Nanna the Tender
Nanna is the goddess of joy, peace, and gentle comfort. Though her story is one of profound grief, she represents the resilience of tenderness and the power of love to endure even death itself.
Sacred Story
Nanna is the wife of Baldr and mother of Forseti (the god of justice and reconciliation). When Baldr was killed through Loki’s treachery, Nanna’s grief was so great that she died of a broken heart and was placed upon her husband’s funeral pyre. Her grief is not a mark of weakness but a testament to the depth of love and the bonds that tie even the divine together. Yet her legacy continues through Forseti, whose work of justice and reconciliation honors both his parents.
ADF Devotion
In ADF practice, Nanna is honored as a goddess of comfort, gentle strength, and the healing power of compassion. She is invoked in times of sorrow and grief, to offer solace to the bereaved, and to kindle joy and peace in hearts weighed down by loss. Offerings include acts of kindness and comfort to others, peace-making efforts, and the sharing of joy with those who are suffering.
Correspondences
- Colors: Soft white, rose, pale green
- Animals: Doves, swans, nightingales
- Trees: Birch, willow
- Symbols: Hearts, gentle light, flowers, the hearth
Ritual Practice
Blót to Nanna (Solo Practice) — A concise daily practice ritual for solo practitioners.
Blót to Nanna: Complete ADF High Days Ritual — A complete 18-step ADF Core Order of Ritual for group celebrations and high days.