Providing Collaborative and Individual Showcasing Opportunities for emerging creatives from all disciplines and for anyone that wants to create. Specialising in collaboration, Supporting Well-being.
Art, for me, is the artist’s converted thoughts and emotions of aĀ subject into something tangible such as a sketch, drawing, or aĀ painting.
I won’t dare argue how others defines Art because Art is quiteĀ subjective. I do, however, believe that ‘WHY someone makes Art’Ā reflects a lot about what Art really means to them…
(in no particular order)
– adventure, fun and enjoyment
– to connect
– to edify or educate
– reuniting and recording of one’s thoughts, feelings, and memories
– to communicate
– money
– to be famous
Probably an artist should make a percentage chart of ‘Why I make Art’Ā instead of the usual direct statement as answer to this seeminglyĀ simple question. I myself can agree with a number of above mentionedĀ reasons because they are sort of interrelated with one another.
It would be such a mendacity if I say that I don’t make Art for moneyĀ at all…How else will I be able to buy the materials I need to createĀ without money?
However I draw the line between trying to be “recognized” as an artistĀ and to be “famous”. I have every reason to believe that someone can beĀ an artist yet not be famous especially now that the term “fame” hasĀ been somehow “evolutionatized” by how the majority uses social media.Ā I don’t intend “educate” with my art either as I am learning myself.
Nevertheless, based on my own definition of art, there is one which IĀ agree most –
– reuniting and recording of one’s thoughts, feelings, and memories
My memory triggers my thoughts and somehow exaggerates my feelingsĀ with this imperative desire to create.
I observed that I’m having a hard time to draw when I’m happy. I’mĀ actually able to make what I consider memorable pieces when I feelĀ deep melancholy- a feeling that, though part of life, I wish I couldĀ just ‘pray my way out of ‘ but can’t. So instead, I just ‘create myĀ way out of it’.
For this reason, I realized that I draw to be able to forgive tooĀ because I’m usually sad when someone hurts me. I momentarily forgetĀ about the pain when I’m able to concentrate all my thoughts andĀ emotions in the process of creating art-
– When I draw I tend to think of something else…go to anotherĀ world…whether fiction or not, I don’t care…as long as it’s notĀ here- my real life. I create lines/shadows over and over again until IĀ get tired and accept the fact that it’s over. Usually, this is theĀ same time when sadness drastically turns into anger until I realizeĀ that I can’t keep hating someone forever so the feeling of self pityĀ strikes in. As I continue on forming figures these feelings subsidesĀ and then gradually turns back into sadness.
I choose to forgive this way but that does not mean I could justĀ choose to forget what was done to me…that is just not possible.
“Your memory is a monster; you forget – it doesn’t. It simply filesĀ things away; it keep things for you, or hides things from you. YourĀ memory summons things to your recall with a will of its own. YouĀ imagine you have a memory, but your memory has you.” – (In One PersonĀ by John Irving)
No matter what, as long as I have a pencil and paper in my hands I canĀ choose to draw rather than focus on this feeling of immeasurable painĀ brought by my ‘uncontrollable’ memory. Should one day the finishedĀ piece would remind me of what I felt when I was making it, that isĀ “OK” because it serves also a proof that I was able to overcome thatĀ miserable part of my life and “laugh” about it now.
As artists, we presume that all the artworks we make are our favoritesĀ but, whether we admit it or not, there are those which really standsĀ out for us. Pieces we could spend a day looking at…pieces whichĀ brings a lot of memories…pieces which we understand far beyond theĀ audience does…pieces which we find very hard to “let go” – mine areĀ those that I usually made from sad memories which would somehow beĀ translated as portraits and, most recently, as landscapes as well.
The Places series is a collection of architectural landscapes pieces,Ā in different styles, which ‘I’ve been to’ and ‘dream of going toĀ someday’. What the audience doesn’t know, until now, is that thoseĀ pieces “I’ve been to’ included on this series are of places that ‘IĀ would rather forget’ due to personal reasons.
Since every piece is unique, to read about the description of eachĀ piece, kindly click on the corresponding Facebook link below (“Places” album) so as to avoid making this blog any “longer” š
But why do we end up creating something tangible out of those feelingsĀ we would rather forget? – because ‘we have to’…WE MUST.
That is what creators do.
Otherwise, we could always end up doing something else instead ofĀ creating like those who just ‘drink and/or wallow their way out ofĀ things’.
*** The image (Manila Cathedral) I used on this blog is the 2’nd pieceĀ of my PLACES series ****
*** Why ‘I’ Make Art *** 50% – reuniting and recording of one’s thoughts, feelings, and memories 20% – to connect 15% – to communicate 10% – adventure, fun and enjoyment 5% – money
Biography
What if?’ will always be the question Ann Supan tends to ask herself every now and then. She is an Engineering graduate who knows she wanted to be an artist since she was 10 years old. She is a Filipina visual artist who loves to draw and likes reading as much as travelling. Her main interest in art is portraiture as it is her ambition to express beauty and emotion on her work. She focuses mainly on likeness as her technique and style is simple. Recently, she has been making ‘dual portrayal’ portraits in order to make her work ‘thoughtĀ provoking’ as well.
She specializes in traditional drawing in the categories of figure drawing, illustration and shading using graphite and charcoal as her main medium. She also likes to use different mediums as shown on her selective impressionistic pieces.
Through years of practice and experimentations her artworks now revolves around on both realistic and impressionistic form.
*FreeSpace offers 3 post slots on ArtiPeeps to any creative or group. They can be taken in a cluster or over a period of months for showcasing, projects (encouraged) or self expression. If you’re interested in FreeSpace do get in touch via the reply box on this post or the contact form on the What’s On page.Ā
” Unhappy men are all alike. Some wound they suffered long ago, someĀ wished denied, some blow to pride, some kindling spark of love putĀ away by scorn – or worse indifference – cleaves to them, or they toĀ it, and so they live each day within a shroud of yesterdays. The happyĀ man does not look back. He doesn’t look ahead. He lives in theĀ present.
But there’s the rub. The present can never deliver one thing: meaning.Ā The ways of happiness and meaning are not the same. To find happiness,Ā a man need only live in the moment; he need only live for the moment.Ā But if he wants meaning – the meaning of his dreams, his secrets, hisĀ life – a man must reinhabit his past, however dark, and live for theĀ future however uncertain. Thus nature dangles happiness and meaningĀ before us all, insisting only that we choose between them. ”Ā (TheĀ Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld)
I interpret the word “insisting” on above quotation as an implicationĀ that even though nature may “insist” for us to choose betweenĀ HAPPINESS and MEANING, it does not mean that it’s “impossible” for usĀ to have both.
I think that I cannot “always” have both HAPPINESS and MEANING at theĀ same time but as long as I can find MEANING in my life, I know I’llĀ find HAPPINESS there too “at certain times” no matter how brief orĀ long it lasts.
I know I am happy whenever I make a piece of art simply because IĀ enjoy doing it…but what does that mean? It means…
– not having enough time for other things which may affect myĀ relationship with others because they don’t understand my passionĀ (this includes taking time to make something that is not actually paidĀ for…some people with full time regular paying jobs just don’tĀ understand that).
– giving people more reasons to criticize me.
– putting my ideas at risk because I cannot be an artist by justĀ locking myself in a room drawing all day. Sharing art in the real wordĀ is, indeed, “a double edge sword.”
– doubting myself and my artistic abilities because, the truth is, IĀ am not the “best artist” in the world (if there is such a person asĀ “art is subjective”). I am not ashamed to admit that as I know for aĀ fact that there are a lot of great artists out there (living or dead).
– always having the fear of “failing” at what I’ve always thought I amĀ born to do in this world – to be an artist
Despite all this, if I must choose, I’ll choose MEANING as I’m certainĀ that I cannot totally “just” be happy. I believe, just like any otherĀ feelings ( e.g. sadness, grief, etc.), HAPPINESS too shall pass…itĀ always does. MEANING, on the other hand, is definite as it gives usĀ purpose…the reason to live “no matter what”. I would rather know thatĀ there is a meaning for ALLĀ the things I’ve been through in life thanĀ to be a happy person by ignoring my past that I cannot “just” forget.
However, though I choose MEANING, I don’t live in the presentĀ “entirely” for the benefit of my future because for all I know I mayĀ die today. I honestly do not desire a longer life. I just want toĀ “live” the life I’m given by learning from my past and doing the bestĀ I can with what I have until the day I stop breathing (period).
The SHADOWS series is a collection of portraits intending to showĀ emotionsĀ OTHER than those typical portrayal ofĀ complete happinessĀ and joy as I hope to convey those I believe are “meaningful” part ofĀ someone’s life.
As every piece is unique, to read about the description of each piece,Ā kindly click on the corresponding Facebook link below ( “Playing withĀ SHADOWS” album) so as to avoid making this blog any “longer” š
***The image (CONFUSED) I used on this blog is the 17’th piece of myĀ SHADOWS series ****
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Ann will be returning for her third FreeSpace on Thursday 21st May.Ā SheĀ is one of the artists to be exhibited in our The Nine RealmsĀ combined arts experience this Ā September in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
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Biography
What if?’ will always be the question Ann Supan tends to ask herself every now and then. She is an Engineering graduate who knows she wanted to be an artist since she was 10 years old. She is a Filipina visual artist who loves to draw and likes reading as much as travelling. Her main interest in art is portraiture as it is her ambition to express beauty and emotion on her work. She focuses mainly on likeness as her technique and style is simple. Recently, she has been making ‘dual portrayal’ portraits in order to make her work ‘thoughtĀ provoking’ as well.
She specializes in traditional drawing in the categories of figure drawing, illustration and shading using graphite and charcoal as her main medium. She also likes to use different mediums as shown on her selective impressionistic pieces.
Through years of practice and experimentations her artworks now revolves around on both realistic and impressionistic form.
*FreeSpace offers 3 post slots on ArtiPeeps to any creative or group. They can be taken in a cluster or over a period of months for showcasing, projects (encouraged) or self expression. If you’re interested in FreeSpace do get in touch via the reply box on this post or the contact form on the What’s On page.Ā
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Please do check out our Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign:Ā
Question: what piece of your art best represents you at the moment?
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Ā Mask
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Ā Biography:
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Cliona Sheehan was born in Ireland but lived her formative years in Bermuda. In 1978 she returned to Ireland and moved to Connemara to find the artist within. She now works as a self employed Parenting Skills facilitator and tutor. She is a self taught artist who seeks out art workshops and online collaboration to improve and get inspiration. She also uses art in her facilitation work, when possible. She works in ink, oils and acrylic to reflect what she sees… some realistic… some capture the mood. Often there is a struggle between what exists and what is experienced and she explores this dichotomy.
Ā a magical reworking of Norse Mythology for contemporary audiences
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Muspelheim
(the realm of fire)
Vikings Ahoy!
Here we are in the middle of April, Ā with the deadline for the poetry and writing for the 6th realm Helheim Thursday 16th April.Ā I shall be posting out the remaining Nifelheim poems this week and then Helheim the week after. Ā This month we are outlining the realm of Muspelheim. The deadline for all writing, poetry and mp3s for this realm is Monday 11th May.
These monthly posts will draw from a range of primary and secondary source materials and focus on selected gods, themes and stories that circle around the highlighted realm. They will not attempt to cover everything, and writers can embrace any other stories and characters within their writing which is not covered. Month by month we will be building our own magical, contemporary norse world whilst exploring the themes of POWER, NATURE and RELIGION. The project’s overall intention is to embrace orality, translation, storytelling and rhythm all of which are inspired by the origins of the oral tradition of the Norse Sagas.
I may well put out little mini-posts intermittently focusing on orality and poetic form as necessary. Ā
What is presented below is designed to inspire, present basic information and offer a starting point for individual creativity within the project inspired by the themes, characters and spirit of the myths and stories.
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1. A brief Ā Overview of Muspelheim
Mentions of Muspelheim and Surt/Surtr are sparing within The Poetic Edda and The Prose Edda, and primarily, it seems, centred aroundĀ Ragnarƶk
Muspelheim was to the North of Ginnungagup, the large chasm at the beginning of the world, where Surt/Surtr, ‘the swarthy one’, the fire god, stands guard with a flaming sword. It is where the Gods, as the world was created, scattered sparks across the sky as stars (Allan: 34). Muspelheim is fire; and the land to the North,Ā Niflheim, is ice. The two mixed and created water from the melting ice in Ginnungagap. The sun and the stars originate from Muspelheim.Ā The residents of Muspelheim are known asĀ the eldjƶtnar (“Fire Giants“). They are also known Ā by other names in Eddic poetry, such as the MĆŗspellssynir (or MĆŗspellsmegir ā “sons of Muspell”) and the RjĆŗfendr (from rjĆŗfa ā “to break, tear asunder”, Destroyers of Doomsday). SeeĀ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muspelheim
In The Prose Edda,Ā In chapter 4, Ā theĀ Ā Gylfaginning, the enthroned figure of Third tells Gangleri (described as King Gylfi in disguise) that the flaming region existed prior to Niflheim, and is impassable to those who are not born to the realm. To protect Muspelheim Surt/Surtr is stationed at its frontier.
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Ā 2. Surt
Surt with flaming sword
Surt/Surtr plays a major role in the tra.jectory towards Ragnarƶk, through hisĀ battles against the Ćsir, Ā fighting particularly with Ā Freyr. The fire that Surt engenders engulfs the Earth in its final moments of existence (before it is reborn).
NorseĀ AcademicĀ Simek says that “in Iceland Surtr was obviously thought of as being a mighty giant who ruled the powers of the (volcanic) fire of the Underworld”,
Surt/Surtr is mentioned twice in the The Prose Edda particularly theĀ VƶluspĆ”, where avƶlvaĀ (a Seer) states that Surt/Surtr will come from the south with flames, carrying a Ā bright sword:
There are few details given about the fight between Surt/Surtr and Freyr in theĀ VƶluspĆ” .The poem focuses more on how Odinis to be killed by the wolf Fenrir. Ā However, it is mentioned that Surtr will go to battle against “Beli’s bane”, a kenning for the god Freyr, who slew the giant Beli.
According to the Ragnarƶk predictions in theĀ Gylfaginning, the sons of Muspell , the fire giants, will break the Bifrƶst bridge, signalling the end of times:
In the midst of this clash and din the heavens are rent in twain, and the sons of Muspell come riding through the opening. Surtr rides first, and before him and after him flames burning fire. He has a very good sword, which shines brighter than the sun. As they ride over Bifrost it breaks to pieces, as has before been stated. The sons of Muspel direct their course to the plain which is called Vigrid…. The sons of Muspel have there effulgent bands alone by themselves.
The story goes that Surt/Surtr Ā will come via land Ā and ride over Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, to Asgard. Here the armies of the gods and giants will meet for one last battle. It is where Surt/Surtr remains until the end, Ā and onceHeimdallr and Loki fight ( killing one another), Surt/Surtr flings fire over the world so that both men and gods will perish in an overwhelming sea (Ellis Davison: 38).
The sun becomes dark. Earth sinks in the sea.
The shining stars slip out of the sky.
Vapour and fire rage fiercely together,
till the leaping flame licks heaven itself
(ibid)
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4. Sinmara
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Sinmara by Jenny Nystrom
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Is a female who is often considered to be a companion of Surt/Surtr. A mention of her can be found inĀ the poem FjƶlsvinnsmĆ”lĀ (The Sayings of Ā Fjƶlsvinnr)Ā where she is said to have a weapon calledĀ LƦvateinnĀ which is considered a kenning for a sword, ‘damage tree’. Her name, mara, may be linked to”(night-) mare”, and the two figures together can be seen as quite a powerful combination.
Interestingly, many connections have been made betweenĀ RagnarƶkĀ and Christian Notions of Judgement Day. Fire and burning have played a large part in many religious ceremonies and rites for 100s of years. Ā A cycling of conflict, punishment and then renewal. Fire keeps us warm, but equally fire is volatile and chaotic if untamed. Surt/Surtr and Muspelheim could be seen as a symbol for that volatility, Ā and when they reach Asgard- might meets might!
There is something very intense and dynamic about heat, about flames. There can be warmth and comfort, but if fire gets out of control there can equally be searing, skin burning, pain. Surt/Surtr and fire are what we have at the end of the world just before the new world begins. Ā The new world begins not with ease, but through a clash of force, devastation and power.
Ā Exploration Point:Ā Take a look through The Prose and Poetic Eddas and track how fire is used within the stories. Are there any patterns? What symbolism does it have?Ā
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Things of Interest:
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1. Ā The Road To Asgard: BiFrost:
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Ā 2. Ā Three videos about Jesse Byock’s (the translator of the Penguin Classic edition of The Prose Edda) multi-disciplinary research which combines the sagas, history and archaeology
Part 1
Part 2
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Part 3
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Optional Poetry and Writing Prompts:
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Curtal Sonnet
Established by Gerard Manley Hopkins, and is a ten-and-a-half line form, Ā a sonnet but three-quarters the size. Hopkins’ poemPied Beauty is an example.
EveryĀ Friday,Ā 1 creative, letting their work speak for itself.
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Stuart Slater
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Get CarterĀ
From the RYBG Series
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Artist’s Statement
Rediscovering Art
Art was always my strongest subject when I was at school. However, after graduating from Aberystwyth University with a degree in Fine Art I sadly lost interest in the subject. All passion for creating art had simply faded.
āIn February 2014, some 16 years later, I was persuaded to once again have a go at some simple sketch work. One sketch turned into many and soon the sketches became paintings. I had found my passion once more. Since then I have produced over 70 pieces of work; the most prolific I have ever been.
I have a great love for colour in art and I am currently based Solihull. I produce abstracts and portraiture.
It has always been my ambition to become a portrait artist. However,Ā as a self taught artist and someone who prefers to be alone, I stillĀ find it so hard to make a self portrait.
“You cannot lay bare your private soul and look at it. You are tooĀ much ashamed of yourself. It is too disgusting. For that reason IĀ confine myself to drawing portraits of others.” – Mark Twain
To make a portrait of someone else, in my opinion, is easier becauseĀ you are making it with the knowledge of capturing how someone looksĀ like and feel at that moment alone. Where in people, on such cases,Ā “choose to” put on a face they think is the one they would like toĀ show the world.
Of course, I could also choose to do this but I find it so difficultĀ to pretend and draw at the same time especially if my intention is toĀ make my own portrait as real as possible. No one knows best the realĀ me besides myself. Knowing this, it hinders my intention to captureĀ “all of me”, if that is even possible, in just one piece of art. IĀ have to find another way.
I then realized that though a “face” can be deceiving…”hands” cannot.
In fact, our hands can tell a lot about ourselves.Ā From our palm lines to the size and shape of our hands, each partĀ holds a special meaning that is specific only to us and ourĀ personality.Ā A form of art known as Palmistry is actually the art of telling theĀ future through the study of the palm and it can also teach us a lotĀ about our CHARACTER.
“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see yourĀ parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are aliveĀ in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuationĀ of these people.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
You see – – Faces shows “what we choose to look like” to control of what othersĀ thinks of us – our REPUTATION – Hands shows “who we are” – our CHARACTER
Bear in mind that Reputation and Character are two very differentĀ things. REPUTATION is that which people are believed to be; CHARACTERĀ is that which people are!
Like Thomas Paine said – “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what GodĀ and angels know of us.”
The Vanity project shows and/or includes my hand/s in each piece as myĀ own rendition of a self portrait because I choose to show who I reallyĀ am through every lines of my hands.
I honestly think that this project does not end here as I love drawingĀ hands – I will be creating more as I go along with my life.
As every piece is unique, to read about the description of each piece,Ā kindly click on the Fine Art America’s “The Vanity Project Gallery”Ā link below so as to avoid making this blog any longer š
Ann will be returning for her second FreeSpace on Thursday 23rd April.SheĀ is one of the artists to be exhibited in our The Nine RealmsĀ combined arts experience this Ā September in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
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Biography
What if?’ will always be the question Ann Supan tends to ask herself every now and then. She is an Engineering graduate who knows she wanted to be an artist since she was 10 years old. She is a Filipina visual artist who loves to draw and likes reading as much as traveling. Her main interest in art is portraiture as it is her ambition to express beauty and emotion on her work. She focuses mainly on likeness as her technique and style is simple. Recently, she has been making ‘dual portrayal’ portraits in order to make her work ‘thoughtĀ provoking’ as well.
She specializes in traditional drawing in the categories of figure drawing, illustration and shading using graphite and charcoal as her main medium. She also likes to use different mediums as shown on her selective impressionistic pieces.
Through years of practice and experimentations her artworks now revolves around on both realistic and impressionistic form.
*FreeSpace offers 3 post slots on ArtiPeeps to any creative or group. They can be taken in a cluster or over a period of months for showcasing, projects (encouraged) or self expression. If you’re interested in FreeSpace do get in touch via the reply box on this post or the contact form on the What’s On page.Ā
9 months, 22 poets and writers, 22 Artists, 3 composers, 1 Viking boat= a magical reworking of Norse Mythology for contemporary audiences
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Helheim
(the realm through which Ā men pass in order to die in Nifelheim)
Vikings Ahoy!
Here we are in the middle of March, Ā with the deadline for the poetry and writing for the 6th realm Nifelheim today!Ā I shall be posting out more Nidavellir poems this week and next week, and then we’ll be onto the Nifelheim poems.Ā This month we are outlining the realm of Helheim. The deadline for all writing, poetry and mp3s for this realm is Thursday 16th April 2015.
These monthly posts will draw from a range of primary and secondary source materials and focus on selected gods, themes and stories that circle around the highlighted realm. They will not attempt to cover everything, and writers can embrace any other stories and characters within their writing which is not covered. Month by month we will be building our own magical, contemporary norse world whilst exploring the themes of POWER, NATURE and RELIGION. The project’s overall intention is to embrace orality, translation, storytelling and rhythm all of which are inspired by the origins of the oral tradition of the Norse Sagas.
I may well put out little mini-posts intermittently focusing on orality and poetic form as necessary. Ā
What is presented below is designed to inspire, present basic information and offer a starting point for individual creativity within the project inspired by the themes, characters and spirit of the myths and stories.
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1. A brief Ā Overview of Helheim
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Helheim is the lowest realm of all ruled by Hel (see Nifelheim overview).Ā In GrĆmnismĆ”l stanza 31, Hel is listed as existing beneath one of three roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. One of the other two roots leads to thefrost jƶtnar and the third to Mankind. In the poem VƶluspĆ”in The Poetic EddaĀ a vƶlva (sybil)Ā Ā states that Hel will play an important role in Ragnarƶk. As mentioned in the Nifelheim overview there is some greyness in terms of differentiation between Nifelheim and Helheim, but in theĀ VafĆ¾rĆŗĆ°nismĆ”lĀ (the third poem in The Poetic Edda) Ā states thatĀ it is the place that evil men pass through to die again in Nifelheim.
It is also Ā the place where all men, who were not warriors and did not end up in Valhalla (the feasting hall of the dead), were decreed to go and condemned to a grim death by Hel. The myths connected to Hel and Helheim spread into cultural traditions, and loved people were buried near to their homes to keep a connection, and those who were cruel were buried far away. Their families fearing they might become the walking dead. In relation to the life/death dynamic there is even some evidence that some thinkers believed there was no life after death. In theĀ HĆ”vamĆ”l, for instance it states:
Wealth dies, kinsmen die, a man must like-wise die: but fame never dies, for him who achieves it well (Allan: 135)
Baldr’s draumarĀ Ā is anotherĀ Eddic poemĀ from within The Poetic Edda which tells the story ofĀ Odin’s ride to Hel investigating Baldr’s nightmares.Ā (Baldr is the son of Odin and Frigg and is married to NannaĀ with aĀ Ā child Forseti. Ā Baldr is responsible for the construction of the most wonderful ship known to man called theHringhorni. Ā You can find out more about Baldr in theNidavellir overview. )
The story goes that Odin, travels to Hel to find the grave of aĀ VƶlvaĀ (sybil)Ā so that he can resurrect her and questions her about Baldr’s future. She reveals Baldr’s fate: thatHƶưr (his brother) will kill him, butValiĀ (one of his other brothers) will avenge him.
Apart from this description Baldr is known primarily for the story of his death. His death is seen as the first in the chain of events which will ultimately lead to the destruction of the gods at Ragnarƶk. Baldr will be reborn in the new world, according to VƶluspƔ.
In Gylfaginning, Baldur is described as follows:
Annar sonur ĆĆ°ins er Baldur, og er frĆ” honum gott aĆ° segja. Hann er svĆ” fagr Ć”litum ok bjartr svĆ” at lĆ½sir af honum, ok eitt gras er svĆ” hvĆtt at jafnat er til Baldrs brĆ”r. Ćat er allra grasa hvĆtast, ok Ć¾ar eptir mĆ”ttu marka fegrĆ° hans bƦưi Ć” hĆ”r og Ć” lĆki. Hann er vitrastr Ć”sa ok fegrst talaĆ°r ok lĆknsamastr. En sĆŗ nĆ”ttĆŗra fylgir honum at engi mĆ” haldask dĆ³mr hans. Hann bĆ½r Ć¾ar sem heita BreiĆ°ablik, Ć¾at er Ć” himni. Ć Ć¾eim staĆ° mĆ” ekki vera Ć³hreint
The second son of Odin is Baldur, and good things are to be said of him. He is best, and all praise him; he is so fair of feature, and so bright, that light shines from him. A certain herb is so white that it is likened to Baldr’s brow; of all grasses it is whitest, and by it thou mayest judge his fairness, both in hair and in body. He is the wisest of the Ćsir, and the fairest-spoken and most gracious; and that quality attends him, that none may gainsay his judgments. He dwells in the place called Breidablik, which is in heaven; in that place may nothing unclean be
Baldr dies (seeĀ Nidavellir overview. ) Ā and Frigg once again asks Odin to go to Helheim and entreat Hel to let him come back.Ā He travels through ice and wind, crossing Ā the Gjoll torrent (which separates the living from the dead) via a golden- roofed bridge.Ā Hel agrees that Baldr can come back only if everyone and everything agrees to weep for him. All things do weep for him: trees, stones, animals all except Thokk/Ā ĆƶkkĀ (who is thought to be Loki in disguise) ensuring that Baldr cannot return. In so doingĀ Baldr has to remain in Hel; not to be released until after Ragnarƶk. Baldr and Hƶưr would then be reconciled and rule the new earth together with Thor’s sons.
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4.Ā Ragnarƶk and Helheim
AsĀ RagnarƶkĀ unfolds an axe age, a sword age, a wind age and a wolf age reek havoc over the world. Ā Midgard is ridden with wars for three winters and fathers kill sons. A most ferocious Ā winter (Fimbulvetr) Ā covers Midgard. Three winters in succession will manifest with no summers in between. Ā The children of the giantess in the Iron Wood declaim themselves and the wolf SkƶllĀ Ā swallows the sun whole in his jaws, splattering Asgard with blood. His brother HatiĀ mangles the moon within his mouth, and the stars disappear.
The earth begins to shudder, mountains shake, and rocks roll, and FenrirĀ runs free. Ā Eggther, the watchman of the giants, Ā strums his harp. A red cock called Fjalar crows waking the warriors in Vallhala every day. A golden-combed cock crows to the gods, and aĀ Ā red rust cock raises the dead inĀ Ā Hel. The Midgard serpent writhes in anger, and high seas come in. Loki, free from his fetters sails the high seas towards Vigrid from the North with a deathly crew from Hel. The world is in uproar, and the Yggdrasil Treetrembles , and the gods take arms within Valhalla and March toward Vigrid/VĆgrĆĆ°r, (a large field which hostedĀ a battle between the gods and the forces ofSurt).
Odin rides upfront, and in the end Fenrir Ā swallows Odin and he dies. Ā Vidar/VĆĆ°arr (Odin’s son) kills Fenrir in return. Surt lets flames fly and Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim and Nifelheim become furnaces burning to ashes. The nine realms burn and the gods die, men and women die, and elves and dwarves, monsters and animals die. The earth sinks into the sea.
BUT out of the dying earth a new one is born out of Ā ‘water, fair and green’. Ā (Crossley-Holland: 173-175).
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Themes, Relevance and Questions:
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Life, Ā Death and Transition: It could be said that Nifelheim and Helheim in combination represent a very powerful symbol of transition (from life to death and vice versa). Viewed in conjunction with Ragnarƶk,Ā this makes for a very strong articulation of the force of life and rebirth. Ā Where through a conflict and a realignment of moralities life comes forth again ‘fair and green’, with dark forces in hand once again.
Through the creation of the figure of Hel we can see a centre and symbol of moral judgement has been created: Ā one that allows us to question what is right or wrong, and who is condemned and who is not ( exactly as Hel does). The sifting through that Hel undertakes as men pass through Nifelheim Ā (judging their morality and position in life) could be seen as a parallel to the sorts of judgements Ā many people and leaders and figures in power make today. To look at the role of transition and rebirth within the realms of Helheim and Nifelheim , I think can well serve anybody wishing to understand the nature of moral judgement and freedom.
Ā Exploration Point:Ā What transitions of power can you see in play within these realms and their stories, and how could they be used to reflect upon modern contemporary life?Ā
Things of Interest:
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1. Ā The Relevance of Norse MythsĀ in theĀ SchoolĀ Curriculum:
9 months, 19 poets and writers, 22 Artists, 3 composers, 1 Viking boatĀ = a magical reworking of Norse Mythology for contemporary audiences
Nifelheim
(the realm of the dead)
Vikings Ahoy!
Here we are in the middle of February, Ā with the deadline for the poetry and writing for the 4th realm Nidavellir today!Ā I shall be posting out moreĀ Jotunheim poems this week and next week, and then we’ll be onto Nidavellir.Ā This month we are outlining the realm of Niflheim,Ā and the deadline for all writing, poetry and mp3s for this realm is ThursdayĀ 12th March 2015.
These monthly posts will draw from a range of primary and secondary source materials and focus on selected gods, themes and stories that circle around the highlighted realm. They will not attempt to cover everything, and writers can embrace any other stories and characters within their writing which is not covered. Month by month we will be building our own magical, contemporary norse world whilst exploring the themes of POWER, NATURE and RELIGION. The project’s overall intention is to embrace orality, translation, storytelling and rhythm all of which are inspired by the origins of the oral tradition of the Norse Sagas.
I may well put out little mini-posts intermittently focusing on orality and poetic form as necessary. Ā
What is presented below is designed to inspire, present basic information and offer a starting point for individual creativity within the project inspired by the themes, characters and spirit of the myths and stories.
Ā .
1. A brief Ā Overview of Niflheim
Ā Niflheim means ‘Mist World’ and lies to the North of Ginnnungagap, the huge void Ā from which the world grew. It originally had 9 frozen rivers attached to it and was filled with ice, frost and snow. The rivers bubbled up from a cauldron called HvergelmirĀ and theirĀ Ā waters flowed into Ginnungagap.
In the guise of three men Odin gives a lesson in norse mythology toĀ Gylfi (the earliest recorded king of Scandinavia).Ā
It was many ages before the earth was shaped that the Mist-World [Niflheimr] was made; and midmost within it lies the well that is called Hvergelmir, from which spring the rivers called Svƶl, GunnthrĆ”, Fjƶrm, Fimbulthul, SlĆdr and HrĆd, Sylgr and Ylgr, VĆd, Leiptr; Gjƶll is hard by Hel-gates.
Niflheim was said to be a nine day ride northwards and downwards from Midgard. At its centre was a towering place called Hel, whose gates were protected by a female of the same name. She is described in a variety of ways (pending on the source): as a half black-half-white she-monster and as a half living flesh and half rotting cadaver.Ā There is also a distinction between Helheim and Niflheim: Ā men pass through Hel to die in Niflheim (Crossley-Holland: xxi).
Niflheim is also mentioned as the final Ā destination of the jƶtunn who was killed by Thor after he had builtAsgard:
Now that the Ćsir saw surely that the hill-giant was come thither, they did not regard their oaths reverently, but called on Thor, who came as quickly. And straight away the hammer Mjƶllnir was raised aloft; he paid the wright’s wage, and not with the sun and the moon. Nay, he even denied him dwelling in Jƶtunheim, and struck but the one first blow, so that his skull was burst into small crumbs, and sent him down below under Niflhel [Niflheim].
The Prose Edda, Section XXXIV of Gylfaginning, in translation by Brodeur (1916), p. 55.
Rather than staying in Nifelheim the dead could also pass on to Nastrond/NĆ”strƶnd* (the strand of corpses), where men must wade in poisoned streams before being cast into the Hvergelmir (cauldron) to feed Nidhogg the dragon. These ideas have affected Christian notions of fate and wickednessĀ (Allan: 133).
*See Things of Interest below
Two other sorts of beings were said to come from Nifelheim theĀ HrĆmthursar, known as the Frost Giants (or Rime-Giants) and the Niflungar (“children of the mist”), a group of people who were treasure-seekers and hoarders. They are also known as Ā theĀ Nibelungs.
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Gylfi and Odin
2. Gylfi’s Education:
GylfiĀ meets ‘The Mysterious Three’ men mentioned above in Asgard, where, in search of wisdom, he questions them. Ā Each of the three men sit on a throne and guard the gates of Valhalla. The three are known as: Ā Jafnharr (Equally High), Harr (High) and Thridi(Third). He is unaware that the three are in effect incarnations of Odin. Ā
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a. Ice and Flames:
Odin (disguised as Thridi/ĆriĆ°i) Ā tells Gylfi that Ymirwas formed when the ice from Niflheim (Niflheimr) coalesced with the flames from Muspelheim (Muspelheimr), and thus began the creation of the world:
Just as cold arose out of Niflheim, and all terrible things, so also all that looked toward MĆŗspelheim became hot and glowing; but Ginnungagap was as mild as windless air, and when the breath of heat met the rime, so that it melted and dripped, life was quickened from the yeast-drops, by the power of that which sent the heat, and became a man’s form. And that man is named Ymir, but the Rime-Giants call him Aurgelmir; […]
Ā The Prose Edda, Section VII of Gylfaginning, in translation by Brodeur (1916),p. 17.
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b. The Second Root:
Talking of theĀ world treeYggdrasill, JafnhĆ”rr (Odin) tells Gylfi that Jotunheim (Jƶtunheimr) is located under the second root, where GinnungagapĀ once was:
The Ash is greatest of all trees and best: its limbs spread out over all the world and stand above heaven. Three roots of the tree uphold it and stand exceeding broad: one is among the Ćsir; another among the Rime-Giants, in that place where aforetime was the Yawning Void; the third stands over Niflheim, and under that root is Hvergelmir, and NĆdhƶggr gnaws the root from below.
The Prose Edda, Section XV of Gylfaginning, in translation by Brodeur (1916), p. 27.
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Hel
Angerboda and Jormundgand
Loki’s Children
Ā .
c. The Story of Hel and Loki:
Gylfi is then told the story of how Loki had createdĀ HelĀ via his relationship with giantessAngerbodaĀ (‘she who offers sorrow’). Hel was the third daughter of this partnership and was sister to Fenrir (the eldest) and Jormungand (the second child, and a huge serpent). Ā Hel’s looks and grim demeanour were particularly disturbing to the Asgard gods. When the gods then heardĀ thatĀ Loki had fathered these children, they felt that the three should best be captured. A group of gods gathered and went to Jotunheim to capture the siblings. They tied up Angerboda and took Hel to be cast into Niflheim by OdinĀ (Crossley-Holland: 33). :
Hel he cast into Niflheim, and gave to her power over nine worlds, to apportion all abodes among those that were sent to her: that is, men dead of sickness or of old age. She has great possessions there; her walls are exceeding high and her gates great.
In this way, Ā Hel became the mistress of the world of the dead including Ā all those in the nine realms who died of disease and old age. Ā Odin stipulated that she had to share out all her food with whoever came to her. Ā
You can find the entire version of the Gylfaginning here.
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Fafner seizes Freyja
Bergelmir
3. Hrimthursar/hrĆmĆ¾ursar
or Frost Giants
When Ymir was formed out of the primeval chaos of GinnungagapĀ a procreative sequence was instigated: out of Ymir’s armpits grew his son and daughter, and his two feet gave birth to another son (a six headed monster). Ymir’s son and daughter and the six headed monster created what is known as theĀ Hrimthursar (the name given to the frost giants who populated Niflheim). Ā The gods, however, debated this latter scenario, saying that the Hrimthursar’s origins stem from Buri (the grandfather of Odin. Vili and Ve) instead. The story goes that when Ā Odin killed Ymir, all his blood/water flooded Niflheim and killed all the frost giants (jƶtnar). Ā Nearly all the giants were killed barring one: the giantĀ Bergelmir and his wife. Together they repopulated the earth:
From Ymir’s flesh the earth was formed, and the rocks from out of his bones; the sky from the skull of the ice-cold giant, and the sea from his blood.
Morality, Wickedness, Religion:Ā In the creation of Hel we can almost see embodied in her a metaphor for moral choice: who is bad and who is good. She has the power to cast men into to Nifelheim, or into to NĆ”strƶnd or to stay in Hel. She is one of the main figures (along with the Aesir and Vanir gods) in norse mythology who controls morality. The idea of moral rectitude and fate is put in place here. The themes of which you can also see flowed into Christian doctrines (Allan: 133).
Ā Exploration Point:Ā What type of morality is shown within the Eddas? How is the harsh, dark morality balanced? Through nature? Through mysticism? Through play within language?
Things of Interest:
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1. Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur Ā (1881-1971.Ā author of the Ā famous 1916 edition of The Prose Edda):
Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur 1916 ed
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Brodeur, born in Franklyn Massachusetts, USA, was given the Royal Order of Vasa for his services to Scandinavian culture from the government of Sweden. He was also forward-thinking in terms of his politics. Ā He was one of three members of the Berekely Communist Faculty Group. Ā Brodeur also initially refused to sign the loyalty oath as required by the state in 1949. He ultimately did decide to sign and continue the fight from within.
NĆ”strƶnd (shore of the corpses) is a place inHel where NĆĆ°hƶggrĀ the dragon resides eating the corpses and sucking their blood. It is the place where those guilty of murder, adultery and oath-breaking (which the Norse considered the most terrible of crimes) go. Within the shores stood a castle filled with serpents.Ā
Epistolary poems come from the Latin āepistulaā for āletter,” and are poems that literally read as letters. They directly address a subject matter or person. They can be intimate, colloquial or formal and measured.
9 months, 22 poets and writers, 22 Artists, 3 composers, 1 Viking boat= a magical reworking of Norse Mythology for contemporary audiences
Nidavellir
(the realm of the Dwarves)
Vikings Ahoy!
Happy New Year! Here we are at the beginning of January, Ā with the deadline for the poetry and writing for the 3nd realm JotunheimĀ coming up: Monday 12th January. The poetry and writing inspired by the realm Vanaheim will continue to be posted out.Ā This month we are outlining the realm of NidavellirĀ and the deadline for all writing, poetry and mp3s for this realm is ThursdayĀ 12th February 2015.
These monthly posts will draw from a range of primary and secondary source materials and focus on selected gods, themes and stories that circle around the highlighted realm. They will not attempt to cover everything, and writers can embrace any other stories and characters within their writing which is not covered. Month by month we will be building our own magical, contemporary norse world whilst exploring the themes of POWER, NATURE and RELIGION. The project’s overall intention is to embrace orality, translation, storytelling and rhythm all of which are inspired by the origins of the oral tradition of the Norse Sagas.
I may well put out little mini-posts intermittently focusing on orality and poetic form as necessary. Ā
What is presented below is designed to inspire, present basic information and offer a starting point for individual creativity within the project inspired by the themes, characters and spirit of the myths and stories.
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1. A brief Overview of Nidavellir
Ā Nidavellir (NiĆ°avellir)Ā is the realm of the dwarves. Nida means ‘dark’ and vellir means ‘dwelling’, and Ā Hreidmar is the King of the realm. Dwarves are consistently mentioned in theVoluspaĀ poem of Ā The Poetic Edda (see below):
tr: ‘Before you reach the north (Niflheim being the world furthest to the north), A dark dwelling stands (The dwarf world), In halls of gold, Sindri’s bloodline lives’.
There is some confusion as to whetherNidavellir is actually Ā the realm of the dwarves or the dark elves. They are often confounded, and associated with the realm called Svartalfheim (world of black elves). Snorri Sturlson refers to this in The Prose EddaĀ calling the realmĀ SvartĆ”lfaheimr. Dark elves or black elves, were Ā generally conceived as being horrifying and hideous. In later storytelling traditions they became what we know as goblins. The light elves, became equated with the notion of fairies.
Dwarves are known for their wisdom, and alongside giants have a mortal fear of sunlight, as it turns them into stone. This is well highlighted in the storyĀ Ā The Lay of Alvis (see Story Focus, below). Ā As a consequenceĀ Ā the sun is often called Ā ‘Dvalin’s Delight (after Dvalin the dwarf who came to a similar end asAlvis). See Point 4 below.
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1. The Creation of Dwarves
Having created the worldOdinand his brothers then created beings to live in the world. He created the dwarves first. They grew from maggots infesting Ymir’s corpse. The gods gave dwarves a consciousness and then placed them underground so they could search for gold. The dwarves lived alongside trolls who also resided underground.
The dwarves live in darkness, breed in the earth and are often depicted as miners. In stark contrast to the Light Elves who live in Alfheim. They dwell amidst the rocks and hills, and were considered great craftsmen creating gifts for the gods.
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Hreidmar, King of Nidvellir
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2. Hreidmar (HreiĆ°marr)
Hreidmar is the lusty King of the dwarves who captured three gods by using unbreakable chains. He was the father ofFafnir,Ā ĆtrĀ andRegin, andĀ lived in a bejewelled house built for him by Regin. Son, Fafnir guarded the palace on the King’s behalf. The story goes thatĀ Ćtr was accidentally killed by Loki. Ā The Aesir, in order to make amends for his death, choose to repay him with what is known as ‘Andavari’s Gold’.Andvari was a dwarf who lived underneath a waterfall and had the power to change himself into a fish. The dwarf possessed a magic wealth-making ring calledĀ Andvaranaut. Under duress Loki makes Andvari give up his ring and his gold to him. However, before he leaves Andvari curses the ring. The ring and gold are passed to Hreidmar as repayment for his loss. but out of greed, Fafnir and Regin kill Hreidmar to get the wealth and ring. Fafnir then gets even more greedy and turns himself into a dragon so that he can forcibly drive Regin away through his transformation.
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Thor Kicks Litr. illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905)
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3. Lit (Litr ) and the Death of Balder/Baldr:
Litr, the dwarf appears in the story of Ā the death of Balder/BaldrĀ (who is the second son ofOdin. He is occidentally killed by his brother (Hƶưr)Ā with a magical spear made from Mistletoe created byLoki). Baldr, in the mythology, Ā is seen to be a paragon of graciousness and wisdom. Baldr’s deathĀ is signalled as being one of the many important stories in the sequence of events that lead toĀ Ragnarƶk. Ā Nanna, Balder’s wife, also throws herself symbolically into his funeral pyre. AtĀ Ragnarƶk, Ā Balder will be born into the new world.
Here is the reference to dwarf Lit in The Prose Edda.Ā
Next Thor stood up and blessed the pyre with Mjolnir. A dwarf named Lit ran in front of his feet. Thor kicked the dwarf with his foot; Ā it landed in the fire and burned to death.
Ā Gylfaginning tr. by Jesse Byock (Penguin Classics, Section 49, p67).
You can also find the story of Baldr outlined in Kevin Crossley Holland’s Penguin Book of Norse Myths, under the title Balder’s Dream (p147).
FriggthenĀ sendsHermodĀ (HermĆ³Ć°r) toĀ Hel Ā (ruler over Helheim)Ā to try and bargain Baldr’s life back from her. Hel stimpulates that in order for Baldr to be returned all things must weep for him. Trees, animals, metal and stones Ā all cry for him, except a giantess calledThokk (who is said to be Loki in disguise). As Thokk does not give in, Baldr cannot return from Helheim .
You can find the text of the entire Gylfaginninghere.
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Hoor Killing Baldr
Giantess, Thokk
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4. Dvalin, and ‘Dvalin’s Delight’:
DwarfDvalinalongside his brothers Alfrigg, Berling and GrerrĀ are responsible for the fashioning Ā of the goldenĀ necklaceĀ BrĆsingamenĀ (belonging to Freyja) whichFriggcovets hugely. The only other reference to Dvalin in The Poetic Edda is in connection to ‘Dvalin’s Delight’ (see realm overview 1) where Dvalin gets turned into stone, which is ultimately the fate of dwarf Alviss too (see below).
You can find the reference to Dvalin in the Voluspa of The Poetic Edda (see link above).
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Loki and Dvalin
Heimdall returning Freyja’s Brisingamen
4. Story Focus:
A. The Binding of The Wolf/Fenrir:
Odin and Fenrir
Tyr
Fenrir is a monstrous wolf, who was brought up in Asgard. In order to protect themselves some dwarves forge a chain to hold Fenrir securely. It is made upĀ out of Ā ‘the secret and impalpable things of the world’ (Ellis Davidson: 31):
the roots of a mountain
the noise of a moving cat
the breath of a fish.
It is delicate but is equally very strong, and Fenrir would not allow the chain to be placed on him unless a god’s hand was placed in his mouth as a ransom.Ā Tyr, the only god who dared feed the wolf , managed to bind Fenrir with the chain. In so doing the gods were happy, but Tyr lost a hand in the process.
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B. The Lay of Alvis (Alviss):
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Alviss and Thor
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TheĀ AlvĆssmĆ”lĀ ( a poemĀ in The Poetic Edda)Ā outlines a discussion between a dwarf called Alviss (all-wise) andĀ Thor. The conversation is relayed in a series of kenningswhich are features of skaldic poetryĀ (Things of Interest 3. see below). Dwarves were often seen to be centres of knowledge and song, and were known to occasionally pass on their wisdom to the gods.
The story goes that Alviss approaches Thor to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage, saying that Thor had agreed to this earlier. Thor denies this, but says that Alviss can have his daughter if he answers a set of questions correctly. The dwarf’s answers act as an all-encompassing list of mythological entities ranging from giants to elves:
There are some discrepancies in relation to the naming of the various objects. However, the poet-writer of the Ā AlvĆssmĆ”l,Ā as Crossley Holland points out (224),Ā does not seem to mind as he is more keen to demonstrate an aspect of poetic technique (skaldic diction) than he is about proving he is 100% correct. Ā So Alviss fulfils on his task, but is unfortunately turned into stone as the sun rises.
Poetic Form and Language: Many stories in connection with the dwarves seem to draw on either their status as wisdom-givers, or highlight their role as conduits of magic and transformation. However, the dwarf stories are more complex, Ā particularly in the case of The Lay of Alviss whichĀ interestingly, combines this emphasis on magic and play with an overt engagement with poetic form and the flexibility of language/meaning. It is maybe worth thinking about how the Sagas , and the stories therein, blend an engagement and celebration of language with the mythic and the supernatural. What does this say about language, and what does this say about power? Ā
‘Skald’ means poet, and makes reference to the poets ‘who composed at the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking Age and Middle Ages. Skaldic poetry forms one of two main groupings of Old Norse poetry, the other being the anonymous Eddic poetry’(Wikipedia, see next link).
Ā Skaldicpoems which consisted of elegies and eulogies (by contemporary poets of the time celebrating their peers) were a huge resource for the myths outlined in The Poetic Edda and other Eddas. Skaldic poetry is delicate, syllabic, alliterative and full of internal rhymes and consonance. Above all skaldic poetry is known for its Ā many ‘kennings, or condensed metaphors that contain part of their diction. Many of the kennings are rooted in myths with which the poem’s original audience were clearly familiar. So for instance, four of the kennings of gold are ‘Freyja’s tears’, ‘Sif’s hair’, ‘Otters ransom’ and ‘Aegir’s fire’.’ (Crossley-Holland: xxxiii). The kennings used by the poets not only make a nod to the myths that endured through the years and but also to those that had not. The kennings chosen by the poets always reflected the oral heritage that goes with them.
Anaphora, comes from the Greek meaning up or back, and consists of lines where lines or phrases in sequence begin with the same words. A single word can be repeated or a phrase. It is often used in devotional poetry and a favourite of the Romantic poets. Sonnet No 66, by Shakespeare is an example of this (see link below). The form creates a forceful rhythm and often repeats the same sound.
9 months, 22 poets and writers, 22 Artists, 3 composers, 1 Viking boat= a magical reworking of Norse Mythology for contemporary audiences
Jotunheim
(the realm of the frost and stone giants)
Vikings Ahoy!
Here we are at the beginning of December, Ā with the deadline for the poetry and writing for the 2nd realm Vanaheim coming up:Ā Thursday 8th December 2014. I shall start to post out pieces created for Vanaheim the week after next.Ā This month we are outlining the realm of JotunheimĀ and the deadline for all writing, poetry and mp3s for this realm is Monday 12th January 2015.
These monthly posts will draw from a range of primary and secondary source materials and focus on selected gods, themes and stories that circle around the highlighted realm. They will not attempt to cover everything, and writers can embrace any other stories and characters within their writing which is not covered. Month by month we will be building our own magical, contemporary norse world whilst exploring the themes of POWER, NATURE and RELIGION. The project’s overall intention is to embrace orality, translation, storytelling and rhythm all of which are inspired by the origins of the oral tradition of the Norse Sagas.
I may well put out little mini-posts intermittently focusing on orality and poetic form as necessary. Ā
What is presented below is designed to inspire, present basic information and offer a starting point for individual creativity within the project inspired by the themes, characters and spirit of the myths and stories.
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The Giant Skymir
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Ā .
1. A brief Ā Overview of Jotunheim
Ā Jotunheim is the home to both the Rock and Frost Giants. It is where the giants fled to start a new race to prevent the extinction of Odin and his family. This race was called thejƶtnar (or jotunn) Ā It is the realm where many conflicts take place between the gods and the giants and where they try to reek havoc onMidgard and Asgard. The sons of Borr (Odin’s father) marked out the boundaries Ā of Jotunheim. The sons also built a vast boundary inland to protect themselves from the giants. The riverĀ IfingĀ runs through the centre of Jotunheim and separates it from Asgard. There are a range of territories in Jotunheim: 1.Ā Gastropnir whereĀ Ā Menglƶư the lover ofĀ SvipdagrĀ lives; 2.Ā MĆmir’s Well, which can be found under the roots of the Yggdrasil in Jotunheim, and from which Odin wants to glean great knowledge; 3.Ā Thrymheim the home of Thaizi (see below, the son of giant Olvadi); 4. Utgard is the the capital of Vanaheim and is ruled by Skrymir (see below) and 5. Vimur River, where the giantessĀ GjĆ”lpĀ attempted to drown Thor (see below).
2. Giants in Context:
The giants are generally considered the adversaries of the gods (the Vanir and the Aesir). However, relationships between the gods and the giants did exist. Thor himself was a child of the union betweenOdin andJordĀ (personification of the earth)Ā and Freyja andFreyr were the children of the marriage between Njordand the giantessSkadi.
Giantess, Skadi Hunting In the Mountains
Giants could also show kindness. This can be seen in the story of a young prince calledAgnarwho passing through Jotunheim on his way to reclaim his kingdom from his brother, found kindness and shelter with the giants.Ā They were also seen (alongside elves) to also be sources of knowledge, magic and wisdom (see the Alvissmal).Ā Ā Giants despite this are depicted as cold and dark. They cannot stand the sun and are turned into stone if the sun’s rays fell upon them. The giants also lived alongsidetrolls Ā in Jotunheim, and they were often the giants’ servants. They lived in isolated mountains and are said to be very unfriendly! Ā Many references can be found to them in the ProseĀ Edda’sĀ SkĆ”ldskaparmĆ”lĀ (Poetic Diction).Ā
The giants are also equated with the natural world. Odin takes parts of the huge giantYmir (formed out of the chaos of creation, out of the clash of two extreme forces:
Just as from Niflheim there arose coldness and all things grim, so what was facing close to Muspell was hot and bright, but Ginnungagap was as mild as a windless sky. And when the rime and the blowing of the warmth met so that it thawed and dripped, there was a quickening from these flowing drops due to the power of the source of the heat, and it became the form of a man, and he was given the nameYmir
There have been said to be two types of giants: frost and stone. The frost giants live in the mountains of Jotunheim and are surrounded by winter and they live alongside the stone giants who are hill dwellers and known for their strength. When Ymir was killed by The Sons of Borr nearly all of the frost giants were killed except forBergelmirand his wife who kept themselves safe. From these two people came the frost giants:
‘Countless winters
before the earth was created
back then Berglmir was born;
that is the the first I remember
when the wise giantĀ
was placed on a box’
from theLay of Vaftthrudnir, 35, (The Prose Edda: 16, tr. Jesse Byock, Penguin Classics)
Bergelmir
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3. Ā Some Giants….
A. King Thrym
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Thrym’s Wedding Feast
King Thrym was King of Jotunheim and the story connected with him and the stealing of Thor’s hammer is one of the most famous in The Poetic Edda (The Lay of Thrym). The poem was considered to be written in the 10th century or earlier. However, this opinion has been debated [see Hollander: 105].
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1. Wroth was Vingthor…….when awaking he
….Mjolnir missed………………his mighty hammer;
….his beard gan shake, …..his shaggy head,
….Fjorgyn’s first-born-……….he fumbled about him.Ā
2. Ā These words then first….fell from his lips:
……‘Hear thou Loki,……………what loss I have,
……which no wight knows-…………….neither on earth
……nor in heaven: ……………..my hammer is stolen!’
The Poetic Edda (tr. Hollander: 104)
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The story runs that Thor’s hammer goes missing. Thor and Loki take Freyja’s feather-cloak so that he can fly to Jotunheim and challenge Thrym, accusing him of taking the sword. Ā Thrym acknowledges the fact that he has stolen the hammer, and says he will only give it back if Freyja (theĀ goddess associated with love, sexuality, beauty, fertility, gold, seiĆ°r, war, and death) can be his wife. Ā Loki returns to Asgard and asks Freyja to go to Jotunheim and marry Thrym. However, she refuses. At a council of the Aesir Heimdall suggests that Thor could dress up as Freyja and go to Jotunheim in disguise. Thor eventually agrees to this . The disquise works. Thrym becomes entranced by Thor’s eyes and is amazed at how much meat and fish he can eat, let alone how much he can drink. The sword Mjollnir is brought in to sanctify the marriage and Thor grabs it and beats all the giants up, and in so doing reclaims the sword.
The Lay of Thrym is also one of the stories W.H. Auden focused on in his collection ofĀ Ā Norse Poems, published in 1969:
‘Then Loki flew- the feathers whistled-
Out of the door of the hall of gods
On and onto the hall of giants.’Ā
(Auden and Taylor, Norse Poems: 218)
Working with the translation from Paul B. Taylor, Auden, able to read Icelandic himself, Ā attempted to capture the rhythms of the Icelandic verse.
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B. Skrymir:
Skrymir by Elmer Boyd Smith
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As Ā mentioned in the Prose Edda, Gylfaginning…..Ā Whilst sleeping in the grove of the giant Skrymir, Thor, Loki and Thor’s servantĀ ĆjĆ”lfi, are tricked by Skrymir’s illusions and the giant ends up going along with them on their travels towards Utgard. Ā The giant causes mischief and tries to take their food…. Ā
Once they reach Utgard the giants gets Thor and his travellers to undertake a battle with ‘metaphors- made-flesh’; Thor’s servant has a footrace against thought, and an eating contest against fire personified. Ā Thor is asked to pick up a cat which is in fact the World. He also wrestles with old age personified. ThorĀ gets so fed up with the tricks of the giant heĀ tries to kill Skrymir while he sleeps. However the giant shields himself behind a magic mountain.
By the end of the contest Ā Skrymir develops respect for the 3 travellers and tells them how he has deceived them with his illusions. Thor tries to attack him, but as he does so the giant magics the whole castle away-and all that is left is a prairie.Ā
*You can find this tale on p55-61 of The Prose Edda, Penguin Classics Edition (tr.Jesse Byock, sections 45 and 46). And a section translated from Icelandic here.
*You will find the tale of Skrymir between p84-85 of The Penguin Book of Norse Myths (See bibliography below)
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C. Thiazi:
Thiazi and the Magic Apples
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Thiazi was the son of the giant Ā Olvaldi, and he was made notorious because of the kidnapping of the goddessĀ IĆ°unn. Ā The three gods Odin, Loki and Hoenir were travelling together, and they tried to roast an Ox for their dinner, but the meat would just not cook. An eagle who was sitting in an oak tree called out to them and offered to cook the meat for them if they gave him a share. Ā However, the eagle seems to take more than a fair portion and Loki becomes angry and tries to hit him with a stick. Loki gets ensnared and the eagle flies away with him. The eagle will not release him until he has Idun (Iounn) and her golden apples.
Loki goes back to Asgard and lures Idun outside and Thiazi, disguised as the eagle, takes off with her and her apples. Without tha apples of youth the Aesir begin to grow old and Loki feeling guilty takes off to Thiazi’s abode, and takes the shape of a falcon. When he arrives Thiazi is out fishing and Loki changes Idun into a nut and takes off with her. Thiazi’s daughter Skadi comes to avenge Ā her father and this is how she ends up being married to Njord.
You can find this story also in theĀ Skalskaparmalhere.
Thors journey to Geirrodsgard where he spies Gjalp
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In The Prose Edda (Skaldskarparmal) Thor comes upun Gjalp with her legs straddled across two ravines. Her huge presence affects the flow of Ā the water running through the ravine and the river rises dramatically (This act is usually taken to be Gjalp trying to drown Thor with menstral fluid or urine!). Ā Thor throws a stone at her telling her to release the flow. In order to save himself from the rising water Thor grabs hold of some rowan branches:
‘Just then he was swept towards the shore, where he was able to grab hold of some rowan branches, and so was able to climb up from the river. The event is the origin of the expression that rowan trees are Thor’s salvation. ‘ (tr. Byock: 91).
Thor arrives at Geirrod’s house (Gjalp and Geip’s father) and immediately sits down on the only chair in the room. Huge screams come out from down below the chair as he realises the two daughters are underneath. He has broken their backs. Ā Consequently, Geirrod and Thor fight and the giant tosse a large piece of molten iron at him. However, Thor deflects the piece of metal and it pierces a pillar. Geirrod ends up on the floor outside.
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Themes, Relevance and Questions:
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Strength and Feminity: Ā Gjalp is a female giant who blocks the waters of a river with her legs causing Thor to get very angry. It could be said that she represents a very interesting form of femininity, Ā one which has the strength to force nature into submission. However, it seems that Thor (the epitomy of strength wins over when the giantesses backs gets broken when he sits on them). Ā Exploration Point: the power dynamics within the norse sagas.
The origins of language, linked to fun, play and mutability: The story linked to the giant Skrymir is an interesting one as it directly engages with language and literary forms in a playful way, through a story where metaphors are made flesh. Objects are personified and characters ‘play with language’ (racing against thought). Ā A bit like the story of ‘ The Mead of Poetry’ mentioned in the Vanaheim Overview, it is clear that underlying this play, there is a subtle subtext that the sagas are attempting to communicate. That is: how their authors see language- as playful, spirited, fluid and bold; like the strength of the giants and the flow of water.Ā
3. A Musical Rendering of W.H. Auden’s PoemĀ Baldr’sĀ DreamĀ
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Baldur’s Dream …..Eddara SƦmundĀ (as translated by W. H. Auden & P. B. Taylor)
Barbara Thornton, voice Benjamin Bagby, voice Elizabeth Gaver, fiddle
Edda Sequenta.
If you go to the linkthe full length poem can be found there.
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Optional Poetry and Writing Prompts:
An Onegin Sonnet/Pushkin Sonnet:
This form was created by the writer Pushkin for his verse novel Eugene Onegin.Ā
The stanzas have 14 lines of iambic tetrameter rhyming ababccddeffegg. Ā The green letters indicate feminine rhymes (the lines have an extra unstressed syllable) and the black letters are for masculine rhymes (a simple rhyme- bat/cat).
To get involved contact us via any of the comments boxes on our posts/pages or @ArtiPeeps. You would be very welcome!
Vikings Ahoy! It’s The Nine Realms!
The Nine Realms: a Norse inspired interactive, combined arts experienceSeptember 12, 2015
ONGOING EPICS
THE NINE REALMS (2014-2015):
Watch this space for our next 9-month large-scale collaborative project ! Starting in the 2nd Week of October 2014. Inspired by the Norse Sagas and Norse Cosmology, Giving creative opportunities to nearly 50 creatives. We'll be combining poetry, prose, art, music and sculpting a Viking boat out of ash, Vikings Ahoy!!!
The Nine Realms Poetry Playlist
The Nine Realms Realm Music
PAST EPIC COLLABORATIONS
TRANSFORMATIONS (2013-2014)
A POETRY AND ART EPIC:
31 Creatives from all around the world and the UK showcased through 1 Contemporary Reworking of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Making the virtual real via a poetry-art exhibition held at Hanse House, Norfolk, 12-14th September 2014,
The launch of our large-scale exhibition template to be used to give creatives from all disciplines collaborative opportunities year on year.
A Shattered Moon
Via ArtiPeeps , Hot Potato Summer 2014 : 6 Writers, 12 weeks, 1 short story. Featuring: Steve Harris, Michael Schmidt, Shannon Pardoe, Sam Grainger, Josh Kremer and Jessica Cooke. Illustrations by artist Sam Grainger
ARTIPEEPS IS COLLABORATING WITH:
Future Radio
Community Radio, Norwich
Hanse House, King’s Lynn
Home to our 'Transformations' Exhibition/Poetry Performance September 2014
Elizabeth and Lisa
2 artists from Florida USA who create great comic strips...
Deborah Services Limited
Who help us build exciting exhibition stands
The Global Twitter Community Poetry Project
Click on the image to find out more
LAURA BESLEY
SNIPPETS : An ebook Collection of Flash Fiction. Written by Laura whilst with ArtiPeeps during her feature 'Flash Fortnightly' in 2013. Congratulations Laura!
Please note: the views expressed by the creatives on this site are their own, and are not necessarily the views held by ArtiPeeps.
VERY INSPIRING BLOGGER AWARD NOMINATION
The Inspiration in ArtiPeeps is entirely collaborative. With many thanks to Ant DiMartino for the nomination
VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD NOMINATION
With thanks to AK Anderson for the Nomination
This site's versatility rests in the diversity and talents of its contributors on an ongoing basis
Super-Sweet Blogger Award Nomination
Thank you To Soad 88 for nominating us
The Sunshine Award
Many thanks to writer Laura Besley for nominating us
Kindly providing some music for 'Transformations' September 2014
@honeybeeandhare newly formed beliefs. We have to continually adjust the relationship between our beliefs & habits. That can be painful..(3 5 years ago
@honeybeeandhare our lives. This affects the habits we create. They have to be flexible enough (within their rigidity) to align with our..(2 5 years ago
@honeybeeandhare Yes, I agree. I also think that it's worth factoring in that these core beliefs & values can change as we move through.. (1 5 years ago
EXPRESS YOURSELF IN AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT FEAR.THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR.THERE IS NOBODY WHO IS GOING TO PUNISH OR REWARD YOU. EXPRESS YOUR BEING IN ITS TRUEST FORM, IN ITS NATURAL FLOW, YOU WILL BE REWARDED IMMEDIATELY, NOT TOMORROW BUT TODAY, HERE & NOW. YOU ARE PUNISHED ONLY WHEN YOU GO AGAINST YOUR NATURE. BUT THE PUNISHMENT IS A HELP. IT IS SIMPLY AN INDICATION THAT YOU HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM NATURE, THAT YOU HAVE GONE A LITTLE ASTRAY-OFF THE ROAD-COME BACK. PUNISHMENT IS NO REVENGE.NO, PUNISHMENT IS ONLY AN EFFORT TO WAKE YOU UP: 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' . SOMETHING IS WRONG, SOMETHING IS GOING AGAINST YOURSELF. THAT'S WHY THERE IS PAIN, THERE IS ANXIETY.
EVOLUTION IS INTRINSIC TO MAN'S NATURE, EVOLUTION IS HIS VERY SOUL, AND THOSE WHO TAKE THEMSELVES FOR GRANTED REMAIN UNFULFILLED. THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE BORN COMPLETE REMAIN UNEVOLVED. THEN THE SEED REMAINS THE SEED. IT NEVER BECOMES A TREE AND NEVER KNOWS THE JOYS OF SPRING AND THE SUNSHINE AND THE RAIN AND THE ECSTASY OF BURSTING INTO MILLIONS OF FLOWERS.
