The Courage to Love

Lessons from the Ancient Tales of Northern Europe

By: Bryan Wilton

Narrated by: Brian C. Rideout

This wonderfully romantic tale is only found in the paper copies of The Eddas, an unnamed collection of Norse works. Snorri, an Icelandic historian and poet, doesn’t mention it elsewhere in his works. It is probably not much older than the 17th century.

Being that we cannot trace its origin much further back than that, it is largely ignored. But I believe we do so at the risk of missing how these grand tales became what they are today. Well, this tale succinctly brings together the many and varied elements of recurring themes throughout the lore. But the overall work is of sufficient character that the meaning is abundantly clear.

"The Svipdgsmal" is actually two poems that many editors have wisely chosen to keep together. If we look closely upon this ancient text, we find a fantastic set of instructions for living this faith of Asatru. We also find that in the 17th century, people were still looking to these ancient tales, in exactly the same way we are, for some kind of guidance concerning that riskiest of ventures: that would be loving someone. In the effort to grow into someone worthy of the love they seek, this tale serves as a reminder that these Gods and our ancestors are, and always have been, on our side.

©2020 Bryan Wilton (P)2020 Bryan Wilton