I was born on a Tuesday and it's a day that belongs to the God Tyr. The Romans syncretized Him with Mars as a God of war. I understand that. For me, it makes sense not because He is our sword-God but because He is the God of the necessary action….not the honorable action, not the "good" action, not justice and mercy in the way that Forseti (a God of magistrates and judges if ever I saw One) might be, but necessary action and that is a thing that warriors know well. It is one of those shadowy realities that lie at the core of warrior medicine: an understanding of necessary vs. good and a willingness to do the former. That is where Tyr stands. That is His warrior's wound. That is the source of His power.
Tuesday is His day: Tyr's Day. I don't have much of a relationship with Him beyond the most peripheral despite my work with the warrior dead. There are other Warrior Deities that came calling for me first. Still, I honor Him on His day with simple offerings.
Usually I give Him a glass of whiskey or whatever other strong spirits I have in my home (usually whiskey). I will offer a brief prayer and then set it out on generic altar space (He does not have a shrine in my home--not for lack of respect but for the simple reason that I've never felt called to give Him one and with upwards of 47 shrines in my house, i only really put them up when I feel a push to do so) and I offer a small prayer. Duty done until the next Tuesday.
So hail the God of a warrior's justice,
the God of necessary things,
necessary choices
that defy the honor
found therein.
He did what no one else would;
and paid the price others fled
Hail Him,
Tyr.
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