Gerda´s journey to the Norns

Once upon a time......when Freya and Freyr were still roaming the land....

once upon a time....when the World-Tree, the Ash beside the lake Urd, wasn´t yet completely covered by the veils of time....once upon a time.....when people still dared to ask the Goddesses and Gods for help....

At this time, there was a young woman called Gerda, living committed to her duties and in love with her family, who could elude no more her inner voice. She tried hard not to listen, to ignore. She worked more and harder and multiplied her duties, but the voice got louder. It asked her „How about your heart´s desire, your passion, your strength?“ Gerda felt bewildered, for her life was a good and settled one, except for this voice and some dreams.

One morning, awakening, she couldn´t do otherwise than to ask the voice what to do to find her real place in the web of life.

There was a swift reply: „Is this your real aim, your heart´s desire? Throw your bunch of herbs into the flames of your fireplace and you will see the way to the lake Urd. There you must go to find the answer.“

So she did and with the burning bunch of herbs she was shown the way by Freya, who took away all her worries and sorrows.

And so her journey to the lake Urd began.

*

From far, far away, Gerda could yet see the World-Ash, for no other tree stretched its boughs higher into the sky and was nearly as big – almost frightening.

But every time she was overwhelmed by her doubts, Gerda felt Freya at her side, who saw she safely to the lake Urd. At Gerda´s arrival,all her attention was caught by the magic of the mirror-like surface of the lake and from that moment on she was willing to risk everything to find her place in the web of life. She didn´t notice that one of her tears dropped into the lake and that the waters stirred at once. Gerda froze, but her heart told her to remember her inner self and so she took a deep breath.

Out of the lake rose a figure, who – by sheer sight – evoke thousands of memories from the past. The figure spoke to Gerda with a voice full of wisdom: „ I´ve been called by your tear. You came a long way and left behind your familiar life. You´ve kept your courage and your desire all the way to the lake. I want to help you to find what you are seeking. Don´t fear. I am Urd and I know the past, all things ever been.“ Gerda, standing at the shore, couldn´t utter a single word. Urd lit a fire with a simple movement of her hand and told Gerda to sit down . There was a cauldron over the fire and Urd offered Gerda something to drink.

„But be careful with your drink, because you will travel into the past. You will understand that the past has many, many faces. The drink will protect you from getting lost in the past´s vortex . Your well guarded body will sleep. If the spirits of the past are kind to you, they will show you, what you are seeking.“

Gerda, enchanted by Urd´s voice, held the cup in her hands. Urd felt her heart´s desire and answered to it: „There will be friends, and now – drink!“

Gerda trusted Urd and drank. Her body fell asleep, but Gerda plunged deep into the world of Urd, her guide.

*

Gerda found herself deep in the past, whrere she knew some of the situations; some places and some persons were familiar to her. She heard voices and other noises. Finally she dared to call for allies to sort out the past. That was the moment of Gerda´s full trust in her own heart, listening to the call of her quest. She left behind her sleeping body. Her allies greeted her with congratulations and helped her to find those places in the past, which were the most important in her life.

Gerda felt tired by the end of her visit and full of feelings and impressions. She was helped to find her way back by her allies. Before returning into her body, she thanked her guides, mourning, because she meant to never meet them again.

She awoke and took a first deep breath. She could feel the grief dissolve and new faith arise and she was nearly overflown by her experiences. She opened her eyes and saw Urd, spinning a thread. Urd said: „Most people are afraid of me. Mostly they are afraid of the threads linked to the past. Mostly they lack courage.“ And she disappeared into the lake, but the fire burned on.

Gerda fell asleep, exhausted.

*

She was awakened by the hearty laughter of an unknown voice. She opened her eyes and saw the back of a laughing woman. When Gerda stood up, the woman turned around and said: „I´m Verdandi, the present time! Have you recovered from your journey with Urd? - I hope so – for it´s the present time that counts and I´ve been sent by Urd for your help! Are you ready?“

Verdandi didn´t lose any time and snapped her fingers. In an instant the flames flared up in a blaze, the lake´s surface was a perfect mirror and you could see many mysterious, veiled objects around Gerda.

And again Verdandi laughed: „Don´t fear the past! It´s over! The present is now – just in this instant.“ And Verdandi took Gerda´s hand and together they soared into the air. „Look at the lake´s mirror, that´s you!“ Verdandi enjoyed the situation, for Gerda trembled to see her other self still standing by the fire down on the ground. Again Verdandi snapped her fingers, and, back again, Gerda could see the objects unveiled.

„Look closely, that´s all you, clinging to the past and dreaming of the future, you, feeling your possibilities, but not creating your own life. Come on, come on, look closely, that´s all you! Are you afraid?“

Gerda looked at the mysterious objects and recognized herself. She wasn´t afraid, but sad. After looking and recognizing, she said to Verdandi:“ I´ve been following the call of the voice and of my heart. Freya was my guide and Urd showed me all the past. I´m ready!“

Verdandi started to sing with a lovely voice. Again she snapped her fingers. A wonderful bird, a swan, appeared and carefully let Gerda mount its wings. And then they flew over the lake. „Look down, look down! That´s you with your strength from the past and your courage for the present!“

Gerda felt the wonderful bird´s warmth and her heart´s courage and she dared to look down. And – she looked at herself – completely herself!

*

The the swan got ashore and Gerda carefully dismounted. Verdandi snapped her fingers again and the objects disappeared. Verdandi, pleased with herself, asked Gerda to wait between the fire and the lake. She made the flames rise as well as the water, until they formed an arc over Gerda´s head – the arc of balance, the arc of passing, the arc of change. Verdandi let Gerda know herself in all her possibilities. Finally the flames and the water both went down. Again Verdandi laughed: „The Now and the Here are just a breath! When you breathe, keep it in mind, because I measure the thread, spun by Urd.“ And she disappeared into the lake. Gerda sat down, her hands outstretched, one hand toward the fire, the other toward the water. She breathed and listened to her inner voice, the voice of her allies and didn´t feel lonely. Suddenly there was a stamping of hooves and a horse´s neighing. A beautiful woman in flowing garments, amazon-like, rode this horse. She shouted: „I´m Skuld – the future!“ And in this very moment, her garments changed their colours and shapes. Skuld rode closely to Gerda and lifted her onto the horse. „The present is just a breath – the future can be changed! Never forget!“ Skulled pulled the reins and made the horse canter with a short pressure of her thighs.

*

„The future can be changed – the future can be changed!“ They rode over the ground and through the sky. They passed many, almost countless possibilities, of how Gerda´s future could be worked out. Eventually they returned to the lake. They dismounted. Skuld covered Gerda with her own warm cloak, touched Gerda´s eyes and made her see whatever there could be seen.

Gerda´s heart throbbed and she opened her eyes. Skuld, sitting face to face to her, said: „Never forget, the future can be changed!“

Skuld and the horse too disappeared into the lake Urd at the bottom of the World-Ash. Its leaves whispered.“ Gerda, it´s time to go home.“ And Gerda set out.

Halfway she heard Freya´s voice: „You can´t leave this land until you´ve woven a spell. Listen to your heart! This spell must be a blessing to people, to the Earth and to the future“ Listen to your heart!“

Gerda needed some time of silence and rest to connect herself to her overflowing heart. The presence of Freya comforted her with strength and protection. Finally she perfectly knew, which had to be woven – and she did it with Freya´s help. Returning home, she felt that her heart had grown so much bigger!!