The 7th Century Reiterstein stone from Hornhausen, Saxony-Anhalt, appears to depict the rider wearing a mask-or perhaps a full-face helmet, like unto the Sutton Hoo helmet and Broa helmet. It may have been a more widespread style.

The Reiterstein is dated to the 7th century and was found in a field which contained over sixty graves. These are thought to be the burials of heathen Saxons who fought the christian Franks around 531.

Polytrichum aureum moss was called Haddr Sifjar (Sif's hair) in Old Norse. The OE cognate of Sif is Sibb which gives us the name Sibbe, wife of Thunor.

Eostre wreath, ink drawing by Hāmasson.

J M Kemble, in his 1876 book The Saxons in England suggests the name Hacleberend for Woden. Hacle from the word Hackle was a style of cloak and Hacleberend means the cloak-bearer. In the Story of Norna-Gest (Nornagests þáttr) a man with a spear and green cloak is described as a heklumaðrinn (the cloaked man). This heklumaðr (man in the cloak) is later revealed to be Woden himself.

Art - Odin, Huginn and Muninn by Loïc Canavaggia

Hāl wes þū, Woden!

Woden (Os rune) by Brian Partridge.

The goddess Freya is married to Óðr (perhaps a name used by Odin) who himself is a wanderer. In Óðr’s absence Freya cries tears of amber. Her necklace Brísingamen (OE Brosings-men) is also said to be made from amber, itself symbolic of ‘fire made solid’. Freya and Óðr have two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi and their names link back to Freya’s tears and the jewels she collects as Hnoss means ‘ornament’ and Gersemi means ‘treasure’ (OE gærsum).

A Saxon Song
-Victoria Sackville-West (9 March 1892 – 2 June 1962)

Tools with the comely names,
Mattock and scythe and spade,
Couth and bitter as flames,
Clean, and bowed in the blade,--
A man and his tools make a man and his trade.

Breadth of the English shires,
Hummock and kame and mead,
Tang of the reeking byres,
Land of the English breed,--
A man and his land make a man and his creed.

Leisurely flocks and herds,
Cool-eyed cattle that come
Mildly to wonted words,
Swine that in orchards roam,--
A man and his beasts make a man and his home.

Children sturdy and flaxen
Shouting in brotherly strife,
Like the land they are Saxon,
Sons of a man and his wife,--
For a man and his loves make a man and his life.

It’s the full moon tonight (1.22am 13th April 2025 for those in England) and my family hearth will be honouring Ēostre (who gives her name to Ēosturmōnaþ) when we give libations in her name.

Many folk see Ēostre as an aspect of Frêo (Freya) and there may be a connection showing this. Ēostre, like Ēarendel, is associated with morning star which shines bright in the eastern morning sky, proudly announcing the return of the sun after the winter months and the reawakening of nature.

The Morning star is of course Venus, whose name comes from the Proto Germanic *wanaz meaning ‘to love’. The same root giving us the OE Wan and Wana and ON Vanir. Perhaps making both Frêo and Ēostre Vanadis.

Weohsmiþ (weoh smith) - Old English, someone who makes idols.

Wayland Kista (chest) carving by the talented Wayland at BushcraftUSA. The carving is based on the famous Hylestad Stave Church carvings, Norway.

A clay tablet was found in Hohenstein, Lower Saxony, in the 16th Century with a likely depiction of Ostara. Hohenstein was an important cult site since the early Iron Age, and the use of the Younger Futhark suggests an age of around the 8th Century. She is depicted with horns, a drinking horn or cornucopia, and what may be a bird. The location of the original is unknown, only sketches survive. The incomplete innoscription reads;

“You go out, that’s Osta, loosen icy frosts…
You good Osta, from your face shines…”

“thu ga ut thatr os ta louse isin frosta
dhu gautar osta, ous il sin grosta”

ᚦᚢ × ᚴᛅ × ᚢᛏ × ᚦᛅᛏᚱ × ᚬᛋ ᛏ × ᛚᚬᚢᛋᛁ × ᛁᛋᛁᚾ × ᚠᚱᚬᛋᛏᛅ 
ᛏᚼᚢ × ᚴᛅᚢᛏᛅᚱ × ᚬᛋᛏᛅ × ᚬᚢᛋ × ᛁᛚ × ᛋᛁᚾ × ᚴᚱᚬᛋᛏᛅ

❁ᛉ❁

The word ‘giddy’ has an interesting origin. From the OE gydiġ the word essentially means ‘to be possessed by a god’, Gyd meaning the same as god.

Another OE word which seems to have a similar meaning is Ylfig or being possessed or controlled by an ælf (elf). In English lore seiðr was also considered an elvish practise. The word is attested in the OE ælfsīden meaning elf magic.

The name Herne is a byname of Woden, used in his role as Hunter or Warrior-leader. The name is believed to come from the OE Herian (Warrior-leader) which is connected with the German term Haranni, Herne the Hunter still haunts the Windsor Forest and the Great Park in Berkshire.

Herne Protect Us!

Image - Herne the Hunter by George Cruikshank (1792 - 1878)