The Grebo Gods are a range of art toys, in-action figures (no moving parts) that illustrate the pantheon of gods and other entities, within the Northern Tradition. Handsculpted, resin cast, painted and with handmade packaging, these figures are painstakingly created, mixing folklore, magic and pop culture to create 21st century altar idols.
Created in response to the culture of collectible toys and the veneration given to action figures displayed still attached to their packaging. This principle of veneration exists within the heathen world view and is applied to a shamanic custom. This project will continue to grow towards an exhibition in 2021/22.
Woden, the ergi shaman, gained knowledge of the runes (secrets) by hanging from Yggdrasil (the nervous system) and sacrificing himself by using psychedelics. This gave him the ability of Galdor (language), which he used alongside Seidh (trance) that Freya taught him.
The character description above, which appears on the rear of his backing card, is a text that encompasses what I have come to know of Woden through my practice over the years. He appears to me like a portal through ritual and meditation, Woden has enabled me to traverse my inner dimension and further on into hyperspace. As with his many names and attributions, this reflects just one part of his multi-faceted form
Woden’s look is based upon and combination of Mad Max, UK rocker Zodiac Mindwarp and Escape from New York’s Snake Plisken. Hugin and Munin are represented by the Folk Graff ravens tagged on the front of his jacket, whilst on his right sleeve is a Wyrm painted a la Mr Mindwarp. He sports a timer watch like Snake’s on his left arm, on his lapel is a white badge marking him out as a member of The Invisibes (Vertigo comics) by Grant Morrison, and his belt buckle is from Simon Bisley’s Lobo (DC comics)
Freya the sacred feminine, the practitioner of Seidh (trance), whose lineage traces back to the goddess Isis. She who taught Woden how to travel Yggdrasil, the mistress of tantra and the mystical power of orgasm. She who pierces the veil and navigates the unseen for knowledge and power.
Freya kicks arse as the expert of altered states of consciousness and as that she is reminiscent of a superhero character. Her Eighties style goggles with chrome reflection act as the veil of beads depicted in traditional Seidh dress. The sight is obscured so that the partitioner can pull away from mundane reality to venture into the spirit world. The use of an eye mask is common practice within contemporary psychedelic therapy.
The wings refer to a Hittite depiction and symbolising the status of illumination.(See Yggdrasil article in Wyrd 1) They are also reminiscent of She Ra’s head piece, a character equal in power to Mattel’s He Man and a nod to 80’s toys. She wears an amber necklace, gifted by the dwarves, a feathered cape for flying and her right hand wears a mitten, a reference to the high chair ritual. He left hand sports an anime style power fist, highlighting the Asian influence to her appearance, including the outrageous boots. The two belts around her waist not only represent the serpent on the world tree, but also the rope or cord that defines a witch’s ritual space.
Part Wumpa Beast from The Empire Strikes Back, part horned folk costume, Hyper-Beast represents non-local entities that I have met and conversed with during my journeys. In recent years I have seen a familiarity between the sketches I have made from my trips into the astral world and beyond, to the ancestral art and costume found around the globe. We dress in folk costume to represent the hidden people, the entities that exist beyond the veil, to facilitate a dialogue with them. It was the similarity between my Denizens of Hyperspace Folk Graff (one of which adorns the cover of Wyrd issue one) and images of Busó from Hungary featured in Charles Fréger’s book Wilder Mann (2017). (see image below)
Hyper-Beast imparts knowledge from Hyperspace to their fellow adventurers, Woden and Freya, aiding their techniques of ecstasy. Bells features heavily in the European folk costumes and Hyper-Beast also adorns them, adding to the cacophony. He represents the benevolant non-local intelligences our ancestors have been guided by through entheogenic ritual, not simply as an oversized furry sidekick.
