The goddess who gave her name to the sixth day of the week, Freya often appears to her followers wearing a feathered cloak over her magical amber necklace as she rode through the sky in a chariot drawn by cats, or sometimes on a huge golden-bristled boar.
Both a warrior and a lover, Freya is also the spirit of the earth’s fertility – in Norse traditions, her absence during autumn and winter caused the leaves to fall and the earth to wear a mourning cloak of snow. And Freya was the goddess of magic, the one who first brought the power of sorcery to the people of the north.
She introduced the gods to seidr, a form of magic that allowed practitioners to know and change the future. Working with her can bring about powerful change in your life.
Here are some of our favourite ways to work with the goddess Freya
Create an altar and dedicate space for her and your own sensuality. An appropriate location for your Freya altar is in the bedroom – with red cloth as the base. Use candles, incense, offering bowls and cups. And maybe runes if you have some. Add a picture or statue to represent Freya as the focal point. She has many correspondences (sacred items) and you might also choose to add sculptures or images of cats, boars, birds, rabbits, and the moon. Adorn your space with fresh flowers.
Freya is connected to the moon. You could use a moon calendar to tune into the phases of the moon. Honour the new and full moon. If you are menstruating chart your own moon cycle.
As well as her animal correspondences, there are many plants considered sacred to her. Plant primrose, mugwort, holly, hemp and flax.
Another way to honour Freya is to make Fridays special! The word Friday can be translated to Freya’s day. And especially when we get Friday the 13th, it will be a powerful time to connect and honour her. Freya’s sacred number is 13 for the 13 lunar cycles in a year.
Reflect on your own inner queen – what do you need in order to feel more comfortable, more relaxed in your home. Carve out space for yourself and defend that time like a warrioress!
Illustration by Lizzie Wheeler lizziewheeler.co.uk.
