Of course no discussion on the Vanir would be complete without mentioning the elves.  What we know from the lore beyond a doubt is that the Vanir are very closely aligned with the elves, but there is much confusion as to what an elf actually is, what their relationship is to the Vanir, and to mankind.  I hope to clear up some confusion with this essay, based in my research as well as my personal dealings with the elvenfolk.

The most common misconception in Heathenry about the elves is that the Alfar are dead male ancestors.  I would argue that they are distinct beings, but it is probably easier for some American Heathens to believe in ancestors rather than make an effort to reach out to supernatural demi-gods.  There does seem to be some evidence that the Scandinavians thought the nisse or tomten were spirits of the male ancestors guarding the farm, or the spirit of the farm's first inhabitants, and it is noted that Frey's followers were typically buried in mounds - which themselves were used for utiseta, often communicating with the ancestral dead - and He Himself was the Lord of Alfheim (see below).  Just as Freya's title Vanadis correlates with Disir or female ancestors, I can see how some would think the Alfar under Frey are male ancestors.  But in general the accounts of elven-type spirits as the dead are not the majority and I can scarcely think the idea that the elves are just another name for the dead was a widespread belief.  (Of course, this is without getting into the multiple accounts of elves intermarrying with humans and having half-elven children, e.g. Thidrek's Saga, and the Saga of Hrolf Kraki.)

Many also think there is not much distinction between the elves and Vanir, and that the Vanir are a "higher" form of elf.  This has been posited by scholars such as Grigsby as well as Heathens.  The confusion is deepened by the recurring phrase "AEsir and the elves", in the Eddas.  Yet if we look at Alvissmal, where the dwarf Alviss is challenged by Thor to name each race of beings' words for things in the worlds and cosmos, the Vanir and elves are mentioned separately.  However, their connection to the Vanir is shown by the mention of Frey being given Alfheim as a tooth-gift (Grimnirsmal), and the elves are generally thought to be spirits of nature which would fit in well with the Vanir as Gods of nature, particularly that tamed and cultivated by man.  It is possible that the elves and Vanir are related in the same way the giants and Aesir are related: the difference is not so much that of lineage than of alignment and function.  The Vanir would be the Powers of the forces of nature itself, and the elves would serve as genus locii - helpers of the larger Powers.  This idea of elves as nature spirits is reinforced multiple times throughout the major and minor primary sources:

Þorvarð healed but slowly; and when he could get on his feet he went to see Þorðís, and asked her what was best to help his healing."A hill there is," answered she, "not far away from here, where elves have their haunt. Now get you the bull that Kormák killed, and redden the outer side of the hill with its blood, and make a feast for the elves with its flesh. Then thou wilt be healed."
-Kormaks Saga

The feast of Winternights, to commemorate the beginning of winter, was held in what Americans would regard to be late autumn.  This was traditionally associated with Frey, giving plenty and protection through the cold months, such as the account in Gisla Saga Chapter IX: "Thorgrim meant to have a harvest feast on the first night of winter, and to sacrifice to Frey."  This also seems to be the time when the Alfablót was held, when the crops had been harvested and the animals were most fat.  Unlike the great blótar, the alfablót was a local celebration for homesteads, administered by the lady of the house.  We do not have any surviving ritual format because these rites were surrounded by secrecy, and strangers were not welcome during the celebrations (such as befell the Norwegian skald Sigvatr þorvarðarson, who gave a firsthand account). (Larsson, Mats G (2002). Götarnas Riken : Upptäcktsfärder Till Sveriges Enande. Bokförlaget Atlantis AB )

The elves of Norse mythology were depicted in folklore usually as female, living in hills and mounds of stone.  They were said to be stunningly beautiful and to live in the forest with the Erlking, or Elf King.  They were pictured as fair-haired, dressed in white, and nasty when offended.  To this day many Icelanders still believe in elves.  Elves are also a major factor in Anglo-Saxon cosmology, called ylfe or ælfe.  There is a charm in Anglo-Saxon to use against malicious elves and other beings:

Against a sudden stitch, feverfew and the red nettle, that grows through a house, and plantain; boil in butter.

They were loud, lo! loud, when over the hill they rode,
They were fierce when over the land they rode.
Shield yourself now, to survive this violence.
Out, little spear, if you are in here!
I stood under linden, under a light shield,
Where the mighty women gathered their main strength,
And sent their yelling spears;
I will send another after them
An arrow flying in their faces.
Out little spear, if you are in here!
A smith sat, wrought a small knife,
???? iron, wondrously smitten.
Six smiths sat, working war-spears.
Out spear, not in, spear!
If there is anything in here of iron,
Made by hags, it shall melt. Or were shot in the blood,
Or were shot in a limb, may your life never be harmed;
If it was the shot of Aesir, or if it was the shot of elves,
Or it was the shot of hags, I will help you now.
This to cure you of Aesir-shot, this to cure you of elf-shot,
This to cure you of hag-shot; I will help you.
Hurry then to the head of the mountain.
Be you whole, may the Lord help you.

Take then the knife; plunge it into the liquid.
-Wið færstice

There was also a charm against "the water-elf disease":

If anyone has the water-elf disease, then his nails will be wan and his eyes will water and he will wish to look down. Give him this medicine: Carline thistle, hassock, the lower part of iris, yewberry, lupine, elecampne, marshmallow head, fen-mint, dill, lily, cock's-spur grass, pennyroyal, horehound, dock, elder, earthgall, wormwood, strawberry leaves, comfrey; mix with ale, add holy water to it, then sing this charm three times:

I have bound the injuries with the best battle-bonds,
So the injuries neither burn nor burst,
Nor spread, nor go septic,
Nor itch; nor the wounds grow,
Nor the abcess inflame; but he holds his health himself,
Nor ache more than earth aches your ear.

Sing this many times:

Earth forbear you with all her might and main.

These charms can be sung on a wound.


There are accounts in English and Scottish (heavily influenced by Norse as well as Gaels) of elves interacting with humans, especially the legend of Thomas the Rhymer, said to have lived between 1220-1298, who slept with the Queen of Elphame and was taken to Fairyland, and when too much time had passed in his world, went back home but asked for a token to remember her by, at which point he was made a prophet and did in fact make many accurate prophecies.

Pucks, hobgoblins, brownies, and fairies all seem to be related to elves if not quite the same species.  In addition, it is likely the Svartalfar, or "Swarthy Elves", are a name for the dwarves, who would have the skill of the elves if not necessarily their beauty.  From here we get into the other side of the elven equation, that of the Dökkalfar.

There is one place there [in the sky] that is called the Elf Home (Álfheimr). People live there that are named the light elves (Ljósálfar). But the dark elves (Dökkálfar) live below in earth, and they are unlike them in appearance – and more unlike them in reality. The Light Elves are brighter than the sun in appearance, but the Dark Elves are blacker than pitch.
Gylfaginning 17, Prose Edda
 
While the dwarves have been known to help or be harmful to humanity - just like the light elves - the Dökkalfar, or Drow/Trow (re the folklore of the Orkneys and Shetland Islands), are seen as almost (with very few exceptions) universally malicious.  There seems to be a connection with the Mara, or "night-hag", which in Scandinavian folklore was responsible for nightmares, sleep paralysis, and even death in one's sleep.  With the light-elves it seems they are more capricious and would only attack for an offense, but those who would deliberately invoke the Dökkalfar do so at their own peril.

Not all wights in the Americas can be neatly classified into the Germanic categories of elves, giants, and trolls.  At the same time, regardless of how the beings may manifest with the changes in the topography and climate, it seems the Germanic peoples would have called most nature-guardians "elves" because that was the word they had (and would refer to most large land-masses or elementals as "giants" because, again, that was the word they had).  This doesn't mean one should expect to find Legolas or Arwen in the southwestern United States, or a jungle in Africa, but it does mean as a purely generic term, the word "elf" is acceptable.

It stands to reason that all nature spirits are related somehow, living on Earth Herself, and so I honor them as a duty to Frey as well as the fact that they have been good to me since early childhood and are more real to me than the Gods.  I believe the elves are both the guardian spirits of place here in Midgard and have their own world "beyond the veil" in Alfheim, and there are certain places of power in the world that can take us through that veil into Faery.  Those who are sworn to the Vanir Gods and are sincere will find the magic of the elves waiting for them if they wish.  The elves are not exactly the same as the Vanir, but they can be helpful allies with protection of property and healing of body and spirit, and bring joy and beauty into one's life.


© 2009 Svartesól