nehallennia,who keeps the fruits on one side, while a Hel-hound is seated on the other side - a very good symbolism of the two faces of the Lady. Bragi, god of poetry,could be an aspect of Óðinn,also god of poetry,and Freya being married to Óðr - the Poetry - they all blur together.Iðunn is said to be the Seed of Yggdrasill, and she is of elf-kin. Freyr is the elf-king. All´female forces are dísir, the unifying Dís, Freya("Lady").

[CelticValdyr]

@Lady Thank you for that clarification on the dísir. Nehalennia associated with ship and trade as well apparently, calls to mind Njord and Freyr. Also, her temples, along the coast, much like Nerthus near the confluence of water and earth. So maybe she is early Freyja after all, as she was of the Vanir, among elf-kind & Freyr, Lord of Alfheimr. The Vanir seem evolved from earlier vorðr/alfir/fylgjur spirits which may have been purely natural forces, later gaining anthromorphic forms.

[CelticValdyr]

Ok, Maria, back to Thor! Thor's daughter with Sif, Thrúðr (strength) is stolen by the giant Hrungnir and I think in a separate myth(?) promised to Alviss (All-wise). So, here is a story where Thor's fragile female strength is about to be lost to one who has vast knowledge, but lacks awareness as he is turned to stone by the Sun. Is this maybe a lesson that too much knowledge without knowing yourself (wisdom) can lead to disaster? And here, Thor seem uncharacteristically cunning like Loki.

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@CelticValdyr Ah! The wonderful thing about Thórr is how the mythology about him actually covers every aspect of his development - from incredibly silly to exceedingly wise - of course that poem is where he has finally assumed the role of the already initiated. It could seem that he now is the teacher to poor All-Wise. The idea of his female strength, I think, is related to the Indian concept of Shakti. I think your interpretation about knowledge vs.wisdom is a very insightful and wise one! :)

[CelticValdyr]

Maria, what was the metaphorical purpose of Týr accompanying Thor? I believe Tyr was the original Sky God and was son of Hymir (which may be another name for Ægir) and Hroðr ("famed?"). It is said Týr was wed to Zisa which maybe Nerthus by another name. I have always felt that Thor was the son of Týr and Jorð which makes some sense as in Sky and Earth create and are joined by lightning. Also may explain Thor's connection with fertility (rain). This myth seems much older than Oðinn's time.

[WakeThePriestess]

@CelticValdyr I cannot say for sure, but Thor is usually accompanied by Loki on his travels, whose function may be to represent fiery passion, vitality, needed for the journey. In some respect, the war god would serve the same purpose - war is passion. Another level, reflecting actual ritual, Loki may represent a shaman who helps the initiate on his journey, in a warrior´s initiation this role could be assumed by an older warrior...however, as you are suggesting, there are many lost myths.

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@CelticValdyr And that was me from my other channel, hehe. I agree with your observation of the Hymir (Hymn) -Ægir connection - various name for the great world giant. Other candidates are Skrymir (Great Speaker), Ymir (Sound) and...countless others. In Norwegian we have a saying: " Kjært barn har mange navn" - "A dear child has many names." Thor is usually said to have been fathered by Odin but as you say this is a late adaption.Odin´s usurping of Tyr´s role as the original war god...

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@BowToMySkill The rules and concepts you mention are found in law texts written during the 13th century and later.Long after the Viking period and well after the introduction of Christianity. I understand that this subject is the only thing you have deduced from my video and that it has really rocked you ship of preconceived concepts, which is actually what this video is really about - is the son of earth going to open his mind and learn, or is he going to rage blindly against the unknown?

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@BowToMySkill You still misinterpret me, but if you have watched the movie "300" with all the brutal and manly Spartan warriors, it is pretty hard to believe that the historical Spartans actually regarded homosexuality as the highest form of love, too. But they did. And they were still the fiercest warriors of ancient Greece...this was, by the way, not the case among the Norse people. But Norse, Celt and other Indoeuropean warrior people had no Christianized concepts about sin or perversion.

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@BowToMySkill Seeing as about 5-10 percent of the human population as a whole are homosexuals, you would rather have to come up with proof that no Norsemen were. I am not saying that they were all homosexuals either, I am saying that their attitude towards it was lenient and that cross-dressers had a space in society and influenced religious life. I am not discussing this on a basis of emotional homophobic reactions, only historical and scientific ones, so read up. In description see sources.

[RolloOfTheNorth]

lol jet li

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@RolloOfTheNorth hehe yeah but he is SOOO good!

[RolloOfTheNorth]

@LadyoftheLabyrinth He's good, I especially liked him in The Forbidden Kingdom w/Jackie Chan. Still, I'll always be a Chuck Norris fan :P

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@RolloOfTheNorth Hehehe, yes...too much gun for me though. Me likes the kicking Chi arts more...and when they fly..! :)=)

[RolloOfTheNorth]

@LadyoftheLabyrinth :) I'm a huge fan of the internal chi-based martial arts. I even hold rank in Tai Chi Chuan. Chuck Norris does use too much gun play for my tastes, but still, he's Chuck Norris. Jet Li is an amazing martial artist but I don't like the use of ropes for the big jumps and 'crouching tiger' stunts in his movies. I prefer a more natural style of athletics, such as the one's in Jackie Chan's movies. Now that I've gained a little weight, I've really started to like Sammo Hung :)

[jeffreywish]

are all these stories in one book?

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@jeffreywish Most of them are from the Poetic Edda, some from the Prose Edda. :)

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@moegreen2 No, I have said that a god´s wife on one level represents his fate.Thor´s hammer represents on one level his power.Reincarnation through lineage is a possible concept though.The cauldron is meant to contain all the knowledge of the universe, that it is big enough to cover his body is perhaps a way of saying that he can contain the totality of spiritual knowledge.

[aliandream]

thank you

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@aliandream You are welcome :)

[croHDgaming]

Your videos are example of the Ying-yang, the duality that together is creation.

Let me clarify. Your gentle voice puts me to sleep, while the information keeps me awake; thus together forms really interesting state of mind and body :)

[LadyoftheLabyrinth]

@croHDgaming Thanks! :)