Behold the Light of the Goddesses: Norse
An icy north wind sweeps across a battlefield as tense, warring tribes anticipate the beginning of battle. A black cloud approaches, sparking ominous electricity, as thunder warns of impending danger. Thick, dark tendrils fall out of the clouds, revealing women riders in full combat armor on massive steeds. These riders rush to the warriors, who immediately fall upon each other in ferocious battle. The riders are the Valkyries, the daughters of Odin, and theirs is the world of war.
This sets the scene for a mythology that presents its goddesses in a way not common to most religions. The femininity of Norse goddesses is unquestionable, but so is their strength and determination, as well as the ability to fight. Other ancient religions also portrayed goddesses as being involved with warfare, battlefield strategy and hunting. For example, ancient Egypt had Sekhemet and Neith. Greece revered Artemis and Athena as powerful warriors.
In Norse mythology, however, strength, determination and battle abilities weren’t an exception for goddesses; they were the rule.
I’m honored to present a brief look at a few Norse goddesses. Norse myths hold a depth that always excites my imagination. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Frigg: Goddess of Foreknowledge
Frigg was the wife of Odin and the mother of Baldr the Beautiful. Baldr was a solar deity, kind and beloved in every way. His brother, Hodr, was blind and the two were devoted to each other. So deep was Frigg’s love for her son, that she devised a plan to keep him safe forever, impervious to anything that existed in the Universe. She sought and received a vow of compliance from everything, both living and inanimate, never to hurt her son. From the highest mountain peak, to the deepest depths of the seas, everything of the earth and sky gave an unbreakable promise to never injure Baldr, except for one plant. Frigg considered mistletoe to be completely harmless. As parasitic flora, it lives upon the boughs of other trees and as such, mistletoe was neither a plant of the earth, nor a product of the sky and was not bound by the oath taken by every other being, or thing, that existed. Loki, the trickster of Norse mythology, angry and jealous of the attention being put to this project, disguised himself as an old woman and approached Frigg, asking her for details regarding the promises given to her. Frigg told the old woman how she’d not worried about mistletoe and the wheels of tragedy were set in motion.
To celebrate Baldr’s magical protection, an event was planned in which the gods would take turns hurling stones, throwing spears, shooting arrows and doing whatever else they could to the immortal Baldr. Assault after assault was made by the boisterous deities. Baldr smiled calmly, totally unharmed as every missile simply fell at his feet or had no affect. The gods cheered and celebrated his power of invulnerability. Loki, still in the disguise of the old woman, approached the contest with Baldr’s blind brother, Hodr, whom was thrilled to be able to participate in the celebration. Loki had fashioned a dart of mistletoe, which he placed in Hodr’s hand and helped him aim. Everyone watching cheered Hodr. He threw the dart as hard as he could, expecting to hear the usual cheers, but to everyone’s horror, the dart went through Baldr’s body and he instantly fell dead. Loki was eventually discovered and punished for his treachery, but the real power of this myth is in the reality it reflects.
Although this myth is a fascinating take on the movement of the Sun upon the ecliptic during the cycle of the year, it also offers powerful commentary regarding a mother’s attempt to provide protection for her children and the inevitable truth, that no matter how careful one may be, the unexpected is always a part of life. Another interesting pattern in this myth is the disguising of Loki as an old woman. This motif is repeated in another Norse myth in which Thor engages in a series of competitions while in a magician’s realm. Thor is challenged to wrestle an elderly woman, toothless and decrepit in appearance. As Thor begins the bout, he’s amazed to find the woman to be remarkably strong, with a grip like iron. Laughing, she easily drops Thor to his knees and the contest is mercifully ended before the god is totally defeated. Thor is understandably humiliated, but eventually discovers that the woman is much more than she seems to be and is, in fact, Old Age itself. Not even the God of Thunder could overcome the power of Time. This tale of an old lady being more than she seems is repeated in tales like Hansel and Gretel and other stories that feature Wicked Witches disguised as helpless old ladies. The message is clear. Never underestimate anyone, for they may not be as they seem. The arrogance of assumptions based on the way people look is dangerous, to say the least.
Frigg is often considered to be a goddess with foreknowledge, seeing deeply into the future and able to discern the paths and destinies of both men and gods alike, not unlike the Norns (knowers of all destiny). It’s significant that with this ability, she was still unable to prevent the death of her son, Baldr. There’s a deep message behind this story, one that bears mulling over.
Freyja: Embodiment of Passion and Joy
Freya is often called the Norse Venus, or Goddess of Love. This description is a vast oversimplification. Freyja could be seen as the embodiment of passion, celebrations and joy. She was the happiness of a successful harvest and the fertility that brought new animal life to our planet. She was filled with desire and inspired it in others. She brought the joy of life into the hearts of even the most cynical. Her beauty was matched only by her strength and her skills in the magical arts, making her a deity to reckon with. In some cultures, Freyja would have been considered a sorceress. She was definitely a Shaman. Her ability to walk between worlds and affect the outcome of the future, made her a deity to be respected. Freyja wasn’t Aesir, like Frigg. The Aesir dealt with warfare and the affairs of the heavens. She was Vanir, the rulers of the Earth and fertility. As such, her realm focused on the more tangible aspects of life, including love and need.
A popular story about Freya has to do with her immense beauty. A Jotun (enemy of Aesir and Vanir) stole Thor’s hammer and demanded that Freya be delivered as his bride, or never see the hammer again. This problem was solved by dressing up a furious Thor to look somewhat like Freya and delivering him into the thief’s kingdom. I’ll bet you can figure out how the story turned out.
Freya ruled over an afterlife known as Folkvangr, meaning “warrior’s field” This was where she delivered half of the warriors slain in battle, the other half destined to spend eternity in Valhalla. No one seems certain as to what the actual criteria was that decided the destination of the souls of the fallen. I believe that some men were suited mainly for battle, having been born warriors, while others were called into war from other walks of life. This was a good and fair division, giving each of the fallen their best possible eternity. There’s benevolence in that idea, one that speaks to the respect of a culture for those who sacrifice their lives in war.
Idunn: Keeper of Eternal Life
Idunn was in charge of the Golden Apples that bestowed eternal life to the Gods. As was the case with Freya, she was abducted, this time through the treachery of Loki. To make a long story short, Idunn was abducted by a giant and then retrieved by Loki, under duress.
The main point of interest with Idunn is her affiliation with the fruit of eternity. She’s reminiscent of the Hesperides, the keepers of the Greek Golden Apples. The Priestess in Tarot is often shown with seed bearing fruits and flowers. The reality is that such fruits are the immortality of the species of flora involved, just as woman, the real goddesses, bear within them the immortality of mankind. This may bring to mind the fruit eaten by Eve in The Garden. I’ll leave it to the reader to ponder the importance of this train of thought.
Hel: Powerful and Intimidating
One of the most interesting of the Norse goddesses, Hel, was the daughter of Loki and the ruler of Niflheim, the land of the dead for those hadn’t died heroically. Half alive and half corpse, she was powerful and intimidating. At one time, “going to Hel” meant to die without heroic honor.
The Valkyries: Choosers of the Slain
Of all the female entities in Norse mythology, perhaps none are as indicative of powerful feminine energy as the Valkyries. The word Valkyrie means “chooser of the slain.”” These women were daughters of Odin, chief of the Aesir. They moved into the dreams of warriors, giving them visions of blood and carnage. These were warnings of unavoidable combat, omens of dark outcomes. Battles only began when the Valkyries rode to the battlefield. The Valkyries chose who won and who lost, usually at the direction of their father. Disobeying Odin’s direction did happen, with grave consequences. After a battle ended, the Valkyries transported those chosen to reside in Valhalla. There, the Valkyries waited upon the resurrected warriors in an eternity of feasting, drinking, fighting, dying and being resurrected. I can’t think of another mythological version of the afterlife like this one.
Richard Wagner’s Classic operatic series, Der Ring des Nibelungen, tells the story of Siegfried, an ancient hero of the Norse and Brunnhilde, the Valkyrie whom falls in love with him. Brunnhilde defies her father, Odin, by trying to save Siegfried’s father’s life. In a nutshell, she’s punished with mortality, betrays her beloved Siegfried, gets him killed and eventually throws herself on his funeral pyre, singing as she goes. It may not end happily, but wow what an ending. If it had be me, I’d have had her last note be Soprano C” thus ending the opera on a high note.
The Norse Gods have become fashionable again, due in part to the cinema, but the big screen renditions of these deities bear little resemblance to their bigger than life counterparts.
There’s a grandeur and majesty to the gods of the Norse, a sense of heroic dynamism that can fill we mere mortals with awe and never fails to entertain and excite the imagination.
I wish you all peace and love.
About the Author
What Is the Fourth Dimension and Why You’re Already In It
The spiritual fourth dimension is a plane of existence that allows us to understand the internal processes behind everything we experience. Unlike the third dimension, where the physical predominates, the 4th dimension organizes time, dreams, emotions, and subtle energies. In this article, we explore what the spiritual 4th dimension is from the perspective of Matías De Stefano, as explained in the series Initiation, available on Gaia.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Spiritual Fourth Dimension?
- Differences Between the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Dimensions
- Time as a Structure in 4D
- Energetic Characteristics of the Fourth Dimension
- The Astral Planes in the 4th Dimension and Their Levels
- The 4th Dimension After Death
- Beings That Inhabit the Fourth Dimension
- Dreams, Time, and Manifestation in 4D
- The Fourth Dimension as a Bridge to the Fifth
What Is the Spiritual Fourth Dimension?
The spiritual fourth dimension is one of the nine dimensions of the universe and is part of the energetic structure that composes all reality. It is not a place one reaches, but a plane that coexists with physical reality. While in the third dimension we perceive shapes, objects, and limits, in the fourth, the focus is on the processes that pass through those forms: movement, change, and constant transformation. This level of consciousness allows us to observe what lies behind the visible and better understand how events are organized from the subtle.
In this dimension, time is not perceived as a continuous line, but as a network of simultaneous possibilities. It is the space where our emotions, thoughts, memories, and future projections are stored. Everything we feel and think leaves a trace on this plane, which acts as an energetic matrix from which material reality is later organized.
In the series Initiation, available on Gaia, it is shown how this intermediate level between the physical and the spiritual allows us to understand the patterns we repeat, the emotions that condition us, and the relationships that transform us. Through this understanding, real transformation from within becomes possible, recognizing that every change in matter begins first in the energetic field.
Differences Between the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Dimensions
Each dimension represents a different way of experiencing life. Although all are present at the same time, how we relate to each one depends on the level of consciousness from which we inhabit reality. Understanding these differences allows us to integrate experience from a broader perspective.
- Third dimension: This is the physical and concrete plane. Here, consciousness identifies with the body, time is experienced as a line, and reality is interpreted through separation and rational logic.
- Fourth dimension: This is the plane of time, emotions, and energy in motion. Here, invisible connections between events, dreams, and intentions begin to be perceived.
- Fifth dimension: This is a state of expanded consciousness where everything is experienced as part of a greater unity. Time and space integrate, and a complete vision of the soul’s purpose is accessed.
Time as a Structure in 4D
In the fourth dimension, time is not a straight line from past to future, but a living structure that contains all processes of change. What we understand as “past,” “present,” and “future” coexists within the same field, where everything can be perceived as simultaneous. It’s as if all life stages—from childhood to old age—were happening at the same time from another perspective.
This dimension does not focus so much on events themselves, but on how they transform over time. Here, what matters is not what happens, but the process that generates it: the emotion that accompanies it, the intention that drives it, the lesson it leaves behind. This is why accessing the fourth dimension means coming into contact with the dynamism of existence— with the invisible aspect that organizes the visible.
When one lives from this perspective, time ceases to be a limitation. It becomes a tool to understand cycles, review memories, transform repeating patterns, and open up to new possibilities. The fourth dimension doesn’t eliminate time—it expands it.
Energetic Characteristics of the Fourth Dimension
The fourth dimension is characterized by a type of energy subtler than that of physical matter, but denser than that of higher planes. Here, everything emotional and symbolic gains strength, and forms are molded by the frequency emitted from within. Personal vibration plays a fundamental role in how this plane is perceived and experienced.
- Active emotional field: Emotions are the dominant energy at this level. Everything you feel directly influences what you experience.
- Malleable reality: Forms are not fixed. They change according to your vibrational state and internal perception.
- Presence of symbols: Symbols, archetypes, and dreams play a central role. They act as a language of communication between planes.
- Echoes of thought: What is thought creates resonances. Ideas manifest more quickly and with greater clarity.
- Direct energetic interaction: There are no material filters. One being’s energy can immediately affect another if there’s no balance or conscious protection.
The Astral Planes in the 4th Dimension and Their Levels
Within the fourth dimension, there are different levels known as astral planes. These planes are not fixed places but vibrational states that correspond to the frequency of the one who inhabits or travels through them. Each plane reflects a particular type of experience and perception of reality.
- Lower astral: This is a dense level, where fear, unresolved emotions, and material attachments predominate. Here, energetic forms related to conflict, confusion, or suffering are manifested.
- Middle astral: This is a space of emotional and symbolic transition. At this level, consciousness begins to free itself from density, and processes of understanding and transformation become possible.
- Higher astral: This corresponds to higher frequencies, linked to clarity, harmony, and spiritual expansion. Here, perception is more luminous, and the soul prepares to access more subtle planes.
The 4th Dimension After Death
From the perspective of Matías De Stefano, when the physical body completes its cycle in the third dimension, consciousness does not disappear, but projects itself into the fourth dimension. This energetic projection is not random: it takes shape according to what the person has cultivated internally throughout their life. Emotions, beliefs, and mental patterns determine how this new reality is experienced, which is no longer limited by matter.
In this dimension, experience is entirely subjective and is constructed from within. Those who have lived with fear or attachment may generate chaotic or dense scenarios. On the other hand, those who have gone through life with greater balance access more harmonious planes. The fourth dimension neither judges nor rewards—it simply reflects and amplifies what consciousness already contains.
This transition does not imply a definitive separation but a continuous transformation. Energy remains in motion, and the soul retains the possibility to learn, release burdens, or prepare for new experiences. The 4th dimension functions as a reorganization field, where what has been lived is understood and the path is redefined before moving on to subtler levels of existence.
Beings That Inhabit the Fourth Dimension
In the fourth dimension, there are multiple life forms that do not have physical bodies but actively interact with the energetic field of human beings. Some of these presences offer guidance, others serve as teachers, and some feed on dense emotions. The relationship with these beings does not depend on chance but on the vibration from which one accesses this plane.
- Spiritual guides: They accompany processes of consciousness without imposing paths. Their presence is subtle and often manifests as intuitions, dreams, or synchronicities.
- Symbolic beings: They appear in archetypal forms in the dream or meditative world. They function as mirrors of the unconscious and help integrate internal aspects.
- Energetic parasites: They feed on fear, guilt, or anger. They often approach people with energetic cracks or emotional imbalance.
- Time beings: They are not tied to physical forms but to processes. They perceive reality as a web of simultaneous moments and can manifest according to the observer’s perception.
- Ancestral presences: They represent family, cultural, or planetary memories. They usually appear when it is necessary to recognize, heal, or integrate stories that still impact the present.
Dreams, Time, and Manifestation in 4D
In the fourth dimension, dreams are real experiences within an energetic plane that does not follow the laws of the physical world. Here, time does not follow a linear sequence but appears as a space of multiple possibilities. While sleeping, part of our consciousness detaches from the physical body and accesses this structure, where it can explore memories, anticipate situations, or encounter symbols that represent internal processes.
This level functions as a testing ground where thoughts and emotions take shape. Ideas that are repeated with clarity and coherence can solidify and begin to organize the reality that later manifests in the third dimension. That’s why dreams often anticipate events or offer insights to understand what’s happening in everyday life. They are not meaningless illusions—they are energetic movements within a plane of creation.
When one accesses the fourth dimension consciously, it becomes possible to recognize how events are generated before they happen. This awareness allows for the transformation of limiting beliefs, the release of trapped emotions, or the redirection of intentions more precisely. It is a way to actively participate in the manifestation process, using time not as a limitation, but as a tool for creation.
The Fourth Dimension as a Bridge to the Fifth
The fourth dimension plays an essential role as a space of transition between the density of matter and expanded consciousness. Here, the old is dismantled, internal energy is reorganized, and processes that were previously unconscious become clear. This plane is not a final destination but a stage that prepares the ground for accessing higher states of understanding and unity. Integrating this dimension is fundamental to evolving toward higher levels of consciousness.
To reach the fifth dimension, one must first go through and integrate the experiences of the third and fourth. It is not about “skipping” stages, but about recognizing how each one offers unique tools for the soul’s journey. In the fourth dimension, distortions are cleared, emotions are aligned, and the creative power of thought is acknowledged. Only then can one sustain the subtler and more coherent frequency that the consciousness of unity requires.
From this perspective, the fourth dimension is a plane of conscious transformation. It not only reveals what needs to be understood but also offers the means to do so. By inhabiting this level with presence and openness, one builds the bridge that enables the shift from a fragmented perception of reality to a broader, more integrated view aligned with the soul’s purpose.
