Byggvir and Beyla. Byggvir possibly means “barley”, and Beyla means “bee”. Whether these two names translate exactly or not, They are a couple who travel with Frey, and are in charge of taking care of His household. They may actually be Vanes by lineage, but are suspected by some to be elves.

Dagr and Nott, the bringers of day and night, are connected with Sunna and Mani's cycles and are important to the balance and power of Vanaheim.  It is appropriate for Vanatruar who want to do so to hail Them and thank Them for daylight and all that it makes possible, and the dark and rest therein.


Eir is one of the healers of Lyfja Mount, under Mengloth, as well as one of Frigga’s handmaidens, as well as one of the Valkyries. It is said She is “the best” physician – not merely “a really good” physician, but “the best”.


Frodi is one of the elder Vanes, father of Njord and grandfather of Frey and Freyja (it would seem that Frey was named for Frodi). He is mentioned by Saxo as keeping a great mill where 'frið' is ground by the giantesses Fenja and Menja. It would seem that the symbolism behind the story is the aggressive nature of the etins being “ground” into work – and very hard work at that – to keep the peace of the land, including keeping the prosperity.


Gerda’s name is closely cognate with “garden”, which nicely complements Frey, a God associated with agriculture. Gerda is a Jotuness, daughter of Aurboda and Gymir, who turned down Idunna’s apples and Draupnir before conceding to marry Frey. While many Heathens do not give honor to Gerda, it seems there is precedence historically to suggest She had a cult of Her own; there is mention through the Lore of Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr, sister of Irpa, a Goddess mentioned in three different Sagas who is called upon for protection, and appears in giantess/troll form, scaring away those who would attack Her devotee. “Thor” is closely related to the word “thurse” and the name Thor seems to itself mean “giant”, in this instance “Thorgerda” would mean “Giant-Gerda”, which, of course, Gerda is a giant and not one to be trifled with!  H.R. Ellis Davidson mentions that Olaf I of Norway dragged out an image of Thorgerdr after Haakon’s death and had it burned next to an image of Frey, which would definitely support the worship of Thorgerdr as Gerda’s cultus in Heathen times.


Gullveig is also one of the elder Vanes, who went to the Æsir and was burned three times, resurrecting herself each time. As a result of this attack, the Vanir went to war with the Æsir until a truce was formed. It is said in the Völuspá that she was also named Heid, or “glory” (a possible candidate for Bede's Hreðe in Hreðemonaþ).


Herne is thought by many Vanatruar to be a proto-ancestor of both the Vanir and some of the Celtic Gods (note: this does not make the Celtic Gods the same as the Vanir, just related, as it would seem these Gods were extant before Germanic and Celtic tribes were clearly defined). He wears a torc, is portrayed seated and cross-legged (which many scholars have interpreted as meditative or shamanic), and associated with the stag and serpents.


Holda is also thought to be Vanic as She is mentioned to do things such as stir up snow from Her featherbed, is connected with lakes, drives about in a wain, helps peasants, rules the nature-spirits, is a psychopomp for dead children, rules over the cultivation of flax, and is associated with witchcraft.


Idunna is counted among the Aesir. But Her origins are foggy, and many are inclined to believe She is of Vanir origin, albeit one who lives among the Aesir in Asgard, and works for Them. For starters, Idunna is far more reserved and even humble than the other Goddesses, preferring to work in Her orchard in nature rather than preside over a great hall. She has a sacred duty to grow the apples that keep the Gods healthy. While Eir is the physician to the Gods, it is Idunna’s apples that keep Them hale and only in occasional need of Eir’s services (thus freeing Her to work for Mengloth and as a Valkyrie). However, we can see from Idunna Herself being kidnapped by Thjazi that the apples don’t “work” without Idunna Herself working Her charms upon them. Finally, Idunna is thought by many to be one and the same as Eostre/Ostara, the Germanic Goddess of spring and the dawn, which would further relate to a Vanir connection.


Nehelennia (Ellen or Elen in Old English) has been speculated by some scholars to be one and the same as Nerthus, but 1. the names are not cognate, 2. anyone who looked upon Nerthus’ face was subject to death (often by drowning); all of the altar stones of Nehelennia have Her face visible. Nehelennia appears to be a Germanic Goddess and not a Celtic or Roman Deity, even though there is some overlap between cultures. Obviously there is no extant folklore of Nehelennia, and we cannot definitively say to what tribe of Gods She belongs. That being said, there is a strong argument for Nehelennia as a Vanir Goddess. She is associated with ships and food, specifically apples and bread, and Her domains of prosperity/abundance and protection in travel for commerce (as opposed to protection in battle) would be very apt for a Vanic Deity.


It is said of Sif that Her lineage cannot be told (Gylfaginning III), which is another indicator that Her ancestors are among the eldest of the Vanir and Their names lost to time. She is called a sybil, or prophetess which is a common trait among Vanir women. She is the mother of Ullr (Skaldskaparsmal), a Deity almost universally regarded as Vanic. Finally, it is regarded by many that Sif’s hair would be symbolic of the ripened grain, and indeed the nitrogen found in blasts of lightning is very good for the soil of growing crops. The connection with grain would be very Vanic indeed, and the chopping of Her hair by Loki (Skaldskaparsmal) may be symbolic of payment for the harvest. Sif’s hair is an oft-noted kenning for gold (Bjarkamal, Skaldskaparsmal), and the Vanir are also closely connected with gold both as the material and as money. The incidence of Loki “harming” Sif’s hair may also symbolize the burning of grain, a custom known to the Anglo-Saxon Heathens of England, who preserved several customs purported to be Vanic in origin.


Skadhi was married to Njord for a time, and a common personal gnosis says that She took up with Wuldor afterwards. However, Skadhi is a force to contend with in Her own right, She who stormed Asgard for weregild for the killing of Her father, Thrym. Skadhi commands Thrymheim, Her father’s home, and as weregild was given a husband and thus a voice among the Aesir. Skadhi can be seen as another patron for those who are on a warrior path, particularly women who are studying martial arts. Skadhi is also another Deity associated with the wilderness, particularly predators, and protecting these animals is one of the things She calls people to do in the modern day.


Sunna and Mani – who are mentioned in the Eddas as being Jotnar – are well-beloved of Vanaheim, precisely because the cycles of life are so dependent on Their tides. They are here for us all, and ask for little else in return but to watch us live, to drink in their light and move in Their sight upon the Earth.


Ullr probably had a much larger cult prior to the Viking/Lore Era, when much of His information was lost (example: there are place-names for Ullr in Norway and Sweden, with names Ulleråker (Ullr’s Field) and Ullevi (Ullr’s Shrine) surviving to this day). Ullr’s hunting nature is emphasized over the warrior nature, although the shield is mentioned. Ullr is a “civilized” hunter, which would make Him fit in better with the Vanir (primarily agricultural, with supplemental hunting) than the Jotnar (primarily hunting, more brutal/primal). There is also an account of Ullr ruling Odin for ten years while Odin is away. It would be probable that this “substitute Kingship” would be best given to a Vane, particularly after the Aesir had been at war with the Vanir and traded sides.


Wayland was a master smith - smithing would be important to the people of the Vanic era, and from the perception of the Vanir, to construct tools which are useful as well as aesthetically pleasing. Wayland is mentioned as being a chief among elves, but whether or not He Himself is an elf is rather ambiguous, and at the very least this relates to a close kinship with Frey who is the Lord of Alfheim. The Vanir also seem more likely candidates for marriage to Valkyries or swan-women, which Wayland was wed to.

© 2008-2010 Nornoriel Vanyahildë
(portion on Gullveig by Nicanthiel Hrafnhild)