Grandmother Nerþus is a bit contested in modern day heathenry. There are those who say she was the equivalent of a Scandinavian/Proto-Germanic Earth Mother. There are other who state she is just another version of Grandfather Njörðr but feminized. I have even heard people say that she was just made up by Tacitus to give the Romans something to connect to. While historically it mattered, and if you are writing scholastic articles it may matter, for my personal spiritual practice it doesn’t. She is very real with her own agency. I should probably state that even though I mention her being Njörðr’s twin below, it is more like she is the other side of the scale rather than a biological twin as we see it today. She and Njörðr are two sides of the same scale and balance each other quite nicely.

I will probably write more on her at a later time but for now I will include a prayer I wrote many years ago. It is almost spring when I write this post so I think it appropriate to load my website pages with writings tying up the last of winter and the beginnings of spring.

Nerþus, Earth Mother,
You stand solid beneath my feet,
Cold of rock, hardness of ice
Carry me on to night’s next night
Support me well, Njörðr’s twin
Vanir Mother, strong sea sister
Bring faith to fruit, Birch-bright one
Honor to you, your rhythms true
Hail Nerthus!