August Magazine 2014 Becoming Psychic Magazine February 2014 | Page 44

Norse Spirituality
By Lokabrenna
Hail and welcome!

Life is a precious thing, and the act of expanding ones family is a moment of great pride, excitement and wonder.
The welcoming of a child into the Sib (a family, "those who belong together") is not only sacred but brings with it
limitless love without conditions.
A modern Germanic word for descendant is "Enkle", which means "Little Ancestor", for it was believed in most
Scandinavian cultures that a newly born child was the returning soul of a passed family member (called endrborinn in Old Icelandic); especially if the new arrival was named after a beloved member of the Sib. With all new
life comes new Wyrd (destiny) and begins the sp inning of fate in a new direction that is rich with great purpose and
great responsibility.
Women in Viking-age societies understood the importance of the journey they were about to partake in and they also understood the
dangers involved. There were several ways in which one could assure the safe arrival of new life as destiny plays a large role and is determined by the Nornir (Norns, workers of fate) from the moment of birth.
Only women were the care-givers during the birthing process; they were the official witnesses of birth called bjargrýgr, meaning
"helping-woman", whose duties went beyond assistance in delivery. A bjargrýgr was responsible for magical assistance in order to ease
the process of birth with galdr (a singing of runes), herbal treatments, marking of birth-runes as well as ritual, offerings and prayer.

The poem Sigrdrífumál, found in the Poetic Edda, reads: 
"You shall know birth runes, if you would give help in birthing, and
loosen a child from the woman. You shall rist them on the palm, and on the hand's span, and bid the Dísir's aid."
The Dísir, in Norse mythology, are a collective of female spirits and deities which were favorable to call upon for assistance and were
very much considered the protective spirits of Norse clans. It was common to call upon Freyja, Lady of the Dísir, for safety and success
in childbirth. Among the spirits a bjargrýgr could call upon for help in birthing included the Lady herself, as well as the Valkyrja (for
protection), Fylgjur (for guidance) and Nornir (for a favorable outcome).
There is a practice that can be found in Sweden where a mother-to-be would prick blood from her finger and draw protective runes on
a piece of wood and, using three pieces of linen thread, a ritual would be performed. The first thread is left white while the second is coloured red and the third would be dyed black as part of the ritual. The wood, coloured by blooded runes, was burnt and the ashes and embers were mixed with mead, while the linen was soaked in boiling salt water (purification) and left to dry on the branches of a tree, most
favourably a Birch tree, for three days and nights.
The linen was then saved until the anticipated moment when labouring would begin where, with the help of the bjargrýgr, the motherto-be would take the black threads, representing death and misfortune, and set them to fire and bury the ashes, ensuring no harm would
come to her or the child. The white linen was used to tie the umbilical cord at birth while the rest was decorated with a bead (likely amber) and tied on the wrist of the new-born for protection. Amber was also commonly used as a natural pain-reliever and remains helpful
even in our modern age as an aid for teething babies.
Rites of birth were common in many pre-modern societies and, for Viking-age Scandinavians, the continuation of their bloodline was
of high importance. Nine nights after birth, a child had to be recognized by the father of the household, and as an act of acceptance into
the Sib, he would place the child upon his lap, while sitting in the high seat. The child would be sprinkled with water, as a means of consecration, as water is believed to be the element of life. The new member of the clan then received a name (nafn-festr in Old Icelandic)
and received gifts in celebration of acceptance and well wishing.
New life is not the only blessing to arrive with the birth of a child; new Wyrd, new
beginnings, new hope and unconditional love come along for the ride as well. Love is
without limit or barrier; it resonates inside of us all and transcends spoken language.
This work was inspired by and dedicated to:
Nova Rayne Wamboldt ~ January 20th, 2014 ~ 6lbs 9oz
Precious baby Nova, when you entered this world, you gave your parents the scare of
a lifetime when you did not take that first gasp for air. It is the love from your parents
that, I believe, breathed life into you and brought a pink glow to your cheeks. Cherish
them as much as they cherish you; you belong together.
You were created from love, you breathe love and you are love.
Hail and farewell!
~ (Auntie) Lokabrenna