The Fading of the Light
Balder was born from Odin and Frigg. The God of Poetry and the Goddess of the Waters. He was the most loved of all the Gods as his cheerful nature was believed to stop even Ragnarok itself, the end of the worlds.
Wherever he went the grief of the Gods would come to rest and his words would give comfort.
This was golden time for the Gods and the nine worlds were in peace and contentment.
This was not to last, as Balder, in the middle of the night, would begin to have dreams of a grey world. A world where compassion was replaced by anger and filled with tragedy and dying.
He woke from his sleep in sweat.
These dreams tormented him for many moons. The Gods and Goddesses were worried and decided to hold a parliament to discuss this bad omen that have risen in the mind of Balder and how this night-wraith could have entered the world of the Gods. They gathered on the great flowering plains of Hela. There the mighty discussed the dreams and tried to see into the threads of fate and the runes of why Balder received such troubling dreams.
Frigg’s decided to go and wander the nine worlds and make all the minerals, plants, trees, seas and fires a pledge to spare Balder, to never hurt or cause harm to Balder, all living things agreed. This powerful magic from Frigg was entertaining to the Gods and they would throw a stone and observe how it would land before it hit him, they tried with spears and arrows, which would swerve or stop whenever they came near to him, Balder was always left unharmed.
However, runes of sorrow had been weaved into the cloth of fate that Odin could see and he wanted some answers, the-one-eyed and saddled his horse.
Over the nine worlds he crossed on this eight legged steed, Sleipner, and his path was headed downwards to the misty land of Hel, the land of the dead. When he finally arrived by the gates, he met the Hel-hound, guardian of the dreaded abyss, whose chest was covered in the blood of the dying. He barked at Odin, the Valfather, who continued and passed him, the hooves of his horse resounded as he galloped into the high road of Hel. Then he rode up to the eastern gate where he knew of a grave mound. When he arrived, he took to his staff and hit the ground calling down into the grave whilst he started to sing old spell-songs; songs to stir the grave of a dead witch, the Volva. His incantations forced the spirit to rise from her sleep. Then she spoke:
“long I have been under the stones and grass, who is this stranger calling at my door, forcing me to wake from the long sleep of the dark?”
Odin replied: “I am only that of a simple wanderer who needs tiding from Hel. Please hear my question, for who have you prepared the banquet of food and adorned the benches and crowned with gold?
The witch replied: “The mead and food is brewed and cooked for Balder. But I have no wish to rise into this living world, I wish to be undisturbed and return to my silence.”
Odin replied and lifted his staff: “Do not be silent, tell me this, how will Balder meet his end in the world of the Gods?”
The witch replied: “That which is blind will strike Balder.”
Odin said: “Who will avenge his death and bring justice?”
The witch replied: Rind will give life to Vali in the halls of the West, where Sol sets, the son of Odin will fight when born, he will bring to the pyre the enemy, now let me rest under the stones.”
Odin replied: “Do not rest yet, let me ask you one more question, who are the girls that will weep for love and who will throw their flower garlands up to the sky?”
The witch replied: “You are no simple wanderer, you are Odin, the one who receives sacrifices!”
Odin replied: “You are not the witch, nor a wise woman, you are the Mother of Death and Greed!
She spat and yelled: “Ride home Odin, you have won great renowned in the world, but time moves towards Hel and you will also return here in the half-light when the fetters of the world are broken asunder when the time of Ragnarok comes.”
During this time when Odin was in misty Hel looking for answers, Loki was seized by a jealous fever. He hated the light of Balder as it shone and how the Gods adored him.
He concocted an insidious plan
He changed his shape to an old woman and walked towards the watery temples of Frigg. There Frigg unawares greeted the old woman amongst her vitreous lakes and shimmering dew ponds. Under her arched temple, the old woman spoke: “Dear Frigg, have you witnessed how they are all playing this game of attacking poor Balder and each time he is unharmed?”
Frigg responded: “No sword, spear or axe may hurt him, all have taken oaths to me to leave him free from harm.” The old woman asked, “is there really nothing at all that can hurt Balder, as it worries me so to see it?”
There is a plant that grows from the west of Valhalla, it is named mistletoe, it was spared as it was too young and tender to make the pledge.”
The old woman turned away and left Frigg’s water-temple.
Loki went out into the forest and to the hills west of Valhalla and there gathered the mistletoe plant and with his jealous fingers started to craft a sharp arrow from its stalk, devious and cunning runes were carved into the stalk of the mistletoe.
He waited for the time to be right, for the game to be played again and when the Gods gathered during a festive day, he brought his bow and arrow along with him. There one of the Gods launched a spear towards Balder and everyone laughed at how it flew crooked to avoid him, more arrows were fired, Balder didn’t mind at all, it was only light-hearted fun, he was allowing their joy to be unhindered.
There up on the grass sat Balder’s brother Hodr, who was blind. Loki went up to him and whispered, “You must feel rather sad not being able to join in the cheerfulness and not given the possibility to show Balder the honour of demonstrating his protective power.”
The blind God agreed, but shrugged his shoulders, and said: “ah well, I do not see and I am also without a weapon.”
“Here,” said Loki, “stand up and I will guide you. I will stretch this great bow for you and point this arrow. Hod held the bow and Loki helped him steady himself and he carefully placed the arrow above his hand where he could take aim, then he hunkered down and looked through the straight shaft which pointed straight to the chest of beautiful Balder. “Release!” Loki shouted.
The black stick flew in the air and it pierced Balder straight through his heart and he fell down lifeless, killed instantly.
When the Gods saw what had happened they tried to speak or yell, but only their crying could be heard as the bowed their heads. Frigg wept in her temple.
To Balder’s funeral arrived the whole mosaic of creation, trolls stood next to elves, giants, gnomes and humans; all approached and gave their offerings to Balder’s ship Hringhorni, where his body was laid. The valkyries were all present and also all the Gods. It was a gathering the nine worlds had only seen at the ritual of reconciliations between the Aesir and Vanir. Odin offered his ring Draupnir to the ship that contained all the world’s wealth and whispered a secret into Balder’s ear.
The most precious gift of all was his wife Nanna, who had given herself to Balder as she wanted to burn with him in the funeral fire.
The size of his ship was the largest ever built and gifts filled the ship up to the rim and it was too heavy to push out to sea for the burning. Odin called on his berserkers to step forward to push the ship out from the banks, but to no avail, it was anchored from its sheer weight on the beach.
Then a giantess stepped forward, named Hyrrokkin, she had arrived riding on a wolf and with reins made of serpents. She went to the prow and with her first push all the land trembled as the ship left its banks and floated out to the sea. Thor blessed the ship with his hammer and during this blessing a dwarf called Litr ran by his feet and Thor kicked him into the keen flames of the ship.
There all the worlds were present watching the largest of all funeral fires float to the sea, a bright flickering candle of the world under the sweep of sky, the sparks faded as the ship was blown out towards the western horizon. All were distraught and chanting to Balder. They sang of his fairness and graciousness. The air itself sang a lament and black clouds seethed with lightning.
Frigg was unable to be comforted. She called out to her brave son Hermod to come forward. She asked him to take the long road to Hel and to bring his brother Balder back from the land of the dead.
Hermod left the world of the Gods and for nine nights rode into the dark dales. He reached the river of Gjöll and found the golden tinged Gjöll-bridge that arches over the shadowy water. There stands the maiden Modgudr, who said: “you have not the colour of a dead man, why are you riding into the Hel-way?” He answered: “I have been selected find Balder the Beautiful. Have you seen him on this road?”
“Yes, he has ridden over the bridge to the other side.” Hermod rode on through areas where goblin-shrieks and wolf-howls carried on the wind. Mountain ranges draped in threatening fog. Whirls of ghosts revealed themselves as he came closer to the large gate of the Hel. There he drove his steed forward, the sound of the hooves echoed and his spurs kicked to encourage a leap of faith into the underworld. His horse took charge and passed it with a whisker. Hermod entered large strange halls, dismounted from his horse and there was his beloved brother Balder, sitting in the high seat.
Hermod was invited as an honoured guest for the night.
The next morning he begged to Hel if he could bring Balder back to the land of the living heart. Hel answered: “It would be impossible, but say to the Gods above: if all the living grieves for Balder and their tears touch the soil, then his light can return, but he must remain her if anyone’s eye is dry. Hermod rose and with rain lashing and tremulous thundering overhead, Hermod rode back to Valhalla and told the Gods what Hel had said.
The Gods sent tidings to all the four different quarters and all the plants, trees, metals, minerals and elves, trolls and humans - all heard the call and their holy water fell from the ground, all could weep for Balder.
One messenger came upon an old woman, just the same one that had visited Frigg’s temple, she observing him. He called to her: “who are you?” “I am Thökk" she said. “I have a message from the Gods, they want you to grieve and weep for Balder, in order for him to return to the land of the living.”
She answered: “I will weep yes, I will weep. But the tears will be dry, none will fall on the land. If he is living or dead, I do not care. Let Hel hold on to what she has in her halls!”
The messenger left.
The old woman shape-shifted back her form and there he stood, Loki, thinking about his crimes, but feeling no remorse.
For this he would never be welcome in the land of the Gods anymore.
From then Loki was in exile from Asgard.
Balder's Dreams - An Evening of Epic Norse Myth, 17th September, 7pm.
I started last year on the 14th of November, 2023 and for each subsequent month over a one year period, I have been telling and exploring the entire myth cycles of the Prose and Poetic Edda (The Viking Myths).
Exploring these stories together with you all has been a great benefit especially the conversations of what the ancient world can offer the modern world today. Reconciliation has often been the main lesson - or how bad we are at peace making.
I often join possible star constellations whenever possible to perceive a new mythic roof over our heads. I also invite the old Norse prayers that speak of the Tree of Life, and the "healing hands" we all possess.
The titles I told so far: The Creation Myth, The Price of Wisdom, The Treasures of the Gods, Loki's Children, The Blood of Wisdom, Thor's Journeys and The Apples of Immortality.
This session I am telling Balder's Dreams, which is of the central myths that steers the entire mythic ship of the Northern ancestral world.
Bring a candlelight and listen in to some wisdoms that have stood the test of time.
Ver Heill ok Sæll!
Mae Govannen!
Andreas Kornevall
Thank you Andreas!