cross-posted from my own LJ
I ween the first war in the world was this,
when the gods Gullveig gashed with their spears,
and in the hall of Har burned her --
three times burned they the thrice reborn,
ever and anon: even now she liveth.
Heith she was hight where to house she came.
the wise seeress, and witchcraft plied --
cast spells where she could, cast spells on the mind:
to wicked women she was welcome ever.
Then gathered together the gods for counsel,
the holy hosts, and held converse:
Should the AEsir a truce with tribute buy,
or should all gods share in the feast.
-- Voluspa 21-23
With Gullveig meaning "lust for gold", this would be saying that greed was introduced into Asgard, and after a time Odin got annoyed and tried to expell it. However, nothing the AEsier could do would fully expunge it. Therefore, a truce eventually was negotiated with an exchange of hostages. Accompanying Njordhr and Freyr, came Frejya the most beautiful and desired of Goddesses. However, unlike Gullveig, the desire that she engendered was within respectful limits for those who lived in Asgard. Those who lived without, however, had issues and those stories are told elsewhere.
My take on how this pertains to the here and now. Basically, we are human, and we have some base desires. These desires, once awakened can cause problems. They cannot be completely banished either, and need to kept within reasonable limits.
IMO, current culture isn't doing the best job of helping its members develop a healthy attitude toward material comforts like good food, wine and other chemical addictions, monetary wealth, or sexuality. In marketing its products, this culture is encouraging (ever so subtley) that yes, we can have our cake and eat it too, and also that we don't have to wait to have what we want. As a result the dark side of these is greatly feared, whether it's a high level of debt, addiction, predatory behavior to others. And this fear makes it difficult to for the culture to develop a balanced standard on these issues. And eventually this causes more problems that it really should.
That's my take on the story of Gullveig.
when the gods Gullveig gashed with their spears,
and in the hall of Har burned her --
three times burned they the thrice reborn,
ever and anon: even now she liveth.
Heith she was hight where to house she came.
the wise seeress, and witchcraft plied --
cast spells where she could, cast spells on the mind:
to wicked women she was welcome ever.
Then gathered together the gods for counsel,
the holy hosts, and held converse:
Should the AEsir a truce with tribute buy,
or should all gods share in the feast.
-- Voluspa 21-23
With Gullveig meaning "lust for gold", this would be saying that greed was introduced into Asgard, and after a time Odin got annoyed and tried to expell it. However, nothing the AEsier could do would fully expunge it. Therefore, a truce eventually was negotiated with an exchange of hostages. Accompanying Njordhr and Freyr, came Frejya the most beautiful and desired of Goddesses. However, unlike Gullveig, the desire that she engendered was within respectful limits for those who lived in Asgard. Those who lived without, however, had issues and those stories are told elsewhere.
My take on how this pertains to the here and now. Basically, we are human, and we have some base desires. These desires, once awakened can cause problems. They cannot be completely banished either, and need to kept within reasonable limits.
IMO, current culture isn't doing the best job of helping its members develop a healthy attitude toward material comforts like good food, wine and other chemical addictions, monetary wealth, or sexuality. In marketing its products, this culture is encouraging (ever so subtley) that yes, we can have our cake and eat it too, and also that we don't have to wait to have what we want. As a result the dark side of these is greatly feared, whether it's a high level of debt, addiction, predatory behavior to others. And this fear makes it difficult to for the culture to develop a balanced standard on these issues. And eventually this causes more problems that it really should.
That's my take on the story of Gullveig.