Kith of Yggdrasil forum post 2011: Pondering Tyr

Here is a blog entry I originally posted to the (sadly now defunct) Kith of Yggdrasil forum in Dec 2011 and then again to my UK Pagan blog just under a year later. Think it might have found its way to my internal martial arts blog at some point, too. Enjoy.



Posted ImagePosted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject: Tyr I've allowed Tyr to occupy my mind somewhat, perhaps in an effort to get to grips with him and any way that he might help in my Baguazhang training.

I've read the usual factoids regarding him, available from several sources. Perhaps once the chief deity until he was usurped by Odin in some areas. Sky god. Patron of combat. Lost his hand while binding Loki's troublesome canine offspring... yada... yada... yada...

At first I found him completely inscrutable. Very little information available regarding him and there seem to be very few authors willing to pontificate too much as to his nature, either.

Then I started to really think about what we know of him. He lost his hand when binding the wolf. Offered as a pledge of faith. Tyr must have known that the hand would be lost once the binding was complete. To look that giant, ravenous animal in the eye and to offer your hand without a solitary quiver of doubt crossing your face...? Any sign of unease would surely have warned Fenrir of the gods' true intent. To keep that calm under such immense pressure in spite of what pain and loss was to come. Now that calls for ice in your veins.

Similarly, Tyr is described as the only god brave enough to feed the bound Fenrir. When you consider the nature of the other gods, that is quite a claim to fame. Perhaps the statement is not meant to be literally true - Odin and Thor, for example, do not strike me as cowards - but to be hailed as the bravest of the gods is an incredible accolade.

The feeding of Fenrir also raises another interesting point. This wolf has just bitten your hand off, what kind of fairness of judgment must you show not to bear a grudge and to feed the animal? Hel, why not just let Fenrir starve, chained up helpless as he is? Obviously, Tyr's honour precludes him from such base flaws.

Indeed, Tyr's honour would have to be renowned for his hand to make sufficient a pledge for the wolf to allow himself to be bound. Let's face it, Odin or Thor would be likely to eschew honour in order to get the job done. Only Tyr, it seems, had enough honour, bravery, determination, pragmatism and foresight to offer his hand for the greater good and to secure the future - allowing the gods a chance to secure a better post-Ragnarok world...

What will I attempt to learn from him, then? It seems he has a lot of value to teach me, even from the superficial insights I have drawn for myself so far. I am looking forward to getting to know him even better, so that I can learn some of those traits of which, I must confess, I could use more.

Obviously, at the time I didn't feel the need to reference any of my claims within the little passage - but it is through plain, simple consideration and musing like this that I have come to feel myself closer to Tyr than before. No mystical mumbo-jumbo required. No chanting bollock-naked in my garden (good job, too, I only have a small balcony that is overlooked by the apartment block across the street). Nothing but a little time and thought.

Wonder if I could get closer to other aesir and asynior in this way? Might be worth thinking about... ;)

Pondering dedication to Odin & Loki - from Dec 2013

The below is an old blogpost of mine from around Dec 2013. By way of an update - two feet is perhaps an overestimation of the wingspan of the Huginn that I had tattooed onto my shoulder. At least 18 inches, though.



Despite having a distinctly Jungian opinion of gods, I can't ignore the fact that I feel a very strong draw to Odin. He appeals to me on so many levels, it is unreal. However, being the kind of guy who doesn't particularly want a spearshaft projecting from my perineum, I'd rather not put myself in the position of being dedicated/beholden to him.

Despite this, and despite not really being much of a 'viking'*, I'd still quite like to 'show my appreciation' for want of a better term, in some way. I already have a raven tattoo of some two feet or so in wingspan on my shoulder, but I'm looking for something else.

It will be an acknowledgement of both Odin and Loki, as I feel the two go together and would somehow feel wrong in recognising one in such a fashion without, at least, a tip of the hat to the other. Strangely, though, despite Loki's reputation, it is his blood brother that I am more wary of, by far.

I am trying to think of something I can offer that will sate the need I have to do something like this and yet won't paint a bloody great target on my gonads, if you'll pardon my French. Until I think of something I'm happy with, I'll keep things as they are. Whatever happens, I will continue to recognise and 'honour' all the gods and goddesses.

There are other gods I feel something of a connection to, also - yes. Skadi, Bragi and Freyja to name a few. I know I don't yet see gods as distinct beings, which might be a stumbling block for some people. But even as aspects of my own consciousness or Jungian archetypes, I can see no reason why I can't feel a 'draw' to them, similar in some ways to how a theist might. I also fear that allying myself to an Odinesque aspect of my own consciousness could be detrimental in a similar way to how aligning to such a god could. I have a very healthy respect for the power of the human mind, and I have a young family for which I am responsible.

And, besides, I never said I was concretely certain in my atheism. ;)



* At the very least, I am not very Viking minded. Not at all aggressive. More of a hippy, really. Though being tall with long hair and beard does tend to cause others to bring up the Viking label without any impetus from me.