Evolution of a Freyr’s Man

His Norwegian blood whispered to him in the dense redwood canyons of coastal California. Photos of stave churches and longhouses piqued his interest. Though he was far more of a carpenter than a farmer, nurturing fruit trees and plants of all kinds was second nature to him. He built his dream home with a wall of windows that overlooked damp, shadowy forests. It was there that he would take solace when times were tough, a man alone amongst giant trees. By then he knew his Gods, and his place of worship was in a circle of dark-hued redwoods. When despair filled his days, his personal redwood grove became his Vé where he gave offerings to the Æsir.

One day, something very strange happened. The soft ground of the Vé was deeply pitted from a wild boar’s hooves. The next morning, there were more hoof prints, but this time they were right outside his front door! He took this as a powerful omen, and gift from the boar -- and from Lord Freyr himself. From then on, Thorgrun Odden was a Freysgoði, and Gullinbursti, Freyr’s golden-bristled boar, was his spirit animal. His family’s hearth became Gullinbursti Kindred.

Within months, we met Thorgrun and the rest is history! He helped establish what is now the Asatru Folk Assembly...He was a key player in the Kennewick Man saga...He made the contact that brought us to the Grange Hall in Brownsville...He carved the God-poles that overlook our ritual circle. The AFA had a Freysgoði, the only leader to-date dedicated to Freyr, and his energy and enthusiasm was unstoppable.

His green and brown velvet garb clearly represented the earthy essence of Miðgarðr. Each Yule, he’d stride into the Hall with jingling bells, gripping his wooden staff. Bringing heaps of joy with him, Papa Yule had arrived to hand out gifts to the children! Nurturing the well-being of our Folk was natural to Thorgrun -- another aspect of Lord Freyr.

At this holy tide known as Freyfaxi, we’ll remember the Goði Thorgrun’s kind ways, slow-pace and measured words. His grove is no longer the redwoods, but a corner of Óðinshof’s land where water flows through a gurgling fountain given in his name. We call this place Thorgrun’s Grove. Laguz : life force. Thorgrun passed through the veil in July of 2024. Last year, at Freyfaxi, we interred him in our Óðinshof cemetery – on his 78th birthday. His ashes were placed within a handcrafted box and set among grave-gifts from the Folk. He will forever be our Freysgoði and caretaker of our land.

Gyðja Sheila McNallen

sheila@runestone.org

~ From The Runestone, August 2025 ~