Ulf
02-15-2009, 08:41 PM
Opinions?
The Deep-Souled One (http://www.thorshof.org/patthor.htm)
Who has been called 'djuphugadr' or the 'deep-souled-one' of the Northern pantheon?
A god who not only has a fertility aspect but also, historically, was invoked in law and order, controlled the weather and was THE god who was called to called hallow runestones of the dead? The defender of both Heaven and Earth? This of course is Thor - the colossus of the North whose very name meant the deafening thunder - one of the most loved deities of the North in our heathen past.
It may not have seemed obvious immediately, especially as some writers have implied that he played the role of a kind of divine lager lout in the myths or prefer to fit him into their narrow classification system (such as the popular tri-partite view of the early Indo- European society). However I hope to put forward a case that there is a much fuller picture of this most straightforward and earthy god to be found, although I do not propose to cover the aspect of warder in great detail. This is the one attribute that nobody would argue about and various myths clearly illustrate this aspect.
At this point I would like to clarify that, although Thor was noted for his fighting qualities and fierceness, these qualities do not arise from his active defence of the gods and mankind. His battles with giants and trolls also show his care to combat the forces that would undermine the existing order or threaten those in his care. There is never any suggestion that it is all giants he is battling or attempting to kill as he actually has a giantess (Jarnsaxa) as a concubine - the mother of his sons Magni and Modi. He stayed over with the giantess Grid on a journey and relations were good enough for her to give him items for his aid. There is no indication that Thor ever had problems with the giant goddesses Skadi and Gerd, who lived amongst the gods and goddesses or even with Loki (when he was behaving himself) who was actually a giant and not part of the Aesir, he was only amongst them as Odin's blood-brother and the companion of Odin and Thor.
Thor is depicted as responsive to human distress which is not a quality widely associated with warfare. This is most clearly shown in the myth of his journey to Utgard with Loki when he stopped at a peasant's farm on the way. He killed his goats to provide a meal for them all but instructed them to be sure to save the bones and skin. The next morning before dawn he passed Mjollnir, his magical hammer, over the bones on the skin and brought his goats back to life but noticed that one was lame (where the farmer's son had ignored instructions and broken a bone to get at the marrow). This kindled his wrath and his eyes took on his truly awesome stare. The terrified farmer and his family offered all they had to atone but when Thor saw their terror he calmed down and accepted the children as bondservants. Thor's temper can be regained as fast as it is lost - the cold implacability that sweeps all before it in war is not there.
In historical terms, Thor derives from a very early deity: the Indo-European weather god. This being was described as male with red hair and a beard, a tremendous appetite and as possessing thunderbolts. This weather god was also described as being the protector of mankind and slayer of serpent(s). Even the Hindu god Indra, whose roots are in the Indo- European tradition, shows these characteristics. This may be why Snorri Sturluson, in the early part of the Prose Edda where he talks of the gods and goddesses as historical humans, says Odin was a descendant of Thor and not the other way round as might be expected.
There is an etymological link to the Celtic deity Jupiter Tanarus as the Germanic forms of the thunder god's name are believed to have derived from this 'thundering' Jupiter. In Anglo-Saxon England he was Thunar, in continental Germany he was Donar (or Donner) and in Scandinavia and their Viking Settlements he was Thor.
The tales of rough roistering and heroic deeds ascribed to Thor have led scholars to identify him with the early Germanic god written of by the Roman historian Tacitus as the Latin demi-god Hercules. Tacitus wrote of three main gods in the German tribes in terms of their classical counterparts. Later analogies were made to the Sky Father, Jupiter. The fifth day of the week in Anglo-Saxon England was named after him- Thursday or 'Thunresdaeg'. Thursday was also known as 'Jovis Dies' in Latin or the Day of Jove (Jupiter). There is a tenth century verse which includes the lines 'This Jove is the most worshipped of all the gods.... his name is Thor'.
The influences of Thor left a permanent mark on England as, apart from the fifth day' there are a number of places which bear his name in a compound form - such as Thundersley in Essex. The last part of the name, derived from 'leah', means a wood or grove.
Thor was the most popular god in Norway and Iceland while in Sweden his worship was replaced by that of Ullr (his mythological Stepson) who in turn was replaced by Freyr. However, in the eleventh century account by Adam of Bremen of the great temple at Uppsala, the Statue of Thor is described as being in the centre between Odin and Fricco (Freyr) and when plague or famine threatened a sacrifice would be offered to Thor by his priests.
In Scandinavia, in Viking times, his was the name used to form numerous personal names of both men and women (e.g. Thorolf, Thorgerdr) and was also the only god invoked in their memorial inscriptions.
In the literary work of the Icelandic Eddas and middle high German Nibelunglied, Thor/Donar is one of the prominent Male deities with Odin/Wodan and Tyr/Teiwaz.
When Christianity came to the north, for a time it was 'Red Thor' against the 'White Christ'.
Adam of Bremen wrote that 'they say he rules the air which controls the thunder and the lightning, the winds and showers, the fair weather and the fruits of the earth'. Thor has the power to bestow fertility as he is the son of Mother Earth (his belt of strength is called Meginjard or 'Earth Power' ), the controller of the weather and the wielder of Mjollnir. The hammer is especially important to this power. In the myth where he cross-dresses as Freyja to pretend to marry the giant Thrym, to fool the giant into bringing out Mjollnir which has been stolen, the hammer is brought out to hallow the 'bride'. This probably reflected ancient historical practise that was believed to bestow fertility (as a symbolic phallus) on the woman. Also, as described above, the myths tell of him bringing his goats back to life. The etymology of Mjollnir is believed to be linked to the Slavic/Baltic words for lightning. It is now known that lightning itself (or the production of the lightning) produces natural nitrates which are essential for the fertilisation of the ground. The fires that lightning can cause in forests can actually also help to fertilise certain hard tree seeds.
A consideration of the modern knowledge about the production of lightning will also show a modern attribute of Thor: electricity. Lightning is believed to be caused by the release of the electrical tension that built up as positive ions rose and negative ions stayed at the bottom of a heavy wet cloud.
Fire, as well as being a major effect of lightning, was also used historically in the worship of Thor. This is shown in the combination commonly found on top of Viking age cremation urns of a hammer and miniature firesteel. The Eyrbyggia Saga talks of Thorolf Mostrarskegg going round the borders of his new land in Iceland with fire to claim it and his temple for Thor had 'god-nails' in its pillars. The historian Hilda Ellis-Davidson has identified these god-nails as a possible source of ritual fire: by striking flint against the steel nail. It is known that the Lapps struck fire from a metal nail in the head of their thunder god image. This temple artefact also has echoes in the myth of Thor's battle with the giant Hrungnir which has left a piece of the giant's shattered whetstone in Thor's head.
The Kjalnesinga Saga talk of a sacred fire in one of Thor's temples and earlier records tell of a perpetual fire in the temple of the old Prussian thunder god in an oak tree sanctuary. In modern times, this would be to create a sacred fire from basic materials (such as a flintstone and steel/iron firestriker) and then use the flame in invocation of Thor or as the catalyst in a rite to win difficult fertility (new life) or for deconstructive empowerment. It should be said from bitter personal experience that the creation of this type of fire is extremely difficult and you may find that you end up integrating into your rite a blood sacrifice (from cut fingers) that was not planned when you started. It is a good idea to have a container for the sacred fire, such as a lantern, and then do the fire creation in a separate rite immediately before the rite for whatever purpose to prevent the main rite being disrupted.
It has been suggested, with the support of am inscription on the Korpbron runestone that translates as 'Thor perform seidr', that there is a shamatic element to Thor that has not been considered before - his journeying, the possession of a staff (gained as a gift from Grid), the cross-dressing (however reluctantly) and he even has a guide - Loki. The boiling anger that Thor displays in some of the myths may somehow be tied into the etymology of seidr being linked to the English term 'Seething'. Certainly his might is more than simply physical and asking for empowerment of your magical formula or calling on Thor as a trusty guide when journeying (whether you are doing seidr or any more purely based shamanic journey) are soundly based practises.
Due, no doubt his power to bring storms and to the tales of his journeying, Thor was invoked historically when going on a journey especially when going to sea. The Flateyjarbok records that one of Thor's worshippers encouraged him to blow out the bristles of his beard, which he did and blew up a gale. Helgi the Lean, an early Kristian convert, continued to call on Thor even after conversion when making any sea journey. Njals Saga tells of Thor raising storms to break up the ship of Kristian missionary and Eiriks's Saga tells of Thor stranding a whale on the shores of Vineland in response to a prayer to him.
Historically Thor was invoked in the name of law and stability though modern occultists have found that this tends to relate to the stability of the earth when people are in harmony with Her and with other inhabitants on it as much as in any legalistic sense. The son of earth, worshipped in oak groves, who perpetually fought the agents of chaos and destruction to Midgard was also the god who maintained order within Midgard.
As the son of earth and friend of man, Thor is great to work with for an urbanised townie who has little feel for the earth but is intellectually aware that (s)he should have more.
Thor is also the Hallower. As already discussed Mjollnir was brought in to hallow the bride. It is also Thor in the myths who hallows Balder's funeral pyre. On Viking age burial stones it is Thor who is called to hallow the runes on them: Thor uiki (pasi) runaR. A sixth century South German fibula has been found which calls on 'Wigithonar' or Hallow- Thonar (along with Wodan and 'logathore'), Such hallowing fills the objects with might so that they are set apart from the mundane world.
His straightforward trustingness has often been displayed as a simplicity that also means stupidity but this is misleading. A closer look at the myths in their totality shows that Thor could be cunning, when it was appropriate, and most definitely had his own wisdom.
In the Alvissmal Thor took on and tricked the dwarf Alvis, who knew all things and wanted Thrud (Thor's daughter) as his bride. There is some suggestion that the dwarf may have been promised her in Thor's absence. However Thor is not to be held by the promises of others and did not approve of him as a suitor so made the clever promise that as long as the dwarf could answer whatever Thor asked him, he could marry Thrud. Then he simply asked him questions until the sun rose and turned Alvis into stone. The simplicity of approach does not suggest stupidity as a result.
Also, in the myths, when he went to Hymir (for the famous fishing trip where he 'caught' Jormungand) he assumed the appearance of a young boy to be got into the household. When Loki was fleeing the angry gods after Balder's death, and had changed into a salmon to elude them, it was Thor who was quick enough to catch the slippery shapeshifter.
There is also the tale of the hero Starkadhr, where Odin and Thor take turns to change Skarkadhr's wyrd with one god working for him and one against. Odin decrees the Starkadhr will always be victorious in battle but Thor decrees that he will always be victorious in battle but Thor decrees that he will always be wounded grievously; Odin gives Starkadhr the gift of poetry and Thor stops him remembering what he composes, etc.
Also there were occasions when it is the might and courage of Thor, not the magic or subtlety of the other gods, that was the only answer to the problem.
When Odin tricked the giant Hrungnir into Asgard then invited him into Valhalla to get a fine horse he desired, and then there was trouble from his drunken threats, it was Thor whose might sorted the problem out. In the myth where the frost giant has been magically tricked out of his (excessive) reward for building the walls of Asgard, it is Thor's might that quells his threat. In the Lokasenna, where Loki trades insults with all the gods and goddesses even Odin, it is only Thor and his might that finally intimidates Loki into shutting up and going away.
The very physicality of the god's nature should not be taken as the sign of a lesser power. This sort of attitude I feel has been partially influenced by the Kristian attitude (of denigration of the flesh or this world) that has permeated western thought historically.
The more southerly Indo-European peoples in Greece and Rome were certainly known to appreciate that mind and body should be in balance: 'mens sana in corpore sano' or healthy mind in a healthy body. The effects of altering your body chemistry and thus drastically affecting your perception and personality, by drink or drugs, are well known and there is currently a school of thought (behaviour therapists) who believe that the behaviour produces the attitude.
Unless we understand how our mental, emotional and physical bodies interact on this earth in this plan of existence then we never understand how to attempt to travel beyond the limitations such realities impose. If we do not apply skills we actually possess (using our motor skills with knowledge and applying persistent will) then it is somewhat vain to imagine that we can skip to the subtler 'bodies' on more esoteric planes where heartfelt wishes and clouded sight could utterly mislead you.
For a woman working with Thor, it can be helpful to align yourself with one of the female figures in his mythological family: Jorth - his mother - the primal source, ancient, earth mother / Sif - his wife - fertile, motherly, in her prime / Thrud - his daughter - the young one of power but no male ties. To act as a 'Sif-sister' in a rite is to align with the power of Thor but also strongly reaffirm your essential femininity.
The Prose Edda lists a number of his Heiti or by-names: Atli, Asabrag, Ennilang, Eindridi, Biorn, Hlorridi, Hardveur, Veurr, Rym, Sonnung. He is 'Thor Karl' or Old Man Thor and various kennings have been used about him: Thunderer, Hrungnir's bane, Old Redbeard, Midgard's Warder, Whetstone-skulled, Wyrm Bane, Goat God, Son of Jorth, Sif's Beloved, Son of Odin, Friend of Mankind, the Trusty One.
He is Asathor (Thor of the Aesir) - the defender and god of Might. He is Okuthor (Driving Thor or the 'Charioteer' from his chariot drawn by two goats) - the dispenser of thunder, lightning, fertility and who controls the stormy seas. He is also Vingthor or Wigithonar (Hallowing Thor) - the hallower of land or of any enterprise, magical or religious. The one thing that he should not be called is 'just a simple giant thwacker'.
This article was first published in Frostfire
The Deep-Souled One (http://www.thorshof.org/patthor.htm)
Who has been called 'djuphugadr' or the 'deep-souled-one' of the Northern pantheon?
A god who not only has a fertility aspect but also, historically, was invoked in law and order, controlled the weather and was THE god who was called to called hallow runestones of the dead? The defender of both Heaven and Earth? This of course is Thor - the colossus of the North whose very name meant the deafening thunder - one of the most loved deities of the North in our heathen past.
It may not have seemed obvious immediately, especially as some writers have implied that he played the role of a kind of divine lager lout in the myths or prefer to fit him into their narrow classification system (such as the popular tri-partite view of the early Indo- European society). However I hope to put forward a case that there is a much fuller picture of this most straightforward and earthy god to be found, although I do not propose to cover the aspect of warder in great detail. This is the one attribute that nobody would argue about and various myths clearly illustrate this aspect.
At this point I would like to clarify that, although Thor was noted for his fighting qualities and fierceness, these qualities do not arise from his active defence of the gods and mankind. His battles with giants and trolls also show his care to combat the forces that would undermine the existing order or threaten those in his care. There is never any suggestion that it is all giants he is battling or attempting to kill as he actually has a giantess (Jarnsaxa) as a concubine - the mother of his sons Magni and Modi. He stayed over with the giantess Grid on a journey and relations were good enough for her to give him items for his aid. There is no indication that Thor ever had problems with the giant goddesses Skadi and Gerd, who lived amongst the gods and goddesses or even with Loki (when he was behaving himself) who was actually a giant and not part of the Aesir, he was only amongst them as Odin's blood-brother and the companion of Odin and Thor.
Thor is depicted as responsive to human distress which is not a quality widely associated with warfare. This is most clearly shown in the myth of his journey to Utgard with Loki when he stopped at a peasant's farm on the way. He killed his goats to provide a meal for them all but instructed them to be sure to save the bones and skin. The next morning before dawn he passed Mjollnir, his magical hammer, over the bones on the skin and brought his goats back to life but noticed that one was lame (where the farmer's son had ignored instructions and broken a bone to get at the marrow). This kindled his wrath and his eyes took on his truly awesome stare. The terrified farmer and his family offered all they had to atone but when Thor saw their terror he calmed down and accepted the children as bondservants. Thor's temper can be regained as fast as it is lost - the cold implacability that sweeps all before it in war is not there.
In historical terms, Thor derives from a very early deity: the Indo-European weather god. This being was described as male with red hair and a beard, a tremendous appetite and as possessing thunderbolts. This weather god was also described as being the protector of mankind and slayer of serpent(s). Even the Hindu god Indra, whose roots are in the Indo- European tradition, shows these characteristics. This may be why Snorri Sturluson, in the early part of the Prose Edda where he talks of the gods and goddesses as historical humans, says Odin was a descendant of Thor and not the other way round as might be expected.
There is an etymological link to the Celtic deity Jupiter Tanarus as the Germanic forms of the thunder god's name are believed to have derived from this 'thundering' Jupiter. In Anglo-Saxon England he was Thunar, in continental Germany he was Donar (or Donner) and in Scandinavia and their Viking Settlements he was Thor.
The tales of rough roistering and heroic deeds ascribed to Thor have led scholars to identify him with the early Germanic god written of by the Roman historian Tacitus as the Latin demi-god Hercules. Tacitus wrote of three main gods in the German tribes in terms of their classical counterparts. Later analogies were made to the Sky Father, Jupiter. The fifth day of the week in Anglo-Saxon England was named after him- Thursday or 'Thunresdaeg'. Thursday was also known as 'Jovis Dies' in Latin or the Day of Jove (Jupiter). There is a tenth century verse which includes the lines 'This Jove is the most worshipped of all the gods.... his name is Thor'.
The influences of Thor left a permanent mark on England as, apart from the fifth day' there are a number of places which bear his name in a compound form - such as Thundersley in Essex. The last part of the name, derived from 'leah', means a wood or grove.
Thor was the most popular god in Norway and Iceland while in Sweden his worship was replaced by that of Ullr (his mythological Stepson) who in turn was replaced by Freyr. However, in the eleventh century account by Adam of Bremen of the great temple at Uppsala, the Statue of Thor is described as being in the centre between Odin and Fricco (Freyr) and when plague or famine threatened a sacrifice would be offered to Thor by his priests.
In Scandinavia, in Viking times, his was the name used to form numerous personal names of both men and women (e.g. Thorolf, Thorgerdr) and was also the only god invoked in their memorial inscriptions.
In the literary work of the Icelandic Eddas and middle high German Nibelunglied, Thor/Donar is one of the prominent Male deities with Odin/Wodan and Tyr/Teiwaz.
When Christianity came to the north, for a time it was 'Red Thor' against the 'White Christ'.
Adam of Bremen wrote that 'they say he rules the air which controls the thunder and the lightning, the winds and showers, the fair weather and the fruits of the earth'. Thor has the power to bestow fertility as he is the son of Mother Earth (his belt of strength is called Meginjard or 'Earth Power' ), the controller of the weather and the wielder of Mjollnir. The hammer is especially important to this power. In the myth where he cross-dresses as Freyja to pretend to marry the giant Thrym, to fool the giant into bringing out Mjollnir which has been stolen, the hammer is brought out to hallow the 'bride'. This probably reflected ancient historical practise that was believed to bestow fertility (as a symbolic phallus) on the woman. Also, as described above, the myths tell of him bringing his goats back to life. The etymology of Mjollnir is believed to be linked to the Slavic/Baltic words for lightning. It is now known that lightning itself (or the production of the lightning) produces natural nitrates which are essential for the fertilisation of the ground. The fires that lightning can cause in forests can actually also help to fertilise certain hard tree seeds.
A consideration of the modern knowledge about the production of lightning will also show a modern attribute of Thor: electricity. Lightning is believed to be caused by the release of the electrical tension that built up as positive ions rose and negative ions stayed at the bottom of a heavy wet cloud.
Fire, as well as being a major effect of lightning, was also used historically in the worship of Thor. This is shown in the combination commonly found on top of Viking age cremation urns of a hammer and miniature firesteel. The Eyrbyggia Saga talks of Thorolf Mostrarskegg going round the borders of his new land in Iceland with fire to claim it and his temple for Thor had 'god-nails' in its pillars. The historian Hilda Ellis-Davidson has identified these god-nails as a possible source of ritual fire: by striking flint against the steel nail. It is known that the Lapps struck fire from a metal nail in the head of their thunder god image. This temple artefact also has echoes in the myth of Thor's battle with the giant Hrungnir which has left a piece of the giant's shattered whetstone in Thor's head.
The Kjalnesinga Saga talk of a sacred fire in one of Thor's temples and earlier records tell of a perpetual fire in the temple of the old Prussian thunder god in an oak tree sanctuary. In modern times, this would be to create a sacred fire from basic materials (such as a flintstone and steel/iron firestriker) and then use the flame in invocation of Thor or as the catalyst in a rite to win difficult fertility (new life) or for deconstructive empowerment. It should be said from bitter personal experience that the creation of this type of fire is extremely difficult and you may find that you end up integrating into your rite a blood sacrifice (from cut fingers) that was not planned when you started. It is a good idea to have a container for the sacred fire, such as a lantern, and then do the fire creation in a separate rite immediately before the rite for whatever purpose to prevent the main rite being disrupted.
It has been suggested, with the support of am inscription on the Korpbron runestone that translates as 'Thor perform seidr', that there is a shamatic element to Thor that has not been considered before - his journeying, the possession of a staff (gained as a gift from Grid), the cross-dressing (however reluctantly) and he even has a guide - Loki. The boiling anger that Thor displays in some of the myths may somehow be tied into the etymology of seidr being linked to the English term 'Seething'. Certainly his might is more than simply physical and asking for empowerment of your magical formula or calling on Thor as a trusty guide when journeying (whether you are doing seidr or any more purely based shamanic journey) are soundly based practises.
Due, no doubt his power to bring storms and to the tales of his journeying, Thor was invoked historically when going on a journey especially when going to sea. The Flateyjarbok records that one of Thor's worshippers encouraged him to blow out the bristles of his beard, which he did and blew up a gale. Helgi the Lean, an early Kristian convert, continued to call on Thor even after conversion when making any sea journey. Njals Saga tells of Thor raising storms to break up the ship of Kristian missionary and Eiriks's Saga tells of Thor stranding a whale on the shores of Vineland in response to a prayer to him.
Historically Thor was invoked in the name of law and stability though modern occultists have found that this tends to relate to the stability of the earth when people are in harmony with Her and with other inhabitants on it as much as in any legalistic sense. The son of earth, worshipped in oak groves, who perpetually fought the agents of chaos and destruction to Midgard was also the god who maintained order within Midgard.
As the son of earth and friend of man, Thor is great to work with for an urbanised townie who has little feel for the earth but is intellectually aware that (s)he should have more.
Thor is also the Hallower. As already discussed Mjollnir was brought in to hallow the bride. It is also Thor in the myths who hallows Balder's funeral pyre. On Viking age burial stones it is Thor who is called to hallow the runes on them: Thor uiki (pasi) runaR. A sixth century South German fibula has been found which calls on 'Wigithonar' or Hallow- Thonar (along with Wodan and 'logathore'), Such hallowing fills the objects with might so that they are set apart from the mundane world.
His straightforward trustingness has often been displayed as a simplicity that also means stupidity but this is misleading. A closer look at the myths in their totality shows that Thor could be cunning, when it was appropriate, and most definitely had his own wisdom.
In the Alvissmal Thor took on and tricked the dwarf Alvis, who knew all things and wanted Thrud (Thor's daughter) as his bride. There is some suggestion that the dwarf may have been promised her in Thor's absence. However Thor is not to be held by the promises of others and did not approve of him as a suitor so made the clever promise that as long as the dwarf could answer whatever Thor asked him, he could marry Thrud. Then he simply asked him questions until the sun rose and turned Alvis into stone. The simplicity of approach does not suggest stupidity as a result.
Also, in the myths, when he went to Hymir (for the famous fishing trip where he 'caught' Jormungand) he assumed the appearance of a young boy to be got into the household. When Loki was fleeing the angry gods after Balder's death, and had changed into a salmon to elude them, it was Thor who was quick enough to catch the slippery shapeshifter.
There is also the tale of the hero Starkadhr, where Odin and Thor take turns to change Skarkadhr's wyrd with one god working for him and one against. Odin decrees the Starkadhr will always be victorious in battle but Thor decrees that he will always be victorious in battle but Thor decrees that he will always be wounded grievously; Odin gives Starkadhr the gift of poetry and Thor stops him remembering what he composes, etc.
Also there were occasions when it is the might and courage of Thor, not the magic or subtlety of the other gods, that was the only answer to the problem.
When Odin tricked the giant Hrungnir into Asgard then invited him into Valhalla to get a fine horse he desired, and then there was trouble from his drunken threats, it was Thor whose might sorted the problem out. In the myth where the frost giant has been magically tricked out of his (excessive) reward for building the walls of Asgard, it is Thor's might that quells his threat. In the Lokasenna, where Loki trades insults with all the gods and goddesses even Odin, it is only Thor and his might that finally intimidates Loki into shutting up and going away.
The very physicality of the god's nature should not be taken as the sign of a lesser power. This sort of attitude I feel has been partially influenced by the Kristian attitude (of denigration of the flesh or this world) that has permeated western thought historically.
The more southerly Indo-European peoples in Greece and Rome were certainly known to appreciate that mind and body should be in balance: 'mens sana in corpore sano' or healthy mind in a healthy body. The effects of altering your body chemistry and thus drastically affecting your perception and personality, by drink or drugs, are well known and there is currently a school of thought (behaviour therapists) who believe that the behaviour produces the attitude.
Unless we understand how our mental, emotional and physical bodies interact on this earth in this plan of existence then we never understand how to attempt to travel beyond the limitations such realities impose. If we do not apply skills we actually possess (using our motor skills with knowledge and applying persistent will) then it is somewhat vain to imagine that we can skip to the subtler 'bodies' on more esoteric planes where heartfelt wishes and clouded sight could utterly mislead you.
For a woman working with Thor, it can be helpful to align yourself with one of the female figures in his mythological family: Jorth - his mother - the primal source, ancient, earth mother / Sif - his wife - fertile, motherly, in her prime / Thrud - his daughter - the young one of power but no male ties. To act as a 'Sif-sister' in a rite is to align with the power of Thor but also strongly reaffirm your essential femininity.
The Prose Edda lists a number of his Heiti or by-names: Atli, Asabrag, Ennilang, Eindridi, Biorn, Hlorridi, Hardveur, Veurr, Rym, Sonnung. He is 'Thor Karl' or Old Man Thor and various kennings have been used about him: Thunderer, Hrungnir's bane, Old Redbeard, Midgard's Warder, Whetstone-skulled, Wyrm Bane, Goat God, Son of Jorth, Sif's Beloved, Son of Odin, Friend of Mankind, the Trusty One.
He is Asathor (Thor of the Aesir) - the defender and god of Might. He is Okuthor (Driving Thor or the 'Charioteer' from his chariot drawn by two goats) - the dispenser of thunder, lightning, fertility and who controls the stormy seas. He is also Vingthor or Wigithonar (Hallowing Thor) - the hallower of land or of any enterprise, magical or religious. The one thing that he should not be called is 'just a simple giant thwacker'.
This article was first published in Frostfire