Creatures of the Norse – Animals of Norway and creatures thought of as mythical are collected on these decorative cards, which one do you identify with?
I created these for Angela, my fellow storyteller at Njardarheimr Viking Valley in Gudvangen, Norway. The idea was that visitors can pick one and be inspired and a selection can be used to improvise a story.
Norse Goddess Poetic Cards – Created in Njardarheimr Viking Town in Gudvangen, Norway
How the world works
For Angela
Nordic Nine
Adrian Spendlow – A selection of stories to see and hear
Beevis and the Dragon – (Pretty sure I’ve spelt it wrong)
The Folklore of Fossils by Hobb the Ploughboy
Veikko’s Quest – A Finnish folktale
Red
I was inspired to remodel this old tale and soon as I thought of it I got it down, it might be a bit scary so listen to it without kids first).
Old Land – Modelled on a ninth century Irish Ode
Georg and the Dragon – a rework of an old tale with my chiftain’s name replacing the original character, (I dreamed this).
Idunn’s apples
Why Americans Speak English
The Walls of Asgard
When the Gods Ran Out of Beer
Rail interview
Storytelling is… – A series of blogs to empower you to tell stories
Link to the read aloud version of Hobb the Ploughboy
Alvis the Troll – A story which had holes and is now repaired
Eddas in a Nutshell – For performance at the Gudvangen Summer Market 2019
There is a ‘How To’ guide at the foot but basically we will be performing these in many languages.
The god of light and beauty
Balder was beautiful
Watch the twist of mistletoe fly through the air
Ouch
Balder is dead – dead
Screaming silently forever
Lady Hel Herself holds him… Hahahahahaha
Unless everyone cries
Everyone cries
Except one giantess… Hahahahahaha
Really it is Loki… Hahahahahaha
Balder stays dead
What ever happened to happy endings!
Wawawawawawa
The pool of wisdom is guarded
But Mimir the guardian is just a head
Kept alive by magical herbs nudge nudge wink wink
“I can see you. Who are you?”
It is the big boss god of all the Viking gods
He who sometimes has an echo
Odin – No hang on I’ve said his name wrong
(Everybody all together 123) Ooooooooodin (Hand to ear)
He will drink from the pool of wisdom
(Mumbled) “No hang on, you have to pay!”
“What do I have to pay?”
(Mumbled) You have to poke out one of your eyes
So Odin poked out one of his eyes
We are about to drink from the pool of wisdom
Join us
Some of you clearly need it
(Everybody all together 123)
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Angraboda had a baby
It was a gnashing roaring monstrous beast
Hear Fenrir the wolf…
Go near him and he will bite off your head
He rips off hands
Trick him and he howls
Dark elves fashion silken fetters
Trapped; he growls till Ragnarok
At last he bursts free
He is massive
His jaws reach the sky
Fenrir swallows Odin (gulp)
Odin kills as he dies
Fenrir dies in agony
Thor’s hammer is heavy
See we throw
Watch Mjolnir fly wuvwuvwuvwuvwuv
It hits (Bumf)
It comes back
We kill giants ‘Aaaaaaargh’
Trolls and troll-wives
Wolf-children in the Iron Wood
Giant serpents
Yet this is the hammer which blesses the baby
Inspires the bride
Nourishes your yearnings
We throw it now at you loins
Wooohooo Haha Yayhey
You humans had better look out
The ravens are watching
See they fly high
They can tell if you are naughty
They peep into your chamber
The ravens know what you are thinking
Oh yes
Hugin and Munin
Thought and memory
They fly out from the shoulders of Odin
Oooooops I’ve said his name wrong – everybody – Ooooooodin
They return to tell him all about you! (Point)
This is what they say about you…
Caw caw caw
Winter upon winter upon freezing winter
Everyone goes mad
Let’s get physical
Lightning strikes
Thunder rolls
Roosters call – listen to the cock crow
Anger overcomes us
Gods go to war
Monsters rise
Fire, weapons and poison
Cry out in fear as you die
Wolves howl
Hel screams
Loki laughs
We are dead dead dead dead dead
The end
No wait
See, the sun is rising
Here are the previous ones…
‘How to’ guide:
If you are working with children they can repeat each line altogether after you and act it out; remember, many of the stories from the mythology are quite gruesome.
The multi-national story; you need people who speak different languages (and English) you can also encourage different dialects for a bit more fun. You say each of the lines and one at a time they saying along the row in their own language. It works wonderfully well, it works far better than it should! Prepare to have great fun.
OldMan Comics – Cancer Care Capers
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #37 Kvasir
A stunning new approach to the myths the Vikings loved; enlightening and challenging for the novice and veteran alike.
The Gods and Goddesses of the Nordic Mythos Prose Poems were created following research for Gods Bless Ya!! Rock Opera with Alda and Sigrun Bjork Olafsdottir and a forth-coming book with SigRun Viking Art & Design.
Kvasir
Blood-loss Kvasir. Nothing gets past him, so try asking, “How can I have a real good time?” “What can I do to make the party wilder?” “Whisper me words which will fill all with laughter.” If you ask the right questions Kvasir is the swinger.
Njord says,
I who was not born was created as of old so as to be an emissary to you and I will return at the end of worlds, I bring the daughter of her aunt Frejya Gullveigdottir, and her only now born brother Freyr who shall cut his teeth here, I also bring, he as yet to exist, who shall spring from our peace and be wisest of all.
Ask the Right Thing of Him
For he has the answer to everything
Kvasir born of peace-making
Every township and place
It is welcoming
Kvasir, your wisdom bring.
Was he a God?
He was born of the Gods
From the spittle of oaths
Njord brought the knowledge of him
As Njord was created to be here
So destiny brought Kvasir
A promise of peace
A promise of this
The peace-maker
Kettle Spit
“I have Kvasir with us”
Njord spat in the kettle
They all made the same vow
To stay at peace now
Upon this spit
A wish of Amity
Gods in harmony
This spittle fizzled
So, so much power
Bulging and straining
Something coming bursting
Booming out of there
A God made of all the Gods
The best of
The powers of
The skills of
Everyone godly
Here suddenly
Exploding out of there
Was,
Kvasir
Sage of the Age
So did Kvasir appear; wisest of the gods
Made as they made truce,
every single god and goddess spat in a great jar
Out of the spittle grew a man bursting out
I say Bursts from barrel
Vanir say, you keep him, he is wise and is a gift
Steeped in all
Manly matters, magical mysteries
Godly businesses
He was one with all beings
No god nor man nor giant nor dwarf
Or any of any sort
Ever regretted asking him anything
All wanted his opinion, treasured him
The mind it will open
The participant feel neutral
Opportune for everyone
The best of the best outcome
Words Fly
News of him was travelling
High up a mountain or down in a dell
Of his imminent arrival
They knew well
All stopped their chattering
Listening like kind children
Swordsmanship, shipbuilding
Seed-spreading, preserving
Or harvesting. All stopped happening
He had a secret in the way of him
And the mass admiration of him
He kindly accepted quite open
A far far deep understanding
Just by listening
He was embracing
Kvasir Share
Knowledge he could share
In a fact here and everywhere needed
Seeing everything in a far wider frame
We saw all the elements and all felt the same
We help our selves in his prompting
And realise solutions gone missed before
Eyes closed he listens
Appearing humble and simple
Understanding in the end is really simple
Kvasir
He was loved here
And here and there
Admiration of everyone of us
Two From Afar
Kvasir
He was loved here
And here and there
Admiration of everyone of us
Except two from afar
They were envious
They wanted his blood
Hardly even his
It was just godly spit
They coveted it
And would have it
A feast of a cavernous feast invite
And a bit of private, in the deep dark, advice
Knives were in deep
His blood bursting out of him
Captured in three barrels
The essence of him here
Kvasir
Dwarven brothers Fjalar and Galar
Honey mixed mead made
They hid this away
Other evil deeds done by them
Would give away them
To Be Guarded
And in turn the mead of such power was gone
Guarded underground
By the daughter of a giant
Dwarves dead
Kvasir’s blood
Gods heard word
They believed he was long gone
Except perhaps one.
Long Dead Return
The barrels of poetry seeped and misty
They,
Oozed out a power
Slowly reforming
This was Kvasir
Almost here
Then,
He was wished for
Loki the evil
Loki was gone
How the Gods raged
Vengeance and justice
Loki must be here
They called
Called for great wisdom
For he who could answer
They called,
For Kvasir
Kettle barrels rumbled
They steamed
And end to Loki’s schemes
Kvasir was here
Returned again
With the answer
Let us go catch a fish
Catch That Fish
Actions of fashioning
Directions to hidden thing
Outwitting the salmon
Using the Gods skills
Thor had its tail in no time
The slippery one
Shape-changer again
Now all can see
Loki is plain
Mead one Wise one
Kvasir was back alive
In time for the end
The great end
We hope for a further return
For the new earth
It will need him
We are in need of his wisdom
Kvasir make all
Make all for us be
Simple
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #1 Thor
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #2 Earth
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #3 Night
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #4 Augelmir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #5 Heimdall
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #6 Eir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #7 Vili
Norse Gods and Goddesse Prose Poems – #8 Ve
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #9 Siv
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #10 Hænir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #11 Frejya
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #12 the Hyndla Lay
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #13 Freyr
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #14 All for the Love of Gerd
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #15 Skaði
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #16 Njörð
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #17 Frigg
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #18 BalderNorse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #18 Balder
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #19 Then Balder Was Dead
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #20 Iðun
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #21 Iðun’s Apples
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #22 Sól
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #23 Máni
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #24 Rán
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #25 Hel
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #26 Óðin
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #27 Huggin and Munin
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #28 Loki’s Salmon
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #29 Loki
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #30 Loki’s Monsters
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #31 Týr
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #32 Lay of Hymir
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #33 Wisdom Pool Wonder
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #34 Mimir
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #35 The Power of the Runes
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #36 The Poetry Mead
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #37 Kvasir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #36 The Poetry Mead
A stunning new approach to the myths the Vikings loved; enlightening and challenging for the novice and veteran alike.
The Gods and Goddesses of the Nordic Mythos Prose Poems were created following research for Gods Bless Ya!! Rock Opera with Alda and Sigrun Bjork Olafsdottir and a forth-coming book with SigRun Viking Art & Design.
The Poetry Mead
He was suddenly there, impossibly close, the handsome stranger. In his long blue cloak and wide-brimmed hat; he seemed somehow too big for his skin, and he loomed over the workers of the farm. They should not have looked in his eye, for they were drawn in, to fall among the worlds. Swirling wildly among the nine known worlds and all the unknown worlds as well, they could see and hear everything, and presently they came to hear their own inner voices; each other’s thoughts … “I’ve never liked you.” “You treat me badly.” “I work harder than you.” There should be less reward for you.” “I quite like your wife.”
The scythes were out, they fell upon each other in rage, and presently all were dead.
The stranger turned towards the farm, “You suddenly seem to be short of workers.”
“Yes I do.”
“I shall work your farm for you, and all I wish in return is some small piece of information.”
The work was done in no time. The fields tilled. The seeds in. The plants they grew and were harvested. In an impossible time, the barns were fuller than they’d ever been.
“All I wish in return is to know where your brother keeps his treasure.”
“I could not possibly tell you, I have promised.”
“You have promised me, and all you have to do is point to the place.”
They climbed the hill and peered down at a wide stone plain. He pointed.
The stranger went to the place and called down lightning. It cut and turned and wound and burned. Down to a cavern miles beneath the earth. In this dark cave with no entrance and no exit sat Suttung’s daughter. She sat there long, without even a mirror to know that she was beautiful.
The handsome stranger turned himself into a serpent and twisted his long way down the deep burrow to appear far below suddenly in his handsome robes. A torch appeared already light, “Oh you are beautiful, more beautiful than any other woman ever seen. I love you and I wish for you to come with me. All I wish in return is one small sip of your father’s treasure; the poetry mead.”
“I couldn’t possibly, I have promised, and my father would beat me terribly.”
“Yet you shall come with me and be my bride. You shall be my queen in my great citadel in the sky. In love forever. Just one small sip.”
She slowly, tentatively, pushed the three barrels forward. He took it all, wrapped it in his cloak, turned back into the serpent and left her alone.
The figure that now flew up to Asgard had the power of the mead; one sip would let your words cause love or war.
Yet deep below the earth in a cavern with no entrance and no exit, without even a mirror to know she was beautiful, Suttung’s daughter Gunnlodd sat alone. She cared not of the endless beatings she would receive; because Gunnlodd was broken.
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #1 Thor
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #2 Earth
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #3 Night
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #4 Augelmir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #5 Heimdall
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #6 Eir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #7 Vili
Norse Gods and Goddesse Prose Poems – #8 Ve
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #9 Siv
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #10 Hænir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #11 Frejya
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #12 the Hyndla Lay
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #13 Freyr
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #14 All for the Love of Gerd
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #15 Skaði
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #16 Njörð
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #17 Frigg
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #18 BalderNorse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #18 Balder
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #19 Then Balder Was Dead
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #20 Iðun
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #21 Iðun’s Apples
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #22 Sól
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #23 Máni
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #24 Rán
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #25 Hel
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #26 Óðin
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #27 Huggin and Munin
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #28 Loki’s Salmon
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #29 Loki
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #30 Loki’s Monsters
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #31 Týr
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #32 Lay of Hymir
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #33 Wisdom Pool Wonder
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #34 Mimir
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #35 The Power of the Runes
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #36 The Poetry Mead
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #37 Kvasir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #35 The Power of the Runes
A stunning new approach to the myths the Vikings loved; enlightening and challenging for the novice and veteran alike.
The Gods and Goddesses of the Nordic Mythos Prose Poems were created following research for Gods Bless Ya!! Rock Opera with Alda and Sigrun Bjork Olafsdottir and a forth-coming book with SigRun Viking Art & Design.
The Power of the Runes.
Óooooðin looked down from his great stone slab and he saw Mimir. Mimir the head was guarding his pool. I must seek out the power of this pool thought Óooooðin.
He knelt. What is this place? He asked. The drugged herbal head of Mimir it mumbled. It took many attempts until Óooooðin understood him and making his hands like a cup went to drink there. There is a cost was the mumble from Mimir and it was a terrible cost that we now know Óooooðin by. He must pluck out an eye. So One-eye was wise. Now he knew everything, was all wise and all powerful this was his reaction to his mind being so full and in tune.
No wait murmured Mimir you have not got a rune. You will be needing these song things, the runes of the underworld. Down where witches are shaman-like living an undeath. Buried among them is the rune power you need. As Óooooðin he requested how best to procure them Mimir murmured that you have to be dead.
Nine nights long Óooooðin hung from a tree with his head down, a spear in his side caused a dread wound and his life force unwound. He was dead. With the wisdom of the immortals he dream-like reached forward and from the magic women of the underworld he snatched out the rune power. Then he came back alive again. To Asgard he returned with all of the power he had. Now he really was a God.
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #1 Thor
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #2 Earth
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #3 Night
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #4 Augelmir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #5 Heimdall
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #6 Eir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #7 Vili
Norse Gods and Goddesse Prose Poems – #8 Ve
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #9 Siv
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #10 Hænir
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #11 Frejya
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #12 the Hyndla Lay
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #13 Freyr
Norse Gods and Goddesses Prose Poems – #14 All for the Love of Gerd
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #15 Skaði
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #16 Njörð
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #17 Frigg
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #18 BalderNorse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #18 Balder
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #19 Then Balder Was Dead
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #20 Iðun
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #21 Iðun’s Apples
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #22 Sól
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #23 Máni
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #24 Rán
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #25 Hel
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #26 Óðin
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #27 Huggin and Munin
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #28 Loki’s Salmon
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #29 Loki
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #30 Loki’s Monsters
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #31 Týr
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #32 Lay of Hymir
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #33 Wisdom Pool Wonder
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #34 Mimir
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #35 The Power of the Runes
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #36 The Poetry Mead
Norse Gods and Goddess Prose Poems – #37 Kvasir
