EIR, THE HEALER, HANDMAID OF FRIGGA

[neptunesdolphins]

 

 

At her hall of Fensalir, Frigga, the Norse All-Mother, has twelve handmaidens (Note 1) or ladies-in-waiting to attend to Her. Not much is known about who these handmaidens were since the Lore is scanty about Goddesses in general. Much of what is known today is by Group Verified Gnosis.

 

Eir (Briefly)

A master physician, Eir lives with Mengloth, the Jotun healer, at the Mountain of Healing, Lyfja. As the Healer of the Gods, Eir could be considered a shaper of fate. She is the Patroness of Doctors.

 

The lore surrounding Eir presents Her as different Beings – Goddess, Jotun, or Valkyrie. However, they all agree that Eir is a Healer. In the Prose Edda, Snori Sturluson writes of the Goddesses who are with Frigga, “The third is Eir who is the best leech,” (Note 2)

 

In the Poetic Edda, Eir is listed with Mengloth the Jotun, who answers the prayers of women in distress. She lives at Lyfjaberg, the Healing Mountain. That verse says,

“Svipdag spake:

“Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask,

For now, the truth would I know:

What maidens are they that at Mengloth’s knees

Are sitting so gladly together?”

 

Fjolsvith spake:

“Hlif is one named, Hlifthrasa another,

Thjothvara call they the third;

Bjort and Bleik, Blith and Frith,

Eir and Aurbotha.”

 

Then in the Skaldskaparmal, Eir is listed as a Valkyrie. Apparently, Valkyries do have healing powers which can be used on the battlefield. However, none of the lore says that She was a chooser of the slain. In fact, Eir’s name could be translated as “helper” or “mercy.”

 

Eir is a very powerful Healer, no matter her “beingness.” She protects people from illnesses and helps with childbirth. She is thought to heal with the Runes and the Nine Herbs. (Note 3) She is said to use a white flower for healing.Although Her name is also associated with metal ore, metals are prepared for use in healing in alchemy.

 

Eir has been guiding me in dealing with my acid reflux. She has helped in choosing the proper foods and healing herbs. In this process, I feel that I will be healed.

 

Notes:

Note 1. Saga (seer), Eir (healer), Gefjun (unmarried girls), Fulla (plenty), Sjofn (love), Lofn (forbidden love), Var (oaths), Vor (wisdom), Syn (truth), Hlin (protector), Snorta (diplomacy), Gna (travelers).

 

Note 2. Leech means doctor from the Anglo-Saxon. Disease was believed to be caused by evil spirits in the body. A leech would rid the body of these demons.

 

Note 3. The Nine Herbs Charm was a spell using herbs to heal. It was said while preparing the herbs and administering them. The herbs are Una (mugwort), Waybread (plantain), Stune (lamb’s cress), Atterlothe (betony), Maythe (chamomile), Wergulu (nettle), Crab apple, Chervil, Fennel.

 

Part of the Charm:

 

Now these nine herbs have power against nine evil spirits,

against nine poisons and against nine infections:

Against the red poison, against the foul poison.

against the yellow poison, against the green poison,

against the black poison, against the blue poison,

against the brown poison, against the crimson poison.

Against worm-blister, against water-blister,

against thorn-blister, against thistle-blister,

against ice-blister, against poison-blister.

Against harmfulness of the air, against harmfulness of the ground,

against harmfulness of the sea.