Popular Heathen Deities

There are many deities worshipped by Heathens. The list below covers the more commonly honoured ones.

Thor
Thor is the god of the sky, weather, fertility, hallowing and justice. He is a warrior who defends heaven and earth from destructive forces, brought to life in the myths as giants, trolls and monsters. Despite his warrior image he is the god of the common people, the farmers and artisans. His primary role is protection. Thor's symbol is the hammer Mjolnir which signifies lightning.

Freya
Freya is a goddess of magic, sex, and battle. Half of the warriors slain in battle are taken to her hall. She is also a patron of the female arts such as spinning and brewing. Freya's symbols are the falcon, the boar and the cat

Nerthus/Jord
Nerthus is the Earth Goddess in Heathenry. She is associated with lakes and her sacred animal is the ox. In the Norse stories she is called Jord and is the mother of Thor.

Woden, Othinn, Odin
Woden is the patron of professional warriors, magicians, poets and kings. He has strong associations with magic and the Valkyries collect him dead warriors from the battlefield. As a patron of kings he is given a regal status in Asgard by his devotees, but this position is not universally acknowledged among Heathens.

Freyr
Freyr is the god of human fertility, agriculture, wealth, weather, battle and magic. His images show him with a huge phallus and like Thor he is a fighter of giants. Freyr's symbols are the boar and the ship.

Frigg
Frigg is Odin's wife, the goddess of mothers, wisdom, fate and woman's authority over the household. She has a very strong personality and always seem to get her way when at odds with her husband.

Tyr
Tyr was originally a very important god of the sky, war and justice but his influence declined in the late pagan period. He is best known for his courage in chaining the monster wolf Fenris, a feat which cost him his hand.

Loki
Loki is the trickster god whose pranks though apparently harmful when committed often work to the benefit of the gods and goddesses. Many modern Heathens take Loki as a patron.

Disir
The Disir are local minor goddesses, often ancestors of the families that honour them.

Norns
The Norns are the three goddesses of fate. The are often invoked at baby namings and in rune casting.