How should one periphrase Frey? Thus: by calling him Son of Njördr, Brother of Freya, and also God of Vanir, and Kinsman of the Vanir, and Wane, and God of the Fertile Season, and God of Wealth-Gifts.
Skaldskaparsmal, VII.


Njördr in Nóatún begot afterward two children: the son was called Frey, and the daughter Freya; they were fair of face and mighty. Frey is the most renowned of the Æsir; he rules over the rain and the shining of the sun, and therewithal the fruit of the earth; and it is good to call on him for fruitful seasons and peace. He governs also the prosperity of men.
Gylfaginning XXIV.


The worship of Frey, however, must also have been very popular in Norway, from which it passed to Iceland with the early settlers. As late as 998 the men of Thrandheim are represented as refusing to break their image of Frey at the command of King Olaf, 'because we have long served him and he has done well by us. He often talked with us, and told us things to come, and gave us peace and plenty.'
The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia, W.A. Craigie


I oathed to Ingui on February 9, 2004. I speak of the evidence of Ing-Fréa's investment and intervention in my life, which I share to praise Him, to show His goodness to the world, for those who are called by Ingui or will be called by Him, or even those who want more of Ing-Fréa in their lives.  He is one of the most approachable and accessible of the Northern Deities, and I write this in the hopes that those reading can reach out to Ingui and be blessed by Him.

The word fulltrui, which is commonly used by Northern religionists to denote a patron Deity relationship, is still used in Icelandic legal terminology to mean "representative".  I believe that representation works both ways.  Obviously, Ingui as my fulltrui would be "representing" me as far as before the Gods.  He guides me towards opportunities, guides me away from danger, and gives counsel with making life decisions.  He intervenes in my life events, specifically with promoting well-being: stability, security, and happiness.  

I in turn "represent" Ing-Fréa.  I am called to be an ambassador, of sorts.  It is certainly unrealistic to expect someone to be an avatar of their primary Deity on Earth, and to behave in exactly the same manner as that Deity would in any given situation.  I believe there were things inherent in my personality that drew Ingui to me, or me to Ingui, and those qualities have been enhanced with others being "built in".  I have taken on qualities of Ing-Fréa and it influences the way that I perceive things as well as the way I do things.

Ing-Fréa is a God of reliability and integrity, manifest in the seasonal cycles, which change, but you can always depend upon changing and being at the same time every year: the cycles within the season of birth, growth, and death of animals, and seed, root, bud, ripening, and harvest, to compost again, in the plant world.  He is said to bring the sunshine as well as the gentle rain, and to bestow peace, pleasure, and prosperity on mortals.  To my knowledge, peace, pleasure, and prosperity all involve being able to feel safe, and feel secure.  This verse from the Lokasenna, spoken by Tiu, exemplifies Ing-Fréa's concept of integrity:

Frey is best
of all the exalted gods
in the Æsir´s courts:
no maid he makes to weep,
no wife of man,
and from bonds looses all.

The women are not made to weep because Ing does not let them down.  Ing-Fréa looses us from our bonds, that is, what holds us back from enjoying life.  Sometimes cutting these bonds can be painful, if one has become attached to their "post" for lack of anything better to compare it with.  To be free -- to be truly free -- is very powerful, but also comes with responsibility.  To be irresponsible is not freedom, it is illusion of thought and causing harm, thus bondage.  To have an appropriate amount of responsibility, for one's words, deeds, and their impact, and to be empowered in those words and deeds, is to be free.

Ingui is not like Santa Claus who will give you everything you want.  Indeed Ing-Fréa, as a Deity tied both to horticulture/agriculture and the hunt (He had to get His antler from somewhere), He respects hard work and plenty of it.  While I believe Ingui has directly intervened in my life and blessed me, this was not for nothing.  I have had to put a significant amount of work into dealing with my own issues, getting my life stable, and maintaining what I have.  I have also made it a point to worth Ingui whenever I can with offerings, whether of food and drink, poetry and song, or gifts left on His altar.  Ing is all about the long-term, not the quick fix.  Instant gratification is not His modus operandi, and indeed, He has ways of teaching people hard lessons about getting what they pay for, and what they really value in life.  I know I myself have gone through this with Him, and I am grateful, painful as the lessons were and are.

Ing-Fréa is also a God intimately familiar with sacrifice, as a common personal gnosis among those who work with Him is that He is sacrificed at Lammas and resurrected later, as seen in the surviving John Barleycorn practice at Harvest Home celebrations in England.  Frey gives Himself yearly to feed the people - not just their bodies, but also their spirits.  Regardless of whether they are rich or poor, just or unjust, Ing-Fréa gives Himself without complaining, and those who come to know Him will also learn of sacrifice - what is of most benefit, the highest good, even if it demands a high cost.

Nonetheless, to earn Ingui's blessing is to hold onto something precious, something that time and changing with the times cannot depreciate.  His blood is in the soil, and to gain Ing's favor is to plant seeds and take root.

© 2008 Svartesól.