renegadetribune--2020-08-15--5 New CBD Studies In 2020 Reveal Why So Many Are Choosing It Over Big Pharma Drugs

The free market has spoken .
Americans prefer cannabis-related products to Big Pharma drugs for a host of ailments .
They ’ re choosing cannabis because it works for them and now science is beginning to back them up .
The cannabis plant is proving to be very beneficial to human health despite the federal government ’ s continued prohibition as a Schedule 1 controlled substance .
Schedule 1 classification substances have “ no currently accepted medical use ” and a “ high potential for abuse.
” Yet governments can no longer deny the evidence that cannabis is an effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects .
Although the legality of cannabis remains murky in the United States , CBD ( Cannabidiol ) products have exploded in popularity due to its status as a dietary supplement .
Recent studies are frankly making the feds look foolish , especially studies about CBD flowers and derivatives without THC that have practically no “ potential for abuse ” because they do not cause a “ high ” typically associated with smoking cannabis .
Low-THC , high-CBD strains first burst onto the scene under the name “ Charlotte ’ s Web ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to treat her severe epilepsy with significantly fewer side effects than available pharmaceuticals .
Charlotte ’ s Web had less than 0.3 % THC .
It was so effective that the FDA approved CBD use to treat seizures even for children two and older in 2018 .
“ Because of the adequate and well-controlled clinical studies that supported this approval , prescribers can have confidence in the drug ’ s uniform strength and consistent delivery that support appropriate dosing needed for treating patients with these complex and serious epilepsy syndromes , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
at the time .
As a result of the Hemp Farming Act , proposed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018 , CBD products are now widely available in the United States including smokable buds from places like Mybud Shop .
The Hemp Farming Act also enabled several new “ well-controlled ” studies showing the amazing promise of cannabis without THC .
Here are five studies published in medical journals in 2020 showing CBD ’ s diverse treatments for humans and pets .
A pilot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinical Pharmacology last month showed that CBD significantly improved severe behavioral problems in young people with intellectual disabilities like autism with few side effects .
Researchers from Murdoch Children ’ s Research Institute ( MCRI ) “ recorded a clinically significant change in participants ’ irritability , aggression , self-injury , and yelling .
The intervention was also found to be safe and well-tolerated by most study participants , ” according to the press release about the findings .
“ Current medications carry a high risk of side-effects , with vulnerable people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side-effects , ” said Associate Professor at MCRI , Daryl Efron , who led the study .
“ Common side-effects of antipsychotics , such as weight gain and metabolic syndrome , have huge health effects for a patient group already at increased risk of chronic illness.
” Efron added that research is being spurred by desperate parents dealing with autism and other neurological issues who have been giving their autistic children unregulated cannabis .
A University of New Mexico study from May 2020 revealed that CBD dramatically reduced neuropathic pain in mice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanical pain sensitivity 10-fold for several hours in mice with chronic post-operative neuropathic pain .
“ Our lab utilizes a unique nerve injury model mimicking human neuropathic pain that has allowed demonstration of hemp ’ s reversal of the pain-related behavior , ” said one of the lead investigators , Dr. Karin N. Westlund , Department of Anesthesiology .
“ Cannabis plants with low THC are still psychoactive , but tend to result in less psychedelic experiences , while still offering profound and often immediate relief from symptoms such as pain , anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dr. Jacob Miguel Vigil , associate professor in the UNM Psychology Department .
Another study from April by Baylor University found that CBD significantly improved symptoms in dogs suffering from arthritis which may indicate the similar results for humans .
The study concluded : “ CBD is rapidly increasing in popularity due to its anecdotal health benefits for a variety of conditions , from reducing anxiety to helping with movement disorders , ” said corresponding author Dr. Matthew Halpert , research faculty in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows that spontaneous models of arthritis , particularly in domesticated canine models , are more appropriate for assessing human arthritis pain treatments than other animal models .
The biological characteristics of arthritis in dogs closely resemble those of the human condition , ” Halpert added .
In March of this year the University of Southern Denmark published a study in the journal Scientific Reports which showed Cannabidiol ( CBD ) fights antibiotic resistant bacteria .
“ When we combined CBD and antibiotics , we saw a more powerful effect than when treating with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kill a certain number of bacteria , we needed less antibiotics , ” researchers said .
If that isn ’ t incredible enough , an April study by researchers at Colorado State University has shown CBD ’ s promise in fighting aggressive brain cancer !
“ Our work shows that CBD has the potential to provide an effective , synergistic glioblastoma therapy option and that it should continue to be vigorously studied , ” said Chase Gross , a student in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master of Science program at Colorado State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBD slows cancer cell growth and is toxic to both canine and human glioblastoma cell lines , ” Gross added .
“ Importantly , the differences in anti-cancer effects between CBD isolate and extract appear to be negligible.
” Behavioral problems , pain , arthritis , drug-resistant bacteria , and brain cancer are all now part of a growing list of diseases and ailments that are being treated by this natural remedy with almost no side effects .
It ’ s true that the budding CBD industry is funding most of these early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are experiencing first hand are beginning to be revealed by science .

By Steven Maxwell
The free market has spoken. Americans prefer cannabis-related products to Big Pharma drugs for a host of ailments. They’re choosing cannabis because it works for them and now science is beginning to back them up.
The cannabis plant is proving to be very beneficial to human health despite the federal government’s continued prohibition as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Schedule 1 classification substances have “no currently accepted medical use” and a “high potential for abuse.” Yet governments can no longer deny the evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for many things without harmful side effects.
Although the legality of cannabis remains murky in the United States, CBD (Cannabidiol) products have exploded in popularity due to its status as a dietary supplement. Recent studies are frankly making the feds look foolish, especially studies about CBD flowers and derivatives without THC that have practically no “potential for abuse” because they do not cause a “high” typically associated with smoking cannabis.
Low-THC, high-CBD strains first burst onto the scene under the name “Charlotte’s Web” named for a young girl who used it to treat her severe epilepsy with significantly fewer side effects than available pharmaceuticals. Charlotte’s Web had less than 0.3% THC. It was so effective that the FDA approved CBD use to treat seizures even for children two and older in 2018.
From the FDA announcement:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol) [CBD] oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in patients two years of age and older. This is the first FDA-approved drug that contains a purified drug substance derived from marijuana. It is also the first FDA approval of a drug for the treatment of patients with Dravet syndrome.
“Because of the adequate and well-controlled clinical studies that supported this approval, prescribers can have confidence in the drug’s uniform strength and consistent delivery that support appropriate dosing needed for treating patients with these complex and serious epilepsy syndromes,” remarked FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. at the time.
As a result of the Hemp Farming Act, proposed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018, CBD products are now widely available in the United States including smokable buds from places like Mybud Shop.
The Hemp Farming Act also enabled several new “well-controlled” studies showing the amazing promise of cannabis without THC. Here are five studies published in medical journals in 2020 showing CBD’s diverse treatments for humans and pets.
Study 1: CBD Improves Severe Behavioral Associated with Autism
A pilot study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology last month showed that CBD significantly improved severe behavioral problems in young people with intellectual disabilities like autism with few side effects.
Researchers from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) “recorded a clinically significant change in participants’ irritability, aggression, self-injury, and yelling. The intervention was also found to be safe and well-tolerated by most study participants,” according to the press release about the findings.
“Current medications carry a high risk of side-effects, with vulnerable people with intellectual disability being less able to report side-effects,” said Associate Professor at MCRI, Daryl Efron, who led the study. “Common side-effects of antipsychotics, such as weight gain and metabolic syndrome, have huge health effects for a patient group already at increased risk of chronic illness.”
Efron added that research is being spurred by desperate parents dealing with autism and other neurological issues who have been giving their autistic children unregulated cannabis.
Study 2: CBD Reduces Post-Operative Pain By 10-Fold
A University of New Mexico study from May 2020 revealed that CBD dramatically reduced neuropathic pain in mice. Research showed that legal hemp oil reduced mechanical pain sensitivity 10-fold for several hours in mice with chronic post-operative neuropathic pain.
For several hours after Cannabis consumption the mice demonstrated effective pain relief, approaching the mechanical pain sensitivity of naïve control mice that did not undergo the surgical operation.
“Our lab utilizes a unique nerve injury model mimicking human neuropathic pain that has allowed demonstration of hemp’s reversal of the pain-related behavior,” said one of the lead investigators, Dr. Karin N. Westlund, Department of Anesthesiology.
“Cannabis plants with low THC are still psychoactive, but tend to result in less psychedelic experiences, while still offering profound and often immediate relief from symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and depression,” says co-researcher, Dr. Jacob Miguel Vigil, associate professor in the UNM Psychology Department.
Study 3: CBD Significantly Reduces Arthritis Symptoms in Dogs
Another study from April by Baylor University found that CBD significantly improved symptoms in dogs suffering from arthritis which may indicate the similar results for humans. The study concluded:
Published in the journal PAIN, the study first showed both in laboratory tests and mouse models that CBD, a non-addictive product derived from hemp (cannabis), can significantly reduce the production of inflammatory molecules and immune cells associated with arthritis. Subsequently, the study showed that in dogs diagnosed with the condition, CBD treatment significantly improved quality of life as documented by both owner and veterinarian assessments. This work supports future scientific evaluation of CBD for human arthritis.
“CBD is rapidly increasing in popularity due to its anecdotal health benefits for a variety of conditions, from reducing anxiety to helping with movement disorders,” said corresponding author Dr. Matthew Halpert, research faculty in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor.
“We studied dogs because experimental evidence shows that spontaneous models of arthritis, particularly in domesticated canine models, are more appropriate for assessing human arthritis pain treatments than other animal models. The biological characteristics of arthritis in dogs closely resemble those of the human condition,” Halpert added.
Study 4: CBD Helps Fight Resistant Bacteria
In March of this year the University of Southern Denmark published a study in the journal Scientific Reports which showed Cannabidiol (CBD) fights antibiotic resistant bacteria.
In the study, CBD was used to enhance the effect of the antibiotic bacitracin against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria; a major human pathogen that frequently causes community- and hospital-acquired disease.
“When we combined CBD and antibiotics, we saw a more powerful effect than when treating with antibiotics alone. So, in order to kill a certain number of bacteria, we needed less antibiotics,” researchers said.
Three things happened with the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, when the researchers treated them with the combination in their study: The bacteria could no longer divide normally. The expression of certain key genes (cell division and autolysis genes) in the bacteria was lowered. The bacterial membrane became unstable.
Study 5: CBD Kills Brain Cancer Cells
If that isn’t incredible enough, an April study by researchers at Colorado State University has shown CBD’s promise in fighting aggressive brain cancer!
Findings from a new study examining human and canine brain cancer cells suggest that cannabidiol could be a useful therapy for a difficult-to-treat brain cancer. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from marijuana. The study looked at glioblastoma, an often-deadly form of brain cancer that grows and spreads very quickly. Even with major advancements in treatment, survival rates for this cancer have not improved significantly.
“Our work shows that CBD has the potential to provide an effective, synergistic glioblastoma therapy option and that it should continue to be vigorously studied,” said Chase Gross, a student in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master of Science program at Colorado State University.
“Our experiments showed that CBD slows cancer cell growth and is toxic to both canine and human glioblastoma cell lines,” Gross added. “Importantly, the differences in anti-cancer effects between CBD isolate and extract appear to be negligible.”
Behavioral problems, pain, arthritis, drug-resistant bacteria, and brain cancer are all now part of a growing list of diseases and ailments that are being treated by this natural remedy with almost no side effects. It’s true that the budding CBD industry is funding most of these early studies, but the results that many people are experiencing first hand are beginning to be revealed by science.
This article originally appeared on Activist Post.
Image: Pixabay
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Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-08-15--Bronfman Family Billionaires Implicated In NXIVM Hollywood ‘Sex Cult’

What Happened : When Hollywood actress Allison Mack became one of multiple actresses t0 be implicated in the “ NXIVM ” sex cult case , it really opened more people ’ s eyes to the reality of sex trafficking in ‘ high ’ places .
NXIVM was a well known company that supposedly offered executive success programs but hid behind this description and mainly operated as a sex cult .
Mack is still awaiting her sentencing , she and multiple other actresses have been accused of working for the cult in a management capacity .
Mack ’ s job was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the false pretence of female empowerment .
The leader , Keith Raniere , is currently in prison and awaiting sentencing for sex-trafficking .
He was also accused of raping girls as young as 12–15 years old , imprisoning a woman for 18 months , child pornography , and more .
Women and possibly even children lured into the program were then convinced to sign up for a more “ advanced program ” called Dominus Obsequious Sororium , which required them to basically turn their lives over to the leader , Raniere .
Dominus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly translates to “ Master Over The Slave Women.
” In this case , sex slaves .
What ’ s even more concerning is the fact that Keith Raniere , his company , and those associated with the company ran a number of child-care facilities all over the world , under the name of “ Rainbow Cultural Garden.
” RCG lives on in France through a company called Athal Education Group , which Sara Bronfman-Igtet and her husband , Basit Igtet , founded and financed , the French news outlet Le Dauphine reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heir to the Seagram liquor fortune .
The picture you see above is her father , Edgar Bronfman receiving a medal from close friend , Bill Clinton .
Her sister , Clare Bronfman , pleaded guilty in April to charges related to her role in NXIVM .
Trusts and bank accounts the Bronfman sisters controlled bankrolled Raniere to the tune of $ 150 million from 2004 through 2010 , Vanity Fair reported .
An Albany home tied to the Rainbow Cultural Garden was raided by the feds , while British authorities were investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source ) It ’ s hard to find decent information regarding updates .
According to Buzzfeed , “ Igtet was deeply involved in NXIVM , the celebrity “ sex cult ” whose leadership is now under federal indictment , two sources said .
Igtet proselytized for the group , BuzzFeed News has learned , while his wife , the heir Sara Bronfman , reportedly kept the cult afloat with tens of millions of dollars.
” Clare is currently awaiting her sentencing , The company , like in Epstein ’ s case , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation .
The Bronfman family is also associated closely with Leslie Wexner , allegedly the source of much of Epstein ’ s mysterious wealth , and other mob-linked “ philanthropists.
” You can read more about those associations here .
If you want to learn more about the Bronfman family , this article is a great place to start and really outlines the power that these kinds of families hold , and the corruption they ’ ve been a part of .
There are many strange facts about this cult , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department refused to act on a complaint from a former cult member who alleged that Dr Brandon Porter , 44 , forced her to watch disturbing rape and dismemberment videos for a “ fright study ” he was conducting , the New York Post reports , Jennifer Kobelt , actress and the former member of the notorious cult said in her August 2017 complaint that Porter may have performed his “ fright study ” on as many as 100 people .
Similar to the Jeffrey Epstein case , the NXIVM case has connections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond the Bronfman family and people in Hollywood .
As the Rolling Stone Reports : “ A former member of NXIVM testified on Monday that members of the alleged cult tried to buy power and influence by currying favor with politicians and making illegal campaign contributions to the Clintons.
” ( source ) “ There are strange political connections as well .
Mark Vicente , a documentary filmmaker and former high-ranking member of the group , testified at the trial of NXIVM head Keith Raniere that Clare Bronfman , the billionaire Seagram ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization , approached him and a few other members of the group to help her make a contribution to a Clinton campaign.
” ( source )

By
What Happened: When Hollywood actress Allison Mack became one of multiple actresses t0 be implicated in the “NXIVM” sex cult case, it really opened more people’s eyes to the reality of sex trafficking in ‘high’ places. NXIVM was a well known company that supposedly offered executive success programs but hid behind this description and mainly operated as a sex cult. Mack is still awaiting her sentencing, she and multiple other actresses have been accused of working for the cult in a management capacity. Mack’s job was to lure women into the program under the false pretence of female empowerment. The leader, Keith Raniere, is currently in prison and awaiting sentencing for sex-trafficking. He was also accused of raping girls as young as 12–15 years old, imprisoning a woman for 18 months, child pornography, and more.
Women and possibly even children lured into the program were then convinced to sign up for a more “advanced program” called Dominus Obsequious Sororium, which required them to basically turn their lives over to the leader, Raniere. Dominus Obsequious Sororium is a quasi-Latin phrase that roughly translates to “Master Over The Slave Women.” In this case, sex slaves.
What’s even more concerning is the fact that Keith Raniere, his company, and those associated with the company ran a number of child-care facilities all over the world, under the name of “Rainbow Cultural Garden.” RCG lives on in France through a company called Athal Education Group, which Sara Bronfman-Igtet and her husband, Basit Igtet, founded and financed, the French news outlet Le Dauphine reported in December 2018.
Bronfman-Igtet is an heir to the Seagram liquor fortune. The picture you see above is her father, Edgar Bronfman receiving a medal from close friend, Bill Clinton. Her sister, Clare Bronfman, pleaded guilty in April to charges related to her role in NXIVM. Trusts and bank accounts the Bronfman sisters controlled bankrolled Raniere to the tune of $150 million from 2004 through 2010, Vanity Fair reported.
An Albany home tied to the Rainbow Cultural Garden was raided by the feds, while British authorities were investigating a Rainbow-affiliated school in London. (source) It’s hard to find decent information regarding updates.
According to Buzzfeed, “Igtet was deeply involved in NXIVM, the celebrity “sex cult” whose leadership is now under federal indictment, two sources said. Igtet proselytized for the group, BuzzFeed News has learned, while his wife, the heir Sara Bronfman, reportedly kept the cult afloat with tens of millions of dollars.”
Clare is currently awaiting her sentencing,
Clare Bronfman, an heiress to the Seagram liquor fortune, was among the most high-profile members of a cultlike organization in which some women were branded and compelled to have sex with the leader. Her wealth helped finance the group, known as Nxivm. But on Friday afternoon, Ms. Bronfman, 40, pleaded guilty in Federal District Court in Brooklyn to charges arising from an indictment filed last year against her and several other followers of the group’s leader, Keith Raniere. (source)
The company, like in Epstein’s case, was also possibly used as a sexual blackmail operation. The Bronfman family is also associated closely with Leslie Wexner, allegedly the source of much of Epstein’s mysterious wealth, and other mob-linked “philanthropists.” You can read more about those associations here.
If you want to learn more about the Bronfman family, this article is a great place to start and really outlines the power that these kinds of families hold, and the corruption they’ve been a part of.
There are many strange facts about this cult, for example, eight months after the state Health Department refused to act on a complaint from a former cult member who alleged that Dr Brandon Porter, 44, forced her to watch disturbing rape and dismemberment videos for a “fright study” he was conducting, the New York Post reports, Jennifer Kobelt, actress and the former member of the notorious cult said in her August 2017 complaint that Porter may have performed his “fright study” on as many as 100 people.
Similar to the Jeffrey Epstein case, the NXIVM case has connections to some very well known people, beyond the Bronfman family and people in Hollywood. As the Rolling Stone Reports:
“A former member of NXIVM testified on Monday that members of the alleged cult tried to buy power and influence by currying favor with politicians and making illegal campaign contributions to the Clintons.” (source) “There are strange political connections as well. Mark Vicente, a documentary filmmaker and former high-ranking member of the group, testified at the trial of NXIVM head Keith Raniere that Clare Bronfman, the billionaire Seagram’s heiress and alleged benefactor of the organization, approached him and a few other members of the group to help her make a contribution to a Clinton campaign.” (source)
(Read the rest)
This article originally appeared at Collective Evolution.
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Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-08-15--After Multiple Ft. Hood Soldiers Murdered, 2 More Soldiers Arrested Child Trafficking Sting

The Fort Hood military base in Texas has come under extreme scrutiny in recent months as numerous dead soldiers were found on or around the base .
This week , the base was in the news again after two Fort Hood soldiers were caught up in the bust of a child trafficking ring .
The soldiers were among nine Texas residents who were arrested during a two-day child sex trafficking sting in Killeen , the city where the base is located .
“ The overall goal of this joint effort was to locate and arrest subjects who were willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage in sexual acts , ” police spokeswoman Ofelia Miramontez said , according to KWTX .
Miramontez said that social media exchanges between the men running the organization and undercover agents showed that they knowingly traded money , drugs , and alcohol “ for sexual acts with girls they believed were 15 or 16 years of age.
” The men arrested include 25-year-old , Anthony Xavier Antwon of Fort Hood , 40-year-old Javier Perez , of Austin , 21-year-old Brian Harley Flynn , of Temple , 25-year-old Brandon Anthony Lee , of Killeen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lott , 30-year-old Timmy Jones Jr. , of Fort Hood , 39-year-old Shaun Paul Moore , of Kempner , 28-year-old Rakeem Jamal Nelson , of Killeen , and 32-year-old Pierre Jean , of Killeen .
This news comes on the heels of another sex trafficking bust that took place last month in which 6 Fort Hood soldiers were arrested in a sex trafficking sting .
It also comes after a string of suspicious and outright violent and gruesome deaths of soldiers .
The first missing soldier to be reported by the national media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 21st .
The remains were identified as 24-year-old soldier Gregory Morales , who had been missing for months .
His death was not even being investigated , as officials with the Army believed that he deserted the base , but now they do suspect that he was murdered .
Then on July 1st , the body of 20-year-old Vanessa Guillen was found near the base .
A suspect in that case , Fort Hood soldier Aaron Robinson , shot and killed himself as police moved in to arrest him .
Then last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body was found 15 miles outside of the military base , making it the third body found in just the last month .
The remains were identified as 26-year-old Mejhor Morta , a soldier from Florida who just joined the army last year as a mechanic .
Countless people have taken to social media after the discovery of Morta ’ s body and have called for the closing of Fort Hood .
If we go back a few more months , there are even more bodies .
Pfc .
Brandon Rosecrans , 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wound near his burning Jeep on May 18 .
Spc .
Freddy Delacruz Jr. , 23 , was among three victims found dead of gunshot wounds at an off-base apartment complex on March 14 .
Spc .
Christopher Sawyer , 29 , was found unresponsive in his on-post residence on March 9 .
Spc .
Shelby Jones , 20 , was shot and killed at a strip club near Fort Hood on March 1 .
In addition to the recent string of murders , the base is generally not a safe place for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study , Fort Hood had the highest number of reported sexual assaults and rapes of any US military facility worldwide , based on data from 2014 .
Fort Hood is one of ten Army bases in the United States that are named after former Confederate generals .
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking .
please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1 ( 888 ) 373-7888 , texting HELP or INFO to 233733 , or visiting humantraffickinghotline.org .
According to the Texas Attorney General ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims of youth and minor sex trafficking in Texas at any given time , along with 234,000 victims of labor trafficking .
It ’ s estimated that 25 million children are enslaved worldwide .
John Vibes is an author and researcher who organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference .
He also has a publishing company where he offers a censorship free platform for both fiction and non-fiction writers .
You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Twitter .
John just won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be working to help others through his experience , if you wish to contribute to his treatments consider subscribing to his podcast to support .

By John Vibes
The Fort Hood military base in Texas has come under extreme scrutiny in recent months as numerous dead soldiers were found on or around the base. This week, the base was in the news again after two Fort Hood soldiers were caught up in the bust of a child trafficking ring. The soldiers were among nine Texas residents who were arrested during a two-day child sex trafficking sting in Killeen, the city where the base is located.
“The overall goal of this joint effort was to locate and arrest subjects who were willing to make overt efforts to pay minors to engage in sexual acts,” police spokeswoman Ofelia Miramontez said, according to KWTX.
Miramontez said that social media exchanges between the men running the organization and undercover agents showed that they knowingly traded money, drugs, and alcohol “for sexual acts with girls they believed were 15 or 16 years of age.”
The men arrested include 25-year-old, Anthony Xavier Antwon of Fort Hood, 40-year-old Javier Perez, of Austin, 21-year-old Brian Harley Flynn, of Temple, 25-year-old Brandon Anthony Lee, of Killeen, 42-year-old Dustin Edward Johnson, of Lott, 30-year-old Timmy Jones Jr., of Fort Hood, 39-year-old Shaun Paul Moore, of Kempner, 28-year-old Rakeem Jamal Nelson, of Killeen, and 32-year-old Pierre Jean, of Killeen.
This news comes on the heels of another sex trafficking bust that took place last month in which 6 Fort Hood soldiers were arrested in a sex trafficking sting. It also comes after a string of suspicious and outright violent and gruesome deaths of soldiers.
The first missing soldier to be reported by the national media was found dead near the base on June 21st. The remains were identified as 24-year-old soldier Gregory Morales, who had been missing for months. His death was not even being investigated, as officials with the Army believed that he deserted the base, but now they do suspect that he was murdered.
Then on July 1st, the body of 20-year-old Vanessa Guillen was found near the base. A suspect in that case, Fort Hood soldier Aaron Robinson, shot and killed himself as police moved in to arrest him. Then last month, another missing soldier’s body was found 15 miles outside of the military base, making it the third body found in just the last month. The remains were identified as 26-year-old Mejhor Morta, a soldier from Florida who just joined the army last year as a mechanic.
Countless people have taken to social media after the discovery of Morta’s body and have called for the closing of Fort Hood.
If we go back a few more months, there are even more bodies. Pfc. Brandon Rosecrans, 27, was found dead from a gunshot wound near his burning Jeep on May 18. Spc. Freddy Delacruz Jr., 23, was among three victims found dead of gunshot wounds at an off-base apartment complex on March 14. Spc. Christopher Sawyer, 29, was found unresponsive in his on-post residence on March 9. Spc. Shelby Jones, 20, was shot and killed at a strip club near Fort Hood on March 1.
In addition to the recent string of murders, the base is generally not a safe place for women. According to a 2018 RAND study, Fort Hood had the highest number of reported sexual assaults and rapes of any US military facility worldwide, based on data from 2014.
Fort Hood is one of ten Army bases in the United States that are named after former Confederate generals.
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking. please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1 (888) 373-7888, texting HELP or INFO to 233733, or visiting humantraffickinghotline.org.
According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, there are roughly 79,000 victims of youth and minor sex trafficking in Texas at any given time, along with 234,000 victims of labor trafficking. It’s estimated that 25 million children are enslaved worldwide.
Source: The Free Thought Project
John Vibes is an author and researcher who organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference. He also has a publishing company where he offers a censorship free platform for both fiction and non-fiction writers. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Twitter. John just won a 3-year-long battle with cancer, and will be working to help others through his experience, if you wish to contribute to his treatments consider subscribing to his podcast to support .
Share now!
Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-08-16--Dramatic Photos: Desperate For Provisions, Thousands Of Cars Line Up At Texas Food Bank

Renegade Editor ’ s Note : None of this has been caused by a devastating virus , but rather by the actions of a nefarious cabal of jewish supremacists and their Zionist Occupied Governments ( ZOGs ) , who have manufactured this crisis well in advance ( even before Event 201 ) .
Dramatic images released this week show thousands of cars stretching for miles , lining up for provisions at a Texas food bank as the state continues to deal with the effects of its coronavirus outbreak .
At a food drive held in Dallas County on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ” showed up , according to the Daily Mail .
Photographs show cars bumper to bumper while 90 volunteers worked to distribute 10,000 boxes of food .
People had started lining up for the food before dawn , hoping to get boxes that included dairy , canned goods , noodles , peanut butter and other basics .
Richard Archer , who showed up at the food bank this week , said : Diana King , another person at the food drive , told CBS : There ’ s times I open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
We make do with what we have and we make it stretch .
It helps pay a bill , so the water doesn ’ t get turned off .
The gas doesn ’ t get turned off .
Mortgage ?
We are right there on the borderline .
The scramble for free food comes as about 30 million Americans surveyed last month said that they “ didn ’ t have enough to eat.
” This marked about 12 % of all people polled .
At the same time , the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 million people remain unemployed nationwide as a result of the pandemic .
According to the Daily Mail , the numbers in Texas are dire : The economic situation in Texas has been deteriorating even as the number of new covid cases in the state peaked one month ago and has been declining ever since ( although some blame this on declining testing ) .
“ I actually live in West Dallas .
But I came this far just to get the help , ” Rene Hightower told CBS Dallas .
It goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had used their government benefits payments to buy deep out of the money Tesla calls , then everyone would be rich by now .

Renegade Editor’s Note: None of this has been caused by a devastating virus, but rather by the actions of a nefarious cabal of jewish supremacists and their Zionist Occupied Governments (ZOGs), who have manufactured this crisis well in advance (even before Event 201).
By Tyler Durden
Dramatic images released this week show thousands of cars stretching for miles, lining up for provisions at a Texas food bank as the state continues to deal with the effects of its coronavirus outbreak.
At a food drive held in Dallas County on Tuesday, cars from “the other side of the state” showed up, according to the Daily Mail. Photographs show cars bumper to bumper while 90 volunteers worked to distribute 10,000 boxes of food. People had started lining up for the food before dawn, hoping to get boxes that included dairy, canned goods, noodles, peanut butter and other basics.
Richard Archer, who showed up at the food bank this week, said:
If it wasn’t for this, we’d probably go hungry. With unemployment benefits cut, [my daughter’s] husband’s been laid off for three months. So, it’s just been a struggle. If it wasn’t for church, and food giveaways, the kids would be going hungry.
Diana King, another person at the food drive, told CBS:
There’s times I open the refrigerator and there’s little there. We make do with what we have and we make it stretch. It helps pay a bill, so the water doesn’t get turned off. The gas doesn’t get turned off. Mortgage? We are right there on the borderline.
The scramble for free food comes as about 30 million Americans surveyed last month said that they “didn’t have enough to eat.” This marked about 12% of all people polled. At the same time, the country is mired with record unemployment numbers. 28 million people remain unemployed nationwide as a result of the pandemic.
According to the Daily Mail, the numbers in Texas are dire:
Dallas County has recorded 55,787 cases of coronavirus and 794 deaths. In Texas there are 524,814 cases and 9,552 deaths. The positivity rate in Texas is 24.5 percent – the highest since the start of the pandemic.
The economic situation in Texas has been deteriorating even as the number of new covid cases in the state peaked one month ago and has been declining ever since (although some blame this on declining testing).
“I actually live in West Dallas. But I came this far just to get the help,” Rene Hightower told CBS Dallas. It goes without saying that if only these people had used their government benefits payments to buy deep out of the money Tesla calls, then everyone would be rich by now.
Source: Zerohedge
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renegadetribune--2020-08-16--Traces of Norse Mythology in the Isle of Man

P. M. C. KERMODE , F.S.A.SCOT.
, & c. ( Read before the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society , Ramsey , December 18th , 1903 . )
CARLYLE ( “ Heroes and Hero Worship ” ) has given us three good reasons for taking an interest in Scandinavian Paganism .
It is the latest , having continued till the eleventh century ; it was the creed of our fathers , the men whose blood still runs in our veins ; and , it has been so well preserved .
It might be added as a further reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Viking Mythology , that it was developed by the Scandinavian settlers in the British Isles , and took its final form under the hands of a few gifted poets of mixed Scandinavian and Celtic descent , and , most recent discovery of all , that it is here and here only–in Man and in the district of Cumberland , Westmoreland , and Lancashire–that one finds scenes and stories from this Viking faith depicted on our Christian sculptured stones of the eleventh , or twelfth and thirteenth centuries .
The Vikings appeared here first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded attack being in 798 , when they “ burned Inis Patrick , broke the shrine of Dachonna , and took the spoils of the sea.
” – “ Ann .
Ult.
” When Harold Haarfager was engaged in bringing all Norway under his sway , many of his countrymen , rather than submit , sailed westwards , greatly increasing the number of emigrants .
Having succeeded in establishing his kingdom , Harold followed in 883 , seeking to drive them out of the western islands .
From Caithness , Hebrides , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Faroes and Iceland , which owe their population to this circumstance , and it was among the latter that the epic prose compositions–the Sagas–originated .
Others sought refuge in the isles–the Sudreys–whither Harold chased them as far south as the Isle of Man .
It appears to have been about the end of this ninth century that they came finally to settle in our island , these settlers being closely connected with the founders of the Scandinavian kingdoms in York and in Dublin .
It was the descendants of these northern fathers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fluency , and vivid imagination , inspired the “ Eddic Poems , ” weaving into the older myths weird legends and fantastic tales founded on faint echoes of Celtic heathendom and distorted views of the Christian religion !
Their previous contact with our Celtic cousins in the Sudreys , and familiarity with their language , habits , and customs , and the connection of many of them by marriage ties , explain how they came to be received when they settled in our poor and sparsely-peopled island , not as foes , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the tenth century Man and the Sudreys were united with the Nordreys and Caithness under Sigurd Earl of the Orkneys .
Sigurd was captured by Olaf Tryggvason in the year 1000 , and only released upon his undertaking that the Orkneys should accept the Christian religion , as all Norway had already done .
The same year the Icelandic Althing formally legalized Christianity , and there can be no doubt that within the next few years the Scandinavian settlers generally had become at all events nominal Christians , and so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , before the last quarter of the century , we had a Norwegian–Roolwer ( Hrolfr ) –as Bishop in Man .
After the Battle of Largs , in 1263 , and the destruction by storm of the Norwegian fleet , and after the death , in 1265 , of our own king–Magnus , the Norwegian claims in Man were made over by treaty to Alexander III .
of Scotland .
Norse influence declined , and Norse traditions speedily died out or became overgrown and lost in the spread of our original Celtic folklore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilization and culture .
As pointed out in the Corp .
Poet .
Bor.
, the old Norse mythology , with its very primitive conceptions of the origin of the universe–the earth the flesh of a mighty giant , ocean his blood , the rocks his bones , heaven made out of his skull , clouds out of his brains , and so on ; its gods the personifications of natural forces or deified heroes ; its belief in ghosts living in barrows–ancestor worship ; all this gave way to the more complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contact with the Celtic folk and a smattering acquaintance with the Christian religion .
“ In this system Odin became King of the Slain in Battle , head of a royal race of Anses , a Charlemain of the Empyrean , with a splendid Hall , a host of Hand-maidens , a chosen guard of the fallen kings and heroes of all generations , who feast on ( boiled ) pork and mead , and spend the day in war-like sport , just as their earthly types did .
Then there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Warrior-Angels and the Elect against the Beast and the Dragon , and the Demons of Fire , an eschatology the origin of which is very plain.
” As the authors point out , however , this Wicking religion was never the accepted faith of the Norsemen , Danes , and Swedes .
Some of its most famous myths , such as that which transformed the gallows-tree–Yggdrasil ( lit.
, Odin ’ s Steed ) to a Tree of Life , may never have travelled beyond the single poem in which it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Besides the remarkable illustrations carved on stone , showing the hold their ancient myths and legends had on the sculptors of these Christian monuments in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries , we are able to trace them in many of the usages , rites , and customs which have come down to our own day , in sayings , and proverbs , and names–in a word , in our Folklore .
Now , as to the High Gods , or Anses , we are met with the curious fact , which our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding as a matter of course , that of the seven days of the week all but the first two are called after Scandinavian Gods .
The third day , Dies Martis , was assigned to Ty , Tiu , a god of war , the most daring of the gods .
It was he who placed his right hand in the jaws of the Fenri Wolf when that monster demanded such a pledge of good faith before suffering the gods to bind him in the charmed fetters ( gleipnir ) .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels the loss when in the last great battle he meets the hound Garm and each slays the other .
As we have no figure of Tiu , nor do I recognize him in our folklore , except that Tuesday was considered lucky , I pass on to the next .
Dies Mercurii , becomes the day of Odin , Woden , the supreme god , god of Heaven , the Heaven itself ( Ouranos ) ; the fountain-head of wisdom and founder of poetry , writing , and culture ; lord of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially of victory ; later , of magic and sorcery .
His is the creative power : out of Ash and Elm he made man and woman .
The later tales of his wonderful travels , his many names and disguises , his eloquence and magical power , may have suggested to the Romans a resemblance to Mercury ( Hermes ) .
He is represented as old , long-bearded , one-eyed .
A myth of the earliest type relates how his eye was given in pledge to Mimi , Giant of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deep Well of Wisdom .
He is clad in a blue cloak ( invisibility ) and , like Hermes , a broad-brimmed hat or a Hood , whence one of his many names–Grim , which became a favourite man ’ s name , and , as such occurs in two of our runic inscriptions .
Another name , Gautr , Father ( as in Vsp : – “ Upp reiss Odin alderen Gautr “ –Up rose Odin , the ancient sire ) , was also a favourite , and occurs as that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on a cross at Michael , claims to have “ made this and all in Man ” !
He is “ wielder of Gungnir , ” the spear , which , as he hurls it over the battlefield , all those over whom it passes are doomed to fall , and ” fare to Odin.
” He is accompanied by two wolves , Geri and Freki–Greed and Fierceness .
Two Ravens , Hugin and Munnin–Mind and Memory , fly through all the worlds and return to rest on his shoulders bringing him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The word Oðin appears to be related to Óðr ( A.S. , wod ; Eng.
, wood ) , mad , wild , furious , and with his tall white horse , Sleipnir , the slipper , which , by way of implying its exceeding swiftness , is represented as eight-footed , he appears in folklore throughout the north of Europe as the “ Wild Huntsman , ” of which we still meet with faint echoes in the Isle of Man , reduced to stories of Fairy hunters , hounds , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our harvest customs , such as that of the last sheaf , and , of the Laare-vane ( white horse ) , as may be seen by comparison with similar customs in the North of England and in Europe ; for example , in Saxony , the last clump of standing corn is dedicated to Woden for his horse .
In one or two Manks stories a Hair rope figures conspicuously .
Can this in any way refer to Odin ?
In Ynglinga-tal the halter is described as “ Hagbard ’ s goat-hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read of Odin ’ s horse-hair beard.
” From his name , Ygg ( Awe ) , comes that of the World–Ash , Ygg-drasil , Odin ’ s steed , because he hanged on the tree “ himself to himself a sacrifice , ” when he sought wisdom at Mimi ’ s burn .
( So , in English poetry , the Cross is “ Christ ’ s palfry.
” ) As lord of the gallows , all who die by hanging are thereby dedicated to Odin !
Under his name Hnikar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such we commemorate him in the Nickey , a favourite rig of fishing boats .
The term “ Old Nick ” of course refers to him .
Mr. Quine points out an ancient place-name– “ Nikkeson , ” a pool in Glen Roy , and another at Groudle , both having legends of a water sprite .
In the oldest myths we hear of him in his “ high-seat , ” looking out of the Litho-skialf–window in Heaven–whence all things can be seen .
In later Viking times Valhall , his dwelling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 540 doors , through any one of which 800 champions can ride abreast .
It is thatched with golden shields , raftered with shafts , and has the “ wall-panelling all covered with fair shields “ ; for torches , when required , Odin sends for swords !
Hither come the kings of the earth and the champions slain in battle , einherja , conducted and welcomed by the Valkyrie or shield-maidens , to spend their days in sport , their nights in feasting , till , at Ragnarök–the great Day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet in deadly combat the monsters , giants , and demons led to the attack by the treacherous Loki .
The fifth day , Dies Jovis , we call after Thor , son of Odin and Frigga ( mother earth ) , husband of Sif , the golden-haired goddess .
( Cornfield , Ceres . )
He is called Okuthor–Wagon Thor–as he never rides like the other gods , but always walks or drives the car drawn by two he-goats , Tann-gniostr and Tann-grisnir–Tooth-gnasher and Tooth-tearer .
He is the husbandman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and anger are ever directed against the evil powers that injure mortals and their possessions .
He is the special god of the Norwegians , and I think we may explain a phrase in S. Olaf ’ s Saga– “ Thor Engels-manna god , ok Odin Saxa god .
.
.
ok Frey Svia god ” –concerning which Vigfusson asks , “ Why the poet should describe him as the Englishman ’ s god , ” in this way , that the reference was to the western settlers–Norwegians–now one with the English !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life , red-bearded .
When he blows in anger in his beard , men say it is lightning ; when they hear the rumbling of his car across the heavens , it thunders .
He is lord of the “ Hammer of Might ” –Miolnir , the mauler ( Thunderbolt ) –which returns to him when he has thrown it ; he owns the ” Belt of Strength ” Medingarde .
Brides and the bodies of the dead are consecrated by his Hammer .
He is a constant foe to the giants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his fearful brood .
In Doomsday he slays the world-dragon–Jörmundgandr .
His dwelling–Bilskirnir ( Bright-Time ) –is in the south-west corner of the sky , whence summer lightnings come .
He enters largely into the medieval conception of the Devil !
We find traces of him in the Isle of Man in holding Thursday as a lucky day and favourite for weddings , also in our regard for the Rowan , which enters into one of his myths , where it is called “ Thor ’ s rescue.
” His following is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the many names compounded with his : –Thor-biaurn , at Baldwin , Braddan ( ? )
and Michael ( ? )
; Thor-fiak and Thor-libr , Braddan ; Thor-waltr , Andreas ; Thor-ulfr , Michael ; and Thurith at Conchan .
So also two of our existing names : –Corkill , from Mac Thor-Ketill , and Corlett , from Mac Thor-leod .
The next day , Dies Veneris , is dedicated to Frigga , wife of Odin , who , however , seems rather to resemble Juno than Venus .
As Odin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of men , ” and sometimes crosses his intentions in regard to them .
For example , a tale is told in medieval times to explain the origin of the Lombards .
By Frigga ’ s advice they set their women in the ranks , their hair so done as to resemble beards .
Odin , looking out of his window , exclaimed , “ Who are these Long-beards ?
” Thereupon Frigga confessed the trick , and claimed the customary forfeit for having bestowed upon them a new name–in this case victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we may trace our story of the Battle of Santwat , when the women of the north ( or of the south , for I have heard it told both ways , according as the narrator hailed from south or north ) appeared in the ranks , and the battle was won .
We have no illustration of Frigga , but I think one may recognize her in a usage now dying out .
On our Fair-days we would have cakes of ginger-bread ( fairings ) , moulded in the figures of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman conjoined , a horse , a man on horseback , and a cock .
The man was probably Thor , the woman Frigga , the man and woman Odin and Frigga , the man on horseback Odin , and the horse his steed Sleipnir .
The cock might be Giollan-kambi–Gold-comb–which crows in Valhalla , or possibly intended to represent Heimdall , who summons the gods by a blast on the Gialla-horn at the dawn of Ragnarök .
I have not seen this idea suggested by any Folklorist , but , that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that in Sweden cakes were baked in the form of Frey ’ s Boar on Yule eve .
In Fridthiof ’ s Saga , also , we read of baked images of gods , smeared with oil .
By Fridthiof ’ s fault a baked Baldr falls into the fire , blazes up , and burns down the house .
But Frigga-tag is also Fria-tag , and this arises from a confusion of Freya with the former , whose handmaid she was , and mistress of the Valkyrie .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caste than the Anses , merging into the Elves .
She was deserted by her husband Od , whom she seeks through the nine worlds , weeping tears of gold .
Her car is drawn by two cats , which animals are sacred to her .
The unluckiness of meeting a cat on New Year ’ s morning , and the popular association of the animal with witches may be due to a dim recollection of Freya .
Her brother Frey , son of Niördr , the special god of the Swedes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so with , Frigga , is lord of love and fruitfulness , of fertility and peace .
His car is drawn by the boar Gullinbursti , whose “ golden bristles ” light up the night like day , who runs with the speed of a horse .
His sword , which could put itself into motion against the brood of giants , he gave up for the fair Gerðr , which was held to be the cause of his death , when , at Ragnarökr , he had to stand single combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known in old Norse as Laugardagr ( Dan.
, Löverdag ) , and though the popular idea connected it with the “ bath ” ( tub-night ) , Grimm suggests a reference to Loki , son of giant Farbauti , a Fire god .
In the “ Edda ” we read of Utgarðaloki , son of Giant Forniot ; from early times these two have become merged .
Grimm thinks they may be compared to the Prometheus and the Hephaestus ( Vulcan ) of the Greeks .
In Viking days Loki was regarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of form , he is the only god of an evil disposition .
He is described as guileful , cunning , crafty , “ Back-biter of the Anses.
” “ Full oft hath he brought the Asa into great straits , and oft set them free by cunning redes.
” It was only on account of the constant amusement he afforded them that he was tolerated .
He is the mischief-maker , mocker , seducer , tempter ; and as such enters largely into our conception of the Devil .
In Jötunheim ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the witch Angrbotha , a family of dread monsters–a daughter , Hel , and two sons , Fenris wolf and Jörmundgand or Miðgardsworm .
When they grew up , Odin cast Hel into Nifleheim , and all who die of sickness or old age go to her .
A lost song , quoted by Snorri , gives a grim description of her surroundings in language worthy of the author of the “ Faerie Queen.
” Sleet-den hight her hall , Hunger her dish , Famine her knife , Starvation her spoon .
Despair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pale Woe the door , Care-bed the couch , and so on .
The Wolf a mighty monster , meets Odin at Ragnarök .
The Serpent , “ Earth ’ s girdle , ” he cast into the sea , where it grew so that it coiled itself round all the earth and bit its tail with its teeth .
Loki ’ s worst deed was the death of Baldr .
When at last the gods were as wroth with him as was to be weened , they chased and captured him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a wolf ’ s likeness , and he tore his brother Nan , with whose entrails they bound Loki over three great stones .
Then took Skadi , daughter of the giant Thiassi and wife of Njörd , an adder-worm and fastened it over him , so that the venom should drop on his face ; but Sigyn , his wife , stands by him and holds a dish under the venom drops , which , when full , she empties ; but while the venom drops on his face he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; “ that call ye earthquake .
There lieth he till the Doomsday of the gods.
” ( Pr .
Ed .
77 . )
1 In the end he breaks loose and steers the ship Naglfar ( Nail-board ) , made of dead men ’ s nails , at Ragnarök , when he meets Heimdal , and they are each other ’ s bane .
Our folklore notion that all nail-cuttings should be carefully destroyed may have reference to this , the idea being to delay the building of the Ship and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Besides the gods of the week , we have in our sculpturings a figure of Heimdall , and in our folklore faint traces of Balder .
Heimdall is the warder of the gods ’ dwelling and set in Himinbiorg at the foot of the Rainbow , Bifrost– “ quaking bridge , ” which leads from Earth to Asgarth .
He is “ the whitest of the Anses , ” a god of Day , and has the peculiarity of being born of nine mothers .
so he sings in a fragment of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created the three classes of men–Earls , Churls , and Thralls .
From his name Rig is derived that of Ericksgata , the Milky Way , the gods ’ highroad across the skies .
This is evidently the origin of our story of King Orry and the Milky Way .
Heimdall , the “ wind-listening god , ” hears the grass grow , and the wool on the back of the sheep .
As warder of the gods he has charge of the Gialla-horn , kept at the roots of the sacred Tree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nine worlds when he summons the gods for the last great battle , in which he meets and slays Loki , by whom he himself is slain .
Finally , so far as the Isle of Man is concerned , we have Balder , son of Odin and Frigga , a divinity of Light and Fire , in many respects resembling the Celtic Beal .
He was done to death through the treachery of Loki , who , learning that he was invulnerable to everything except the Mistletoe , maliciously placed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hoðr ( Hood ) , Balder ’ s blind brother , and , giving him the direction , urged him to throw it for sport .
So Balder fell dead .
Hermoðr , his twin brother , galloped away on Sleipnir to treat with Hel for his release , and finally she agreed that if indeed Balder were so beloved that every-thing quick and dead should weep for him , he might fare back to the Anses .
But when all things were willing to do so , the returning messengers passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Thokk , who replied , “ Thokk will bewail with dry tears Balder ’ s balefire .
.
.
.
Let Hel hold what she has.
” After Ragnarök , the Sibyl in Voluspa tells–Balder shall come back and “ all sorrows shall be healed.
” In the Hibbert Lectures , “ Celtic Heathendom , ” 1886 , Professor Rhys compares this story with the old Celtic myths of “ The Sun Hero.
” He points out that Balder was not simply the sun , but the summer sun , whose return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protracted waiting .
His dwelling-place in the heavens ( Breiðablik , Broad-gleam ) seems to refer to the arctic summer , when the sun prolongs his stay above the horizon .
Only one incident connected with Balder is figured in our sculpturings–the dwarf Lit , who ns across Thor ’ s path when he is going to hallow the funeral pyre .
We trace him in our folk-lore .
Kelly , in the “ Manx Society ’ s Dictionary , ” s.v .
“ Baaltinn , ” refers to the local custom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest hills , “ but the modern practice is for each balla or town to kindle a fire , so that the wind may drive the smoke over their corn fields , cattle , and habitations .
.
.
.
It is also the usage to put out the culinary fires on that day , and to re-kindle them with some of the sacred fire.
” He then refers to the mock engagements between Summer and Winter on May-day , Laaboaldyn ; also to the strewing of “ primroses ” and the crosses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires obtained almost all over Europe in early Christian times , but there is little doubt they were of Heathen origin .
The authors of “ Corp .
Poet .
Bor.
” ask : – “ Do the fires of John commemorate the burning of Balder ’ s body ?
” The northern Easter fires too were certainly heathen , and sacrificial in origin .
Grimm points out that the Celtic Belfires and the Teutonic Phol-days ( Balder ) were nearly midway betwixt Easter and Midsummer , but nearer Easter when it falls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winter , as Mr. Moore says in his “ Folklore , ” is undoubtedly of Scandinavian origin , but it is rather Swedish and Gothic than Norwegian .
Besides the Anses and the Vanir and the Elves ( light and dark ) , we have the Giants , generally hostile to the gods , but sometimes friendly .
They are the “ hill-folk ” or “ cave-men , ” and live at Jötunheim , on the edge of the Earth , which is imagined flat , and surrounded by the Ocean .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our folk-tales refer to others .
Then we have the Dwarves– “ not always baneful.
” The firmament is upheld by four of these , named after the cardinal points of the compass .
They live chiefly in rocks and caves underground , hence are gatherers and hoarders of precious stones and metals .
Trolls , from which we get a place-name–Trollaby–seem to be between Giants and Monsters .
Our Phynnodderee and Glashtin , if of Celtic origin , as seems likely , partake of the nature of Trolls , showing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s brood of monsters has already been referred to ; there were others also , as the Wolves of the Eclipse , “ the gripper and tearer of the Moon , the swallower of the loaf of the heavens , the destroyer of the sky ’ s light “ ; also the wicked , venomous “ tearer of corpses “ –Nidhogg , and , lastly , the fire-fiends , Mu-spilli , sons of treason , sons of destruction , etc .
Finally , we have to do with the semi-divine beings–the Heroes–who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The greatest of these , and the favourite from earliest times , was Sigurd the Volsung , whose slaying of the dragon Fafni and capture of the gold-hoard , with the effects of the baneful curse accompanying it , are vividly pourtrayed on at the least four of our sculptured stones .
Check out the illustrations here

P. M. C. KERMODE, F.S.A.SCOT., &c.
(Read before the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Ramsey, December 18th, 1903.)
CARLYLE (“Heroes and Hero Worship”) has given us three good reasons for taking an interest in Scandinavian Paganism. It is the latest, having continued till the eleventh century; it was the creed of our fathers, the men whose blood still runs in our veins; and, it has been so well preserved. It might be added as a further reason for very special interest in the later Viking Mythology, that it was developed by the Scandinavian settlers in the British Isles, and took its final form under the hands of a few gifted poets of mixed Scandinavian and Celtic descent, and, most recent discovery of all, that it is here and here only–in Man and in the district of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire–that one finds scenes and stories from this Viking faith depicted on our Christian sculptured stones of the eleventh, or twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
The Vikings appeared here first as pagans and plunderers, their earliest recorded attack being in 798, when they “burned Inis Patrick, broke the shrine of Dachonna, and took the spoils of the sea.”–“Ann. Ult.”
When Harold Haarfager was engaged in bringing all Norway under his sway, many of his countrymen, rather than submit, sailed westwards, greatly increasing the number of emigrants. Having succeeded in establishing his kingdom, Harold followed in 883, seeking to drive them out of the western islands. From Caithness, Hebrides, and the Orkneys, many made for the Faroes and Iceland, which owe their population to this circumstance, and it was among the latter that the epic prose compositions–the Sagas–originated. Others sought refuge in the isles–the Sudreys–whither Harold chased them as far south as the Isle of Man.
It appears to have been about the end of this ninth century that they came finally to settle in our island, these settlers being closely connected with the founders of the Scandinavian kingdoms in York and in Dublin. It was the descendants of these northern fathers and Celtic mothers, whose passionate eloquence, fluency, and vivid imagination, inspired the “Eddic Poems,” weaving into the older myths weird legends and fantastic tales founded on faint echoes of Celtic heathendom and distorted views of the Christian religion! Their previous contact with our Celtic cousins in the Sudreys, and familiarity with their language, habits, and customs, and the connection of many of them by marriage ties, explain how they came to be received when they settled in our poor and sparsely-peopled island, not as foes, but as friends and powerful allies.
By the end of the tenth century Man and the Sudreys were united with the Nordreys and Caithness under Sigurd Earl of the Orkneys. Sigurd was captured by Olaf Tryggvason in the year 1000, and only released upon his undertaking that the Orkneys should accept the Christian religion, as all Norway had already done. The same year the Icelandic Althing formally legalized Christianity, and there can be no doubt that within the next few years the Scandinavian settlers generally had become at all events nominal Christians, and so we find that in our own island, before the last quarter of the century, we had a Norwegian–Roolwer (Hrolfr)–as Bishop in Man.
After the Battle of Largs, in 1263, and the destruction by storm of the Norwegian fleet, and after the death, in 1265, of our own king–Magnus, the Norwegian claims in Man were made over by treaty to Alexander III. of Scotland. Norse influence declined, and Norse traditions speedily died out or became overgrown and lost in the spread of our original Celtic folklore and the power of the incoming English civilization and culture.
MYTHOLOGY
As pointed out in the Corp. Poet. Bor., the old Norse mythology, with its very primitive conceptions of the origin of the universe–the earth the flesh of a mighty giant, ocean his blood, the rocks his bones, heaven made out of his skull, clouds out of his brains, and so on; its gods the personifications of natural forces or deified heroes; its belief in ghosts living in barrows–ancestor worship; all this gave way to the more complex ideas of the Viking period, due to contact with the Celtic folk and a smattering acquaintance with the Christian religion.
“In this system Odin became King of the Slain in Battle, head of a royal race of Anses, a Charlemain of the Empyrean, with a splendid Hall, a host of Hand-maidens, a chosen guard of the fallen kings and heroes of all generations, who feast on (boiled) pork and mead, and spend the day in war-like sport, just as their earthly types did. Then there is a great Last Battle to be fought by the Warrior-Angels and the Elect against the Beast and the Dragon, and the Demons of Fire, an eschatology the origin of which is very plain.”
As the authors point out, however, this Wicking religion was never the accepted faith of the Norsemen, Danes, and Swedes. Some of its most famous myths, such as that which transformed the gallows-tree–Yggdrasil (lit., Odin’s Steed) to a Tree of Life, may never have travelled beyond the single poem in which it was wrought out by a master mind!
Besides the remarkable illustrations carved on stone, showing the hold their ancient myths and legends had on the sculptors of these Christian monuments in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, we are able to trace them in many of the usages, rites, and customs which have come down to our own day, in sayings, and proverbs, and names–in a word, in our Folklore.
Now, as to the High Gods, or Anses, we are met with the curious fact, which our familiarity with it alone accounts for our regarding as a matter of course, that of the seven days of the week all but the first two are called after Scandinavian Gods.
The third day, Dies Martis, was assigned to Ty, Tiu, a god of war, the most daring of the gods. It was he who placed his right hand in the jaws of the Fenri Wolf when that monster demanded such a pledge of good faith before suffering the gods to bind him in the charmed fetters (gleipnir). His hand was bitten off, and he feels the loss when in the last great battle he meets the hound Garm and each slays the other. As we have no figure of Tiu, nor do I recognize him in our folklore, except that Tuesday was considered lucky, I pass on to the next.
Dies Mercurii, becomes the day of Odin, Woden, the supreme god, god of Heaven, the Heaven itself (Ouranos); the fountain-head of wisdom and founder of poetry, writing, and culture; lord of battle and giver of the highest blessings, especially of victory; later, of magic and sorcery. His is the creative power: out of Ash and Elm he made man and woman. The later tales of his wonderful travels, his many names and disguises, his eloquence and magical power, may have suggested to the Romans a resemblance to Mercury (Hermes).
He is represented as old, long-bearded, one-eyed. A myth of the earliest type relates how his eye was given in pledge to Mimi, Giant of the Abyss, for a single draught of the deep Well of Wisdom. He is clad in a blue cloak (invisibility) and, like Hermes, a broad-brimmed hat or a Hood, whence one of his many names–Grim, which became a favourite man’s name, and, as such occurs in two of our runic inscriptions. Another name, Gautr, Father (as in Vsp:–“Upp reiss Odin alderen Gautr“–Up rose Odin, the ancient sire), was also a favourite, and occurs as that of our greatest Scandinavian sculptor, who, on a cross at Michael, claims to have “made this and all in Man”! He is “wielder of Gungnir,” the spear, which, as he hurls it over the battlefield, all those over whom it passes are doomed to fall, and ” fare to Odin.”
He is accompanied by two wolves, Geri and Freki–Greed and Fierceness. Two Ravens, Hugin and Munnin–Mind and Memory, fly through all the worlds and return to rest on his shoulders bringing him tidings of all that is being done.
The word Oðin appears to be related to Óðr (A.S., wod; Eng., wood), mad, wild, furious, and with his tall white horse, Sleipnir, the slipper, which, by way of implying its exceeding swiftness, is represented as eight-footed, he appears in folklore throughout the north of Europe as the “Wild Huntsman,” of which we still meet with faint echoes in the Isle of Man, reduced to stories of Fairy hunters, hounds, and horn. Again we trace him in our harvest customs, such as that of the last sheaf, and, of the Laare-vane (white horse), as may be seen by comparison with similar customs in the North of England and in Europe; for example, in Saxony, the last clump of standing corn is dedicated to Woden for his horse.
In one or two Manks stories a Hair rope figures conspicuously. Can this in any way refer to Odin? In Ynglinga-tal the halter is described as “Hagbard’s goat-hair rope,” and, elsewhere we read of Odin’s horse-hair beard.”
From his name, Ygg (Awe), comes that of the World–Ash, Ygg-drasil, Odin’s steed, because he hanged on the tree “himself to himself a sacrifice,” when he sought wisdom at Mimi’s burn. (So, in English poetry, the Cross is “Christ’s palfry.”) As lord of the gallows, all who die by hanging are thereby dedicated to Odin!
Under his name Hnikar, he is a water-god, and as such we commemorate him in the Nickey, a favourite rig of fishing boats. The term “Old Nick” of course refers to him. Mr. Quine points out an ancient place-name–“Nikkeson,” a pool in Glen Roy, and another at Groudle, both having legends of a water sprite.
In the oldest myths we hear of him in his “high-seat,” looking out of the Litho-skialf–window in Heaven–whence all things can be seen. In later Viking times Valhall, his dwelling, is a great and magnificent abode, with 540 doors, through any one of which 800 champions can ride abreast. It is thatched with golden shields, raftered with shafts, and has the “wall-panelling all covered with fair shields “; for torches, when required, Odin sends for swords! Hither come the kings of the earth and the champions slain in battle, einherja, conducted and welcomed by the Valkyrie or shield-maidens, to spend their days in sport, their nights in feasting, till, at Ragnarök–the great Day of Doom–they ride forth with the gods to meet in deadly combat the monsters, giants, and demons led to the attack by the treacherous Loki.
The fifth day, Dies Jovis, we call after Thor, son of Odin and Frigga (mother earth), husband of Sif, the golden-haired goddess. (Cornfield, Ceres.) He is called Okuthor–Wagon Thor–as he never rides like the other gods, but always walks or drives the car drawn by two he-goats, Tann-gniostr and Tann-grisnir–Tooth-gnasher and Tooth-tearer. He is the husbandman’s god (Goffar–good-father), whose wrath and anger are ever directed against the evil powers that injure mortals and their possessions. He is the special god of the Norwegians, and I think we may explain a phrase in S. Olaf’s Saga–“Thor Engels-manna god, ok Odin Saxa god . . . ok Frey Svia god”–concerning which Vigfusson asks, “Why the poet should describe him as the Englishman’s god,” in this way, that the reference was to the western settlers–Norwegians–now one with the English!
Thor is represented as in the prime of life, red-bearded. When he blows in anger in his beard, men say it is lightning; when they hear the rumbling of his car across the heavens, it thunders. He is lord of the “Hammer of Might”–Miolnir, the mauler (Thunderbolt)–which returns to him when he has thrown it; he owns the ” Belt of Strength ” Medingarde. Brides and the bodies of the dead are consecrated by his Hammer. He is a constant foe to the giants, and the deadly enemy of Loki and his fearful brood. In Doomsday he slays the world-dragon–Jörmundgandr.
His dwelling–Bilskirnir (Bright-Time)–is in the south-west corner of the sky, whence summer lightnings come.
He enters largely into the medieval conception of the Devil!
We find traces of him in the Isle of Man in holding Thursday as a lucky day and favourite for weddings, also in our regard for the Rowan, which enters into one of his myths, where it is called “Thor’s rescue.” His following is further attested in our runic inscriptions by the many names compounded with his:–Thor-biaurn, at Baldwin, Braddan (?) and Michael (?); Thor-fiak and Thor-libr, Braddan; Thor-waltr, Andreas; Thor-ulfr, Michael; and Thurith at Conchan. So also two of our existing names:–Corkill, from Mac Thor-Ketill, and Corlett, from Mac Thor-leod.
The next day, Dies Veneris, is dedicated to Frigga, wife of Odin, who, however, seems rather to resemble Juno than Venus. As Odin’s consort she “knows the fates of men,” and sometimes crosses his intentions in regard to them. For example, a tale is told in medieval times to explain the origin of the Lombards. By Frigga’s advice they set their women in the ranks, their hair so done as to resemble beards. Odin, looking out of his window, exclaimed, “Who are these Long-beards?” Thereupon Frigga confessed the trick, and claimed the customary forfeit for having bestowed upon them a new name–in this case victory for her friends! To this legend we may trace our story of the Battle of Santwat, when the women of the north (or of the south, for I have heard it told both ways, according as the narrator hailed from south or north) appeared in the ranks, and the battle was won.
We have no illustration of Frigga, but I think one may recognize her in a usage now dying out. On our Fair-days we would have cakes of ginger-bread (fairings), moulded in the figures of a man, a woman, man and woman conjoined, a horse, a man on horseback, and a cock.
The man was probably Thor, the woman Frigga, the man and woman Odin and Frigga, the man on horseback Odin, and the horse his steed Sleipnir. The cock might be Giollan-kambi–Gold-comb–which crows in Valhalla, or possibly intended to represent Heimdall, who summons the gods by a blast on the Gialla-horn at the dawn of Ragnarök. I have not seen this idea suggested by any Folklorist, but, that it is not a mere guess appears by the fact that in Sweden cakes were baked in the form of Frey’s Boar on Yule eve. In Fridthiof’s Saga, also, we read of baked images of gods, smeared with oil. By Fridthiof’s fault a baked Baldr falls into the fire, blazes up, and burns down the house.
But Frigga-tag is also Fria-tag, and this arises from a confusion of Freya with the former, whose handmaid she was, and mistress of the Valkyrie. She was one of the Vanir–gods of a lower caste than the Anses, merging into the Elves. She was deserted by her husband Od, whom she seeks through the nine worlds, weeping tears of gold. Her car is drawn by two cats, which animals are sacred to her. The unluckiness of meeting a cat on New Year’s morning, and the popular association of the animal with witches may be due to a dim recollection of Freya.
Her brother Frey, son of Niördr, the special god of the Swedes, who again is confused with Freya, and so with, Frigga, is lord of love and fruitfulness, of fertility and peace. His car is drawn by the boar Gullinbursti, whose “golden bristles” light up the night like day, who runs with the speed of a horse. His sword, which could put itself into motion against the brood of giants, he gave up for the fair Gerðr, which was held to be the cause of his death, when, at Ragnarökr, he had to stand single combat with Surtr.
The seventh day was known in old Norse as Laugardagr (Dan., Löverdag), and though the popular idea connected it with the “bath” (tub-night), Grimm suggests a reference to Loki, son of giant Farbauti, a Fire god.
In the “Edda” we read of Utgarðaloki, son of Giant Forniot; from early times these two have become merged. Grimm thinks they may be compared to the Prometheus and the Hephaestus (Vulcan) of the Greeks.
In Viking days Loki was regarded as one of the Anses. Fair of form, he is the only god of an evil disposition. He is described as guileful, cunning, crafty, “Back-biter of the Anses.” “Full oft hath he brought the Asa into great straits, and oft set them free by cunning redes.” It was only on account of the constant amusement he afforded them that he was tolerated. He is the mischief-maker, mocker, seducer, tempter; and as such enters largely into our conception of the Devil.
In Jötunheim (Giants’ home) he got with the witch Angrbotha, a family of dread monsters–a daughter, Hel, and two sons, Fenris wolf and Jörmundgand or Miðgardsworm. When they grew up, Odin cast Hel into Nifleheim, and all who die of sickness or old age go to her. A lost song, quoted by Snorri, gives a grim description of her surroundings in language worthy of the author of the “Faerie Queen.” Sleet-den hight her hall, Hunger her dish, Famine her knife, Starvation her spoon. Despair is the porch, Stumbling-stone the threshold, Pale Woe the door, Care-bed the couch, and so on. The Wolf a mighty monster, meets Odin at Ragnarök. The Serpent, “Earth’s girdle,” he cast into the sea, where it grew so that it coiled itself round all the earth and bit its tail with its teeth.
Loki’s worst deed was the death of Baldr. When at last the gods were as wroth with him as was to be weened, they chased and captured him. They then turned his son Vali into a wolf’s likeness, and he tore his brother Nan, with whose entrails they bound Loki over three great stones. Then took Skadi, daughter of the giant Thiassi and wife of Njörd, an adder-worm and fastened it over him, so that the venom should drop on his face; but Sigyn, his wife, stands by him and holds a dish under the venom drops, which, when full, she empties; but while the venom drops on his face he is so racked that the whole earth shakes; “that call ye earthquake. There lieth he till the Doomsday of the gods.” (Pr. Ed. 77.) 1 In the end he breaks loose and steers the ship Naglfar (Nail-board), made of dead men’s nails, at Ragnarök, when he meets Heimdal, and they are each other’s bane. Our folklore notion that all nail-cuttings should be carefully destroyed may have reference to this, the idea being to delay the building of the Ship and so postpone the Day of Doom!
Besides the gods of the week, we have in our sculpturings a figure of Heimdall, and in our folklore faint traces of Balder.
Heimdall is the warder of the gods’ dwelling and set in Himinbiorg at the foot of the Rainbow, Bifrost–“quaking bridge,” which leads from Earth to Asgarth. He is “the whitest of the Anses,” a god of Day, and has the peculiarity of being born of nine mothers.
“I am nine Mothers’ child, nine Sisters’ son am I”
so he sings in a fragment of a lost poem.
It was he who created the three classes of men–Earls, Churls, and Thralls. From his name Rig is derived that of Ericksgata, the Milky Way, the gods’ highroad across the skies. This is evidently the origin of our story of King Orry and the Milky Way.
Heimdall, the “wind-listening god,” hears the grass grow, and the wool on the back of the sheep. As warder of the gods he has charge of the Gialla-horn, kept at the roots of the sacred Tree, the blast of which rings through the nine worlds when he summons the gods for the last great battle, in which he meets and slays Loki, by whom he himself is slain.
Finally, so far as the Isle of Man is concerned, we have Balder, son of Odin and Frigga, a divinity of Light and Fire, in many respects resembling the Celtic Beal. He was done to death through the treachery of Loki, who, learning that he was invulnerable to everything except the Mistletoe, maliciously placed a wand of that plant in the hands of Hoðr (Hood), Balder’s blind brother, and, giving him the direction, urged him to throw it for sport. So Balder fell dead. Hermoðr, his twin brother, galloped away on Sleipnir to treat with Hel for his release, and finally she agreed that if indeed Balder were so beloved that every-thing quick and dead should weep for him, he might fare back to the Anses. But when all things were willing to do so, the returning messengers passed a cave, where was an Ogress called Thokk, who replied, “Thokk will bewail with dry tears Balder’s balefire. . . . Let Hel hold what she has.” After Ragnarök, the Sibyl in Voluspa tells–Balder shall come back and “all sorrows shall be healed.”
In the Hibbert Lectures, “Celtic Heathendom,” 1886, Professor Rhys compares this story with the old Celtic myths of “The Sun Hero.” He points out that Balder was not simply the sun, but the summer sun, whose return is witnessed in the north only after protracted waiting. His dwelling-place in the heavens (Breiðablik, Broad-gleam) seems to refer to the arctic summer, when the sun prolongs his stay above the horizon.
Only one incident connected with Balder is figured in our sculpturings–the dwarf Lit, who ns across Thor’s path when he is going to hallow the funeral pyre.
We trace him in our folk-lore. Kelly, in the “Manx Society’s Dictionary,” s.v. “Baaltinn,” refers to the local custom of kindling fires on the summits of the highest hills, “but the modern practice is for each balla or town to kindle a fire, so that the wind may drive the smoke over their corn fields, cattle, and habitations. . . . It is also the usage to put out the culinary fires on that day, and to re-kindle them with some of the sacred fire.” He then refers to the mock engagements between Summer and Winter on May-day, Laaboaldyn; also to the strewing of “primroses” and the crosses of mountain ash.
Now the Midsummer fires obtained almost all over Europe in early Christian times, but there is little doubt they were of Heathen origin. The authors of “Corp. Poet. Bor.” ask:–“Do the fires of John commemorate the burning of Balder’s body?” The northern Easter fires too were certainly heathen, and sacrificial in origin. Grimm points out that the Celtic Belfires and the Teutonic Phol-days (Balder) were nearly midway betwixt Easter and Midsummer, but nearer Easter when it falls late. The battle of Summer and Winter, as Mr. Moore says in his “Folklore,” is undoubtedly of Scandinavian origin, but it is rather Swedish and Gothic than Norwegian.
Besides the Anses and the Vanir and the Elves (light and dark), we have the Giants, generally hostile to the gods, but sometimes friendly. They are the “hill-folk” or “cave-men,” and live at Jötunheim, on the edge of the Earth, which is imagined flat, and surrounded by the Ocean. Some of these appear in our carvings, and our folk-tales refer to others.
Then we have the Dwarves–“not always baneful.” The firmament is upheld by four of these, named after the cardinal points of the compass. They live chiefly in rocks and caves underground, hence are gatherers and hoarders of precious stones and metals. Trolls, from which we get a place-name–Trollaby–seem to be between Giants and Monsters. Our Phynnodderee and Glashtin, if of Celtic origin, as seems likely, partake of the nature of Trolls, showing the Scandinavian influence on our Folklore.
Loki’s brood of monsters has already been referred to; there were others also, as the Wolves of the Eclipse, “the gripper and tearer of the Moon, the swallower of the loaf of the heavens, the destroyer of the sky’s light “; also the wicked, venomous “tearer of corpses “–Nidhogg, and, lastly, the fire-fiends, Mu-spilli, sons of treason, sons of destruction, etc.
Finally, we have to do with the semi-divine beings–the Heroes–who were human, but of divine descent. The greatest of these, and the favourite from earliest times, was Sigurd the Volsung, whose slaying of the dragon Fafni and capture of the gold-hoard, with the effects of the baneful curse accompanying it, are vividly pourtrayed on at the least four of our sculptured stones.
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