#etin

[jaarnvidja]

Musings on the “Mother of Monsters”

I often see Norse practitioners refer to Angrboða as the “Mother of Monsters”, whether they worship/work with her or not. It’s especially present in Þursatru circles.

As I understand it, this title is taken from Hellenic mythology’s Echidna.

In working with Angrboða over the years and devoting myself to her, I’ve found this title does not ring true. People may use whatever they’d like in their practice, but I find it odd to refer to the ruler of the Underworld (Hela), the embodiment of change and growth via destruction (Fenrir), and the embodiment of cosmic cycles (Jörmungandr) to be referred to as monsters or even monstrous.

Calling them monsters feeds into the Post-Christianization narratives that align the Jötnar with demons and Loki with the Christian Devil, taking these spirits out of the animistic cultural context they stem from originally.

[siluscrow3ddump]

[techniktagebuch]

31.5.2019

Die Bürokratie muss kaputt gegangen sein

Die Steuererklärung war fällig. Am 14.5. hab ich sie volldigital abgegeben.

Dazu nutzt man ein Programm, das sich mit einem elektronischen Zertifikat und einem komplexen Passwort gegenüber dem Finanzamt identifiziert.

Das ist eine weitere Erleichterung, ähnlich dem Belegabruf, mit dem ich meine Gehaltsbescheinigung (”eTIN”) und nahezu alle Versicherungs- und Geldanlagedaten vom Finanzamt geliefert bekomme und nicht mehr selber eintippen muss.

Bislang habe ich danach noch immer die Belege nachgereicht, die in die Neben- und sonstigen Kosten eingeflossen sind. Dieses Jahr habe ich das zum ersten Mal nicht machen müssen.

Normalerweise dauerte die Bearbeitung 4-6 Wochen.

Am 29.5. bekam ich eine eMail von der Finanzverwaltung, dass mein Steuerbescheid am 31.5. zur Abholung auf deren Systemen bereit läge.

Während ich den Bescheid am 31.5. per Webportal abrufe, schickt meine Frau mir ein Foto des am selben Tag im Briefkasten angekommenen ausgedruckten Steuerbescheids.

(Volker König)

[jaarnvidja]

Angrboða-Hyrrokkin and the Hunnestad Monument

This is the first post in a series concerning my research into Angrboða as a divinity. Since there’s so little about her in the mythic corpus, I have turned to archaeological to inform my studies.

The image stone pictured here is DR 284 of the Hunnestad Monument in Skårby, Sweden. This is a gravesite. This image is universally acknowledged as representing Hyrrokkin, the giantess that pushed Baldr’s funeral ship when not even Thor (the strongest of the Æsir) was able to. In my scholarly research, I have identified as an aspect of Angrboða.

This artifact is so important in re-framing Angrboða outside of the common misnomer “Mother of Monsters” (see my earlier post for my thoughts on that front). It was no accident that this image stone was placed at a gravesite. It symbolizes Angrboða as psychopomp, guiding the dead into the embrace of her daughter Hela.

It also helps us dispel the notion that the Jötnar are malevolent beings (or were historically viewed as such). Stones such as DR 284 were carved and placed intentionally and it is well known that gravesites and burials were particularly sacred to Viking Age peoples. In my mind, a malevolent being would not be honored in this way. It can be assumed from this stone’s placement that Hyrrokkin can assist in guiding human spirits as well as those of the divine on their journey to the Underworld.

[jaarnvidja]

• V I Ð Ó L F •

Viðólf : Wood-wolf

Viðólf is an elder. She is a mentor and mother of seeresses. She is only mentioned in the Völuspá hin skamma, described as the progenitor of all völur. Viðólf is a patroness of the sacred mysteries and a source of hidden knowledge. She is a spirit of seiðr. She is a figure similar to Heiðr, the sorceress who traveled Miðgardr sharing her wisdom with women. She stands with her hand outstretched to willing seekers as a wellspring from which ancient magics flow.

Viðólf is a quiet spirit. She walks through Járnviðr with a seiðstafr in her clawed hand. Her serpentine eyes flicker with the wisdom of ages long past. She is Hyndla unhooded, ready to teach. Viðolf is embodied by the spirit of the black wolf, the wolf of wisdom and magic.

[jaarnvidja]

• A N G R B O Ð A •

Angrboða : grief-bringer, she who offers sorrow

Angrboða is a jötun/gýgr and the leader of the járnviðjur (giantesses of the ironwood). she is the mother of three powerful jötnar, Hela, Jormungandr, and Fenrir. she is said to be a mother of wolves, werewolves, and wolf-shaped giants.

different aspects of Angrboða are revealed throughout the sagas and eddas under different names and kennings. these figures can be identified as Angrboða due to common symbolism, associations, and behaviors. they are Hyrrokkin, Hyndla, Járnviðja, and Viðolf.

photo taken by jim kruger.

[jaarnvidja]

One of the places in which I connect to Járnviðr.

[jaarnvidja]

• JÁRNVIÐJA •

járnviðja : ironwoodite (feminine)

a járnviðja is a gýgr, a giantess of the Ironwood. it is a term we see used sparingly in the sagas and eddas, but each instance of its use speaks to its connotation.

járnviðja is present in the Nafnathulur, listed as a name for a giantess. Snorri Sturluson uses it to refer to the gýgjar that dwell in the Ironwood (the kin of Angrboða). The jotun goddess Skaði is also described as a járnviðja in the Háleygjatal.

the járnviðjur are a powerful clan of giantesses. they are wolf riders, shapeshifters, and seiðkonur. they are mistresses of magic, intricately connected to the runes and to the Web of Wyrd.