I have dedicated myself to the service and veneration of the Goddess Frigga and over the years she has brought me many blessings. One of my goals this year is to deepen my understanding and connection to my patron Goddess, and to acquaint myself with her handmaidens.
While performing research I came across a prayer written by Raven Kaldera, called “Thirteen Moon Prayers for the Handmaidens (http://www.northernpaganism.org/shrines/handmaidens/information/writings/thirteen-moon-prayers-for-the-handmaidens.html )
This sparked inspiration; I would use this prayer as a framework to connect with the Handmaidens. I would spend one lunar month with each prayer (from Full moon to Full Moon). I would spend this month learning about, working with and attuning to their energy, each Full moon marks the change to a new Goddess. I began this with the Full moon in December (I based my time on the Celtic Tree months, as the Prayer is structured this way as well). Yesterday’s Full Moon marked the end of my time with Fulla and began my time with Gefion. However, I wanted to take time to review and share what the month has brought into being.
Results of Research:
Fulla is described as being known for her long golden hair, which is adorned with a golden circlet. She wears a ring which was gifted to her by the Goddess Nanna (the wife of Baldr who joined him in the Afterlife). Her name means fullness and there is a vague association with the Full Moon.
Fulla is Frigga’s chief attendant,(her relationship with Frigga is debated; some say she is Frigga’s sister, others that she is Frigga’s lover and still others that she is simply an attendant to the Queen)Regardless, all resources declare that she is closest to Frigga among the Handmaidens. Fulla acts as Lady in Waiting to the Queen of Asgard. Her responsibilities include being a companion to her queen, accompanying her wherever she goes. Fulla would assist the Queen in choosing her clothing, and caring for Frigga’s shoes, jewelry and her cask of treasure. Fulla would be a keeper of Frigga’s secrets, she would be responsible for keeping Frigga informed on events and gossip. Fulla would receive and send correspondence on behalf of her Queen, in this way, Fulla would be responsible for directing the servants and would be just beneath Frigga in authority in regard to the running of her household, many times she may work as an extension of Frigga’s will. Fulla would also be responsible for keeping household records and inventory, which would point to Fulla filling the position of Chatelaine.
There is a brief mention in lore of Fulla taking part in healing a horse as well. As a Lady in Waiting she would have been proficient in etiquette, languages, dance, music, horse riding, painting, embroidery, and other queenly past times. I this way Fulla would have been a Frithweaver as well, responsible for helping her Queen build diplomatic, emotional and mutually beneficial bonds.
Fulla’s realm includes Abundance, keeper of women’s mysteries, resource management, counselor and confidante, goal setting, protectress of magical tools and blesser of the bonds of friendship.
Colors Associated with Fulla: Gold, Emerald Green, Sky Blue and White
Symbols Associated with Fulla: golden circlet, boxes and shoes
RUNES Associated with Fulla:
Fulla is aligned with the month of January and the astrological sign Capricorn. Foods that are best used as offerings to her include those that are pickles, dried, salted or otherwise preserved, Cabbage, Sauerkraut and Carrots, as well as foods that are hidden inside of something else. Fruit juice, sweet wines and strong mead are good drinks to offer her as well.
When working with Fulla there are certain herbs that are attuned to this Goddess. By looking at their associations as well you can learn about some of her aspects and characteristics.
Mint is used for purification, healing and abundance/prosperity magic.
Cinnamon is used for Prosperity magic as well as drawing good fortune.
Chamomile is used for good fortune and prosperity work.
Cloves are used for prosperity work as well as managing/stopping gossip and to strengthen the bonds of friendship.
All of these herbs are wonderful offerings to Fulla, they could even be mixed together and used as an incense sacred to her.
Insights:
Over the last month I have spent time reading about, meditating on and simply acknowledging and listening to Fulla within my daily life. I have held space for her within my existence. Through this study I have gained many insights that will help me with continued work with the chief attendant of my patron Goddess.
Fulla moves in quiet, subtle ways. She can teach you the secrets of time management and productivity. She is the spark that motivates you to get up and get moving. Fulla can teach you about the order of the world, as she illuminated a few lines of association within the Wheel of the Year, that will continue to inform my practice moving forward. She is a companion that will praise you and assist you in praising your own accomplishments. Fulla assists with feeling confident and competent. She will illuminate and nurture the potential within you, even those talents you may be unaware of, and she can guide you towards the place in which you best fit.
She will help with resource management including your own energy as she encourages you to be productive and to make time for self care as well.
She is associated with secrets and healing, which leads to Fulla being an Empath’s Goddess. Teaching them when to speak, when to hold trust and how to properly manage their gift so as not to deplete their own energy reserve. As well, as enlightening them to the treasure their gift is.
By looking at the meaning and associations of runes to this Goddess, I can see her hand in the creating and maintaining of routines or managing staff. I would call on her to assist in this area when I need some help.
As Fulla protects the treasures of Frigga, assists her in choosing clothing and cares for her footwear, I would say Fulla can assist you in choosing your path, and crafting your image in the world. She can help you discover what is worth keeping, what needs to be let go and in this way she can help you create your spiritual practice and bring your unique magic into the world.
“Fulla shares with you her box of possibilities, protected and kept safe and taught in the silence of deep study” – d Kate Dooley.
Fulla can help you to manifest your wishes into the world by adding focus (or limits) to your energy in order to create in the most efficient manner possible.
In my time with Fulla, I have learned to make the most of my resources, to prioritize those things that are truly important, to release worry about want/need, to show gratitude, to accept the flow of change and to care for myself as if I were a treasure by creating time for myself. I feel Fulla helping me towards better time management.
All these worthy lessons come to me, not in ritual, but through subtle calls from this beloved handmaiden carefully placed within my everyday life. Thus she has given me an appreciation for everyday spiritual moments and shown me that they are not separate from our life but are instead intertwined with all we do.
She has shown me, over the past month how to look within for value and worth and how to be the calm at the eye of the storm when chaos surrounds me. She taught me to treasure the little things and the small precious moments.
Full has truly shown me the Treasure within! HAIL FULLA!
Resources:
Thirteen Moon Prayers for the Handmaidens by Raven Kaldera
Hearth and Field: A HEathen Prayer Boo by Hester Batler-Ehle
Goddess of the north by Lynda C Welch
The Spindle Hearth by d Kate Dooley
Be thou my Hearth and Shield by Elizabeth Vongvisith
NorthernPaganism.org
LofnsBard on WordPress
Beloved: On Frigga and Her Handmaidens by Diana Paxson
The Frith Wytch 