I guess Njordr would Noatun about ships… In all honesty I think it would be cool Njordr was once Nerthus though I may just be biased 😄 I think it would be pretty neat
Odin might know everything Freyr might lord over nature and the seasons Thor might be the king of the sky, the wind, and the rain But Njord will always have the nicest feet out of all the gods
Nærøy, called Njords (Njordr) island in the Viking Age, still stands the temple (Hovet) after Njord (Njordr). The temple (Hovet) was turned into a stone church when Christianity came to the country. You can still read the inscriptions of the Vikings who helped build the temple (Hovet). The church is one of Norway's oldest churches. Tysnes øy (Vestland county) was previously called Niarðarlog, interpreted as "Njords lagdømme" Njords (Njordr) land. Where the main temple (Hovet) probably lay. Njord (Njordr) must have been a significant God in Norway because we have an incredible number of place names after him.
That and just the Reason for the name remains in the Culture! Plenty of American sites and scenes are named for the Native culture's holy sites. Although we have forgotten (re:Ignored) the reasons, we maintain them because that's what the people who lived here called those places. There is POWER in a name. And it's why people who aren't Norse respect and maintain such traditions too!
@@LampseekerForevermore Nærøya is a private island. There is a family living there who work with sheep. The island does not have a public boat connection (you can go ashore if you come with your own boat). The "church" burned down in 1848 and has not been used since. For many decades, the "church" stood without a roof to a friends' association in collaboration with the National Heritage Board restored the building. I do not know if the "church" is consecrated anymore.
I'm so glad you've finally made a video on Njordr! When I explored Norse heathenry during my period of being set adrift from Kemeticism, something about him felt so warm and welcoming, even though I wasn't sure if heathenry was my proper calling or not. It doesn't make a TON of sense for me to venerate a sea god considering how far I live from any huge non-river bodies of water, but he felt right, and he still welcomed me in even when the Netjeru eventually called me back. I still have a small shrine to the Vanir (with him at the forefront), and I still make small offerings there when I feel the pull, even though I don't consider myself a heathen. So yeah, tl;dr, thanks for this video. Good to see Njordr getting the love he rightfully deserves!
I love this. We don't know much about the Vanir so I love any info about them. My main deity is Yngvi Freyr but I also honor Njordr. Keep up the excellent work!
The changing of gender with regard to the gods/goddesses over time is just an IndoEuropean fact. Our deep ancestors were not as likely hung up on preserving a deity's actual gender over the eons, but rather addressing that deity's perceived gender in relation to the times they lived and how that deity influenced their lives. The Sun for instance (PIE *S.h.w.l) was likely originally a neuter name meaning the Lamp of Heaven, but later, depending on the sun's influence of the climate, developed either masculine roles, like in the Mediterranean and India, or more feminine ones, like in some Germanic and other northern European cultures for instance. -- see M.L. West, Indo-European Poetry and Myth (OUP, Oxford, 2007) ch 5.
@@OceanKeltoi keep making these highly informative videos and that will never be a problem. 33 years in the faith and your videos are still finding me in good stead!
Great video, the best I've ever seen on this particular matter so far. I personally view Njord and nerthus as a fertility deity, both masculine and feminine, not unlike the primal jötun Ymir. From a partialist point of view, so to speak, the couple would represent this two polarities that propitiate life.
I would absolutely love it if you did more of these informational type videos on other norse deities like thor for example, or more obscure ones, and we'd love to hear about your personal thoughts on them and experiences too!
This man could be the reincarnation of Mimir. He's retelling tales of old! Regaling the stories of the gods, and bringing wisdom to newcomers.. He kinda looks like him, too in a way
As far as Skadi and Njordr's marriage goes, I personally view it as two gods who lord over two different types of the wild, thought they would be a compatible couple, but the differences in lordship are what caused them to split, not their differing personalities.
What do you think of the gods Baldur and Hodr? These brothers appear to be opposite representations; God of day and god of night, summer and winter, bravery and honor, warmth and cold. The sagas talk about Hodr as someone whose stories are well known to the readers but are now lost. I was told as a child that Hodr's blindness is the blindness of a night creature in the daytime.
I've always loved the mountains, the snow, the wilds. Now that I live in the mountains I feel the call of the ocean calling me back to it. Maybe Skadi and Njordr are my patrons... but then again I'm a LEO and Tyr and Thor call to me a as well. Is it possible to have multiple patrons? Or should I be polite and give my offerings when I feel a specific God calling to me on that day.
Definitely the latter. Offer to whom ever you feel the pull of the moment. Non the gods will feel slighted. They probably understand polytheism better than we do 😂. I feel the same way with Freyr, Freyja, Thor and others.
I honestly don't know much about patrons I think it's a thing people cling on too much or put too much importance into. As polytheists we should be allowed to call to any god that you feel the pull to at the moment. When I started this journey I mistakingly thought Odin was ma patron god but he just called me onto the path then wandered off as he dose. I've noticed I connect with certain gods at different times of the year so I just go baised off that. I go with who I feel calling to me at the moment.
Njordr has always been my favorite. I don’t even know why. I don’t care for fishing and I hate boats, but his and Skadi’s story always stuck with me, plus I have a thing for ocean gods (I like Poseidon/Neptune as a concept, though morally, he’s a piece of shit along with most of the Greek/Roman gods) Perhaps my draw to him is my love/hate relationship with the unknown (to touch on your last point). It’s a concept that causes me great anxiety and dealing with it is where I need the most help in my life.
Njord was also known for calming all seas. meaning from time to time within your life’s storm, peace can be found. By far one of the bests negotiators in the Norse sagas. I’m reminded of the woman’s role to quell the rage beating within men’s hearts and minds. If njord was a woman to begin with then this make a alot of sense. Also skaldi’s marriage being unconsummated would make alot more sense. As neither would have been interested. She did pick njord by looking at feet. Which was the old Norse way of saying don’t look at single attributes before choosing a partner, look at them all. As a hasty made decision may have dire consequences. In this gender fluid motion, things can often be missed or even overlooked. It Must make you think what Odin was offering when he call that line up? I think njord to be one of the strangest moment in the sagas where sanity prevails to good logic, reason and sense.
Think there was even more behind the choosing by feet (which she didnt decide herself). Also that clean feet doesnt mean the purest entity, as she wanted Balder the purest god.
I pray to Njörðr for wealth as well as to inspire me to work harder. He is the god of the sailor after all. And He has answered my prayer multiple times, so I believe He's a good god to pray to for that.
I’ve been hitting a roadblock lately. Want to learn more so bad, as, despite undeniably being wholeheartedly and practicing Heathen, there’s still SO much more I need/want to learn. I’ve caught what I now call Odinitis in the past few months, where I just want to learn more and more, not just about Heathenry, but about history in general. I try to devour every relevant book I can get my hands on but with how broke I am right now I have very little to no expendable income. You have no idea how much your videos help, Ocean. I watch each and every new video ASAP and then eagerly await the next. Your informative video format and charismatic character make your content SO enjoyable! Thank you!
@@j3tztbassman123 oh I hit up my local library on the regular, and not just for Heathenry-related things! I fucking love libraries man, they do SO much more than just loan people books. ❤️
He probably was also an God of funerals who did fall on his territory because of he is God of seafaring so maybe he is the one who sails the ship to Helheilm because the person is dead, just a theory. Greetings from Sweden.
Good sir, did you ever considered publishing your content in podcast format? I would certainly love that! your channel, content and opnions are amazing, hope you keep on the way of sucess and under the favor of good luck!
Really been liking what I have been seeing on Njord. I feel an affinity to him based on safety in physical journeys but also spiritual and life journeys. Would I be misinterpreting him here? Any thoughts are welcome as I am at the start of this pagan journey. Many thanks.
If I remember right, Assassin's Creed Valhalla had a really adorable and funny take on Njordr and Skadi's divorce in that Njordr is crazy about Skadi and hates that the marriage didn't work out.
To make things more confusing, in Yngling Saga, the Ynglings are both given as Skadi's descendants and Frey's descendants. In Skirnismal, Skadi also describes Frey as her son. So in at least one version, Frey was the son of Skadi but not necessarily Njord. It seems the entire family unity has fertility connections -- Njord rules sailing and fishing, Skadi rules hunting, and Frey rules agriculture. It's also tempting to view Njord and Skadi as a seasonal myth, as most of the activities Njord has providence over are done in summer, while most of Skadi's activities are done in winter. And somewhere sandwiched between them is Frey, whose domain needs both of his "parents" to function.
I grew up in Bermuda. From 2nd grade to 6th. It's strange that it was only 4 years. I'm over 50 now and I still feel the need to visit the ocean once in a while. Obviously, it had an impact on me. It's funny to me that after Bermuda, my mother hated the ocean and we moved to the Sierra Nevadas. As a result, I also feel the need to camp in the mountains. My wife is a city girl, she does not enjoy nature. So, when I camp, once a year, it's solo. But she's always so happy when I come home.
*pause at **00:02** until gigglefit passes* The more I hear about her, the more I like Skadthi. I couldn't be married to a sailor/fisherman either, and I'd miss my dogs.
I'm finding it interesting that I'm feeling a random pull to nordr are the moment. Him and skadi. Tho I seen to always feel skadi when winter is approaching. I never really felt that draw to njordr until now. The story of their relationship not working but ending on good terms stands out to me. Also what you said about calling him when entering on an unknown journey. I recently broke it off with my partner as long distance became way too hard and it wasn't working. I'm seeing this brake up and going into a new begining a new journey. And im wondering if he's just letting me know I'm not alone in having to break it off with someone because it didn't work out.
Just a random I have no reference other than your video idea, could the funeral ship have been a 'gift' for him and the coin for her, there buy guaranteeing the completion of the journey?
I have a ritual to do involving Odin, Nordr and Freyr. Any ideas on specific offerings for each one? I will be asking a long-term favor of them (a year or more.) Don't worry, I am also doing my own research. 😉👍
Mead and wine, wine is symbolic of sacrifice in other religions and mead seems to be the general go to. Odinn only consumes wine offerings himself as per Havamal
it was complete BS but i was questioning if I was norse pagan or not if I just wanted to use the aesthetics and follow the morale code of the havamal or actually worship the gods. it was a really hot summer day. and eventually I decided to pray to Njord. literally a couple of words, I had been watching Keltoi and did it how he talked about, with invocation and then asking for what I needed. It was kinda meaningless but I prayed to him asking to make it to where there was a breeze, he is the god of WIND and Sea right? immediately within seconds it was cooler from a breeze, and it stayed that way for the rest of the day. I was shocked. there had been no breeze all day. the next day I went and i got some seashells beads and some fish for an offerring. and I made him the offering, and now every time I Have went outside to relax It has been breezy cool this summer. It was so simple, but it made me believe. Njord is a generous god and I am thankful. I did more research about him after and i saw alot about him being a very generous god, and maybe thats why he decided to act on my BS prayer. and even though I'm no fisherman, He will always have a place close to my heart.
hmmm in the Afro-diasporic religions in the Americas (Brasil, Cuba, etc.) the belief is that Yemayá (the orisha of the ocean) is also the orisha of wealth, and cowrie shells were used as currency by their ancestors ...
I greatly enjoyed this video and your channel. Am always pleased to see your new videos posted. But I have to ask; is the origin of your channel name derived from the Greeks name of the Gauls? You certainly have the Celtic (and especially Germanic) look about you. Would be most appreciative for an answer. Best regards and thank you for your fascinating content!
I don’t know how message you but I have one question.. so I’m a cut to the chase, a question that always makes me think a lot. Since the dawn of time Christianity brainwashed and made people turn away from there gods before, some gods mange to stay worship from Christianity and hidden but where does the catholic stands, is catholic is also pagan because we can worship more than one Gods??
I’ve been watching a lot of your videos. They are great btw but some of these names are so hard to pronounce. Some don’t sound like they read imo. I’m more familiar with Semitic languages and translations. Anyway I really enjoy your stuff. I have a question and promise I do not mean to offend but do you take these God’s as literal or more symbolic of what they represent? I’m just trying to get my head around it. I’m an ex Christian, I’ve studied Torah Judaism, midrashim, Kabbalah, etc and more of the near east religions but I feel drawn to this. Maybe because I am of European descent? Anyways if you answer me I appreciate you homie. 💪🏻
not really, because it's permanent. Hostage exchanges among royalty in the period of time that this was written would sometimes include the trading of children and the raising of those children within the culture of the other's royal house. So it would be like a fostering situation, but with more complex diplomatic dynamics.
I don't think we can assign a gender to gods. They are, by definition, gods, entities above our plane of existence, they are not biological. They appear as a gender, whichever they choose, but I doubt they have chromosomes or any genetics, so there is no biological gender. They can also shape shift. So they can probably choose whatever gender they want. Also, I don't think it's important either way. It doesn't change the practice unless your homophobic. Even in the christian religion, god himself can change into whatever image is most comforting to you, which in the book "the shack" he turns into a woman. Does that make god gender fluid? No, it's a god, he it no gender to begin with. Hope everyone understands what I'm trying to say.
