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

Sources (Poetic Edda)
Harbardsljod (The Song of Long Beard) was discussed in the previous video, where Thor was refused entry to Odin´s lands, the divine realms, and told to seek his mother Earth for guidance.Trymskvida (The Song of the Drummer) where Thor looses his hammer, symbol of his power, and has to assume the role of a maiden bride in order to retreave it. Hymiskvida (The Song of Hymn) where Thor, in the shape of a young boy, has to find a cauldron that is big enough to contain all the mead of Aegir at the Island of Immortality so that the gods may party in the immortal realms. With the help of his mother Earth, he succeeds in tricking the frost giant (death) and return to the party at the Island of Immortality with a "cauldron" that covers his entire body.
Prose Edda:
Thor´s journey to Utgardsloki, where he learns of cosmic forces greater than himself - and also that the world is illusion. Thor´s journey to Geirrödr (Red-Spear=death) where he has to go unprotected, without his hammer, power belt and iron gloves. He seeks the aid of the giantess Gridr, who represents a witch and Earth herself, and who is the mother of Vidar the Silent (Expansion in Silence = expansion of the mind or spirit through silence, the son of Odin =Spirit). She teaches him how to defeat Red Spear and lends him her power wand, her power belt and her iron gloves so that he may succeed with his task.
Outside Inspirational sources to my understanding: Carlos Castaneda´s books about his apprenticeship to a Mexican Yaqui sorcerer. Jet Li`s movie "Fearless". The Karate Kid movies. Taoism`s teachings of the Yin power. Siberian and Native American shaman traditions employing gender-bending as a means to transform the mind, archaeologist Brit Solli was the first Norwegian archaeologist to systematize and openly point out the fact that numerous Scandinavian burials show that gender-bending as a lifestyle existed as an integral part of the Norse culture, apparently in connection with ritual and magic, something which is reflected in the Norse literature, and is also reflected in numerous deities, especially the gods Odin, Loki and Skadi.
Examples of transgender behavior in the Poetic Edda:
Thor`s bridal journey (Trymskvida)
The warrior hero Helgi Hundinsbani lives for a while disguised as a servant maiden before his initiation (Helgakvida Hundingsbani).
The shaman Sinfiötli openly argues with his male ex-lover Gudmundr about who had been the "man" in their homosexual relationship. Sinfiötli is accused of having been castrated by giant maidens in the past, something he does not deny but disregards, as he asserts that he still possesses virile power. (Helgakvida Hundinsbani)The shaman Atli is accused of having been castrated, and like Sinfiötli he assures his opponent that he still has masculine powers although he does not deny the castration (Helgakvida Hjörvardssonar) Odin reveals that one of his many names is Ialk - the Castrate (Grimnismál) Odin and Loki accuse each other of severly "unmanly" behavior in the past, and Frigg tells them "what you two gods did together in the past ought not to be mentioned" (Lokasenna) After having talked about how impossible it is to trust women, Odin declares that he "can speak truly" because he has "known both", and that men are just as traitorous towards women (Hávamál) Gudrun, a woman, dresses in armor and fights alongside her brothers, and when all male candidates of her family are dead, she assumes the male responsibility of taking vengeance. She is hailed as "the last bride in armor". Prose Edda: Loki transforms into a woman in order to reach the halls of Frigg. Loki transforms into an old woman in order to deny weeping for Balder. Skadi assumes the masculine warrior role and attacks the Aesir wearing armor and weapons. She divorces her husband and returns to the mountains where she sustains herself hunting with bow and arrow, skiing.Saxo Grammaticus (Gesta Danorum): Odin changed into the shape of an old woman in order to trick a maiden.
Saxo also explains that in the pagan past, many women chose to become warriors and live unmarried, warrior lives. We do not know if he is just basing himself on the memory of mythical creatures such as valkyrias, or if there is a reality behind it. In fact, one third of female burials from the Viking Age contain a weapon. The most usual weapon for women was the bow and arrow, but many were also buried with spear or sword. It would seem that one third of women at least learned to master one type of battle skill. However, male graves usually contained a complete set of weapons, including spear, sword, long knife, axe, shield, armor, so there was a marked difference between male and female burials even when the female had owned, and probably used, a weapon. Some male graves, however, contained almost purely female objects and he was buried wearing a dress, all honored shown to him, it seems that he was acknowledged as transgendered.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Thor
• Norse
• myth
• mythology
• spiritual
• shaman
• shamanism
• initiation
• ritual
• psychedelic
• transgender

[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..

[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).

[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...

[aBenDragon]

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

[Jtrip2133]

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

[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?