Hlifthrasa, whose name means “Help-Breather”, is the respiratory specialist. She is the guardian of the Inner Sky, the lungs that give us our oxygen. She is invoked for coughs, colds, lung cancer, healing of the lungs after years of smoking or chemical exposure, tuberculosis, pneumonia and pleurisy, and anything else that can bring chronic bad weather to our Inner Sky.

The word “breath” in Old Norse is ond, which also refers to the chi (or ki, mana, prana, orgone, life force, etc.) that runs through our bodies, and which we move around our bodies via our breathing. Ond is integrally linked to chi because it is the means by which chi can be consciously moved. Hlifthrasa knows a great deal about how our ond moves, and how it can be made to move more efficiently. She can be called upon to help with sluggish ond, although major blockages are more Mengloth’s area.

Hlifthrasa’s color is light blue – especially the blue of a clear sky – and the world-energy she works through is that of Niflheim, land of winds and mists and blizzards. Herbs for a magic charm pouch to ask for Hlifthrasa’s help include Hyssop, Mullein, Elecampane, Coltsfoot, Horehound, Old Man’s Beard, and other classic respiratory herbs. It can also contain blue stones – sodalite is her favorite because it looks like the sky.

If you want to be healed of respiratory problems, or need to move energy more easily through the body, light a candle for Hlifthrasa and then go to the Offerings page and make an offering.

Prayer to Hlifthrasa by Nornnoriel

Hail to the Help-Breather,

teacher of sacred breath

to calm the troubled mind,

to ease the tense body,

to bring in life force

to regenerate,

to transform.

Hail Hlifthrasa!