Freja (Freyja, Freya) - Freya is one of the major Goddesses of Norse Mythology.

Equal in prowess to Thor, Freya is nearly the equal of Odin, the Allfather. The northern Europeans called their lusty Goddess Freya (pronounced fray'ya), which means, "mistress", and gave her name to the sixth day of the week, Friday. Freya – also Freyja or Freia – is the daughter of Niord and sister of Frey. She is one of the Vanir but came out of Vanaheim to live with the Aesir along with her father and brother. Her hall, Sessrumnir, is built in the field of Folkvang in Asgard, the realm of the Gods.

She is the Goddess of Love and Beauty, one of the original fertility goddesses of the region. Patron of young lovers, Freya is viewed as a force for good in the world – protector of the weak, healer, granter of magic and source of love and peace. She listens to the prayers of men and women seeking love and helps them when she can.

Beautiful, blue-eyed, golden-haired – Freya generally appears as the most desirable woman in the Nine Realms. She always wears Brisingamen, a wonderful necklace made from gold and amber that she received from dwarves. Often appearing unclothed to her followers, she is always described as the most beautiful of women.

The goddess Freya's passions were abundant, vigorous, and unrestrained. Clothed or not, she is usually shown in sensual poses.

Freya didn't discriminate in her choice of lovers: All Gods were fair game. When Freya appeared draped in her feathered cloak and wearing nothing but her magic amber necklace, none could resist her.

She is often depicted riding her golden chariot through the skies, the chariot pulled by two large blue cats who were a gift from the Norse god Thor.

Freya was a spectacular beauty known for her appreciation of romantic music and stunning floral arrangements. That was her softer side; she was also known as the goddess of war and death.

Freya leads the Valkyrie, the Choosers of the Slain. These warrior maidens ride over battlefields on winged horses, taking the souls of noble warriors killed in battle to feast in Valhalla, Odin’s Hall. Freya claims half of the warriors for her own hall in Folkvang. This martial province makes Freya a more fully dimensioned goddess than most fertility deities.

Freya taught magic to the Aesir, Odin in particular. Freya's magic is termed Seidr - a type of trance magic whose fully realized forms include shape shifting and astral projection. Freya herself has a falcon cloak which allows any who wears it to become a bird.

Cats are particularly sacred to Freya. In addition to the two large cats who pull her chariot, other cats are generally associated with this kind and loving Goddess. Whether it's their grace, their beauty or their fierce nature when provoked, cats are the special darlings of Freya, often carrying messages for her. (Of course, sometimes they take a nap while enroute...)

The goddess Freya reminds us to explore and acknowledge all of our emotions, longings, and traits, even those we wish we didn't possess.
If you feel awed by the wonder of veins in leaves in the lush green trees and feel your knees go weak at the joy of being alive, the passionate goddess of love is working in you. Freja's gifts are those that make us overjoyed to be alive!

Freja loves all things that give pleasure, she indulges in love, romance and lovemaking - always walking in harmony and beauty. Her power brings men and women together to create new life, and she is the gentle goddess who ends life in order to perpetuate the circle of life with love and trust. According to Nordic myth she was also the Warrior Goddess who was hostess to fallen war heroes in her great hall.

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