Elizabeth Hooijschuur (born November 1949), known by her pen name Freya Aswynn, is a Dutch writer and musician, primarily known for her activities related to modern paganism in the United Kingdom.
She was an early exponent of a form of Germanic neopaganism centred on women and has influenced the international modern pagan community through her book Leaves of Yggdrasil.
She came into contact with the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, the music of Richard Wagner and esoteric interpretations of the runes through her first husband, who died after two years of marriage.
[11] The book was revised and republished in 1998 as Northern Mysteries and Magick, accompanied by a CD with recordings of Aswynn's incantations, inspired by poems from the Poetic Edda.
Aswynn's house in Tufnell Park was a commune with many frequent visitors; many guests were involved in esotericism of various kinds, some had mental health problems and some were drug addicts.
[18] Steven Stapleton, Diana Rogerson, Rose McDowall, Paul "Bee" Hampshire, Annie Anxiety and Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson lived nearby and became frequent visitors.
[19] Aswynn recorded the album Fruits of Yggdrasil (1987) with Patrick Leagas' project Sixth Comm and they have performed together in what they regard as both music concerts and religious rituals.