The Fivelords

The Fivelords are Five Oslords. They are Hemdal, Thunor, Freya, Wayland and Woden.

Hemdal

Hemdal is the 'listening god'. He is sensitive to what is happening in the soul and mind of others, and obedient to their needs, he seeks to help them. He is also sensitive to the happenings in the world at large, noticing arising threats to the social order before others may do so. In times of danger he blows his horn to alert everybody.

Thunor

Thunor is a god of anger in the case of bad treatment who is willing to strike out to rectify a bad situation.

Freya

Freya is a goddess of passionate desire.

Wayland

Wayland is a god of technical skill, a craftsman. Wayland has a cool calculating mind able to see complex phenomena and the interaction of their parts and has the knowledge and skill to interact productively with them.

Woden

Woden is a god of sustained high energy able to break through rigid patterns of thought and of activity to create new ideas and new situations.

NB. Woden is strictly speaking 'Woden the Son' as Tiewists distinguish him from Wodder who is 'Woden the Father'. This split is unusual in Germanic paganism, but echoes the Vayu-Vata split in Indo-Iranian paganism. It also makes sense that the Woden who is a shaman or berseker warrior is distinguished from Woden the Father of All.


Hemdal

Hemdal is the listener who is sensitive to the souls of all creatures and thus provides guidance as to the best moral path of action.

Hemdal has a sensitive soul and a deep interest in individuals. He understand people and has respect for their innate dignity. He tries to help everybody and especially those in greatest need.

Hemdal is the divine Listener. He listens to the nature and needs of individual beings and responds accordingly. He is also called the Obedient, because he obeys the requirements of the situation as he hears it and not any separate personal will.

Hemdal is the divine personality that desires to be of service to individual people. He is concerned to uphold the dignity of all, and is willing to sacrifice himself so that others can escape the full consequences of their actions. Christ pays attention to individuals one at a time and seeks to save them from their sins.

Hemdal is a teacher to us. Because of his empathy and knowledge of all beings and desire to help them he is a worthy teacher of morality.

Hemdal is like a monk who serves the individuals he comes across.

Hemdal the Listener. Hemdal is a sensitive character and easily sees himself in the place of others. He feels the experience of each individual soul and desires that the best thing happens to them for their development and happiness.


Updated March 2025