Little-Known Norse Gods: Exploring Their Roles and Modern Relevance

Odin, Thor, Freya—these names echo through modern pop culture, appearing in movies, comics, and every introduction to Norse mythology. But the Norse pantheon extends far beyond these famous figures. Dozens of deities fill the halls of Asgard and the wilds of other realms, each with their own stories, domains, and wisdom to offer. For practitioners seeking to deepen their Norse practice, these lesser-known gods provide fresh pathways to divine connection, often with less crowded altars and relationships waiting to be developed.

The gods and goddesses explored here aren't truly “minor”—in a living tradition, no deity is unimportant. They're simply less famous in modern times, their stories surviving in fewer sources, their names invoked less often. For precisely this reason, they may welcome sincere attention from modern seekers willing to learn their names and hear their stories.

Forseti: God of Justice and Reconciliation

Who Is Forseti?

Forseti is the son of Baldur and Nanna, making him grandson to Odin and Frigg. His name means “presiding one” or “president”—essentially, the one who presides over legal proceedings. He dwells in a hall called Glitnir, with a roof of silver and pillars of gold, and serves as the divine judge, settling disputes among gods and men alike.

Domains and Associations

• Justice and fair judgment
• Mediation and reconciliation
• Legal proceedings
• Peace-making
• Truth and honest dealing

Modern Relevance

In a world of polarization and endless conflict, Forseti's energy offers something increasingly rare: the possibility of resolution that honors all parties. He doesn't represent vengeance or punishment but genuine justice—hearing all sides, weighing evidence fairly, and reaching decisions that restore peace. Those facing legal matters, mediation, or situations requiring fair judgment might find Forseti a valuable ally.

Working with Forseti

Invoke Forseti for matters requiring just outcomes, fair treatment, or conflict resolution. Offerings might include things associated with justice—scales, legal documents, or simply speaking aloud the truth of a situation before his altar. Ask for clarity in complex disputes or for fair treatment in legal proceedings.

Eir: Goddess of Healing

Who Is Eir?

Eir (whose name means “help” or “mercy”) appears in various sources as either a goddess or a valkyrie associated with healing. She's counted among the best of healers, possessing knowledge of medicinal herbs and healing practices. Her exact nature is debated—she may be a goddess proper, a valkyrie who tends wounded warriors, or both.

Domains and Associations

• Physical healing
• Medical knowledge
• Herbalism
• Nursing and caretaking
• Recovery from illness or injury

Modern Relevance

Healthcare workers, herbalists, and anyone facing illness or supporting others through health challenges might connect with Eir. She represents skilled, compassionate healing—not just hoping for the best, but applying knowledge and care to help recovery. In times of health crisis, personal or collective, her energy offers comfort and support.

Working with Eir

Call upon Eir when illness strikes, when facing medical procedures, or when caring for others. Offerings might include medicinal herbs, bandages or medical supplies donated to charity, or simple prayers for healing. Those studying medicine or herbalism might honor Eir as patron of their learning.

Bragi: God of Poetry

Who Is Bragi?

Bragi is the divine skald, god of poetry and eloquent speech. He's described as having runes carved on his tongue and as the most skilled poet among the gods. He's married to Idunn, keeper of the golden apples of immortality. While not well-developed in surviving mythology, his domain—poetry—was among the most sacred Norse arts.

Domains and Associations

• Poetry and verse
• Eloquent speech
• Artistic inspiration
• Skilled language use
• Performance and recitation

Modern Relevance

Poets, writers, speechmakers, and anyone working with language as an art form can honor Bragi. He represents not just any speech but skillful, beautiful, meaningful expression—the power of words shaped intentionally to move hearts and minds. Public speakers, singers, and lyricists all work within his domain.

Working with Bragi

Honor Bragi before creative writing sessions, performances, or important speeches. Offerings might include written or spoken poetry—compose something in his honor and recite it aloud. Ask for eloquence, inspiration, and the right words for your purpose. Keep a commonplace book of beautiful language as a devotional practice.

Idunn: Keeper of the Apples

Who Is Idunn?

Idunn guards the golden apples that maintain the gods' eternal youth. Without her apples, the gods age and weaken—as happens in one myth when Loki arranges her kidnapping. Her name relates to rejuvenation and renewal. She's married to Bragi and appears as a gentle, essential presence whose importance becomes apparent only when she's absent.

Domains and Associations

• Youth and vitality
• Renewal and rejuvenation
• Health maintenance
• The life force
• Orchards and fruit

Modern Relevance

Idunn's energy speaks to maintaining vitality, caring for long-term health, and the things we do to stay strong and vigorous. She's particularly relevant for those dealing with aging, seeking to maintain health and energy, or working with preventive health practices. Her apples represent not cure for existing illness but maintenance of wellbeing.

Working with Idunn

Honor Idunn in health maintenance practices—she's not the goddess to call when illness strikes (that's Eir) but the goddess to honor in daily habits that preserve vitality. Offerings might include apples, particularly from your own garden if you have one. Ask for help maintaining your health, energy, and youthful vigor.

Vidar: The Silent God

Who Is Vidar?

Vidar is one of Odin's sons, known for his silence and his strength—second only to Thor among the gods. His most famous role comes at Ragnarök, where he avenges Odin's death by killing the wolf Fenrir, either stabbing its heart or tearing its jaws apart (sources differ). He's associated with a special shoe, made from all the leather scraps ever cut from shoes, which protects him from Fenrir's jaws.

Domains and Associations

• Silence and reserved strength
• Vengeance and justice
• Survival and endurance
• Wilderness and forests
• The new world after destruction

Modern Relevance

Vidar models quiet strength—the power held in reserve, unleashed only when necessary. In a culture that valorizes constant self-promotion and noise, Vidar offers an alternative: silent preparation, patient waiting, decisive action when the moment demands. He also survives Ragnarök, representing continuity and renewal after catastrophe.

Working with Vidar

Call upon Vidar when you need to hold strength in reserve, when patience is required, or when facing situations that will demand everything you have. Offerings might include things associated with forests and wilderness, leather goods (particularly shoes), or simply spending time in silent practice. Honor him through action rather than many words.

Var: Goddess of Oaths

Who Is Var?

Var (also known as Vár) hears the oaths and pledges that men and women make to each other, particularly those between lovers. She punishes oath-breakers, making her both witness and enforcer of sacred promises. Her name is related to words for “pledge” and “covenant.”

Domains and Associations

• Oaths and pledges
• Contracts and agreements
• Marriage vows
• Keeping one's word
• Consequences of broken promises

Modern Relevance

In an age when commitment is often taken lightly, Var represents the sacred nature of given word. She witnesses our promises and marks our failures to keep them. Those entering contracts, making vows (particularly marriage), or dealing with broken promises might honor Var. She also serves as reminder to consider carefully before making pledges.

Working with Var

Invoke Var when making significant promises, particularly vows to partners. Ask her to witness and bless commitments you intend to honor. If dealing with others' broken promises, you might petition her for justice. Be warned: she's not a goddess to invoke lightly if you're inclined to break your own word.

Ullr: God of Winter and Hunting

Who Is Ullr?

Ullr (or Ull) is a god associated with winter, archery, skiing, and the hunt. He's a stepson of Thor (his mother is Sif) and was apparently quite important in earlier times—place names suggest widespread veneration—but relatively little mythology survives. He's invoked for single combat and may have had more extensive stories now lost.

Domains and Associations

• Winter sports and survival
• Archery and hunting
• Skiing and snowshoeing
• Single combat and dueling
• Wilderness skills

Modern Relevance

Ullr speaks to those who embrace winter rather than hiding from it—skiers, hunters, winter hikers, and anyone who finds magic in the cold season. He represents competence in harsh conditions, skill with ranged weapons, and the particular beauty and challenge of winter wilderness. He's naturally honored in northern climates where winter dominates.

Working with Ullr

Honor Ullr before winter outdoor activities, hunting trips, or archery practice. Offerings might include arrows, ski wax, or simply time spent outdoors in winter. Ask for protection and skill in winter conditions, success in hunting, or accuracy in archery. The winter solstice is an appropriate time for special honor.

Sága: Goddess of Stories

Who Is Sága?

Sága dwells at Sökkvabekkr (“Sunken Bank”), where she and Odin drink together daily from golden cups. Her name may connect to “seeing” or to “saga” (story/history). Some scholars identify her as an aspect of Frigg; others see her as a distinct goddess associated with history, stories, and memory.

Domains and Associations

• History and lore
• Storytelling
• Memory and recording
• Wisdom through tales
• Companionship with Odin in seeking knowledge

Modern Relevance

Sága matters to historians, genealogists, storytellers, and anyone preserving or studying the past. She represents knowledge gained through stories—not abstract principles but lived experience transmitted through narrative. Family historians, writers of historical fiction, and oral history practitioners all work within her domain.

Working with Sága

Honor Sága when researching history or family genealogy, when writing or telling stories, or when seeking to learn from the past. Offerings might include handwritten stories, old photographs, or a drink shared in her honor (perhaps while reading sagas). Ask for help finding lost knowledge or understanding the lessons history offers.

Approaching the Lesser-Known Gods

Why Work with Them?

Several reasons recommend developing relationships with less-famous deities:

• Specific domains: These gods often govern specific areas where major gods' attention spreads more broadly
• Less crowded relationships: With fewer modern devotees, these gods may particularly value sincere attention
• Deeper practice: Moving beyond the most famous figures demonstrates commitment to the tradition
• Personal connection: You may find unexpected resonance with a deity others overlook

How to Begin

1. Study: Learn what survives about the deity—myths, associations, historical worship
2. Introduce yourself: Speak to them in prayer, explaining who you are and why you're interested
3. Make offerings: Give appropriate offerings based on their domain
4. Listen: Pay attention to responses—dreams, intuitions, synchronicities
5. Build relationship: Like any relationship, divine connection develops through regular engagement

Signs of Connection

How do you know a deity responds to your attention?

• Dreams featuring them or their symbols
• Repeated encounters with their associations in daily life
• Intuitive sense of presence or response
• Results from petitions in their domain
• Feeling drawn to learn more about them

The Full Pantheon

The Norse gods form a community, a divine society with complex relationships and overlapping domains. Odin stands at the center not because other gods are unimportant but because the surviving sources emphasize him. In living practice, the minor gods may be exactly who you need—the specialist whose domain matches your situation, the figure whose energy resonates with your path.

Let the famous gods serve as entry points. Then explore further, following curiosity into the vast halls of Asgard and beyond, meeting the gods who wait to be remembered. They've been waiting for a long time. Perhaps they've been waiting for you.

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