If you have read my previous articles about Norse Mythology, you know now that Odin is the Yogic path back to Source energy. Loki is the human mind. All the characters in Norse Mythology are the same being, and the different aspects of the Seeker are revealed. Old Norse Myths are linked to spiritual practise with Indian origin, where the yogi experienced Omnipresence with Source and in some cases, even breathless state.
Heimdallr is the conscious awareness. His name means, ‘The Home Where The Light Is On.’ Loki says to Heimdallr in Lokasenna: ‘You have to live a hateful life, always awake’. Hella is our subconscious where we store our negative emotions. This is why during the vision quest, the Seeker goes within and kills off that part of themselves that is filled with grief, anger, and upheaval. Hella’s name means Hel which in Norwegian means Whole. If you face your whole self, you will become stable. This is what the dying in battle, a metaphor for inner transformation, speak of. It is the inner battle, not an outer one.
Heimdallr, who is the conscious awareness, travels in Rígsþula as a man called Rigr, meaning King. According to modern scholars, Rigr fathers the 3 social classes, from slave, middle, and the noble class. The 3 classes he ‘fathers’ are the 3 levels of our consciousness. You can read Rígsþula on Sacred Text’s website here.
Many of the fairytales we have come to love are a retelling of these old myths. Rigr is a metaphor for divine consciousness. Heimdallr travels as Rigr to purify his spirit. The closer he gets to source, the more divine he becomes. This is described as Rigr visiting Great-Grandmother and Great-Grandfather (far from his origin) and this results in the thrall (slave) cast. He travels to his Grandmother and Grandfather (closer to his origin) and the middle class is born, a metaphor for the habitual. Then he travels to his mother and father (divine origin) and the regal class is created, signifying he is now aware of his own divinity. This is the same message in the Frog Prince which I believe is a retelling of Rígsþula.
The True Meaning of the Frog Prince
The Frog Prince is forced to live as a cursed frog. This is the same metaphor as the Thrall class. Experiencing oneself as a less than flattering form is a common theme in both Norse Myths and beloved fairytales.
The Frog Prince begins with a young and beautiful princess who, while playing near a pond, loses her favourite golden ball. Distraught, she encounters a frog who offers to retrieve the ball in exchange for her promise to be his companion. Desperate, the princess agrees, not intending to keep her word once the ball is returned. The frog, however, is persistent and follows her to the castle, demanding she honour her promise.
Her father, the king, insists that she honor her promise, despite her reluctance and repulsion.
The frog is allowed to dine with the princess, sharing her plate and cup. When it is time for bed, the frog insists on sleeping on her pillow. Although repulsed, the princess complies, but in a fit of exasperation, she throws the frog against the wall. Miraculously, the frog transforms into a handsome prince. Similar to Rigr spending time with Mother and Father and gaining a pure spirit, the frog inside the royal chamber, is also transformed into his true and noble form.
The prince reveals that he was cursed by a wicked witch and with the curse lifted, the prince and the princess fall in love and live happily ever after. With the additional subplot of the prince’s loyal servant, Henry, whose heart is bound with iron bands that break from joy at his master’s liberation. Rigr is also freed in Rígsþula, described as the Divine Consciousness (Runes) shared with the Noble class.
In stanza 44 it says, But Kon the Young learned runes to use, Runes everlasting, the runes of life. Kon means ‘Noble Son’. The emotional freedom of Henry in The Frog Prince and of Kon in Rígsþula reveals the rewards of the Vision Quest available to the Seeker.
Introducing Ashlad, Cinderella’s Male Equivalent
Espen Ashlad, also known as Askeladden, is one of the most beloved characters in Norwegian folklore. His tales, collected and popularized by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the 19th century, depict a young, seemingly foolish boy who often turns out to be the cleverest of all. Despite his humble beginnings and apparent lack of ambition, Ashlad consistently overcomes adversity, outsmarts villains, and achieves great success, embodying the timeless appeal of the underdog who triumphs against all odds.
The little man winning against all odds is popularised in the Hobbit. In Norse Myths, dwarves and elves often have a similar role. The little man is a symbol of the humblest part of our psyche.
Espen Ashlad is typically portrayed as the youngest of three brothers. He is called “Ashlad” because he is frequently found sitting by the hearth, playing in the ashes, while his more industrious brothers go out to seek their fortunes.
The burning of the Ash is a metaphor of the transformation of the mind. Yggdrasil, the most famous Ash tree, burns up during Loki’s Vision Quest. Cinderella’s name means Little Ashes. It speaks of the Hero’s journey and the Vision Quest, and the purification of the Seeker’s spirit.