Freyja is often introduced as a goddess of love and beauty similar to the Greek goddess – Aphrodite, and while that isn’t wrong, it is only one layer of who she is. In the Norse sources, she is also a chooser of the slain, taking half of those who fall in battle to her own hall before Oðinn gets his. She is the leader of the Valkyrie. She is a practitioner of seiðr, a form of magic associated with trance, fate, and the shaping of circumstances. She is associated with moveable wealth and fecundity. When you hold those pieces together, a much fuller picture begins to form.

This is not a soft or passive figure. Freyja’s love is not about pleasing others or dissolving yourself for the sake of harmony. It exists alongside discernment, power, and the right to choose. She desires, and she acts on that desire. She claims what is hers, whether that is knowledge, magic, or the souls of warriors. That combination of love, magic, and sovereignty is what makes her such a compelling presence.

For many people walking pagan or magical paths, a pull toward Freyja often shows up during times of reclamation. After betrayal, after loss, or after a long period of putting everyone else first, her energy can feel like a reminder that your desires matter too. In animist and witchcraft-oriented practices, we speak often about being in right relationship — with the land, spirits, and community. Freyja’s example extends that idea inward. You are also someone you are meant to be in right relationship with.

A simple way to work with this, devotionally or reflectively, is to ask yourself, in a quiet and honest moment, “What do I want, and what am I no longer willing to settle for?” This isn’t about impulse or selfishness. It’s about clarity, being real and honest with yourself. Desire, when paired with boundaries and self-respect, becomes a stabilizing force rather than a chaotic one. While there are many in the world today attempting to strip us of these ideas and force conformity to their own ideals, Freyja stands as a beacon that you don’t have to.

Freyja’s lesson isn’t that love makes you gentle at the expense of yourself. It’s that love, including love for your own life and path, can be fierce, discerning, and deeply empowered. It symbolizes the same fierceness as The Chariot of any tarot deck. Seize the reigns of self and drive towards that force of right relationship.