Thjodvara, whose name means “Folk-Guardian”, is the expert in bone and muscle and tendon, the physical mechanics of the body. One might refer to it as “orthopedics”, although she is also a patron of those who do massage, physical therapy, and anything else that helps the external moving parts, or helps the internal parts through moving the external ones. Thjodvara is an expert on anatomy and knows all the magical names and affinities of all the bones and muscles. She works on anything up to actually breaking the skin. Aches, pains, strains, scars, bunions, arthritis, muscle tension, healing injuries, slowly reshaping deformed muscle, she takes care of all of it. It’s said that she knows a good deal about shapeshifting and its effect on the body, although there is little call for this knowledge among humans. She is a bonesetter of the old-fashioned sort, the kind who doesn’t have to open you up to set the bones.

(Nornoriel had a vision where Thjodvara appeared in a more esoteric role as “Folk-Guardian”; she had a room at the top of the temple at Lyfjaberg which not only overlooked all of Jotunheim, but all of the Nine Worlds. From this particular location one could see threads, but not wyrd-threads like the Norns let certain people see. These were health-threads – people’s energy fields and their ties to other people and other Deities and wights, as well as to places and things. Her main message to Nornoriel was that the more each of us work on behalf of others, praying for them with intent, the better each of us will feel, because prayer does send light and energy down the threads to change them.)

Thjodvara’s color is medium blue, the good sensible color of non-faded denim, and she works with the world-energy of Midgard, which is reflected in her name of Guardian of the Folk. Herbs to put into a pouch for her might be Agrimony for tension relief, Arnica for healing of strained muscles, or Goldenrod which is a choice muscle healer. Blue stones such as lapis lazuli or blue agate would be appropriate as well.

If you suffer from aches and pains of the body’s bones and muscles, light a candle for Thjodvara and then go to the Offerings page and make an offering.

Prayer for Thjodvara by Nornoriel

Folk-Guardian,

who tends the bower atop the temple,

who can look down and see

all of the Nine Worlds.

You are preserver of the people,

you call on those of us who can heal

to do so,

to repair the torn and broken threads,

to renew threads that are ragged.

Hail Thjothvara,

and may I ever be mindful

of my sacred duty to You.