Lessons At Home
- Sara Ault
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
It started as an assignment in my Goðar studies under the learning tree of Witan Brandy Fassett. It’s grown into a new thing all to itself. Brandy has mandated that we as Gyðja students and apprentices, begun daily devotions to the Æsir and Ásynjur.
We began doing this daily, certain deities on certain days, and we took upon ourselves to begin using this as a teaching tool for my 15-year-old daughter, Lauren. It was she that spurred my husband and I toward finding likeminded folk to practice Ásatrú with. But rather than just focusing on a God or Goddess for a day, we began with Frigg’s Maidens of Fensalir. It has begun with Gefjon, the Giver.
We read from the Trúlögmál, “Gefjon is the giver. She watches over young girls and maidens of our folk. Gefjon is a comfort to those who feel alone. Gefjon is the patroness of virgins and of land-taking.”
This really resonated with me and Lauren. It’s always been my intention to make sure that our ladies, and specifically our young ladies never feel alone. That hospitality is extended to the men Folk as well. This modern world teaches us to be individuals on an island without any thought to anyone but yourself. But as history has taught us, it is women who are the glue that holds the Folk together. As much as the modern world tries to make us catty and given to gossip, we must follow the example of Gefjon. To be that light when someone’s world is dark, to be the one that gives, not just in the form of gifts, but give of ourselves to build each other up. To be that shoulder to lean on when we are alone.
We give offerings at home nearly every day. Some to Heimdallr, to Þórr, others to Frig, but Gefjon has been added to this daily devotion.
Many of our Goddesses are overlooked because of the lack of information we have about them. What we do have is limited, but we use what we have and build relationships, even if our knowledge is limited to single lines of a passage. Ásatrú isn’t just meant to just be studied, it’s meant to be a living religion. It is deeds, it is action.
I hope that you will join me in making offerings to Gefjon, the Giver. And in turn give of yourselves to your sisters of faith.
Hail Gefjon!
